Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 3:18PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to adversely impact air quality.
Pollutants across the state are expected to range from the 'Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups' category in the southwest part of the state to the 'Unhealthy' category in the rest of the state. Hourly concentrations at times may reach the 'Very Unhealthy' to 'Hazardous' categories.
It is recommended, when possible, to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory conditions like asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in the nose, throat, and eyes.
For additional information, please visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's website at epa.ohio.gov.

Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 2:18PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued an Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio, until midnight EDT tonight.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires will adversely impact air quality today. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency expects the Air Quality Index to be in the 'unhealthy' range.
For additional information, please visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's website at epa.ohio.gov.

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 12:09PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

Temperatures continue climb into the upper 80s to lower 90s today. This will combine with a humid airmass to produce heat indicies in the 95 to 100 degree range this afternoon.
Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening.

Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 10:53AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 9:21AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 12:23AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued an Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio, through midnight EDT tonight.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires will adversely impact air quality. The Agency expects the Air Quality Index to be in the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' range.
For additional actions and information, please visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's web site at epa.ohio.gov.

Air Quality Alert issued July 16 at 12:16AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued an Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio, from 7 AM Thursday to midnight EDT tonight.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires will adversely impact air quality. The Agency expects the Air Quality Index to be in the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' range.
For additional actions and information, please visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's web site at epa.ohio.gov.

Air Quality Alert issued July 15 at 9:35PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued an Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio, from 7 AM Thursday to midnight EDT Thursday night.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires will adversely impact air quality. The Agency expects the Air Quality Index to be in the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' range.
For additional actions and information, please visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's web site at epa.ohio.gov.

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Drug suspects appear in Auglaize County court

24 people were arrested in drug sweep following lengthy investigation

By Shelley Grieshop

Area residents charged in December with drug-related crimes continue to appear in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court in Wapakoneta.

Twenty-four people were arrested and 77 criminal charges filed following a lengthy investigation that began in early 2008 by the Grand Lake Drug Task Force of Mercer and Auglaize counties.

The charges filed involve cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, morphine, Oxycontin, LSD, marijuana and prescription medications. The street value of the drugs purchased by undercover agents and seized, totaled more than $13,000. Also seized were nine vehicles, seven weapons and more than $1,600 in cash.

The following were arrested and are in the midst of court proceedings.

• Sherman Henderson, 58, North Walnut Street, St. Marys, pleaded not guilty to marijuana trafficking, a fifth-degree felony; having weapons under disability (prohibited from possessing weapons due to a felony conviction) and two counts of drug possession, all third degree felonies; and drug possession, a second-degree felony.

A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Feb. 12.

• Johnny Chiles Jr., 25, of St. Marys, has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking, a fifth-degree felony. In another case, he pleaded not guilty to trafficking in marijuana and cocaine, fifth-degree felonies, and drug trafficking, a fourth-degree felony.

A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Feb. 11.

• David Hecker, 33, South Wayne Street, St. Marys, pleaded guilty to trafficking in LSD, a fourth-degree felony, and cocaine trafficking, a fifth-degree felony.

Sentencing is Feb. 13.

• Richard Dixon, 23, of St. Marys, pleaded guilty to two counts of marijuana trafficking, a fourth- and fifth-degree felony.

Sentencing is Feb. 17.

• A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Feb. 18 for Mark Zumbroegel, 40, Greenvale Drive, St. Marys, who earlier pleaded not guilty to three counts of drug trafficking, two fifth-degree felonies and a fourth-degree felony.

• A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Feb. 13 for Danny Williams, 39, of Deford Street, Celina, who earlier pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated drug trafficking, third-degree felonies.

• A jury trial has been set for Feb. 9 and 10 for Robert Mabry Jr., 29, East Spring Street, St. Marys, who earlier pleaded not guilty to the sale of dangerous drugs, a third-degree felony, and drug trafficking and two counts of trafficking in heroin, all fourth-degree felonies.

• A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Friday for Natasha Pruitt, 20, Maple Street, St. Marys, who earlier pleaded not guilty to four counts of drug trafficking, a fifth-degree felony and three fourth-degree felonies.

• Michael Bonifas, 29, Beech Street, St. Marys, pleaded not guilty to two counts of drug trafficking, a fourth- and fifth-degree felony.

A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Feb. 18.

• Alvie Herzog, 38, Beech Street, St. Marys, pleaded not guilty to three counts of drug trafficking, two fifth-degree felonies and a fourth-degree felony.

A pretrial hearing is Feb. 20.

• Connie S. Derr, 41, Beech Street, St. Marys, pleaded not guilty to three counts of drug trafficking, a fifth-degree felony.

A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Feb. 17.

• A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Feb. 13 for Kevin J. Overley, 32, Beech Street, St. Marys, who earlier pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking, a fourth-degree felony, and cocaine trafficking and two counts of drug trafficking, all fifth-degree felonies.

• Chad Coble, 33, Johnson Avenue, Celina, pleaded guilty to two counts of marijuana trafficking, third- and fifth-degree felonies.

Sentencing is Feb. 13.

• Brian Whittemire, 46, East Spring Street, St. Marys, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sale of a dangerous drug, a third-degree felony, and drug trafficking, a fifth-degree felony.

A pretrial/change of plea hearing is Feb. 11.

• Garret Whetstone, 23, North Pine Street, St. Marys, pleaded not guilty to four counts of drug trafficking, three fourth-degree felonies and a fifth-degree felony.

A pretrial/change of plea is Feb. 19.

Archive of February 3rd, 2009

Buy this E-Edition

Additional online story on this date

Celina man charged with murdering infant

Jason Thomas, a 25-year-old Celina man charged in connection with the death of his 101/2-month-old stepson, walked into Mercer County Common Pleas Court on Monday afternoon staring straight ahead, without so much as a glance toward his wife or relatives. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Council plans to widen Main Street

Celina City Council members moved forward with setting the new street width for Main Street from Lake Shore Drive to Livingston Street at 70 feet, 6 inches.

Indiana man gets prison time for drug trafficking

An Indiana man, who claimed he was merely doing a favor for someone else, received concurrent prison terms for trafficking in drugs during an appearance last week in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.

LDC may pursue grants to buy land for lake dredge material sites

Lake Development Corporation members Monday discussed but took no action on pursuing grants to buy land around Grand Lake to dump dredge material scooped up from the lake.

Redskins wear down the Pirates

ST. HENRY - St. Henry was able to wear down a smaller Continental squad by pounding the ball inside, allowing the Redskins to go to 13-1 on the season with a 71-52 win over the Pirates in a Monday night matchup at Redskin Gymnasium.

Borgerding will make Capital her next home

ST. HENRY - Rachel Borgerding will stay fairly close to home when she takes off for college next fall.

The Redskin senior setter will attend Capital University in the Columbus suburb of Bexley and play for the Crusaders' volleyball program.

St. Marys suffers road defeat at Defiance

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Defiance pulled away from St. Marys in the second half to hand the Roughriders their fourth Western Buckeye League loss of the season with a 38-31 win at Defiance on Monday night in a rescheduled game.