Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 12:43AM 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.
State, federal personnel coming to Grand Lake watershed to help farmers
By Nancy Allen
The state is pushing area ag producers to develop a land management plan and change their manure application process by 2012 and more personnel are coming to help with the process.
Four more staff will be coming to help Grand Lake watershed farmers improve manure management in an effort to stem the flow of nutrients feeding Grand Lake's toxic blue-green algae. A fifth started a few weeks ago. [More]
Alvira "Vera" B. Wuebker, 87, Versailles, formerly of Fort Loramie, died Aug. 5, 2010, at the Versailles Health Care Center, where she had resided since May. [More]
One drops, other at highest level since testing began
GRAND LAKE - Levels of anatoxin-a, a neurotoxin being produced by a species of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in Grand Lake, are the highest they've been since testing for the toxin began in mid-June, according to the Ohio EPA.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has introduced legislation that would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to provide grants to states to use the latest science to sample and test water quality and to alert the public to harmful algal blooms, like the cyanobacteria in Grand Lake.
2nd public meeting nears on property transfer charge
MERCER COUNTY - A second public hearing is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday to discuss an increase in the county's property transfer fee to financially boost the economic development office.
