Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 18 at 4:51PM EDT until June 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 437 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA
FAYETTE UNION WAYNE
IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
DEARBORN FRANKLIN OHIO RIPLEY SWITZERLAND
IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 12 COUNTIES
IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY
LEWIS
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE BRACKEN CAMPBELL CARROLL GALLATIN GRANT KENTON MASON OWEN PENDLETON ROBERTSON
IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 32 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL OHIO
DELAWARE FAIRFIELD FAYETTE FRANKLIN HOCKING LICKING MADISON PICKAWAY UNION
IN SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO
ADAMS HIGHLAND PIKE ROSS SCIOTO
IN SOUTHWEST OHIO
BROWN BUTLER CLERMONT CLINTON HAMILTON WARREN
IN WEST CENTRAL OHIO
AUGLAIZE CHAMPAIGN CLARK DARKE GREENE HARDIN LOGAN MERCER MIAMI MONTGOMERY PREBLE SHELBY
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABERDEEN, ADA, ALEXANDRIA, AUGUSTA, AURORA, BATESVILLE, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKSVILLE, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, BUTLER, CAMDEN, CAMP DIX, CARROLLTON, CELINA, CHILLICOTHE, CIRCLEVILLE, COLDWATER, CONNERSVILLE, COVINGTON, CRITTENDEN, DAY HEIGHTS, DAYTON, DELAWARE, DILLSBORO, DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, DOWNTOWN DAYTON, DRY RIDGE, EATON, ERLANGER, FAIRBORN, FAIRFIELD, FALMOUTH, FLORENCE, FORT THOMAS, FRANKLIN, GEORGETOWN, GREENDALE, GREENFIELD, GREENVILLE, HAMILTON, HEAD OF GRASSY, HIDDEN VALLEY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LIBERTY, LOGAN, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MAYSVILLE, MIDDLETOWN, MILAN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT OLIVET, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OSGOOD, OWENTON, OXFORD, PEEBLES, PICKERINGTON, PIKE LAKE, PIKETON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TOLLESBORO, TROY, URBANA, VANCEBURG, VERSAILLES, VEVAY, WAPAKONETA, WARSAW, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILLIAMSTOWN, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 18 at 6:43PM EDT until June 18 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

SVRILN
The National Weather Service in Wilmington has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Eastern Shelby County in west central Ohio... Champaign County in west central Ohio... Logan County in west central Ohio... Western Union County in central Ohio... Hardin County in west central Ohio... Northeastern Auglaize County in west central Ohio... Northeastern Miami County in west central Ohio...
* Until 745 PM EDT.
* At 642 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Cridersville to near Tipp City, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Emergency management. At 620 PM structural damage was reported near Montezuma in Mercer County.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
* Locations impacted include... Troy, Sidney, Piqua, Bellefontaine, Urbana, Wapakoneta, Kenton, Ada, Fort Shawnee, St. Paris, Cridersville, West Liberty, Anna, North Lewisburg, Jackson Center, Forest, Russells Point, De Graff, Botkins, and Lakeview.
This includes I-75 in Ohio between mile markers 75 and 110, and between mile markers 114 and 118.

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

School board chief to lead St. Henry

Ron Gelhaus will depart school elected office for village is top spot

By Shelley Grieshop

ST. HENRY - The community is losing a school board president but gaining a new village administrator, following action Monday night in council chambers.

Ron Gelhaus was appointed to the full-time position of village administrator following a brief executive session by council members during their regular meeting. Just one week ago, Gelhaus was appointed president of the St. Henry schools board of education.

The 49-year-old St. Henry native said he was honored to be selected as village administrator and feels obligated to vacate his seat on the school board.

"I regretfully have to resign from the board of education. I feel it's a possible conflict of interest," he said. "With the new job ... I want to be totally focused."

Gelhaus is beginning his fourth year on the school board. He initially was appointed to fill a two-year unexpired term before being elected by voters to his current four-year term. The school board will have 30 days upon receiving his formal letter of resignation to fill his unexpired term.

The next school board meeting is 7 p.m. Feb. 21.

Mayor Jeff Mescher said an ordinance with the terms of Gelhaus' employment - including his salary - will be introduced at the next village council meeting at 8 p.m. Feb. 14.

Gelhaus works as a senior project manager for Ayers Mechanical Group in Van Wert. Prior to his 13 years at Ayers, he worked 13 years at Ohio Plumbing and Electric in Celina.

"I'm a plumber by trade," he said.

The council's finance committee reviewed 13 applications for the village administrator position before narrowing the field to six. Two of the six applicants were village council members, Steve Koesters and Dennis Rindler. Both men abstained from voting when a motion to appoint Gelhaus was made Monday night.

Gelhaus will begin the new post in a week or two and will learn the ropes from retiring administrator Don Hess.

"I'll get some great shadowing time with him," he said.

Hess, who worked for the village for 32 years, will officially retire May 31, he told council members Monday.

Gelhaus said he's excited about working in the town where he was born and raised.

"I'm just thrilled to have the opportunity to work where I grew up. It's a great area, a great community," he said.

In other business Monday, council members:

• Approved a third and final reading for the village's 2011 budget at $3.1 million.

• Heard Mescher's 2010 state of the village report with a recap of projects completed and new businesses formed. He also thanked all village employees for their service and declared the town "financially stable."

• Learned the village will begin advertising for seasonal part-time help for the swimming pool and parks.

• Learned the town on Saturday was awarded a plaque from representatives of Eldora Speedway for "continuing support and loyalty" to the racing program. At various times throughout the year, the village partners with race officials for promotional activities.

Archive of January 25th, 2011

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Additional online stories on this date

Ordinance for fire truck purchase rolls along

CELINA - City council members on Monday night approved the second reading of an ordinance to purchase two fire vehicles from Sutphen Fire Trucks of Dublin for $1.38 million. [More]

Local schools could change divisions based on formula

OHSAA's New Divisional Alignment Structure Proposal

(This is the first of a three-part series to help readers understand the new divisional alignment structures that are being proposed by the Ohio High [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Citizens question Celina finances

CELINA - The city started the year with a $1.124 million carryover in its general fund due to reduced city spending and increased income tax collections, city auditor Emily Stewart told a crowd at the council meeting Monday evening.

Lawyer suggests tax repeal

CELINA - Local attorney Jim Tesno said there is a possibility that a referendum may be sought to allow city residents to vote again on the income tax levy that passed in November.

Celina school board approves levy

CELINA - The board of education on Monday approved placing a renewal with additional tax levy on the May ballot after Mercer County auditor Mark Giesige set the mills at 13.3.

Village manager says Geotube to be removed

Coldwater

COLDWATER - Coldwater Village Manager/Engineer Eric Thomas told councilors during a meeting Monday that three to four loads of sludge are being removed daily from the wastewater plant's Geotube to the local landfill.

WSU holds groundbreaking ceremony for new dorms

CELINA - Officials at Wright State University-Lake Campus broke ground Monday to begin construction of its first ever student housing unit. The townhouse-style apartments are expected to be ready for fall quarter.

Resolution passed to put 1 percent income tax levy on May ballot

MINSTER - Minster Local Schools board of education Monday night unanimously passed a resolution placing a five-year, 1 percent income tax levy on the May 3 ballot.

No action taken by council

St. Marys

ST. MARYS - Because of the absence of two council members, no action could be taken at Monday night's meeting, and all new legislation was suspended until the next council meeting Feb. 14.

Bath back at Miami coaching tight ends

Mike Bath is heading back to the place where he enjoyed a lot of success.

The former Celina High School and Miami University quarterback returns to Oxford for his second stint as an assistant coach for the RedHawks, having been formally introduced on Friday evening.

Parkway picks up second win

Local Roundup

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Parkway outscored Mississinawa Valley 24-4 in the third quarter to pull away and pick up its second win of the season with a 47-35 triumph over the BlackHawks in Darke County on Monday night.

Meetings set on new manure rules

Local officials to answer questions on what watershed's distressed designation means

GRAND LAKE - The state recently designated the Grand Lake Watershed distressed, triggering new manure rules for about 300 farmers in Mercer and Auglaize counties.