Wind Advisory issued March 15 at 9:34PM EDT until March 16 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

* WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph becoming west southwest.
* WHERE...Portions of east central and southeast Indiana, northern Kentucky, and central, southwest, and west central Ohio.
* WHEN...Until 8 AM EDT Monday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued March 16 at 1:20AM EDT until March 16 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 61 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 4 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 9 COUNTIES
IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY
LEWIS
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE BRACKEN CAMPBELL GRANT KENTON MASON PENDLETON ROBERTSON
IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 29 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 GREENE HARDIN LOGAN MIAMI MONTGOMERY SHELBY
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABERDEEN, ADA, ALEXANDRIA, AUGUSTA, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BROOKSVILLE, BURLINGTON, BUTLER, CAMP DIX, CHILLICOTHE, CIRCLEVILLE, COVINGTON, CRITTENDEN, DAY HEIGHTS, DAYTON, DELAWARE, DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, DOWNTOWN DAYTON, DRY RIDGE, ERLANGER, FAIRBORN, FAIRFIELD, FALMOUTH, FLORENCE, FORT THOMAS, FRANKLIN, GEORGETOWN, GREENFIELD, HAMILTON, HEAD OF GRASSY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LEBANON, LOGAN, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MAYSVILLE, MIDDLETOWN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT OLIVET, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OXFORD, PEEBLES, PICKERINGTON, PIKE LAKE, PIKETON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, RIPLEY, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TOLLESBORO, TROY, URBANA, VANCEBURG, WAPAKONETA, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILLIAMSTOWN, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

Mercer County remains lowest in state even with 1.4 increase in unemployment

By Christine Henderson

Mercer County's unemployment rate jumped 1.4 percent in January from the previous month, but the county maintained its position of having the lowest rate in the state.

Mercer County's January rate was 5.3 percent, according to figures released today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The increase in unemployment from December to January is normal in Mercer County, though it is a higher percentage this year, said Ben Johnson, spokesman for the ODJFS. Previously, Mercer County unemployment went from 4.9 in December 2011 to 5.6 percent in January 2012, and the January 2011 rate went up 0.6 percent from the previous month.

County rates are not seasonally adjusted to show workers with holiday jobs leaving the labor market, Johnson explained.

Auglaize County had the fourth lowest unemployment rate in January, as it did in December. However, the January joblessness rose 1.5 percent to 6.3 percent.

Darke County unemployment went from 6 percent in December to 8.4 percent in January. Van Wert County went from 7 percent in December to 8.5 percent in January.

Besides holiday job losses, the entire state felt an impact from an increase in the labor force, Johnson said. The labor force counts employed people and those actively looking for work.

The Ohio unemployment rate was 8.4 percent in January, up by 1.8 percent. The national rate was 8.5 percent, up 0.9 percent from the previous month.

The increase in the number of people looking for work in January "is actually a positive thing," Johnson said. Unemployed people are exhibiting a renewed confidence in their ability to find work. The state added 11,000 people to the labor force in January.

It will take several months of statistics to determine if the labor force growth is a trend or January was unique, he noted. It has been years since Ohio's labor force has grown, he added.

Archive of March 12th, 2013

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Additional online story on this date

Councilman objects to Japan trip

Ginter says two city officials, not four, should go

ST. MARYS - A council member questioned city officials' upcoming trip to sister city Awaji City, Japan, and blocked immediate passage for additional funding. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Celina council OKs bank building purchase

Most municipal offices will move to Main Street location

CELINA - City council members on Monday took action to finalize the purchase of a building that will house most municipal offices.

Members unanimo

Ordinance sets salaries for summer employees

ST. HENRY - Village council members on Monday heard first reading on an ordinance setting salaries for the pool manager, lifeguards and other park and recreation employees.

Teachers, board to discuss contracts

ST. HENRY - The school board and teachers' union will begin contract negotiations today following a three-year wage freeze.

The 5 p.m. meeting - se

Marion Local BOE contemplates all-day everyday kindergarten

MARIA STEIN - Superintendent Mike Pohlman says the time has come for Marion Local to consider all-day, everyday kindergarten.

The district currently offers all-day, every-other-day kindergarten classes.

Council members OK street project

COLDWATER - Council members on Monday night approved on first reading legislation allowing for a grinding and resurfacing project for a portion of west Plum Street.

Man charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor

A 21-year-old Celina man has been charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

Zachary L. Pennington, 5043 Fleetfoot Road, was taken into custody Monday after a concerned parent called the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.

Snyder stepping down at Parkway

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Will Snyder is stepping down as Parkway's boys basketball coach after two seasons.

The Parkway Board of Education