Friday, October 11th, 2013

SWCD reviews invalid manure application allegations

By Nancy Allen
Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District board members reviewed three invalid allegations of improper manure application during their regular meeting Thursday.
The first allegation was reported on Sept. 10 at the corner of Harrison and Brockman roads. The liquid steer manure from a holding pond was applied at a rate of 14,000 gallons per acre, reported soil and water technician Matt Heckler. The field had been worked with a disc prior to application and all setbacks had been followed, Heckler said. Very little pooling was evident and there was no evidence of any discharge.
The second allegation was reported Sept. 12 on State Line Road south of Winkler Road. The liquid swine manure was applied at a rate of 5,000 gallons per acre and setbacks were followed. The field had been worked prior to application and before any rain. There was no runoff, Heckler said.
The third allegation reported Oct. 7 wasn't manure, but rather unfinished compost made from dead dairy cattle, Heckler said. An Ohio Department of Agriculture inspector reported large bones in a field on the north side of Indian Trail Road. The landowner said the bones were from an old compost pile he had moved to the field about two weeks ago and had not worked into the soil. The landowner no longer composts his livestock; it is sent to a rendering facility. Heckler said no runoff was observed and the landowner was given until Oct. 14 to work the compost into the soil.
Newly-hired Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance Coordinator Abbey Tobe reported she plans to remove floating wetlands from the Prairie Creek Treatment Train and from channels at two private residences next week. The plants will be housed over the winter at the Tri Star horticulture program greenhouse at Coldwater High School. Tobe said she also will start reworking the watershed action plan to focus on more specific objectives.
Board members Brother Nick Renner and Jeff Johnson were appointed by consensus to serve on a local work group with federal Natural Resources Conservation Service officials working in Mercer County. The group's job is to prioritize conservation projects. The group will meet after NRCS employees return to work. They currently are furloughed due to the partial government shutdown.
The board scheduled its next meeting for 8:45 a.m. Nov. 7 at the SWCD office in the county central services building in Celina.
Additional online stories on this date
CELINA - Christopher Summers made an emotional plea in Mercer County Common Pleas Court Thursday afternoon, apologizing to the former student with whom he had a 28-month relationship and requesting probation so he could spend time with his family. [More]
ST. MARYS - If you heard deafening cheers and other celebratory commotion on the west end of St. Marys at around 9 p.m. on Thursday night, it was for good reason. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
WAPAKONETA - Changes in office alignment, pay wages, income and special elections were among topics discussed Thursday during a meeting with state and Auglaize County leaders.
MONTEZUMA - A Montezuma man charged in Auglaize County with photographing minors in the nude also faces nine counts of illegally possessing firearms in Mercer County.
A 27-year-old Coldwater man received serious injuries Thursday night when his bicycle was struck from behind by a vehicle along state Route 118 south of the village.
Midwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Meet
COLDWATER - For the last two years, Coldwater was only the second school in Midwest Athletic Conference history to win both the boys' and girls' cross country championships.
MARIA STEIN - The Marion Local Flyers captured the 2013 Midwest Athletic Conference volleyball championship outright on Thursday night with a 25-19, 25-14 and 25-10 victory over the Minster Wildcats on Senior Night at The Hangar.
ELIDA - Celina's volleyball team opened the Western Buckeye League season in disappointing fashion but they closed the league slate in celebration.
Eldora Speedway puts the finishing touches on its 60th Anniversary season on Saturday night with the UNOH Sprintacular, an all-Sprint Car program featuring three different divisions of open wheel racing.
Local Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
New Bremen completed its regular season by going over the .500 mark in Midwest Athletic Conference play with a three-set sweep over Parkway on Thursday night at Cardinal Gymnasium.
COLDWATER - After dominating the first two sets, Coldwater had to rebound after a sluggish third set to come back and wrap up their best regular season in school history with a four-set win over rival St. Henry on Thursday night at The Palace.
Naturally speaking
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey is sponsoring several fossil hikes during Earth Science Week in Ohio, Oct. 11-19.