Special Weather Statement issued May 18 at 4:44PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

At 444 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Spencerville In Allen County to near Union City, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph, pea size hail, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, and very heavy rain.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Hail may cause minor damage to vegetation. Lightning can cause serious injury or death. Visibility will be poor and hydroplaning is possible.
Locations impacted include... Greenville, Celina, Wapakoneta, St. Marys, Coldwater, Fort Shawnee, New Bremen, St. Henry, Cridersville, Union City, Ansonia, New Knoxville, Moulton, Wayne Lakes, Mendon, Chickasaw, Burkettsville, North Star, Buckland, and Rossburg.
This includes I-75 in Ohio between mile markers 114 and 118.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a sturdy building.
Motorists should slow down and use extra caution.
When thunder roars, go indoors! Do not stay in the open or seek shelter under trees when lightning threatens.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for west central Ohio.
To report hazardous weather conditions, go to our website at weather.gov/iln and submit your report via social media, when you can do so safely.

Special Weather Statement issued May 18 at 4:38PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

At 438 PM EDT, strong thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 7 miles west of Fort Loramie to near Greenville, moving northeast at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Hail may cause minor damage to vegetation.
Locations impacted include... Greenville, Wapakoneta, New Bremen, Minster, Versailles, Newport, Bradford, Fort Loramie, New Knoxville, Webster, Wayne Lakes, Russia, Gettysburg, Osgood, North Star, Kettlersville, Yorkshire, Egypt, Darke County Airport, and State Route 47 at US Route 127.
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a sturdy building.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM EDT for west central Ohio.
To report hazardous weather conditions, go to our website at weather.gov/iln and submit your report via social media, when you can do so safely.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued May 18 at 11:11AM EDT until May 18 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 220 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES
IN WEST CENTRAL OHIO
AUGLAIZE MERCER
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF CELINA, COLDWATER, MINSTER, NEW BREMEN, ST. MARYS, AND WAPAKONETA.

Friday, December 22nd, 2017

Local firm plans major expansion

Dollar Tree store eyed in Celina

By William Kincaid

CELINA - A local manufacturer is gearing up for a multimillion dollar, job-creating expansion while a developer has its sights set on planting a Dollar Tree store in Celina.

Celina Planning Commissioners Jeff Hazel, Tom Hone and Ralph Stelzer on Thursday night took action to allow the two plans to move forward.

Versa Pak LTD aims to build a 37,000-square-foot manufacturing addition to its current plant, located at 500 Staeger Road in the Grand Lake Industrial Park, according to president Michael Brunswick. The facility would be constructed east of the existing building with a dock drive off of Braun Drive.

The project, a more than $11 million investment in building and equipment expenditures, is expected to create 22 new full-time jobs, adding roughly $775,000 in payroll, Brunswick pointed out.

After briefly reviewing the matter, commissioners unanimously approved the proposal.

Brunswick told the newspaper the company looks to break ground in spring and have the building up by mid-summer.

Versa Pak - which converts raw materials into flexible packaging of different types and sizes of bags, rolls, sheeting, tubing and shrink bundling film - became the industrial park's first tenant on Aug. 26, 2002, after city council members approved the sale of three acres of land to the business for $75,000. Since then, Versa Pak has undergone numerous expansions.

Commissioners also approved Cocca Development LTD's preliminary site plan for a Dollar Tree store on a 1.22 acre open lot off of Havemann Road located between Industrial Drive and Irmscher Boulevard, north of Peel's Pit Stop.

Jim Shipley, vice president of commercial leasing with Cocca Development LTD, said plans call for the construction of a 10,000-square-foot building. After the meeting, Shipley told the newspaper the developer will now seek building permits. It hopes to open the store sometime in 2018, he said, adding it likely would employ 10 to 15 people.

Dollar Tree stores sell housewares; glassware; dinnerware; cleaning supplies; candy, snacks and other food; health and beauty; toys; gifts, gift bags and wrap; party supplies; stationery; craft supplies; teaching supplies; books; and other items and have locations across the country.

Archive of December 22nd, 2017

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Additional online story on this date

Armstrong airport may host airshow

WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County officials are working to possibly host an airshow at the Neil Armstrong Airport in 2019.

County commissioner Don Regul [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Effort to reroute highway in Fort runs into snag

FORT RECOVERY - A dispute has arisen over the possible sale of a property involved in the village's effort to reroute State Route 49.

Resident Joe

Two suffer serious injuries in crash

MARION TOWNSHIP - Two people suffered incapacitating injuries in a collision on Thursday morning after the driver of a pickup truck reportedly failed to see their vehicle while attempting to turn left and struck it.

Celina school raffle held to help needy families

Quilt stitched by teacher's mom raised $367

CELINA - Celina Intermediate School students and staff raised $367 for locals in need this Christmas.

The school hosted a quilt raffle, for which teachers and students purchased tickets. The patchwork quilt made of Celina Bulldogs T-shirts was stitched together by teacher Mark Binkley's mother.

Wildkittens get past Cavaliers

COLDWATER - The game plan worked in the first half for Coldwater.

The Cavaliers used a zone defense to stymie a Bath team known for outside shooting and made enough shots on the offensive end to lead after each of the first three quarters.

Streak still alive

Panthers beat Bulldogs for fourth straight win

ROCKFORD - Four straight wins.

That hasn't happened for Parkway this century.

But with a 44-37 victory over Celina on Thursday night, the Panthers extended their streak to four games to improve to 6-3 overall and 4-2 against non-conference opponents.

Cardinals roll past Rams

Compiled by Colin Foster

Jane Homan and Paige Jones scored 10 points apiece as New Bremen cruised to a 55-32 rout of Upper Scioto Valley on Thursday night.