Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued March 15 at 11:57PM EDT until March 16 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 61 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA
FAYETTE UNION WAYNE
IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
DEARBORN FRANKLIN OHIO
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 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, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKSVILLE, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, BUTLER, CAMDEN, CAMP DIX, 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, 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, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TOLLESBORO, TROY, URBANA, VANCEBURG, WAPAKONETA, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILLIAMSTOWN, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

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.

Thursday, June 25th, 2020

Mercer libraries prepared to reopen

From staff reports

CELINA - All four Mercer County District Library locations will reopen with normal hours of operation on Wednesday, following guidance from the Ohio and Mercer County departments of health.

Patrons are asked reserve the first hour of the day for at-risk community members, including individuals 65 years and older and those with underlying medical conditions. Curbside pickup will still be available through the online curbside pickup form or by calling the library to schedule an appointment.

Meeting room reservations are not being accepted at this time. However, library personnel will continue to offer virtual programs, book clubs and book recommendations on the library's Facebook page.

Library officials ask patrons to observe the following precautions:

• Maintain social distancing and keep at least 6 feet away from other people.

• Use the hand sanitizer available upon entering the building before handling any library materials.

• Use curbside pickup service in lieu of coming into the library if they or someone with whom they live is sick.

• Patrons also are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering or mask.

A limited number of computers will be available for patron use with a 60-minute time limit, and a limited number of patrons will be allowed in the library at one time to comply with social-distancing guidelines. Visitors are asked to limit their time in the library to 30 minutes, unless using a public computer.

Following safety protocols, all employees will,

• wear face coverings when interacting with the public.

• have their temperatures checked daily as part of daily health assessments, allowing them to self-evaluate if they are well.

• sanitize and wash their hands frequently.

• clean and sanitize workplaces and frequently touched surfaces throughout the day.

Materials returned to the library will be quarantined for 72 hours. People should allow extra time for items to be checked in and removed from patron accounts.

Archive of June 25th, 2020

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Additional online stories on this date

Summer gets retro with hot rods

CELINA - Scores of classic cars are expected to take to the streets in the heart of Celina on Friday evening as part of an event aiming to rev up the lost culture of cruising and offer some fun to make up for the COVID-19-triggered cancellation of summer events. [More]

The hit parade

Minster outlasts St. Marys in softball slugfest

ST. MARYS - Four outs away from getting run-ruled by Minster, St. Marys decided to keep everyone in their seats for a little longer.

The Wildcats s [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

5 new virus cases in area

CELINA - One new confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Mercer County on Wednesday, bringing the county's total to 257.

Four new confirmed cases were reported in Auglaize County, raising that county's total to 86.

Drive-thru testing site to leave fairgrounds

COLDWATER - The COVID-19 drive-thru testing center will move from the Mercer County Fairgrounds to the vacant building at 115 W. Summit St., Celina, near the end of July.

Warning: Avoid unsafe algal blooms

The Mercer County Health District shared information on harmful algal blooms on Wednesday, prompted by social media discussions about Grand Lake's water quality.

New Bremen school project on track

NEW BREMEN - The completion of the new school building project is in sight.

"As of right now it looks like we will meet the deadline to start school on Sept. 8," district superintendent Jason Schrader told school board members at Wednesday's meeting.

Coldwater OKs CARES funds

COLDWATER - Village officials will seek payment from the Mercer County Coronavirus Relief Distribution Fund.

Council members met in a special session on Wednesday to pass the resolution under suspension of rules.

St. Henry routs Marion

ST. HENRY - Coach John Dorner was really looking forward to watching his last varsity baseball team at St. Henry High School before the spring season was canceled.

Middendorf lifts Redskins over Cavs

Compiled by Colin Foster

Fort Loramie's Trevor Middendorf doubled on a 3-2 count in the seventh inning, breaking a tie and lifting his team to a 5-4 victory over Coldwater in Fort Loramie.