Tornado Watch issued May 7 at 6:01PM EDT until May 8 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 197 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT WEDNESDAY 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.

Tornado Warning issued May 7 at 8:39PM EDT until May 7 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

At 837 PM EDT, radar indicated that a tornado-producing storm was located over New Knoxville, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado. At 8:35 PM, a tornado was reported just west of New Knoxville.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.
Locations impacted include... Wapakoneta, Fort Shawnee, Cridersville, Botkins, Lakeview, New Knoxville, Waynesfield, Moulton, Uniopolis, Fryburg, New Hampshire, and St. Johns.
This includes I-75 in Ohio between mile markers 106 and 118.

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Rising fuel prices may impact travel

Local families consider closer-to-home vacation sites

By Margie Wuebker

Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Ellen Bash takes a look at a Caribbean travel brochure this morning at the Celina AAA office. The rising cost of gas and airfare has affected vacation planning.

This is the time of year when families often begin to think about vacations - perhaps a visit to the beach, an amusement park or an historic landmark.

With gas prices predicted to inch upward in coming weeks and airlines already raising ticket prices, that long-awaited vacation could wind up costing a lot more.

AAA in Ohio reports gas prices went up more than a dime in the past week with additional increases anticipated. The state's average price for regular gas hovers at $3.45 per gallon. Drivers were paying an average of $3.10 a year ago.

Some experts believe gas will increase to $4-$5 a gallon as oil supplies from the Middle East slow due to concern over Iran's nuclear program.

"Prices will be an issue this year whether you are driving or flying," Celina AAA travel consultant Jane Mustard said. "Many families still plan to vacation, but their trips may be scaled back a bit."

Mustard added the planning stage is just beginning for many people. Those not thwarted by gas or airline prices are requesting information regarding New York, Las Vegas, Disney World and national parks such as Yellowstone, the Rocky Mountains, Yosemite, the Tetons and the Badlands.

"Disney World is a popular destination anytime school is out," she added. "Some people save all year in order to take one big vacation or several smaller ones."

Mustard has seen some families scale back their customary two-week trip to seven or 10 days while others select closer places.

Roy and Angie Mescher of Maria Stein will be taking their daughters to Silver Lake, Mich., instead of Myrtle Beach.

"The girls wanted to go to the beach, but we didn't want to drive 10 or 12 hours," she said. "We heard good things about Silver Lake from people who have gone there, and it's only four or five hours away."

In addition to enjoying a cabin for the week, there are plenty of attractions like sand dunes, beaches and even a historic district.

Area travel agents also have fielded requests for information about indoor and outdoor water parks throughout the Buckeye State. Ohio also is home to zoos as well as amusement parks such as Cedar Point and Kings Island.

Many families enjoy vacations at home so fuel prices have little impact.

Susan and Jeff Howe of St. Henry do not embark on extended vacations due to work schedules. Neither of them grew up in families that made jaunts across the country and their own children do not expect long trips.

"The kids enjoy going to the St. Henry Pool," she said. "And there is the community picnic to look forward to."

Archive of February 20th, 2012

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Additional online story on this date

Ottoville tops Minster to cap perfect regular season

MINSTER - It has been a brutal last month of the regular season for Nann Stechschulte and her Minster Wildcats as they have faced state-ranked teams in four of last five games, including the number-one teams in Division III and IV each of the past two Saturdays. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Budget takes shot at rural health care

President Obama's proposed 2013 budget could worsen a local physician shortage.

The federal budget plan, which outlines future spending and policie

Students know formula to win competition

MathCounts

Coldwater Middle School took first place in the district MathCounts competition held Saturday at Apollo Career Center in Lima.

Placing second was S

Celina to gain coal-fired power from Illinois plant

CELINA - A coal-fired power plant in southwestern Illinois will provide Celina with one-third of its electricity in the coming months.

Celina Mayor

T-Birds pull away from Bulldogs in third quarter

CELINA - A 6-0 run to start the second half and an 11-2 run to close the third quarter vaulted Lima Central Catholic to a 68-61 victory over Celina on Saturday night at the Fieldhouse.

Swimmers earn bids to state in Canton

Weekend Roundup

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Eleven local swimmers will join six divers at this week's Division II state swimming and diving championships in Canton after at-large bids based on times from all the district tournaments across the state were announced on Sunday.

Cavs capture sectional championship

Sectional Wrestling Roundup

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Coldwater will send 10 wrestlers to the district round of the postseason after capturing the team championship of the Division III Lima Central Catholic sectional that wrapped up on Saturday at Monsingor Herr Gymnasium in Lima.