Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued March 22 at 5:43PM EDT until March 23 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 73 IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT 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 3 COUNTIES
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE CAMPBELL KENTON
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, AURORA, BATESVILLE, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, CAMDEN, CELINA, CHILLICOTHE, CIRCLEVILLE, COLDWATER, CONNERSVILLE, COVINGTON, DAY HEIGHTS, DAYTON, DELAWARE, DILLSBORO, DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, DOWNTOWN DAYTON, EATON, ERLANGER, FAIRBORN, FAIRFIELD, FLORENCE, FORT THOMAS, FRANKLIN, GEORGETOWN, GREENDALE, GREENFIELD, GREENVILLE, HAMILTON, HIDDEN VALLEY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LIBERTY, LOGAN, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MIDDLETOWN, MILAN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OSGOOD, OXFORD, PEEBLES, PICKERINGTON, PIKE LAKE, PIKETON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TROY, URBANA, VERSAILLES, VEVAY, WAPAKONETA, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Thursday, April 26th, 2007

EPA likely to give Celina a reprieve

By Timothy Cox

Ohio EPA officials are not expected to hold the city's feet to the fire regarding a Nov. 7 deadline to bring the city's water into compliance with state regulations, Celina officials said this week.

They are in the final planning stages of adding granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment to the city's current treatment system. The carbon material is expected to lower the levels of trihalomethanes (THM) in the water to within acceptable limits.

Excessively high THM levels is what sparked the EPA to hand down findings and orders several years ago, forcing the city to act. THMs are formed from organic material in the water reacting with chlorine over time.

City officials were in Columbus again this week tying up loose ends on the water project. The city needs EPA approval of the plans before construction can begin. The EPA also is helping the city finance the project through a low-interest loan program.

"We're getting them the information, and they're cooperating with us," city development consultant Kent Bryan said. "Things seem to be moving ahead."

Councilman June Scott asked Bryan directly if the city will miss the EPA-imposed deadline. The original findings and orders called for daily fines of $25,000 for missing the compliance date.

Bryan said he believes EPA officials are not looking at Nov. 7 as an absolute deadline.

"We've already got some indications that they are looking beyond that date," Bryan said. "They realize we are moving as quickly as we can."

Some city officials already have conceded the city will miss the November deadline, while others hold out some hope that the city will at least come close to the target date.

Construction is expected to take six months or so and bids could be sought as early as next week. If a contractor started June 1 and spent six months on the job, the work would not be completed until the end of November.

The city has a $500,000 grant through Congress to help pay for the estimated $4 million project. The rest will be financed through the EPA loan program with the debt retired through an anticipated increase in city water rates.

Archive of April 26th, 2007

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Additional online stories on this date

Public votes on school designs

ST. MARYS - It's down to the wire, and the community is playing a big part in narrowing the choices where new school facilities are concerned.

The [More]

Man sentenced to prison for hunting accident

A Van Wert man will serve six months in jail for killing a young father in a hunting accident in January 2006.

Troy Clark, 37, was sentenced in Van Wert County Commo Pleas Court on Wednesday morning by Judge Charles Steele, who also ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Grant will pay for docks

Celina has been awarded a $150,000 grant to add new courtesy docks and make other improvements near Lake Shore Park.

The grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft will pay for nine new courtesy docks and to make seawall and sidewalk improvements.

God pushed to the edge

"God" got bumped and his new placement on the edge of the newly-released presidential dollar coins is stirring a little controversy.

A magnifying g

Former superintendent pays back $854 for unused vacation days

Former Superintendent Eugene Linton had to pay back $854 to the Mercer County Educational Service Center after a state audit determined he was overcompensated for unused vacation time.

PTO donates funds for playground project

COLDWATER - The board of education accepted a $16,000 donation from the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) on Tuesday night to help finance a playground expansion project.

Digital mammography equipment purchased for hospital

Mercer Health board of governors approved a high-end purchase of digital mammography equipment that is expected to more efficiently meet patient's needs.

Poetry slam held at New Bremen bookstore

NEW BREMEN - Coldwater Spanish teacher/writer Sophia Rodriguez was at home Wednesday night as she emceed New Bremen Coffee Co. and Book's third annual poetry slam.

Meyer will continue his throwing career at Eastern Michigan

Things have been very good for Andrew Meyer this season.

The Minster senior throwing specialist, coming off an appearance at the state track meet last season, entered the 2007 outdoor season on a high after capturing the state indoor shot put title in March.

Schwartz is off to Capital for hoops

NEW BREMEN - New Bremen basketball standout Christine Schwartz found a good place to keep playing basketball and fulfill her academic wishes.

Schwartz will attend Capital University next season, giving her the chance to continue her athletic career and prepare for a career in the legal system.