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.

Friday, October 5th, 2007

Many unused sewage permits to expire soon

By Shelley Grieshop

Only about one-third of the home sewage system permits issued in 2006 have resulted in constructed and/or approved systems in Mercer County, and the one-year expiration on those remaining permits is drawing near, according to local officials.

In January, stricter home sewage regulations went into effect in Ohio, causing a mad rush of Mercer County residents applyng for permits in late 2006. Those permits expire one year from the time of issue.

However, in June the new rules were delayed for two years by Ohio legislators and the standards put in place in 1977 became effective once again.

Mercer County-Celina City Health Department Sanitarian Chris Miller gave the update to board members meeting Wednesday.

Miller reminded the board that not everything in the new regulations were slashed in June and that each county and city health department is currently amending the temporary plan to fit its individual needs.

Miller said 265 of the 848 permits issued in 2006 still have not resulted in installed sewage systems. Of those, 16 have expired, seven applicants re-applied to beat their expiration dates, one decided not to build, two opted for tank replacements, four decided to use their existing systems and two opted to connect to other sewage lines, Miller said.

Board members also approved a food service plan permit for Pirate's Cove in Mendon. Owner Ron Piper is renovating former storage space to expand his kitchen area to offer a bigger variety of food for customers, Director of Environmental Health Michelle Kimmel said.

The renovations are still being completed, Kimmel added.

In other business, board members:

• Approved a third and final reading of an emergency adoption of supplementary household sewage treatment system rules. The amendments will supplement the regulations currently in place.

• Approved the maternity licensure survey for Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, and Harbor House Maternity Home, Celina.

• Learned a rough draft of the health department's purchasing policy is being created and is expected to be ready for board approval at next month's meeting.

• Held an executive session to discuss the hiring of a part-time registered nurse. Following the session, board members agreed to hire Amy Eblen to work two days per week at $15.75 per hour. The hiring was necessary after Director of Nursing Sally Bowman left and staff positions were altered in her absence, county Health Commissioner Dr. Philip Masser said.

• Learned a special executive session is planned for 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at the health department office in the Central Services Building in Celina to discuss a personnel compensation issue.

Archive of October 5th, 2007

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Additional online story on this date

New Bremen able to shrug off recent struggles

NEW BREMEN - After a disappointing last seven days, the New Bremen Cardinals got their season back on track in a big way Thursday night with a thrilling five-game win over the Versailles Tigers. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Rezoning heads for final approval despite public concerns

The rezoning of a vacant tract of land in eastern Jefferson Township is headed for a final public hearing in front of Mercer County Commissioners.

Marion Local High School band continues high standards

MARIA STEIN - Eighty-five Marion Local High School students are carrying on a tradition with flutes, tubas, batons and flags.

The band, often refer

Landfill hopes to have OK to use cell soon

Officials at Celina Sanitary Landfill could begin filling a new cell with trash within the next few weeks as part of the site's vertical expansion, according to Mercer County-Celina City Health Department Sanitarian Chris Miller.

Northern Mercer County ripe for livestock expansion

The northern part of Mercer County, which typically has been home to mostly grain farming, is gaining some livestock operations.

Also, those northern grain farmers are using more manure, versus commercial fertilizer, to grow crops.

Depth carries Minster to sweep

COLDWATER - There was a lot on the line Thursday afternoon as 23 schools gathered on a hot, steamy day at Coldwater Memorial Park and Cavalier Stadium for the running of the Gene Weber/Lions Invitational cross country meet.

Ottawa scores twice in final 15 minutes for win

The chances for a Western Buckeye League boy's soccer title dwindled a little more on Thursday as Celina gave up two goals in the final 15 minutes of play, giving Ottawa-Glandorf a 2-1 at the Soccer Stadium.

Celina can start to think about O-G after easy victory over Lima Bath

Compiled by Ryan Hines

The path through the Western Buckeye League has been pretty simple this year for the Celina volleyball team, but it's about to get a lot tougher, starting next week.

Celina advances one singles player and a pair of doubles teams

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Celina will have one singles player and two doubles teams advance to next week's Division I district tournament after sectional play at the King Horn Center at Ohio Northern University on Thursday.