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.

Saturday, July 19th, 2008

158 cited at concert

By Margie Wuebker

More than 160 country music fans took home more than sunburns and pleasant memories from the 28th annual Country Concert at Hickory Hill Lakes near Fort Loramie. The event, which reportedly drew 80,000 fans to the four-day event, was held July 10-13.

Undercover agents from the Ohio Investigative Unit made no secret they would be on the grounds as part of a weekend liquor enforcement efforts, issuing the message - "If you are going to Country Concert, don't drink." Apparently some concertgoers failed to heed the message.

A total of 158 young people under the age of 21 received citations for underage drinking, an increase from 137 arrests made in 2007. Previous numbers were 132 in 2006 and 117 in 2005.

There were six arrests for falsification, two for furnishing alcohol to underage drinkers and 10 for prohibitive acts, the nature of which was not reported. In addition, law enforcement officers made one arrest for each of the following charges - disorderly conduct, drug abuse, possession of drug paraphernalia and underage possession of tobacco.

Adults receiving arrest citations appeared before Sidney Municipal Court Judge Donald Luce later in the week.

"Our mission is to educate the public while keeping people safe," said Cathy Collins-Taylor, executive director of the Ohio Investigative Unit, a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) that enforces local, state and federal laws with emphasis on liquor and tobacco offenses. "The Country Concert staff and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office were great partners as we all worked to ensure everyone had a safe and enjoyable weekend."

The effort was made in conjunction with the department's 100 Days of Summer Program geared toward education and enforcement.

Security officers on duty throughout the concert reported no major problems except for some scuffles on Friday night. Sheriff's deputies also indicated there were no major problems during the weekend.

The Lima-Allen County Paramedic Service provided first aid on the grounds as well as ambulance service for those needing emergency room treatment. Supervisor Jennifer Pierce reported people came to their tent for overconsumption of alcohol, sunburn and dehydration. Following drenching rain on Saturday, some patients came with cuts, scrapes and bruises received while sliding in the mud.

Archive of July 19th, 2008

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