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.

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Weapons worth $16,000 stolen at area swap meet

By Margie Wuebker

The Mercer County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the weekend theft of antique guns and knives valued at more than $16,000 from a swap meet exhibitor at the Progressive Sportsman Club near Fort Recovery.

Martin T. Griffiths of Avilla, Ind., discovered the weapons missing and contacted the sheriff's office shortly after 9:30 a.m. Sunday. He left his display tent between 7 and 8:45 a.m. to get some breakfast and returned to find all the flaps down as he left them. However, the items were missing from a table and display case inside, according to Chief Deputy Gery Thobe.

Among the 14 antique guns missing were various revolvers including two with 1899 patent dates. The oldest revolver taken from the display case was an 1862 Guardian Colt decorated with engraved ships on the cylinder and brass inlays on the handle. Griffiths indicated its value to be around $1,200.

There also were two English-issue revolvers, a German-issue Lugar and a Spanish-issue revolver, all dating back to World War II. Another weapon reportedly sported gold inlay on the cylinder and genuine mother of pearl handle.

The 10 knives were removed from a display table, with the thief or thieves apparently handling and moving other items around in the process. Authorities were checking for possible fingerprints.

The weapons, all of which bore serial numbers, have been entered as stolen in the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS).

Norman O. McKinney of Warsaw, Ind., another swap meet participant, approached deputies on the grounds and reported someone took a .22-caliber H & R revolver from his campsite. He discovered the chrome gun with black hand grips missing on Saturday and pegged its value at $85.

Archive of October 7th, 2009

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Celina girls soccer wins WBL title outright

After last week's win over Elida, Celina girls soccer coach Cal Freeman talked about taking Bath seriously when the teams met on the following Tuesday. After all, it was Bath that beat Elida that allowed Celina to capture a share of the Western Buckeye League title with a win over Elida. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Grand Lake park Revenue down 12%

Water quality is blamed

Total revenue at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park is down 12 percent this year compared to an average of the park's 2007 and 2008 revenues, said Brian Miller, assistant manager at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park.

Grant to help Parkway pupils expand service work

All Parkway High School students are addressing social issues and planning community projects this year as part of a collaboration between the school and Mercer County Educational Service Center (ESC).

Bicycle enthusiast forms local group

Rides to start this month and average 25 miles

A Celina bike shop owner wants to organize a new bicycle group before the end of this month.

Tim Husted, proprietor of Timberloft Outdoor Gear, 207 S. Main St., said he is inviting anyone in the area to join his group for casual bike rides.

Channel dredging nears completion

Dredging along some Grand Lake channels should be finished in the next couple of weeks, Brian Miller, assistant manager at Grand Lake St. Marys State Park, said at a Lake Development Corporation meeting on Monday.

Tough financial decisions ahead for Minster BOE

MINSTER - Treasurer Laura Klosterman told school board members the school district faces financial hardships in the coming years and may need to make some cuts.

Officals seek federal grant for site cleanup

MINSTER - Village officials plan to apply for a federal grant to clean up the former Minster Oil Company site.

Administrator Don Harrod told counc

Consignment shop features furniture

COLDWATER - New, used and consigned furniture and gifts are for sale at a new store in downtown Coldwater.

Sunset Furniture and Gifts, owned by Michelle and Roger Fullenkamp of Coldwater, opened at 101 S. Market St., behind the Subway restaurant.

Area girls golfers get shut out of state berth

Compiled by Ryan Hines
and Gary R. Rasberry

The girls golf season ended for local teams as none of the area teams or individual golfers made it out of district competition on Tuesday.