Flood Watch issued September 20 at 1:07PM EDT until September 21 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
* WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE...Portions of Indiana, including the following counties, Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Ripley, Union and Wayne and Ohio, including the following counties, Adams, Auglaize, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Darke, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Highland, Hocking, Licking, Logan, Madison, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Ross, Scioto, Shelby, Union and Warren.
* WHEN...From 7 PM EDT this evening through Monday morning.
* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Showers and thunderstorms producing heavy rain will impact the area overnight. Rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected with locally higher amounts. The heavy rain combined with saturated ground will lead to potential flash flooding.
Flood Warning issued September 20 at 1:05PM EDT until September 21 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
...Forecast flooding changed to Minor severity and increased in duration for the following rivers...
St. Marys River at Rockford.
* WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast.
* WHERE...St. Marys River at Rockford.
* WHEN...Until Monday morning.
* IMPACTS...At 13.0 feet, State Route 117 near Route 118 north of Rockford is water-covered and closed.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 12:40 PM EDT Sunday the stage was 13.0 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 13.0 feet this afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage just after midnight tonight. - Flood stage is 13.0 feet.
Today 80° Today 80° chance 61° 61° likely Tomorrow 66° Tomorrow 66° chance 58° 58° slight chance
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Loan finalized for new grocery store

By Shelley Grieshop
Mercer County officials finalized a revolving loan plan that will help a Celina man re-open a grocery store on Logan Street in Celina.
Tom Giesige, who plans to open the store in coming weeks as Friendly Markets of Celina, on Tuesday was granted a $115,000 low-interest loan through the county's revolving loan program, which is administered locally through the community economic development office.
The closing of the loan took place at the county commissioner's office where commissioners unanimously gave the action their blessing.
A previous hearing was held Aug. 20 to discuss the loan and seek public comment. There were no objections or concerns aired.
Friendly Markets will be a full-time grocery store at the site of the former Logan Street IGA. Giesige will use the revolving loan funds to purchase existing equipment such as cases, coolers, cash registers, a compactor, saw and slicer and other equipment such as computers, shopping carts and ovens. To fulfill the five-year loan obligation, he must create 10 full-time jobs during the next three years.
The cost of the overall project, according to Giesige, is $395,000. Terms of the loan contract state he has secured a $170,000 private lender loan and has equity of $110,000.
The former IGA store, along with Ole Fort IGA in Fort Recovery, previously were owned by John and Christina Sutter. The couple's Celina store closed in 2007 due to financial problems. The Fort Recovery store later fell to foreclosure and was purchased by Chad and Anne Guggenbiller, who opened it as Wayne IGA.
Sutter and his wife were indicted on felony charges in March for passing four bad checks totaling nearly $15,000. After paying restitution and other costs, their cases were dismissed in June in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
The county's revolving loan program is provided through the Ohio Department of Development and has helped expand and start new local businesses, as well as create jobs, for more than 20 years. Currently, there are approximately $10 million in loan funds available for eligible businesses.
Additional online stories on this date
The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected an appeal filed on behalf of a 23-year-old Chickasaw man serving a 24-year prison sentence in the wake of a March 2008 traffic accident that claimed four lives. [More]
VERSAILLES - It had all the makings of a great night, two top-ranked volleyball teams, teacher versus pupil, the last volleyball match in a venerable facility and - oh by the way - a conference title was on the line. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
COLDWATER - School officials are pondering where they will be sitting at financially when $452,000 annually in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus money is pulled out from under them in two years.
A Fort Recovery man - who board of elections members say tried to steal official documents from their office last week - attended their scheduled meeting on Tuesday morning.
Mercer County commissioners last week approved the purchase of more than $21,000 worth of fitness equipment for the sheriff's staff to use at the new jail being built west of Celina.
It's fall and that means lawn care companies are blitzing neighborhoods with door flyers advertising lawn fertilizing services.
What typically happ
NEW BREMEN - Village Administrator Wayne York usually gives his report to councilors without the aid of notes. However, Tuesday night he needed several pages to include all the work being done around the community.
Court cases continue for several residents implicated in a series of undercover drug investigations conducted by the Grand Lake Task Force earlier this year.
MINSTER - Scott Frey, new executive director of the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce, conducted his first annual meeting Tuesday. He chose to look ahead to the future while recalling events of the past.
Fire destroyed a steer barn near Maria Stein on Friday night. Fortunately, the animals inside sensed danger and bolted to freedom.
A passer-by reportedly spotted flames coming from the barn owned by Gary Dippold, 1773 Stelzer Road, Maria Stein, and called 911 shortly before 10 p.m.
Mendon facility will get more campsites
MENDON - Some people said it couldn't be done - successfully, Bill Smith said. Well, not only did he and his wife, Carol, open and fill a campground in Mendon, they are now expanding it.
WBL championship is up for grabs on Thursday in Ottawa
Another convincing win in Western Buckeye League play has put the Celina Bulldogs in a great position to win the league championship.
Celina rolled
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Mission accomplished for the Celina girls soccer team.
Having wrapped up an outright Western Buckeye League title last week, the Bulldogs completed a perfect league season with a 3-0 win over Ottawa-Glandorf at the O-G Sports Complex in Glandorf on Tuesday night.
ROCKFORD - Parkway picked up its 16th win of the season and sixth win in Midwest Athletic Conference play in sweeping Coldwater in three sets - 25-17, 25-22 and 25-20 - during conference action on Tuesday night at Panther Gymnasium.