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.

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Fisherman puts his spin on ideas for pond

Council OKs agreement with state for fishing at former landfill site

By Janie Southard

ST. MARYS - City council unanimously passed an emergency resolution for a fishing agreement with the state over the 121/2-acre pond at the former landfill site, but not before hearing a suggestion from a local fisherman.

Ed Broyles, a local outdoorsman, told council on Monday night he'd like to see the city stock the pond rather than let the Ohio Division of Wildlife stock it with non-native area fish (rainbow trout).

"That property is city property and I don't know why the state should be involved. Trout is not native here and will not (regenerate). If the city stocks it with bluegill, crappie and perch, those fish are native and will reproduce. We won't need to restock," Broyles read from a prepared statement. "I think the pond should be limited to St. Marys residents only ... Why should we pay the state to fish in our own pond?"

The agreement with the state says the city will require anglers to have a state fishing license. In return, the state will stock the pond with 500 trout in mid- October and the game warden will patrol the area.

"As to boats out there, I'd like to see only hand- or foot-powered boats. No power," Broyles said. "You'll need 1,200 to 1,400 pounds of fish a year to keep the pond in balance. And, I'll tell you, you'll have a lot of happy fishermen."

Councilman Dennis Vossler agreed with the idea of stocking the pond with native fish.

"Actually I can see us having a variety of fish out there," he said.

Safety service director Tom Hitchcock reminded Broyles and council that along with stocking, the state game warden would patrol the area.

"This would be a huge pain for us to patrol on our own," Hitchcock said. "But this resolution only states we'll require a state fishing license to fish out there. I guess we could also stock the pond along with the state ... I don't really know. I'll find out."

The fishing pond is located north of the city along River Road.

Archive of September 28th, 2010

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Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Meetings on TV

Sessions shown on channel 6; no start date set

CELINA - The city has begun taping its council meetings and plans to broadcast them on Time Warner's cable channel 6.

"We've been asked many, many times to put the council on channel 6," Celina Mayor Sharon LaRue told the newspaper.

Miniature golf idea draws ire

St. Marys

ST. MARYS - A few residents are objecting to city council's idea to put a miniature golf course in K.C. Geiger Park. However, they do agree the activity is a good thing for the local area.

City paves way for Market Street project

CELINA - State Route 29 on the east side of the city may get a facelift in a few years.

City council members on Monday evening unanimously approved first reading of an ordinance allowing the Ohio Department of Transportation to resurface a portion of state Route 29 within the corporation limits.

Council votes on extension of waste disposal contract

CELINA - City council members on Monday approved first reading of an ordinance to extend the city's contract with Maharg Inc. for waste disposal that would keep bag prices the same for another three years.

Village council considers expanding sewer line work

ST. HENRY - If finances are adequate, officials will expand a sewer line project in the village.

Village administrator Don Hess told council member

School superintendent resigns

MINSTER - School board members accepted the resignation of Superintendent Gayl Ray Monday night during a special meeting.

Ray intends to retire from the local district effective Aug. 1, although she plans to seek another post in the field of education.

Council tends to business to meet deadlines

COLDWATER - Village officials will be reviewing the mitigation plan from Mercer County Homeland Security and Emergency Management that deals with federal assistance after an emergency such as a tornado.

Minster man faces obscenity charges

MINSTER - A 34-year-old local resident faces 25 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor in the wake of a three-month investigation by Minster Police and the Auglaize/Mercer Grand Lake Task Force.

Wildcats share MAC boys golf title with Tigers and Cardinals

Local Roundup

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

The Minster boys golf team braved the rain and came up with a 164-204 win over Fort Recovery at Arrowhead on Monday.

Tiny turbines

Company selling individual turbines for home, farm

LONDON - Towering as much as 260 feet tall with blades 120 feet long or more, wind turbines have popped up across the United States, Europe and other parts of the world. Most are seen at wind farms, where wind power is sold as a form of clean energy, an alternative to greenhouse-gas-producing coal.