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.

Tuesday, December 24th, 2013

Levy for disabled likely to be on ballot in May

By Shelley Grieshop

CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners this morning approved action to place a tax levy on the ballot in May to support the disabled.

Voters at the May 6 Primary Election will be asked to approve a five-year, 1.94-mill renewal levy for the Mercer County Developmental Disabilities agency. The levy, which expires in December 2014, will continue to collect about $1.2 million annually for general operations of the Cheryl Ann program.

Due to recent state changes, the proposed levy must be thoroughly reviewed and approved by the county auditor and assistant prosecuting attorney before given final approval by commissioners. The DD board unanimously approved it several weeks ago.

The proper paperwork must be filed with the county's board of elections office by Feb. 5 to appear on the ballot.

If approved at the polls, the owner of a $100,000 home would continue to pay approximately $59.46 per year, according to county auditor Randy Grapner.

Mike Overman, superintendent of the county's DD program, in May received approval from commissioners to place a 1.94-mill replacement levy on the November 2013 ballot. However, after the state declared it was removing its 12.5 percent rollback (contribution) on all new and replacement levies in 2014, he removed the issue from the ballot.

Overman told the newspaper in July the removal of the state's rollback would cost county taxpayers an additional $120,000 to $130,000 and he didn't want to burden "the people who care about us."

Overman stressed the levy facing voters this spring won't cause taxpayers additional money.

The DD replacement levy was initially passed in 1999 and overwhelmingly approved by voters again in 2004 and 2009.

Archive of December 24th, 2013

Buy this E-Edition

Additional online story on this date

St. Marys names Ernst police chief

ST. MARYS - A 23-year police veteran has been named the new police chief in St. Marys.

Sergeant Mark Ernst, 48, was appointed the new chief Monday [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

NORAD trackers: Santa Claus is on his way

To all you boys and girls out there: Santa Claus is on his way.

According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, Santa left the North Pole early this morning and is expected to be in the Mercer County area late tonight.

Area men face jail time after guilty pleas

Two local men are facing jail time after pleading guilty Monday in Mercer County Common Pleas court in two separate sexual offense cases.

Adam Steinbrunner, 38, of Rockford, pleaded guilty to four counts of voyeurism. He faces up to two years in prison and a $4,000 fine.

Aggressive mentality leads Flyers over the Redskins

WAPAKONETA - Marion Local used an aggressive mentality on offense and defense to earn a 51-41 victory over Wapakoneta on Monday night at Redskin Gymnasium.

St. Henry's defense stymies Wapak

ST. HENRY - A great defensive effort and a game-changing run in the second quarter helped St. Henry knock off Wapakoneta 50-41 on Monday night.

Celina tops Findlay for first win of the season

Local Roundup

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Celina's girls basketball team outscored Findlay 13-4 in the final two minutes of the game to hold off a Trojans comeback attempt and the Bulldogs picked up their first win of the season in a 54-43 triumph in Hancock County on Monday night.