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.

Friday, February 28th, 2014

Maria Stein teen charged in Minster home invasion

By Shelley Grieshop

MINSTER - A Maria Stein teen was arrested Thursday night in Hamilton and charged with holding a local father and son at gunpoint during a robbery Wednesday afternoon in Auglaize County.

Austin B. Ball, 18, was apprehended at 11:23 p.m. and remains in the Hamilton County Jail awaiting transfer to Auglaize County. He was charged with robbery, a first-degree felony, and theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.

Ball allegedly fled the scene of the robbery and home invasion at 01366 Amsterdam Road, Minster, about 1 p.m. Wednesday. He reportedly confronted residents Walter Heitkamp, 75, and his son, Craig Heitkamp, 32, with a gun and a knife before stealing the younger man's 2012 GMC Sierra pickup truck and fleeing the scene.

The Heitkamps were not harmed, according to Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon. Local authorities were summoned and searched the area but did not locate the suspect. Nearby New Bremen Local Schools was placed on a temporary lockdown as a precaution.

The sheriff's office said detectives on Thursday followed up on leads from Mercer and Auglaize county residents. The tips led officials to Ball and the stolen vehicle in the Hamilton area, a press release said.

Detectives obtained a warrant from Auglaize County Municipal Court and arrested Ball at a residence on Curtis Drive in Hamilton, according to booking records.

Solomon praised the teamwork shown by law enforcement in capturing the fugitive.

"This arrest is a result of great work on the part of the detectives and deputies from the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office," he said. "Also, the Hamilton, Ohio, Police Department did an outstanding job of working with our detectives."

The sheriff also gave credit to local residents for their help.

"This is a great example of a collaborative effort with the citizens and law enforcement working together," he said.

Archive of February 28th, 2014

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Wildcats, Rangers cruise to semifinal wins

Division IV Girls Basketball District Semifinals

WAPAKONETA - The Minster Wildcats and New Knoxville Rangers left little doubt which teams were dominant in Thursday's Division IV District semifinals at Wapakoneta High School. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Officials blame frigid weather for low local homeless count

CELINA - The frigid cold in late January is blamed for the low number of homeless people counted during a first-ever survey in Mercer and Auglaize counties.

Firm hired to flush lakeside water lines

CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners this week approved hiring a company based in Atlanta, Ga., to help flush water lines on the north side of Grand Lake.

Grain mill seeks $500,000 to expand

Commissioners OK grant funds, state approval also needed

MARIA STEIN - Mercer County Commissioners on Thursday penned their intention to approve a $500,000 federal grant to a local grain mill seeking to expand and purchase equipment.

Auglaize County needs tech upgrades, official says

ST. MARYS - Auglaize County Commissioner Doug Spencer discussed upcoming county projects during a Rotary Club meeting Wednesday.

Spencer told the St. Marys Rotary Club the county's first priority this year is various technology upgrades. The work will cost between $200,000 and $300,000, he said.

Cavs' Post advances to next round

2014 State Wrestling Tournament

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Coldwater senior Justin Post made it through the first day of the Division III state wrestling tournament at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

Horstman, Kahlig among area players collecting accolades

District 8 Basketball Honors

Several Grand Lake area players and coaches were represented well when the District 8 Coaches Association announced their All-District and All-Star Grame teams.