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.

Thursday, April 17th, 2014

Southwest chamber picks new leader

By Amy Kronenberger

NEW BREMEN - A new executive director will lead the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce beginning Monday.

Board president Lori Rindler announced Wednesday that New Bremen native Logan O'Neill was chosen for the position. Logan will replace Scott Frey, who tendered his resignation effective March 24.

O'Neill, 26, is a 2006 New Bremen graduate and received his bachelor's degree in business and marketing from Bluffton University in 2010.

O'Neill had worked at Lima Memorial Hospital as an on-boarding and marketing specialist for Lima Memorial Physicians, matching new doctors with patients and coordinating advertising and events, Rindler said. He also worked at Cisco Marketing in New Bremen and is a volunteer with the New Bremen Fire Department.

"To work at the chamber, you have to be great at marketing, not only marketing the chamber but helping the businesses that are members," Rindler said. "He has a very strong marketing background and he's very approachable and easy to talk to."

O'Neill has several good ideas for the future of the chamber and for its website, Rindler said.

"He actually went and talked to businesses before his interview to find out what they liked best about the chamber and what they thought could be improved," she said.

O'Neill said the chamber promotes and engages members and their businesses in New Bremen, New Knoxville and Minster and helps promote the communities.

"We live in great communities ... some call it the 'Golden Triangle,' " he said. "There's a lot going on in the communities, and I want to give back and help businesses succeed in a global economy. ... I plan to work to support the growth of companies and the citizens and enhance the lives of the people the chamber serves."

The chamber board received about 15 applications and interviewed seven candidates for the position, Rindler said.

Archive of April 17th, 2014

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Additional online stories on this date

WSU president: Higher education in U.S. held back by outdated ideas

CELINA - Higher education in Ohio and the U.S. is falling behind the rest of the world, according to Wright State University's president.

President [More]

Jacobs' pitching leads Redskins

ST. HENRY - By early indications, Wednesday's baseball game between Lincolnview and St. Henry looked like it was going to be a pitchers' duel between the Lancers' Jalen Roberts and the Redskins' Jason Jacobs. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Health department may have to repay about $200,000

Appeal of state audit assessment only allowed up to $30K

CELINA - Health board members on Wednesday learned the agency is in the black with revenues exceeding expenses this year by more than $77,000.

But

New Bremen coaches back drug-test proposal for students

NEW BREMEN - Students participating in sports or other extracurricular activities may be taking drug tests next year.

Coaches at Wednesday's board of education meeting spoke in support of the monitoring.

Local risk assessed on anniversary of deadly fertilizer plant blast

An ammonia nitrate explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas, one year ago today killed 15 people and injured almost 200.

No ammonium nitrate is stored in Mercer or surrounding counties; however, dangerous chemicals such as anhydrous ammonia are stockpiled at various locations.

Board looks at sewage rules

CELINA - A resident seeking to rebuild a home may need to replace the existing sewage system.

The information was detailed in a policy Mercer Count

Traffic stops net charges

CELINA - More than two dozen traffic stops and two vehicle searches were conducted Tuesday night during a second drug interdiction event by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.

Celina man pleads innocent to charges from shooting

CELINA - A Celina man has pleaded innocent to attempted aggravated murder and other charges stemming from an incident in which a gun was fired near a 2-year-old child.

St. Marys to boost broadband income

ST. MARYS - The school district Wednesday ended a longtime contract with a communications company after learning the business has been underpaying them for broadband by more than $35,000 per year.

New Bremen eyes more credit for AP classes

NEW BREMEN - New Bremen High School students may get additional credit for taking more difficult classes starting next year.

Guidance counselor Tr

New Knoxville man charged in teen's death

A New Knoxville man was charged with vehicular manslaughter for the death of a 16-year-old bicyclist one month ago.

Richard Kuck, 72, of New Knoxville, on Wednesday was charged with the second-degree misdemeanor. His case is pending in Sidney Municipal Court.

Cavaliers shut out LCC

COLDWATER - Wednesday's baseball game between Lima Central Catholic and Coldwater gave the Cavaliers a chance to avenge last year's loss in the opening game of the sectional tournament.

Seitz signs with UNOH

COLDWATER - Gwen Seitz, a key member of the Coldwater girls bowling team's run of state success the past several seasons will head to Lima to continue her education and career at the University of Northwestern Ohio.

USAC Sprints make 2014 debut Saturday

Eldora Speedway

The United States Auto Club (USAC) National Sprint Car Series has been competing at Eldora Speedway since 1962 with 71 different drivers visiting the coveted victory lane at the high-banked, half-mile oval.

Bulldogs shut down by Bath's Weis

Wednesday's local roundup

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Hunter Weis threw six innings of two-hit baseball as Bath handed Celina its first loss in Western Buckeye League baseball action in a 3-0 contest on Wednesday in Lima.