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, March 24th, 2015

Mercer County no longer has lowest jobless rate in state

By Daily Standard Staff

Mercer County in February for the first time in more than three years does not hold the lowest unemployment rate in Ohio.

The county's jobless rate fell from 4.2 percent in January to 3.7 percent in February but was bumped from the bottom spot by Delaware County at 3.6 percent, according to data released today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Mercer County's unemployment rate had risen in January - along with most other Ohio counties - from a low of 2.6 percent in December.

Auglaize County's unemployment rate also dropped in February to 4.1 percent, keeping it at the fifth-lowest ranking in the state. The county's January rate was 4.7 percent and its December rate was 3.1 percent.

Jobless rates in neighboring counties for February were 4.6 percent in Van Wert, 5.1 percent in Darke, 4.9 percent in Shelby and 5.4 percent in Allen.

Ohio's revised unemployment rate for February was 5.1 percent - the same as in January and December. The state posted a 6.2 percent jobless rate one year ago.

The U.S. revised unemployment rate for February was 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent in January and 6.7 percent one year ago.

Archive of March 24th, 2015

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Leaders search for way to repair crumbling streets

CELINA - Residential streets continue to crumble as city officials struggle to find a way to pay for much-needed repairs.

West Lisle Street near th [More]

St. Marys moves toward enacting new dangerous dog law

ST. MARYS - Pit bulls would no longer be singled out from all other breeds under an ordinance introduced at Monday's city council meeting.

Pit bull owners had vehemently objected to previous rules passed in December that specifically targeted the breed. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Mother Nature's cruel welcome to spring in Ohio

Snow causes havoc on area roadways

CELINA - Dozens of accidents and slide-offs occurred Monday afternoon after several inches of snow blanketed the area just three days into spring.

At least five people were injured in two accidents in Mercer County when white-out conditions made it difficult for drivers to see.

Fort council approves annexation

FORT RECOVERY - A roomful of Fort Recovery residents burst into applause Monday night after all but one village council member voted to annex and rezone 6.19 acres south of town on state Route 49, paving the way for a Dollar General.

Celina school board eyes new buses

CELINA - School board members want to replace as many as five buses next school year and another five over the next five years to update an aging fleet.

DeWine: Ex-Celina mayor won't have to pay back fees

CELINA - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has ruled former mayor Sharon LaRue does not have to repay the city $6,107 for medical insurance premiums, ending a lengthy dispute with the state.

Celina mayor proclaims city financially sound

CELINA - The city remains on firm financial footing due to the responsible fiscal management by administrators and city council, mayor Jeff Hazel asserted Monday night during his belated state of the city address.

Route 274 to be detoured in New Bremen

NEW BREMEN - State Route 274 in New Bremen will be detoured for two weeks in April so PAB Construction can replace deteriorating curbs and gutters.

St. Henry council OKs pay for pool employees, fees for pool passes

ST. HENRY - Village council members on Monday night began preparing for summer by approving first reading of legislation setting pay rates for pool employees and fees for pool passes and shelters.

Coldwater may require employee's certification to ensure EPA compliance

COLDWATER - Village officials may require an employee to gain certification to inspect backflow protectors for residents using cisterns, according to village administrator/engineer Eric Thomas.

Emerging Agriculture Conference set at Lake Campus

An free event offering information on both traditional and nontraditional farming topics will be Saturday at Wright State University-Lake Campus.

It will be held in James F. Dicke Hall.

Baltes one of a kind

To say that Earl Baltes was a one-of-a-kind person would be an understatement.

Baltes, the founder and longtime owner of Eldora Speedway who passed away Monday morning at the age of 93, turned a plot of land outside Rossburg into one of the most famous dirt tracks in the world.

Celina's Hoyng named second team All-Ohio

Division I & II Boys Basketball All-Ohio

Celina's Ryan Hoyng added another honor to his stellar basketball career as he was selected second team All-Ohio in Division II by the Associated Press on Monday.