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.

Monday, October 17th, 2016

Rockford teen dies from injuries suffered in crash

By Jared Mauch

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A Rockford teen died Saturday from injuries suffered in a single-vehicle accident on Wednesday.

Alexis Bickle, 16, died at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, where she had been listed in critical condition.

Bickle was a junior at Parkway High School where she was a member of the Parkway Band and softball and basketball teams. She also was involved in FCCLA and Grand Lake Fall Softball League and played as a member of the traveling softball team, the Rockford Rippers. She was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church in Rockford.

Parkway High School Principal Brian Fortkamp said Bickle was a caring student who wanted to help people. She did volunteer work in the elementary school during her study hall time, he pointed out.

"She was a great kid, one of a kind. Anytime you would talk to her she would be smiling, and you couldn't help smiling back because of her infectious smile," Fortkamp said.

Counselors and pastors were at the school Friday for Bickle's fellow band members and are again at the school today for the entire student body. School administrators are working with the groups in which Bickle was involved to plan possible memorials for her.

"She will be greatly missed," Fortkamp said.

On Oct. 12, a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Bickle traveled off the right side of Greenville Road in southern Van Wert County, overcorrected and slid off the left side of the roadway before hitting a tree, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Bickle reportedly was taken by air to Lutheran Hospital.

Two passengers, Chandler Brown, 15, Rockford, and Braden Rice, 15, Celina, also reportedly were injured in the crash. Brown was transported by Mercer EMS to Van Wert County Hospital, Van Wert, and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time, as was Bickle.

Rice reportedly was taken by Samaritan to Lutheran Hospital for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A call to Lutheran Hospital for a condition update for Rice was not returned by press time. It's unknown if Rice was wearing a seatbelt.

See Bickle's obituary in today's edition.

Archive of October 17th, 2016

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