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.

Wednesday, October 11th, 2017

Local health agency ready for flu season

Shot clinic called success

By Ed Gebert

CELINA - Activity leading up to flu season is just beginning in Mercer County.

Health district epidemiologist Deb Scheer told health board members on Tuesday that activity is increasing with one influenza-associated hospitalization case reported in September and a successful drive-thru flu clinic held at the Mercer County Fairgrounds on Oct. 3.

Health district employees administered 461 flu shots at the event, down from about 530 in 2016. Scheer said the reduction is due to the increased availability of the vaccines at area drug and discount stores.

District workers also administered 1,049 various vaccines in September, Scheer said.

Accreditation coordinator Jason Menchhofer said the district has begun to apply for accreditation. The application was sent to the state in late September.

Menchhofer also must complete accreditation coordinator training within the next few months.

"Then we'll be ready to start uploading the required documents," he said.

Mercer County is only the second health district in the region to begin the application process, behind only Allen County. Ohio law requires all county health departments to be accredited by 2020. To reach that deadline, health districts must begin the application process by June 30, 2018.

In other action, members,

• issued orders to the owners of two dogs, one on West Butler Street in Fort Recovery and one on Dogwood Circle in Celina, to provide proof of current rabies vaccinations to the district.

• officially disbanded the licensing council, a body no longer required by the state. The council had been formed to appoint a member to sit on the board of health to give food license holders input into health district fees and requirements. That representative, Julie Fleck, will continue as a board member.

• approved an updated policy on reimbursement of expenses after the use of personal credit cards for district business.

• met for 45 minutes in executive session to address pending litigation involving the district. No action was taken concerning those issues.

Archive of October 11th, 2017

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Additional online story on this date

Board discusses keeping overdose drug at school

COLDWATER - School board members at Tuesday's meeting discussed possibly keeping the anti-opioid overdose drug Narcan on school grounds as a safety measure. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

County's finances a mix of good, bad

CELINA - County officials received a mixed bag of financial news on Tuesday morning ahead of the county commissioners' 2018 budgeting process, which should begin in the coming weeks.

Child rapist pleads guilty

WAPAKONETA - A St. Marys man pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court to rape, a first-degree felony, and pandering obscenity involving a minor, a second-degree felony.

Meningitis reported at Celina school

CELINA - A Celina Elementary School third-grader was diagnosed with viral meningitis this week.

The virus can spread through direct contact with saliva, nasal mucus or feces, school nurse Candy Weitz said in a release sent to parents and news outlets.

Parkway board advised bleachers must be repaired

MENDON - Parkway school board members on Tuesday learned the football field bleachers must be replaced sooner rather than later.

At a previous mee

Rockford man charged in drug investigation

ROCKFORD - A 30-year-old Rockford man was arrested on Tuesday night as the result of a drug investigation.

Ryann Lee Robertson, 106 W. Market St.,

Bulldogs rebound with victory

CELINA - The Celina volleyball team bounced back from last Thursday's tough loss at St. Marys with a 25-14, 25-9, 25-19 win over Van Wert on Tuesday night at the Intermediate School gymnasium.

Cavs celebrate

Coldwater closes in on MAC title with win over Versailles

COLDWATER - Coldwater celebrated its six seniors before the game.

Then the Cavaliers celebrated a big win.

Coldwater defeated Versailles 3-1 (2

Cardinals sweep Blue Jays

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

New Bremen inched closer to winning its first MAC volleyball title since 2008 with a 25-15, 25-20, 25-21 win over Delphos St. John's at Arnzen Gymnasium in Delphos.

Celina, Shawnee play to a tie

CELINA - Shawnee and Celina battled to a 1-1 tie in the Western Buckeye League girls soccer finale Tuesday evening on the Celina pitch.

The Bulldogs fought back from a 1-0 halftime deficit with the equalizer at the 18:11 mark of the second half.

Building transformed for salon

Lunatic Fringe opens its doors in St. Marys

ST. MARYS - A long-empty building in downtown St. Marys has been transformed into Lunatic Fringe Salon, a business that hopes to help others transform their look as well.