Flood Warning issued September 20 at 5:21PM EDT until September 21 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

...The Flood Warning continues 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 4:40 PM EDT Sunday the stage was 12.9 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 13.0 feet this evening. It will then fall below flood stage just after midnight tonight. - Flood stage is 13.0 feet.

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.

Tuesday, May 5th, 2020

Man breaks into fire department, calls EMS

By Sydney Albert

MENDON - A Mendon man has been charged after reportedly breaking into the village fire department and then calling from the chief's phone for emergency help after cutting his hand during the break-in.

Gabriel G. Spradlin, 35, pleaded not guilty in Celina Municipal Court on Monday to criminal damaging or endangering, a second-degree misdemeanor, and criminal trespass, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, after reportedly breaking into the department on Friday night.

Spradlin reportedly was arrested after breaking a window to gain access to the department and then using a phone in the fire chief's office, according to Celina Municipal Court documents.

A Mercer County Sheriff's Office report indicated dispatchers received the initial call at about 9:41 p.m. Capt. Doug Timmerman said Spradlin had used the phone in the fire chief's office to report that he was bleeding from injuries suffered while breaking the window.

Spradlin was reportedly transported to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater, where he received stitches for a cut, before he was transported to the Mercer County jail.

He has been released on a recognizance bond with the condition that he live at an address in Rockford and not consume any alcohol or drugs. He is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing at 2:15 p.m. June 3.

Archive of May 5th, 2020

Buy this E-Edition

Additional online story on this date

Teachers adapt to new normal

ST. MARYS - When Gov. Mike DeWine first ordered schools to switch to remote learning, Amy Wenning had thought it would last only a few weeks.

The f [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

3 new Mercer County cases

CELINA - Mercer County Health District and Mercer Health officials are preparing for a potentially larger community outbreak of COVID-19 as the county continues to see an increase in the numbers of cases and people being tested.

Farmers' market to open Saturday at fairgrounds

CELINA - The Celina Farmers' Market will open for the season this Saturday at the Mercer County Fairgrounds, a change of scenery from its usual spot in front of the Mercer County Courthouse.

Solar panel field running after raccoon incident

CELINA - A solar plant is back in action after having been disabled for almost a year after a freak accident sparked an explosion, causing substantial damage.

Cooper Farms utility extension under budget

FORT RECOVERY - The Cooper Farms utility extension project is wrapping up slightly under budget, village administrator Randy Diller told village council members on Monday evening.

Changes due to the virus

St. Marys library adds service

ST. MARYS - St. Marys Community Public Library will offer curbside pickup starting Thursday during regular business hours.

Spring Spotlight

What could have been

Tribe had huge hopes for 2020 softball season

FORT RECOVERY - Last spring, Fort Recovery set school softball records during the program's first winning season in more than a decade.

"We had t