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.

Friday, May 15th, 2020

Some crash numbers about the same despite virus-emptied roads

By Sydney Albert

Despite having fewer vehicles on the road during the statewide coronavirus shutdown, the number of accidents reported by some law enforcement offices has remained about the same.

Lt. John Westerfield said since March 15, the number of accidents handled by the Ohio State Highway Patrol Wapakoneta Post has been about the same as in the same time period in 2019.

Fewer vehicles had been out during the statewide shutdown, but some people who kept traveling apparently began ignoring the usual rules of the road, Westerfield said, adding with the reduction in traffic, people had begun speeding more and committing other traffic infractions such as rolling through stop signs.

Westerfield also noted that citations issued by his post had been reduced, but the number of warnings issued had almost doubled during this period.

Patrol officers never stopped pulling over people, which Westerfield said was a common misconception. To avoid unnecessary exposure, both for troopers and motorists, officials had advised them to stop people only for serious violations or behavior that could lead to accidents.

They're not alone. Other law enforcement offices, such as the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and Celina Police Department, implemented similar policies. Roads were still being watched and patrolled, and blatant violations would earn a traffic stop, but overall, officers reduced the number of traffic stops and issued more warnings than citations.

Increased speeding and other road violations had become a national problem during the coronavirus pandemic, Westerfield said. When his office began hearing reports of increased speeding, some patrols were pulled off less busy roads to focus on the interstate.

With long stretches of empty road, speeders thought nothing could stop them, Westerfield said. Yet as surveillance of the interstates increased, the state began to reopen and more people returned to the roads, he's noticed speeding issues have begun to fall.

It's hard to go 90 mph on the interstate when there's always someone in front of you, he said.

Aggressive drivers and people who ignore the rules of the road will always be an issue, pandemic or not, Westerfield said. Therefore, motorists are asked to continue using defensive driving habits to make the road safer for everyone.

Archive of May 15th, 2020

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Additional online story on this date

Woman pleads guilty to theft

CELINA - A Celina woman received a suspended sentence of 720 days in jail after pleading guilty to four first-degree misdemeanor petty theft charges. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Local virus cases climb by 13

CELINA - The number of COVID-19 cases in Mercer County continues to climb as nine new cases raised the county's total to 110 on Thursday.

In Auglaize County, four new confirmed cases raised the county's total to 50.

SWCD confirms manure application complaint

CELINA - The Mercer Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors learned of a valid improper manure application complaint during Thursday morning's meeting.

Ordinance would hike village water rates

CHICKASAW - Village council members on Wednesday heard second reading of an ordinance that would raise residents' water rates by $10 per month.

The legislation also included a salary increase for fiscal officer Kelly Poeppelman to cover the added workload for monthly billing.

Amazing Athletes

'Dominant athlete'

He made "the catch" in Minster's 2014 state game.

And Eli Wolf is still making big catches on the football field today.

Wolf's 51-yard touchdow

Amazing Athletes

'Never lost'

Leslie (Moorman) O'Brien meant business when she stepped on the track.

"She'd get in the blocks with the mindset of a guy in a boxing match," one

Spring Spotlight

Flyers disappointed they couldn't get on diamond

MARIA STEIN - Alex Hemmelgarn's baseball classmates had already experienced the peak of high school athletic achievement this school year.

Seniors