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, December 15th, 2020

St. Marys hopes to make levy permanent

By Sydney Albert

ST. MARYS - Council members are taking the first steps to change a 10-year, 0.5% income tax levy first passed in 1985 into a permanent tax.

Members on Monday gave first reading to an emergency resolution to place the new permanent tax on the May 4 ballot. They plan to table the resolution at their next meeting at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 30, wanting to give the public time to voice any concerns and agreed the irregular timing of the meeting so close to the new year holiday would interfere.

The tax generates about $1.5 million each year for the city. Its revenues fund the police, fire, parks and engineering departments as well as the street program, according to safety service director Greg Foxhoven.

Voters renewed the tax in 1995, 2005 and 2015. City administrators said they aim to put an amendment on the May primary ballot to eliminate the need for renewals. If the amendment were to fail, it would not get rid of the tax, which instead would come up for renewal again in May 2025.

Foxhoven said the city has major capital improvement projects on the horizon, and the change would help officials arrange long-term financing and planning options.

In other business, council members also gave first reading to the city's 2021 budget and materials ordinances. The projected spending budget for the year is about $42 million, though Foxhoven noted numbers within the budget would likely change before final passage.

The most recent changes to the budget included an increase of $350,000 to the water fund to pay for the demolition of the old water plant and a $150,000 increase to the sewer fund.

Archive of December 15th, 2020

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Vaccine to arrive at hospital, district in week

Health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients first in line

CELINA - The Mercer County Health District and Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater should receive their first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines in about a week. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

COVID affects County Home

Facility was hesitant to add new residents

CELINA - The Mercer County Home has shied away from accepting new residents since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and is housing 11 people, superintendent Jerry Moeder said.

Celina district to receive state award

CELINA - Celina City Schools is to receive a state award today for supporting the success of all learners, superintendent Ken Schmiesing announced on Monday.

Wuebker sworn in as new council member

NEW BREMEN - Chad Wuebker was sworn in as the newest member of village council on Monday.

A 1996 graduate of New Bremen and then of the University

St. Henry getting extra COVID-19 aid funds

ST. HENRY - Village police officers will receive an additional stipend for work related to COVID-19 from CARES Act funding.

Council members on Mond

School board OKs seeking bids for track

MARIA STEIN - Marion Local school board members on Monday approved seeking bids to replace the district's all-weather track.

They also learned work is proceeding on plans for a building addition.

District receives $20,000 from insurance policy

ST. HENRY - The school district recently received $20,000 when it was named a beneficiary in a former principal's life insurance policy.

Former teacher and elementary school principal Dennis Brackman, who died in November, left the money to the district.

Late letdown

Big Green pull away to beat Cavaliers

COLDWATER - When Coldwater cut the deficit to 45-43 at the end of the third quarter, it looked like the Cavaliers were all set to complete the comeback.

Riders rout Defiance

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

St. Marys jumped out to a 23-2 lead after one quarter and never looked back in beating Defiance 57-17 in Western Buckeye League girls basketball action on Monday in Defiance.