Flood Watch issued April 2 at 9:21PM EDT until April 6 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.
* WHERE...The following counties, in Indiana, Dearborn, Fayette, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley, Switzerland, Union and Wayne, the following counties, in Kentucky, Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Owen, Pendleton and Robertson, and the following counties, in Ohio, 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...Through Sunday morning.
* IMPACTS...Soils remain moist and excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Multiple rounds of rain will occur into the weekend with the heaviest rain expect Thursday night into Friday morning and then again Saturday into Saturday night.
Tornado Watch issued April 2 at 9:13PM EDT until April 3 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 103 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT THURSDAY 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 9 COUNTIES
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE BRACKEN CAMPBELL CARROLL GALLATIN GRANT KENTON OWEN PENDLETON
IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 27 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL OHIO
DELAWARE FAIRFIELD FAYETTE FRANKLIN LICKING MADISON PICKAWAY UNION
IN SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO
HIGHLAND
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, AUGUSTA, AURORA, BATESVILLE, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKSVILLE, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, BUTLER, CAMDEN, CARROLLTON, CELINA, CIRCLEVILLE, COLDWATER, CONNERSVILLE, COVINGTON, CRITTENDEN, DAY HEIGHTS, DAYTON, DELAWARE, DILLSBORO, DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS, DOWNTOWN DAYTON, DRY RIDGE, EATON, ERLANGER, FAIRBORN, FAIRFIELD, FALMOUTH, FLORENCE, FORT THOMAS, FRANKLIN, GEORGETOWN, GREENDALE, GREENFIELD, GREENVILLE, HAMILTON, HIDDEN VALLEY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LIBERTY, LONDON, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MIDDLETOWN, MILAN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OSGOOD, OWENTON, OXFORD, PICKERINGTON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TROY, URBANA, VERSAILLES, VEVAY, WAPAKONETA, WARSAW, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WILLIAMSTOWN, WILMINGTON, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.
The Wind Advisory has been cancelled. (details ...)
The Wind Advisory has been cancelled and is no longer in effect.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 2 at 11:25PM EDT until April 2 at 11:45PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
At 1125 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Waynesfield, moving northeast at 55 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include... Roundhead, Dola, Kenton, Silver Creek, Belle Center, Jumbo, Lakeview, Huntersville, Uniopolis, Waynesfield, St. Johns, Walton, Blanchard, Alger, Mentzer, New Hampshire, State Route 195 at State Route 235, Mcguffey, Ada, and Chippewa Park.
57° 57° chance Thu 68° Thu 68° chance 49° 49° Fri 57° Fri 57° likely
Saturday, September 15th, 2007

Marine's perspective of Iraq

By William Kincaid
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

United States Marine Corporal Adam Beougher talks with Grand Lake Christian School students about his experiences in the war in Iraq.

ST. MARYS - A picture of smiling children waving American flags outside a U.S. airbase in Al Asad, Iraq, while friendly Arabic men warmly greet U.S. military personnel is not the portrait of war-ravaged Iraq Americans are used to.
But Corporal Adam Beougher of the U.S. Marines offered students at Grand Lake Christian School in St. Marys his version of a largely appreciative Al Asad population during a presentation at the school's chapel on Friday morning.
"They're just people like me and you," the 22-year-old Parkway High School graduate said.
Beougher, the son of Mark Beougher, Celina, and Leighann Osborn, Rockford, took time out of his brief two-week break to speak of his duties and experiences as an air traffic corporal at the U.S. air base - which he said is about the size of St. Marys -in the arid desert of Al Asad.
Next week, he will travel back to Iraq for a second 7-month-tour.
As corporal of air traffic at the base, Beougher told the students he was responsible for loading and unloading the cargo and personnel of almost every aircraft. His duty was to ensure all people and items arrive at their destinations in Iraq or elsewhere.
Some of his day-to-day experiences included living in a small trailer in "Can City;" averting snakes, spiders and sandstorms; pulling pranks on fellow servicemen; and sleeping with his M-16 rifle.
"You never go anywhere without your weapon in Iraq," he said.
Beougher then fielded an array of questions from the curious students.
When asked if he had ever came close to dying, the corporal said he has remained unscathed so far. Beougher pointed out that he witnessed an armored vehicle ahead of his flip over after activating an improvised explosive device. While flying in a helicopter, he also heard shots "whizz by" from enemy ground fire.
The unabashed children also asked if Beougher if he had handled a bazooka or grenade launcher. They also wanted to know if young recruits in boot camp have to clean areas up with a toothbrush for punishment.
"Yes, that is true ... you will have to do that," he said with a grin.
Another student asked if he had ever killed any one.
Beougher said he has never had to shoot anyone. However, he has had to point his rifle at an Iraqi in order to stop him after a communication breakdown.
Questions eventually focused on the people of Iraq and the American perspective of the war via the media.
"They're a really scared type of people," he said about the average Iraqi.
Because the people are not used to freedom, they are full of trepidation. But in the presence of U.S. forces, Beougher said the people open up and become very happy.
He also pointed out many of the people's dedication to religion, as they will immediately begin praying during required times.
"Boom ... they're down praying," he said.
Beougher also told the students there are some Christian Iraqis.
"There is a few of them," he said. "They don't really try and draw attention to themselves."
Beougher expressed frustration with Americans asking for the withdrawal of troops.
"We're already over here, so why don't you support (the troops)," he said.
He also believes the American media has skewed people's perspectives of the war through various slants.
"I'd like to take them (journalists) to where I'm at," he said.
Elementary teacher Kerri Lehmann, whose family has become close to Beougher through the Celina Baptist Temple, said students at the school have continually thought of Beougher and other U.S. service men and women.
"They've been praying for him all year," she said.
Lehmann's family has also communicated with Beougher through a computer Web cam.
"He's a real close friend," she said. "He's like a son to me."
Additional online stories on this date
ROCKFORD - For the third straight week, the Marion Local Flyers took on an undefeated and highly-touted opponent, and for the third straight week, the Blue and Gold took care of business. [More]
ST. HENRY - The St. Henry Redskin football team recovered from their first loss last week to Marion Local in a big way as they demolished the New Bremen Cardinals, 42-6, in Midwest Athletic Conference play on Homecoming Night at the Wally Post Athletic Complex. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Work is underway on Celina's new water treatment facility and city officials are negotiating with Ohio EPA officials on an extension of the city's Dec. 31 deadline.
Poor supervision, bad judgment and a lack of instruction all play roles in the rising number of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injuries and deaths to youngsters across the country.
Mercer County employees will see an expansion of their health insurance benefits to include more mental illness issues, county commissioners decided Thursday.
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Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Fort Recovery used a 20-point second quarter to put its game with Versailles out of reach in posting a 33-20 win over the Tigers at Hole Field in Versailles.
ST. MARYS - The actual words may not have been spoken, but the phrase "shooting yourself in the foot" described the first half for St. Marys on Friday.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Coldwater got two defensive scores from Mark Steinbrunner to improve to 3-1 on the season with a 37-8 win over Anna in Midwest Athletic Conference action at Booster Field in Shelby County.
MINSTER - Coming into Friday night's contest, the Minster Wildcats had lost 11 straight games to the Delphos St. John's Blue Jays, with many of the recent contests being very close games.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Ottawa-Glandorf stayed among the leaders in the Western Buckeye League with a 21-0 win over Wapakoneta at Titan Stadium on Friday.