Tornado Warning issued May 7 at 7:59PM EDT until May 7 at 8:15PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

At 757 PM EDT, radar indicated that a tornado-producing storm was located near Coldwater, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado. At 7:55 PM, a tornado was reported 4 miles north of Fort Recovery.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.
Locations impacted include... Celina, Coldwater, St. Henry, Chickasaw, Montezuma, Neptune, Carthagena, and Maria Stein.

Special Weather Statement issued May 7 at 7:40PM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

At 740 PM EDT, a strong thunderstorm was located near Fort Recovery, moving east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 45 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Hail may cause minor damage to vegetation.
Locations impacted include... Celina, Wapakoneta, St. Marys, Coldwater, St. Henry, Fort Recovery, New Knoxville, Moulton, Wabash, Mendon, Chickasaw, Buckland, Montezuma, Kossuth, Tama, Neptune, State Route 116 at State Route 197, Carthagena, and Bulkhead.

Tornado Watch issued May 7 at 6:01PM EDT until May 8 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 197 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT WEDNESDAY 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 12 COUNTIES
IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY
LEWIS
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE BRACKEN CAMPBELL CARROLL GALLATIN GRANT KENTON MASON OWEN PENDLETON ROBERTSON
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, AUGUSTA, AURORA, BATESVILLE, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKSVILLE, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, BUTLER, CAMDEN, CAMP DIX, CARROLLTON, CELINA, CHILLICOTHE, 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, HEAD OF GRASSY, HIDDEN VALLEY, HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, HILLSBORO, INDEPENDENCE, KENTON, KETTERING, LANCASTER, LANDEN, LAWRENCEBURG, LEBANON, LIBERTY, LOGAN, LONDON, MANCHESTER, MARYSVILLE, MASON, MAYSVILLE, MIDDLETOWN, MILAN, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT OLIVET, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, OSGOOD, OWENTON, OXFORD, PEEBLES, PICKERINGTON, PIKE LAKE, PIKETON, PIQUA, PLAIN CITY, PORTSMOUTH, RICHMOND, RIPLEY, RISING SUN, SEAMAN, SIDNEY, SPRINGBORO, SPRINGFIELD, ST. MARYS, SUMMERSIDE, TIPP CITY, TOLLESBORO, TROY, URBANA, VANCEBURG, VERSAILLES, VEVAY, WAPAKONETA, WARSAW, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILLIAMSTOWN, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Celina fire suspicious

Quick response minimizes damage

By Margie Wuebker

Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Celina firefighters check the exterior of the former Grand Slam USA Family Fun Center following a suspicious fire late Monday afternoon. Police were called to the vacant building at 911 E. Wayne St. last week on the report of youths playing inside.

Celina police continue to investigate a suspicious fire on Monday that caused light damage to a vacant building that once housed Celina Roller Rink and later Grand Slam USA Family Fun Center.

Someone at the nearby Eastown Shell station spotted light smoke and an orange glow coming from the 911 E. Wayne St. building about 5 p.m. The Celina Fire Department was dispatched one minute later.

Off-duty firefighter Chad Willrath was pumping gas into his vehicle at the time of the sighting and responded on foot. Another off-duty firefighter also was in the area and responded.

The firefighters surveyed the scene and quickly located four small fires inside, according to Lt. Jon Schumm. Several blazes had been set on the skating floor, while another was burning near a partition separating the rink from a seating area. The fourth "incendiary" fire at the west end of the structure burned into the wall, but flames never accessed the attic.
Police Chief Dave Slusser told The Daily Standard it appears culprits gained entry to the building through a window at the northeast corner. Officers responded to the scene last week on reports of youths playing in the building.
Schumm said the blazes were extinguished within 10 to 15 minutes. However, "overhaul" work continued for some time, as firefighters pulled off wall and ceiling material to make sure there were no hot spots.

Erwin and Charlotte Beyer formerly operated Celina Roller Rink at that location from 1950 to 1993. In later years, the site was home to the Grand Slam facility.

The building has remained vacant for sometime and reportedly underwent bank foreclosure. City of Celina utility records indicate electrical service was disconnected Nov. 24, 2008.

John Mottl, a representative of Caldwell Banker Realty Plus of Marion, confirmed the property is for sale in the wake of foreclosure. He also indicated police and firefighters have been called to the location several times in the past.

A section of East Wayne Street was closed temporarily as firefighters laid down 5-inch hose. Mercer County Emergency Response Volunteers were called to provide traffic control services. Two trucks were used and 11 firefighters responded to the call.

Anyone with information about the fire or suspicious activity in the area should call the police department at 419-586-2345.

Archive of January 19th, 2010

Buy this E-Edition

Additional online story on this date

Schumm humbled by state Hall of Fame honor

OHSBCA Hall of Fame

Mike Schumm never expected to get the call that put him in the exclusive group of great high school baseball coaches.

The longtime Parkway baseball [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Court rejects latest appeal

The Third District Court of Appeals has rejected the latest appeal filed on behalf of a 24-year-old Chickasaw man charged in connection with the traffic deaths of four area men in March 2008.

Beischel's knead to please

CARTHAGENA - In a tattered notebook full of loose pages, the Rev. Tom Beischel logs the destiny of each loaf of bread he bakes.

Neatly recorded on

Change to window design to cost $2,600

New Bremen

NEW BREMEN - Local councilmen took a step back in time Monday night as the architect for the lockkeeper's house under construction said changes in design plans led to window problems eventually solved by a $2,600 change order.

Lake Campus offering new diversity program

Wright State University

Members of Wright State University-Lake Campus and local communities are invited to participate in a new series promoting diversity and understanding

Vote nears on consolidating two area co-ops

Advanced Agri-Solutions, Southwest Landmark could become one

Officials with Advanced Agri-Solutions Co-op Inc., Wapakoneta, and Southwest Landmark Ind., Xenia, are moving ahead with a plan to consolidate.

Following a series of informational meetings for the co-ops' members and customers, ballots were mailed Jan. 15 and should be returned Feb. 8.