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.

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Incoming mayor selects top administrator

By William Kincaid

CELINA - St. Marys Safety Service Director Tom Hitchcock will be working for Celina next year.

Newly-elected Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel, a Republican who will take office Jan. 1, this morning told the newspaper he has selected Hitchcock as Celina's next safety service director.

"We share very similar conservative philosophies," Hazel said.

The safety service director is hired by the mayor.

Hitchcock resigned from St. Marys last week. His last day with that city is Dec. 31.

Hazel served as city safety service director from 2004 to 2009 and during that time worked with Hitchcock, who was employed with Van Wert and St. Marys.

"I've worked with Tom for several years through city business," Hazel said.

Hazel said Hitchcock has professional engineering and surveying licenses and a master's degree in business administration.

Hazel said he had three qualified, knowledgeable candidates in mind when considering whom he would appoint. He originally didn't think Hitchcock would be available for the position but said he was able to secure him.

Kent Bryan, Celina's planning and community development director, also has served as the safety service director since Rick Bachelor resigned in mid-October.

The safety service director is the appointing authority for service and safety departments and plans, directs and manages administratively the police, fire, sanitary, storm sewer, street, electric utility, engineering, water distribution, water/wastewater treatment plants, zoning and subdivision, recreation and city railroad operations.

He or she also ensures the city's compliance with federal and state regulations and is responsible for city traffic regulations and personnel matters within service and safety departments.

The director also develops city policies and procedures, secures financing for capital improvement projects, conducts meetings, negotiates and administers labor union contracts and is responsible for several other duties.

Archive of December 7th, 2011

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Budget cuts in dispute

ROCKFORD - The 2012 budget did not pass third reading at the village council meeting Tuesday due to disagreements over funding cuts.

Council members voted 3-3, with mayor Amy Joseph casting the dissenting tie-breaking vote. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Dispatcher job may turn part time

CELINA - City council members are debating whether to fund a full-time replacement for a retired dispatcher or make the job part time.

During recen

Tech fund established

Money used to buy supplemental items for teaching gadgets

COLDWATER - An elementary tech fund recently was created to help teachers purchase materials to enhance items in their classrooms.

"I asked the tea

Work continues, weather permitting

Minster's Fourth Street

MINSTER - Work continues on the second phase of the Fourth Street Reconstruction Project with Brumbaugh Construction planning to move ahead as weather permits.

Shelby County settles in civil sexual harassment case

The three parties involved in a civil suit charging sexual harassment within the Shelby County's Sheriffs department have agreed to a $105,000 settlement.

Downtown merchants consider future activities

CELINA - Celina Merchants Association members Tuesday discussed future downtown activities and proclaimed Midnight Gladness Sale a success.

Members discussed 2011 activities, such as Taste of Celina, an Art Walk and Easter event. They plan to meet in January to organize a schedule for the year.

Knights dominate second half

CONVOY - The Parkway girls' basketball team fought through foul trouble for a four-point lead over Crestview at halftime, but turnovers and defensive breakdowns haunted the Panthers in the second half.