Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued March 15 at 11:57PM EDT until March 16 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 61 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN INDIANA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 6 COUNTIES
IN EAST CENTRAL INDIANA
FAYETTE UNION WAYNE
IN SOUTHEAST INDIANA
DEARBORN FRANKLIN OHIO
IN KENTUCKY THIS WATCH INCLUDES 9 COUNTIES
IN NORTHEAST KENTUCKY
LEWIS
IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY
BOONE BRACKEN CAMPBELL GRANT KENTON MASON 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, BEAVERCREEK, BELLEFONTAINE, BELLEVUE, BLANCHESTER, BRIGHT, BROOKSVILLE, BROOKVILLE, BURLINGTON, BUTLER, CAMDEN, CAMP DIX, 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, MILFORD, MINSTER, MOUNT CARMEL, MOUNT OLIVET, MOUNT ORAB, MOUNT REPOSE, MULBERRY, NEW BREMEN, NEWARK, NEWPORT, OAKBROOK, 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, WAPAKONETA, WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, WAVERLY, WEST COLLEGE CORNER, WEST JEFFERSON, WEST UNION, WHEELERSBURG, WILLIAMSTOWN, WILMINGTON, WINCHESTER, WITHAMSVILLE, AND XENIA.

Wind Advisory issued March 15 at 9:34PM EDT until March 16 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)

* WHAT...South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph becoming west southwest.
* WHERE...Portions of east central and southeast Indiana, northern Kentucky, and central, southwest, and west central Ohio.
* WHEN...Until 8 AM EDT Monday.
* IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Slusser waives right to hearing

City will issue disciplinary action against police chief

By William Kincaid

CELINA - Suspended police chief Dave Slusser has waived his right to a predisciplinary hearing scheduled for this morning, and the city may issue disciplinarily action against him soon, according to Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel.

The hearing would have afforded Slusser, who has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 14, a chance to defend himself against a myriad of misconduct allegations, including insubordination, neglect of duties and dishonesty.

City safety service director Tom Hitchcock would have conducted the meeting in which Slusser could have presented testimony, witnesses or documents to explain whether the alleged conduct occurred.

Hazel said Slusser voluntarily signed and delivered a waiver to interim police chief Cal Freeman on Tuesday. Hazel had no further comment on the action.

Slusser said he had no comment on the issue when contacted by The Daily Standard this morning.

City administrators and city human resources consultant Clemans-Nelson and Associates will decide what type of disciplinary measure to impose on Slusser. Hazel refrained from stating what that might be.

"Some action will be taken based on the charges," Hazel said. "And I think that's where Clemans-Nelson comes in."

Slusser has the right to appeal to the local civil service commission any disciplinary action given to him.

Slusser, who joined the department in 1978 and has served as police chief since 1991, is eligible for retirement.

His pension is not at risk, Hazel said.

"In the public sector, the only time when something occurs to impact or affect the retirement benefits would be if there was some kind of criminal offense," Hazel said.

Slusser faces accusations of improperly handling evidence, falsifying official time sheets, retaining a pistol he was only to keep for a two-week test and evaluation, failing to properly process an envelope of evidence and leaving sensitive data on computers disseminated to city council members.

Archive of June 12th, 2013

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Additional online story on this date

Celina's Zacharias named top local softball player

Parkway's Esselstein is the Coach of the Year

Celina's Alexis Zacharias established herself as the premier local power hitter last season and she continued to produce eye-popping offensive statistics again this year. [More]

Subscriber and paid stories on this date

Parkway board grants raises to classified staff

Administrators' pay increase puts them on par with peers

ROCKFORD - Parkway administrators and classified employees will receive pay increases beginning Aug. 1.

After two hours in executive session, schoo

Board forwards ag pollution case to state

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New Bremen dealing with ash borer pest

NEW BREMEN - The emerald ash borer continues to take a heavy toll on local ash trees.

Village administrator Wayne York during Tuesday's council me

Fair vendor denied refund

Health board

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Celina council may update dog waste ordinance

CELINA - Council members may update the city's domestic animal ordinances to address property owners who don't clean up after their pets while walking them.

Coldwater prepares to use new software evaluation tool

COLDWATER - New computer software intended to facilitate instructional improvement will be implemented at Coldwater schools next year.

High School

Farmer finds pot among corn

An unidentified farmer found more than emerging corn plants while spraying a Union Township field.

Deputies were called to the field off Hickernell Road, between state Route 117 and the Van Wert County line, shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Coldwater leading before lightning suspends game

Local Roundup

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Coldwater's ACME team scored four runs in the first inning and was leading 7-0 over Parkway after three innings when lightning caused nearly an hour delay before the game was eventually suspended.