Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020

COVID vaccine is here

First shots administered Monday in Mercer Co.

By Leslie Gartrell
CELINA - Briarwood Village in Coldwater and Celina Manor officials were among the first in the area on Monday to begin COVID-19 vaccinations for residents and staff.
Briarwood Village Administrator Eric Ireland on Friday said the facility should receive about 300 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is enough for all residents and staff. The vaccination clinic began on Monday and is not mandatory.
"I'm looking forward to it," Ireland said on Friday.
Mercer County Health District Administrator Jason Menchhofer on Wednesday said the county's six long-term care facilities and one assisted living-only facility would receive vaccinations through CVS under the Partnership for Long-Term Care Program. Officials noted long-term care facilities and nursing homes would receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Ireland said Briarwood's vaccine shipment would arrive from a CVS near Shawnee. The facility will offer another round of vaccinations in three weeks so residents and staff can get their second dose.
Celina Manor administrator Peggy Stewart said the nursing home performed its vaccine clinic on Monday as well. Calls for details about the clinic were not returned.
Local health officials on Monday also reported 34 new COVID-19 cases in Mercer County and 50 new confirmed cases in Auglaize County, raising their totals to 3,190 and 2,601, respectively.
Mercer County Health District officials in a news release also reported 566 probable cases, 2,933 people who have recovered, 28 pending test results, 59 deaths and 17 probable deaths from COVID-19. Of the 3,190 confirmed cases, 181 are active.
Officials also included information on the most recent death in the county. The 59th death, which was reported on Friday, involved a 76-year-old St. Henry man, according to the release.
An Auglaize County Health Department news release on Monday reported 710 probable cases, 139 total hospitalizations and 2,672 people who are presumed to be recovered.
The breakdown of total cases by community is Wapakoneta, 1,163; St. Marys, 981; Minster, 383; New Bremen, 323; Cridersville, 171; Waynesfield, 121; New Knoxville, 91; Spencerville, 22; the Lima area, 12; Uniopolis, 10; Buckland, 10; St. Johns, six; New Hampshire, six; the Botkins area, six; the Lakeview area, four; and the Mendon area, two.
As of Monday night, the Ohio Department of Health had reported 629,354 confirmed and probable cases in the state, 35,048 hospitalizations and 8,122 confirmed and probable deaths from COVID-19.
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CELINA - School board members on Monday night agreed to press ahead with putting a building project on the May 4 primary election ballot.
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CELINA - City council members on Monday closed out the year at their final regular meeting by approving the final version of the 2021 budget and a new three-year contract with the union representing dispatchers.
COLUMBUS - Mercer County Prosecutor Matthew Fox and Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey and the victim of a 2013 sexual battery case have filed a request
ST. HENRY - Council members on Monday approved 3% raises for village employees and elected officials and reappointed Richard M. Delzeith as the village solicitor.
FORT RECOVERY - Board members have gleaned some information on when school staff may receive COVID-19 vaccinations administrators revealed at Monday's meeting.
MINSTER - The elementary school playground could soon receive a facelift in honor of a recently deceased teacher.
Former longtime kindergarten teacher Lisa Piening, 59, died in October. Superintendent Brenda Boeke said Piening had been a staunch advocate of allowing kids time for outside play.
CELINA - Celina Middle School will host its Merry and Bright Christmas Lights display from 6-9 p.m. today at the Mercer County Fairgrounds, with proceeds to benefit Relay For Life.
FORT RECOVERY - Village council members approved after final reading a wage ordinance during a brief Monday evening meeting.
The ordinance corrects the pay schedule of all salaried and hourly employees.
Panthers hold off Bulldogs for victory
CELINA - The Parkway girls basketball team had never trailed when Taylor Klingshirn tied the game at 33 with 5:40 left in the fourth quarter.
Kling
Area Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
St. Henry fell behind 14-3 after one quarter and never recovered as Lima Central Catholic posted a 59-20 win in non-conference girls basketball action on Monday at Herr Gymnasium in Lima.
ST. HENRY - Where other teenagers choose a college based on the campus atmosphere, Ryan Uhlenhake took a more philosophical approach when he picked Indiana Tech.