a_d
Tuesday, January 24th, 2017

Mercer a natural disaster area

Local farmers have until Sept. 5 to apply for aid from USDA

By Nancy Allen
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared Mercer County a primary natural disaster area due to 2016's drought.
Loss assessment reports were reviewed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which determined that production losses were sufficient to warrant the natural disaster declaration, a news release from acting Mercer County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Michael Baucher says.
The declaration is due to damage and losses caused by a drought that occurred from May 24-Oct. 21.
The declaration may make Mercer County producers eligible for certain assistance such as emergency loans, which can be used to help farmers recover from production and physical losses
Farmers in neighboring Auglaize, Van Wert, Darke and Shelby counties in Ohio and in Jay and Adams counties in Indiana, also have been designated natural disaster areas because they are contiguous to Mercer County. Producers in all Mercer and these counties have until Sept. 5 to apply for assistance. Auglaize County already had been declared a primary natural disaster due to drought in early December.
Locally, farmers can contact the Mercer County FSA office at 419-586-3149 or the Auglaize FSA office at 419-738-3918.
a_d
Archive of January 24th, 2017
Buy this E-Edition
Additional online story on this date
Love of math adds up to a prestigious award for area native
A Fort Recovery native has been awarded a prize considered by many to be second in importance to only the Nobel Prize.
Richard Schoen, 66, a profe [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Council OKs funds to pay for water study
Celina
CELINA - It's only January, but city council members on Monday night were pressed to pass an emergency supplemental appropriation to pay bills for an ongoing study and upgrade of the water treatment plant.
Hazel points to progress in state of city
Surplus finances upgrades
CELINA - Mayor Jeff Hazel on Monday night touted the city's progress in 2016 with his fifth annual state of the city speech, highlighting finances, commercial activities and much-needed repairs to city streets.
Coldwater sewer project progressing
Village under EPA orders to separate storm, sanitary sewers
COLDWATER - Work on the village's sewer overflow elimination project is progressing.
Village administrator/engineer Eric Thomas told council member
St. Henry council talks sidewalk work
Project will affect 13 properties
ST. HENRY - A proposed sidewalk project is one step closer to fruition.
Council members on Monday heard first reading of a resolution to construct
Mercer County still lowest in joblessness statewide
From staff reports
Mercer County in December maintained the lowest unemployment rate in the state.
The county's December rate was 3.1 percent,
New Bremen council moves to set fee for E-meter users
NEW BREMEN - With four village officials absent at Monday's council meeting, members quickly moved on three items.
Mayor Jeff Pape, village admini
Fullenkamp elected MRDD board president
CELINA - Mercer County Board of Developmental Disabilities members at Monday's organization meeting elected Phil Fullenkamp as board president, Teri Spoltman as vice president and Beth Guggenbiller as recording secretary.
Four elected to counties' FSA committees
Two people have been elected to each county Farm Service Agency committee in Mercer and Auglaize counties.
In Mercer County, Celina-area farmer Den
Olding happy to be honored
Minster distance standout to be inducted into OATCCC Hall of Fame this week
From 2001 until 2004, Sunni Olding was as dominant as one could be in distance running.
The Minster running standout will be honored for her spectacular career when she is inducted into the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) Hall of Fame this Friday in Columbus.
Pitch limit a plus for the game
Razz-Eye View
Occasionally, stories emerge about high school pitchers throwing 120, 130 and sometimes 140 or more pitches during the season.
The stories are few and far between and usually take place somewhere far away from this area.
Langenkamp signs with IU-East
CELINA - Indiana University-East was the perfect fit for Hailey Langenkamp for her major and her volleyball game.
The Celina standout will play for the NAIA Red Wolves based in Richmond, Indiana, next season after officially signing on Monday.
Guys want to look good, too
Changes include suits instead of tuxes, navy blues and plaids
Trendy grooms and groomsmen are choosing to wear suits or tuxedos, depending on whether the wedding is more formal or casual.
Over the years, men's wedding options have changed along with the fashion of the day.
Hearing set to rezone land to residential
ST. MARYS - City officials are looking for public input on the rezoning of about 7.5 acres near the northwest corner of Stoneybrook and Woodridge drives.