Thursday, November 9th, 2017

Electric crews restore full power

Marathon process completed

By William Kincaid
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Workers unload a generator from the bed of a pickup truck in front of the loading docks on the east side of the Crown Equipment Corp. building along Grand Lake Road on Wednesday morning. Cleanup is continuing after the site was damaged by Sunday's tornado.

CELINA - City crews, after having put in countless hours over the last few days, on Wednesday afternoon re-energized the electric grid to restore full power to Celina, mayor Jeff Hazel confirmed this morning.
However, as of this morning, Menards and Walmart were still operating on standby power via emergency generators, Hazel said. They'll switch over to the city's power grid once DP&L finishes up additional work, he said.
Crown Equipment Corp. officials released an official statement this morning stating the company is committed to restoring production at the company's damaged Celina plant, with teams working on a recovery plan since shortly after the incident on Sunday. With power restored to the facility, Crown's contractors and suppliers are lending their support by providing much-needed resources.
The statement said communication with affected employees, customers and other impacted parties is ongoing.
Crown Equipment Vice President of Human Resources Randy Niekamp confirmed Thursday morning that the company will pay employees affected by the Celina plant closure while the plant is out of commission.
State Route 29 from Grand Lake Road to Havemann Road was temporarily closed today to allow DP&L crews to continue repairs to their high-voltage lines, Hazel said. It was expected to reopen at 1 p.m, city safety service director Tom Hitchcock said.
Havemann Road has reopened, but Grand Lake Road is still closed, Hazel pointed out.
Once the grid was restored, crews went to each business on Grand Lake Road and Havemann Road, making sure each had been connected to the grid, Hazel said.
"Any resident or business that is currently without power should contact Celina Municipal Utilities with your name and address," a city news release states. "Thank you for your patience as Celina has rebuilt a substantial portion of its electric grid that was damaged from the Sunday tornado."
Hazel said it may take several days before officials can assess the total cost of the storm to the city. In addition to employee overtime hours - which have yet to be tabulated - the city will also be responsible for hours and materials provided by mutual-aid responders.
City council in the coming days or weeks may need to appropriate funds to cover the expenses, he said.
The National Weather Service office in Wilmington confirmed on Monday that two EF2 tornadoes - each producing wind speeds as high as 120 mph - had touched down, one in western Mercer County and one in Celina.
- Staff writer Sydney Albert contributed to this report.
Additional online story on this date
St. Marys
ST. MARYS - The Roughrider Philanthropic Association has raised nearly half the funds needed for a new football stadium at Memorial High School.
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Subscriber and paid stories on this date
CELINA -Former teacher Gregg Fledderjohann filed a complaint claiming age and sex discrimination, harassment and retaliation by Celina City Schools Superintendent Ken Schmiesing and elementary school principal Greg Ahrens.
CELINA - VTF Excavation has begun groundwork for the new Harley Jones Rotary Memorial Amphitheater, the planned centerpiece of the new Bryson Park District.
CELINA - Mercer County Fair Board members learned on Tuesday evening that revenue for the year, including December receipts, will be 12 percent higher than had been projected.
$390,000 to help upgrade village's wastewater treatment plant
ROCKFORD - Officials have learned the village has been awarded a $390,000 Community Development Block Grant to help pay for the planned wastewater treatment plant upgrade.
CHICKASAW - Village officials on Wednesday evening learned Board of Public Affairs members have agreed to raise residents' base water rates by $15 to $55 per month.
NEW BREMEN - Student talent was on full display at Wednesday evening's school board meeting.
First on the agenda were Sean Lafleur, Cole Hemmelgarn
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The Coldwater Cavaliers swept their way through to the Division III state volleyball tournament.
They face a team from Independence that did the exact same thing to get out of the Barberton regional.
Curtain Call
With Coldwater, New Bremen and Versailles all representing the Midwest Athletic Conference at the state volleyball tournament this weekend, they are each fulfilling dreams certainly not unfamiliar to the Marion Local volleyball program.
Coldwater faces Lima Central Catholic for first time since 2002
Week 11 has Coldwater going to a familiar venue and playing a longtime foe for the first time in 15 years.
Harmon Field in Wapakoneta will host the 8-3 Cavaliers against 10-1 Lima Central Catholic in a Division VI Region 24 semifinal.
Marion Local (11-0) vs. Spencerville (9-2)
Alexander Stadium/
Purk Field, Piqua
Last meeting: 34-14, Spencerville (1972)
About the Flyers:
Offense
  
  Braeden Dunlap, RB St, Marys
  10 carries for 106 yards and three touchdowns and a 52-yard touchdown reception in the Roughriders' 48-8 win over Sparta Highland.