Crews are working to restore power in Willard.
Officials with American Electric Power hope to have electricity fully restored by noon today. Hundreds of Willard residents remain without power, after a severe thunderstorm hit the city Wednesday evening. At one point, more than 3,300 AEP customers in Willard had no electricity. In other news, city officials are asking anyone who knows of serious structural damage or injuries to contact Willard City Hall.
The North Coast Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be available in and around Willard this weekend to assist the elderly, disabled and others who are unable to clean up storm damage on their property from Wednesday’s storms.
The team can remove branches and other small debris from yards and can carry limbs and other debris to the street. CERT does not remove large trees or heavy debris and cannot haul debris away. CERT is a volunteer team of specially trained disaster workers affiliated with the Huron County Emergency Management Agency. To schedule volunteer help, call the CERT office at 419-602-0758 or contact the Huron County EMA at 419-663-5772. The CERT Office will be open to take calls all weekend.
Resurfacing work IS taking p lace today on U.S. Route 250 along Norwalk’s north side.
Officials previously said no work would be done today.
Testimony resumes this morning, in the trial of accused kidnapper and rapist Brian Jury.
The Groton Township man is charged with abducting and repeatedly raping a Lorain woman at his Strecker Road property last November. The alleged victim took the stand yesterday, and told the jury about the events of November 1st, including escaping while bound, gagged and nude. It’s not known if Jury will take the stand.
Huron and Crawford counties are now sharing a health commissioner.
Current Huron County health commissioner Tim Hollinger will do the same job in Crawford County. He’s expected to average 20 hours per week in each county, and the two counties will share his salary. It’s a pilot program, with a six-month probationary period.
Ohio’s unemployment rate continues to fall.
According to new figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, it was 5.5 percent in May compared to 5.7 percent in April.
Ohio voters will not be asked to overturn the state’s gay marriage ban this year.
Officials with ‘FreedomOhio’ say they won’t have enough time to collect the signatures needed to put the issue on the November ballot.
Around Ohio…
Every student in the Columbus City Schools will receive free lunches this fall, under a new federal program for districts that serve high poverty areas.
Miss Ohio 2014 will be crowned tomorrow night in Mansfield.
She’ll represent the Buckeye State at the next Miss USA pageant.
Trustees at Youngstown State University have approved a contract for new president Jim Tressel.
He’ll make $300,000 annually. Tressel’s also getting a car and housing.
Kraft Foods is recalling Velveeta Cheese from Wal-Mart stores in 12 states, including Ohio.
The reason: the cheese lacks the correct amount of preservatives.
Summer, 2014 officially begins at 6:51am tomorrow.
It’s an important three-game series between the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers.
Game 1 is at 7:05 tonight. Game 2 is at 7:15 tomorrow night and game three at 1:05 on Sunday. You can hear all three games on 95.3, WLKR.