Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 12:43AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to adversely impact air quality.
Pollutants across the state are expected to range from the 'Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups' category in the southwest part of the state to the 'Unhealthy' category in the rest of the state. Hourly concentrations at times may reach the 'Very Unhealthy' to 'Hazardous' categories.
It is recommended, when possible, to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory conditions like asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in the nose, throat, and eyes.
For additional information, please visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's website at epa.ohio.gov.
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Friday, January 25th, 2008
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

A crew from Geotechnical Consultants of Westerville makes test borings at the proposed site of the new 100-bed Mercer County Jail along state Route 29 near the Mercer County Home. The 12 to 14 borings will provide information regarding the type and depth of footers needed. Plans call for bid advertising to take place in late April or early May with groundbreaking anticipated in August or September. Sheriff Jeff Grey expects the $12 million facility to be ready for prisoners in the fall of 2009.

Related online story:
Mercer County commissioners took the first step toward expanding the county's wastewater treatment plant on Thursday morning as they agreed to pay Fanning/Howey Associates, Celina, $23,500 for preliminary engineering. [More]
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