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.
72° 72° chance Sat 88° Sat 88° chance 66° 66° Sun 80° Sun 80°
Monday, December 14th, 2009
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Shades of the past - cell doors from the old Mercer County Jail decorate the lobby at the Mercer County Detention Center. Area residents can tour the 50,000-square-foot complex Tuesday during an open house from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Additional open houses will be held after the holidays.

Related online story:
Area residents will have an opportunity to tour the new Mercer County Detention Center during the first public open house to be held Tuesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey said additional open houses will be scheduled after the holidays. [More]
Additional pictures on this date