Storms fire up | incoming heat | Shelby leaders reflect on grant win | firearm case in village | farming future | 1 obit | more

By David Jacobs

Jun 19, 2025

Damage reports were coming in Wednesday night from strong storms that moved through the region, triggering tornado warnings in Crawford County and Huron County, leading to power outages in Richland County, where tree, power line and other damage also was reported.

In Shelby, the city reported that:

-- five electric service lines to homes were damaged from fallen limbs

-- a large limb fell onto some communication lines near the Mickey Road/Ashland Railway intersection (crossing).

-- A tree trimming crew was called in to remove the limb from the lines.

In an update early Thursday afternoon on the storm damage from the previous night, Richland County EMA director Sarah Potes detailed:

-- reports of trees down throughout the county.

-- no major damage to any structure has been reported to Richland County EMA

-- approximately 800 power outages in the Ontario area, and other areas experienced smaller outages (around 20 or less) on Wednesday night.

-- The total county-wide outages were approximately 2,400 Wednesday night

-- As of early Thursday afternoon, about 400 outages remained in the county, with most of the remaining areas having 20 households or fewer outages.

List: Ohio power outages

No tornado had been confirmed as of early Thursday by the National Weather Service.

Strong winds were reported in Findlay, where damage was occurred outside a building in the city. SEE PHOTO HERE

In Richland County, the severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 7:43 p.m. Wednesday and remained in place until 9 p.m.

"Severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Upper Sandusky to near Marion to near Marysville, moving east at 55 mph," the weather service said, estimating wind gusts at 70 mph.

Listed locations impacted included Shelby, Mansfield, Ashland, Mount Vernon, Mount Gilead, Galion, Ontario, Lexington, Crestline, Fredericktown, Gambier, Utica, Cardington, Bellville, Plymouth, Centerburg, Ashley, Savannah, Chesterville, and Sparta.

Firelands Electric Cooperative crews were working through the night to restore power to customers, the cooperative reported.

"Storms containing wind gusts exceeding 60 mph blew through Firelands Electric Cooperative's service territory around 8:20 p.m.," it posted on its Facebook page Wednesday night. "These strong storms caused extensive damage to trees, power lines, and equipment."

Firelands dispatched multiple crews to respond to several widespread outages affecting over 250 member-consumers located in portions of Huron, Ashland, and Richland counties, the post added.

Outage updates are available here.

In Holmes County, State Route 520 was closed at Township Road 31 due to a tree across the roadway, the sheriff's office reported late Wednesday. Also, Township Road 312 was closed for a similar issue. Several power outages were reported by the sheriff's office there.

A look at National Weather Service radar on Wednesday at about 8:38 p.m.

HEATING UP

Temperatures set to rise in Shelby, regional communities

Meanwhile, heat is on the way to the Shelby community, where it’s been a generally cool and wet spring.

"A strong upper-level ridge of high pressure will build over the Ohio Valley this weekend into early next week and bring a heat wave across the region," the National Weather Service said in a statement.

"Afternoon temperatures will climb into the lower and middle 90s Sunday through Tuesday. Heat indices will approach 100 to 103 degrees. Daily record high temperatures may be possible early next week,” the statement added.

Daily high temperatures in Shelby are forecast at 92 on Sunday, 94 on Monday, and 93 on Tuesday under sunny skies, per early projections.

Image courtesy of National Weather Service.

PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE SAFETY

More on the big announcement this week that Shelby’s secured more than $600K on state funds:

Teamwork drives Shelby’s successful grant effort

Shelby News Reporter

Jun 18

Teamwork drives Shelby’s successful grant effort

City and school officials are hailing the $609,000 Safe Routes to School grant as a critical step toward safer streets and healthier lifestyles for students in Shelby.

Read full story

REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

Report completed on firearm call in New London

The report has been completed on this New London police call log from earlier this spring via an official village PD update at the time: April 24, 5:37 p.m. Officers and a Huron County Sheriff's deputy were dispatched to the area of Shadyside Ave. and W. Main St. for report of a disturbance involving a man with a gun. The suspect was arrested for aggravated menacing. Additional charges were later filed after it was discovered the firearm had been discharged into an occupied vehicle at the scene.

No injuries were reported in the April 24 incident.

A store is in that area and the incident did occur during normal store hours, New London Police Chief Joe Hicks reported this past week.

"The exact location of the incident was the far northeast corner of the parking lot furthest from the store’s entrance," he said. "It’s typically not as congested in that area. Based on the investigation, we have no reason to believe community members would have been targeted at random by the suspect."

"The victim and suspect were acquaintances who had been feuding leading up to the shooting incident. We feel this was an isolated incident and that New London is a very safe community to live in," Chief Hicks added.