A passing storm caused some damage in Norwalk last night. 

According to Norwalk Ohio News.com, Whittlesey Road had to be shut down because of a downed pole, due to high winds.

There were also reports of downed power lines and trees along with roof damage to homes.

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Masks no more in public…for now, in Huron County, according to numbers released Thursday afternoon from the state and Governor Mike DeWine. 

 Huron County is now in the “orange” (Level 2), meaning masks are no longer required in public.

Lorain County has moved into the red (Level 3), meaning masks will be required in public, starting this evening at 6:00 pm.

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Ohio continues to show a surge in Corona Virus numbers.

On Thursday, the state had over 400 more cases than the 21-day average.

Overall, Ohio has now eclipsed the 60,000 mark in total cases; along with nearly 3,000 fatalities.

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Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted yesterday encouraged Ohioans who have fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks to consider donating plasma.

Husted said the plasma could possibly attack the virus that causes COVID-19; as it shows potential to lessen the severity, or shorten the length of the Corona Virus.
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Two firefighters were treated and released from the hospital after battling a house fire early Thursday in Sandusky.

According to the Sandusky Register, all four people inside the home on Hendry Street made it out alright; but the residence took on severe damage.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

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Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with a stolen car and multiple illegal car entries in Perkins Township.

Most of the stolen items from the vehicles in the Fairview Lanes area and possible nearby locations have been recovered.

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Today is one of your final days to see the 99-year-old Ely Elementary School.

Demolition is scheduled to begin Monday.

The school opened in 1921…and in the fall…a new school will open behind the current facility.

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Lorain County’s most recent real estate tax and special assessment payments are due today.

The treasurer’s office processed more than 130-thousand bills.

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COVID-19 concerns have prompted the cancellation of Medina County’s “Fall Foliage Tour”.

It was scheduled for October 10^th and 11^th.

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A change in detours in downtown Elyria…

East-west traffic on Broad Street at West Avenue is flowing once more, but north-south traffic on West at Broad is now blocked.

Crews will be installing new crosswalks over the next several days.

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 A few road work updates in Huron County…

Construction is scheduled to wrap up today at the intersection of Fitchville River Road and Prospect Road near New London.

Skinner Road, between Route 61 and Mills Road, near Plymouth, is closed now for emergency bridge repairs, until further notice.

Green Road, between Route 20 and Bates Road, in Wakeman Township, will shut down next Tuesday for one day.

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From the National Weather Service…

 

Today

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly in the afternoon.

Increasing clouds, with a high near 91.  Heat index values as high as 96.

  

Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms likely.

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.

 

Saturday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Partly sunny, with a high near 84.

 

Sunday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Partly sunny, with a high near 82.

Dangerous heat is expected today.

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Temperatures are expected in the mid-90’s with heat index values around 100 degrees.
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Cedar Point opens today…

It will be pass holders only today and tomorrow, and then the general public will begin to be permitted on Saturday.

The park will have shorter hours this season, from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Several COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place, including masks being required for all guests.
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Statewide COVID-19 numbers were well above the 21-day average on Wednesday.

Ohio had close to 1,300 new cases…compared to the average of 846.

The death toll in Lorain County from the Corona Virus now stands at 64.  The latest victim…a resident in their 70’s…according to Lorain County Public Health.
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Heavy COVID-19 testing is coming to Put-in-Bay in an attempt to narrow down positive tests.

According to the Sandusky Register, the Ottawa County Health Department will test up to 1,000 employees of the island’s businesses on Friday and Saturday.

This comes after seven people tested positive for the Corona Virus following a trip to Put-in-Bay late last month.
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Due to the spread of COVID-19 in Huron County, Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk is reinstating their no visitor policy.

It will go into effect tonight at 6:00 pm.
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Perkins Police are looking into reports of overnight vehicle entries in the area of Fairview Lanes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.
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Expect heavy boat traffic off the Sandusky shores of Lake Erie the next few days.

The FLW’s Toyota Series Northern Fishing Event runs today through Saturday off the Shelby Street Boat Launch.

It was originally scheduled to happen in New York, but was moved due to travel restrictions.

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Lorain County’s second Meijer superstore is open for business.

The new Meijer opened this morning at Route 58 and Cooper Foster Park road on the border of Lorain and Amherst.

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The Medina County District Library has re-opened with limited hours and limited, curbside service.

“Anytime lockers” are also available.

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From the National Weather Service…

A Heat Advisory is in effect today from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Today

A slight chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.  Heat index values as high as 100.

 

Tonight

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

 

Friday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly in the afternoon.

Partly sunny, with a high near 90.  Heat index values as high as 95.

 

Saturday

Showers and thunderstorms likely.

Partly sunny, with a high near 84.

Stay out of the heat, if and all possible; today, and tomorrow.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a heat index of 98 both days.

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Masks, mandated in Ohio counties where spread of COVID-19 is high…

That includes Huron County…

Governor Mike DeWine said the mask mandate is for all counties who are red or purple “high level” states, which have escalated cases of the Corona Virus.

The masks order goes into effect this evening at 6:00 pm.

If you’re heading to Put-In-Bay on one of the local ferry lines, make sure you bring a mask. They are now required…

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Current COVID-19 numbers…

Statewide, Ohio had 948 new cases Tuesday; above the 21-day average of 804.  Ohio now sits at over 58,900 total cases and close to 3,000 fatalities.

Huron County had just 3 new cases reported Tuesday, for a total of 223; but have had over 50 cases so far in July.

The Corona Virus has taken the life of another resident of Lorain County. The countywide death-toll now stands at 63.

Erie County has a total of 246 cases. 

The Corona Virus is catching up with young people o have been ignoring health and safety protocols.  According to new information from the Ohio Department of Health, one-third of new cases are from people under the age of 30.

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A Sandusky man faces multiple arson charges along with burglary and vandalism.

According to the Sandusky Register, 45 year-old Brian Mickens allegedly vandalized the inside of a home on Hollyrood Road on Monday and set fire to the outside of it.
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The Lorain County Fair has lost two major sponsors…

Meijer has pulled out, citing the fair board’s policy of allowing the Confederate Flag to be displayed and sold…

University Hospitals has withdrawn, citing COVID-19 concerns…

The Lorain County Fair is scheduled to open August 23^rd.

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Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has rolled out plans for the November election and sent them to all 88 county boards.

They include guidelines for;

• Recruiting more poll workers
• Personal protective Equipment for poll workers
• And increasing the number of printed ballots, including absentee

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Once again today, the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio will host a drive-thru mobile pantry at Ely Stadium in Elyria.

Food will be distributed from 4 until 6.

Tomorrow, the mobile pantry will stop in Lorain…at General Johnnie Wilson School on Washington Avenue…also from 4 until 6.

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The City of Sandusky has put out a survey they say will help them understand how to become a more inclusive and internationally diverse city.

The survey is available on the City of Sandusky – Government Facebook page.

The city plans to use programming and support, based on the results of the survey.

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There’s a new social media campaign regarding Ohio student athletes…and the hopes of having high school sports this fall…

Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted introduced the #I WantASeason” campaign, which encourages athletes to social distance, wear a mask and sanitize regularly; with a goal of high school fall sports being played.

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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is encouraging Ohioans to notify his office if they haven’t received ticket refunds for events canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yost says, depending on the cancellation and refund policies in place, Ohio’s consumer protection laws may provide an avenue to obtain refunds.
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From the National Weather Service…

Today

A chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.  Heat index values as high as 98.

 

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 72.

 

Thursday

A chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.  Heat index values as high as 98.

 

Friday

Showers and thunderstorms likely.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

A 67 year-old man was arrested Monday afternoon in connection with a reported shooting in Sandusky.

According to the Sandusky Register, Curtis Harris of Sandusky was charged with felonious assault; while the victim, a 21 year-old male from Sandusky, was hospitalized Monday with what was believed to be non life-threatening injuries.

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released traffic statistics from the July 4th holiday period.

Authorities say that 22 people lost their lives in 21 traffic crashes between last Thursday and Sunday in Ohio.

Impairment was determined to be a factor in at least five of those crashes.

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In local Corona Virus figures…

The state had 805 new cases Monday, slightly above the 21-day average of 780.

Lorain County has surpassed the 1-thousand-mark of cases of the Corona Virus. 61 new cases were reported this past weekend.  The local death toll remains at 62.

Huron County now has 220 cases after 5 more were reported Monday.

Erie County has 242 cases following 14 more cases reported Monday.

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A memorial service will be held Friday for former Oberlin Police Chief Robert Jones.

Jones died 2 months ago at the age of 81.

He was Lorain County’s first African American police chief in 1980.

Friday’s service will begin at 11 at Westwood Cemetery in Oberlin.

Family and friends are encouraged to wear masks and keep social-distance.

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A ‘celebration of life’ will be held at a later date for a long-time educator who spent much of his time in the Elyria City School System.

Ken Mundorf Junior was 82.

Ken spent 35 years in education…31 of them in Elyria…and later, was elected to the Elyria School Board.

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A warning regarding hand sanitizer from the Erie County Health Department…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have advised consumers not to use any alcohol-based hand sanitizers or rubs which contain methanol as an active ingredient.

Officials say that methanol can cause blindness and/or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed.

The FDA is working on a voluntary recall of methanol-containing products.
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It’s a no-go for the Sandusky Jet Express in 2020.

Officials yesterday announced that due to high water at their facilities as well as COVID-19 restrictions, they will not be in operation this summer.

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A road closing in Huron County…

Snyder Road, between State Route 61 and Peru Center Road, is set to be closed for eight weeks for a culvert replacement.

The road will be shut down to through-traffic during construction.

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Elyria City Council is accepting applications from residents of Ward 5 who want to serve on council.

The person chosen by council Democrats would replace Marcus Madison, who has resigned after 10 years of service.

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Lorain City Schools CEO Jeff Graham is encouraging parents to take part in a survey, to determine their needs and concerns leading up to the new school year next month.

Dr. Graham also wants feedback on remote learning that was used in the spring.

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Another roundabout could be coming to North Ridgeville…

According to the Chronicle Telegram, city council has opened discussions of building a roundabout at Mills and Stoney Ridge, near Avalon.

The goal is to improve traffic flow and reduce crashes.

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Detour signs are posted on West Road, south of Route 162, in Huntington Township…

Railroad crossing repairs are scheduled to continue through the week…

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A country music and all-around music legend has passed away.

Charlie Daniels of the Charlie Daniels Band was 83.

Daniels was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

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From the National Weather Service…

Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the late afternoon.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.  Heat index values as high as 96.

 

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

 

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.  Heat index values as high as 98.

 

Thursday

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 94.