Warehouse destroyed in fire in Oberlin

Warehouse destroyed in fire in Oberlin

OBERLIN

Investigators in northern Ohio planned to return to the scene of a fire that all but destroyed the center of a warehouse and caused its roof to collapse.

The blaze struck a warehouse behind Carter Lumber on Route 20 in Oberlin on Wednesday. No injuries were reported.

Cleveland.com reports only several walls and the burnt out husk of a truck remained. The contents of the warehouse appeared to be completely destroyed.

Wellington Fire officials were investigating the wreckage early Thursday, trying to determine what started the fire. Investigators are expected back Friday.

Assistant Fire Chief Troy Pitts says it will probably take some time to determine how the blaze started. Representatives with the lumberyard were not available for comment.

Fatal holiday crash

NAPOLEON, Ohio

Authorities in Henry County in northwest Ohio are investigating the cause of a fatal crash that shut down westbound lanes of U.S. 24 on Wednesday night.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office said it was not yet releasing the names Thursday of those involved in the crash. The office confirmed at least one person was killed when a tractor-trailer collided with a car on U.S. 24 at State Route 17D, just west of Napoleon. Napoleon is about 40 miles outside Toledo.

The accident took place at just before 7 p.m., as roads were packed with Thanksgiving holiday travelers.

Community college enrollment tumbles

PERRYSBURG

Enrollment at a community college in northwestern Ohio has fallen to less than half what it was in 2009.

Owens Community College, located about 10 miles south of Toledo, had nearly 24,000 students in that year. The Blade of Toledo reported the Wood County college said Friday enrollment is now less than 12,000.

The state Department of Higher Education placed Owens on fiscal watch in April.

Owens officials say this semester’s decline was expected and shouldn’t impede its financial recovery plan, which was passed by college trustees over the summer.

Officials with the College Credit Plus program, which helps students earn college and high school credits, say the enrollment drop is due in part to the strengthening economy, which has sent more people into the workforce.

‘Messiah’ threatened

MASSILLON

Organizers say a northeast Ohio choir’s 72-year tradition of performing Handel’s “Messiah” is at risk due to declining attendance and rising costs.

The Washington High School choir department said that this year’s production of the popular choral work on Dec. 13 may be the last.

The Save the Messiah Committee, formed to keep the program going, identified cost, attendance and a lack of alumni participation as the three key impediments to continuing the production. The performance costs about $10,000 annually, the bulk going to pay a professional orchestra and rent risers.

The school district no longer funds any part of the performance, leaving the choir booster club to fund it through fundraising. Attendance has fallen from about 700 to about 200.

Hospitals prep for GOP

CLEVELAND

Hospitals around Cleveland are beginning to prepare for next year’s Republican National Convention and an influx of up to 50,000 visitors.

Cleveland.com reports various medical officers around the city have been holding meetings to get ready for the convention, scheduled to begin on July 18.

Hospitals are planning to give employees disaster training and emergency medical services must come up with new routes to take patients to hospitals due to the increased crowds and security measures.