WIMA NEWS COPY FRIDAY MARCH 13, 2020

>>SCHOOLS TO TAKE EXTENDED BREAK

(COLUMBUS, OH)--GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL BE TAKING AN "EXTENDED SPRING BREAK."

DEWINE SAID THAT BREAK WILL BEGIN AFTER SCHOOL ENDS ON MONDAY, SO THAT TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS HAVE THE WEEKEND TO PREPARE FOR THE BREAK.

THE BREAK WILL LAST FOR THREE WEEKS, AFTER WHICH DEWINE SAYS SCHOOL OFFICIALS WILL CONSIDER HOW TO PROCEED.

MEANWHILE, HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE CONFIRMED A FIFTH CASE OF COVID-19 IN THE STATE, THIS TIME IN NORTHEAST OHIO'S TRUMBULL COUNTY. THE LATEST PATIENT AS A 55-YEAR-OLD MAN WITH NO HISTORY OF TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF OHIO.

>>TESTING FOR VIRUS

MANY PEOPLE ARE WONDERING HOW THEY CAN BE TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS. BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED NUMBER OF TESTS AVAILABLE, ONLY PEOPLE WITH A DOCTOR'S ORDER WILL BE TESTED. IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS, CALL YOUR DOCTOR FIRST. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PRIMARY CARE HEALTH PROVIDER, YOU CAN CALL YOUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT THEY ASK THAT YOU PLEASE BE PATIENT SINCE THEY'RE EXPECTING A LOT OF CALLS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>>Parade Canceled

(Lima, OH)--Tomorrow’s Lima Irish Day Parade has been canceled.

Earlier this week Lima Mayor David Berger said the decision was made after a letter from Governor Mike Dewine and the Department of Health that asks that large social gatherings being minimized. That request specifically cited parades.

>>Home Show Canceled

(Lima, OH)--The Lima Noon Optimists Home Show scheduled for this weekend at the Allen County Fairgrounds has also been canceled.

>>Fatal Crash on SR 501

(Lima, OH)--The Shawnee Township Police Department is investigating a fatal vehicle crash that occurred on State Route 501 Wednesday night. The accident occurred between Bowsher and Hume Roads at about 8:20.

The investigation has concluded that 50-year old Nicole Schulte of Wapakoneta was driving her 2017 Chevy Equinox south bound and 64-year old Frank Steinke of Elida was heading north bound. The vehicles collided head-on in the south bound lane. Both vehicles were severely damaged.

Ms. Schulte was killed in the crash.Mr. Steinke was treated and released from St. Rita’s. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. Investigation is continuing.

>>Census Invites Hit Mail Boxes

(COLUMBUS, Oh)—As invitations to respond to the 2020 Census begin hitting mailboxes this week. In fact, over 99% of the nation’s households will be able to respond to the once-a-decade population count online or by phone. Census invitations arriving through March 20. Households in areas less likely to respond online will also receive a paper questionnaire with the initial invitation. Beginning April 8, households that have not yet responded will receive a paper questionnaire.

Beginning in mid-May, census takers across the nation will visit households that haven’t responded to collect responses in person.

WIMA SPORTS COPY FRIDAY MARCH 13, 2020

>>OHSAA Postpones All Remaining Winter Tournaments

(Columbus, OH)--The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced that all remaining winter tournament contests are immediately postponed due to the growing situation with the coronavirus COVID-19.

The suspended tournaments include the girls state basketball tournament; the state individual wrestling tournament; the state ice hockey tournament, and the boys regional and state basketball tournaments.

No timetable has been determined for possible rescheduling for the tournaments. The announcement was made after state and local officials recommended that no public gatherings take place to help stop the spread of the virus.

>>NBA Suspends Season

(Miami, FL)--NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday night that the league’s hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic will likely last at least a month, or roughly what would have been the remainder of an uninterrupted regular season.

>>NCAA Cancels Men's And Women's March Madness Basketball Tournaments

(Indianapolis, IN) -- The NCAA says there will be no March Madness this year, canceling one of the most-watched sporting events in the nation. NCAA President Mark Emmert posted Thursday afternoon on Twitter that the men's and women's tournament, as well as all remaining winter and spring championships, will not take place. This is the first time the NCAA March Madness Tournament will not be held since it was created in 1939 by Ohio State head basketball coach Harold Olsen.

>>Major League Baseball Announces Cancellation Of Spring Training And Delay Of Opening Day

(New York, NY) -- Major League Baseball is canceling the rest of its spring training games effective immediately due to concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus. MLB officials also said they are pushing back the start of the season by at least two-weeks. Barring any further delays, the earliest the Reds and Indians would hold their opening days is now April 9th.

>>Big Ten Conference Cancels All Competitions Through 2019-20 Athletic Year

(Rosemont, IL) -- All Big Ten Conference and non-conference competitions for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year are canceled. The conference made the announcement on Thursday due to the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The conference says it will continue to work with medical experts to determine how to move forward with future sporting events.

>>NHL Season Suspended With Blue Jackets Holding Final Wild Card Spot In The East

(Columbus, OH) -- The NHL is suspending the final four weeks of its current season until further notice because of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

>>PGA Cancels Rest Of The Players Championship

(Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) -- After playing the first round on Thursday, the PGA is now canceling the rest of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. The PGA issued a statement saying it has also decided to cancel all PGA Tour events, across all Tours, through the Valero Texas Open at the end of the month. That would make The Masters the next scheduled event April 9th in Augusta, Georgia.

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