Jones said the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is required to do a full scale exercise so local first responders are ready for any emergency. Friday’s exercise was conducted jointly with CSX Railroad, which brought its Safety Train to Sidney for training and the exercise.

There were four sites involved with the exercise: the chemical spill that occurred during a train derailment at Trupointe Cooperative, a decontamination trailer at Wilson Hospital, the American Red Cross shelter at Crossroads Church and a command center at the Sidney Police Department.

Jones explained how the training worked during the week. During the exercise on Friday, Lehman Catholic High School students volunteered to be “victims” of the chemical spill. Some of the “victims” were decontaminated at the scene and transported to Wilson Hospital.

Other “victims” drove themselves to the hospital, because said Jones, that’s what’s going to happen during a real emergency.

Jones said his daughter was one of the Lehman students who participated. Her role in the exercise was to be an intoxicated person who was contaminated from the chemicals.

“I told her to try to sneak into the emergency room,” said Jones.

Jones said his daughter walked into the emergency room and it was 10 minutes later before anyone asked her what she was doing. During that time, the emergency room became contaminated and had to be closed, said Jones.

The entire exercise, he said, was a learning experience for everyone involved. The final report on how it went and whether the eight objects of the exercise were met will be received in about a month.

Statistics for the first three months of the year were presented for the Sidney Police, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Highway Patrol, along with Sidney Fire Department.

So far in 2016, there have been 179 accidents in the city of Sidney, reported Chief Will Balling. There have been 26 operating a vehicle while under the influence charges filed. There have been 363 citations, along with 137 citations for no operator’s license and driving under suspension. there have been 1,958 traffic stops and 6,561 calls for service.

There have been 40 injury accidents in Shelby County, which were handled by the Sheriff’s Office. There were 134 property damage accidents so far in 2016.

The largest number of accidents so far in 2016 have been in Salem township with 26 accidents. Franklin Township has had 25 accidents. There have been 15 accidents in Washington Township. There have been 14 accidents in Cynthian, Loramie and Van Buren townships, and another 12 in Orange and Turtle Creek townships.

The largest number of citations issued has been 11 for failure to control. Six people were cited for failure to yield at a stop or yield sign. There were three citations for driving under the influence.

Lt. Joseph Gebhart, Piqua Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol commander, said they have 14 troopers on board, which is the most they have had in many years. He anticipates a busy summer with the Republican Convention in Cleveland and the Presidential Debate in Dayton.

There have been 60 accidents in Shelby County so far in 2016, which is down from the 94 during the same period in 2015. He attributes this to the mild winter. There were 135 seat belt violations issued, up from 84 in 2015.

There have been 684 enforcement stops so far in the county. They have issued 793 warnings and provided 440 motorist assists.

There have been 181 fires in the city of Sidney so far in 2016, said Jones. There have been 202 mutual aid calls for fire.

There have been 987 EMS calls so far this year, up from the 919 during the same period in 2015. That total includes city EMS calls, motor vehicle accidents with no injuries, Dorothy Love EMS calls, township EMS calls and mutual aid EMS calls.

Shelby County Engineer Bob Geuy said construction at the Fair Road and Water Street intersection will begin May 23 and should be completed before the fair starts. There will be signage placed for the local detour.

The city of Sidney, said May Mike Barhorst, will be tearing out the bridge at the bottom of the hill at the same time the Fair/Water project is underway.

The Ohio Department of Transportation District 7 has begun its spring and summer projects. Beginning May 4, night paving will be done from the Great Miami River bridge on Interstate 75 to County Road 25A just north of Sidney. There will be lane and ramp closures. The project, which wasn’t finished last year, will be going on all summer.

There are several bridge painting projects planned from April 20 to May 20 on I-75. A culvert replacement is planned on state Route 29, east of Sidney. That project will be from May 9-20. Bridge work is underway on state Route 29 north of McCartyville with an anticipated July 29 completion date.

The railroad bridge on Michigan Street will be down for 90 days.

In place of the mock accident in preparation for prom season, the OHP has presented a program at Anna and will do two presentations at Christian Academy Schools in Sidney and Jackson Center High School.

The committee’s next meeting will be July 19 at 8:30 a.m. at Sidney Municipal Court.