Cold can be deadly

COLUMBUS – As a deep freeze sets in across half the country, officials are urging people to help those most vulnerable, especially the homeless and the elderly.

Winter Weather Advisory for central Ohio 4:00 p.m. Fri. Dec. 29 – 10:00 a.m. Sat., Dec. 30 for 2-3” of accumulated snow

The prolonged, dangerous cold weather has sent advocates for the homeless scrambling to get people off the streets and to bring in extra beds for them.

Warming centers have been set up in places including recreations centers in Cincinnati and Fairfield County.


Animal advocates are urging people to remember their pets and not to leave them outside or there could be a tragic result, such as the story from Toledo where a dog was found frozen solid on a porch Thursday.

Toledo humane society cruelty investigator Megan Brown tells The Blade newspaper she doesn’t know how long the dog was outside on a day when Toledo’s high temperature was expected to be in the teens.

A second dog was recovered shivering inside the home.

The dogs’ owner says utilities had been shut off but he had been providing for the dogs while living elsewhere. He says he doesn’t know how one dog got outside.

Forecasters are warning people to be wary of hypothermia and frostbite from the arctic blast that’s gripping a large swath from the Midwest to the Northeast.

Police in Akron say two teenagers who robbed a department store were arrested after they flagged down officers to get out of the cold.

Investigators say the teens – ages 14 and 16 — had stolen jewelry in their pockets when they asked police at an Akron hospital for help early Thursday.

Authorities say the teens had robbed a J.C. Penney store late Wednesday by hiding inside until employees left, then breaking into jewelry cases with a hammer.

Police say they were also carrying knives and an unloaded handgun.

The teens are facing charges including breaking and entering, theft and criminal trespassing.