FROM BLUFFTON ICON - An Icon viewer confirmed rumors floating around that fresh-water sharks have, in fact, entered the Riley Creek stream system.

Earlier this week, the Icon obtained this photo sent by Tricia Burkholder from her cell phone with the proof.

"I spotted this on my way home from my mom's house. As we drove across the bridge by Buckeye Lake, we spotted a shark swimming in the Riley Creek," she informed the Icon.

Several unconfirmed sightings of large creatures with fins in the Riley have, up to this point, been poo-pooed.

The continued flooding in Ohio has apparently enabled salt-water sharks to successful breed in fresh water. It is possible that some of these sharks were released from sea-going vessels visiting Lake Erie as the ships dumped their ballast.

The sharks probably made their way down the Maumee to the Blanchard and finally to the Riley.