Archive for September 21st, 2007
First colors of fall
County’s fields turning orange with pumpkins The county is full of pretty patches of pickable pumpkins. BRUCE BISHOP / CHRONICLE Dan Fitch takes a pumpkin from his brother Adam Fitch as they load a trailer at Fitch’s Farm Market on state Route 83 in Avon. After a pretty stellar growing season that saw a lot [...]
Elections board asks for more money
$172,000 request comes on heels of $152,000 county allocation ELYRIA — The county Board of Elections has asked the county commissioners for $172,000 just months after the commissioners gave the agency $152,000 to cover expenses. Elections Board Director Jose Candelario had said this summer that he would likely need at least $300,000 to get through [...]
Motorcycle crash adds to judge’s bad luck
ELYRIA — County Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski’s string of bad luck took a painful turn Thursday morning when he crashed his motorcycle and broke his ankle while on his way to work. Betleski Already this year Betleski has had his home robbed — the thieves made off with his liquor, loose change and some [...]
Wellington teachers union gives strike notice
WELLINGTON — Unions representing teaching and non-teaching staff in the Wellington Schools have authorized their leadership to issue a 10-day strike notice if contract talks remained stalled, a union representative said. Linda Repko, co-president of the Wellington Education Association, said negotiations are at “a crisis state right now.” She said chances of a strike are [...]
International Fest to put military
LORAIN — The Lorain International Festival will spotlight the armed forces next year instead of a nationality this year. Terri Soto, president of the Lorain International Association, said the spotlight shifted to give the ethnic groups in Lorain a break this year from having to be featured. “There’s a lot involved to being the spotlight [...]
Woollybear Festival returns to Vermilion
SUNDAY 9 a.m. — Music at the reviewing stage and the Vermilion Family YMCA World’s Greatest Kid’s Footrace at Vermilion High School 10 a.m. — Big Chuck & Lil’ John Caterpillar 500 Race 11 a.m. — Kids and pets woolly bear costume contest 12 p.m. — Music on main stage with the Singing Angels 1:30 [...]
Escaped convict captured
ELYRIA — An escapee from the Lorain/Medina Community Based Correctional Facility barricaded himself in his parents’ home Thursday, keeping police at bay for more than three hours before surrendering. Drew Manns, 23, of Elyria, was being held overnight at EMH Regional Medical Center in Elyria, where he was taken for an evaluation. He will face [...]
Local briefs: Sept. 21, 2007
Parents who caged kids sue county CLEVELAND — A couple convicted of forcing some of their 11 adopted special-needs children to sleep in cages has filed a federal lawsuit against county social workers and other officials, accusing them of illegally entering the home. Michael and Sharen Gravelle, who were each sentenced in February to two [...]
Director: Escapee walked out open door
ELYRIA — Drew Manns had told fellow inmates at the Lorain/Medina Community Based Correctional Facility that he wanted to escape because he feared various rules infractions would lead to him being kicked out of the treatment facility and sent to prison. Sometime early Thursday, CBCF Executive Director Mike Willets said, Manns carried out his plan. [...]
Ballfield name change: Is “The Jake” history?
Planning to pay a visit to the Jacobs Field anytime soon? If so, you might want to snap a picture of the sign to preserve for posterity. That’s because the The Jake, as fans affectionately call it, looks like it will soon be history. The Cleveland Indians announced Wednesday that they were partnering with sports, [...]
Ray Noble named head of Elyria GOP
ELYRIA — Ray Noble is a busy man these days. Not only is the Republican running as a write-in candidate for Elyria mayor, but he’s also been named the chairman of the Elyria Republican Party. Noble, who had been the vice chairman of the party until his predecessor David Graves resigned earlier this month, said [...]
Attorney challenges death penalty
ELYRIA — Another accused killer facing the death penalty if convicted is hoping that he can convince a Lorain County judge to declare Ohio’s lethal injection process unconstitutional. Jack Bradley, defense attorney for Christopher Birriel-Torres, filed a motion Thursday asking Common Pleas Judge James Miraldi to declare the state’s lethal injection process cruel and unusual. [...]
Fired Elyria officer wants his job back
ELYRIA — A police officer who was fired this summer after he attended a party while on duty and then feigned illness to leave work so he could return to it is trying to get his job back. An arbitrator will hear the appeal involving Michael P. Tanner, who was fired July 27 for a [...]
Grafton-LaGrange-Columbia blotter: Sept. 21, 2007
LaGrange police Friday, Sept. 14 4:35 a.m. — 100 block Walleye Court, James Reid, 41, same address, LaGrange, charged with driving under suspension and failure to signal. Saturday, Sept. 15 9:30 p.m. — 100 block Public Square, a 14-year-old boy was charged with underage consumption. Sunday, Sept. 16 11:30 a.m. — Intersection of South Center [...]
Colorful new look for Honest Abe
WASHINGTON — Honest Abe will become Colorful Abe with splashes of purple and gray livening up the $5 bill. The government showed off the new bill Thursday in an Internet news conference — a high-tech unveiling that officials say is entirely appropriate for a 21st century redesign of the bill featuring the Civil War president, [...]
William “Pete” Grady Hefflin, Jr.
William "Pete" Grady Hefflin, Jr., went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday, September 12, 2007, following a lengthy illness. He was born July 12, 1964 in Johnson City, Tenn. He will always be remembered with a smile, and forever in our hearts. He was an avid fisherman, loved hunting and collecting guns. Pete brought [...]
Samantha Ann Stoner
Samantha Ann Stoner, infant daughter of Deborah Stoner of Elyria, passed away September 4, 2007, at Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, shortly after birth. In addition to her mother, she is also survived by a sister, Amber Smith of Elyria; maternal grandparents, Terry and Karen Stoner of Elyria; great-grandmother, Irma Collins of Elyria; and several [...]
James Courtez “Ju-Ju” Dickerson
James Courtez “Ju-Ju” Dickerson Jr., 74, of Lorain, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, in the New Life Hospice of Lorain following a long illness. James was a lifelong resident of Lorain and a graduate of Lorain High School. He also attended Lorain Community College. Mr. Dickerson was the [...]
Gerald A. Glasmyer
Gerald A. Glasmyer, 68, of Elyria died Thursday, September 20, 2007, at his home following a long illness. He was born July 29, 1939 in Cleveland and was an Elyria resident since 1979. Mr. Glasmyer was employed as a set-up man at General Motors in Parma for 30 years, retiring in 1998. He was a [...]