Archive for December 17th, 2007
Storm causes wrecks, closes Wellington Schools
The 1-2-3 wallop of snow, rain and more snow sent dozens of vehicles into ditches Sunday.Snow also KO’d today’s classes in Wellington Exempted Village Schools where 6.1 inches were reported, according to meteorologist Mark Adams of the National Weather Service. Snow depth varied — 4.3 inches were reported in North Ridgeville and 2 inches in [...]
During foul weather, towing’s a risky business
ELYRIA — There probably are very few people on the road who feel less safe than a tow truck driver, Dave Vaughn Jr. says.And he should know. Vaughn, 31, owner of D&A Towing in South Amherst, had a runaway car smash into his tow truck in February on state Route 2 at the Middle Ridge [...]
Firefighters battles blazes in cold
Fires Sunday caused extensive damage to a workshop and apartment in Eaton Township and to a storage building in Amherst housing a motor home, authorities said. A fire in or around a wood-burning stove probably was the cause of a fire late Sunday afternoon at a two-story workshop and apartment at the rear of a [...]
Americans ga-ga over Googling themselves
NEW YORK — More Americans are Googling themselves — and many are checking out their friends, co-workers and romantic interests, too. In a report Sunday, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said 47 percent of U.S. adult Internet users have looked for information about themselves through Google or another search engine. That is more [...]
General: Violence in Iraq at lowest since 2004
BAGHDAD — Violence in Iraq is at its lowest levels since the first year of the American invasion, finally opening a window for reconciliation among rival sects, the second-ranking U.S. general said Sunday as Iraqi forces formally took control of security across half the country. Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the man responsible for the ground [...]
General reports attacks down at Afghanistan border area
BAGRAM, Afghanistan — A top American general said Sunday that attacks along the Afghan-Pakistan border have dropped more than 40 percent since July and the U.S. and its allies are making progress in the fight against the Taliban. Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel said the decrease in insurgent activity along the border could be attributed to [...]
House is shot up; puppy is hurt
LORAIN — A gunshot Sunday morning narrowly missed a woman in bed and injured a pit bull puppy lying beside her, according to a Lorain police report. Officers found 15 shell casings and numerous holes in a residence in the 1100 block of West 14th Street following the shooting at about 4 a.m. according to [...]
Avon students use math to learn about giving
AVON — What do you get when you combine a lot of fun and some learning? You get Math Week at Avon Heritage South Elementary School. From Dec. 10 to Dec. 14, fourth-graders at the school were treated to an array of math-related activities, including scavenger hunts, estimations, brain teasers and a math-themed food event. [...]
Deer hunter stricken on last day of season
PENFIELD TWP. — A hunter was found dead of a heart attack early Sunday after getting separated from two other hunters Saturday on the last day of deer season, Lorain County Coroner Paul Matus said. Don Devite, 55, of Parma, was found face down and had apparently collapsed before much snow fell Saturday, Matus said. [...]
Strickland hasn’t used clemency power
COLUMBUS — Close to a year after taking office, Gov. Ted Strickland has yet to use executive clemency — the first time in recent years that an Ohio governor has held off on exercising that power, a newspaper reported on Sunday. Strickland, a Democrat, did delay three death-penalty cases earlier this year. But he hasn’t [...]
Glitch reveals sealed adoption records
COLUMBUS — A glitch in Ohio’s troubled child-welfare system is revealing information from sealed adoption records, a data breach some child advocates say is a massive violation of confidentiality. The data breach involves children who were adopted out of the foster-care system and now are enrolled in a children’s health insurance program in 35 Ohio [...]
Few inmates granted DNA test
DAYTON — Of the 315 inmates trying to take advantage of a law allowing them to ask for DNA testing after they’ve been convicted and sent to prison, just 19 of the applications have been approved, a newspaper reported Sunday. The law, which took effect in 2003, is so restrictive and prosecutors fight the requests [...]
Couple arrested in armored car heist had no criminal history
YOUNGSTOWN — By age 24, she had been married, given birth to a son, gotten a divorce, filed for bankruptcy and tried to make extra cash as a model. By age 22, he had played plenty of the computer game Halo, and found a job at an armored car company. As a couple, they lived [...]
Copper thieves may have caused Akron explosion
AKRON — Akron fire officials are trying to determine whether copper thieves caused a vacant house to explode this week. Arson investigators say thieves may have removed copper piping from the home, releasing gas that exploded Friday, sending the home’s walls crashing into neighboring houses and trees. No one was hurt. Fire department spokesman John [...]
Avon/Avon Lake blotter: Dec. 17
Avon Lake police Friday, Dec. 7 3:11 a.m. – 100 block Beachwood Ave., loose change and two sets of keys stolen from truck. Saturday, Dec. 9 1:11 a.m. – 33000 block Lake Road. 16-year-old juvenile cited for curfew violation. Avon police Saturday, Dec. 9 2:48 a.m. – Interstate 90, Jorge A. Diaz, 29, Avon Lake, [...]
Thelma Spanos
Thelma Spanos (nee: Mersinas), 94, of Lorain, died Sunday December 16, 2007 at the Center Ridge Nursing Home in North Ridgeville. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Bauer-Laubenthal Funeral Home.
Oscar Martin Heider
Oscar Martin Heider, 92, of Lorain, died on December 16, 2007 at Community Health Partners in Lorain, Ohio. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Reichlin Roberts Funeral Home, Elyria.
Earl C. Thompson
Earl C. Thompson of Eaton Township, passed away suddenly on Friday, December 14, 2007 in the emergency room of EMH Regional Medical Center in Elyria. He was born on November 21, 1922 in Ghent, West Virginia. Mr. Thompson had been an Eaton Township resident for 47 years. He was employed for over 20 years at [...]
Deborah L. Bennett
Deborah L. Bennett (nee Hay), 58, of Elyria, died Sunday at St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake following a brief illness. Arrangements will be announced by the David Bogner Family Funeral Home, North Ridgeville.
Christopher David Betts
Christopher David Betts, 37, resident of Columbia Station died on December 13, 2007. Christopher was a Journeyman Industrial Maintenance Technician at the Beckett – Air Co. He was a 4- H advisor in Lorain Co., an avid sports fan, a pole vaulter, a member of the American Model Airplane Assoc., and a licensed sail plane [...]
Browns battle elements, Bills for 8-0 victory
CLEVELAND — The Browns made it all worthwhile Sunday. The nightmare commute to Cleveland Browns Stadium. The frostbite. The fortune spent on hot chocolate. In a scene taken directly from a snow globe, the Browns blanked the Buffalo Bills 8-0 on two Phil Dawson field goals — another one off the “neck” of the goalpost [...]
Dulik: On snowy day, Jamal Lewis plows through Buffalo defense
Browns running back Jamal Lewis got to know his teammates a little better Sunday afternoon, perhaps even better than he ever planned. “There seemed to be a TV timeout every time we’d get on the field, so we’d huddle in together to stay warm,” he said, chuckling. “I’m telling you, it was cold today. I [...]
Cleveland defense surrenders zero points on sub-zero day
CLEVELAND — Dump a bunch of snow on them, make them run around in bitterly cold conditions and, just for the fun of it, throw 40-mph wind gusts at them. Doesn’t matter. The Cleveland Browns defenders are still going to feel the heat when the game is on the line. It’s just who they are. [...]
Browns notes: Dawson has good kicks in bad weather
CLEVELAND — Phil Dawson has made many big kicks since joining the Browns in 1999, but none had a higher degree of difficulty than his second attempt Sunday afternoon. Dawson somehow coaxed a 49-yard field goal through the uprights in blizzard-like conditions during the second quarter of Cleveland’s 8-0 win over the Buffalo Bills. The [...]