Archive for December 21st, 2007
Daniel Petric pleads not guilty
ELYRIA — The son of a Wellington pastor pleaded not guilty this morning in county Common Pleas Court to charges that he fatally shot his mother and critically wounded his father. Daniel Petric, 16, appeared via video feed from the county jail, his face emotionless, much like it has been in previous court appearances, as [...]
The new EHS: Rough layout shows what might be
A bird’s eye view of the plan ELYRIA — An architect’s rough layout of the new Elyria High School has given school officials an idea of what it might resemble, though more detailed drawings are expected within a month. THE SCHEDULE School officials hope the timeline will play out as follows: • In February and [...]
The new EHS: A bird’s eye view
The rough sketch of the new Elyria High School above offers a bird’s-eye view of the layout of the new two-story building. Here’s what’s proposed for the various sections of the new school: (A) Auditorium and music area: An 800-seat auditorium will be built at the southwest corner of the building, attached to the main [...]
Ridge Tool donates $200,000 toward EHS media center
ELYRIA — Elyria Schools Superintendent Paul Rigda remembers one thing that Ridge Tool President Fred Pond said just before voters approved the Elyria High School levy in May: “When this thing passes, I want you to come back here because we’re going to give you something big,” Pond told Rigda at the time. On Thursday [...]
Deer hit by minivan, hits Jeep, gets sliced in half, hurts driver
WELLINGTON — Half a deer went through the windshield of a Jeep Cherokee on state Route 58 on Thursday after the animal was catapulted into the vehicle by a minivan traveling in the opposite direction. The bizarre accident resulted in half of the eviscerated animal knocking the Jeep’s driver unconscious, while the passengers — the [...]
Communities, sheriff to get security money
ELYRIA — Two local communities and the county sheriff’s office will get more than $80,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley Township, announced Thursday that North Ridgeville police will get $11,794 and Sheffield firefighters will get $12,936 for new technology, equipment and training. The county sheriff will get a federal [...]
Planning board backs Lorain plant
LORAIN — The Lorain Planning Commission has changed its mind about a limestone grinding plant moving to the city’s east side. The three-member board reversed its earlier decision and voted unanimously to recommend that Council rezone 15 acres of land at Riverbend Commerce Park, formerly known as the Colorado Industrial Park, from light industrial to [...]
Ridgeville student suspended after threat
NORTH RIDGEVILLE — A seventh-grade student who left a threatening message on several school computers Thursday was suspended for 10 days, school officials said. The student, who was not identified, was suspended faces the possibility of expulsion after police determined he typed a threatening message referencing a bomb being at North Ridgeville Middle School on [...]
Man sues boy, 8, for ski slope collision
VAIL, Colo. — A 60-year-old man is taking an 8-year-old boy and his dad to court, claiming the boy caused a ski-slope collision that left the older man with a shoulder injury. David J. Pfahler of Allentown, Pa., sued in federal court in Denver, claiming Scott Swimm, then 7, was skiing fast and recklessly when [...]
Eastgate Elementary students surprised with free shoes
ELYRIA — The jubilation broke out somewhere between Principal Chuck Sanfilippo receiving his new shoes, and the 196 students at Eastgate Elementary realizing they too, would be walking out with new shoes, too. “This is the most excited I have ever seen these kids — ever,” said Sanfilippo, principal at Eastgate Elementary. “This is even [...]
Big Sister makes sure girl`s family will have a Christmas
LORAIN — Alexis Ayala didn’t attempt to mask her sadness as she spoke. “My mom told me we can’t afford a Christmas tree this year,” the 7-year-old told Colleen Campbell, her Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County. STEVE MANHEIM / CHRONICLE Colleen Campbell stands with Roberta (rear left) and Eric Santana, [...]
March primary brimming with local issues
Voters going to the polls in the March primary to pare down the field of presidential candidates will see a lot of local issues, too. In Elyria, voters will be asked to renew a temporary income tax, and Sheffield Township has two renewal levies on the ballot. The Lorain County Board of Mental Retardation and [...]
Lorain indicted in slaying of ex’s lover
ELYRIA — A Lorain man was indicted by a county grand jury Thursday on aggravated murder and other charges stemming from the shooting death of his estranged wife’s boyfriend. Frank Honaker, 45, is accused of shooting 37-year-old Christopher Betts, of Columbia Township, outside the rear entrance of Lakeshore Colonial Apartments last Thursday. Betts was found [...]
Cavaliers get ugly win over Lakers
CLEVELAND — It was Mike Brown’s kind of ugly, and the result was beautiful for the Cavaliers and their coach. With LeBron James guarding Kobe Bryant down the stretch, Cleveland held the Los Angeles Lakers to 12 points in the final quarter and emerged with a 94-90 victory Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena. “We [...]
Cavs notes: LeBron, coach shrug off bumping incident
CLEVELAND — It gave moronic sportswriters who appear on television talk shows something to blabber about for a few minutes, but Cavaliers coach Mike Brown and superstar LeBron James insist their bump Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden was totally accidental. That didn’t prevent the incident, which occurred as James was walking to the bench [...]
Steinbach signing helped Browns, hurt Bengals
BEREA — It’s too simplistic to say that Cleveland’s signing of left guard Eric Steinbach reversed the fortunes of the Bengals and the Browns in 2007. But it definitely had an impact. Steinbach was the Browns’ top free-agent pickup, agreeing to a seven-year, $49.5 million deal to leave the Bengals after four seasons. He immediately [...]
Browns notes: Bodden’s back might be a problem
BEREA — For the most part, Browns cornerback Leigh Bodden has defended Cincinnati’s Chad Johnson as well as anyone in the NFL. Bodden, however, can’t stop Johnson if he can’t stop his back from hurting. The 26-year-old did not practice Thursday, putting his status in doubt for the teams’ rematch at Paul Brown Stadium. Cleveland [...]
Ohio State suspends backup cornerback Clifford
COLUMBUS — A backup cornerback for Ohio State has been suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules and will not play in the national championship game against LSU, the school said Thursday. Eugene Clifford, a freshman from Cincinnati, will not practice or play with the top-ranked Buckeyes (11-1) on Jan. 7 at the Superdome. [...]
Elyria’s Nakamura fell in love with football, a sport he was forbidden to play
The sport that comes so easily to Haruki Nakamura — the one that fuels his passion, paid for his college education and that could someday soon earn him an NFL paycheck — was at one time outlawed by his mother. Nakamura, a senior free safety at the University of Cincinnati and an Elyria native, was [...]
Lorain County budget set at $62.1M
ELYRIA — County commissioners on Thursday approved a 2008 budget of $62.1 million — about $2 million more than the county estimates it spent this year. County Budget Director Lisa Hobart said next year’s budget is nearly the same as what was budgeted for this year, taking into account salary increases for county employees and [...]
Two men injured in Lorain gas station shooting
LORAIN — A spray of bullets from a passing car early Thursday at a Broadway gas station sent two men to the hospital. Phillip Atkinson, 24, of Lorain, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center. His index finger was mangled, and he was also shot through his right arm just below the wrist. Dameon Robinson, [...]
Boys basketball notes: Dukes still looking to gel
Funny thing. One would assume that a team as deep and experienced as the Wellington Dukes would certainly ace a chemistry test. But that hasn’t necessarily been the case. And the closer one looks at Wellington’s situation, the clearer it becomes that the Dukes are a constant work in progress. Despite bringing back four three-year [...]
Metro Parks board member resigns
ELYRIA — Longtime Lorain County Metro Parks board member Kirk Stewart resigned last week because of health concerns. His term, which expires at the end of 2008, will be finished out by Lorain businessman Robert Campana, said county Probate Judge Frank Horvath, who appoints members of the board. Stewart could not be reached for comment [...]
Girls basketball notes: Columbia becoming a force
It’s been a while since Columbia’s girls have caused their opponents major headaches. Pass the aspirin. The young Raiders are causing plenty of headaches this year. “We’re playing very well right now,” said second-year coach Larry Babics, whose team knocked off Keystone last week and drilled Buckeye Wednesday night. “Our kids are young, but they’re [...]
Elderly driver runs into poles
LORAIN — An 81-year-old woman plowed through three electrical poles around 5 p.m. Thursday near the old Ford plant and was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. Lorain fire Capt. Jeff Fenn said the woman lost control on West Erie Avenue, near Baumhart Road. Firefighters had to cut her heavily damaged car out of [...]