Archive for January 1st, 2008
First snowstorm of new year — same old snow story
The first winter storm of 2008 sent dozens of cars spinning on icy roads and authorities reported numerous accidents Tuesday night. The Ohio Highway Patrol investigated 10 accidents in a little more than six hours and road conditions were tough by 9:30 p.m., according to Dispatcher Kevin Koney. “There are a lot of minor accidents,” [...]
New sex offender law takes effect in Ohio
More Ohio felons will be classified as sexual predators under a new state law that went into effect Tuesday that also will require the state’s sheriffs to notify more people about where offenders live. The Legislature passed the law last year to comply with a federal one that requires states to increase registration requirements by [...]
Homicides up in Cleveland in 2007
Homicides in the city of Cleveland were up in 2007 compared with 2006, and police are investigating what might be the city’s first homicide of 2008. Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell said intensive police effort was needed — the number of homicides rose from 119 in 2006 to at least 133 in 2007. One New [...]
Kucinich to Iowans: If not me, go with Obama
DES MOINES, Iowa — Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich on Tuesday asked his supporters to make rival Barack Obama their second choice if he doesn’t meet a cutoff point for voting in Iowa’s caucuses. Kucinich, an Ohio congressman at the back of the pack of Democratic hopefuls, seemed to concede a loss in the caucuses. [...]
Roundup: Jan. 2
Bar fight leads to assault charge ELYRIA — A Brook Park man was charged with assault Tuesday after a fight at Pudge‘s Place on Broad Street left an Elyria man bloodied and semi-conscious, a police report said. Nicholas W. Fuller, 25, was arrested at 1:27 a.m. after the incident, which began inside the bar and [...]
Blotter: Jan. 2
Lorain police Sunday, Dec. 30 6:11 p.m. – 1600 block of E. 30th St., 15-year-old boy taken to the Lorain County Detention Home after reports he threatened a police officer; charges include intimidation, obstruction of official business and underage consumption. 7:30 p.m. – 400 block of W. 13th St., youth reportedly threatened a resident after [...]
Kenyan mob burns church, at least 50 killed
NAIROBI, Kenya — The mob struck in broad daylight Tuesday, setting fire to the church where hundreds of terrified people had taken refuge. Screams filled the air. Even children were burned alive. Those caught trying to escape the flames — or helping rescue victims inside — were hunted down and hacked with machetes. One man [...]
Collision between car, salt truck kills pregnant woman
COLUMBUS — A woman who was 8 months pregnant and her fetus were killed Tuesday when the car she was riding in was struck by an Ohio Department of Transportation salt truck. Police say Paulina Martinez’s husband — 29-year-old Alfonso Martinez — was driving their Toyota just outside of Columbus and ran a red light. [...]
Team Bittner’s prevails in 70th Mud Bowl
ELYRIA — It’s not often that the boys of summer look like they’ve been playing in a pig pen. But getting muddy was just part of the fun in the 70th playing of the Mud Bowl at Hamilton School in Elyria. Tuesday’s game was one of the most exciting in recent memory, with the teams [...]
Oberlin College students immerse selves in Kenyan culture
OBERLIN — A student organization at Oberlin College that began in 2005 with the goal of relieving pain and suffering in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is continuing its work on an island community off the Kenyan coast. In a few days, students Andrew Estep, Christopher Pray and Juliana Scherer will arrive in the villages [...]
Oberlin/Wellington blotter: Jan. 2
Oberlin police Monday, Dec. 24 3:12 a.m. — West College Street, boy, 15, accused of taking 65-cent pack of gum from store. 6:49 p.m. — Oberlin College Safety & Security drops off drug contraband for disposal. 3:03 p.m. — State Route 58 and U.S. Route 20, accident at gas station. 9:58 p.m. — State Route [...]
Oberlin/Wellington notebook: Jan. 2
2008 Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Scholarships The deadline to submit applications for the two Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative Scholarships is Feb. 6. The $2,500 scholarships are awarded based on an application, essay and personal interview with the students. Applicants must live in homes receiving electric service from the cooperative. For information regarding rules and guidelines, students [...]
Memories of 2004 lines linger at college
GAMBIER — College student Ann Shikany couldn’t wait to vote for the first time. When she finally got the chance, she waited. And waited. Shikany stood, sat, ate and napped in line for more than 10 hours in 2004 in this college town, home to the longest voting lines in the country. She finally cast [...]
Man advocates for victims’ families
COLUMBUS — Bret Vinocur spends hours at the gym, has a solid job, a self-deprecating sense of humor and a nice suit. But he once quipped that he has trouble getting a second date. “Twenty minutes into dinner with me, all the women are in tears. They say, ‘I can’t handle what you do.’” By [...]
Mansfield making merry go rounds
MANSFIELD — The carousel industry has found a niche in Mansfield, where craftsmen carve merry-go-round horses and touch up worn-out mounts. There’s Carousel Magic and cross-town rival Carousel Works and even a place to see the real thing in action, Richland Carrousel Park. At the Carousel Magic factory, visitors might see co-owner Ross Clark chip [...]
Ruth E. Dren
Ruth E. Dren (nee Koepp), 83, of Elyria, died Monday, December 31, 2007 at Citadel Care Center in Mesa, Arizona. Arrangements will be announced by Dicken Funeral Home, Elyria.
Dudley W. Shaw
Dudley W. Shaw, 95, of North Ridgeville, passed away Monday, December 31, 2007 at Center Ridge Health Campus, North Ridgeville, following a long illness. Born in Lakewood, he had been a resident of North Ridgeville since 1983, moving from St. Petersburg, Florida, where he had lived for 13 years. Before that, he had been a [...]
Julia Leifheit
Julia Leifheit (nee Bishop), 79, of Elyria, died Thursday, December 27, 2007 at her son’s home in Florida, following a long illness. She was born September 12, 1928 in Fairhope, Alabama and lived in Elyria for the past four years, coming from Ashland. Mrs. Leifheit attended Harvest Fellowship Church of the Nazarene in Grafton. She [...]
Richard James Campriana
Richard James Campriana, 68 of Elyria passed away Friday, December 28, 2007 in the Wesleyan Village, following a short illness. He was born in Akron February 17, 1939. Mr. Campriana was self-employed as a professional race car driver, racing all over the country, and especially at the Lorain County Speedway. Mr. Campriana is survived by [...]
Dorothy M. Hastings
Dorothy M. Hastings (nee Barton), 95, of Elyria, died Saturday, December 29, 2007 at EMH Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. She was born May 21, 1912 in Lorain and lived in Elyria until moving to Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1985. She returned to Elyria in 2005. Mrs. Hastings worked as a secretary at [...]
Ota N. Elder
Ota N. Elder, 79, of Elyria, died Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at Wade Park Veterans Hospital in Cleveland, following a short illness. Mr. Elder was born July 20, 1929 in Smithville, West Virginia to the late Ota and Elsie (nee Conrad) Elder. He lived in the area most of his life, coming to Elyria in [...]