Archive for January 3rd, 2008
Father-daughter team vows to keep losing weight
The next time America sees Lynn and Jenni Westphal, who were the first team voted off NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” on Tuesday night, they hope there will be a lot less of them to see. “I want to walk across the stage at 250,” said Lynn Westphal. “I might even wear leather pants, if I [...]
Dog abandoned in Ridgeville heads back to breeder
NORTH RIDGEVILLE — A malnourished 1½-year-old Rottweiler — which police found after it was abandoned — appears to be heading back home to the dog’s original breeder. The dog was found Dec. 17 by a North Ridgeville police officer who responded to a call about an abandoned dog. The Rottweiler was tied to a tree [...]
Planning for Hannah Montana
CLEVELAND — Ready or not, in a few short hours hordes of ’tween girls will descend upon downtown Cleveland, thrusting the city into full Hannah Montana hysterics. For those going to the concert — built up by some as the hottest one of the year — this day couldn’t come any sooner. But before you [...]
Attorney: Driver distraught after grisly wreck
TOLEDO — A man accused of killing a woman and four children in a wrong-way crash on an interstate while he was drunk is distraught over the deaths, said an attorney speaking for the man’s family. Michael Gagnon, 24, kept his head bowed and said little in court Wednesday during his first appearance since the [...]
Lurid fantasy forces Tenn. judge to resign
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge resigned last month after making a recording of fantasies so lurid that when the tape fell into the hands of the police and FBI, they thought they were listening to a torture session and believed it might be linked to a murder case. Ultimately, investigators brought no charges against [...]
Police blotter: Jan. 3, 2008
Elyria police Tuesday, Jan. 1 5:41 p.m. – State Route 254 and Abbe Road, Helen E. Zedell, 53, Elyria, warrant. 11:32 p.m. – Pratt Boulevard and Portia Court, stolen car. Wednesday, Jan. 2 6:40 a.m. – Eastgate School, South Logan Street, a custodian found a window broken; two ceiling-mounted projectors were stolen. County sheriff Tuesday, [...]
Lorain officer punished for traffic stop
LORAIN — A Lorain police officer placed on medical leave in August in the wake of a reported suicide threat was reprimanded recently for misconduct while on duty. Officer Corey Earl received a written reprimand Dec. 12 for using foul language and discussing his estranged wife on Nov. 26 when he pulled over Fred Pena, [...]
Food program for students gets backup
A program that helps provide food to young people throughout the county has been expanded to meet a higher demand after a successful first year. The Boys & Girls Club of Lorain County and Second Harvest Food Bank started the backpack program in 2006 to provide more than 150 Lorain County youths with enough food [...]
Report: Woman held hostage, raped
CARLISLE TWP. — A woman said a man who she met last Thursday at a party in Cleveland held her against her will and raped her and made her perform sexual acts, according to a county sheriff’s report. The woman said she agreed to have sex with the man, and she went with him to [...]
Insurance worker sentenced, sued
ELYRIA — A former Elyria insurance company worker was sued by her former employer Wednesday, the same day a county judge sentenced her to two years in prison for stealing more than $500,000 from the company. Barbara Keller, 54, pleaded guilty in November to forgery and two counts of theft for the thefts, which a [...]
Elyria teen crashes car into house, flees
ELYRIA — A less-than-pleasant surprise was waiting for a family Wednesday night after a teenager’s car went off the road and crashed into the front of a South Abbe Road home. No one was in the home at 918 South Abbe Road when a red Hyundai Tiburon coupe, driven by 16-year-old from Elyria, slid across [...]
LeBron rocks Hawks with 32 second-half points
CLEVELAND — For more than two quarters, LeBron James looked like he was still at the blackjack table in Las Vegas. When the chips were down, however, he was right on the money. After using a day and a half off to do a little gambling, the 6-foot-8, 250-pounder scored 32 of his 36 points [...]
Court: Smoking ban exemption a mistake
COLUMBUS — State health officials erred when they tried to exempt veterans halls and other private clubs from Ohio’s smoking ban, an appeals court ruled. The law, which took effect last year following a statewide vote, prohibits smoking in most public places, including restaurants, bars and offices. The Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals on [...]
Cavs notes: Simmons sent to NBA Development League
CLEVELAND — It probably wasn’t the 22nd birthday present Cedric Simmons was looking for, but the Cavaliers are billing it as an opportunity for the second-year power forward, not a demotion. Cleveland assigned the 6-foot-9, 235-pounder, who turns 22 today, to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League on Wednesday. Simmons, who [...]
Port agency considers shipyard in Sandusky
SANDUSKY — The Put-in-Bay Port Authority wants to collaborate with Sandusky to build a shipyard on Lake Erie. Monica Drake, executive director of the Put-In-Bay Port Authority, says the $6 million proposal includes a 700-ton lift that could hoist vessels onto land for repairs. Drake presented the project to Sandusky city commissioners last week and [...]
Bowling Green students killed in crash
ORLAND, Ind. — A van full of international students from Bowling Green State University in Ohio overturned on a snow-covered highway early Wednesday, killing two. The rental van rolled several times and landed on its roof in the median of the Indiana Toll Road in northeastern Indiana, state police Cpl. Derek Fisher said. The students [...]
Quiet Gholston makes plenty of noise on the field
COLUMBUS — Vernon Gholston isn’t a player seething with anger and violence, who can’t wait to stomp onto the field and cause bodily harm to anyone in a different-colored jersey. No, what the Ohio State defensive end does on the field doesn’t quite jibe with the real person. “I go out there and try to [...]
Several Buckeyes have tough time getting to New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS — For at least a few Ohio State Buckeyes, there was nothing easy about getting to the Big Easy. Several players took a little longer to get to New Orleans on Wednesday to begin preparations for the Buckeyes’ showdown against LSU on Monday night in the BCS title game. Those who caught connecting [...]
OSU championship gear moving slowly
COLUMBUS — As Ohio State readies to play for the national title for the second straight year, manufacturers, retailers and Buckeyes football fans are being more conservative about championship game gear. Last year, tons of it became unsellable or unwearable after Ohio State’s 41-14 loss to Florida. As OSU graduate Steven Seeberg puts it: “You [...]
Dahlberg: BCS title game won’t crown a national champion
Break out the publicity machines. Bring on the hype. Hurry, though, because time is short and the burden is huge. Just a few days remain to wipe out the images that filled so many hung over heads on New Year’s Day and somehow make them believe once again. Just a few days remain to pull [...]
Banged-up Clippers rally past Huron in girls basketball showdown
SHEFFIELD TWP. — The Clearview Clippers girls basketball team is beginning to look like a MASH unit. Injuries to Ariel Calhoun (ankle) and Kristen Marcucci (broken nose) have both starters playing at less than 100 percent and leaving coach Don Collier wondering who is going to step up in their places. Collier doesn’t have to [...]
Vikings’ Adrian Peterson named AP’s Rookie of the Year
NEW YORK — Adrian Peterson is impressed. Not so much by his achievements as he ran away with The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting the same way he surged past opposing tacklers this season. What has gotten the attention of the Minnesota Vikings running back is the company he keeps. “It’s [...]
North Ridgeville teens reach for the sky
For two young North Ridgeville residents, the future is looking up. Justin Harnden, 17, and Katae Griffiths, 14, are two of four cadets and four adults from North Ridgeville who are involved with the Lorain County Civil Air Patrol. The Civil Air Patrol, a nonprofit corporation, is the auxiliary of Air Force. To date, there [...]
North Ridgeville blotter: Jan. 3, 2008
Thursday, Dec. 20 3:15 a.m. – 34700 block Center Ridge Road, Ronda Black, 39, 6700 block Ridge Plaza Drive, North Ridgeville, charged with assault. Saturday, Dec. 22 10:48 p.m. – 5500 block Lear-Nagle Road, theft of trailer and ATV, valued at $5,300. Sunday, Dec. 23 2:22 p.m. – 37500 block Sandy Ridge Road, Kathleen Conway, [...]