Archive for April 16th, 2008
Storage barn burns at Polansky’s
AMHERST – Fire destroyed a barn Wednesday night that was part of a well-known area meat market but spared the retail portion of the business. Fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. in the building adjacent to Steve Polansky’s Meat Market at 6703 South Dewey Road. Less than an hour later, the frame structure, which was [...]
Cascade and Eastgate parents plan to speak up at board meeting today
ELYRIA — Parents who learned Monday and Tuesday that the schools where their children attend — Cascade and Eastgate elementary schools – likely will be closed at the end of the year aren’t giving up without a fight. On Tuesday, fliers were handed out at Cascade, urging all interested to attend the school board meeting [...]
Parents tearfully question Eastgate closing at school meeting
ELYRIA — Tears, frustration and questions of why. Parents of Eastgate Elementary students expressed all three Tuesday night as district officials told them the school is being recommended for closure along with Cascade Elementary. Even before Superintendent Paul Rigda could explain why such a move was needed in the district, hands shot up from angry [...]
Browns carry momentum into schedule
Ready or not, the Browns are headed for prime time. The NFL released the complete 2008 schedule Tuesday afternoon, and the Browns have a team-record five prime-time games. The previous best was three in 1988 and 1989. The league considers the Browns a “hot” team after going a surprising 10-6 last season and just missing [...]
Family mourns son killed while playing with a gun
Corey Torres LORAIN — A 17-year-old Lorain boy, killed Saturday when he accidentally shot himself, was the baby of his family, but he looked forward to becoming a man. Corey Torres wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps with aspirations of joining the Navy and serving his country, said his mother, Angie Morris. But those [...]
Judge: No lifetime driving ban for deadly game of chicken
ELYRIA — When he was sentenced for killing one teenager and seriously injuring another during a 1992 game of “chicken,” 18-year-old David Pirro had his driver’s license suspended for life. It turns out then-county Common Pleas Judge Lynett McGough went too far with the driver’s license suspension, according to a ruling Tuesday by her successor [...]
Last-minute filers crowd post office
CARL SULLENBERGER The line for last-minute tax filers stretched out of the inside lobby at the Elyria post office on Tuesday evening. ELYRIA — The clock struck 9 p.m. Tuesday, and they continued to come in droves. With envelopes in hand, panic-faced people pushed into the Elyria post office on East Bridge Street and found [...]
Former Lorain official gets off probation early
ELYRIA — Former Lorain Safety-Service Director Craig Miller has been released from probation early. County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Rothgery, who sentenced Miller to 10 days in jail and three years of probation in October 2006, ended Miller’s probation Tuesday at the request of his probation officer. Miller, who was convicted of obstruction of justice [...]
Police blotter: April 16, 2008
Elyria police Monday, April 14 6:30 a.m. – 300 block Tuscarawas St., a wallet containing $215 was stolen from a truck. 7 a.m. – 300 block Lowell St., truck window smashed. 9:44 a.m. – Lake Avenue and Gateway Boulevard, a woman said a man threatened to beat her up. 11 a.m. – Willie’s Used Furniture, [...]
Straight-line winds caused storm damage — tornado ruled out
The National Weather Service said it was strong winds — not a tornado – that raced through Lorain County Friday night, buckling a 110-foot electric tower and tearing a roof off an apple storage barn. Gary Garnet, NWS warning coordinator meteorologist, estimated that winds were at least 80 to 90 mph, and they could have [...]
Lost Boys draw attention to Africa
ELYRIA — Imagine jumping in the river to escape bullets, only to become the target of hungry crocodiles. CHUCK HUMEL / CHRONICLE Two of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Akol Madut, 31, left, and Dominic Mel, 31, spoke at “Issues in Africa: One Person Can Make a Difference” seminar at Lorain County Community College on [...]
Glitter Nite Club reaches deal to stay open
ELYRIA — Glitter Nite Club will continue to offer booze and bikini dancers under an agreement reached Tuesday with prosecutors who had sought to close the club. The club agreed to several conditions in order to remain in business, including installing low-light cameras to record what happens at the club. The tapes will be made [...]
Elyria to cut development department positions
ELYRIA — City administrators are taking the retirement of three Community Development Department employees as an opportunity to cut costs. Carol Nawrocki, director of community development; Ronnie Barton, financial and projects coordinator; and John Brada, senior housing inspector, are all slated to retire this summer. As a result, Mayor Bill Grace said he wants to restructure [...]
No arrests in officer-trooper argument
OBERLIN — An Ohio Highway Patrol trooper and a Cleveland police officer had a loud argument related to their involvement at different times with the same woman, according to an Oberlin police report. The woman, also a trooper, had been married to Trooper Christopher Ausse and had a child with him before they divorced about [...]
Winning judge candidate vastly outspent rivals
SHEFFIELD TWP. — Assistant Lorain Law Director Jim Walther outspent his rivals — including a former county judge — to win the Democratic primary race to become the county’s next Domestic Relations Court judge. Walther spent $54,484, nearly all of the money he had in his account, to win the primary, leaving him with just [...]
Robert L. Carter
Robert L. Carter, 84, of Elyria, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 15, 2008, at his home following a short illness. Arrangements will be announced by Busch Funeral Home in Elyria.
Avon Lake student earns scholarship
AVON LAKE — One of Tony Bartolotta’s first memories dates to when he was 3: He remembers being at the hospital when his little brother was born and telling nurses at a hospital about how a furnace work. “I like figuring out how things work,” he said. Now 17, the Avon Lake High School senior [...]
Robert H. Vance
Robert Harold Vance, 69, a lifelong resident of Elyria, died April 12, 2008, at EMH Regional Medical Center. He was born January 18, 1939, in Ellisburg, N.Y. He was a 1956 graduate of Elyria High School and worked construction for 35 years with the former National Engineering Co., and Great Lakes Construction, both in Cleveland. [...]
Oberlin/Wellington blotter: April 16, 2008
Oberlin police Monday, April 7 10:02 a.m. — 200 block Pyle Road, vandalism at Oberlin Golf Club, including graffiti, damage to a green and writing in a sandtrap. 4:58 p.m. — State Route 58 and U.S. Route 20, counterfeit $20 bill spotted at Wal-Mart. Tuesday, April 8 8:33 a.m. — Police station, person reports lost [...]
Robert Franklin Hamilton
Robert F. Hamilton, 72, of Sheffield Lake, passed away peacefully Monday, April 14, 2008, at his farm in Shiloh, following a short bout with colon cancer. He was born November 30, 1935, in Zanesville, and had been a resident of Sheffield Lake since 1963. Bob had been known throughout the Avon and Sheffield Lake areas [...]
Indians: Bullpen fails again in another loss to Red Sox
CLEVELAND — One of the Indians’ biggest strengths last season has become one of their largest weaknesses. Calling on the bullpen in 2007 was most often met with favorable results, but this season has told a much different tale, with more evidence arriving in the series finale Tuesday against the Red Sox. On the same [...]
Indians notes: Joe Borowski placed on disabled list with triceps strain
CLEVELAND — In news that is certain to bring joy to a multitude of Indians fans, Joe Borowksi will no longer serve as the closer. Borowski, who blew his second save in four opportunities Monday during Cleveland’s 6-4 loss to Boston, was placed on the disabled list with a strained right triceps muscle Tuesday. Cleveland [...]
H.S. softball: Elyria Catholic shuts out Lutheran West
ROCKY RIVER — Elyria Catholic got a big win, but might have lost one of its star players. The Panthers (2-1) won at Lutheran West 6-0 Tuesday afternoon but standout hitter and catcher Katie Svat injured her knee trying to steal second base in the fourth inning. She had to be carried from the field [...]
Matthew A. Zidar
Matthew A. Zidar, 80, of Avon, died Monday, April 14, 2008, at Bradley Bay Nursing Home. He was born March 12, 1928, in Bay Village, and had lived in Avon for 12 years, moving from Rocky River, where he lived for 31 years. He was an attorney in Cleveland, retiring in 2003. He was an [...]
Cavaliers: Sasha Pavlovic out for 2-3 weeks with ankle sprain
CLEVELAND — The good news for the Cavaliers is they’ll be able to rest LeBron James and Ben Wallace when they host the Detroit Pistons tonight in both teams’ regular-season finale. The bad news for the Cavaliers, who clinched the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage against the Washington Wizards in [...]