Archive for June 13th, 2008
NBC’s Tim Russert collapses, dies
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” died Friday of an apparent heart attack. The network’s Washington bureau chief was 58. In addition to his weekly program, Russert made periodic appearances on the network’s other news shows, was [...]
Jury acquits R. Kelly of all counts
CHICAGO (AP) — A jury acquitted R. Kelly on all counts of child pornography after less than a day of deliberations Friday, ending an ordeal for the R&B superstar that began when he was charged six years ago. The Grammy award-winning singer dabbed his face with a handkerchief and hugged each of his four attorneys [...]
Hits soothe hurts: Indians beat Twins behind 18 hits, but lose two more players to disabled list
CLEVELAND — Just hours after learning they had lost the best bat in their lineup, the Cleveland Indians put together one of their best offensive performances of the season in a 12-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The news that All-Star catcher Victor Martinez would undergo surgery on his ailing right elbow today and miss [...]
Indians inundated by injuries: Martinez out 6-8 weeks with elbow injury; Barfield also goes on disabled list
CLEVELAND — Things went from bad to worse for the Indians on the injury front Thursday. Already with a number of key players sidelined, Cleveland added two more, placing all-star catcher Victor Martinez and second baseman Josh Barfield on the disabled list. Martinez will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to remove loose bodies from the back [...]
Tribe notes: Infielder Velandia, catcher Haad get called up from AAA as team juggles roster in face of injuries
CLEVELAND — With both Victor Martinez and Josh Barfield landing on the disabled list Thursday, the Indians were forced to orchestrate more roster maneuvers. Cleveland promoted infielder Jorge Velandia and catcher Yamid Haad from Triple-A Buffalo, clearing spots on the 40-man roster for the pair by moving Jake Westbrook to the 60-day disabled list and [...]
Brady Quinn won’t stop trying to win Browns’ starting quarterback job
BEREA — Believe it or not, the Browns went through offseason workouts and minicamp with no mention of a quarterback controversy. Derek Anderson’s 29 touchdown passes and 10 wins in 2007 had a lot to do with it. So did the three-year, $24 million deal he signed in March, followed by the proclamations from general [...]
Browns notes: Players, coaches feel like they’re ahead of schedule as minicamp ends
BEREA — The Browns officially started summer vacation Thursday afternoon. Following a two-hour morning practice and a short meeting, the veterans were dismissed until training camp, which is slated to start July 23. The rookies will stick around for a couple of weeks. According to coaches and players, the Browns are ahead of where they [...]
NBA Finals: Celtics stage historic rally against Lakers, move one win away from 17th title
LOS ANGELES — In their comeback season, the Celtics saved the biggest one of all for the NBA Finals. Boston rallied from a 24-point deficit and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 97-91 Thursday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in this history-rich series and move within one victory of a 17th championship that seemed [...]
Beyond the crowd: Woods and Mickelson draw most of the fans, but unknowns grab U.S. Open lead
SAN DIEGO — The focus fell to golf’s biggest stars, with fans crammed together a dozen deep in spots at Torrey Pines to see how Tiger Woods dealt with a tender knee and whether Phil Mickelson could overcome so much U.S. Open heartache in his hometown. The lead belonged to the obscure. Kevin Streelman and [...]
Tracking success: Former Southview athlete’s goal is to boost interest in the sport, give kids a chance to excel
Track and field competitions are held primarily on all-weather surfaces, but for years they were contested on cinders. Before that, good old dirt was the preferred surface. But for Luther Washington, track and field is all about grass, as in grass roots. Washington is out to provide area athletes a vehicle for achieving success in [...]
Continental cuts go deep at Hopkins International Airport
NEW YORK — Travelers in Cleveland and Houston will be hardest hit when Continental Airlines starts cutting flights later this year in its battle against record fuel costs. The carrier plans to shed about 11 percent of mainline capacity starting in September. Some of the cutbacks — timed to occur during the normal seasonal travel [...]
We’re looking for Iraq veterans
If you are back home after serving in Iraq, we would like to talk to you for a story. Please e-mail Cindy Leise at cleise@chroniclet.com.
Cities in Iowa underwater
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Cedar River poured over its banks here Thursday, forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 homes, causing a railroad bridge to collapse and leaving cars underwater on downtown streets. Officials estimated that 100 blocks were underwater in Cedar Rapids, where several days of preparation could not hold back the rain-swollen [...]
County plans cuts to transit
ELYRIA — Despite a surge in riders, Lorain County Transit is preparing to make cuts. Exactly what form those cuts will take hasn’t been finalized, Jim Cordes, Lorain County administrator, said, but it will likely be a reduction in the number of times buses visit a particular stop rather than the elimination of existing routes. [...]
Prosecutors may try to get Burge removed from death penalty case
ELYRIA — Prosecutors are considering asking the Ohio Supreme Court to remove Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge from a three-judge panel that is set to begin hearing the capital murder trial of Manuel Nieves later this month. On Tuesday, Burge ruled that Ohio’s lethal injection process was unconstitutional because the current three-drug cocktail [...]
Power goes out in parts of Elyria
ELYRIA — A blackout left 4,500 houses without power Thursday and about 60 were still without power late Thursday, Ohio Edison spokesman Joe Faga said. Electrical crews worked to fix several transformers along Oberlin-Elyria Road that blew about 1 p.m. BRUCE BISHOP / CHRONICLE An Ohio Edison employee lifts a 69,000-kilovolt power line off a [...]
Sheffield Lake woman still trying to give away cats
SHEFFIELD LAKE — Victoria Wilson said she’s gotten rid of about a third of her 85 cats and kittens and is pleading for more time before she is cited again for exceeding the four-cat limit in a residential area. Wilson, 77, said she has been cited twice and has paid more than $400 in fines [...]
Blotter: June 13, 2008
Elyria police Wednesday, June 11 8:45 a.m. – 100 block Taft Ave., credit cards stolen from car. 8:54 a.m. – Single digits Potomac Lane, William A. Ewing, 30, Elyria, warrant. 11:45 a.m. – Applebee’s, West River Road, four to six empty beer kegs stolen from the restaurant. 12:46 p.m. – 1800 block Middle Ave., a [...]
Elyria man wielding crossbow arrested
ELYRIA — A 59-year-old man waved a crossbow and led police on a short chase early Thursday on Sixteenth Street, according to a police report. Sylvester Oliver of Elyria was charged with aggravated menacing, tampering with evidence, obstructing official business and resisting arrest. He was taken to the city jail. The report said Oliver was [...]
County drops funding for Compass House
Alcohol and drug rehab center could close by month’s end LORAIN — The county will pull its funding from Compass House, the Lorain-based alcohol and drug rehabilitation center, and that could force the agency to close by the end of the month. Elaine Georgas, executive director of the Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services [...]
County to be part of new Medicare equipment program
Invacare is among the companies that oppose a new Medicare program aimed to lower Medicare payments on long-term medical equipment and supplies. The program, to begin July 1, will use a competitive bidding process by which Medicare will set and pay lower prices to qualified suppliers of equipment such as hospital beds, power wheelchairs and [...]
Cops look for men in shooting
LORAIN — Police continue to look for three men involved in Wednesday night’s shooting in Lorain, in which two other men were shot and another man was injured. Michael Pulliam, 21, was listed in good condition Thursday at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland after he was shot in the leg. His friend, Adrian Foster, 28, [...]
Losers of church suit sue lawyer
ELYRIA — The decade-old legal feud between two factions of an Avon church has led to another lawsuit. This time, the losers of the original lawsuit are suing the attorney who represented them during the trial last year. They were ordered to repay about $1.2 million in misspent bingo money and pay attorney fees to [...]
Sailing to the land of sticky tape
Avon Duct Tape Festival begins today AVON — This year’s Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival has something new — a theme. SCHEDULE Today – 4 p.m., Joy Unspeakable, the living statue – 5:30 p.m., music by Dann and Lilly – 8:30 p.m., Mr. Speed, Kiss tribute band Saturday – 11 a.m., Joy Unspeakable, the living [...]
Teen charged in crash that killed Avon woman
ASHTABULA — An Arizona teenager has been charged with vehicular homicide in the death of a 72-year-old Avon woman on Interstate 90 on Sunday. Kristin T. Jones, 16, of Mesa, Ariz., was charged by the Ashtabula post of the Ohio Highway Patrol in the death of Nora B. Woidke. She was arraigned earlier this week [...]