Archive for August 25th, 2008
Expert: Hard for inebriated mom to kill baby in microwave
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A forensic toxicologist says a Dayton woman accused of killing her baby by burning the child in a microwave oven was drinking heavily during the hours when the child likely died. Defense witness Alfred Staubus, a retired professor at Ohio State University, testified on Monday that 28-year-old China Arnold’s consumption of [...]
Obese Ohio death row inmate asks state for mercy
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A death row inmate who says he’s too fat to be executed received poor legal help during his trial and later when he appealed the death sentence, his lawyers said Monday during a clemency hearing. It’s the second time that Richard Cooey, convicted of killing two University of Akron students in [...]
NY escort worker pleads guilty in Spitzer case
NEW YORK (AP) — A woman accused of helping arrange trysts between pricey escorts and their customers has pleaded guilty in the prostitution scandal that forced Eliot Spitzer to step down as governor of New York. Thirty-six-year-old Tanya Hollander pleaded Monday to a charge of conspiracy to violate the travel act. It’s against the [...]
The Closing Ceremony: China ends 2008 Olympics with a bang
BEIJING — China completed its stint as Olympic host Sunday with a superstar-studded closing ceremony that capped a 16-day pageant of state-of-the-art logistics and astounding athletic feats, set out for a curious world. The games did little, though, to erase concerns about the emerging superpower’s approach to human rights. Tenor Placido Domingo was on hand, [...]
U.S. men’s basketball regains gold medal-winning form
BEIJING — Arm-in-arm, they climbed onto the middle of the medals platform, the spot that for so long was U.S. private property. Some players flashed their Olympic medals to the crowd. One pretended to take a bite, just to make sure it was real. Yep, it was gold — the color the Americans always used [...]
Olympics roundup: U.S. finishes with 110 medals
What fencer Mariel Zagunis started, Dwyane Wade and the “Redeem Team” finished. In between, Michael Phelps and the rest of the U.S. delegation put on one heck of an Olympics — perhaps their best ever. By reclaiming gold in men’s basketball, pulling off an emotional victory in men’s volleyball and claiming silver in team handball, [...]
Deputy: Attorney was shot by son
Click here to listen to the 911 call. (WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE). ELYRIA — Former Chief Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Jonathan Rosenbaum had no feeling below his waist Sunday, a day after he was shot in the back by his 23-year-old son, said sheriff’s Capt. Richard Resendez. But doctors at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Wellington`s new school boss focusing on district`s future
WELLINGTON — There’s a new boss in the Wellington Schools, and the staff is giving him high marks for enthusiasm and early accomplishments. After just three weeks on the job, Superintendent Francis Robert Scruci has his eye on the prize: convincing voters to approve extra tax money to build a new kindergarten-through-grade-12 school near the [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Freshmen receive mentors in North Ridgeville High School
Incoming freshmen to North Ridgeville High School were treated to an expanded orientation program, according to Tissy Symon, spokeswoman for the North Ridgeville City Schools. Incoming freshmen rotated between five different sessions during the three-hour orientation that saw upper classmen acting as mentors for new students, a process the district looks to continue during the [...]
Indians rally past Rangers for 7th straight win
ARLINGTON, Texas — Anthony Reyes came away with a no-decision, but the seven strong innings he gave the Indians bodes well for his future in Cleveland. Franklin Gutierrez’s tiebreaking single in the ninth inning Sunday night sent the Indians past Texas 4-3 for their season-high seventh straight win and a three-game sweep of the fading [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: In Avon, renovations make room
There will be elbow room again today when students return to Avon High School. Superintendent Jim Reitenbach said by far the biggest difference in his school district this year is the 82,000-square-foot addition to the high school, which previously was 109,000 square feet. “Every year our grades get bigger,” he said. “We had to build [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Packed classes the norm in Avon Lake
Classrooms are packed and overflowing into modular units outside two Avon Lake Schools this year, Superintendent Bob Scott said. “At this point, we don’t have an open classroom in the school district, and we’re using modulars at two buildings,” he said. The district has been struggling to keep up with enrollment growth, and Redwood Elementary [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Oberlin High School ‘excellent` in eyes of the state
OBERLIN — The Oberlin Schools will start the new year with news school administrators have been dreaming of for years: Oberlin High School has received an excellent rating on state report cards, according to preliminary results. The final results will be released Tuesday, but Superintendent Geoffrey Andrews and other school officials are already celebrating. School [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: New computers, programs put in place for Firelands students
SOUTH AMHERST — When students return in the Firelands Schools next week, they’ll be greeted by a new computer lab and bleachers in the high school gym and a middle-school effort designed to build character in students. The new computer lab, the second for elementary pupils, will provide more opportunities for writing labs and help [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Tight budget hampers Amherst
AMHERST — Amherst Schools will largely be working to maintain existing programs due to tight finances. Voters will again be asked to approve funds in November when a 6.9-mill, five-year emergency operating levy appears on the ballot. If passed, the issue will generate more than $4 million. If the emergency measure is rejected, the district [...]
Browns’ issues are starting to build
Braylon Edwards hasn’t been in a game since his spectacular touchdown catch on the first series of the preseason. Jamal Lewis has nine total carries. Derek Anderson is 8-for-15 passing. Linebacker Antwan Peek can’t help the anemic pass rush after arthroscopic knee surgery. Safeties Brodney Pool (concussion) and Sean Jones (knee swelling) were missing Saturday [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: New crossing zones increase safety for Keystone students
LAGRANGE — The Keystone Schools are beginning the school year with a victory. The district and the village of LaGrange have won their battle with the Ohio Department of Transportation to make 20 mph school crossing zones on state Routes 301 and 303. But the flashing lights probably won’t be up until school is well [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Strike threat casts cloud over Vermilion
VERMILION — Classes are starting under a cloud cast by contract negotiations with teachers and the school board at loggerheads for several weeks. Talks broke down in mid-July, and a federal mediator was called in to get both sides back to the bargaining table. Talks will resume Tuesday with a new session scheduled by the [...]
Black River’s Campbell transfers from Ohio State to Ashland
ASHLAND — Somewhere, Corey Kline is beaming. The last national champion at Ashland University just watched one of his understudies from Black River transfer to the Eagles following a year at Ohio State. Jesse Campbell, a 2007 Black River graduate and Division III state champion, will start classes in the fall at Ashland after sitting [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Midview fifth- and sixth-graders placed in one school
GRAFTON — The Midview Schools will be starting the new school year with a goal — to prove it’s a good steward of the public’s money in hopes of getting a 2.5-mill permanent improvement levy approved in November. To further that goal, the district placed fifth and sixth grades in Midview East, rather than spread [...]
Area motorsports: Late-race wreck eases Shannon’s victory
SOUTH AMHERST — Joe Shannon survived several accidents to win the wild E-Mod 30-lap feature Saturday night at Lorain County Speedway. Bill Sprague of Mentor won the Street Stocks 25-lap, $250-to-win feature. The Charger feature was won by North Ridgeville’s Kevin McCall, who also won the Road Course Warrior feature. Tyler Johnson of Berlin Heights won [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Columbia expects high state ranking
COLUMBIA TWP. — The Columbia Local Schools will start the year today on a high note. When the state releases report cards on Tuesday, the district expects to be rated excellent after dropping to effective in the 2006-07 school year, said Superintendent John Kuhn. The district was last rated excellent in the 2005-06 school year, [...]
BACK TO SCHOOL: Lorain program will focus on student literacy
LORAIN — Lorain County’s biggest school district will have a new program aimed at bettering the literacy level of students in grades K-8. “This is a very big deal for us,” said Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson. “Literacy levels are not what they should be. This is the first time we have ever had this issue addressed [...]
Hawaii downs Mexico to win Little League World Series
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Hawaii’s coaches lay sprawled on the field as their happy players trotted around showing off their new championship banner. Winning the Little League World Series can be exhausting. Tanner Tokunaga hit two homers, Iolana Akau added a solo blast and Waipahu, Hawaii, took advantage of several miscues by Matamoros, Mexico, in [...]
Lorain County Fair finishes up ‘excellent week`
WELLINGTON — The 163rd annual Lorain County Fair wrapped up Sunday with cars smashing into each other in the popular demolition derby. That event, like most things at the fair this week, went off without a hitch, Fair Board Director Ron Pickworth said. “We really had an excellent week,” he said. “The weather was hot, [...]