Archive for August, 2009
Faces at the fair: Curtas Foster
Curtas Foster stopped by the WEOL and Chronicle-Telegram booth at the Lorain County Fair Monday afternoon and got his picture taken with WEOL sports announcer Tim Alcorn. Curtas, a 2005 graduate of Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst, said he has lived in Lorain County for seven years (he lived in Arizona before that) [...]
Friendly faces at the fair: The ticket takers
You won’t get into the Lorain County Fair without seeing these smiling faces. They’re the friendly fair ticket takers. They’re paid fair employees, and they’ll all be working all seven days of the fair. Some are even pulling double shifts, calling themselves workaholics. So come down to the fair, say hi, give them your ticket, [...]
Districts get state report cards
State report cards, to be released today by the Ohio Department of Education, show that all but one of the districts in the county are ranked at “continuous improvement” or above for the 2008-09 school year, according to the districts’ superintendents. Lorain remains on “academic watch,” but Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson said she believes some of [...]
Elyria still stuck in ‘continuous improvement’ after achieving ‘effective’ status in 2006
ELYRIA -If Elyria Superintendent Paul Rigda could go back in time, he would pick the year 2006. That was the first and last time Elyria Schools was ranked as “effective” by the state in its annual ranking of school districts. Since then, Elyria has fallen into the category of “continuous improvement.” It is the designation [...]
In Lorain, superintendent says improvement continues despite ‘academic watch’ status
LORAIN – While the district remains on “academic watch,” city schools Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson said Monday she was happy to see improvement in some areas. The district’s performance index, which needs to be at 80 percent or higher to get a “continuous improvement” grade, showed improvement. “It was a little more than 77 percent last [...]
Elections chief puts disputed candidate up on Web site
SHEFFIELD TWP. – Democrat Pat Riley was listed Monday as his party’s candidate for Lorain law director on the Lorain County Board of Elections Web site despite a missing document that could keep him off the November ballot. Elections board Director Jose Candelario said he has determined that since Riley gave him the missing document, [...]
North Ridgeville businessman pleads guilty in ODOT case
The president of a North Ridgeville company and four others pleaded guilty Monday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court to charges linking them to a massive corruption investigation at the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Garfield Heights office. Craig Gorsuch, who runs West Shore New Holland, could get up to a year in prison when he [...]
Alabama frontman Randy Owen opens week with old favorites
With comfortable temperatures and cloudless skies, you couldn’t have asked for better weather Monday night for former Alabama singer and current solo artist Randy Owen’s Lorain County Fair grandstand show in Wellington. Even though it’s been six years since Alabama’s swan-song tour, the singer didn’t show any rust with a set filled with plenty of [...]
‘Clunkers’ paperwork deadline extended for dealers
The federal government extended the cut-off for “cash for clunkers” paperwork to noon today, but dealers in Lorain County said they stopped taking new applications several days ago in order to finish processing complicated paperwork. They said it took considerable time for customers to find all the necessary documentation, which included submitting proof of insurance [...]
Sutton: More CARS workers being hired
As the “cash for clunkers” program winds down, Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley Township, said extra work is being done to ensure nervous car dealers will be paid the promised government rebates. At last count, some 625,000 vehicles were sold and the federal government had approved some $2.58 billion of the $3 billion in funding for [...]
Blotter: Aug. 25, 2009
Lorain police Sunday, Aug. 23 11:30 p.m. – West 31st Street and Broadway, Nicole Crowe, 34, Lorain, charged with solicitation. Monday, Aug. 24 1:02 a.m. – 1100 block W. 17th St., Koal McCall, 25, Lorain, charged with obstructing justice, obstructing official business and theft of a motor vehicle for fleeing police after the stolen car [...]
Fire engulfs vacant home
LORAIN – A portion of East 28th Street was closed for more than five hours Monday night as crews worked to demolish a vacant home that was nearly destroyed by fire. Firefighters were called to the home about 6:00 p.m. and spent the next hour extinguishing the upper level, which was completely engulfed by flames. [...]
Obituaries for Aug. 25, 2009
Jeanette J. Williams Delores F. Tackett Karen S. Anderson Anna Terebeckij Arlene Mae New Geraldine L. Bartolotta Read the full obituaries on The Chronicle E-edition at: http://www.chroniclet.com/ChroniclEdition/
Hometown houses
VERMILION — The homes aren’t necessarily big, just unique. Three century homes, one of which has been turned into a bed and breakfast, a condominium overlooking the Vermilion River, a house on the Vermilion Lagoons and a live-in yacht all will be open to the public for this year’s Hometown House Tour in Vermilion. The [...]
Amherst/Vermilion/South Amherst notebook: August 25, 2009
Church serving lunch at Woollybear Festival Vermilion E & R Church will once again serve lunch during the WoollyBear Festival, including its famous hot chicken sandwich plates 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Woollybear Sunday, Sept. 20. The menu will include fresh salads, pies and desserts, coffee, and soft drinks. The church will also provide [...]
Slowed negotiations raise ire in Sheffield schools meeting
SHEFFIELD — About 200 teachers, classified employees and supporters shot angry questions about the state of contract negotiations at the superintendent and school board members during Monday night’s meeting. Before the meeting, the group, wearing neon green T-shirts, carried picket signs stating “Just Practicing” and confirmed their intent to strike if both sides don’t begin [...]
Road rage firefighter pleads no contest
ELYRIA — An Elyria firefighter accused of ripping a man out his car in a fit of road rage pleaded no contest Monday to assault. Christopher Nilges, a 20-year veteran of the Fire Department, was ordered to pay a $200 fine, continue counseling, pay close to $200 for damage to the victim’s vehicle and avoid [...]
Avon Lake 0, Avon 0: Rivals play to scoreless tie
AVON LAKE — Avon’s offense dominated the first half and a big chunk of the second Monday night when Avon and Avon Lake renewed their longstanding girls soccer rivalry. But most of the pressure wound up on the shoulders of the defenders and goalkeepers in a scoreless tie between the old and chippy rivals from [...]
Roundup: Aug. 25, 2009
Sex offender takes plea in kidnap case ELYRIA – A registered sex offender who took an Alford plea to abduction and drug charges for allegedly trying to kidnap a teenage girl in 2007 avoided prison at his sentencing hearing Monday. Under the Alford plea, Christopher Hartley, 39, admitted there was likely enough evidence to convict [...]
Fair names equine masters
WELLINGTON — The horse king and queen were named during the horse royalty contest at the Lorain County Fair Monday afternoon, but it wasn’t just their mastery of all things equine that earned them their crowns. Winners Aaron Sterk, 16, of Wakeman, and Skye Reid, 17, Wellington, had to perform well in the public speaking [...]
Teen, and her horse, proved critics wrong
WELLINGTON — Three years ago, the people who owned Twin Hickory’s Midnight tried to discourage Heather Pataky’s family from purchasing the 11-year-old miniature horse. Three fair titles and dozens of state competition wins later, Heather knows her family made the right choice. “They told us it would be a mistake to buy him,” she said. [...]
Indians 10, Royals 6: Big hit for Valbuena again
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rookie second baseman Luis Valbuena is starting to enjoy these game-winning home runs. He hit one for the second time in three days Monday night, driving a three-run shot off Joakim Soria in the eighth inning and sending the Cleveland Indians past the hapless Kansas City Royals 10-6. Travis Hafner also [...]
Nothing decided: Mangini still mulling quarterback situation
BEREA — Brady Quinn got the nod in the Browns’ exhibition opener, while Derek Anderson took the first snap in their second game. Neither quarterback, however, performed well enough to win the starting job for the regular season. That was the word Monday from Cleveland coach Eric Mangini, who called the QB derby “very close” [...]
High School Football 2009: Eagles dare to dream
NORTH OLMSTED — The “Help Wanted” sign has been placed in the window. Experience preferred, but not essential. If you have aggressiveness, smarts and dedication you could be part of our team. “We graduated a ton of seniors,” North Olmsted head coach Mike Ptacek said, “so we’re looking for quarterbacks and running backs who can [...]
High School Roundup: Bay earns shutout win
CHAGRIN FALLS — Bay’s Shane Williams, Alex Petro and Jackson Heller each scored a goal as the Rockets defeated Chagrin Falls 3-0 Monday in a non-conference season opener. Heller, Williams and Joe Kinkelaar had assists for the Rockets, who had a 15-13 advantage in shots. GOALS: (B) Shane Williams, Alec Petro, Jackson Heller. ASSISTS: (B) [...]