Archive for September, 2009
Lawyers try to stop second execution attempt
COLUMBUS — Lawyers plan state and federal lawsuits and a request to Gov. Ted Strickland to stop next week’s unprecedented second execution attempt of a man whose lethal injection failed on Tuesday. Cleveland attorney Tim Sweeney said Thursday that he expects lawsuits to be filed no later than today in an effort to halt the [...]
Shakeup at the county Board of Elections
SHEFFIELD TWP. — Lorain County Board of Elections Director Jose Candelario survived a Republican attempt to fire him Thursday, but the elections board unanimously accepted the retirement of Deputy Director Marilyn Jacobcik, a Republican. The swift motions and votes followed a lengthy executive session during which raised voices could be heard through the door as [...]
Sex toy theft makes ‘Tonight Show’ skit
BROWNHELM TWP. — Lorain County Sheriff’s detectives say they don’t have a clue about the identity of the thief who crashed his car through the doors of AdultMart on Cooper Foster Park Road to steal a $150 sex toy — despite plenty of exposure for a video that shows the whole robbery. At last count, [...]
Murray Ridge softball team competing for a state title
ELYRIA — The Murray Ridge Center softball team is heading to Oregon, Ohio, this weekend to compete in the Special Olympics State Softball Tournament. The team qualified for the state tournament after defeating Ashtabula County 22-2 in the North Sectional Tournament late last month. It will play Saturday at the William P. Coontz Complex, with [...]
Arrest warrant issued for former police officer Corey Earl
OBERLIN — An arrest warrant has been issued for former Lorain police Officer Corey Earl for allegedly violating the conditions of his probation for a telephone harassment charge he pleaded no contest to in March. Earl, 47, had contact with the victim in the case, his ex-wife, Laura Astorino, despite a court order barring him [...]
Lorain asks city workers to volunteer to take time off
LORAIN — City officials are hoping to save money by having workers volunteer to take unpaid days off. On Wednesday, a letter was delivered to all city employees asking them to take time off without pay. The city’s budget is going to fall short of what it needs to finish the year, and furloughs are [...]
Local news roundup for Sept. 18, 2009
Woman convicted of intimidation A Lorain woman was convicted Thursday by a Cuyahoga County jury of obstructing justice and intimidation of a crime witness for trying to get her son’s ex-girlfriend to recant her accusation that he had tied her to a bed and assaulted her for several days. Ella Solis, 62, could get up [...]
Police log for Sept. 18, 2009
Elyria police Wednesday, Sept. 16 2:40 p.m. – 1803 West Ridge Road, Convenient Food Mart, seven steaks valued at $70 were reported stolen. Store personnel told police security video showed a white male in his 20s taking the steaks and walking to a secluded aisle where he put them in his pants and left the [...]
Grafton & LaGrange police log: Sept. 18, 2009
LaGrange police Friday, Sept. 11 4:10 p.m. — 190 block Parklane, a 16-year-old boy was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after his mother found several items in his room. Saturday, Sept. 12 5 p.m. — Liberty Street, Keystone Middle School, juveniles were seen throwing old desks, chairs and tables in [...]
Sex toy smash-and-grab lands Lorain County on national radar
The recent “smash-and-grab” of the AdultMart in Brownhelm Township has the whole country watching along with Lorain Countians. Among those taking interest is Conan O’Brien, now host of the “The Tonight Show,” who recently aired the video — albeit slightly altered. View the Chronicle-Telegram’s actual video of the robbery: Read Friday’s Chronicle for more on [...]
‘Legends of Rock’ stadium concert postponed
A “Legends of Rock” concert planned for Saturday at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon has been canceled because the Lake Erie Crushers, who are in the Frontier League Championships, will need the field this weekend. “With the Crushers hosting Game 3 of the championship series on Sunday, prospective conflicts arose with the concert event,” [...]
Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn still learning how to get along
BEREA — Brady Quinn’s first throw of the season sailed over Braylon Edwards’ head and out of bounds. A second-quarter slant was behind him, and he couldn’t hang onto a diving attempt in the fourth quarter on a fly down the sideline. Their only completion of the opener, a 12-yarder, came on a deflection that [...]
High school football Week 4: Staggering start for Keystone senior
Corry Sprouse is a man of few words. The Keystone senior running back is leading the state of Ohio with over 600 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns through a mere three games, but you’d never know it by talking to him. Sprouse is so without ego, he makes a point to thank his offensive linemen [...]
Twins 7, Indians 3: Tribe not doing very much right
MINNEAPOLIS — For the second straight start, Aaron Laffey (7-6) gave up six earned runs and a career-high 12 hits and the Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 7-3 Wednesday for a three-game sweep. Laffey’s own mistake put him behind. With two outs in the third, Laffey dropped a soft toss covering first base for an [...]
High school volleyball: Thriller goes to EC
ELYRIA — The match lasted two hours and four minutes and went the full five games, but somehow Elyria Catholic found the stamina to survive even after having been pushed to five games in a loss to Villa Angela-St. Joseph on Tuesday. The Panthers (6-4) claimed the non-conference thriller over Keystone three games to two [...]
3C Rail Corridor skips county
Neither Grafton nor Wellington is one of the initial six stops proposed by Amtrak for the planned 3C Rail Corridor, but proponents of rail stations in the two villages are not discouraged. “According to the 3C Web site, more stops will be added later,” said Joe Filipiak, chairman of the Grafton Railroad Historical Society. “I [...]
Lorain dog warden’s handling of alleged mauling questioned
LORAIN — City Councilman Dennis Flores isn’t happy with how the city’s dog warden handled the killing of his sister’s dog last week. Mary Flores said she had just taken her two Jack Russell terriers — Diamond Darla and Sam — out of her car at Central Park when another dog came up and began [...]
Doctor says teen brains develop slowly
ELYRIA — Dr. Andrew Garner gave a speech on the adolescent brain Wednesday night at Lorain County Community College with his own demonstration tool — his 12-year-old son Timothy. The younger Garner only became the topic of discussion once, when his father recounted how he warned his son he might not want to eat a [...]
Cross country notes: Shoremen grab 2nd at Carnival
Due to computer problems, nearly 90 minutes elapsed before the final Division I-A boys results were released at Saturday’s Tiffin Distance Carnival. The wait was three times longer than normal, but in the end the wait was well worth it for the Avon Lake team. Only No. 2-ranked St. Ignatius (128) was better than Avon [...]
Palliative care expert speaks today in Oberlin
OBERLIN — McArthur Foundation genius-grant recipient and 1973 Oberlin College graduate Dr. Diane Meier will speak today in Oberlin at two locations. Meier, one of the nation’s leading experts on geriatric care, will present a lecture entitled “Palliative Care: Transforming the Experience of a Serious Illness” at 7 p.m. in a public lecture in Oberlin [...]
Local and state news roundup: Sept. 17, 2009
Admiral King student suspended for threats LORAIN — A 14-year-old student at Admiral King High School faces a 10-day suspension and possible expulsion after he allegedly threatened to kill people at the school during a lunch break. Lorain police reports said a summons was issued for the teen on a charge of aggravated menacing. The [...]
Corrections for Sept. 17, 2009
A story Wednesday incorrectly said that Gerald Shepherd, who was injured when the lawn tractor he was riding was struck by a truck, was treated and released from EMH Regional Medical Center. Rather, he was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where he was listed in good condition Wednesday.
Elyria Superintendent Rigda gets OK to double-dip
ELYRIA — Superintendent Paul Rigda was given the nod Wednesday night by school board members to retire and be rehired by the district, which will allow him to collect both a pension from the state and a salary from the district. The practice, while becoming increasingly popular among public employees, is often referred to as [...]
Former Nord Center CFO charged with theft
ELYRIA — The Nord Center’s former chief financial officer has been indicted for alleging stealing about $95,000 during the three years she worked for the mental health organization. Bernadette Gelb-Stitchick, 42, is charged with five counts of theft and four counts each of forgery and falsification, according to the indictment. She pleaded not guilty to [...]
East River widening means 100-year-old trees must come down
ELYRIA — Large shade-providing trees that line East River Street will have to be cut down to make room for a $1.7 million paving and widening project the city has federal funds to complete. The large maples and oaks that have dotted the street for decades will have to go so the road can be [...]