Archive for February, 2010
Alleged arsonists were spotted at scene
LORAIN — Two men arrested for setting as many as four fires in North Central Lorain were captured in photographs shot at the scene of one of the fires, officials said Friday. Michael Agosto, 27, and Joseph Romero, 22, both of North Central Drive in Lorain, were charged with four counts of arson and four [...]
Counseling funds cut, even with high area foreclosure rates
It’s no secret that the nationwide mortgage crisis has hit Ohio hard. Last year, foreclosure filings went up 10.4 percent in Lorain County and 20.2 percent in Medina County and increased statewide by 3.8 percent. So when President Barack Obama’s administration announced Friday that Ohio wasn’t included in a five-state, $1.5 billion foreclosure relief plan, [...]
Avon couple donates $1 million to hospital system
AVON — For the first few years of his life, Nathan Fergus struggled with serious medical problems that went undiagnosed. “He was 2 years and 8 months, and weighed 18 pounds,” his mother, Mary Fergus, said Friday. “I knew something was seriously wrong.” After going through several doctors and unanswered questions, fate brought her, her [...]
Woman denies affair with doctor charged with cyanide killing
CLEVELAND – A woman testified Friday that her affair with a doctor charged in his wife’s cyanide death was casual, not an infatuation that the defense has suggested might be a motive for her to commit murder. “It wasn’t a relationship,” Marguerita Montanez testified under cross-examination as the defense for Dr. Yazeed Essa tried to [...]
Chase begins and ends with car crashes
AVON LAKE – A Sheffield Lake man was taken to St. John West Shore Hospital after crashing into two cars and telling police he’d been “popping pills and drinking all day,” officials said. Frank Fusik, 47, was charged by Avon police with reckless operation, failure to stop after an accident, operating a vehicle while intoxicated [...]
Housing renovations planned in Oberlin
OBERLIN – In the next several years, the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority plans a multimillion-dollar project to renovate the 42 pagoda-style subsidized housing units scattered around town. Renovation of each unit will cost about $100,000 and include a new furnace, air conditioning, larger windows and mansard-style roofs, which are used on most modern home and [...]
Roundup – Feb. 20, 2010
Woman gets 90 days for fatal 3-car crash VERMILION – A Vermilion woman was sentenced to 90 days in jail and will lose her driver’s license for two years for causing a three-car crash that left 17-year-old David Ryan Kelm dead. Allison Priess, 21, also was ordered to pay fines and court costs totaling $1,300 [...]
Cribbs close to new deal
Less than two months ago, All-Pro special teamer Joshua Cribbs cleaned out his locker and vowed not to play again for the Browns without a new contract. That deal is near, according to a source familiar with negotiations. The source said the sides “are close, not real close” to completing a deal and there’s no [...]
UPDATE: Power restored on Elyria’s south side
UPDATE: ELYRIA — First Energy says that power was restored to 650 customers on the city’s southside by 5:30 p.m., and the rest who had lost it had it back by 5:45 p.m. EARLIER STORY: ELYRIA — About 2,160 Elyria homes were without power Friday afte rnoon after an outage at the center of Grafton [...]
Hit-and-run victim follows driver, helps police arrest man on drinking, pill binge
AVON LAKE — A Sheffield Lake man was taken to St. John West Shore Hospital after crashing into two cars and telling police he’d been “popping pills and drinking all day,” officials said. Frank Fusik, 47, was charged by Avon Police with reckless operation, failure to stop after an accident, operating a vehicle while intoxicated [...]
FirstEnergy wants to make consumers pay for scrapped bulb program
AKRON — Ohio’s consumer advocate is complaining about a utility’s proposal to have its customers pay for a controversial light bulb program it scrapped. FirstEnergy Corp. has asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to let it pass along to consumers about $772,000 in costs from its plan to mail a pair of energy-saving light [...]
Near-accident leads to drug charges for man
ELYRIA — A near head-on accident on Adams Street led to drug charges against a Lorain man Wednesday afternoon. Darnell Williams, 33, was charged with trafficking in marijuana, drug paraphernalia, tinted windows and improper right turn following a traffic stop about 2 p.m. Wednesday. Police said officers on patrol observed a vehicle driven by Williams [...]
Lorain man indicted for robbing friend
ELYRIA — A Lorain man has been indicted on charges he kidnapped and robbed a friend at gunpoint last month. Jamie Hamrick, 21, is charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping and possession of criminal tools, in addition to drug and weapons charges. Police said Hamrick pulled Christopher West out of his Lorain apartment on [...]
Z’s heart is in Cleveland, his agent says
CLEVELAND — Zydrunas Ilgauskas spent his first day with the Washington Wizards the same way he spent his last day as a member of the Cavaliers. The popular center remained in Northeast Ohio — relaxing at his suburban home with his wife, Jennifer, and their two young sons — while pondering the next move in [...]
Girls basketball tournament trail: EC confident it can win district
The Elyria Catholic girls set three major goals as they prepared for the basketball season: improve their overall record, improve their North Coast League record and advance further in the postseason than last year. The latter means advancing to a Division III regional tournament for the first time in the history of the program. After [...]
Nuggets 118, Cavaliers 116: Dynamic duel goes to ‘Melo
CLEVELAND — Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Cleveland’s LeBron James combined to score an incredible 65 points after intermission Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena. The last two were the difference, and it was Anthony who scored them. The Nuggets small forward hit a deep jumper from the left wing with 1.9 seconds left in overtime [...]
Woman enters plea to child endangering
ELYRIA — A Lorain woman took an Alford plea Thursday to a single count of endangering children that stemmed from the near drowning of her daughter two years ago. Melissa Solis, 33, could get up to five years in prison when she is sentenced later this year. In an Alford plea, a defendant admits there [...]
It wasn’t easy, but Ferry did right thing, the CT’s Rick Noland says
Part of Danny Ferry was elated. Part of him was choking back tears. Such is life as an NBA general manager. The Cavaliers’ front office leader was thrilled to have landed power forward Antawn Jamison, the “stretch four” Cleveland has always lacked, but the first thing he addressed at a news conference Thursday was having [...]
Car dealer Tom Ganley enters House race
Republican car dealer Tom Ganley filed petitions Thursday to challenge U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley Township, instantly turning what was considered a relatively safe district for Democrats into a fiercely contested race. Ganley, who had been running for the U.S. Senate against former Bush administration official and Congressman Rob Portman, has high name recognition and [...]
6 running for Koziura’s seat, Koziura and 7 others want Blair’s post
It’s a crowded race for the 56th District state house seat as five Democrats and a Republican are running in the May primary. The six are vying to fill the seat being vacated by Joseph Koziura, who has been representing the district since 2001 and is now running for county commissioner. The Democrats are Charles [...]
Wrestling tournament trail: Keystone twins in it to win it
It’s not easy telling twin brothers Brian and William Spangler apart. Even the Keystone sophomores struggle to find an answer when asked how to accomplish the task. “People still get us mixed up,” said Brian. “Unless they are really close friends, they can’t tell us apart.” The best way? “William wears black wrestling shoes and [...]
Signs of change: Block grants fund new looks for downtown Elyria businesses
ELYRIA — New signs are pointing the way to downtown Elyria businesses thanks to Main Street Elyria and city Community Development Block Grant funds. The nonprofit organization, which aims to promote downtown Elyria, was awarded $11,000 from the city’s allotment of federal funds and has given the money to well-established Elyria businesses through a grant [...]
150 jobs to be cut in Lorain Schools consolidation
By Lisa Roberson and Alicia Castelli LORAIN — As many as 150 employees are facing layoffs as Lorain Schools looks to close a multimillion-dollar hole in its budget. When the dust settles, nearly 100 teachers could be without jobs and several student programs could be lopped from the district’s budget. Many of the cuts will [...]
Top brass Shapiro, Antonetti to switch duties for Indians
CLEVELAND — The Indians front office will be getting a facelift. Team president Paul Dolan announced Thursday that following the 2010 season, longtime general manager Mark Shapiro will be promoted to president, while assistant general manager Chris Antonetti takes over as GM. In addition, Dolan, the son of owner Larry Dolan, is expected to assume [...]
Oberlin district decides against trying for track levy
OBERLIN — Voters will not be asked to approve a 1-mill levy in May to pay for improvements to the Oberlin High School track and tennis courts. The school board voted 4-0 Wednesday night against placing the issue on the ballot. “We just didn’t think it was prudent at this point to ask voters to [...]