Archive for March, 2010
EMH sells half its interest in Amherst Hospital; lays off 25
ELYRIA — EMH Regional Healthcare System has sold a 50 percent stake in Amherst Hospital to a group of local physicians who practice out of the hospital. The agreement, which creates a for-profit joint venture between EMH and the doctors, went into effect Sunday, said EMH CEO and President Dr. Don Sheldon. The hospital will [...]
City electrician pleads not guilty to bribery, other charges
LORAIN — An electrician with the City of Lorain’s Building Department has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, falsification and receiving improper compensation stemming from a 2007 inspection. David Velez, 53, was indicted March 11 and turned himself in March 15 to the Sheriff’s Office. He’s been accused of doing a home inspection for [...]
Lorain County has highest unemployment in nearly 2 decades
Lorain County’s 11.5 percent jobless rate for February is the highest since the recession began in December 2007. The rate, which is not seasonally adjusted, topped January’s 11 percent unemployment. Factors for the county’s increase over January include a 1 percent rise in claims filed for unemployment benefits, and more people seeking work but not [...]
3 people arrested in drug raid overnight at Elyria home
ELYRIA — A man and two women were arrested during a raid overnight at an Elyria home. The raid, conducted by the Elyria police and the U.S. Marshals’ Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, took place between 11 p.m. and midnight at 226 Bath St., between Lake Avenue and Lorain Boulevard. Nichole Hall, 20, of [...]
Web site for Ohio appliance rebates jammed
COLUMBUS — The Web site for an Ohio appliance rebate program has been swamped following the launch of the promotion. Starting at 8 a.m. today, consumers were to go to OhioApplianceRebate.com to reserve their $100-$250 rebate on the purchase of an energy efficient appliance. Within the first hour, visitors to the site got a message [...]
Obituaries for March 26, 2010
Donald R. Cassidy Franklin D. Smith Christina Schramm Earl Leland Mattox Janet M. Rice Read the full obituaries on The Chronicle E-edition at: http://www.chroniclet.com/ChroniclEdition/
Snow returns, icing up roads and causing accidents
From staff and wire reports After a few weeks that felt like spring, snow has returned to Ohio, icing up roads. Snow fell overnight throughout the state, leaving as much as 3 inches on the ground. Police reported dozens of accidents, and numerous school districts statewide delayed their Friday start times by one or two [...]
NCAA tournament: OSU more versatile than in ’07
ST. LOUIS — The last time Tennessee faced Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament, the Buckeyes had a roster that made NBA general managers drool, with monstrous Greg Oden dominating inside and Mike Conley Jr. making sure everything flowed smoothly. Must be a relief to the Volunteers that they won’t have to see those guys [...]
Browns ready to plan draft after learning exact pick positions
CLEVELAND — The Browns will make 12 selections in the upcoming NFL Draft, but the exact positions of their picks weren’t known until now. The league officially unveiled its draft order Thursday, including 32 compensatory choices and one pick forfeited by the Washington Redskins for taking part in the supplemental draft. Cleveland’s five selections in [...]
Grady Sizemore set for a fresh start
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Things have been decidedly different for Grady Sizemore this spring. He is batting in a new spot under a new manager and is coming off one of the worst years of his career, a season that ended with two surgeries (elbow and abdominal). Still, Sizemore has looked like his former all-star self [...]
LCCC to raise tuition 3.5 percent
ELYRIA — Lorain County Community College’s board of trustees unanimously approved a 3.5 percent tuition increase at Thursday’s meeting. The increase means students will pay $3.15 more per credit hour, up from $90.60 to $93.75, beginning with the summer session. Lorain County residents who are enrolled full time will pay $98.80 per credit hour for [...]
Photo gallery: Elyria High crews get a tasty thank you
Students in the Elyria High Family and Consumer Science club delivered hundreds of cookies — with thank-you notes attached — on Thursday to construction workers working on the school.
Elyria man killed in mishap at salvage yard
EATON TWP. — The death Saturday of a man working on an old school bus at a Royalton Road salvage company was an accident and will be investigated by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, according to Lorain County Sheriff’s Capt. John Reiber. Raymond T. Draper, 55, of Elyria, died at MetroHealth Medical Center [...]
Shops bracing for rush on appliances thanks to rebate program
ELYRIA — Retailers big and small are bracing for what could be an Oklahoma Land Rush-like charge of customers today looking to replace energy-guzzling washers and refrigerators with energy-efficient appliances offering rebates of $100 to $150. Similar appliance rebate programs in neighboring states with millions of dollars allotted to them have run out of money [...]
Police, bomb squad help man resolve his mortar matter
LORAIN — A man got some immediate help from police on Wednesday night. That’s because he walked into the police station and said he wanted to dispose of a 60 mm mortar shell that he had in the passenger seat of his pickup parked in the City Hall parking lot. The Lorain County Bomb Squad [...]
Police log for March 26, 2010
Elyria police Monday, March 22 5:33 p.m. – Elyria police station, a man told police a brown canvas book bag containing more than 200 prescription pills was taken from Minuteman Staffing Services at 144 Middle Ave. between 3:30 and 5 p.m. Monday. 7:06 p.m. – 1000 block Middle Ave., four TVs, including two large-screen models, [...]
Garage fire overnight in LaGrange Township draws 4 departments
LAGRANGE TWP. — A fire that destroyed a garage on the 40000 block of Parsons Road Thursday night brought out firefighters from four departments. The fire was spotted by a passing motorist who alerted the residents, said LaGrange Township fire chief James Rader. The garage was completely in flames by the time firefighters from LaGrange [...]
Tough year, but looking up in eastern Lorain County, mayors say
AVON — Despite an economic downturn, Avon’s tax revenue went up by 5.5 percent last year, Mayor Jim Smith told several hundred people Thursday at a luncheon hosted by the North Coast Chamber of Commerce. “We’re one of the few (communities) in the state that has a positive increase,” Smith said. Despite the poor economy, [...]
Tribe notes: Acta gives peek at opening lineup
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Manny Acta said he would begin playing his regulars on a more consistent basis, and the manager was true to his word in an exhibition game against the Mariners on Thursday. Providing some insight into what the Indians’ lineup would most likely look like to open the season, April 5, against the [...]
Simpson could face death for ’07 slaying at pizza shop
ELYRIA — Neil Simpson of Lorain could face the death penalty after being convicted Thursday of being the masked gunman who leaped over a counter and killed Granny D’s Pizza owner David Kowalczyk during a robbery on June 23, 2007. Kowalczyk’s family and friends wept as the verdict was read. In a few weeks, the [...]
Carlisle Township firm buys old Value City, new jobs possible
CARLISLE TWP. — The purchase of a vacant department store on Oberlin-Elyria Road will open up the possibility of more jobs at a Carlisle Township manufacturing company that makes products for Honda and Little Tikes. Quality Blow Molding, which is just down the street from the shuttered Value City on Oberlin-Elyria Road, purchased the property [...]
Six to be inducted into county track hall
The second annual Lorain County Track Hall of Fame induction will be held at 4 p.m. April 16, prior to the start of the Lorain County Invitational at Midview’s Adelsberg Stadium. The ceremony will consist of an introduction in front of the home grandstand. This year’s class will include: Ray Armstrong Sr. (Elyria West, class of 1979): 4-time state [...]
Game info from Indians’ win over Seattle on Thursday
Indians (13-6-2) 3, (ss) Mariners (8-13-1) 1 Hits: Starting pitcher David Huff allowed five hits and three walks but only one run through 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander worked out of a number of jams during the outing. … Designated hitter Travis Hafner reached base in all three of his plate appearances with a [...]
Neil Simpson guilty on all counts in Granny D’s murder
ELYRIA — Neil Simpson was convicted today of all charges in the June 23, 2007, killing of Granny D’s Pizza owner David Kowalczyk. In a few weeks, the six-man, six-woman jury will be called back to decide whether to recommend a death sentence for Simpson, 26, of Lorain. Besides death, he could face life in [...]
Lorain police seek man for two armed robberies overnight
LORAIN — Police are seeking a man who robbed a West 24th Street couple at gunpoint and stole their car and robbed another man less than five minutes later overnight. The first robbery took place about 10:38 p.m. in the 2300 block of West 24th street, where a man and his girlfriend had just returned [...]