Archive for December, 2010
No. 4: Brent Kandra is mauled by a bear
The fatal mauling of 24-year-old Brent Kandra of Elyria on Aug. 19 by a bear belonging to exotic animal enthusiast Sam Mazzola brought an avalanche of criticism for the controversial Mazzola. He said he used a fire extinguisher to scare off the bear — which has since he euthanized — but it was too late. [...]
Income taxes going down 4.2 percent in 2011
COLUMBUS — Ohioans are about to receive the delayed final round of a five-part income tax cut. The arrival of the new year will bring state tax rates down by 4.2 percent, completing what was supposed to be a five-year, 21 percent reduction begun in 2005. But it will have taken six years finish the [...]
No. 5: New Elyria High School opens
The old Elyria High School was a crumbling deteriorating mess described by some as the worst educational structure in the state. When the doors opened in September on the first phase of the $71 million project, community leaders, residents and school officials collectively smiled. With more than $1million in donations from private individuals, state-of-the-art technology [...]
No. 6: Crash claims entire Wellington family
Tragedy has a way of making everyone stop and take stock of their own lives. And in a year of tragic deaths, the loss of a young family just starting out their lives together was a shock. The Cole family died Nov. 16 in a horrific two-vehicle accident on Baumhart Road in Camden Township. Gar [...]
Indiana earthquakes shakes Ohio and three other states
INDIANAPOLIS — A magnitude 3.8 earthquake shook parts of Indiana and four other states today, prompting a wave of calls to local authorities from rattled residents. The U.S. Geological Survey said on its website that the quake, which was about three miles deep, occurred at 7:55 a.m. EST and was centered about five miles south [...]
Could Dawson’s final kick come this Sunday vs. Steelers?
BEREA — Phil Dawson’s first game-winning field goal came in 1999 at Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium. More than a decade later, his final kick with the Browns could come Sunday in the season finale against the Steelers. Dawson will play the last game of a five-year, $7 million contract. After seeking an extension in previous [...]
No. 7: Chronicle publisher Coop Hudnutt dies
The death of A. Cooper Hudnutt, publisher of The Chronicle-Telegram and president of the company that runs the paper and other media properties in the Cleveland area, came unexpectedly. He was 57. Hudnutt, who died Nov. 23, left behind family, friends and a media company that he had guided through tough times in recent years. [...]
Bobcats 101, Cavaliers 92: Cavs lose again
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Yells and grimaces have been replaced by slaps on the back and wide smiles. Freelancing and creativity have taken the place of forced shots and shot clock violations. And, at least for now, wins are being substituted for losses as Paul Silas remains unbeaten as Larry Brown’s replacement in Charlotte. More photos [...]
Lorain County traffic fatalities down in 2010
ELYRIA — The Ohio Highway Patrol’s efforts to reduce fatalities, especially drunk-driving deaths, paid off in 2010 with fewer fatal accidents. “Our biggest push in 2010 was to try and reduce the number of accidents attributed to alcohol and drugs,” according to Lt. Travis A. Hughes, commander of the Elyria post of the Ohio Highway [...]
No. 8: Plane crash kills 4, including inventor Don Brown
Don Brown became wealthy and well-known in life as an inventor — his most famous invention was the drop ceiling — but his death in a Jan. 18 plane crash put him back in the headlines. The crash of the MU-2B plane, which is made by Mitsubishi, came when the pilot was making the second [...]
No. 9: Republicans win commissioner, state Senate seats
Lorain County’s politics mirrored the national blowback against Democrats on Nov. 2 when Republicans Tom Williams and Gayle Manning won office over a pair of veteran Democratic politicians. Williams, an electromechanical process engineer for Invacare, who takes office next month as a Lorain County Commissioner after beating state Rep. Joe Koziura, D-Lorain, a long-time politician [...]
Lorain man in good condition following overnight shooting
LORAIN — A Lorain man who had to be LifeFlighted after he was shot last night is now in good condition, according to hospital spokeswoman. Jalen Ross, 18, is hospitalized at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. Officers were called to the area of Washington Avenue and West Sixth Street about 7:30 p.m. after several callers [...]
No. 10: Head Start case remains in the news
The controversial Head Start child molestation case remained in the news this year, even though Joseph Allen and former bus driver Nancy Smith were convicted by a jury in 1994. Last year, Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge acquitted the pair, saying he had no faith that they had committed the crimes they were [...]
Boys basketball: Avon wins its own tournament for first time in 10 years
AVON — It’s been a decade worth of frustration, but the Avon Eagles finally captured the championship at their own holiday event. The Eagles came away with a hard-fought 48-42 win over Clearview in the final of the 10th annual Avon Holiday Tournament on Wednesday night. The game had a postseason feel as the teams [...]
Boys basketball: EC grabs first win of the year over Keystone
AVON — Elyria Catholic unloaded its frustrating winless record Wednesday night. In a thriller, the Panthers came from behind to nip Keystone 44-43 in the consolation game of the Avon Holiday Tournament. It gave a good-sized crowd its money’s worth. Having trailed from the opening tip, EC finally overtook the Wildcats in the final three [...]
Wrestling: Titans take inaugural event title
LORAIN — A new school. A new tournament. A new standard of excellence. The Lorain Titans had four individual champions on their way to a resounding victory in the inaugural Jennee Campana Lorain Holiday Classic on Wednesday at Lorain High. The Titans finished with 288.5 points to top the 15-team field. Hudson was second with [...]
LORCO seeks input on future billing for Carlisle, Eaton township sewer users
Sewers are coming in 2011 to an estimated 1,100 homes in portions of Carlisle and Eaton townships, and the Lorain County Rural Wastewater District (LORCO) wants feedback from residents on how they should be billed. The choice is between a flat monthly sewer rate or a rate based on how much water is being used [...]
Lorain teacher pleads not guilty to drug charges
ELYRIA — A Lorain High School teacher pleaded not guilty Wednesday at his arraignment in Lorain County Common Pleas court on drug and drunken driving charges. Dominic Fracchione, 36, was arrested during a Nov. 5 traffic stop after police reported seeing his 1995 Ford Thunderbird speeding and weaving on East 28th Street. A police report [...]
Union OKs contract with county
ELYRIA — The union representing county maintenance and custodial workers voted Wednesday to approve a contract that, if approved by county commissioners, will end a year long dispute over a contract the commissioners imposed a year ago. Jeff Blackstone, president of United Steelworkers Local 8845, said the 24 members in the union who cast a [...]
New Year’s holiday closings
Many government offices at the city, county, state and federal levels will be closed over the coming days for the New Year’s holiday. Safety services will remain on duty throughout the holiday weekend. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver mail both today, when normal business hours will be maintained, and on Friday. Most post offices [...]
Lorain police offer free rides New Year’s Eve
LORAIN — For those who may have overdone it during New Year’s festivities, auxiliary officers are offering free rides home. The Lorain Police Auxiliary Officers will offer the service starting at 7 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, police said. Rides will be given to people within the city limits who also have a destination [...]
American Cancer Society accepting Living Angel nominations
LORAIN — The American Cancer Society is now accepting nominations for the Living Angel Award to be presented March 5 at the 25th Annual Life Savers Ball at DeLuca’s Place in the Park in Lorain. The recipient of the honor is a person in the community who has direct involvement in the field of cancer, [...]
Boys basketball: Shoremen stay unbeaten
BRUNSWICK — Avon Lake’s boys basketball team continues to torment its rivals from Medina County. The undefeated Shoremen added another notch to their belt Wednesday at the Brunswick Holiday Hoops Classic, pulling away for a 53-41 victory over the host Blue Devils in the championship game. “You have to give Avon Lake credit because they [...]
Man LifeFlighted after Lorain shooting as gunfire incidents continue
By Kaitlin Bushinski and Rona Proudfoot, The Chronicle-Telegram LORAIN — Multiple gunmen reportedly shot an 18-year-old man in downtown Lorain on Wednesday — the latest in a series of Lorain shootings that may or may not be related. About 7:20 p.m., the man, whose name was unavailable Wednesday evening, was reportedly shot in the abdomen [...]
Lorain County under freezing rain advisory until 9 a.m.
Much of northern Ohio — including Lorain County — is under a freezing rain advisory until 9 this morning. According to the National Weather Service, areas of freezing rain will continue to develop and move across the advisory area this morning. The precipitation is expected to transition to rain after daybreak as temperatures rise. Untreated [...]