Archive for February, 2011
Orlando Cabrera officially signs with Indians
CLEVELAND —It’s official: Orlando Cabrera is a Cleveland Indian. The veteran infielder passed his physical Wednesday in Goodyear, Ariz., and signed a one-year contract worth $1 million plus incentives. The 36-year-old Cabrera will come to camp as the front runner to open the season as the Indians’ starting second baseman. Cabrera, who spent last season [...]
Pair charged with cheating Medicaid of $135,000
ELYRIA — A Lorain woman and an Amherst woman have been indicted for allegedly bilking Lorain County Job and Family Services out of about $135,000 worth of Medicaid benefits between the two of them. Assistant County Prosecutor Dave Muhek said the cases of April Daugherty, 36, and Lisa Ducar, 38, aren’t connected to each other. [...]
VIDEO: Ritter Public Library first in state to earn gold environmental award
VERMILION — Ritter Public Library is the first public library in the state of Ohio to earn a gold award for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the library announced today. The award was announced this week by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nationwide, non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction. Ritter [...]
Crushers get set to host all-star game, reveal all-star logo
AVON — The Lake Erie Crushers are getting set to host the Frontier League all-star game in summer 2011 and today unveiled their all-star logo. All-star week begins July 11, with the game itself being played Wednesday July 13 at All Pro Freight Stadium, according to the Crushers. Other events will include a home run [...]
Photo gallery: Historian revives Mrs. Lincoln for program Sunday
WELLINGTON — An incredible transformation takes place when Charlene Connors slips on a white silk dress trimmed in black to portray Mary Todd Lincoln. Black ringlets cascade down her shoulders and her dress rustles gently as she begins calling out for her White House seamstress, a former slave named Elizabeth Keckly. Everything has to be [...]
Borders files for bankruptcy; seven Ohio stores to close
NEW YORK — Bookseller Borders, which helped pioneer superstores that put countless mom-and-pop bookshops out of business, filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday, sunk by crushing debt and sluggishness in adapting to a rapidly changing industry. The 40-year-old company plans to close about 200 of its 642 stores over the next few weeks. All of the [...]
Police: Man attacked brother-in-law with baseball bat
ELYRIA — An Elyria man was arrested overnight after police say he attacked his brother-in-law with a baseball bat. Michael Yeaples, 42, was charged with felonious assault and taken to the Lorain County Jail. Officers were called to the Denison Avenue home about 11 p.m. Timothy Sumner, 31, of Columbia Station, told them he was [...]
Vermilion man pleads guilty to threats against judge
ELYRIA — A Vermilion man accused of threatening a county judge took a plea last week in which he avoided prison in exchange for pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of intimidation and aggravated menacing. Prosecutors also dropped a felony retaliation charge against 46-year-old Richard Sagert, who had sent county Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski a [...]
Governor’s JobsOhio legislation gets Senate committee OK
COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s plan to hand over job creation functions to a nonprofit corporation has cleared a state Senate hurdle with support from three Democrats. The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday approved the measure, sending it to the full Senate for consideration. The GOP-led chamber was expected to vote later Wednesday on [...]
Frank Spisak arrives at state death house; execution set for tomorrow
COLUMBUS — A condemned Ohio killer of three who identifies himself as a woman and who has spent 27 years on death row has arrived at the state death house a day before his scheduled execution. Prison officials say Frank Spisak was calm and reserved as he reached the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville [...]
County recorder launches notification system to prevent real estate fraud
ELYRIA — Lorain County Recorder Judy Nedwick has launched a notification system that she said will help prevent real estate fraud. The new system will notify property owners by e-mail or text message whenever a document is filed regarding their property. Those interested in the service can sign up for free on Nedwick’s website, LorainCounty.com/Recorder. [...]
Fire overnight destroys Lorain trailer home
LORAIN — A Lorain woman was able to escape a trailer fire overnight, but her home is a total loss, according to firefighters. The Fire Department was called to the Shoreway Motel & Trailer Park at 3945 West Erie Avenue at 9:38 p.m., according to Assistant Chief Randy Hupp. Firefighters arrived to find the trailer [...]
Woman’s arm severed in vehicle-towing accident
CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati woman’s arm ripped off during a vehicle-towing accident has been reattached by surgery. Family members tell The Cincinnati Enquirer it’s unclear how much function 36-year-old Helen Foster will have in the arm after the accident on Monday. Friends were helping Foster tow her old minivan to a junkyard when a braided [...]
Violence surging in Ohio prison system, chief says
COLUMBUS — The state’s prisons chief tells Ohio lawmakers he now receives reports seven days a week about major violent incidents within the system. At a state Senate hearing on Tuesday, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Gary Mohr pointed to statistics, including a near quadrupling of clashes involving six or more inmates within [...]
Wife of convicted murderer arrested overnight after making threats via 911
LORAIN — A Lorain woman whose husband is serving a life prison sentence for murder was arrested overnight after threatening police officers. Estephana Pena, 27, called 911 a little after 11 p.m. last night and requested an ambulance be sent to 759 Georgia Ave., saying she had just shot someone. Pena then made threats over [...]
No. 2 Ohio State 71, Michigan State 61: Buckeyes back on track
COLUMBUS —Ohio State did its best to forget its only loss. Michigan State served notice that, as is annually the case, it may just be a force to be reckoned with in the postseason. William Buford scored 23 points and Aaron Craft had a hand in two critical plays down the stretch to lead the [...]
Time for a victory: Cavs, Lakers struggling … in vastly different ways
INDEPENDENCE — There’s going to be an angry, reeling basketball team at Quicken Loans Arena tonight. The Cavaliers will be there, too. The two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers will bring a two-game losing streak into town as they complete a seven-game road trip made necessary by the Grammy Awards being held at Staples [...]
Boys basketball: Midview nearly loses it in the fourth against Avon
EATON TWP. — For three quarters Tuesday night, Midview played about as perfect a basketball game as anyone could imagine. The fourth quarter was a different story altogether. With a 13-point lead — their largest of the game — heading into the fourth quarter, the Middies’ lead was cut to two twice in the final [...]
Boys basketball: Elyria just can’t hang with ’Dogs
ELYRIA — It wasn’t a lack of effort or a lack of desire on the part of Elyria High on Tuesday night. The Pioneers gave it their best shot, but make no mistake, when it comes to the Garfield Heights Bulldogs, who won 90-67, they’re the real deal. “There’s a reason they’re (ranked) four or [...]
Boys basketball: Shoremen roll to 17th straight
AVON LAKE — If the Shoremen considered Tuesday night’s 48-29 victory over Westlake a statement game, then senior Collin Holmes’ two-handed dunk in the final minutes was definitely the exclamation point. The reserve guard scored Avon Lake’s final basket in dramatic fashion, bringing the home student section to its feet and punctuating his unbeaten team’s [...]
Scant support for Moen buy: Elyria officials have cost concerns
ELYRIA — Purchasing the old Moen Corp. building could potentially be a multi-million dollar investment on the city’s part, and City Council members are not unanimously on board. Officials’ biggest concerns about buying the property are the cost, location and the renovation needs the property would require. Despite a tour of the facility and a [...]
Rep wants to help Avon business reduce cost of buying alcohol
AVON — A day after she toured a local food manufacturing plant whose operations are hamstrung by current state laws, state Rep. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, announced she will introduce legislation to make it easier and cheaper for such businesses to operate. Manning said she would introduce legislation designed to allow food manufacturing operations such [...]
LCCAA director: Federal budget plan would result in massive service cuts
LORAIN — The future of services provided by the Lorain Community Action Agency is uncertain after President Barack Obama proposed a 50 percent cut in funding for one of the key grants that provides it money from the federal government. President and CEO Bill Locke said the Community Services Block Grant that the agency receives [...]
Four years for man in Elyria bar stabbing
ELYRIA — An Elyria man was sentenced to four years in prison Monday for stabbing a bar bouncer in December 2009. Frederick Farris, 36, pleaded guilty to charges of felonious assault and tampering with evidence in November after prosecutors agreed to drop additional felonious assault charges stemming from the incident. Farris was arrested by Elyria [...]
Ross attorney pleads case in court appeal
ELYRIA — Former Lorain County Commissioner Michael Ross’ attorney has made numerous arguments about why his client’s conviction on public corruption charges should be overturned, including that there wasn’t enough evidence to convict Ross. But attorney Paul Griffin spent most of his time during oral arguments Tuesday before the 9th District Court of Appeals arguing [...]