Archive for February, 2011
(Updated) Combine update day 3: Defensive linemen take center stage
INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL could’ve renamed Saturday at the scouting combine “Browns Day.” The parade of top-notch defensive linemen through the interview room at Lucas Oil Stadium began with Alabama tackle Marcell Dareus. Clemson’s Da’Quan Bowers was next. North Carolina’s Robert Quinn followed, but Auburn’s Nick Fairley never made it. The defensive linemen take the [...]
Annie L. Eller
Annie L. Eller (nee Allen), 83, of Elyria, passed away Thursday, February 24, 2011 at University Hospital in Cleveland following a brief illness. She was born in Mississippi and had been a resident of Elyria for the past 40 years, moving from Cleveland. Annie worked as a binder for World Publishing Company in Cleveland for [...]
Richard A. Bower, Jr.
Richard A. Bower, Jr., 60, of Clearwater, Florida, died suddenly Thursday, February 3, 2011 at home. He was born in Akron, June 6, 1950. Richard, formerly of Lorain, had worked at Ford Motor Assembly plant for 20 years, before moving to Florida. He was a member of the Vermilion Masonic Lodge and 9th Degree member [...]
Jeanette A. “Jean” Lucia
Jeanette A. “Jean” Lucia, (nee Bommer), 80, of Elyria, passed away Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at EMH Regional Medical Center, following a brief illness. She was born September 25, 1930 in North Ridgeville and was a lifelong Elyria area resident. Jean worked as an executive secretary at the Plastic Components Co. in Elyria for 25 [...]
Leroy Reed
Leroy Reed, 91, of Elyria, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, February 22, 2011. He was born March 13, 1919, in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Leroy retired after 35 years from the U.S. Steel Company. He was a faithful 50 year member of the Second Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Usher [...]
Mary E. Hastings
Mary E. Hastings (nee-Neidhardt), 70, of Elyria, died Thursday, February 24, 2011, at the Northridge in North Ridgeville, following a long illness. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Laubenthal Mercado Funeral Home of Elyria, 440-322-4626.
Sandra D. Wagner
Sandra D. Wagner (nee Ward), 69, of Elyria, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, February 23, 2011, after battling cancer. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Busch Funeral Home, Elyria, 440-322-3717.
March can’t come soon enough
ELYRIA — Nearly a foot of snow was dumped onto most of Northeast Ohio on Friday. Lorain County roads were a mess for most of the morning as plow trucks tried to keep up with the onslaught. More than 20 accidents were reported across the county, 14 of which were handled by the Ohio Highway [...]
Snow removal costs are sapping cities’ budgets
The snow that just won’t go away is also making a big dent in the budgets of cash-strapped cities. When snow and ice hit, salt is needed, but salt is a pricey commodity for cities to purchase. At the end of last year, Elyria pulled $250,000 out of its general fund to buy salt for [...]
Elyria auditor reports tax revenues up
ELYRIA — The first two months of the year are showing income tax collections at pre-recession levels. City Auditor Ted Pileski said it’s too early to change his conservative projection that income tax revenue will increase by 3 percent for the year. This, even though February collections are up 17.13 percent over what was brought [...]
SENATE BILL 5: Manning says she is undecided
ELYRIA — State Sen. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, said Friday she remains undecided on how she’ll vote on the controversial Senate Bill 5, which would reduce the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions. “I’m just trying to get educated,” she said. Manning said she sees both sides of the issue. On the one hand, [...]
SENATE BILL 5: Republicans examine amendments; Dems and unions say tweaks impossible
COLUMBUS — Republican state lawmakers sifted through stacks of proposed changes to a bill that would dramatically reduce collective bargaining rights for state employees, as thousands of opponents geared up for demonstrations ahead of a likely vote next week. Senate leadership set a Friday deadline for amendments, which were still being processed into the evening. [...]
Ex-Elyria received pardon from Strickland
ELYRIA — On his last day in office, former Gov. Ted Strickland pardoned a former Elyria woman who had sought clemency from the Ohio Parole Board but failed to show up for a hearing on her request. Linda Thompson, 47, was 22 when she was convicted in 1984 of trafficking in marijuana, a fourth-degree felony, [...]
BLOTTER: Feb. 26, 2011
Lorain police Saturday, Feb. 19 6:51 p.m. – 4800 block Leavitt Road, Walmart, police charged Tania Koutsopoulos, 29, address unknown, with theft for allegedly attempting to steal bras and DVDs while her 11-year-old daughter was with her. Monday, Feb. 21 1:59 p.m. – 5300 block Leavitt Road, Super Kmart, Anthony Zayas, 26, of Lorain, was [...]
Team trumps stars: Cavs find plenty of heroes to counter Melo, Amar’e, beat Knicks
CLEVELAND – The New York Knicks had two superstars. For one night, anyway, the Cavaliers had the better team. Getting key contributions from a lot of people, Cleveland downed Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and the rest of the Knicks 115-109 Friday night in front of a boisterous sellout crowd at Quicken Loans Arena. In beating [...]
Cavs notes: Baron Davis sounds pumped about Cleveland trade
CLEVELAND - After getting over some initial shock, Baron Davis is excited to be coming to the Cavaliers. “I can’t wait to join my new team, bring good energy and help us win games,” Davis posted on his Facebook page. “I’m ready to call The Q home and bring some excitement!!! See you soon Ohio! The Beard [...]
Browns bullish on Colt, but that doesn’t mean they won’t take a QB in the draft
INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL is split into distinct groups, and the separation seems as wide as the Grand Canyon. Those who have their quarterback and those looking for their quarterback. The Browns consider themselves a member of the privileged class. General manager Tom Heckert and new coach Pat Shurmur met with Cleveland-area reporters Friday at [...]
Georgia receiver A.J. Green might be just what Browns need
INDIANAPOLIS – The Browns need to get faster. They want to add a playmaking receiver. They would like to surround quarterback Colt McCoy with more weapons. No wonder Georgia receiver A.J. Green is a popular choice in mock drafts for the Browns to take with the sixth pick in April’s draft. “Explosive players on offense [...]
NFL combine notes: Browns GM wants to stock up on talent
INDIANAPOLIS – As a general manager, Tom Heckert’s first responsibility is to acquire as much talent as possible. After a year in Cleveland, Heckert admits his job is a work in progress. He acknowledged Friday the perception that the talent cupboard remains bare. “That’s valid,” he said at the NFL scouting combine. “We have to [...]
High school swimming: Avon’s Runge takes fourth and ninth at state
CANTON – What a difference a year makes. Just ask Avon senior Elliot Runge after the Ohio State-bound swimmer’s performances in the finals of the Division II state meet Friday at C.T. Branin Natatorium. Runge finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke in a personal-best time of 59.16 seconds to shatter last year’s 14th-place finish in [...]
District bowling: Area hopefuls find Rebman’s right up their alley
A house might not always be a home, but for Lorain County high school bowling teams, Rebman Recreation is a bowling house that certainly feels like home. And that should be to their advantage as the Division I Northeast district tournament begins this weekend – the girls compete today and the boys Sunday – at [...]
NFL scouting combine update: WR A.J. Green in mix for Browns, was mentored by Mohamed Massaquoi
INDIANAPOLIS — Georgia receiver A.J. Green is a popular choice for the Browns to draft with the sixth pick in April. They have an obvious need for a game-changing wideout, and Green fits the bill at 6-foot-3½, 211 pounds with great athleticism. General manager Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur said Friday that Green will [...]
Browns GM Tom Heckert, coach Pat Shurmur express confidence in QB Colt McCoy
INDIANAPOLIS – Browns general manager Tom Heckert and coach Pat Shurmur reiterated their confidence in quarterback Colt McCoy on Friday at an hour-long interview session with Cleveland media at the NFL scouting combine. Heckert said he wouldn’t hesitate to draft a quarterback with the sixth pick in the draft – “two great quarterbacks are not [...]
Justin Chapman gets 33 years to life for friend’s death during robbery
ELYRIA — Convicted killer Justin Chapman was given 33 years to life in prison for killing his friend Darren English during a botched robbery in 2005. It was the third time Chapman, 20, was sentenced in the case. The 9th District Court of Appeals has previously overturned his conviction on murder and other charges once [...]
Former state AG Jim Petro to be Ohio higher ed chief
COLUMBUS — The Associated Press has learned that former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro will be the state’s next higher education chancellor. Two higher education leaders and a Statehouse Republican with knowledge of the decision have told the AP that Ohio Gov. John Kasich will name Petro to succeed Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, who announced his [...]