Archive for November, 2011
Black Friday shoppers evacuated from Walmart after power outage
PORT CLINTON — Black Friday shoppers in northern Ohio had to leave their bargains behind when a car accident knocked out power at a Walmart. A driver hit a utility pole near the store just before midnight near the town of Port Clinton, along Lake Erie. Authorities from around the area including police, firefighters and [...]
Courtney Thompson youngest bowler to roll perfect game
It took a couple of days to sink in, but Courtney Thompson was feeling just perfect after bowling a 300 at the Greater Lorain United States Bowling Congress Youth Association City Tournament. The Amherst sophomore set a record Oct. 23 as the youngest Lorain Bowling Association bowler to roll a perfect game. Thompson, who turned [...]
Four senior linebackers leading the way for Avon’s defense tonight
The Avon Eagles have four senior linebackers who have been instrumental to the team’s success and postseason run this year. Three of the four are members of the “Tough Street” club, and the fourth will probably join soon. “We don’t put that many kids in that club,” Eagles coach Mike Elder said. “Tough Street is [...]
Police log for Nov. 25, 2011
LaGrange police Wednesday, Nov. 16 4:50 p.m. — First Merit Bank, a woman was bothering customers and told to leave the property. Sunday, Nov. 20 4:30 p.m. — Keywood Boulevard, a disassembled grill was found. It was the same grill reported stolen by a resident of the 120 block of Harvest Court on Nov. 19. [...]
Aurora player dies in car crash a day before tonight’s Avon game
AURORA — A high school football player in Ohio has died in a car crash after practice the day before his team’s state regional game. Aurora police say a car driven by 16-year-old Paul W. McGhee drifted across a lane of traffic before crashing into a tree Thursday afternoon. His team, the Aurora High School [...]
Free Thanksgiving feast kicks off early at St. Mary
ELYRIA — Annual Thanksgiving dinners at St. Mary Church began 40 minutes earlier than planned Thursday when a volunteer accidentally opened doors at 11:20 a.m. “We got bum-rushed,” joked Jerry Schill, head organizer of the dinners. “Probably 40 to 50 people popped right in. They were out there waiting.” By 2:10 p.m., Schill said about [...]
State setting up cameras to monitor highway traffic
CLEVELAND — The state transportation department is nearly finished with the $18 million setup of a system of cameras, sensors and signs to monitor highways in northeast Ohio. The Plain Dealer newspaper reports traffic is being tracked in the Akron, Canton and Cleveland areas. The monitoring system is expected to expand to Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, [...]
Black Friday shoppers out in force
ELYRIA — Spending 31 hours in the cold to save $500 on a television was worth it to Brian Wilson, but it was hard to tell Thursday night. Wilson, 37, of North Ridgeville, looked miserable as he shivered in the cold outside Best Buy at the front of a line of about 500 people around [...]
Browns notes: Phil Dawson’s year has had lots of ups, downs
BEREA — Phil Dawson has been on an emotional rollercoaster since the end of last year, when he believed his Browns career was over. The veteran kicker sold his home on the west side and moved back to his native Texas, only to have Cleveland tag him as its “franchise player” just before the NFL [...]
Lewis E. “Bud” Richardson
Lewis E. “Bud” Richardson, 75, of Elyria, died Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland. Arrangements will be announced by Dicken Funeral Home, Elyria.
Helen F. Niskey
Helen F. Niskey, 90, of Lorain passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2011, at Autumn Aegis Nursing Home in Lorain, under the loving and compassionate care of Crossroads Hospice, following a lengthy illness. She was born in Essen, Germany on July 12, 1921. She is survived by her daughters, Helen (Rudy) Amato and Diane Bills; seven [...]
John A. Wirth
John A. Wirth, 83, of Elyria, passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2011. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Busch Funeral Home, Elyria, 440-322-3717.
Merle E. Howard
Merle E. Howard, 82, of LaGrange, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, November 23, 2011, following a brief illness. He was born at Lester in Medina County, the son of the late Homer and Alice (Allen) Howard. He married Ruth Brammer on June 23, 1963, she survives. Mr. Howard served in the U.S. Army [...]
Janet Marie Bialorucki
Janet Marie Bialorucki, 70 of Lorain, died Tuesday, November 22, 2011 in New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph. She was born September 25, 1941 in Lorain, and was a lifelong resident. Janet worked for Sears as a Human Resource Assistant, retiring in 2009 after 49 years. She also worked part time at Skate World [...]
Sister Margaret Mary McGovern, SND
Sister Margaret Mary McGovern, SND (formerly Sister Mary St. Michael), 84, daughter of the late Thomas and Agnes (nee Barrett) McGovern; loving sister of Thomas (deceased) (wife Lois) and James (deceased) (wife Carole); beloved sister of Coletta Quigley-Orack (Nick Orack); loving aunt of Daniel (deceased), Brian and Kevin Quigley of Mary Kay Bostwick (husband David), [...]
OSU vs. Michigan: The Game has had its upsets
COLUMBUS — Being the favorite doesn’t mean much when Ohio State and Michigan meet. The history of this heated rivalry is littered with upsets and surprises. No. 17 Michigan (9-2, 5-2) is hoping to grab a share of the Big Ten’s Legends Division title Saturday, and bolster its argument for a major bowl game. Ohio [...]
Ready, set, shop! Black Friday Q&A
NEW YORK — Ready. Set. Shop. The day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, kicks off the holiday shopping season. Each year, retailers open their doors early and offer shoppers deals of up to 70 percent off on everything from electronics to clothes. And shoppers typically turn out in droves. Before you head out to the [...]
Report: 26,500 Ohioans abusing free cell phone program
A newspaper investigation has found that tens of thousands of Ohioans are abusing a federal program that gives free cell phones to low-income households. The Dayton Daily News reports that cell phone companies are promoting it heavily and it is so commonly abused that 26,500 Ohioans in November have been notified they are violating the [...]
Housing authority offers free wireless Internet to help residents pull out of poverty
LORAIN — Residents of Lakeview Plaza apartments now will be able to access free wireless Internet. The wireless project is part of the Connect Your Community program, managed by OneCommunity, a regional nonprofit focused on expanding broadband access for low-income households. Connect Your Community is funded by a two-year, $18.7 million federal stimulus grant. The [...]
Commissioners delay plan to implement building codes in townships
ELYRIA — A contingent of township officials showed up at Wednesday’s meeting of the Lorain County commissioners and persuaded the commissioners to temporarily set aside a plan to implement mandatory building codes for all 18 townships and hire a full-time building official. Several dozen township officials attended the meeting, including Elyria Township Trustee Rob Scheithauer, [...]
Prosecutor says former cop has oddest defense he’s ever heard in theft trial
MOUNT GILEAD, Ohio — A former Ohio police officer accused of theft denied being aware of stolen property in his basement, saying he avoided the room because he believed it contained a paranormal presence. WBNS-TV reports that Joseph Hughes faced 21 charges when items ranging from a heater and a welder to an air conditioning [...]
Redistricting leaves Ohio House races in limbo
TOLEDO — With less than a year left before the 2012 congressional elections, the fight over redrawing Ohio’s political map means some candidates don’t know yet where they’ll end up running. The resulting confusion is making it more difficult for some to raise money, organize their campaigns and know which voters to woo. Most incumbents [...]
New Ohio license plates and driver’s licenses to be unveiled Monday
COLUMBUS — Ohioans will see a new, simpler red and white license plate next year. The Columbus Dispatch reports that Gov. John Kasich will unveil the design at a Monday news conference at the Columbus College of Art & Design — the school where the plate was created. The new, simple design features a small [...]
Urban Meyer says he has no deal to coach OSU
COLUMBUS — Despite numerous reports saying he’s all but set to become Ohio State’s next football coach, Urban Meyer said Wednesday that is not the case. “I have not been offered any job nor is there a deal in place,” the former Florida coach said in a statement released through ESPN, where he is a [...]
Sizemore happy in Cleveland, opts to sign 1-year deal
CLEVELAND — Grady Sizemore is taking his talents back to Cleveland. While a number of professional athletes have made news by skipping town, Sizemore, the Indians’ longtime center fielder actually chose to stick around, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $5 million. Sizemore, a three-time all-star and two-time Gold Glove award winner, became a free [...]