ELYRIA — Penny Lynch was getting ready for bed around 2 a.m. Saturday in her East Avenue home when the sound of screeching tires caught her attention.
“I thought ‘Great, we’re gonna have an accident on the curve,’” she told a reporter on Saturday. “All of a sudden the house was exploding,” she said. It was a dark red four-door car slamming through her fence and into the side of her house at 1260 East Ave.
The force of the crash shattered part
of the sandstone foundation, pushing debris into the basement. The entire house shook. Lynch and her pets weren’t hurt, she said. “Yes, this is my house last night. Yes, it managed to do what no other car in the history of this house has done, it busted thru my foundation. My thick sandstone foundation. All the way thru. I wonder how fast she was going, she had to go across 50 (feet plus) of grass,” Lynch wrote in a public Facebook post detailing the incident, the damages and her feelings. See EXPLOSION, A2
Getting ready for snow & cold
Carissa Woytach
The Community Guide
OBERLIN — While many hope it will be a few months before snow starts to fly in Northeast Ohio, crews at the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Oberlin garage spent Thursday morning checking their equipment to handle those eventual winter storms.
Nearly 20 trucks rolled through the West Lorain Street garage for an annual 150-point inspection, part of District 3’s 147 total trucks inspected ahead of the winter season.
District 3 covers Lorain, Medina, Huron, Ashland, Crawford, Erie, Richland and Wayne counties. The 233 drivers maintain 4,778 miles of interstates, U.S. and state routes — including 703 miles in Lorain County, ODOT public information officer Crystal Neelon said.
Six mechanics circled
Link to Rt. 58 OK’d in Amherst
Dave O’Brien
The Community Guide
The Lorain County Board of Commissioners on Friday awarded a more than $4.8 million contract to Fechko Excavating of Medina to build more than half a mile of new county highway to link Sandstone Parkway with state Route 58 in Amherst Township. The total contract is $4,841,966 for the Sandstone Parkway phase two and Route 58 roadway improvement project.
Fechko’s was the most-responsive of eight bids received Oct. 10, ac-
cording to the board’s agenda. Along with building 3,400 linear feet of new highway, the project will involve building new storm and sanitary sewers, water lines, and improvements to Route 58 and Oberlin Road. The work should be completed on or before July 1. It will be paid for with the revenue from tax increment financing or TIF agreements made in 2023 between the county, Amherst, Amherst Township and the Amherst School District.
Commissioner Jeff Riddell, a Republican, said what is being built
is the connector road “that will bring Sandstone out to Route 58.”
600 houses to soon follow
“This is a payment we’ll make and that will be repaid from future taxes from the development as it occurs.
“It’s not funded by the county, it’s just financed by the county,” he said.
Plans are for more than 600 new residences to go in on more than 260 acres as part of the Sandstone development bordered by the Ohio Turnpike, Route 58, state Route 113 and Oberlin Road.
Sewers already have been installed to promote future development.
each plow truck, inspecting each before they were ready to hit the road. At a separate station, each truck went through a safety check as well.
“So when it does start to snow, we don’t have to worry about ‘Oh, something’s not working right’ or anything like that,” Neelon said.
Those inspections included ensuring the tanks and lines were ready to go for ODOT’s salt brine, a mix of water and sodium chloride used to pre-treat before storms.
The liquid de-icer is used, along with standard road salt mined from under Lake Erie, to help keep roads clear.
Steve Hernandez, right, shares an emotional moment with Lorain Auxilary Police Chief Jim Malick who is retiring after 48 years. Hernandez was sworn in as his successor. Story on A5
CARISSA WOYTACH / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Dave O’Brien
The Community Guide
COURTESY OF PENNY LYNCH
This is the scene Penny Lynch, who lives just south of a curve at 1260 East Ave. in Elyria, found after hearing screeching tires and then a car plowing into the foundation of her house. The car’s two occupants fled on foot before police arrived.
CARISSA WOYTECH / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Longtime voice of Browns Jim Donovan dies at 68
Scott Petrak
The Community Guide
The “Voice of the Browns” has gone silent. Cleveland and the Browns have lost a legend.
Jim Donovan, the longtime sports director at WKYC-TV and radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Browns, died Saturday, the station and team announced. He was 68. He fought a long battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and the cancer came back aggressively during the summer, forcing his retirement from the Browns’ broadcasts.
“This is an incredibly difficult day for us and the entire Cleveland Browns organization,” owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in the news release. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jim Donovan. His impact as the Voice of the Browns for 25 years is immeasurable as he touched the lives of our fans each and every Sunday with his love for the Browns and his brilliance at his craft.”
Donovan, a Boston native, arrived in Cleveland in 1985 after being hired by Channel 3. He quickly made Cleveland his home and passion, and was adopted as one of their own by viewers and listeners. He cemented his legacy as a fan favorite by calling games for the beloved Browns, starting in 1999 when they returned to the NFL. He shared the fans’ excitement and disappointment and had many memorable calls.
One of the best was “Run, William, run” during a 64-yard touchdown by William
Green in 2022 that helped the Browns reach the playoffs for the first time since returning.
“The only thing that’s missing? All of you!” Donovan said as the Browns clinched their first playoff berth in 18 years in 2020, when crowds were extremely limited due to the pandemic.
“Obviously some of his calls are legendary,” former Browns kicker Phil Dawson said last month. “He understood Cleveland and so he could bring an element to what the city was feeling, what the city was frustrated with, what the city was ready to celebrate. So he just somehow mixed that all together and, man, what an honor to have one guy calling every game I played as a Brown.”
Donovan, a Hinckley resident, and Dawson were inducted into the Browns Legends on Sept. 22 before a game against the Giants at Huntington Bank Field. Donovan was unable to attend due to his health and was represented by his daughter, Meghan.
He’s also survived by his wife, Cheryl.
“He will be greatly missed, but he cemented a legacy that will live on forever,” the Haslams said. “The only thing that outweighed his love for this city and this team was the love he had for his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cheryl, his daughter, Meghan, and everyone who was fortunate enough to call Jimmy family or friend.”
Donovan called NFL games for NBC, along with the 1992 and ’96 Summer Olympics and World Cup soccer in ’94, during his award-winning career. He did TV play-byplay for the Cleveland baseball team from
2006-08.
In addition to his work in sports, he became a news anchor for Channel 3. He retired in June after 39 years at the station.
He planned to continue calling Browns games and did during the preseason. He stunned the Browns and listeners by retir ing before the regular season.
“I have called my last Browns game and that’s why I’m writing to you,” he wrote Aug. 29 in a letter to fans. “As many of you know I have been dealing with cancer for many years. I’ve gone through every treatment imaginable. But my cancer is a defiant opponent and has returned and very aggressively. This will require me to devote everything I have in me to continue the fight and my family and I are committed to doing that.”
It’s been an honor.”
Donovan was first diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2000 and had a successful bone marrow transplant in the summer of 2011. He announced in May 2023 the leukemia had returned and he would undergo aggressive treatment.
He took a leave from Channel 3 and the Browns but returned to work and finished the season.
“I have called Browns games for 25 years,” he wrote in the retirement letter. “Not a day has gone by when I haven’t paused and been so proud to be ‘The Voice of the Browns.’ Cheryl, Meghan and I thank you for all the love, support and prayers during my rough patches. It’s like having a huge family around us. And that’s what makes the Cleveland Browns so special. You do.
“Here We Go Brownies … Here We Go!
Browns sue to block ‘law’ keeping them in Cleveland
Scott Petrak The Community Guide
BEREA — The Browns headed to court to make sure they can move to Brook Park.
The organization filed a lawsuit last week “seeking clarity” on the “Modell Law,” which leaders in the city of Cleveland have said they intend to use to stop the team from leaving the lakefront stadium and building a dome in Brook Park.
The lawsuit was announced in a statement from Dave Jenkins, chief operating officer of the Haslam Sports Group. Dee and Jimmy Haslam own the Browns.
The “Modell Law” was created in 1996 and named after former Browns owner Art Modell, who moved the franchise to Baltimore. The Ohio law states no owner of a professional sports team that uses a tax-supported facility
for its home games can move the home games without an agreement with the city, or must give the city, an individual or a group of individuals the opportunity to buy the team.
“We’re gonna move forward because that’s the law,” Cleveland Law Director Mark Griffin told WKYC-TV on Tuesday. “We’re gonna move forward because that is what the Cleveland city ordinances require us to do.”
The planned move by the Browns is about 10 miles down Interstate 71 South, and they want to know if the “Modell Law” applies. Jenkins’ statement called the law “vague and unclear.”
“Today’s action for declaratory judgment was filed to take this matter out of the political domain and ensure we can move this transformative project forward to make a new domed Huntington Bank
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Field in Brook Park a reality,” it read.
The Haslams originally favored a $1.1 billion renovation of the stadium on the lakefront — the Browns have played on the site since their founding in 1946, with the exception of 1996-98 when Cleveland didn’t have a team — but for months have preferred building a $2.2 billion dome on Snow Road in Brook Park at the site of a former Ford plant. They plan to develop the area around the dome.
The Haslams made their preference clear in a public letter in August and formally informed Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb of their intention last week. He condemned the decision and said the move would be bad financially for businesses downtown that rely on Browns games and other events at the stadium.
See the original story at tinyurl.com/5kr7mx9b.
Members of the Cleveland City Council opposed the move
Monday night during a meeting.
“Nobody should have the right to come into Cleveland — I don’t care if it’s the Cleveland Browns, Sherwin Williams, the Cleveland Clinic or any organization that we support — that could just be able to turn around and walk away,” Councilman Brian Kazy said, according to WKYC-TV.
The Browns and the city have been at odds for months over the desire to leave the city. Jenkins said the Browns were “disappointed” in the city’s intent to try to enforce the “Modell Law” through litigation.
“These statements and similar actions create uncertainty,” the statement said. “As we have consistently conveyed, the intent of our future stadium planning has always been to work in collaboration with our local leaders to find the optimal long-term stadium solution.”
Donovan brought energy to every press box and media room he entered. He had stories, opinions and questions and knew how to work a room. He was funny, smart and oh-so-quick. He was a voracious listener of other broadcasters and became close friends with analyst Doug Dieken, his radio partner for all but the final year of his Browns career.
Donovan was behind the microphone for Dawson’s 14-season tenure with the Browns, which also started in 1999.
“Jim, he had the uncanny knack to remain accurate and true in everything he said yet still supportive,” Dawson said. “I don’t know how he found that balance. He’d inform the public what he saw, yet he did so with such class and I know I appreciated it. I know my teammates appreciated it.”
Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@ chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ scottpetrak on X.
CRASH
From A1
“I am not happy. Not happy at all,” she wrote.
Whether the female driver and male passenger in the car were injured, is unknown. Both fled before police arrived.
Lynch said the man ran first, and the woman had to crawl out over top of the hood to get out of her yard.
Whether from impact or alleged impairment, the duo might not have been thinking clearly following the crash as they left without the car.
The Elyria Police Department is investigating, Lynch said. (Anyone with information can call police at 440-323-3302.)
She said she suspected impaired driving was involved.
“The driver took a good head crack on the windshield. She’s going to have a hell of a hangover,” Lynch wrote on Facebook.
It isn’t the first time a car has hit the house. Lynch said it was at least “the third bad one” she’s experienced in 35 years of living there. In one of the more dramatic cases, she said she made the front page of The ChronicleTelegram when a driver went off the road and launched into her front porch.
Lynch said the current debris pile is mostly sandstone and brick from her foundation.
An emergency repair company helped shore things up for the night.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to put your head down and work through it,” she said. Contact Dave O’Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.
Amherst’s Sprinkle is Golfer of the Year
Todd Shapiro The Community Guide
Amherst’s Jacob Sprinkle never set out to be the Lorain County Golfer of the Year.
In fact, when he started golfing three years ago the award didn’t even exist.
After leading the Comets to the Southwestern Conference and Division I sectional tournament championships, Sprinkle wrapped up his high school career by being named the top golfer by the newly formed Lorain County Golf Coaches Association.
“It means a lot. I put in a lot of hard work this year and the outcome was amazing,” said Sprinkle, who was also the South-
western Conference Player of the Year.
“This season was a lot of fun. Throughout the year we played well in most tournaments, some others we didn’t do so well but I wouldn’t trade any of those experiences because I loved playing on this team.”
Sprinkle, who had an 18hole average of 78.2 this season, and was medalist at the SWC Preview, was one of four Comets to be named first-team All-County, joining Prince Tran, Alex Kissane and Mike Haddix.
Tran had a 77.3 18-hole average and was co-medalist, along with Haddix, at the Keystone Invitational
AMHERST POLICE LOG
Monday, Oct. 7
6 p.m. - police department, a parent reported his daughter, 17, was sending and receiving sexually explicit photos from a chat room on Discord; the case is under investigation.
7:19 p.m. - 100 block of Milan Avenue, a welfare check was requested; a 63-year-old man voluntarily was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Tuesday, Oct. 8
11:03 a.m. - the Amherst Police Warrant Unit attempted to serve a warrant at a home in Elyria Township; the wanted man’s mother advised the man was at work, but would have him contact the department upon his return. The man turned himself in after work and was taken to Lorain County Jail on traffic charges.
11:33 p.m. - state Route 58, traffic stop; passenger taken into custody on active warrant and taken to Lorain County Jail, awaiting Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office deputies.
Wednesday, Oct. 9
1:49 a.m. - 712 N. Leavitt Rd., officers observed a passenger known to be wanted on an active warrant for contempt of court for child support payments and took him into custody; the man was released to deputies.
4:13 p.m. - Park Avenue, welfare check requested on a man; the 51-year-old was found deceased. No further information was released.
Thursday, Oct. 10
6:30 p.m. - 100 block of Charles Avenue, disturbance reported between a landlord and tenant; report taken.
Friday, Oct. 11
7 p.m. - state Route 58, traffic stop; the passenger, Destiney Rennie, 25, of Lorain was charged with violating a protection order, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Saturday, Oct. 11
2:28 p.m. - 8000 Oak Point Rd., report of theft at Target; an unknown man reportedly exited the store without paying for a gaming controller, leaving the parking lot in a darkcolored Honda Civic.
Sunday, Oct. 12
12:45 a.m. - state Route 58, traffic stop; a 17-year-old boy from Richfield was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, underage consumption, false identifying information, open container, and turning at
The Community Guide
Dennis Looney, who now owns six “Nothing Bundt Cakes” in the Cleveland area, is continuing to open bakeries in honor of his late wife, Janette, who tragically passed away from a brain hemorrhage over Mother’s Day weekend.
A “Nothing Bundt Cakes” location opened in Mayfield Heights in midSeptember followed by one in Amherst at 7574 Oak Point Road just two weeks later.
“We are confident as a leadership team that Janette would want us to go on and keep bringing joy to our guests,” Looney says. He wondered if there would be a mass exodus of team members who went to work each day because of Janette as their consummate cheerleader. “That has definitely not been the case,” Looney says. “Instead, our team has rallied behind her spirit and her memory, and in turn, shown the beautiful legacy that will continue on in Janette’s honor.” Janette was also an organ donor, and her life-saving generosity helped 120 recipients through organ, eye, and tissue donation, coordinated by Lifebanc, Northeast Ohio’s organ procurement organization. Since her passing, the Looney family has been a proud supporter of Lifebanc and its mission.
when the Comets set a school record with a team score of 295. Kissane had a 79.3 18-hole average and was runner-up at the Norwalk Invitational.
Amherst coach Mitch Gillam, who previously coached basketball and golf at Oberlin College before taking over the Comets program six years ago, was named the first Lorain County Coach of the Year.
intersection. The vehicle was towed and the juvenile was released to a guardian.
Monday, Oct. 13
2:22 a.m. - Linn and North Ridge roads, report of a vehicle stuck on a large rock. Eloisa Perez, 32, of Elyria was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, refusal to submit to breath alcohol testing, and failure to control. She was taken to Lorain County Jail without bond and police said this was her third OVI charge. The vehicle was towed. 6:29 p.m. - 1163 Milan Ave., theft reported at Dollar General, $300 was stolen in a quickchange scheme. Attempts to identify and charge the suspect are underway.
Wednesday, Oct. 15 No time given - 614 N. Leavitt Rd., report of a violation order complaint at Tax Galaxy; Patrick Resetar, 45, of Amherst was charged with violating a protection order.
Friday, Oct. 17 11:27 a.m. - police department, forgery reported; a resident reported his title company delivered a check to an unknown address and the person attempted to alter the check and make a mobile deposit. No suspects at this time.
Saturday, Oct. 18
12:33 a.m. - 100 block of Westchester Drive, welfare check requested; the man in question was not found, and was reported to be driving around; an alert was sent out to surrounding agencies.
Monday, Oct. 21
2:49 p.m. - Cornel and Harris streets, located a missing juvenile, a 15-year-old boy reported missing through the Erie County Sheriff’s Department. The boy had standing orders to go to the Lorain County Detention Home. The boy denied being the missing boy, but another juvenile identified him as such, and the boy was taken into custody. The juvenile was also charged with possession of tobacco and marijuana, both misdemeanors.
3:45 p.m. - Church Street, traffic stop; citations issued for no operator’s license and expired plates.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
12:37 a.m. - Caesar’s Circle, disturbance reported; Drew Woodings, 44, of Amherst was charged with theft, a fifth-degree felony.
The team, including daughter Haley Sengaly, who leads operations for the Looney’s bakeries, will celebrate the grand opening of Amherst the week of November 11.
As part of its celebrations, the team has pledged to donate a portion of its grandopening proceeds to Lifebanc.
“Lifebanc is made up of an amazing group who do their best to honor the donors and their families,” Looney said.
“We are pleased to support them and the meaningful impact they have on our city.”
Grand opening events
Monday, Nov. 11 $5 off $25 purchase Tuesday, Nov. 12 Free “Nothing Bundt Cakes” cooler bag with a purchase of $23 or more Wednesday, Nov. 13 9 a.m. – Ribbon cutting with Lorain County Chamber of Commerce All day – Free Bundtlets for a Year with $40+ purchase Thursday, Nov. 14 Spin the Prize Wheel – age 18+ Friday, Nov. 15 BOGO Bash – Buy one cake and receive one of equal or lesser-priced free Saturday, Nov. 16 Buy two bundtlets, get one free Sunday, Nov. 17 Free confetti bundtlet giveaway – while supplies last.
More information at nothingbundt-
Sprinkle Gillam
Haircuts for the homeless
The Community Guide
LORAIN — The Lorain County Task Force for the Homeless hosted its 11th annual Homeless Stand Down last week.
The event at south Lorain’s Sacred Heart Chapel invited individuals from local shelters and others in need to get a warm meal, haircut and connection to services.
Organizer and task force chairwoman Tina Taylor said the group prepared for about 150 people to attend the event.
This year, the group had additional donors including the American Legion Post 30 and the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain
County. It also saw more than a dozen barbers and stylists from Headlinerz, Ridge Barber Shop, La Barberia Institute of Hair and Shear Therapy donate their time to provide free haircuts to those in need.
“It’s what we’re here for,” said Harold Corrothers, head instructor with La Barberia Institute of Hair in Mayfield Heights.
Service providers were also on hand to help individuals apply for housing, provide health screenings and flu and COVID shots.
Students from Elyria Catholic volunteered as well, handing out personal care items and giving manicures.
GoFundMe drive held for arson neighbor
Carissa Woytach
ELYRIA — Jessica Gonzalez was in the middle of folding a load of
and getting
started when she heard pounding on her
Her children were watching television and playing video games when she heard screaming that there was a fire and it had spread to her home.
She went into “mommy mode,” she said, and got her four children out of their Brownell Avenue house as fast as she could.
When her sister, Jackie, arrived, Jessica’s daughters were outside without shoes while the family watched flames spread from their neighbor’s house to theirs.
“I just remember it being pure chaos, just everybody on the street, there was fire trucks everywhere and all the lights,” Jackie Gonzalez said. “And then all I remember was her face, seeing (Jessica) on the side of the road and my nieces just crying, not sure what to do next.”
The Lorain Fire Department responded to 529 Brownell Ave. about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
The fire, which started in a first-floor living room, engulfed
the two-story home and began to spread to the neighboring house — where Jessica Gonzalez and her children lived — at 537 Brownell Ave.
Amber Bodnar-Kurta, 38, has been charged with aggravated arson for allegedly setting her home at 529 Brownell Ave. on fire to reportedly ensure her soon-to-be ex-husband would not get anything in their divorce.
“No one really thought she was capable of this,” Jessica Gonzalez said, sitting outside her sister’s home in Pikewood Manor.
Jessica Gonzalez said she and Bodnar-Kurta have been friends for several years, and she has babysat and shared dinners with her and her husband.
“That’s what hurts more,” she said.
The fire spread from the first floor of Bodnar-Kurta’s home up to Gonzalez’s second story, where her children’s bedrooms were.
Jackie Gonzalez flipped through pictures on her phone of the charred remains left of those bedrooms after the fire was extinguished.
The family of five escaped without injury, but lost everything they had. They did not have renters insurance, so Jessica Gonzalez and her children are staying with
Jessica Gonzalez and her mom, Magdalen Montero fold some of the donated clothing.
her parents while they figure out what to do next.
Jackie Gonzalez created a GoFundMe account at tinyurl. com/4xx9fufv and a clothing drive to help her sister make ends meet while they get back on track.
She said she has raised about half the GoFundMe goal of $5,000.
The sisters were grateful for the
support they received, including individuals dropping off bags of clothes at Pikewood Manor on Thursday so the kids would have clothes for school next week.
Jessica Gonzalez said her kids are ready to go back to school — to have a feeling of normalcy after their life was upended.
She is also collecting items for Bodnar-Kurta’s two sons, who
were impacted by the fire as well.
“It’s not their fault,” she said. “... It’s two families that were affected in this.”
Her sister agreed.
“It’s kind of unfair because they weren’t home and for them to not have quite anything either, it’s just selfish on her part because how can you do that to your own kids?” Jackie Gonzalez said.
The Community Guide
Oberlin Elementary School students got up close and personal with an Oberlin Police Department cruiser, John Deere tractors and an 18-wheeler semi-truck, plus various construction vehicles, a tow truck and City of Oberlin work vehicles.
“Vehicle Day,” as it was pegged, allowed students in all elementary grades to learn what each vehicle’s job function is on a daily basis, as well as how it may contribute to the commu-
nity, Oberlin Elementary School Principal Felicia Webber said.
“It was a wonderful collaboration between the City of Oberlin and school District to showcase the vehicles that support community resources on a daily or weekly basis,” Webber said.
She said students were enthralled by the size of the 18-wheeler semi-truck that featured a bed, mini refrigerator, microwave oven and coffee pot. The driver of the semi-truck noted his particular vehicle is used to transport various metals.
“It’s like an apartment on wheels,” OES third grade teacher Christine Hohman told her class.
While students were impressed with the size of the 18-wheel semi-truck, they were equally impressed with how far the Oberlin
Repair noted that his company helps people who may have been stranded on the side of the road after their car breaks down.
“It’s important to know how to read a map and
Webber noted the day also was instrumental because it opened students’ eyes to a different world of jobs.
“We want to expose students to possible careers
BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Volunteers cut hair during the Homeless Stand Down event at Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain.
Friday, June 7
7:20 a.m. — Wellington Police Department, 147 E. Herrick Ave., property damage. An officer investigated property damage in the police department parking lot. The incident was under investigation.
Saturday, June 8
4:13 a.m. — 100 block Hamilton St., domestic violence. Noah Conley, 25, Park Street, arrested on misdemeanor domestic violence and resisting arrest charges. Conley assaulted a woman and resisted arrest after officers responded to a reported domestic dispute.
8:42 p.m. — North Main and Lincoln streets, operating a vehicle impaired. John Recksiedler, 34, Cambridge Drive, Mentor, arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge and a registration violation. Police stopped Recksiedler’s 2012 Toyota Prius for having a tinted license plate cover that obscured the plate. Police said the car had a strong odor of marijuana coming from it, and said Recksiedler told an officer he had smoked marijuana two minutes before. Recksiedler provided a urine sample to be sent to the Lorain County Forensics Lab for testing, and was ordered to appear in Oberlin Municipal Court.
Monday, June 10
7:03 p.m. — Dollar General, 642 S. Main St., property damage. A 15-year-old girl was given a verbal warning by police after she was driving her parents’ white Ford Flex her foot slipped off the brake pedal onto the accelerator, and she crashed into the store. The girl had had her temporary license for only a couple of days, and the car was insured. The store manager said no significant damage was done to the building. No one was injured.
Tuesday, June 11
12:43 p.m. — 600 block N. Main St., animal complaint. Peter Lasch, 47, North Main Street, cited with dog at large, a misdemeanor. Police received a call of a dog running loose, retrieved it and transported it to the station. It was the third time in three months the dog had been running loose and when Lasch arrived to pick up his dog he was cited into Oberlin Municipal Court.
4:14 p.m. — Dairy Queen, 504 S. Main St., property damage. Officers investigated after a car ran into a brick wall at the store and damaged it. The incident was under investigation.
6:30 p.m. — 100 block Cemetery Road, menacing. Tomas Fourdyce, 35, Fourth Street, cited with menacing, a misdemeanor. Fourdyce allegedly threatened another man.
Wednesday, June 12
11:54 a.m. — 200 block Grand Ave., criminal mischief. A woman reported hearing two loud bangs and descovered her decorative wrought iron-style door had been damaged. The incident was under investigation.
Thursday, June 13
3:16 p.m. — Sprenger Healthcare Elms Retirement Village, 136 S. Main St., theft. A 94-year-old woman reported that someone withdrew $3,500 from her bank account without her permission. Interviews were conducted and the incident was under investigation.
Monday, June 17
7:14 p.m. — 200 block Heritage Drive, domestic violence. Carmella Goodrum, 48, Heritage Drive, arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. Officers were dispatched to a residence for a 911 hang-up call. At the scene they found an active domestic violence incident taking place. A 47-year-old man told officers Goodrum threw him out of his wheelchair. Goodrum was arrested and taken to Lorain County Jail.
Wednesday, June 19
8:59 p.m. — Kent and Parkside Reserve streets, operating a vehicle impaired. Tyler Merry, 24, South Walden Lane, arrested on misdemeanor DUI, driving under suspension, and marked lanes charges. Officers on a traffic stop saw a
a left-hand turn out of the
in the southbound lanes for more than 250 feet before turning onto Kent Street. The car was stopped. Police said Merry was found to be intoxicated and driving on a suspended license, and he was arrested, booked, and ordered to appear in Oberlin Municipal Court.
Thursday, June 20
10:20 a.m. — Apples Market, 209 E. Herrick Ave., theft. Staff reported that a 41-yearold New London woman purchased groceries on May 15 with a business check in the amount of $149.41 on the account of a business in LaGrange. The check did not clear the bank and the store was charged a $13 return check fee. The customer offered to come back May 18 to reimburse the store, but didn’t show. An officer contacted the woman, and when she learned she could be criminal charged, her husband paid what was owed to the store. The store then declined to press theft charges, and police closed the case.
Saturday, June 22
7:13 p.m. — Apples Market, 209 E. Herrick Ave., theft. Staff said an unknown man wearing a red Ohio State ballcap, a gray T-shirt, gray pants, dark slipper-type shoes, and with brown hair and facial hair entered the store first just after 10 a.m. and again just before 4 p.m. June 17. He allegedly stole two Bic lighters, a box of Pop Tarts, and a package of cookies worth a total of $11.28, put the lighters in his pocket, and the Pop Tarts in his underwear. Just after 10 p.m. June 19 the man returned, allegedly stole two more Bic lighters and a package of peanut butter cookies totaling $8.78. He opened the cookies, took them out, and stuffed them in his underwear. The man then bought candy and hot cocoa with a credit card and drove away in a gray Jeep Cherokee. The store wished to press charges and asked restitution if the suspect were caught.
Friday, June 18
11:40 a.m. — Tractor Supply, 736 S. Main St., theft. Jacob C. Chapman, 33, Berry Avenue, Cleveland, arrested on a misdemeanor theft charge. Chapman and another man, who was not identified in a police report, allegedly stole two Husqvarna string trimmers worth $539.98 then drove of in a blue Hyundai with no license plate.
Sunday, June 30
7:19 p.m. — 300 block N. Walden Lane, menacing. An officer responded to a call for “neighbor troubles” earlier that morning. Video and physical evidence was collected. The incident is under investigation.
Friday, July 5 11:26 am. — Apples Market, 209 E. Herrick Ave., theft. Elizabeth G. Buchanan, 28, Jones Road, issued a summons to appear in Oberlin Municipal Court on a misdemeanor theft charge. Buchanan allegedly shoplifted Advil Liqui-Gels from the store on June 11 and July 3. 9:19 p.m. — 700 block N. Main St., domestic violence. Officers responded to a domestic violence complaint. The incident was under investigation.
Monday, July 8 4:13 p.m. — 200 block Prospect St., theft. A man reported that someone stole his blue Electra Cruiser bicycle worth $400. The incident was under investigation.
8:56 p.m. — 200 block Sheila Drive, all other offenses. A woman reported that a man she met on a dating app was threatening to post her nude photos online and have her child taken from her “if she didn’t give him his money back.” She had received an unsolicited credit card in the mail with a $10,000 limit, which she reported to the credit card company as fraud. It wasn’t known who sent her the credit card, but she believed it was the man she had met, whom she only knew by his nickname. Police advised her not to active the credit card and to shred it or return it to the company.
First full-time firefighters hired in Columbia Township
Carissa Woytach
The Community Guide COLUMBIA TWP. —
For the first time in Columbia Fire’s history, it will not rely solely on volunteer firefighters to man its station.
The Columbia Township Fire Department recently swore in three full-time firefighter/paramedics — the first of their kind in the township’s department.
The rest of the department, a mix of firefighters/ EMTs and firefighters/paramedics, are part-time, with many working full-time for other area fire departments.
Chief Ray Anthony said Columbia fire has been a part-time or volunteer organization for decades, but often lost about a dozen people per year to full-time departments.
The year-over-year loss of talent, coupled with everrising call volumes prompted discussions on how it could convert to become a full-time department.
“Probably about eight years ago we started talking about trying to figure out how we can convert to become a full-time department, do it in stages and what we the township could afford and maintain,” Anthony said.
Part of that strategy was to pass a replacement of its fire levy with an increase to help cover the cost of the three full-timers sworn in earlier this week.
The replacement and
increase levy boosted the issue from a 1.5-mill levy to a 2.5-mill levy, now bringing in about $850,000 per year to fund department operations, fiscal officer Mandie Andrews said.
Prior to the increase, it brought in about $326,000.
The three full-time firefighter/paramedics cost the township about $85,000 per year with benefits, Andrews said, though that will increase to closer to $100,000 per year with benefits after about five years.
As the township’s population has grown, so too have its fire department’s calls
for service. Between medical and fire calls, Anthony expects it to finish the year with about 1,000 calls — though he remembers a time in his career when they would have ended the year with about 100 calls.
“We’re very lucky for the part-timers that we do have because they do pick up shifts and we have all the shifts covered, so the department’s never not staffed,” Andrews said. “There’s never not anybody to answer a call.”
Having three full-timers means there is one on each
shift, Anthony said, and the rest of the shifts are staffed by the other 38 part-timers. The full-time firefighters will also cut down on some of the hourly cost the department spends on parttimers, Andrews said — offsetting the increased cost of the full-timers’ benefits. Those part-time firefighters often work for other area fire departments, even though the bulk of their original training is with Columbia fire, Anthony said. Anthony also requires all his firefighters to be crosstrained as either a paramedic or EMT.
Auxiliary police chief retires
Carissa Woytach
The Community Guide
LORAIN — Jim Malick cultivated a legacy with the Lorain Auxiliary Police department.
But after 48 years there, 25 of those as chief, he has a new legacy to uphold: Grandfather.
Lorain police and auxiliary officers, officials and Malick’s family and friends filled City Hall on Thursday evening to celebrate the chief’s retirement and swear in his successor, Steve Hernandez.
“Steve has big shoes to fill,” Police Chief Jim McCann said Thursday evening.
Mayor Jack Bradley agreed.
While he has only worked with Malick for about five years, he recognized how well-respected the retiring chief is in the city.
“They manage all the events that happen in our city and they’re just good ambassadors for our city — and I think that was instilled in them by Chief Malick,” Bradley said. “... They go extra over and above to give back to the city and the citizens of Lorain and we should never forget that. Chief, what you’ve done for our city is above and beyond the call of duty.”
Lorain Auxiliary Police officers handle traffic and crowd control for events or at crime scenes and serve as security in City Hall.
For Malick, retiring was a decision he made about 10 weeks ago — but for the past month he has had the opportunity to see what it would be like, as Hernandez and other auxiliary officers started taking over.
“That’s kind of the good news, the bad news is I’m not going too far: I still work full-time in the water department, so I’ll be around to assist these guys,” he said.
He said the reason he gave up the auxiliary role was his three grandchil-
Friday n Kiwanis and Community Helper Story Time from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the North Ridgeville Library branch. The Kiwanis Club of North Ridgeville and a special visitor host a community helpers-themed story time, craft and activities. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary. org/programs. n Play astronaut for a day with outer-space-themed games, crafts and STEM activities from 1-4 p.m. at the North Ridgeville Library branch. Designed for families with children of all ages. n Learn to make your mask for Day of the Dead from 3-4:30 p.m. at the South Lorain Library branch. Materials will be provided. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs. Saturday n Local homestead owner Erin Wood explores food preservation and demonstrates safe and effective methods backed by science from 1-3 p.m. at the South Lorain Library branch. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs.
n Compete for the title of Mario Kart Champion and the chance to win a small prize from 2-4 p.m. at the North Ridgeville Library branch. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs. n Teen Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament from 2-4 p.m. at the Avon Library branch. Join fellow gamers to compete for a small prize and the title of Smash Bros. Champion. Open to ages 10 and up. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs.
n “Galaxy Quest” will be screened at 3 p.m. at the Lorain Main Library.
Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs.
18-month-old
He said a couple months ago he was visiting his son, Christopher, and was carrying Ellison around the house when he got a call from Lorain County 911 requesting auxiliary officers. He continued to carry Ellison around with him while on that 20-minute phone call he said, but realized the auxiliary work was starting to cut into his personal life.
BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Shane Frimel and Jesse Dean are two of the three new full-time firefighters hired by Columbia Township. Not pictured is Logan Rivera.
dren,
Ellison, 3-yearold Colton and 6-year-old Dalton Malick.
CARISSA WOYTACH / COMMUMITY GUIDE
Malick’s 18-month-old granddaughter Ellison smiles during her grandfather’s retirement ceremony.
Amherst gets to Sweet 16
Crestwood eliminates Firelands
Amherst hosted North Canton Hoover in a DII Northeast Region 3 District Semifinal. Amherst kept the ball in North Canton Hoover’s side of the field the majority of the game and won 4-0.
Amherst then went on to win the District Final at Mentor Saturday against Green to make it to the Sweet 16.
Kamille Coleman makes a run to the North
pressured by
Firelands hosted Crestwood in a Northeast 1 Division IV District Semifinal. Firelands got off to a fast start picking up the first two sets but Crestwood’s hitters started to come alive in the third set to take over the momentum and win the next two sets. Crestwood jumped out to an early lead in the final set and Firelands couldn’t catch up falling 15-7.
Firelands is district runner-up
Firelands (No. 7) hosted Salem (No. 18) in a Division IV Northeast 2 District Semifinal Girls Soccer match. The teams battled back and forth most of the game. Firelands was able to score a goal with less than a minute left in the first half for the only score to give Firelands a 1-0 win. Firelands, later in the week, went on to play No. 2 seeded Poland Seminary. Firelands fell 3-2 in another close battle to close out the season as district runner-up.
Amherst’s Grace Breuwer and North Canton Hoover’s Hannah Sell battle for a loose ball.
Amherst’s Isabelle McGee moves past North Canton Hoover’s Paige Sloane on a run.
Amherst’s
Canton Hoover goal
Ella Gramlich.
Firelands’ Layla McGuire passes a Crestwood serve.
Firelands celebrates a point against Crestwood.
Firelands Andie Eberhardt passes the ball against Crestwood.
Firelands’ Jordyn Copley knocks the ball away from Salem’s Reese Davidson-Chuck.
Photos by Russ Gifford / LCCG
Firelands’ Kendra Hardwick brings the ball up the field under pressure from Salem’s Reese Davidson-Chuck.
Firelands’ Hazel Littleton moves the ball past Salem’s Emilee Lewis on a run to the goal.
Amherst Lions, Leos hold lasagna fundraiser
The Amherst Lions and the Amherst Steele Leo Clubs are hosting their 16th annual Lasagna Dinner fundraiser at Amherst Junior High School on Nov. 7 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m, or until meals are sold out.
Dinners are $15and include a choice of meat or vegetable lasagna, apple sauce, roll and dessert. Cash or check only. Dine in or carry out.
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Amherst Weekend Food Program, providing weekend meals for Amherst students in need, and other Lions and Leo community projects.
Amherst Junior High School students’ posters from the first-round competition of the Lions International Peace Poster Contest willl be on display.
The Lions will also be collecting unwanted, used eyeglasses and sunglasses. Contact the Amherst Lions with any questions via email at: amherstohiolions@gmail.com.
Avon/AL GOP to hold election post-mortem
The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will hold a Volunteer Night at 5 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the Father Ragan Knights of Columbus Hall, 1783 Moore Road, Avon. It will feature Lorain County Commissioner, Jeff Riddell, State Central Committee Representative, Mike Witte, and previous candidates who will review and analyze all the numbers from the election and discuss impacts of results on future activity.
“Marines Toys for Tots” drive begins
Join Tom Orlando, the Lorain County Clerk of Court, and his staff in supporting their 10th Annual “Marines Toys for Tots” toy drive at all of the Clerk of Courts locations throughout the county.
There are “Toys for Tots” donation boxes in rooms 105, 106, and 108 of the Clerk of Courts’ Legal Division departments located on the first floor of the Lorain County Justice Center in Elyria, and at the Auto Title and Passport Offices in Elyria and Lorain.
Please consider donating unwrapped toys for children ages infant to 17 years. Donated toys will be accepted through Dec. 6. For office addresses and hours of operation, please visit loraincountyohio.gov/clerk.
Ebony and Ivory Piano Wars
The Rotary Club of Oberlin will hold a piano wars program at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Oh-Ky Adc of Bricklayers, 45960 Telegraph Road, Amherst.
Enjoy a fun night of fellowship and fundraising. Cocktails, dinner and entertainment are included with your ticket. $75 each. Venmo @OberlinRotaryClub, PayPal @ Rotary Club of Oberlin OH, DACdb, or Check to PO Box 123 Oberlin, OH 44074. No tickets sold at door.
BULLETIN BOARD
Oberlin Parents Weekend tours Nov. 8-10
In its last big weekend offering tours, Oberlin Heritage Center offers: Nov. 8:
Self-Guided Tour of the Monroe House 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Guided tour of the Jewett House 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Nov. 9:
Self-Guided Tour of the Monroe House 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Freedom’s Friends History Walk 10:30 a.m. - noon
Civil War to Civil Rights History Walk 1:30-3 p.m.
Architecture History Walk 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Nov. 10:
Self-Guided Tour of the Monroe House 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Morning History Hustle 9:15 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Architecture History Walk 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Freedom’s Friends History Walk 1:30-3 p.m.
Memorial to homeless tonight in Lorain
The United Way of Greater Lorain County invites will host a memorial event honoring those who have lost their lives within our unsheltered community in Lorain County today at 5 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 647 Reid Avenue, Lorain.
The event will feature music, candle lighting, personal reflections, poetry, and more, creating a space for fellowship and remembrance on All Saints Day.
Artwork by “Start with Art” students, depicting their perspectives on homelessness, will be displayed. Attendees will be treated to a meal following the service. The memorial will bring together community members, faith leaders and advocates for the homeless.
Swans to be Audubon Society’s topic
Swans in Northern Ohio, presented by Jerry Jelinek, will be the Black River Audubon program at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Road, LaGrange.
The program will feature images and videos of nesting Trumpeter swans. Jelinek is an active member of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Photographic Society. This program is free to the public.
North Pointe Ballet to perform ‘Nutcracker’ North Point Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” Dec. 13-15 at the Lorain Palace Theatre, 617 Broadway Ave, Lorain. Shows will be at 7 p.m. all three days with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
The company’s production of the holiday classic is an
imaginative staging unlike you’ve ever seen before.
The show is brought to life through use of integrated live verbal and sign language narration that guides the audience through the story and enchants all ages with thrilling theatrical elements and colorful larger-than-life sets and costumes.
Young Clara will once again invite us inside her imagination in this beloved story. There are epic battles, professional dancers and plenty of holiday cheer.
North Pointe Ballet is a nonprofit company established to make classical ballet accessible to the community. For more info, visit northpointeballet.org/nutcracker.
Hear history of the county coroner’s office
The Brownhelm Historical Society will present the “History of the Lorain County Coroner” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Historic Brownhelm School and Museum, 1950 N. Ridge Road, Vermilion.
Don Hilton, who has done research and written a number of books on the records and the judicial history of Lorain County, will be the speaker.
He will talk about the evolution of Ohio coroners and their duties over time, starting with the earliest coroner inquest records in Lorain County that begin in 1867.
Workshop Players back to ’40s for Christmas
The year is 1943 and the Feddington Players are geared up to present their contemporary take on Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
Though it seems a coup to snag famous soap opera star William St. Claire to play Scrooge, a mid-show breakdown on his part leads to a hilarious improvised “save” of Tiny Tim … and even the Lindberg Baby.
This charming show demonstrates the old art of “live radio,” alongside traditional caroling, 1940’s style commercials that would never fly today, and an amazing rendition of the well-known Dickens tale. It is heartwarming and funny. And a great way to usher in the season.
Performances are November 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 at 7:30 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees on November 17, 24 at 3 p.m. Doors open 45 minutes before show time.
Tickets, which are $18.50, are available at workshopplayers.org or by calling the box office: (440) 634-0472.
Living history event also set in 1940s
The American Veterans Remembrance Association and the Amherst Historical Society will present a 1945 living history event, “The Best Years of Our Lives,” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 9; and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 10 at Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Avenue, Amherst. It is November 1945. WWII has ended, and millions of servicemen and women are returning home to a greatly changed United States.
Immerse yourself in the music, fashion, and culture of the era at this free living history event. Park free at Amherst Junior High, 548 Milan Ave, and take a shuttle to the show.
For more info, please contact the Amherst Historical Society at (440) 988-7255 or email office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org.
German’s Villa craft show Nov. 9
German’s Villa is holding its annual craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 9. at 3330 Liberty Ave., Vermilion. Admission is $2.
LEGAL NOTICES
Can’tvote? Start a“Don’tForget to Vote” Campaign! Here’show:
Cut out the “Don’t Forget to Vote” badge on this page and wear it proudly!
On Election Day,ask every person you see who is over 18 if he or she has voted yet. Ask your teacher, your parents, the school secretary, and clerks at stores. Ask them all!
In order to vote, you must qualify in three ways:
You must be at least18 years old.
You must be acitizen of the United States.
Youmust be registered(signed up) to vote in thestate where you live.
Complete this activity at home this evening with a parent or another learning buddy
1. People elected to government offices must be good leaders. With a learning buddy,find 10 words in today’snewspaper that describea good leader
2. Write the 10 words here in alphabeticalorder:
Decide whether each of these people can vote. Then follow each path in the maze to find out if you areright.
is aU.S.citizen is 79 years old retired 10 years ago has not registered to vote
is 30 years old is aU.S.citizen has registeredto vote does
Unscramble each election word on the hats. Then look for an article in the newspaper that uses one of these terms. Read the articleand then use your own words to explain what you think the word means.
turns 18 on Nov.1 is aU.S.citizen does not have ajob has registeredto vote
is an Air Force pilot based in Germany is 22 years old is aU.S.citizen has registeredto vote ANSWER:
Look through the newspaper for 10 words about the
3. Discuss some leaders you or your learning buddy respect.
Bonus Challenge: Can you find an election word for each letterof the alphabet?
Find thewords by looking up,
sidewaysand diagonally
Read Betweenthe Lines
People
With hundreds of topics,every KidScoop printable activitypack features six-to-seven pages of high-interest extra learning activities forhome and school! Getyour free sample todayat:
CA NDIDAT E
The noun candidate means a person who seeks to be elected or appointedtoa certain position or job.
Each candidate gave ashort speech to the voters outside city hall. This week’sword:
Tryto use the word candidate in asentence today when talking with your friends and family
Look through the newspaper for words and pictures that show why it is important to vote. Make a “Don’tForget to Vote” poster and findaplace in town to put it up!
