Why did dog or dogs kill boy?
No answers a week after 6-year-old mauled to death and two dogs were put down
Owen MacMillan
The Community Guide
Lorain police said they had not previously received an animal complaint at the home where a 6-year-old boy was killed in a dog attack on July 3.
The boy, identified by Lorain County Coroner Dr. Frank Miller as Jaxson Dvorak, was repeatedly bitten at a home in the 1700 block of 31st Street in Lorain at around 4 p.m. last Wednesday. He died from his injuries at the scene.
Staff from the Lorain County Coroner’s Office were observed carrying the boy’s body from the home just before 5:30 p.m. Jaxson was a kindergarten student at Palm Elementary School.
According to Lorain police, the department has no records of calls regarding animal complaints at that address before the attack.
The attack is still under investigation, and Lorain Police Lt. Jacob Morris said on Friday that the department has no new information to provide and no charges have been filed.
It remains unclear if it was one or both adult dogs.
GoFundMe page set up
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Dvorak’s family by the family of his mother, Brittany Dvorak.
The organizer, Myk Werdebaugh, is Brittany Dvorak’s uncle
Sweet!
Corn season returns with delicious crop
The Chronicle-Telegram
Sweet corn season is up and running in Lorain County.
Farm stands across the county have started selling the sweet corn they’ve been growing for months.
Patrick Fenik of Fenik’s Sweet Corn, a stand at 6413 Lake Ave. in Elyria Township, said his stand opened on July 4 this year — a slightly early opening.
“This year it was early because we had such a warm May and June and it was a dry year,” Fenik said.
“We plan on being out here for a long time.”
To keep the corn fresh and to maintain the stand’s supply, Fenik said he picks the stand’s supply for the day each morning. He plans to plant corn at least
and he shared his family’s grief as well as a statement from the boy’s mother.
“My heart is shattered,” Brittany Dvorak said in the post.
“My world has collapsed. I feel like I’m in a really bad nightmare, and I’m just trying to wake myself up but it’s not working. I’ll never get to hold his little hands again, or pick him up and give him a hug or snuggle him ...”
The page states that money raised will go toward funeral expenses as well as supporting Brittany Dvorak, her husband, Lenny Dvorak, and their six other children.
The post included a mention that the funeral will be July 18.
“My little free-spirited little dude is flying high in the sky, and I know his great grandma dear has him with her arms wrapped around him in the biggest hug,”
Brittany Dvorak said in the post.
“Anyone who’s sent messages or texts, I see you, and appreciate all the people sending prayers for our family.”
To contribute to the GoFundMe site, go totinyurl.com/2wuxu8xm.
Dogs confiscated
Willey said all of the dogs were signed over to the APL. The two
BRUCE
This was the scene on July 3 as Friendship Animal Protective League staffers remove the dogs, who were to be euthanized, from an East 31st Street home where a child was killed in a dog attack. Friendship Animal Protective League Executive Director Greg Willey said an adult pit bull, an adult shepherd mix and six puppies were removed from the home.
adult dogs were to be euthanized and tested for rabies and the puppies would remain with the rescue. They were housed separately from the adult dogs in the home at the time of the attack.
Morris said Lorain police initially requested mutual aid from
the Lorain County Dog Warden, who did not respond.
He said police did not know the reason the warden was unable to respond to the scene, which prompted the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office dispatch to contact Friendship APL for assistance.
Patrick Fenik, owner of Fenik’s Sweet Corn on Lake Avenue in Elyria Township, said this season’s weather conditions made very sweet corn.
twice more in July. Fenik’s Sweet Corn is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Throughout the summer months, the stand will also offer produce including watermelons, tomatoes, onions and other produce. The stand can be reached at www.fenikssweetcorn. com, (440) 324-2507 or at its Facebook page.
Other farm stands in Lorain County are also opening up to sell their sweet corn.
Grobe’s Fruit Farm, located at 43875 Telegraph Road just west of Elyria, is open for business with sweet corn and other fruits and vegetables. The farm’s main stand is open daily from 9 a.m. to
6 p.m., and Grobe’s Fruit Farm Express — located at 13111 LaGrange Road in Carlisle Township — is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information on Grobe’s Fruit Farm, go to www.grobefruitfarm.com, call (440) 322-8312 or visit its Facebook page.
Lorain County Administrator Jeffrey Armbruster said he had been made aware of the incident and was working with Lorain police and the warden to determine what occurred. He said the county would work to get a report from the dog warden on the incident.
‘Borrowed’ pants have drugs in them
The Chronicle-Telegram
A Lorain man found outside Elyria’s West Recreation Center on July 3 with suspected cocaine told Elyria police officers there was a perfectly good explanation for the baggie of illegal drugs to be in his pocket.
Kimmy Harris, 63, told officers “the pants he was wearing were not his and that he had borrowed them due to the cold weather,” according to a police report.
“It should be noted that the outside temperature was approximately 89 degrees,” Officer Jakob Tomlin wrote in his report of Harris’ arrest, which happened just after 3:30 p.m. July 3 at the rec center on Foster Avenue.
Tomlin was on routine patrol when he saw Harris sitting on a motorcycle outside the recreation center acting suspiciously, accord-
ing to his report.
As Tomlin walked up behind Harris, Harris tossed away what turned out to be a bottle and a metal crack cocaine pipe. Harris at first denied having the crack pipe, then said he threw it away because he knew it was illegal and didn’t want to get charged with having it.
While in the back of a police cruiser, Harris began fumbling around in his right pocket, where Tomlin found a baggie with less than 1 gram of cocaine in it, according to the police report.
That’s when Harris claimed the pants he had on weren’t his, according to the police report. His story “changed multiple times,” Tomlin wrote, “and he was not forthcoming with information regarding the origin of the drugs found in his possession.”
BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Jaxson
BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Republic Steel: Demo planned
Worst of buildings at idled Lorain steel mill to come down after April warrant
Carissa Woytach
The Community Guid LORAIN — An idled steel mill in south Lorain remains on the city’s radar. Since citing Republic Steel after a warrant service in April, the city has been in contact with the company several times a month to make sure they are making progress on remediating the myriad issues on the south
Lorain site, Building, Housing and Planning Director Matt Kusznir said. Kusznir said Republic has told the city it plans to demolish the worst of the buildings on the property.
On April 25, workers entered the property off Tacoma Avenue after city drone footage from the week before showed buildings were beginning to crumble in
on themselves.
The resulting reports, obtained in early May by The Chronicle-Telegram, found fire hazards and structural concerns, while Lorain County Public Health listed a possibility of lead-based paint throughout the property and a potential chemical spill in one of the buildings.
Following those reports, the city gave Republic Steel
until July 1 to remedy the issues or face the city’s housing court. Last week, Kusznir said building inspectors need to re-inspect the property, and then a determination will be made on whether to send them to court. But in the meantime, he said Republic Steel had indicated it wanted to work with the city, which “is something we’re excited
to hear,” he said. Republic Steel did not return a request for comment on Tuesday.
The south side property has been home to a steel mill since it was Johnson Steel in the 1890s. Republic idled the mill in 2016 and it has been mostly vacant since then, save for a skeleton crew of employees.
corroborated each other. The parties were separated, and a report was filed with prosecutors.
Monday, May 13
6:06 p.m. — 100 block of Wheeling Avenue, menacing. Officers responded to a report of a menacing complaint. The matter was under investigation.
Monday, May 20
8:55 a.m. — 400 block of Jones Road, death investigation. A 36-year-old woman was found dead in her bedroom. The Lorain County Coroner’s Office was investigating.
Tuesday, May 21
— 100 block of Depot Street, juvenile complaint. Officers responded to a domestic disturbance and spoke to a mother and son whose stories
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4:03 p.m. — Apples, East Herrick Avenue, theft. The store at 209 E. Herrick Ave. reported that a female suspect stole three bottles of
Lots of fun in the sun
Dozens of residents and families descend on Lakeview Park’s beach on weekends to take advantage of the dog-days-of-summer weather. At left, James Oriana, from Lorain, plays a beach soccer game with a group of his friends and family members. Meanwhile, above, Natalia Saccamango and Abby Henderson take a quieter approach on the opposite end of the park. The two Lorain residents sit on the rocks, looking out across Lake Erie.
Crown Royal and Jim Beam worth a total of $78.97. The suspect — who had multiple tattoos on her arms, legs, chest and neck and got out of a green Chevrolet truck — entered the store, put three bottles of alcohol in her purse, bought several more items and left without paying for the alcohol. Charges were pending the identification of the suspect.
Wednesday, May 22
7:36 a.m. — 100 block of Barker Street, felonious assault. Anthony Davidson, 19, of Grand Avenue, was arrested on felonious assault and strangulation charges, both felonies. Officers responded to a 911 call and learned Davidson had assaulted someone. A video of the incident was
RICHARD PERRINS / CHRONICLE PHOTOS
MOA concert series back on for summer
John Benson The Community Guide
Hosting performances of worldrenowned artists is nothing new to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
In fact, the same year its performing arts program was founded in 1918, the first major concert of note was a performance by the visiting New York Philharmonic.
More than a century later, the spirit of that creative program continues with CMA’s annual summer concert series, “City Stages,” which returns Wednesday, July 17 and 31 at Cleveland’s Transformer Station in Ohio City’s Hingetown neighborhood.
“It’s always been a big free outdoor block party that exposes people to music they otherwise wouldn’t really have a chance to hear,” said CMA Director of Performing Arts Gabe Pollack, who oversees music, dance and film. “The series is very loved by Cleveland — these performances are packed.
“We keep doing them because people keep supporting it and want this to continue. Presenting a free outdoor series isn’t the cheapest but it’s something that we feel like really builds community in Cleveland, so the museum really wants to continue.” All of this year’s “City Stages” artists are making their Northeast Ohio debut.
The series kicks off with Mexico-based Pahua (Wednesday), which bridges the gap between alternative electronic and Latin rhythm. Pahua, a vision of Mexican artist Paulina Sotomayor, is a talented producer, percussionist, vocalist and DJ who draws inspiration from nature and femininity while mixing electronic folk and lo-fi beats.
The next concert features Haitian Canadian Wesli (July 17). Born in Portau-Prince, the Juno Award-winner is a prolific songwriter, guitarist and producer linking Haitian voodoo and rara with twoubadou roots, Afrobeat and reggae.
Brazil-based Bia Ferreira (July 31) is a singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and “artivist” who describes her music as “MMP — Música de Mulher Preta” (Black-Woman Music). Her songs spread messages about feminism, love and speaking out against injustices.
BLOTTER
Amherst police
Tuesday, June 4 No time given - 900 block of West Martin Avenue, a resident reported receiving threatening phone calls; the case is being investigated.
2:41 a.m. - 2200 block of Kresge Drive, a woman reported being forced to ingest a bottle of eye drops. Officers contacted the woman, who would not provide information regarding the incident, including where it occurred or identifying details of a potential suspect. She was later taken to a hospital for further treatment.
Tuesday, June 11 No time given - police department, a resident reported bicycles were stolen from a home in the 900 block of Johnathan Street. Saturday, June 15
9:27 p.m. - 704 N. Leavitt Road, an irate customer was reported in the lobby of Motel 6. Officers contacted the man, calmed him down, and the guest eventually returned to his room.
9:39 p.m. - West Martin Avenue and North Lake Street, a man reported a vehicle was following him while he walked; it was determined the man’s family members had requested a welfare check on him, and he was released to family.
9:55 p.m. - police department, an officer spoke with a mother and her unruly 15-year-old daughter. The mother was advised of her options through the Lorain County Juvenile Assessment Center and the daughter was counseled on the consequences of her actions if she continued with her unruly behavior.
10:37 p.m. - 300 block of South Lake Street, disturbance reported; the parties reported it was a verbal disagreement and agreed to separate for the evening.
Sunday, June 16
3:55 p.m. - police department, a complaint was made regarding an assault that occurred at Chipotle on North Leavitt Road earlier in the day; the incident was under investigation.
6:27 p.m. - Beaver Creek Metro Park Trail, officers assisted emergency medical personnel to locate a person who crashed their bicycle on the trail.
Monday, June 17
3:50 p.m. - 704 N. Leavitt Road, officers were called for a report of an unruly juvenile throwing rocks and swinging a sign at his grandmother. The boy was discovered to be autistic; he was calmed and eventually allowed back into his room.
Tuesday, June 18
2:28 p.m. - state Route 58, traffic stop; citation issued for no driver’s license.
Wednesday, June 19 No time given - Cooper Foster Park Road, traffic stop after an officer recognized the vehicle’s occupants, one of whom held a protective order against the other. Kellen Goode, 42, of Lorain was charged with violating a
7:48 pm. - state Route 58, traffic stop; Michael J. Lapp, 60, of North Royalton was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, refusal to submit to blood-alcohol testing, and driving under suspension. Lapp was taken to Lorain County Jail.
Thursday, June 20 No time given - 600 block of Cleveland Avenue, verbal argument reported between family members; investigation to follow. Friday, June 21
3:30 p.m. - 100 block of Lincoln Street, theft complaint; following an
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Cleveland Museum of Art presents summer concert series
“City Stages” WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 and 31
WHERE: Transformer Station, 1460 W. 29th St., Cleveland (at the corner of Church Avenue)
TICKETS: free (seating is limited with free parking available in the Lutheran Hospital parking lot) INFO: Clevelandart.org/ transformer-station
“Throughout the last 11 years, the international music showcased has been everything from more traditional stylings to more contemporary,” he said. “So Pahua has a lot of electronic opponents to her music, but it’s a contemporary take on Mexican music.
“The same with Wesli, who is very inspired by his Haitian roots but it’s a way more modern set. And then Bia Ferreira is deeply rooted in traditional Brazilian rhythms, but she combines hip-hop with her sounds — putting a new modern spin on it.”
Continually seeking a new modern spin also applies to Pollack, who joined CMA two years ago after booking the Bop Stop. He described his current job as a dream-come-true gig that many folks don’t know about.
After all, why would a museum need a director of performing arts?
“Something that’s really interesting — and sometimes overlooked — about music or a concert series or performing arts at CMA is that the Cleveland Museum of Art has had a curator of music or performing arts director for over 100 years,” he said.
“It’s one of the oldest — if not the oldest — performing arts program at a visual arts institution in the country.
“Going back to the museum’s roots, music really has been a part of it for quite some time. So it does fit with the mission of the museum.
“For me as a programmer, using the art exhibits as a way to help shape what is presented musically is a very fun challenge.”
Contact John Benson at ndiffrence@att.net.
Amherst was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and crossing marked lanes. He was released to a sober party and his vehicle was towed.
Saturday, June 22
8:57 a.m. - state Route 2, traffic stop; citation issued for speeding.
1:46 p.m. - state Route 58, traffic stop; driver was taken into custody on an active warrant for failing to appear on a contempt of court charge and released to North Ridgeville police.
Sunday, June 23 1:05 a.m. - 704 N. Leavitt Road, domestic violence reported; a male suspect left the scene before officers arrived but was later located. Nelson Rodriguez Jr., 41, of Lorain was charged with domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor.
2:40 p.m. - state Route 58, traffic stop conducted on two pedestrians witnessed entering the roadway and failing to yield to incoming vehicles. The walkers were each issued right-ofway yielded by pedestrians citations.
8:11 p.m. - 300 block of South Main Street, domestic disturbance reported; it was determined to be verbal and the parties agreed to separate for the evening.
Wednesday, June 26
9:26 p.m. - Cooper Foster Park Road, officers searched the area for a red Ford Escape after the vehicle’s registration hit on security cameras with an active warrant for the owner through the city of Lorain. The vehicle was spotted backing out of a parking spot at Wing Stop. Police stopped the vehicle and took the driver into custody, releasing the man to Lorain police on scene soon after.
Details for the charges listed on the active warrant were not included in the police report.
9:41 p.m. - 300 block of Killdeer Court, welfare check requested for an elderly resident; the 81-year-old woman was found deceased. Family members were notified and the Lorain County Coroner’s Office arrived on scene.
11:04 p.m. - state Route 2, traffic stop; driver taken into custody on active warrant for failure to appear and released to Monroeville police.
Thursday, June 27
10:19 a.m. - police department, fraud complaint.
12:59 p.m. - 500 block of Milan Avenue, a woman reported her door was open when she arrived home at approximately 2 a.m. and appeared suspicious. Friday, June 28
8:23 p.m. - 712 N. Leavitt Road, report of a man making inappropriate comments to a Speedway employee; the female employee stated she didn’t want to press charges, just wanted the man to be told not to return. The man denied doing anything inappropriate, said he was sorry if he made the employee uncomfortable and left the property.
Saturday, June 29 8:33 p.m. - 704 N. Leavitt Road, unruly juvenile complaint at Motel 6. No time given - 8000 Oak Point Road, employees reported two female juveniles and one male juvenile were kicking soccer balls into displays and throwing items on the ground. Officers located the kids and told them they could not return to the store, per the store’s request. The juveniles were picked up by their parents.
Sunday, June 30 12:24 p.m. - Cooper Foster Park Road, assisted a woman having thoughts of self-harm.
3:24 p.m. - 704 N. Leavitt Road, report of a juvenile that was out of control, destroying a guest room and injuring his grandmother. The boy was cited into the Lorain County Juvenile Court for domestic violence, unruly juvenile and criminal damaging.
Richard Perrins
The Community Guide
OBERLIN — Gene and Deb Kean fell in love with Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture as soon as they stepped foot in one of his houses.
“We’re groupies,” Gene Kean said. “The first time I went into one of his houses I walked in and thought that this is the way people should live.”
The couple, who are from Wooster, have been waiting since April to see the Weltzheimer-Johnson house in Oberlin. Designed by Wright in 1947, the house is owned by Oberlin College and hosts an open house once a month.
Deb Kean said she and Gene have seen four of Wright’s houses so far and plan to travel to Wisconsin in August to visit Taliesen, the architect’s home.
For Gene, it was their visit to Fallingwater, a Wright-designed house in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, that hooked him.
“It’s the same feeling in all of his houses,” Gene Kean said. “They’re very stark, but comfortable. Everything is where it needs to be.”
The Weltzheimer-Johnson house is on a plot of land opposite the Oberlin Golf Club.
The house is framed with tall glass windows that overlook a long lawn, below a flat roof with intricate designs and carvings to let the sun fall through the windows.
The house has a large living area with one wall completely covered with windows that borders a small kitchen. The long narrow hallway, lined with bookshelves, leads visitors to four small rooms under a low wooden ceiling.
Joey Smakula, an Oberlin resident who came to visit the house, said its utilitarian design was what made the house a feat of architecture.
“It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but inside, it’s absolutely breathtaking,” Smakula said.
“It’s incredibly minimalistic but incredibly detailed at the same time.
The Community Guide NEW RUSSIA TWP. — The Discover Aviation Airplane and Car Show is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Lorain County Regional Airport, 44050 Russia Road.
The event includes aircraft displays and an airplane show, a car show, vendors and food trucks, children’s activities, model aircraft flights and a pancake breakfast.
The price of admission is $10 per car.
There will also be B-25 Mitchell bomber and Ford Tri-Motor rides available. The event is sponsored by Discover Aviation and the Lorain County Visitors Bureau.
As a tribute to veterans, the “Flight of the Flags” invites people to bring the folded funeral flags of their deceased veterans to be placed on a World War IIera aircraft and flown over the Carlisle Township and North Ridgeville veterans memorials.
The flags must not be in their display cases. Protective flag bags donated by the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission will be used to protect the flags. The flight leaves at noon, so all flags must be dropped off by 11 a.m. The flight will last 30 minutes, and all flags will be returned to their owners.
Questions about the Flight of the Flags should be directed to Brian Safran at bsafran83@gmail.com.
It’s pretty revolutionary, some of the designs he implemented here … are very impressive.”
Though he said he’s always been interested in architecture, Smakula hadn’t been to Wright’s other houses before. Seeing the Weltzheimer-Johnson house made him want to organize a visit to Fallingwater and other Wright landmarks,
he said.
“I typically like older houses, 1920s or older,” Smakula said.
“But here I am, absolutely mindboggled at this simple, four-bedroomed home.”
Contact Richard Perrins at (440) 752-5509 or email rperrins@chroniclet.com.
The Community Guide For a limited time, Oberlin Municipal Light and Power and Village of Wellington Utilities electric customers will receive a $75 reward for responsibly recycling a working refrigerator, freezer, window air conditioner, or dehumidifier, according to a press release from Efficiency Smart. Oberlin and Wellington electric customers can schedule a free pickup of their appliances through September 30. All units must be in working condition to be eligible for pickup, and there is a limit of four appliances per household, per year. In addition to the $75 for each unit responsibly recycled, residents will also save on their electric bill from no longer running an older appliance. Oberlin Municipal Light and Power and Village of Wellington Utilities electric customers can schedule their
A long narrow hallway, lined with bookshelves, leads visitors to four small rooms under a low wooden ceiling.
Fire damages plastic manufacturer in Wellington Twp.
Owen MacMillan
The Community Guide
WELLINGTON TWP.
— No one was injured but a business was damaged in a fire on Fairgrounds Road last Tuesday.
Wellington Fire District
Chief Mike Wetherbee said that his department received a call of a structure fire at Forest City Technologies Inc., a plastic manufacturer, at 4:50 p.m.
The fire was reported as inside of Forest City’s Plant Eight, 22069 Fairgrounds Road, just north of the main entrance to the Lorain County Fairgrounds.
Wetherbee said the blaze began as an oven fire but spread up into the building’s ductwork.
It was reported after a machine operator spotted liquid that appeared to be on fire dripping from the ducts.
By the time Wellington firefighters arrived, workers reported that they believed they had already extinguished the fire.
But, Wetherbee said that using thermal imaging his crews found what appeared to be fire still inside the ducts.
“We found portions of the ductwork that were extremely hot, and we felt that we had fire in there,” Wetherbee said.
“Eventually we proved that theory, and the fire did break through and we had fire both inside the building and on the roof.”
Crews put the exposed fire out quickly, but Wetherbee said breaking open the vents and ducts to find all the flames was a lengthy process.
“(The firefighters) worked hard and they did a good job,” he said.
“We knew where it was at, it’s just getting to it. It was one of those fires that you have to hunt for it.”
Wellington received mutual aid from Oberlin, which provided a tower ladder, as well as Rochester Village and Camden Township, which provided tanker trucks.
The Southern Lorain County Ambulance District was also at the scene.
Educational Services seeks board member
The Lorain County Educational Service Center is looking for a replacement for resigning board member Ken Kalina. Applicants must be registered voters living in either the Avon, Clearview, Columbia, Firelands, Keystone or Midview school districts.
Whoever is appointed to replace Kalina will serve the remainder of his term, which ends in December 2025, and will have to run for the school board in the November 2025 general election.
Those interested can send an application to ESC Superintendent Franco Gallo at the ESC of Lorain County, 1885 Lake Ave., Elyria, or emailed to gallo@esclc.org.
The newly appointed member will join Roger Sero and Jim Barnhart on the board.
ducts
“We were able to contain the fire, we kept it in the vents and ductwork and there was very minimal water damage in the building,” Wetherbee said. “Water and smoke damage was held to as minimal as we could keep it.”
He added that a Forest City Technologies supervisor told him that Plant Eight should be fully operational again within a day or two.
“I think the operator and the supervisor did a lot of good by even noticing, first off, because it can be hard when you’re in an enclosed space like that. They knew they had an issue and got us out there,” Wetherbee said. “They deserve more credit than us.”
Fire crews were on scene for approximately two hours.
Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 3297123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.
Fire vehicles stand by Tuesday on
trict Chief Mike
contacting
Roadwork ongoing across county
The Chronicle-Telegram
Several road projects are starting or continuing in Lorain County through the end of the month, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation and officials in the cities of Lorain and Vermilion. All work is weather permitting and subject to change. New work includes: Amherst, Amherst Township, Elyria Township
State Route 2, from just west of the Route 58 interchange in Amherst to the Murray Ridge Road bridge in Elyria Township, will have single-lane closures for pavement repairs, asphalt paving, guardrail repairs and bridge maintenance from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily through September. Traffic will be maintained, according to ODOT.
Huntington Township
State Route 58 just north of Route 162 remains closed through Friday, July 12, for a culvert replacement, ODOT said.
Lorain West 21st Street/state Route 611 is closed to eastbound
traffic between Oberlin Avenue and Beech Avenue through at least 5 p.m. July 24 for construction, the city’s Engineering Department said in a news release. Westbound traffic will be maintained, and detours will be posted. It is part of a larger paving project that should be completed by October, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Rochester Township, Huntington Township Single-lane closures continue through August for resurfacing work on state Route 162 in Lorain County, from Butler Road in New London Township, Huron County, in the west to Firestone Road in Spencer Township, Medina County, in the east. Traffic will be maintained by flaggers, according to ODOT.
Vermilion
The Norfolk Southern Railroad crossing on Adams Street south of Liberty Avenue/U.S. Route 6 will remain closed through Tuesday for repairs, the city announced in an email.
Wellington, Wellington Township
State Route 58 between Jones Road and Cemetery Road in the village and township will close July 15 for a culvert replacement, ODOT announced. The work should be done by July 19, ODOT said.
Man with 12 DUIs busted again
The Community Guide
A former Elyria man with 12 DUI convictions has been arrested again on felony charges after being stopped while driving a truck on the 800 block of Infirmary Road.
Anthony Card, 47, of Massillon, was arrested on warrants charging him with domestic violence and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, both felonies, and misdemeanor assault, following a traffic stop, according to an Elyria police report.
An officer on patrol stopped a darkcolored pickup after he recognized Card as the driver and knew he had warrants out for his arrest.
Officers positively identified Card and took him into custody. A passenger in the truck was released at the scene and the truck was towed. Inside the truck were more than 9 grams of suspected methamphetamine, needles, a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia, police said.
Card admitted the items were his and that meth is his drug of choice, according to the report. He was taken to the Lorain County Jail and posted bond Wednesday, according to court records. The suspected illegal drugs and other items were sent for testing, with charges pending the results.
The domestic violence and assault charges were filed by Elyria police in
May, and the unauthorized use charge was filed in June, according to Elyria Municipal Court records.
Card has 12 prior DUI convictions and his driver’s license is suspended for life following multiple felony DUI convictions in Lorain County — the most recent being in February 2022, for which he received two years in prison.His driver’s license was suspended for life after his 11th DUI conviction in 2020.
Prior DUI convictions include felonies in 2019, 2016, 2011 and 1997; six misdemeanor DUI convictions in Avon Lake, Elyria, Lorain, Oberlin and Vermilion municipal courts between 1996 and 2017; and a 1994 DUI delinquency finding in a juvenile court case, according to court records.
Columbia Gas project will disrupt East 31st Street bridge traffic Traffic on the
in Lorain will be disrupted through the end of July as Columbia Gas of Ohio conducts maintenance work.
Columbia Gas and its contractor Miller Pipeline, of Akron, will begin a gas line maintenance project on the bridge Monday.
According to a release from the company, the work is
and turning restrictions.
“Columbia Gas apologizes for any inconvenience and thanks residents and motorists for their patience and understanding as crews work to modernize the system to continue providing a safe and reliable service,” the release said. — from staff reports
Wellington firefighters stand on the roof of Plant Eight at Forest City Technologies Inc. after extinguishing fire in the building’s
last Tuesday.
Fairgrounds Road in Wellington Township. Wellington Fire Dis-
Wetherbee applauded employees for noticing the fire in an enclosed space and
firefighters. “They deserve more credit than us,” Wetherbee said.
Congratulations, state champ Mateo Medina
Elyria High School graduate and standout track runner Mateo Medina raises his arms as he is recognized Monday on Ely Square. “Man, who gets to ride in the bucket of a fire truck? It was really special. I felt like the man up there,” Medina said.
Hometown hero who single-handedly won D1 championship for Elyria is celebrated
Todd Shapiro
The Community Guide
ELYRIA — On June 1, Mateo Medina brought a state championship home to Elyria. Monday, Elyria turned out to say thank you.
Medina, who became just the 16th runner in the Ohio High School Athletic Association history to sweep the 100-, 200and 400-meter state titles, scored enough points to single-handedly give Elyria the Division I state championship.
However, on this day Medina didn’t have to run. He rode into Ely Square in the bucket of an Elyria fire engine waving to the crowd that gathered to celebrate his achievements. “Man, who gets to ride in the bucket of a fire truck? It was really special. I felt like the man up there,” Medina said. “It’s great having a celebration for myself and the track team. It felt really nice.”
Speakers including Elyria Board of Education President Michael Gebhardt and Superintendent Ann Schloss lauded Medina, who will continue his running career at Arizona State University, for his achievements.
Elyria Mayor Kevin Brubaker presented Me-
dina with a proclamation and he received a plaque from the district in honor of his efforts.
“I feel very blessed and grateful,” Medina said.
“This is very cool because it’s my city. These are my people, my supporters. This is where I grew up. To have them here today supporting me, cheering me on means the world to me.”
When Medina entered high school, veteran Elyria coach Jerry Chizmar thought he would make his mark as a distance runner but Medina had other ideas.
“I really thought he was going to be one of my top distance runners. He had a nonstop motor, he could run and run all the time,” Chizmar said. “We found out he enjoyed the sprints a little bit better. It wasn’t until the end of his sophomore year that I realized he’s got some special talent. I had no idea it would blossom into what it did this past spring.”
At the end of the ceremony, Medina addressed the crowd, thanking his family, teammates and lifelong friends for supporting him throughout his high school career. Medina was runner-up in the 400 in the New
$1M pickleball
Richard Perrins
The Community Guide
A new pickleball facility is coming to Avon Lake. Cleveland Premier Pickleball, a new club looking for members in the greater Cleveland area, is planning a Sept. 7 grand opening for a 56,000-square-foot warehouse owned by All Pro Freight Systems on Pin Oak Parkway.
The pickleball club is coowned by Justin Hellinger, who’s the operating partner of the club, and Chris Haas, president and CEO of All Pro Freight Systems. Hellinger said the project that will cost about $1 million will house 16 individual courts. Four of the courts, in the center of the warehouse, will be “championship”
Balance Nationals last month in Philadelphia.
The only runner to beat him, 16-year-old Quincy Wilson, is headed to Paris this month as part of the U.S. Olympic Team.
“I don’t look at it (as) unfortunate that I didn’t go to the (Olympic) trials this year because I have the 2028 Olympics, 2032 Olympics and so on and so forth,” Medina said. “I gotta get a little stronger, a little faster, mature a little more and I’ll be right there with them.”
Before his senior year, Medina decided to give
up playing basketball and put all of his effort into track. That decision paid off with the gold medal he proudly wore around his neck.
“Giving up basketball was honestly one of the hardest decisions I had to make in my life but I got such a good reward out of it,” Medina said. “Always bet on yourself. I have always lived by that. I’ve never turned down competition. I’ve doubted myself sometimes, I mean everyone does, but I overcame that and kept looking forward and push-
facility to have 16 indoor courts
courts — Hellinger said these will be larger with more space around them, and will be used for pickleball tournaments.
Fifteen of the courts will be devoted to pickleball, with one for paddle ball, Hellinger said. In the near future, he wants to explore adding golf simulators, and eventually look at expanding to include outdoor courts.
While it’s often compared to tennis, pickleball has courts with different dimensions, different rules and different equipment.
ing forward.”
If Medina continues to bet on himself there might be more celebrations in Ely Square in years to come.
“He has tireless energy, he’s a diligent worker and he’s a student of the sport. He will watch videos all the time of other sprinters to see how he can be better,” Chizmar said. “Also, he’s coachable. He’s willing to listen to what we want him to do and he did everything we asked him.”
Medina was joined on stage by many of his
A
of
“It’s for that community feel,” Hellinger said.
teammates who are hoping to follow in his footsteps in future seasons.
“I was thinking about it when I was up there, it put everything into perspective that they look up to me,” Medina said. “I showed them if you put everything you’ve got into what you love to do and If you work hard and commit yourself you will get what you want out of whatever it is.”
Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 3297135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.
Lorain High School coach put on leave after incident at graduation ceremony
The Community Guide
LORAIN — The Lorain High School basketball coach was placed on paid administrative leave following an alleged incident at the district’s June 4 graduation ceremony. Matt Kielian has been on paid leave since the ceremony, per an administrative leave letter sent to the coach on June 5.
Hellinger has been an avid pickleball player since 2017, when he took up the sport while living in San Diego. The sport has grown in popularity and he wants the facility to encourage players to hang around after finishing their game.
any age barriers. We want that sort of country club feel.”
“It’s a sport where my 12-year-old can play with an 80-year-old. I
“t really just eliminates
To conjure that feeling, Hellinger said the facility will have a lounge area with seating, ping pong tables and televisions next to the championship courts.
According to a disciplinary hearing note dated June 17, Kielian allegedly “hurriedly pushed/brushed” past Superintendent Jeff Graham at the commencement ceremony and took his son’s diploma out of Principal Melissa Cheers’ hands to hand to his son.
“These actions were
done at a large community-facing school event in the presence of several hundred students, parents, staff and community members,” Executive Director of Human Resources Carol Gottschling stated in the letter. “Such conduct, if found to be true and accurate, is deemed unprofessional, insubordinate and displays use of one’s position for personal advantage.” Graham said on Monday that he will meet with Kielian when he returns from vacation. Kielian declined to comment. Kielian has led the school’s boy’s basketball program since 2021.
KRISTIN BAUER / COMMUNITY GUIDE PHOTOS
Friends and family cheer during a recognition ceremony on Ely Square.
PHOTO PROVIDED
rendering
Cleveland Premier Pickleball’s design shows its planned 16 individual courts, 15 for pickleball and one for paddle ball.
BULLETIN BOARD
Admiral King class of 1968 reunion set
Lorain Admiral King High School Class of 1968 will host its summer reunion at 5 p.m. July 20 at Fox Creek Golf and Racquet Club, 5445 Beavercrest Drive, Lorain.
Tickets are $10 and do not include drinks. Checks can be mailed to Rita Mrendovich, 263 English Lakes Blvd., Amherst, OH 44035.
For more information, contact Mrendovich at (440) 4538239 or mrdenovich@gmail.com or Bill Sturgill at (440) 320-6877 or bsturg@roadrunner.com.
Guided Elyria history tour will be July 17
Residents can get their steps in while learning about the history of downtown Elyria thanks to a partnership between the Elyria Community Partnership and Lorain County Historical Society.
On July 17, the Community Partnership’s weekly Walking Wednesdays event will be an hourlong walking tour of Elyria’s historic landmarks.
Walking Wednesdays are weekly events that start in Ely Square and are about a mile long.
For more information, reach out to hello@elyriatogether.org or call (440) 329-7193.
MLS Class of ‘74 to hold 50th reunion
The Marion L. Steele class of 1974 will be having its 50th reunion the weekend of July 26.
We are looking for the following classmates: Debbie Green, David Jones, Jerry Pinson, Terry Lyman, Jerry Mattney, Frank Sabo, Patty Singleton, Brenda Smith, Craig Smith, and Tim Watson. If you have not received your invitation or know where any of the missing classmates are, please contact Raynelle Wasem Bozicevich at (440) 242-1283 or raynelle187@oh.rr.com.
EHS class of 1969 to hold reunion
The Elyria High School Class of 1969 will host its 55th class reunion at 6 p.m. Aug. 17 at Greyhawk Golf Club/ The Nest, 665 U.S. Grant St., LaGrange. Reservations are $25 per person and are due by July 15. Make checks payable to Harry Tulk and mail to 240 Stanford Ave., Elyria, Ohio 44035. Include name of graduate and guest. There will also be a get-together at 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at Smitty’s in Elyria. Join the class Facebook group page, Elyria High School Class of 1969. For questions, call Sandie Toth Hamby at (440) 366-5248.
Title office extends hours on Tuesdays
The Auto Title & Passport Division of the Lorain County Clerk of Courts has launched extended operating hours on Tuesday evenings in the Elyria Branch office. The extended operating hours -- the office is open until
FAMOUS FIRSTS
ACROSS
1. Croat or Moravian, e.g.
5. Paid player
8. Not Miss or Ms.
11. First-rate
12. Mattress with memory?
13. Be of use
15. “It’s time!” signal
16. ____-de-camp
17. Like an unhealthy dog
18. *First one to circumnavigate globe, almost
20. March Madness org.
21. Bring upon
22. Orange Lavaburst drink
23. *Rita ____, first Latina to win Academy Award
26. Winter rides, in Russia
30. Brewery order
31. Unties or unbuttons
34. Nearly
35. One born to Japanese immigrants
37. Good times
38. Rheumy
39. Tel ____, Israel
40. Bequeath
42. Once known as 43. West African country
45. *Chuck ____, first to break speed of sound
47. Genetic info carrier, acr.
48. City near Düsseldorf
50. Short for Dorothea
52. *First artificial satellite (2 words)
55. Clay and silt deposit
56. Marine eagle 57. Mercantile establishment 59. Singer Piaf
1. Give in to gravity
Weaver’s apparatus
The “I” in “The King and I”
Carrots or peas, slangily
French soldier in WWI
The Bulletin Board is published on a space-available basis and items will be edited for style, length, and clarity. Items must be submitted to news@lcnewspapers.com by 11 a.m. the Monday before publication.
6:30 p.m. -- will continue every Tuesday unless it’s a holiday.
The rest of the week remains unchanged with the office open from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed on weekends.
The Elyria Branch office is located on the first floor of the Lorain County Administration Building.
Wellington plans 41st Harvest of the Arts
Wellington’s 41st annual Harvest of the Arts will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 15.
There will be about 60 fine art and folk art vendors, a handmade quilt raffle and lunch in our Friends Cafe. Come visit us in historic Wellington at 101 Willard Memorial Square. Free parking and admission.
For more information, call 440-647-2120. This is a fundraiser for community programming at Herrick Library.
Christmas in July vendors sought
Christmas in July will be held at the Lorain Community Senior Center, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, at 3361 Garfield Blvd., Lorain. Vendors wanted; $25 per table. Call (440) 288-4040 or email lorainseniorcenter@outlook. com for more information.
Oberlin history walks continue this month
The Oberlin Heritage Center will offer a history walk centering on civil rights throughout July.
The center, a nonprofit that seeks to highlight and preserve the history of Oberlin, hosts a monthly themed walk June to August. The theme for July’s tour is “Civil War to Civil Rights.”
The tour will highlight historical events that detail the city’s progress and setbacks relating to race and civil rights and covers early Oberlin to the 21st century, according to the center’s website.
The center will host the walk on the three remaining Saturdays in July — 13, 20 and 27 — and will meet on the front steps of First Church in Oberlin. The 90-minute tours start start at 11 a.m. each Saturday, according to the website.
The tour is $10 for adults and free for children and college students.
People interested in registering for the tour should visit www.oberlinheritagecenter.org, email tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org or call (440) 774-1700.
Frank and Dean to perform
Frank and Dean are coming on August 4 from 2-4 p.m. to the Amherst Historical Society Hall, 113 South Lake Street, Amherst. Enjoy a lovely afternoon listening to the songs we all love.
Tickets are $20, and include coffee, tea, pop, water, and appetizers. BYOB adult beverages.
To RSVP, please contact the Amherst Historical Society at 440-988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org
Fresh produce at Keystone-LaGrange Library
The Keystone Empowers You Collaborative will host a pop-up produce stand at the Keystone-LaGrange Library, 133 E. Commerce Drive, on the second and fourth Thursday of July, August and September from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Reserve a bag of fresh fruits and vegetables online at bit.ly/KEYProducePickUp.
If you do not have internet access, you can leave a voicemail for your reservation at (440) 409-7460.
Bags of fresh fruits and vegetables are $12. You may pay ahead via Venmo (@Donna-Pycraft), or pay upon pickup with cash or Venmo.
Fruits and vegetables are provided by Pycraft Farm Market and availability will vary based on what is in season.
For example, last July, customers received two halfpints of red raspberries, one bunch of green onions, one bunch of Swiss chard, one bunch of beets, one quart of pickles, one head of cabbage, two yellow squash and two zucchini.
Keystone Empowers You (KEY) is a community-based group funded in part by the United Way of Greater Lorain County, and facilitated by Lorain County Public Health.
WWII re-enactment in August
Camp Maxey, Texas 1944, which is a WWII 99th Infantry Division Living History Event, is on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This event is free to attend at Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Avenue, Amherst Ohio 44001, with free parking available at Sandstone Village.
Reenactors will be portraying WWII soldiers of the 99th Infantry Division at Camp Maxey, Texas, during final stateside training and maneuvers before their deployment overseas to France in 1944.
Witness soldiers of the 99th Infantry Division during final stateside training and maneuvers before their deployment overseas to France in 1944
Learn about life for military and civilians on the Home Front.
Sandstone Village Shops and Village Buildings will be open.
For more info, please contact the Amherst Historical Society at 440-988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org
Lorain County tax bills are due Friday
More than 133,500 real estate tax and special assessment bills have been delivered to the U.S. Postal Service and are due back to the county by Friday, Lorain County Treasurer Daniel Talarek said.
Payments will be accepted in person at Talarek’s offices on the second floor of the County Administration Building at 226 Middle Ave. in Elyria, in a drop box in the vestibule of the administration building, by mail or online through the taxpayer’s financial institution.
Taxpayers who choose to mail their checks will be considered to have paid on time if their payment is postmarked on or before July 12.
Ohio law requires a 10 percent penalty fee to be assessed to all payments postmarked after the closing date. Property owners with payment questions may call (440) 329-5787. Questions about property values should be directed to (440) 329-5488.
Current agricultural use value (CAUV) program, owner-occupancy and homestead exemption questions can be answered by calling (440) 329-5212.
*First horror film about Damien Thorn, with The
Capital of Latvia
Canny
Han Solo’s “Millennium
Historians knowthatpeople found waystohave thrilling, high-speed rideslongbeforethe invention of the roller coaster. But thething that peoplerode wasnot originally designed for playing around. It was designedtohelp peopledo hard,dangerous work.
One of these early thrillrides was “Gravity Road” in themountains of Pennsylvania. It wasreally ii arts designedto deliver
Figure outwhatmysteryletter eachnumber standsfor by following the cluesinorder usingthe KidScoopWonderland map.
From theMainEntranceGate, go to the rst ridejust north of the entrance.Thismystery letter is thesixth letter of the second word of the ride’s name.
Head to the southwest corner of the park.The mystery letter is theone that’s rstinboth wordsofthisride’s name.
From that ride,head north to Tia’sTacos.Thismystery letter is thelastletterofthe ride’s namelocatedjust east of Tia’s.
From there, head east to Timber Games.Thismysteryletter is thethird letter of the attraction north of Timber Games.
Now, head west.The mysteryletteristhe fth letter in that spinning ride’s name.
Head north to Pizza Plaza. Then, head northeast to have arefreshing drink. Themystery letter is the rst letter of this stand’s name.
Go northwest and take the Sky Tram to the northeast corner of the park.Get ascoop at the spot just south of the tram station.The next mysteryletter is the rst letterofthe second word in this stand’s name.
Head southeast to thetheater. Thenextmystery letter
Main Entrance Gate
Timber Games
MegaMaze
Snack Shack
Haunted House n
IceCream Corner
Souvenirs
Chicke Subs
Plaza