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AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
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Volume 7, Issue 43
Oberlin Schools ABSENTEE DISASTER will go hybrid
School board debates canceling Phoenix winter sports season JASON HAWK EDITOR
OBERLIN — Over reservations about increasing COVID-19 case numbers, the Oberlin City Schools will move to a hybrid model. The district has been fully online since the beginning of the school year. By a 4-1 vote that capped hours of debate Saturday, the Board of Education voted to send kids back into physical classrooms on a part-time basis. No date has been set for the transition, said Superintendent David Hall, nor have key decisions been made about how many days kids at each grade level would attend. "We don't want to rush into it," he said. School board President Jason Williams cast the dissenting vote. He said virtual learning has its complications, but he is worried about the unprecedented threat posed by the virus, and how risks could increase during cold and flu season. In a survey of Oberlin parents, 37.5 percent of respondents said they wanted a hybrid model with in-person classes three days a week, while 34 percent said they wanted kids to keep learning from home. A little more than 28 percent said they preferred a return to in-person school five days a week. Meanwhile, a majority of teachers backed a continuation of the fully-online model. Teachers want to have their kids back, and are hoping for a change at some point, but feel timing is important, said Robin Diedrick of the Oberlin Ohio Education Association. "The feedback that I've been hearing from the community is the young kids are really struggling. We're not connecting, and this could be irreparable damage for them," said Board of Education member Anne Schaum. Board member Ken Stanley agreed, saying kinds in kindergarten through second grade need to "spend some time in school" and "gotta have some physical presence." Farah Emeka and Kimberly Jackson Davidson, both new appointees to the board in recent months, said they supported a hybrid model as long as Hall would have the power to order the Oberlin City Schools back to remote learning if there is a COVID-19 outbreak. The school board also debated whether to allow winter sports to move forward. In a talk with the board, Lorain County Public Health Commissioner David Covell said he met with athletic HYBRID PAGE A2
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Kristin Bauer | Chronicle
Andrew Irizarry, a worker at the Lorain County Board of Elections, collects ballots in their drivethrough lane on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
How a Cleveland company disrupted the 2020 election JASON HAWK EDITOR
SHEFFIELD TWP. — Jennie Stauffer was worried last Wednesday, watching her mailbox. No absentee ballot had arrived, eight days after state election officials swore it had been sent. "I've been watching and waiting, and checking on the status," said Stauffer, of Oberlin. No ballot appeared in Patricia Rea's mailbox in Sheffield Village, either. She said her brother and son had also not received ballots By Thursday, the scope of the problem became apparent, as social media lit up with complaints about ballots that had failed for more than a week to materialize all across Northeast Ohio. That day, the Lorain County Board of Elections revealed fewer than half of the absentee ballots requested by voters here had been mailed out, even though the state's reporting system said otherwise. Just 26,000 of the more than 63,000 that should have hit the mail Oct. 6 actually made it, Board of Elections Director Paul Adams confirmed. That left a backlog in excess of about 30,000, chalked up to problems at a Cleveland company called Midwest Direct, which was hired by 16 Ohio counties and two in western Pennsylvania to print and mail ballots. According to Adams, the company promised to get those 30,000 ballots in the mail by the end of Thursday, Oct. 15, already nine days behind schedule. Only a few thousand made it. The following morning, Adams and a bipartisan posse of elections
Copyright 2020 Lorain County Printing & Publishing Company
workers drove to the Cleveland plant to observe operations, crack the whip and make sure the rest of the ballots were on mail trucks by nightfall. Around 9 p.m., he said they were all in the hands of the U.S. Postal Service. They were 10 days behind schedule. What went wrong In a statement, Midwest Direct said it wasn't prepared for the volume of absentee ballots that had been requested. Thinking demand would double from the 2016 presidential election, the company bought extra equipment, hired extra staff and expanded work hours. "It is fair to say today that no one – not the various boards of elections, not Ohio’s Secretary of State, not our company – anticipated the staggering volume of mail-in ballot requests that has actually occurred," the release said.
As an example, Midwest Direct said one county it contracted with had expected between 40,000 and 70,000 ballots would be requested, but ended up needing 109,000 as of late last Thursday. "Our staff is working 16 hours every day to make sure everyone who wants a ballot in the counties we are serving gets one in time to cast their vote," Midwest Direct's release said. Not all counties have struggled. Mike West of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections said Midwest Direct has been able to pump out 40,000 ballots per day there, and voters started receiving them promptly on Oct. 6 as planned. “We’re seeing returns by the thousands. The ballots are coming back to us at a pretty good clip,” he said Friday — more than 50,000 completed and returned already, he estimated. “Somehow we dodged a bullet. I don’t know the rhyme or reason,” said West. BALLOTS PAGE A6
INSIDE THIS WEEK
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Lucy Jara of Amherst drops her ballot off in the drop box outside of the Lorain County Board of Elections.
Amherst
Oberlin
Wellington
Firefighters forge mutual aid deal with Lorain • B1
Top health official tells school board county will go red • B1
Trains on track to run silently starting Nov. 3 • B1
OBITUARIES A2 • MEET THE CANDIDATES A3-A4 • SPORTS B4-B6 • CLASSIFIEDS B6
Page A2
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
North Coast Inland Trail
OBITUARIES
The Lorain County Metro Parks will temporarily close a portion of the North Coast Inland Trail between Albrecht and West River roads in Elyria Township due to an emergency culvert replacement near Straw Ditch. Work is tentatively scheduled to begin on Thursday, Oct. 22, and will last a minimum of 30 days. This closure may be extended due to delays caused by inclement weather. “We had heavy rains this last spring, which made a small issue much worse," said Metro Parks Director Jim Ziemnik. "The current culvert is not unsafe but will become so if the problem is not addressed now.”
Carolyn E. Thomas Carolyn E. Thomas, 69, of Oberlin, passed away unexpectedly at home Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. Carolyn was born in Barborville, Kentucky on Sept. 5 1951. She worked as a Manager at IGA. She was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Oberlin and the Sisters of Wisdom of Mt. Zion and she served on the usher board at the church. Carolyn enjoyed cooking, attending flea markets, collecting antiques, watching her black and white oldtime movies, also watching Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the Royal family events and especially spending time with her family. She is survived by her two daughters, Lavonda and Chastity Thomas, both of Oberlin; two sons, Greg Thomas, Jr. and Justin Thomas, both of Oberlin; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three sisters, Linda Gregory, Mary Katherine Jones and Imogene Johnson and one brother, Michael Gregory. She was preceded in death by her parents, Royal and Dorothy Gregory and one sister, Sandra Gregory. A graveside service was held Wednesday, Oct. 14 at New Russia Township Cemetery with the Reverend Fred L. Bell officiating. Online condolences may be made at www.cowling funeralhomeoh.com.
Leona (Lewis) Grigsby Leona (Lewis) Grigsby, 70, received her heavenly reward Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, in Oberlin. She was born Sept. 24, 1950, to Kenneth and Beulah Lewis in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She moved with her husband, Meredith, to Oberlin, where she was a friend, neighbor and community volunteer through her last days. Leona led a life of love and service to all who came to know her. She attended Rust United Methodist Church and was a member of the Choir and many internal committees. She served on the Oberlin Public Library Board at the time of its remodel. Her career stands as testimony to her servant's heart: 20 years as a preschool teacher and more than 20 years as a sign language interpreter. She taught her students with the same love, care and concern she showered on her children, Robin and Lee. A lifelong learner, Leona graduated from Tiffin University with a Bachelors of Science in Business. She was honored to interpret for President Barack Obama on several occasions and the Oberlin College commencement ceremony for many years. Left with love and memories are her son, Lee (Gwen) Grigsby of Washington D.C.; granddaughters, Taylor (Drew) Randleman of Houston, Texas and Jordyn Grigsby of Washington D.C.; great-grandsons, Drew II and Zion; sister, Jan (Robert) Elliot of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; brothers, Walter Lewis and Marty (Cindy) Lewis of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Her family will be honoring her memory with a private ceremony due to the pandemic. Online condolences may be made at www.cowling funeralhomeoh.com. MELODEY LEE TURNER (nee D'amore), 63, of Lorain, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 at UH Elyria Medical Center. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home. NANNIE 'LOUISE' LINKOUS (nee Jackson), 83, of Lorain, went home to be with her Lord and Saviour on Monday, October 19, 2020 at New Life Hospice in Lorain, following a full and meaningful life. Arrangements by Hempel Funeral Home. For information on placing an obituary, call Lorain County Printing & Publishing at (440) 329-7000.
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Mona Esta Bohland Mona Esta Bohland (nee Zimmerman), 96, of Nova, passed away on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, surrounded by family and lots of love. Mona was born March 5, 1924 in Oberlin, to George Alexander Zimmerman and Nina Esta Zimmerman (nee Price). She graduated from Wellington High School in 1942. Mona enjoyed listening to the Cleveland Indians games, dancing at the Snow Bird, polkas and waltzes and playing cards and Yahtzee. She created beautiful crocheted items that her family cherishes. Mona also enjoyed birds, especially cardinals and chickadees. On Aug. 10, 1946, Mona married the love of her life, Herman Bohland. They are survived by three daughters, Jane (Gary) Smith of Nova, Carol Vickery of New London and Barb (John) Rohr of Nova. She enjoyed many happy hours with her family. Mona treasured her grandchildren, Lori (John) Clark, Scott (Teresa) Smith, Deanna (Jason) Wells, Erin Beebe, Dan (Rebecca) Hawks, Brian (Kim) Gault, Jill (Brad) MacKenzie and Jonni (Nick) Reuer; special great-grandchildren are Jonathan (Jacklynn), Chelsea, Cody (Sara), James, Calib, Danelle (Dusty), Cameron, Nikolas, Devin, Nicole, Megan, Bobbi, Lydia, Chloe, Katelyn, Kenzie, Storm, Kaylee, Ella, Triton, Corbin, Brett, Brock, Grady and Brody and greatgreat-grandchildren, Lucy, Oakley, Oakleigh, Evelyn, Lilly, Carter, Owen, Colt and Bentley. Her family will remember holding her soft, loving hands. Mona is also survived by her school friend and sister-in-law, Louise Bohland, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mona was preceded in death by her loving husband, Herman; son-in-law, William Vickery; grandsons, Jamie Jenkins and Jeff Beebe; parents, George and Nina Zimmerman; five brothers, Roland, Murice, Vernet, Glen and George Jr. and one sister, Doris Lydia Whitney. A private family service will be held at Nova Cemetery with arrangements provided by Eastman Funeral Home in New London. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1021 Dauch Drive, Ashland, OH 44805. Online condolences may be shared at www.eastman funeralhome.com.
Kiwanis to hold annual nut sale, collect bedding for kids
The Kiwanis Club of Wellington is launching two service projects to benefit children in southern Lorain County. Through the end of the month, Kiwanis is holding its annual Morris Furcron Memorial Nut Sale to raise scholarship funds and support its leadership programs. Kiwanis members and kids in the Wellington High Key Club and K-Kids of McCormick Middle School and Westwood Elementary School are selling the nuts. The club has set a goal of $11,000, which will help fill a void created when the club was unable to sell admission tickets at the Lorain County Fair. A sale form is posted at www.wellingtonohkiwanis. org. Sales forms are located throughout the business community, at the three schools and from any Kiwanian. Starting Oct. 24, Kiwanis will have boxes throughout the community to collect twin bed sheets to support the Good Knights program, which provides beds and bedding for young children who otherwise do not have beds. The 220 members of the eight Kiwanis Clubs of Lorain County are supporting this effort by helping build, deliver and set up beds or collecting bedding. Boxes will be placed throughout Wellington to collect bedding for twin beds. The bedding must be new and still in its packaging.
Lorain County sheriff’s deputies will conduct highvisibility traffic enforcement for Halloween from Oct. 23-31, targeting impaired driving. The funding for the effort is made possible through a federal grant. The goal is to reduce the number of alcohol and speed-related crashes, along with seat belt use. Halloween is supposed to be scary, but not when it comes to driving. It’s a particularly deadly night due to drunk drivers. “With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, we’re certain to see extra parties throughout the weekend, and every single partygoer should plan their sober ride home in advance,” said Sheriff Phil Stammitti. “Even one drink can impair judgment. You should never put yourself or others at risk because you made the selfish choice to drink and drive.”
Prescription Turn-In Day
The Lorain County Drug Task Force will hold a Prescription Drug Turn-In Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. Take your unwanted, unneeded or expired medications to police departments across the county to have them safely disposed of.
Lions and Leos serve lasagna
The 11th Annual Lasagna Dinner presented by the Amherst Lions Club and Amherst Steele Leo Club will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29 at Amherst Steele High School. This year, the event will be held drive-thru style at the school’s front entrance, 450 Washington St. The cost is $10 and includes meat or veggie lasagna, applesauce, roll and dessert. Proceeds benefit the Leo Club Backpack Program and other Lions Club community projects.
LETTER Unhappy with e-learning To the editor: We find ourselves in the fourth week of the 2020 academic year of the Wellington school district, having accomplished not but a few days of actual academics. This for an educational program and hybrid instruction that in July was determined would be utilized; however, as rumor has it, was not delivered to the schools until the beginning of September. Parents and grandparents are once again finding this online curriculum not only challenging to navigate but completely frustrating and ambiguous, not having clear, definitive objectives, a list of websites or weekly and daily schedules listing assignments. A schedule is a must, especially when our children are at home three of the five days in a school week. We’ve nothing but chaotic daily assignments with one day of combined “Cohorts A and B” virtual learning. To be completely honest, the sixth grade, apart from one class (math), virtual learning has thus far been an overall charade. Currently, virtual learning has provided my child an average of 45 minutes of online instruction vice the allocated 108 minutes for the four classes each Wednesday the past three weeks. Our children were given rules, that if your child fails to log in and attend virtual classes, they may be sent to an academic review board and possible suspension or expulsion. Possibly expelled from school for not attending what, exactly? One optimistic outlook is Principal Nathan Baxendale, who has been more than receptive to provide assistance in understanding the system. However, how might he be able to address and correct a disjointed system? Larry Sabin
HYBRID
FROM A1 directors Friday to discuss the complicated calls that will have to be made with winter sports. "I've got some bad news," he told the Oberlin Board of Education. Indoor events will carry a higher risk, he said, and that threat will vary based on the nature of the sport. For example, the risk of spread is through the roof for two wrestlers on the mats — but the rest of the team is relatively safe. Basketball is another story. "You're switching and you're guarding different people. If you've got 10 people on the floor and one of them turns up positive... I think both teams are going to end up quarantined." Covell said. If the Phoenix have a player test posi-
tive, he said the recommendation will be to bench the team for 14 days. Swimming will be the safest winter sport, said Covell, because chlorinated water will kill the virus. There are bound to be some players benched due to colds, he said, but watching for symptoms and taking them seriously will be key. Spectators will continue to be limited at high school sports venues through the winter, and masks will remain mandatory, he said. Given Covell's insights, Williams said he didn't see a way to make Phoenix basketball safe. "Indoor, cold and flu season coming, you know, I personally don't see how we can do that," he said.
Athletic Director John Carter said one in three Oberlin students played fall sports, and all remained healthy. "What we found was we did everything the right way. We had zero cases from any Oberlin kids or any opponents we played," he said. For spectators, Lorain County schools plan to continue making only two tickets available per family. Oberlin won't have swing players — athletes who pull double duty on freshman, JV or varsity teams. Practices will also be kept separate. Of 391 school districts in Northeast Ohio, Oberlin was the only one talking about not having winter sports, said Carter. A resolution to cancel the season died for lack of a motion.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY GUIDE LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY GUIDE (USPS 673-960) is published every Thursday, 52 weeks per year by Lorain County Printing & Publishing Company, 225 East Ave., Elyria OH 44035.
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Lorain County Community Guide, PO Box 4010, Elyria OH 44036.
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
Page A3
2020 POLITICAL CANDIDATES
Hung challenges Kokoski for commissioner’s seat DAVE O’BRIEN
THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
ELYRIA — Incumbent Lorain County Commissioner Lori Kokoski, a Democrat seeking another four years on the board, will face a challenge from first-term Republican North Ridgeville City Councilwoman Michelle Hung, who is seeking her first countywide elected office on Election Day. Kokoski, who currently serves as president of the three-member board, is a lifelong resident of Lorain County who previously worked in real estate and health care office settings. She was elected to Lorain City Council in 2000 and as county commissioner in 2005. Hung formerly was in auto sales, finance and inventory management. Her current and first term as an at-large councilperson on North Ridgeville City Council expires
in December 2021. She also was co-chair of the Lorain County campaign to elect Donald Trump in 2016. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Hung: The current Board of Commissioners have become too reliant on the county administrator. Commissioners rely on him and are not hands-on performing their day-to-day leadership roles. A prime example was at last month’s Mayors meeting, where the commissioners were invited to speak at their monthly meeting about the issues at 911. The commissioners sat idle while the administrator addressed the mayors’ concerns. According to the administrator, everything is fine, but the next day there was a failure at a dispatcher’s console. As your next commissioner, I will work toward a permanent fix for 911. We will make sure the system has
successfully through very challenging times. I have made tough decisions that have enabled our county to prosper and kept our residents and law enforcement safe. The county needs strong and stable leadership to navigate through the demanding times ahead.
Lori Kokoski Democrat
Michelle Hung Republican
proper backups, senior and new hire dispatchers receive the required training, and we will replace ineffective management with qualified candidates. A Human Resource Department will be created and will work to alleviate any perceived improprieties for our employees. We should be pro-active in fostering a positive culture ensuring our policies and practices are applied consistently and that a partnership exists between management
and employees. Kokoski: I am a lifelong resident so I know and understand our community. My government experience has given me the opportunity to build solid relationships with other leaders throughout the county and I have a reputation of honesty and integrity. My government roles and Realtor experience gave me the understanding of both our county’s landscape and our residents. I have led us
What is the biggest challenge facing the county and how would you address it? Hung: The current Board of Commissioners only have one solution for managing the county budget, and that is raising the sales tax. They don’t have the ability to understand budgetary management and they are forced to rely on others to explain it to them. My background in the automotive industry, tracking dollars for a multimillion-dollar inventory, and my experience in budgetary management far exceeds my opponent. Effective budget
management is key to running a business. This experience has helped me achieve my goals in the private and public sector. If elected, I will bring leadership and a steady and reliable work ethic to the Board of Commissioners. Kokoski: The uncertainty relating to the COVID-19 virus and its long-term effects on our community is very concerning. We have put prevention measures in our county buildings to keep our employees and the public safe. Along with the pandemic, we continue to face the drug epidemic. I stay involved with the MHARS board and other community partners to help people needing treatment. We provided and retrofitted a building that houses the drug task force, DEA and FBI who are working collectively to get drug dealers off our streets. Overdoses went down 31 percent from 2017 to 2019 because of these efforts.
Moore, Sweda facing off for commissioner's seat DAVE O’BRIEN
THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
ELYRIA — County Commissioner Sharon Sweda, a Democrat, faces a challenge from business consultant and former commissioner David Moore for her first full four-year term on the board. In February 2019, Lorain County commissioners appointed Sweda to fill the unexpired term of Ted Kalo, who stepped down as commissioner to become Lorain Municipal Clerk of Courts. She has been criticized by Moore and his campaign manager, former Republican commissioner Tom Williams, for using her county email for campaign purposes. Auditor of State Keith Faber's office is investigating the complaint. Sweda previously ran for the Ohio Senate in 2018 but lost to Nathan Manning. A former mortgage broker and businessman with experience in real estate, Moore served a single term as county commissioner from 2001 to 2005 before opting not to run again. While in office in 2003, he settled a $1.3 million federal lawsuit that accused him of tricking borrowers into signing unfair mortgages, and in 2007 and 2008, a Lorain County judge ordered Moore to pay back a $250,000 loan to Lorain National Bank
and $600,000 to FirstMerit Bank. Now a business consultant, he also was co-chair of the Lorain County campaign to elect Donald Trump in 2016.
to save homeowners who were victims of predatory lenders, unemployment and economic downturn. Along with my time in office, that experience enables me to be a skilled public servant.
What makes you the best candidate for the position? Moore: As a former commissioner (2001-2005) I accomplished more in my first 90 days than my opponent has done in her term. As a commissioner, I created a Trade Free Zone that created tax incentives for Lorain County businesses -- keeping them from leaving our county. Other projects such as GLIDE - a business incubator in partnership with LCCC. Created a business creation and retention department - County Port Authority. Managed the Justice Center project - on time and under budget by $15 million, exposed corruption that lead to officials going to prison. Sweda: I am the best candidate because of my successful business experience. I have had to manage staffing, create and execute training programs, manage marketing, recruit and retain while building companies that have survived for decades. I built my company through acquisitions and successfully blended cultures. In the worst of times, I never laid off an employee or filed bankruptcy. I have received numerous accolades for the work I did
What is the biggest challenge facing the county and how would you address it? Moore: The inability of the current board of commissioners to lead, they allow the county administrator (unelected official) to run the county while they collect an annual salary of over $86,000 each. The county has major issues at 911; multiple shut downs, system failures, understaffed and dispatchers are concerned about the lack of training they are receiving. As a commissioner, I will bring back the HR department to ensure the county hires qualified personnel and is a safe place for employees who have issues without repercussions. I fixed 911 the last time I was elected and I will fix the mess that the current board has created again, without raising taxes. Sweda: The biggest current challenge is how we rebound from the pandemic. The pandemic has cost jobs; while isolation caused drug and addiction rates to spike. Parents struggle with home school challenges and many students are predictably going to fall behind absent deliberate focus. Technology resources are at a shortage
Friday refuse and recycling route changes OBERLIN — The last Friday for residential garbage and recycling collection services in the city of Oberlin will be Oct. 23. The Friday route will be merged into the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday routes during the week of Oct. 26. Remember to place your cart at the curb by 6:30 a.m. Find your new pick-up day below: • East Hamilton Street — Wednesday • East Vine Street — Tuesday • Gladys Court — Wednesday • Grafton Street — Thursday • Groveland Street — Thursday • Lincoln Street — Tuesday • Locust Street — Wednesday • Monroe Court — Tuesday • Roosevelt Court — Tuesday • US Route 20 West — Tuesday • South Main Street — Wednesday • South Oberlin Road — Thursday • South Park Street — Thursday • South Pleasant 15-138 — Thursday • South Pleasant 167-431 — Wednesday • South Professor Street — Wednesday
• Smith Street — Wednesday • Route 58 South — Tuesday • Edison Street — Wednesday • Sumner Street — Thursday • West Hamilton Street — Tuesday • Washington Circle — Tuesday According to Oberlin Public Works Director Jeff Baumann, these changes are necessary to ensure that city workers can continue to provide refuse, recycling and organics collection services at a reasonable cost. Recycling services will be provided by subscription only. Information about how to sign up will be posted at www.cityofoberlin.com. For more information, call the Public Works Department at 775-7218. Recycling day The city of Oberlin will hold a special “catch-up day” for those who have been saving recyclable materials. Recycling must be placed curbside by 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 in a recycling cart with the blue lid.
in school systems. Meeting this challenge requires economic development, aggressive wellness and anti-systemic race initiatives and thoughtful use of CARES funding to meet these critical challenges. I intend to allocate funding to meet those needs. I am hoping that we can look forward to county-building initiatives in the not-sodistant future.
Sharon Sweda Democrat
David Moore Republican
Page A4
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
2020 POLITICAL CANDIDATES
Manning has newcomer Democrat, write-in challengers CARISSA WOYTACH
THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
Incumbent state Rep. Gayle Manning, R-North Ridgeville, is vying to keep her 55th District seat in the Ohio House for another term. She faces Democratic newcomer Zach Stepp and write-in independent Dale Stein. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Manning: My track record shows that you can trust I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that I am always accessible to you, the constituent, and that I am a leader and am willing to work with people from all parties to get the job done. I have demonstrated that the single most important thing to me is to make sure your voice is heard. I have the experience, the respect of my colleagues, and
Gayle Manning Republican
Dale Stein Independent
Zach Stepp Democrat
strong relationships with those in legislature and in the community to continue to be an effective leader. I have shown my ability to represent the people of this district and will continue to work tirelessly for them. Stein: I am not best candidate if you think government exists to make your life better. I have a working understanding of a constitutionally limited government as intended by the founders of this nation and would
seek to provide a biblical view to the legislative process. If you believe in less government and more responsibility, then I may be the best candidate for you. Stepp: As someone who grew up in a working-class family in Lorain County that often struggled to make ends meet, I know how too many of us have been left behind — and ignored by the special interests in Columbus. I understand all too well the corrupting
influence of money on our elections that has dulled our political discourse and stagnated progress on every major public policy challenge of our time. I’ve got plans to build for our future and over the past year, I've laid out a series of policy proposals that I believe would move our state and county forward. What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would
you address it? Manning: COVID-19 is our biggest challenge. In January, 2011 Ohio had an $8 billion deficit, $0.89 in the rainy-day fund, and an 11 percent unemployment rate. By January 2020, we had balanced the budget, put $2.7 billion in the rainy-day fund, the unemployment rate was 4 percent, and there were $5 billion less in taxes. COVID-19 has created setbacks in our economy and in our schools, but we can rebound again. We are working to develop industry-recognized credential and certificate programs to help workers in the job market, and I have sponsored legislation to reduce state mandated testing, overhaul school funding, and to make schools safer. Stein: The biggest challenge facing this district is that some people have no hope because they have not heard of salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ. I would address this obstacle by presenting the gospel as well as demonstrating how a reliance on Jesus Christ can overcome a false hope offered by government. Stepp: We need Columbus to become a partner for the revitalization of Lorain County. I will push for new investments in Elyria and other Lorain County cities for good-paying, stable jobs that attract young people and kickstart a family's prosperity. Ohio’s growth strategy can’t just be Columbus-centric, we need to grow together as a state. I have proposed developing incentives, akin to brownfield restoration, to transition declining sites like Midway Mall into thriving 21st-century hub of growth. To the same end, I will fight for quality public education, take on corrupt special interests, and make higher education options more affordable.
Lacko runs against Miller for Ohio 56th House rep job CARISSA WOYTACH
THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
Incumbent state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, is being challenged by Republican Bradley Lacko to represent the state's 56th District. Miller is seeking his second term in the statehouse and this is Lacko's first time running for the position. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Lacko: I have many years of on the job experience in various areas such
as transportation, construction, and agriculture, that will be very useful in reaching my goal of bringing back quality paying jobs to my district, and Lorain County. Miller: My current knowledge and experience at the local, state and federal level gives me a keen perspective on how power is shared in a federalist system and how our governments are supposed to work for the people. My experience in the private sector has enabled me to understand the challenges employers and employees face in this ever changing economy. I will take
these assets, coupled with my willingness to listen to constituents, be empathetic to their struggles, and laser focus on finding solutions to work for them for a second term. What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it? Lacko: We have lost a large number of manufacturing jobs in my district, specifically the city of Lorain. We need to focus on those good-paying, quality manufacturing jobs, and do whatever we can to bring them back to Lorain County.
Miller: Government only works well when it works for the people and power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. For too long, the power of all branches in the Ohio State House has been in the hands of one party and they have been corrupted by it. It is time to remove the challenge of one party rule who currently makes policies for the few in Ohio as opposed to the many because they go unchecked. The biggest challenge being in the minority without the ability to check the majority power is we often are overlooked and
Joe Miller Democrat our policies dismissed. I pride myself in working across the aisle on policies that are good for all Ohioans but the partisan approach in today's po-
Bradley Lacko Republican litical atmosphere creates a whole other set of challenges that could be mitigated with the balance of power being restored in Columbus.
Adkison attempts to unseat Stein in Ohio’s 57th District BROOKIE MADISON
THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
Incumbent Republican Dick Stein is running for re-election in Ohio’s 57th House District, and has opposition from Democratic newcomer Dara Adkison. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Adkison: For too long,
we’ve had representatives putting corporate interests and bailouts before the needs of our community. My opponent chose to bailout nuclear power plants and declined to co-sponsor or support a bill that would cap the cost of insulin at $100. When elected, I promise to work for you and the needs of your community. I will bring my technical background in computer engineering,
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my advocacy experience in civil rights public policy, and life experience as the mother of a young child. I’m well-rounded, rooted in this community, and I promise to be the vocal advocate we need. Stein: I have shown a willingness to listen to all positions and to make myself available to my constituents. As someone who has retired from business, I have devoted myself full time to serving the people of our district and yet know the issues our businesses face day to day. I have taken the time to research issues and build a better understanding of policies that affect our district and our state. Second, our office has helped hundreds of our constituents navigate through our state agencies. We pride ourselves on assisting citizens across our district with their needs.
Dick Stein Republican
Dara Adkison Democrat
What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it? Adkison: The biggest challenge facing District 57 is a lack of leadership in Columbus. We need elected officials who aren’t afraid to fight for what the people they represent need. I promise to write, cosponsor, and vote for legislation to help our community. I
will also use the power of the state representative platform to elevate issues that need more attention, while directly addressing businesses, organizations, and companies to help the people of our district. Our communities deserve good public schools, lands that are free of pollution, clean water, affordable healthcare, digital privacy, and equal civil rights and liberties for all.
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Stein: I am concerned with the prevalence of opioid and drug addiction in the county and in the state. Lorain and Huron counties have some of the highest overdose rates in our state. In regard to the opioid epidemic, it’s imperative to increase collaboration between agencies and make people aware of the services available in the district. The pandemic has brought to light issues related to the executive’s public health orders and lack of input from the legislature. As a co-equal branch of government, the legislature should be more engaged in the governor’s decisions as they relate to the long-term directive of the Ohio Department of Health. We need to address the long-term consequences of local businesses affected by state policy. Provided photo
Sgt. Joe Fought, his wife Elizabeth and their children, William, Daniel, Katherine and Margaret presented a flag Oct. 12 to each Amherst school building for the Purple Star Award. The award recognizes the district's commitment to serving the families of military personnel. Steele High, Amherst Junior High, Nord Middle School and Powers Elementary all won the award for 2020; they were among the 32 schools in the entire state to be recognized.
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
Page A5
Local organizations provide free rides to polls BROOKIE MADISON THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM
The ride service company 440 Ride and the Elyria and Oberlin chapters of the NAACP will be providing rides to individuals who wish to vote early. Debbie Williams, owner of 440 Ride, said her company has been providing complimentary rides to registered voters to vote and dropping them back off at home afterward since it began in 2018. “It started off as just a way to give back to the community,” Williams said. “It was brought to my
attention that people were trying to find ways to vote. They wanted to know how much it would cost to get a ride. I decided to offer the service and it was well received. We just decided to continue that.” Normally, 440 Ride would offer its complimentary service on Election Day, but Williams said that there is a big push for early voting during the pandemic. “There’s so much chaos and everything going on that maybe it’s better to spread it out,” she said. “Maybe more people will be able to take advantage of it and feel more comfortable.” Williams said that she has the
Board of Elections schedule and that people can call her to schedule a ride. Her ride service company started providing voting rides Tuesday and will continue through Election Day. On Election Day, 440 Ride will take voters to their designated polling location. To schedule a ride with 440 Ride, Lorain County residents are to call (440) 453-8614 or (440) 877-RIDE. The Elyria and Oberlin NAACP also are providing a similar service with their Souls to the Polls initiative. “When we say 'soul to the polls,'
that’s where we provide free rides to anyone who wants or needs to do early voting,” Elyria NAACP President Dee Tolbert said. “We have a civil right and that’s part of our work, which is to provide and to do what is necessary when it comes to voting and education.” Two vans from the Elyria Mount Zion Baptist Church and one van from Oberlin’s Mount Zion Church will be transporting voters to the Board of Elections. With social distancing, each van can fit up to eight passengers. The free service will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 23 and 29-30. The
County asks OPWC for $361K for roundabout at Rt. 113 and Baumhart JASON HAWK EDITOR
HENRIETTA TWP. — Planning continues on a $2.17 million roundabout at State Route 113 and Baumhart Road, and county officials are hoping to get it at a good price. With the Ohio Department of Transportation already kicking in $$1.8 million, Lorain County Commissioners voted last Wednesday morning to apply for $361,327 in funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission. The state cash would help pay cover the roundabout's planning and engineering costs, said County Administrator Jim Cordes. "Roundabouts make a good fit a lot of places," he said. "They move traffic faster. They've proven to be very
safe. We just have to learn to yield left in this country." ODOT has been planning the roundabout in rural Henrietta Township just west of the South Amherst village limits since 2017. Its purpose is to curb crashes that have become all too frequent — between 2014 and 2018, there were 24 crashes, including one death and 18 injuries There were another 22 crashes there from 2012 to 2014, with 17 injuries, ODOT engineer Scott Ockunzzi previously said. Traffic patterns don't get changed because of a single death, he said. Instead, state agencies look at patterns that reveal a different approach is needed. In this case, the number of rear-end collisions and angled crashes show something is wrong at Route 113 and
Baumhart, he said — those types of incidents are unusually high. Planning documents say the roundabout would reduce "the number of conflict points" as well as "vehicle delay" that contribute to crashes. The Federal Highway Administration claims replacing a typical intersection that has a traffic signal for a roundabout leads to a 48 percent drop in crashes on average, and can reduce deaths and injuries by up to 78 percent. Speed is the big reason, according to the FHA. Roundabouts are built to make drivers slow down. Typical roundabout speeds are between 15 and 25 mph, Ockunzzi previously said, so if crashes do happen they're far less severe. ODOT plans to hammer out rightof-way issues by the end of 2021 and begin construction in 2022.
MORE ELECTION COVERAGE
For profiles of candidates for Lorain County prosecutor, as well as representatives to the 4th and 7th Congressional Districts, and issues in communities in other parts of Lorain County, visit www.chroniclet.com and check out our fall voter guide.
two organizations are asking people to notify them 24 hours ahead of time and to wear masks. To schedule a ride with either the Elyria or Oberlin NAACP, voters are to call (440) 4097576 or email elyriafreedomfund@gmail.com. “We have always advocated for voting,” Tolbert said. “Voting is a must. That’s a right that people fought, died and suffered for and I think we all should vote. If we haven’t been voting, we need to vote now. I really hope that young people 18 and over get out and vote.”
Polio fundraiser
"Pizza for Polio" will be held Saturday, Oct. 24 at Lorenzo's Pizzeria, 52 1/2 South Main St., Oberlin. Mention "Pizza for Polio" and 10 percent of your purchase will be donated toward the eradication of polio. The event is sponsored by Lorenzo's Pizzeria and the Rotary Club of Oberlin.
Explorers meeting
The Oberlin Fire Explorers will meet from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Oberlin’s fire station, 430 South Main St. Anyone interested in joining is invited. For more information, call 440-774-3211.
School donations
The following gifts have been received by the Oberlin Board of Education: • $7,500 from the Nordson Corporation for the superintendent’s discretionary fund. • $300 from the United Way of Lorain County for school supplies. • $200 from Virginia Hudson for a trombone for the Oberlin High School band.
Parade canceled
The city of Oberlin has canceled its 2020 Halloween parade due to COVID-19.
Looking for brunch?
The Wellington VFW Post 6941 Auxiliary hosts brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. November’s brunch will be free and is open to the public.
Page A6
Lorain County Community Guide
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
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FROM A1 Lorain County fared much worse. Marilyn Jacobcik, the Republican chair of the local election board, said Midwest Direct wouldn't provide direct answers about problems, let alone ballots. That's when officials here reached out to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office to lodge a complaint. LaRose's press secretary, Maggie Sheehan, said Midwest Direct has contracts with Butler, Cuyahoga, Clinton, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lorain, Lucas, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Miami, Start, Summit, Trumbull, Union, Williams and Wood counties. Issues started to become apparent about two weeks ago. The state told county boards of elections to start printing ballots in-house if they could. "Some have already opted to execute on a contingency plan that no longer relies on Midwest Direct, while some have chosen to stick it out," Sheehan said. "Midwest Direct has been sharing with us and with the counties that the sheer volume of ballot requests has caused the unexpected delays," she said. "We’ve been informed that nearly every request made before the start of early voting are out, and the company has stated they will very soon be printing (and) mailing ballots on a same-day basis." Significantly higher demand for absentee ballots was predictable, Sheehan said, and LaRose has been pushing local boards of elections since the spring to "stay on top of Midwest Direct every day." Ohio is a "bottom-up state" where counties have a lot of discretion in who they hire to help with elections. The state doesn't have a contract with Midwest Direct, so it is limited in what it can do to directly impact the situation, but Sheehan said "we are certainly engaged and have been serving as an advocate for our county boards of elections and the voters they serve, including daily calls with Midwest Direct." Jacobcik said that when the election is over, the Lorain County Board of Elections will discuss whether it will continue working with the ballot vendor. "We checked references and we got glowing reports about them before we went with them," she said. Ohio has a more complex ballot than many other states. The equipment needed to print and process ballots is expensive, and not many companies want a piece of the action, according to Jacobcik. Midwest Direct was one of the few interested in the job, and was the lowest bidder. Ohio law almost always requires government agencies to award contracts to the lowest competitive bidder to avoid corruption. How voters reacted Eager to have their voices heard, Lorain County voters weren't about to take chances. Some, like Nikki Cvetkovic of Amherst, said they got tired of waiting for their ballots to arrive in the mail and went to the Board of Elections office to vote early in person instead. Cvetkovic wrote that she had to sign an affidavit that her ballot hadn't been received, and promise to void it and send it back if it did show up. Because of health problems, Rea has voted by mail for years. She said she didn't want to stand in line at the polls — her body might not be up to it — so voting absentee is key to having her voice heard. That was a common refrain among voters on social media who were waiting for their ballots. Ohio law since 2007 has allowed all registered voters, with no exceptions, to cast their ballots absentee. The option is a crucial one for people with disabilities, illness and those who cannot drive or otherwise lack transportation — and this year, the absentee ballot has become a lifeline for many because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Rea also represented another common reaction among many voters who reached out to our newsroom: suspicion of partisan interference. "I feel that there's something going on. There's something amiss," she said before the revelation about Midwest Direct's backlog. At the time, her distrust was directed at the Postal Service, which has been criticized for delivery slowdowns since Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a prominent Republican donor who contributed heavily to President Donald Trump's campaign, was appointed in June. On Friday, as Midwest Direct's issues became clear, concerns about the company's partisan nature did too. The company had until just recently flown a "Trump 2020" flag over its Cleveland headquarters, The New York Times reported, with a photo from September. “We have freedom to vote for who we want and support who we want,” chief executive and co-owner Richard Gebbie said in an interview last month. “We fly a flag because my brother and I own the com-
pany and we support President Trump.” The stance called into question how a company responsible for printing ballots could be openly partisan — though there's no evidence to suggest ballot delays were intentional or politically motivated. Adams said the situation with ballot delays is "completely unacceptable" and "a total failure on the part of the vendor." "I don't have my ballot either," he said. "I share (voters') frustration, and believe me, we're doing everything we can to push the along and get it taken care of." Slow delivery of absentee ballots was expected, LaRose said last week in a Q&A session streamed live on social media. Boards of elections across the state are working as quickly as possible to fulfill a record number of absentee ballot requests, he said. It's normal for about a quarter of Ohio's ballots to be absentee, LaRose said — early in the pandemic, he warned that as many as half in the 2020 general election could be cast by mail. At this point in the 2016 presidential election, only 1.2 million ballots had been cast, he said. "So we're going to set records this year, and that's a great thing because Ohioans know it's easy to vote by mail," LaRose said, attempting to allay fears about the reliability of the election system. Early voting soars Art Moody of Elyria was among those who died receive their ballots in the mail on time. As word of issues spread across Ohio, he was apprehensive. Instead of trusting the mail, he dropped off his ballot in person. "I wanted to make sure they get it in, and I don't like standing in long lines," Moody said, conjuring images of long lines and broken-down voting machines across the nation during the 2016 presidential election. He was among the hundreds of residents who took advantage of a new drivethrough ballot drop box at the Board of Elections headquarters. It was approved last Tuesday to help handle the nearly 77,000 absentee ballots that have now been requested in Lorain County. By Sunday, 22,848 of those ballots — about 30 percent — had been returned, according to the United States Election Project, a University of Florida research effort. Andrew Irizarry, a Lorain County elections volunteer, said the drive-through was incredibly popular. By 1 p.m. on the first day it was available, several hundred people had already used it to cast their ballots, he said. "It doesn't stop," he said during a brief break in traffic. "If it stops, it's for less than five minutes." The same day, the line for in-person voting was also busy, though not nearly it had been when early voting started Oct. 6. Between 20 and 30 people waited outside for their turn through the day, with wait times of around 20 minutes. The Ohio Secretary of State's office said last Wednesday that it had received 2.47 million absentee applications so far, and 193,021 votes had already been cast in person, dwarfing the 64,312 total in 2016. Returning your ballot There are several ways to return your completed absentee ballot. The first is via the post office. Be sure to include the correct postage, which is indicated on a gold paper folded in with each ballot packet. Jacobcik said she was unaware of any problems with election mail being handled by the USPS. LaRose said he's working to ensure election mail is delivered in a timely manner. The USPS has made it clear election mail is its top priority, he said, and he's vowed to hold the mail service accountable on several promises. The agency has committed to adding overtime shifts, and keeping workers on the job as long as needed to handle daily election mail volume, he said. All election mail will be handled as first class, even if it lacks the proper postage. However, LaRose said delivery could be slower if the right postage isn't used. The USPS is carrying out "all clear" procedures each night at its sorting facilities, he said. Inspectors are walking the floors, using flashlights to look inside machines, hunting for bins with overlooked election mail and making sure it all gets on the trucks. The service has also promised to keep mail in-state, instead of sending it to sorting centers in Detroit and other hubs. Using out-of-state facilities can save money, but adds to delivery times, LaRose said. Adams said he's been in touch with the local USPS liaison about how many ballots are being mailed. "At this point, we're just in regular communication. I haven't heard any issues on their end," he said.
B
OUR TOWNS
Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
COVID-19 cases jump, county may go red “It’s really been kids hanging out after school, kids being kids ... I don’t know how you control that, honestly.”
JASON HAWK EDITOR
OBERLIN — The virus is spreading, and Lorain County is predicted to turn red this week, according to David Covell. The county's health commissioner said coronavirus cases and doctor visits have been on the rise. In a talk Saturday with the Oberlin Board of Education, he said Lorain County's positive rate
David Covell, Lorain County Public Health Commissioner
is now 49 people per 100,000 residents, just a tick below the 50 positives that would trigger the jump from orange to red. For the seven-day period ending Oct. 16, there were 166 new
cases, one death, 54 recoveries and 289 people quarantined. As the temperature drops, cases are expected to rise. Covell said the virus spreads easier when people bunch together indoors.
With Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's coming up, he said holiday spread is "a mathematic certainty." Meanwhile, schools have not been significantly contributing to
the virus' spread, he said. Transmission in classrooms and among sports teams hasn't happened as much as feared. Cases among children, tracked by school districts, have been linked to sleepovers, carpools where masks aren't used and sharing water bottles, according to Lorain County Public Health. "It's really been kids hanging out after school, kids being kids," Covell said. "... I don't know how SPREAD PAGE B2
Mutually beneficial
WRONG WAY
Amherst, Lorain fire crews ink agreement to fight side by side JASON HAWK EDITOR
Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times
A car crashed through the front wall of Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins on Sunday at the corner of Route 58 and Cooper Foster Park Road. The full vehicle somehow ended up inside the store.
Trains on track to run silent starting Nov. 3, barring issues JASON HAWK EDITOR
WELLINGTON — When Roberta Michalak built her home on Wheeling Street next to the CSX railroad tracks, train traffic was pretty light. That's changed a lot of over the years, and now dozens of trains pass by each day.
"It's just hard now, working at home, trying to have the windows open," Michalak said. A business analyst for Medical Mutual, she's working from home more often during the pandemic, and said train noise often interrupts conference calls with coworkers. So Michalak is among those Wellington residents eager for the village's new
railway quiet zone to take effect in the coming weeks. The project, two decades in the making, requires trains to silence horns while passing through Wellington. According to CSX, horns are used to warn motorists and pedestrians that a train is on its way, and the Federal Railroad Administration has strict requirements about when, where and
how long the blast must be. The rules were created by Congress in 1994. They were a response to a sharp increase in train collisions in the 1980s at certain highway crossings where whistle bans had been established. Exceptions for "quiet zones" were established in 2005. They require towns like Wellington to and TRAINS PAGE B2
Happy hauntings in Lorain County Trick-or-Treat Drive-Thru LIFE: A Dementia Friendly Foundation, will hold a trick-or-treat drive-thru from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Oct. 22 at Faith Baptist Church, 440 North Lake St., Amherst. People with dementia and their caregivers can celebrate fall while dressed in costume and pick up a bag full of goodies, while remaining socially distanced. Halloween Boo-Thru The Lorain County Metro Parks’ annual Halloween Fair has been re-imagined for 2020 because of COVID-19. The Halloween Boo-Thru will run from 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 23 and 24; and 4-9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Carlisle Reservation Equestrian Center, 13630 Diagonal Rd., Carlisle Township. The cost for this family-oriented drive-through event is $10 per car, with pre-registration required. Preregistrater at www.loraincountymetroparks.com/halloween. Due to COVID-19, the park system has canceled its annual corn maze and hay wagon rides at Carlisle Reservation this year.
AMHERST — Every able body helps when battling a structure fire, and a new handshake agreement between Amherst and Lorain is expected to put more firefighters on deck when they're needed most. The cities' crews have helped each other on and off for decades. But Amherst Fire Chief Jim Wilhelm said there's never been an official understanding of when they would call each other for mutual aid. Now Amherst will lend its pumper and tower trucks to two-alarm structure fires on Lorain's west side, and Lorain will throw its resources to major building fires that happen north of the Ohio Turnpike. If a third alarm sounds for a fire south of the Turnpike, Lorain would also put wheels to pavement to help. "If it's a big enough fire, we're going to call them," Wilhelm said. "You need enough people to take turns, and we don't want to wear anybody out. The last thing you want is to have your guys out there without enough help." Both he and Lorain Fire Chief Chris Radman said the deal won't put a strain on resources and won't increase costs significantly — it's about protecting each other. "I want to work more with everybody in the surrounding communities. Cooperation only helps everyone," Radman said. He said Amherst has been there to man Lorain's stations when needed, providing backup and assisting in search and rescue operations on the lake. "We haven't been able to return the favor as much," Radman said. Both chiefs agreed that Amherst will likely get the better end of the deal, since its department is smaller and paid for each call-out, while Lorain's is full-time. Radman said he's able to put 17 firefighters at a structure fire, while Wilhelm said he needs mutual aid to get to 15. That number is significant, because with 15 firefighters Amherst's commercial fire insurance rate will drop, benefiting businesses in town. Eventually, the savings are expected to help homeowners, too, though Wilhelm can't predict how much. The biggest benefit to the mutual aid agreement, he said, will be making conditions safer for firefighters. "The more guys you have, the less you're beating them up." For example, in a big house fire it sometimes takes all of the first crew's oxygen to get in and find where the fire is located. With mutual aid standing by, those first on the scene can set up the attack, then fall back to rest and resupply. "You could have the crew inside, the backup crew, FIREFIGHTERS PAGE B2 1960-2020
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Ryan Muckerheide attempts to curse visitors to an eternal grave at the "The Trail of Haunted Tales," held Saturday at Weiss Field in Avon Lake. Scary movies Aut-o-Rama Twin Drive-In Theatre, 33395 Lorain Rd., North Ridgeville, is showing spooky favorites through Halloween. Upcoming movies include "Hotel Transylvania," "Hocus Pocus," "Scooby Doo," "Goosebumps," "House of 1,000 Corpses," "Killer Klowns from Outer Space," "A
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Protecting What’s Important Scott Beriswill
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Denise Breyley
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SUBMIT YOUR NEWS TO: NEWS@LCNEWSPAPERS.COM
Page B2
Lorain County Community Guide
OBERLIN CITY COUNCIL CLERK’S OFFICE
NOTICE OF CITY OF OBERLIN BOARD AND COMMISSION OPENINGS OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE Vacancies on city boards, commissions, and committees offer Oberlin citizens opportunities to serve their community. There are a number of vacancies on City Boards, Commissions, and Committees.
ELIGIBILITY Candidates must be residents and registered and qualified electors of the Municipality at the time of their appointment.
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Five-member commission conducts practical and impartial examinations, provide a list of eligible employees and arrange for promotions to positions within the Classified Service and hears appeals on disciplinary matters involving Oberlin municipal employees. Meets the first Thursday of every other month, at 5:30 p.m. (Staggered Terms, Full Term 3 years). There are currently 2 vacancies.
FIRE CODE BOARD OF APPEALS Five-member board hears appeals of decisions rendered by the Fire Chief or Municipal Fire Safety Inspector pertaining to the City of Oberlin Fire Prevention Codes. Meets on an “as needed” basis. The board shall consist of the members that comprise the Housing Renewal Commission. The terms of the members of the Fire Code Board of Appeals shall coincide with such member’s term on the Housing Renewal Commission. There are currently 2 vacancies.
FIREFIGHTER’S DEPENDENTS FUND BOARD Five-member board authorized to make all necessary rules and regulations for the handling and processing of claims which may be submitted to it due to a volunteer firefighter’s death or becoming totally and permanently disabled while discharging his/her duty. The board shall perform all such other duties as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 146. Meets on an “as needed” basis. There are currently 2 vacancies.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Five-member commission protects and promotes the historic character of the City and oversees the appearance of construction and renovation projects, as well as make recommendations to City Council regarding the designation of landmarks and historic districts. Meets the third Tuesday of every other month at 4:00 p.m. (Staggered Term, Full Term 3 Years). There are currently 3 vacancies.
HOUSING RENEWAL COMMISSION Five-member commission hears and decides appeals resulting from any order of decision made by a city administrative office in enforcing housing ordinances. The commission may also authorize variances, provided they do not conflict with the public interest. This board also fulfills the charge of the Fire Code Board of Appeals. Meets on an as needed basis. (Staggered Term, Full Term 3 Years). There are currently 2 vacancies.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Five-member commission works toward a wholesome attitude of mutual respect and understanding among all people and organizations within the City. The commission may enter into any alleged disputes, disagreements, misunderstandings or acts which involve the unlawful or unfair infringement upon basic human rights or freedoms guaranteed by law and investigate them, presenting reports, facts, findings and recommendations to Council, and serves in an advisory and consultative capacity to the City and to the City administration. Meets the first Tuesday of each month, at 5:15 p.m. (Staggered Terms, Full Term 3 years). There are currently 2 vacancies.
OBERLIN COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION (OCIC) Oberlin Community Improvement Corporation is a non-profit corporation formed under Chapters 1702 and 1724 of the Ohio Revised Code for the sole purpose of advancing, encouraging, and promoting industrial, economic, commercial and civic development within the City of Oberlin. Meets the Second Wednesday of every other month, at 8:00 a.m. There are currently 3 public vacancies and 1 private vacancy.
OPEN SPACE AND VISUAL ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION) Five-member commission serves as an advisory body to City Council and shall cooperate with all other City, County and State agencies which are active in the area of open space development and preservation. Meets the Fourth Tuesday of each month, at 5:00 p.m. There are currently three vacancies.
PLANNING COMMISSION Five-member commission holds public hearings pertaining to the plan, design, location, removal, relocation, widening, extension, and vacation of streets, parkways, playgrounds and other public places and approves plats for subdivision of land; and the zoning of the City for any lawful purpose. In addition, the Commission formulates plans for the future physical development of the City. Meets the first Wednesday of the month, at 4:30 p.m. (Staggered Term, Full Term 3 Years). There are currently 2 vacancies.
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Five-member commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council on any and all questions concerning the maintenance, operation and improvement of the public utilities serving the City, both privately and municipally owned. Meets the second Tuesday of every month, at 4:30 p.m. (Staggered Terms, Full Term 3 Years). There are currently 2 vacancies.
RECREATION COMMISSION Five-member commission serves as an advisory body to the Council on any and all questions concerning the operation and improvement of City recreation programs. Meets the third Tuesday on a bi-monthly basis (excluding summer months), at 85 S. Main Street in Conference Room 2 @ 7:00 p.m. (Staggered Terms, Full Term 3 Years). There are currently 2 vacancies.
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY COMMISSION Five-member commission reviews proposed rules and advises City Council regarding the City’s refuse, recyclable materials and yard waste collection program. Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month, at 85 S. Main Street in Conference Room 2 @ 6:30 p.m. (Staggered Terms, Full Term 3 Years). There are currently 3 vacancies.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Five-member board hears and decides appeals resulting from any order or decision made by a city administrative officer in enforcing zoning ordinances. The board may also authorize zoning variances, provided they do not conflict with the public interest. Meets on an “as needed” basis. (Staggered Terms, Full Term 3 Years). There are currently 2 vacancies.
APPLICATIONS
Persons interested in serving may request that an application be mailed to you, download or complete the online version by visiting the City’s website at:
https://www.cityofoberlin.com/application-to-serve-on-a-board-commission-or-committee/ Feel free to contact the Belinda Anderson, the Oberlin Clerk of Council for assistance with the online application via phone at 440-775-7203. Hard copies of applications can also be scanned and emailed to banderson@cityofoberlin.com or mailed to Attn: Belinda Anderson, Oberlin Clerk of Council, 85 S. Main Street, Oberlin, Ohio 44074. The deadline for applications will be Friday, November 13, 2020 @ 4:30 p.m. 85 S. Main street • Oberlin, Ohio 44074 • (P)440-775-7203 • (F)440-775-7208 • (E)banderson2cityofoberlin.com
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Oh nuts!
Squirrels behind power outages JASON HAWK EDITOR
WELLINGTON — Squirrels have gone a little nuts this fall, causing power problems for some village residents. They may be cute little rodents, but they've been getting into electrical equipment and causing breakers to trip for weeks, according to Village Manager Steve Dupee. "This is not uncommon with electric utilities," he said. Dupee said squirrels haven't put residents in the dark for hours at a time. Instead, they've caused "instantaneous events" that knock the power out for less than a second at a time. That's caused headaches, especially for those working from home due to the pandemic. Outside of storms, the two biggest problems for Wellington's electrical lines are falling tree branches and squirrels, said Dupee. It becomes more of a problem when it's time to stock up on acorns for the winter. So anywhere there's significant tree coverage — particularly oaks — outages are going to happen, he said. Wellington has what Dupee considers an "aggressive" tree-trimming program to reduce the likelihood of electrical problems. But the village is tree-friendly. Its workers plant a lot of new trees each year, and don't feel clear-cutting older trees is the answer. The better solution is to put equipment on poles and transformers that keeps squirrels from causing trouble, Dupee said. "We always have this problem in the fall. But there may be some years that it's been less extensive than this year," he said.
SPREAD
FROM B1 you control that, honestly." “It’s critical that parents talk to their children and — together — come up with ways on how to stay socially responsible,” he said in a written statement. “Teenagers want to keep their friends, teammates and coworkers safe. They don’t want to miss out on sports and other favorite activities. Continuing safety measures will become even more important as we begin the winter months.” He also praised the work of Oberlin College, which on Oct. 13 reported a second straight week with no new cases. Data shared by the college showed 606 people were tested and none had COVID-19. For the county at large, Covell said there are some good signs. While case count is high, other indicators are trending downward and Lorain County could be back to yellow in two weeks. Anyone in close contact with a positive case needs to stay home and quarantine for 14 days to avoid spreading the virus to others, according to LCPH.
TRAINS
FROM B1 companies like CSX to install upgraded warning devices and safety measures, install curbing and place signs to make sure pedestrians are watchful. After months of preparation and paperwork and pushbacks, Village Manager Steve Dupee said he expects Wellington's quiet zone to go into effect starting Tuesday, Nov. 3, though there's a chance it will be delayed longer. "They may potentially go longer than that, but that is the date that is indicated in the FRA guidelines," he said. Like Michalak, Dupee is looking forward to finally having quiet-running trains in town. The village has put a lot of time and money into establishing the quiet zone, he said. The biggest benefit will be respite for the residents, restaurants, shops, salons and office spaces located close to the tracks, said Dupee. "It's going to be a welcome improvement," he said. "That horn is pretty loud... Where our office sits, you can't even talk on the phone. You have to wait for it to pass." Be warned, though: Trains will still be allowed to blow their horns in Wellington under certain circumstances. Quiet zones prohibit routine blasts as trains approach crossings like the ones at Route 18 West, or Magyar Street. Engineers will still lay on the noise in emergency situations, though, according to CSX. In a quiet zone guide, the company warned about an uptick in railway crossing deaths in 2013 and 2014. According to the FRA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, those numbers continue to rise. In 2018, there were 2,227 collisions involving trains and 260 deaths, and in 2019 there were 2,216 collisions and 293 deaths in the United States.
FIREFIGHTERS
FROM B1
and three on deck. You move them up as you fight," Wilhelm said. He expects the agreement to result in fewer injuries, less stress and less exposure to carcinogens released by fires. Wilhelm, a cancer survivor himself, said the last is especially important. Completed in 2015, a study of nearly 30,000 American firefighters their cancer rates far outpace those in the general population. There about twice as many firefighters with malignant mesothelioma, and cases of bladder and prostate cancer were also sky-high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
Page B3
Amherst Council backs plan for Oak Point development JASON HAWK EDITOR
AMHERST — The first steps in relieving traffic headaches in the busy Oak Point and Cooper Foster Park commercial zone have been taken. By unanimous vote last week, Amherst City Council gave Mayor Mark Costilow the nod to pursue a $10 million to $14 million economic development plan for the corridor on Amherst's northwest corner. "This is the very beginning step of a big improvement on that interchange," said Costilow in prior committee discussion. He wants to team up with the city of Lorain and explore
tax incentives that could help restructure roadways over the next several years. A $7.5 million Akron Children's Hospital pediatrics center is breaking ground this month, close to the State Route 2 ramps at Oak Point. It's the latest major business to invest in the area, which has been growing rapidly since the Deerfield Shopping Center opened with Target and Lowe's Home Improvement in 2007. Several new subdivisions — The Reserve at Beaver Creek, the Preserve at Quarry Lakes and Eagle Ridge, all from developer Shaun Brady — are also pumping traffic onto the roads along the Amherst-Lorain border. Costilow said he is concerned
traffic will get worse as the area continues to build up, and promised a traffic study is in the wings. He said Lorain officials are willing to partner with Amherst to create a Tax Increment Finance district, or TIF. The TIF would not give property owners any kind of tax break — they would still pay their fair share, said Costilow. "It's called an abatement, but it's not the kind of abatement we all think it is," he said. Instead, the agreement would redirect where property taxes go, putting a percentage toward building better-suited roads. Amherst Assistant Law Director Patrick Ward said the next step is to draft an ordinance, to be approved by Council, speci-
Mark Costilow fying the boundaries of the TIF, designating its lifespan and working out its mechanics. Councilman Brian Dembinski
said the tax district would not force any land to be rezoned. And Council President Jennifer Wasilk said Costilow "went out of his way" to make sure the Amherst Schools will not lose tax money as a result of the TIF deal. The proposal earned praise. Councilman Matt Nahorn, who represents the fourth ward where the TIF would be established, called Monday's vote "a good first step" toward solving traffic issues. Councilman David Janik said he knows three people who have been in crashes at the crowded Oak Point and Cooper Foster intersection, and endorsed the TIF as "a wonderful way to raise the money" needed to curb problems there.
HALLOWEEN
FROM B1 Adult tours for up to 15 people are available at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. The cost is $8 per person, or $5 for LCHS members. A child-friendly tour will be offered at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Strollers and wagons are welcome, although the grounds of the cemetery may be difficult to navigate during parts of the tour. All tours start at Smitty's Restaurant, where parking is available. Register for the tours at www.tinyurl.com/ RidgelawnTours, or call 440-322-3341 for more information.
By My Lantern's Light The Amherst Historical Society will hold its "By My Lantern's Light" spooky Halloween storytelling event on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25 with a walk at Crown Hill Cemetery. Tours begin every 15 minutes from 3-5 p.m. Meet some of Amherst's historic spirits who will share their stories from days gone by. Advance reservations are required by calling 440-988-7255. Tours are $5 per person and free for kids ages five and under. Children will not be admitted without an adult. Meet at The Gallery at the Amherst Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Ave. Buses will take tour-goers to the cemetery. Because of COVID-19, tours are limited to groups of 10. Hillcrest Orchards Explore the corn maze at Hillcrest Orchards, 50336 State Route 113, Henrietta Township, before the season ends. The last times for fall activities there are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25. Ride the barrel train, enjoy a hay ride, race pedal karts, climb the spider webs. Due to COVID-19, the farm's corn bin and straw tunnel are closed this year. General admission is $10 for ages four to 72, and free for all other ages. Pick your own apples for an additional cost. Skeleton Run 5K The 21st Annual Skeleton Run 5K will be held Monday, Oct. 26 — but this year it will be a virtual event. Runners can use any 5K course, and can run in costume. Send times to www.tinyurl.com/SkeletonRun by Monday, Oct. 29; the same link is used for registration.
The cost has been reduced to $20, Proceeds benefit RunAmherst. com, which provides free exercise and wellness opportunities to the youth of Amherst. Pumpkin contest “Carve” out time for fun this season with a pumpkin contest by OberlinKids. Use your imagination and create a oneof-a-kind pumpkin. The deadline to enter is Saturday, Oct. 31, and contest winners will be announced Monday, Nov. 2. There will be prizes in multiple categories and age groups. You must use a real or paper cutout pumpkin. Make your own or use a template from the OberlinKids event page. Enter by sending a photo of your pumpkin Jenn Keathley at jkeathley@oberlinkids.org, by text to 440-371-0113 or via Facebook message. Be sure to include the artist’s name, age and contact information, and list if it was a family group effort. By entering the contest you are giving OberlinKids consent to post your photo on its social media using only the artist’s first name and age group. Brasee's Corn Maze Brasee's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch runs from 4-10 p.m. on Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays through Oct. 31. Kids can run through the maze, zip down a straw slide, enjoy a petting zoo and jump around in a corn pit. Flashlights are required at dusk. The cost is $6 general admission, and free for children ages four and under with a paid adult ticket. Located at 18421 State Route 58 in Pittsfield Township. Pumpkins at the haunted farm The Rockin R Ranch Old West Pumpkin Fest runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25 at 19066 East River Road in Columbia Station. Enjoy hayrides, pet animals, win free prizes, ride a pony, paint pumpkins straight from the patch and master the "super slide." Masks must be worn and social distancing is required. General admission is $11, and kids ages two and under are free. The ranch turns spooky from 7-11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7-9:30 p.m. on Sundays and Thursdays through
Oct. 31. The farm turns terrifying with attractions like "Extreme Nightmares," "The Haunted Barn," "Monster Vision in 3D" and "The Famous Haunted Hayride." The cost is $25 for adults or $15 for children ages 10 and under. Lake Shore Cemetery The Avon Lake Historical Society is sharing spooky-but-true tales about Lake Shore Cemetery throughout October. Learn about the permanent residents of the cemetery, including sailors who fought in The War of 1812, victims of typhoid fever, a doctor who once served as mayor and more. There may also be some scary surprises along the way, so watch for people creeping about in costumes. Schedule a tour for your group of up to 10 people by calling 440549-4425. A $10 donation per person is requested, benefiting the creation of a museum in Avon Lake. Trick-or-treating • Trick-or-treating for most communities across Lorain County is set for 6-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. • Downtown Amherst businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29. The event will allow kids to try out their costumes and start collecting candy a little early. • "Tots Trick-or-Treat" will be offered at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 at
North Ridgeville City Hall, 7307 Avon Belden Rd. Kids up to age five can march in a parade and get treats. Pre-register at the city's parks and recreation website. Registration is limited to the first 150 people. • Daytime trick-or-treat will be held from 10:30 to noon on Saturday, Oct. 31 in downtown Wellington. Kids can visit businesses and collect candy in a sunny environment. • Trunk-or-treat will be offered from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Penfield Township Recreation Park, 40756 State Route 18, rain or shine. Anyone interested in giving out candy should arrive by 1:45 p.m. to get parked and situated. Anyone interested in taking their children (eighth grade and younger) should arrive no sooner than 2 p.m.
Craft show at LCCC The Spooky Bazaar Craft and Vendor Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Spitzer Conference Center, Lorain County Community College, 1005 North Abbe Rd. More than 40 crafters and vendors will sell fall and winter holidaythemed gifts, including jewelry, home decor, makeup, food and more. Admission is free. Masks will be required, and temperature checks will be done at the door. Halloween parade A Halloween parade organized by the South Amherst Firemen's Association will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 in the village. Line-up will be at 2:30 p.m. Social distancing will be required before
and during the parade, with masks to be worn at all times. Vote for scary flowerpots There's still plenty of time to vote in Main Street Wellington's fall flowerpot contest. Businesses and residents have decorated the village's downtown with all kinds of creative displays, transforming 35 flowerpots along the sidewalks into spooky skeletons, witch's kettles and scarecrows. Visit www.mainstreetwellington.org to cast your vote for the People's Choice winner — or vote in person during the First Friday event from 4-7 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the Main Street office, 118 West Herrick Ave. A panel of judges will decide the winners for Best Fall Display and Wellington Pride.
85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 OCTOBER 22 , 2020 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live OCTOBER 26, 2020........SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 7:00 P.M. PURPOSE: To adjourn into executive session to discuss the employment and compensation of the Law Director, Clerk of Council, and the Finance Director OCTOBER 27, 2020......OPEN SPACE COMMISSION 5:00 P.M. NOTICE: DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL 775-7203 OR E-MAIL: banderson@cityofoberlin.com NOTICE REQUIRED: TWO (2) WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE OF MEETING (48 HOURS) CLERK OF COUNCIL’S OFFICE.
Brasee’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch 18421 St. Rt. 58 • Wellington • 440-647-6749
OPEN SEPT. 19th - OCT. 31st
Try to find your way out of our Huge Corn Maze!
Get your PUMPKINS While Supplies Last. No Wholesalers.
Fri. 4pm-10pm Sat. 11am-10pm Flashlights needed at dark.
Sun. 11am-6pm Closed Mon-Thurs
Hayrides
Friday’s, Saturday’s & Sunday’s. Free Parking!
• Kids Corn Maze • Kids Straw Maze • Pitch Black Straw Maze • Kids Zipline • Straw Slide Petting Zoo
Mechanical Pumpkin Oct. 3,4,10,11,17,18 (Weather Permitting)
WWW.BRASEESCORNMAZE.COM
We are sponsored by: Westwinds Masage - Amherst • Brickyard Bar & Grill - Oberlin Claremar Twin lakes Camping Resort - New London
Page B4
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
FIRST GAME IN 35 YEARS
FINISHING WINLESS
Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune
Phoenix wide receiver Mikah Jones-Smith looks for running room following a completion. Oberlin played even with Brookside for much of Friday night, but the Cardinals secured a 42-26 victory in the season finale for both clubs. The undermanned Phoenix threatened twice early with two trips to the red zone, but came up empty, turning the ball over on a fumble and then on downs inside the Cardinals 10 yard line. Oberlin closes the season at 0-6.
Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise
The Dukes don't play Vermilion too often — in fact, the last time the two football teams clashed was 1985. Wellington walked away with a 35-21 win, thanks to its varied offense. Ty Moore started with a 72-yard kickoff return to score. Luke McClellan and Jayden Skinner capped long drives with short runs across the goal line. And Jon Brasee picked up two huge passes from Skinner to run up the Dukes' total. For the Sailors, Ben Rini scored twice on huge runs of 62 and 44 yards. Keegan Frey took a 29-yard pass from Rini to wrap it up. ABOVE: Wellington's Ty Moore runs through a Vermilion tackle attempt.
SIMMONS UNSTOPPABLE
THREE AND OUT
Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune
In their final regular season match, the shorthanded Phoenix fell to a strong Firelands side, 5-0. Playing in their defensive third much of the day, the Phoenix repelled numerous attacks, but Firelands attacker Bella Simmons solved the Oberlin back line three times in the first half for a 3-0 lead at the break. The Falcons extended the margin with tallies from the boots of Cara Mitchell and Julia Douzos in the second half. The Phoenix close the regular season at 2-8 in Lorain County League play. Firelands concludes the regular season as LC8 conference runners-up at 7-2-1, second only to league champion Wellington. ABOVE: Falcon Lauren Phillips maneuvers between Oberlin's Alahna Rucker and Maggie Shuck.
Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune
Oberlin completed its regular season late last week, falling to Clearview 0-3 (18-25, 19-25, 21-25). The winless Phoenix stayed close in each set, but were unable to get over the hump and win a set. ABOVE: Senior Casey Amato sets for the Phoenix offense.
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Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
Page B5
Thornhill cuts through Falcons ERIK ANDREWS CORRESPONDENT
Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune
Kieran Thornhill's hat trick lifted the Phoenix over Firelands.
In the regular season finale, Oberlin showed it belongs with the best in the Lorain County League, topping conference champion Firelands 3-0. The Phoenix controlled the run of play throughout the contest, delivering their finest performance to date. While the Oberlin defense and senior goalie Jack Page (15 saves) stymied the high-powered Falcons attack, up top Kieran Thornhill provided the offensive thrust, tallying all three
MULL OPENS FIRE
Oberlin markers on the afternoon. Evading would-be Falcon defenders in a dazzling set of touches, the junior attacker tucked a nifty left-footed shot into the back of the net. Thornhill went on to complete the goal trifecta with two more in the second half. The win closes out the regular season for the both clubs, the Phoenix at 6-2-2 for third place in the league and the Falcons at 7-2-1 in first place. Oberlin (7-6-2 overall) heads out onto the OHSAA Division 3 tournament trail on Saturday, facing Waterloo High School in Atwater, Ohio. First touch is slated for 6 p.m.
ANOTHER CLOSE ONE
Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise
Wellington's Maddy Mull gets a shot off under pressure from Columbia's Hana Bodo. The Dukes decimated the Raiders 9-1 Monday night in the sectional semifinal. Mull was the first to score, striking in the third minute of play, and Nadia Greer followed two minutes later with one of her own, establishing the maroon-and-white's dominance early on.
Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise
Black River's Ashley Kalman keeps the ball alive at Firelands. The Pirates won in five sets: 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 15-25, 15-9.
For comprehensive women’s health services, trust the compassionate team of OB/GYN providers at UH Elyria and St. John medical centers. From adolescence to menopause and every stage in between, we are here to take care of you. And, for expectant mothers, UH St. John Medical Center offers family birthing suites, a robust midwifery program and expert 24/7 neonatal care provided by UH Rainbow board-certified pediatricians.
It’s fast and easy to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment. Call 440-961-6833 or visit UHhospitals.org/WomensHealth to schedule online.
© 2020 University Hospitals OB 1366185
Page B6
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
Lorain County Community Guide
Fox earns junior high LC8 title, Pickering places 10th FOR THE ENTERPRISE
The starting gun fired, and within 75 meters, Wellington eighth-grader Joe Fox was leading the pack. From that point on, there was no chance of anyone else passing him. Joe crossed the finish line first in Saturday's race and earned the title of boys' junior high Lorain County Conference champion. "It was an exciting and
nerve-wracking race," said Dukes cross country coach Jeff Hook. "Joe has never gone out that fast and led a race the entire way. Honestly, I was afraid he was going to burn out." But burning out was not in Fox's plan, as he held onto the lead and finished strong. "The entire cross country team ran very well," said Hook. "Everyone really pushed themselves hard, and over half of them ran their personal best times."
Jonah Stump shaved 21 seconds off his previous best (14:45), and Robert Barnes cut 43 seconds from his personal record (17:33). For the junior high girls, Mallory Pickering placed 10th in the entire conference, chopping 17 seconds from her best time, and teammate Alyssa McClain finished 14th in the conference. "This is the first season for both of these girls," said coach Patty McClain. "I think we can expect to
see awesome things from both of them in the future." Junior high two-mile • Joe Fox 12:20 • Jonah Stump 14:45 • Zach Barnes 15:32 • Elliot Barlow 17:25 • Robert Barnes 17:33 • Mallory Pickering 15:13 • Alyssa McClain 15:55 • Harper Flemming 18:46 High School 3.1-mile • Christina Capek 29:12 • Hunter Legg 30:36 • Scott Hook 23:01
Record-setting day for Comets
Mallory Pickering
Joe Fox
FIVE-SET LOSS
FOR THE NEWS-TIMES
The Amherst Comets boys cross country team won the Southwestern Conference Championship on Saturday for the first time in 16 years. Steele High School runners scored 31 points and bested the second place Avon Lake Shoremen by 32 points. Freshman Ty Perez won his eighth race of the season with a time of 16:21. He is the first freshman boy to win the cross country championship title in the history of the SWC. Freshman Luke Bowlsby was next with a time of 17:09 and a fifth place finish to garner First Team All-SWC honors. Senior captains Jacob Raesler and Cael Walker were up next to capture First Team medals as well. Their times were 17:33 and 17:41 with sixth and eighth place finishes. The fifth runner on the team
Provided photo
The Comets cross country runners celebrate their Southwestern Conference victory on Saturday. was senior Caleb Cabrera, who earned Second Team AllSWC honors with a time of 17:48 and an 11th place finish. Junior Sebastian Pecora was next with a time of 18:30 and a 26th place finish. Senior Isaac Davis was the seventh
place runner on the team with a time of 19:03 and a 40th place finish. The Comets will race next in the OHSAA District Championships at 2:10 p.m. Saturday at Lorain County Community College.
Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise
Wellington's Lindsey Gott gets a dig at Black River. The Dukes lost in five sets: 25,23, 25-16, 22-25, 22-25, 12-15.
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LEGALS
LEGALS O-20-01 Designate CIC as the City’s agent to negotiate terms of agreement with North Coast Build to lease a portion of City Hall 0-20-02 Adopt Codified City Ordinances 0-20-03 Contract to lease a 2020 TS60 Bucket Truck through the Ohio State Cooperative purchasing department 0-20-04 Hire Abe Lieberman of ODMP to negotiate and draft TIF legislation at $155/hr not to exceed $26,000 0-20-05 Bid and award 2020 Chevrolet 5500 XD Chassis and purchase a dump truck and plow package through state purchasing, not to exceed $120,000 0-20-06 Contract with Bramhall Engineering and surveying services for the 2020 Street Rehabilitation program, not to exceed $98,700 0-20-07 Approving and accepting the dedicated improvements at Reserve at Beaver Creek Subdivision Phase 3. 0-20-08 Approving and rezoning Eagle Ridge as Planned Development District 0-20-09 Authorizing Amherst Community Improvement Corporation acting as agent for the City to negotiate the terms of an agreement to sell two parcels of real estate owned by the City on Mill Street. 0-20-10 Authorizing ODOT to perform a resurfacing project on SR 2 through the City of Amherst in Lorain County 0-20-11 Authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to solicit bids to trim trees (on a unit basis) in the City for the year 2020 at a cost not to exceed $80,0000; and authorizing and directing the Safety/ Service Director to award the contract for such work to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. O-20-12 Authorizing the City of Amherst, Ohio to accept
a bequest in the amount of $50,000 and use such funds in the manner specified for improvements at Anna Schmauch Pool. O-20-13 Amending Chapter 1141 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Amherst, Ohio. O-20-14 Make appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the City of Amherst, State of Ohio, during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, repealing all ordinances in conflict herewith. O-20-15 Authorizing and directing the Safety/Service Director to solicit bids for the 2020 Street Rehabilitation Program and authorizing and directing the Safety/Service Director to award the contract for such work to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; and authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for professional services with Bramhall Engineering and Surveying Company relating to such program. O-20-16 Authorizing and directing the Safety/Service Director to suspend all utility late fees and shutoffs due to the nonpayment for residents of the City of Amherst, Ohio relating to electric, water, and sewer utility services invoiced between March 2020 and July 2020; and declaring an emergency. O-20-17 Authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to enter into a contract with Bramhall Engineering and Surveying Company to make emergency repairs to the Crownhill Avenue Beaver Creek Crossing. O-20-18 Authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to solicit bids for the Sanitary Sewer Trunk Main Relocation Project and authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to award the contract for such work to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for professional services with Bramhall Engineering and Surveying Company relating to such improvements. O-20-19 Creating a training/ transitional employment position within the Treasurer’s Office of the City of Amherst, Ohio O-20-20 Amending section 505.09 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Amherst, Ohio regarding animal noise. O-20-21 Levying upon certain lots and lands assessments for the cost of repairing and replacing various public sidewalks under the city of Amherst, Ohio’s 2019 Sidewalk Program. O-20-22 Authorizing and directing the Safety/Service Director to accept assistance to firefighters grant funds in the amount of $70,842.86 from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency to solicit bids for the city of Amherst Fire Department and to award the contract for such equipment to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. O-22-23 Authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for professional services with Bramhall Engineering and Surveying Company relating to the Main Street and Sunrise Drive area road improvement project. 0-22-24 Re-appropriating funds in various departments of the City of Amherst, State of Ohio. 0-22-25 Approving the subdivider’s agreement/alloter’s agreement between the City of Amherst, Ohio and Cambrad Development IV, LLC for the Eagle Ridge Subdivison. 0-22-26 Approving the final development plan for the Eagle Ridge Subdivision and rezoning and approving the Eagle Ridge Subdivision as a planning development district. 0-22-27 Adopting an economic development plan for certain areas of the City of Amherst Ohio pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, Section 5709.40(A) (5)(f) R-20-01 Declaring the necessity for public sidewalk repair and replacement and authorizing and directing the Safety Service Director to award a contract for the such repair and replacement of public sidewalks to the lowest responsive and responsible bidders at a cost to the city not to exceed $200,000. R-20-02 Authorizing the Safety Service Director to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation winter contract (2020-2021) for road salt. R-20-03 Affirming that funds applied for and received under the Cares Act will be used as described in House Bill 481. R-20-04 Submitting to the electors of the City of Amherst the question of whether City of Amherst, Ohio codified ordinances, Chapter 121, should be amended to reflect that members of City Council be elected to and serve found year staggered terms commencing January 2022. R-20-05 Submitting to the electors of the City of Amherst the question of whether City of Amherst, Ohio codified ordinances, Chapter 121, should be amended to reflect that President of City Council be elected to and serve found year staggered terms commencing January 2022. R-20-06 Accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor. The complete text of the above listed ordinances and resolutions may be viewed in the office of the Clerk of Council during regular business hours.
Olga Sivinski, Clerk of Council 206 S. Main St. Amherst, OH. 440-988-2420
L.C.C.G. 10/22/20 20672019
NOTICE TO BIDDERS SNOW REMOVAL Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received by the South Lorain County Ambulance District Board of Trustees until 11:00 AM on November 9, 2020 at 179 East Herrick Avenue, Wellington, OH 44090 for snow plowing of the District driveways, parking lot and sidewalks when snow is a minimum of two inches for the 2020-2021 winter season. Bids shall indicate a per plowing fee plus de-icer materials needed. For bids to be considered, they must be accompanied by proof of insurance ($1 million minimum coverage) and Ohio BWC certificate of coverage. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality of bids in the best interest of the District. BY ORDER OF THE SOUTH LORAIN COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Amy Szmania, Fiscal Officer L.C.C.G. 10/22-29/20 20671830
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS Please be advised that Lorain City Council will host a public hearing on Monday, November 23, 2020 to commence at 5:30 p.m. in the Lorain City Hall Council Chamber, 200 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH, to discuss an application to rezone 141 East Erie Avenue from B-2 General Business to R-2 Residential, (ZCA-9-2020) Tony Horn, applicant; followed by discussion and review of the proposed new Planning & Zoning Code for the City of Lorain, Ohio, and related maps. The Lorain City Planning Commission met on October 7, 2020, and recommend approval of both items to Lorain City Council. Copies of all documentation related to this proposal will be on view for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk of Council, 200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio. Please contact Nancy_ Greer@cityoflorain.org for additional information. NANCY GREER, CMC L.C.C.G. 10/22-29/20 20671842
LEGAL NOTICE
CITY OF OBERLIN, OHIO CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the City Council of the City of Oberlin, Ohio on Monday, November 23, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the “Public Hearing” is to hear public comment on the following matter: A recommendation of the Oberlin Planning Commission to amend the Zoning Map from “P-1”/Public Park and Recreation District to “R-1”/SingleFamily Residential District for the properties known as 275 and 289 Morgan Street. The zoning amendment is necessary to change the existing non-conforming residential uses on the subject properties to conforming uses. All persons interested in or affected by this matter will have the right and opportunity to be heard at the above-referenced “Public Hearing”. This meeting is being held remotely under the provisions of Oberlin Resolution No. R2002, which implements certain provisions of Sub. HB 197 related to the conduct of public meetings as an emergency measure. The meeting will be live-streamed via the City of Oberlin website and can be viewed by using the following link: http://oberlinoh.swagit. com/live. If you would like to participate in the “Public Hearing” via Zoom, please contact Belinda Anderson, Clerk of City Council, at 440-775-7203 or via email at banderson@cityofoberlin.com. All participants must provide contact information, including first and last name, email address or phone number, and the name of the public hearing. Comments may also be submitted in writing to the above email address or via mail at the following address: Oberlin City Hall, Attn: Clerk of Council, 85 South Main Street, Oberlin, Ohio 44074, no later than November 20, 2020, by noon. Any written comments submitted will be provided to City Council in advance of the meeting and will be read into the “Public Hearing” record. Further information with respect to the proposed amendment to the Zoning Map may be obtained from the City of Oberlin Planning and Development Department by calling 440-775-7250 during normal business hours or emailing chandy@cityofoberlin.com or contacting the Office of the Clerk of Council at 440-775-7203 during normal business hours or emailing banderson@cityofoberlin. com. Belinda Anderson, Clerk of Council
L.C.C.G. 10/22/20 20671967
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS SEALED BIDS for the furnishing of the necessary materials and construction of the CONTRACT A GROUND LEVEL STORAGE TANK REPLACEMENT AND/OR CONTRACT B RESERVOIR PUMPING IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR CONTRACT C GROUND LEVEL STORAGE TANK AND RESERVOIR PUMPING SITE IMPROVEMENTS WELLINGTON, OHIO will be received by the Village of Wellington, Ohio, at the Office of the Finance Director, 115 Willard Memorial Square, Wellington, Ohio 44090 until 12:00 p.m. Noon (Local Time) Thursday, November 19, 2020 and at that time and place will be publicly opened and read aloud. The scope of work for this project consists of three separate contracts as follows: Contract A - Installation of a glass lined steel 303,000 gallon ground storage tank, 53’ in diameter with a 19’ side water depth. Contact B - Removal and replacement of three (3) vertical turbine pumps with variable speed drives (VFDs) and 100 hp motors along with removal of a fourth (4th) existing vertical turbine pump. Also included is the addition of a reservoir level monitoring and control system, a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) upgrade to better control the pumping of raw water into the reservoir, as well as roof and window upgrades to the pump station building. Contact C - Site improvements and site restoration related to the Contract A and Contract B sites including, but not limited to, water and electric conduit installation, drain line installation, fence installation, site embankment construction, concrete pavement installation, existing 300,000 gallon ground level steel tank demolition, site grading, seeding & mulching, and other necessary appurtenances. The contract documents, including plans and specifications, are on file at the office of the Finance Director for the Village of Wellington, Ohio and the Architect/Engineer -Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc. (PDG). The documents may be viewed and ordered online or obtained from Becker Impressions, 4646 Angola Road, Toledo, Ohio 43615, Telephone 419-385-
5303, www.pdgplanroom. com for the cost of printing to be paid to the printing company at the time the documents are picked up. Shipping and tax charges are the bidder’s responsibility and payable directly to Becker Impressions. The Engineer for the Project is Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc., 1168 North Main Street, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. All bids must be signed and submitted on the blanks which are bound in this booklet. Bids must state the unit prices in the blanks provided and be enclosed in a sealed envelope marked (as applicable) --- CONTRACT A - GROUND LEVEL STORAGE TANK REPLACEMENT, and/or CONTRACT B - RESERVOIR PUMPING IMPROVEMENTS, and/or CONTRACT C - GROUND LEVEL STORAGE TANK AND RESERVOIR PUMPING SITE IMPROVEMENTS --- and addressed to the Village of Wellington, 115 Willard Memorial Square, Wellington, Ohio 44090. The bid guaranty may be of two forms: 1. A Bid Guaranty and Contract Bond using the form in the Contract Documents. (The amount of the bid does NOT have to appear on this form.) 2. A certified check, cashier’s check or letter of credit in favor of the Village of Wellington, Ohio in the amount of 10% of the bid. If the contract is awarded, a Contract Bond will be required, which is a 100% payment and performance bond. This procurement is subject to the EPA policy of encouraging the participation of small businesses in rural areas (SBRAs). After the award of the contract let by competitive bid and prior to the time the contract is entered into, bidders shall submit the affidavit required under the Ohio Revised Code, Section 5719.042 that the bidder was not charged with any delinquent personal property taxes in Lorain County, Ohio. The successful bidder will be required to pay not less than the highest applicable minimum wage rates as established by the federal DavisBacon Wage Determinations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Village of Wellington, Ohio reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any irregularity in any bid and to determine the lowest and best bidder. The use of domestic steel and Made In USA products will be required for all aspects/components of this project. No bidder may withdraw his
bid for a period of 90 days after the scheduled closing time for the receipt of bids. This project is being partially funded with Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) and Ohio EPA Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) with Buy American requirements. The opinion of probable cost of construction for Contract A is $570,940. The opinion of probable cost of construction for Contract B is $699,515. The opinion of probable cost of construction for Contract C is $60,630. By Order of Steve Dupee, Village Manager L.C.C.G. 10/22-29/20 20671999
PUBLICATION OF LEGISLATION The following is a summary of legislation adopted by Lorain City Council on Oct. 5, 2020. The complete text of each item may be viewed or purchased in the Clerk of Council Office @ Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH, during normal business hours or contact Nancy Greer @ 204-2050 (Nancy_Greer@cityoflorain. org). The following summary of legislation passed has been reviewed/approved by the Law Director for legal accuracy as required by state laws. Reso. 35-20 Commending the Lorain Steelmen 12U Baseball Team on securing the title of “Silver Division State Champions.” Reso 36-20 Accepting the amounts & rates as determined by the Lorain County Budget Commission & certifying them to County Auditor; Reso. 37-20 Concurring with the expenditure of $1,636,202.54 of Cares Act Funding from the State of Ohio; Ord. 104-20 Auth S/S Director to enter into a contract for professional services related to the design of the Black River WWTP digester Improvement project; Ord. 105-20 Assessing the cost to abate nuisance by removing litter, etc.; Ord. 106-20 Approving the Chief of Police through the Mayor to to accept the award of IDEP grant for Ohio Dept. of Safety; Ord. 107-20 Ratifying a contract the Clerk of Courts entered into with the law offices of R. A. Shuerger Co. on Feb. 18, 2019; 108-20 Auth S/S Director to enter into an MOU between the City of Lorain and the USWA 6621 (Article 34 of CBA); 109-20 Amending Section 15.3.6 of Ord. 168-19 establishing the compensation, benefits and terms of employment for the Law Department; 110-20 Auth the S/S Director to enter into an MOU with FOP Lodge #3; Ord. 111-20 Auth the S/S Director to enter into a lease with Lake Erie Warhawks for use
of the Pipeyard; Ord. 112-20 Auth the S/S Director to enter into a contract fo the sale and option of real property located in the Colorado Industrial Park; 113-20 Appropriation of funds; Ord. 114-20 Amending Chapter 1539.04 of Codified Ord. - Certificate Required Prior to Sale. L.C.C.G. 10/15-22/20 20671630
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS CITY OF LORAIN, OHIO Black River WWTP Primary Clarifier Rehabilitation Sealed bids will be received by the Engineering Department of the City of Lorain, Ohio until: TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIVING BIDS: Bids shall be received until Friday, October 30, 2020, 11:00 AM local time. Bids shall be received at the following location: ATTN: Guy Singer Lorain City Hall, Engineering Department, 4th Floor 200 W Erie Avenue Lorain, OH 44052 TIME AND PLACE FOR OPENING BIDS: Bids shall be opened on Friday, October 30, 2020, 12:00 PM local time, in the Lorain City Hall, Council Chambers, 1st Floor. Bids must be accompanied by Certified Check or Cashier’s Check or Letter of Credit equals to ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, or a bond for the full amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and a performance bond properly secured. Should any bid be rejected, such instrument will be forthwith returned upon proper execution of a contract. Cash deposits will not be accepted. The bid check/bond should be enclosed in the sealed bid, but in a separate envelope clearly marked ‘BID CHECK/BOND’ with the bidders name & address on the bid check/ bond envelope. Drawings and specifications may be obtained at the City of Lorain website at no charge. www.cityoflorain.org/bids/ aspx This procurement is subject to the EPA policy of encouraging the participation of small business in rural areas (SBRAs). The Director of Utilities reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. By order of the Director of Utilities L.C.C.G. 10/15-22/20 20671634