Handcuffed escapee alive
The Community Guide
After more than a week of searching for Donte Parker II, 23, who was feared to have been killed jumping in the Black River to escape from police while handcuffed, Elyria detectives said he is alive and on the run. It is not known how authorities know he is alive and continues to evade law enforcement after a week of searches in and around the river where he was last seen.
Parker’s girlfriend, 20-year-
old Petra Pintar, “was reported missing by her family, and we believe that they are together,” police said. Parker is wanted on multiple felony warrants as well as for an alleged federal probation violation. Elyria police charged him with having weapons under disability, escape and obstructing official business, all felonies.
Elyria police took him into custody and handcuffed him Feb. 3 following a welfare check at an apartment on Washington Avenue in
Elyria. They found Parker hiding under a bed with a loaded gun.
A convicted felon from a Cuyahoga County case, Parker is not allowed to possess guns. Parker managed to escape from police while in custody, bursting out of a closed door and running from officers. He was last spotted on security camera footage running, shoeless, toward a treeline overlooking the Black River near Washington Avenue. Multiple first responders
searched the area including the Black River but couldn’t find him. The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and a North Ridgeville police K-9 joined the search for that same night, as did the Elyria Fire Department.
Parker’s mother feared that he had fallen into or jumped into the Black River, which at the time was cold and full of ice. She walked the area multiple times in the days after he disappeared, calling out his name.
Elyria police are conduct-
ing an administrative review into whether officers followed department policy while arresting Parker, Capt. Bill Lantz has said. Pintar does not have a criminal record in Lorain County. Court records in a 2023 misdemeanor speeding case said she was living on South Lake Street in South Amherst at that time.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Parker and Pintar is asked to contact Elyria police Detective Jeb Larson at (440) 326-1211 or jlarson@cityof
elyria.org, or call the Elyria Police Department at (440) 323-3302. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at cityofelyria.org/tips.
Watching out for avian flu
It’s in Ohio but not here yet
Carissa Woytach
The Community Guide
ELYRIA TWP. — While poultry farms in Southwest Ohio grapple with avian flu, Lorain County farms and public officials are keeping a watchful eye on their flocks.
H5N1, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, has yet to reach Lorain County officially, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. While Ohio has a high rate of the virus, most cases are in Darke and Mercer counties.
Ohio leads the U.S. in highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI cases,
with more than 9.1 million birds across 48 commercial flocks affected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The USDA has also detected HPAI in captive wild ducks and geese in Stark, Muskingum, Ottawa and Mercer counties in the most recent outbreak. Brian Baldridge, Ohio Department of Agriculture director, said did not have a flock infected until Christmas Eve — then saw spikes in central western Ohio.
“We’re dealing with this,” Baldridge said. “We
Oberlin group looks to expand use of ‘Round House’
Garrett Looker
The Community Guide
A group of Oberlin community members continue to examine expanding the use and access of the city’s Underground Railroad Center. Oberlin’s Underground Railroad Center is housed in the historic Oberlin Gasholder Building, also known as the Round House. Originally designed to store manufactured coal gas to supply the city with heat and light, the building was constructed in 1889. Discussion centered on the possibility of using it for things such as wedding receptions and other events, according to Oberlin Council member Ray English.
“The history of Oberlin related to the Underground Railroad, related to Black history, is important,” English said. “There’s various initiatives emerging in Oberlin that can merge into the idea of making Oberlin a destination for Black history, and this could be a part of that.”
While the primary use will be dedicated to Oberlin Black history and to Underground Railroad history, the facility could also be used for other needs, he said. To expand the use and access to the facility, the group is weighing the possibility of adding restrooms and a kitchenette to the existing building.
“It’s an extraordinary
building, and it has a stunning interior,” English said.
“We want to see the facility to be well-used.”
English added that there is broad agreement of real interest amongst the public in programs and usage related to the history of the Underground Railroad and Oberlin’s Black history. These improvements could make the facility available year-round, he said.
It became home to Oberlin’s Underground Railroad Center in 2023 after nearly two decades of efforts.
“I think there’s broad agreement in Oberlin of both Black history and continuing to work for racial justice, if you will, is important,” English said.
or
Abram Memorial Pavilion in Oberlin. It became the Oberlin Underground Railroad Center IN 2023.
Parker II Pintar
The Gasholder Building,
“Round House” as it’s also known, sits on South Main Street next to the George A.
CARISSA WOYTACH / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Dan Ketcham, owner of Hidden Acre Farm in Elyria Township, feeds his flock.
Peter Pan prequel flies into Hanna
John Benson The Community Guide
Whether it’s “Wicked” or one Star Wars spin-off after another, we’re living in the golden age of origin stories.
That includes the upcoming Great Lakes Theater production “Peter and the Starcatcher,” which runs through March 2 at the Hanna Theatre.
Despite being awardwinning and critically acclaimed, the play is somewhat under the radar for theater lovers.
This includes director Jaclyn Miller, who while naturally familiar with “Peter Pan,” the prequel not so much.
“When approaching a show, if I don’t have previous knowledge with it, I do my research in terms of sort of like understanding the genesis, the history about the production that is important to it, but I don’t tend to watch them,” she said.
“I like to just sort of see the ideas that the script brings to me and not feel like I have somebody
BIRD FLU
have had some spikes in the past … Unfortunately, it has ramped up.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Great Lakes Theater presents “Peter and the Starcatcher” WHEN: Through March 2
WHERE: Hanna Theatre, 2067 East 14th St., Cleveland
TICKETS: $20 to $89
INFO: 216-241-6000 or Greatlakestheater.org
else’s visual references.”
Set in Neverland, the Tony Award-winning show features a dozen actors portraying more than 100 characters in a high-flying adventure that tells a humorous and heartwarming story about the magic of friendship.
And as a prequel, “Peter and the Starcatcher” invariably has plenty of familiar faces and foes, including a certain reptile.
“You will absolutely meet the infamous crocodile,” she said. “And the clock does come into play. You learn why the croc tick-tocks.”
For “Peter and the Starcatcher,” the Playhouse Square-based
While Ohio currently has the highest number of cases, California, Wisconsin and Iowa have also seen spikes, he said. The flu follows migration patterns for wild birds.
“As I look out the window and see geese and birds flying, I look at those as positive carriers,” he said. “The poultry industry has done work to make them as bio-secure as possible — these are big buildings, they do their best to keep out any wild birds because that is how this is being spread.”
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources are presuming reports of dead birds in Auglaize, Erie, Huron, Logan, Lucas, Mercer, Montgomery, Richland, Sandusky, Stark and Warren counties as positive for HPAI, according to its website.
It states the virus poses little risk to the public, and Ohioans can report dead or sick wild birds suspected of HPAI at 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or wildohio.gov.
For backyard farmers like Dan Ketcham, owner of Hidden Acre Farm in Elyria Township, this is not the first time they have been scared, he said. To limit the transmission of diseases, including avian flu, Ketcham limits the number
theater company is taking a minimal approach to the set, which is being used for its next production, “Twelfth Night,” which runs in March.
“Peter and the Starcatcher” is “hyper-theatricality,” she said.
“All of the actors clearly play all of the characters. They also play all of the inanimate objects. They’re the scenery. They’re props to repurpose to become a
of people coming into contact with his chickens — a 60-strong flock of different breeds allowed free range of his large backyard.
He also canceled an order for new chicks for fear of those new birds being contaminated or sick. Chicks are picked up or mailed to the farm, he explained, and he quashed plans to go to a hatchery for another two dozen birds.
“You can’t test for this until it happens,” he said, adding — it is not like the birds run a temperature or show symptoms before they are contagious to other animals.
Ketcham and his family began raising chickens for 4H projects, he said, but he started selling the eggs and meat to provide local residents with better, fresher food than they could get at a grocery store.
He has yet to lose a bird to avian flu in his eight years running the cottage farm on Murray Ridge Road, but “it can happen,” he said. Often raccoons or foxes have posed a more direct threat to his flock.
“We just have to be vigilant on it,” he said.
Hidden Acre Farm offers fresh eggs and chickens raised for meat. Those raised for meat are kept separate from laying hens, he said, and Ketcham wears and uses completely different equipment between the flocks to cut the risk of cross contamination.
Kelly Squire, Lorain County
LETTERS
Letters to the editor should be:
• Written to the editor. We do not allow open letters or those to specific residents, politicians, or groups.
• Concise. There is a limit of 350 words on letters.
• Polite. Letters that use crude language or show poor taste will be rejected.
• Opinions. We reserve space for letters that share a unique perspective. Press releases are not letters and will be considered for publication in other parts of the paper.
• Free of advertising, product or service endorsements or complaints, poetry, language that could raise legal problems, or claims that are measurably false.
• Signed. Include your name, address, and daytime telephone number for our records. Up to two signatures.
• The deadline to submit letters is 10 a.m. each Monday. They are used on a space-available basis. We reserve the right to edit any submission for length, grammar, spelling, and clarity, or to reject any submission.
multitude of things, creating locations.”
Miller said she’s been touched by the bond that develops between Peter and Molly.
“We learn how this orphan, Peter, a sort of friendless human being, becomes this heroic figure that we know,” she said.
“And the reason that that happens is because of a chance encounter with this person, Molly, he meets at
Fair Board director and execu-
tive board vice president, oversees the senior fair’s open class poultry barn and lends a hand with its junior fair counterpart each year. Her family raises show birds, including turkeys chickens, ducks and geese.
Squire follows the Ohio Poultry Association’s recommendations, and the organization has been hosting webinars as the virus has spread.
Echoing Ketcham, she said the best way to prevent exposure is preventing a flock’s contact with wild birds, waterfowl and rodents.
“That means your backyard flock or show birds need to have a separate water supply instead of letting them drink from a pond that wild waterfowl may stop and take a drink from that same water,” she said.
Avian influenza is far from a new concern. While the current spike has wiped out nearly 23 million birds nationwide, avian flu killed 50 million in 2015.
That outbreak shut most poultry shows and junior fair poultry barns down, Squire said, hoping this year’s outbreak would not get to that point.
The National Poultry Improvement Plan, run by the Ohio Poultry Association, runs a testing program where a representative will test show birds for pullorum — a disease caused by a Salmonella bacteria — and avian influenza. That
a young age.
“There’s this sort of first love and feeling like you’ve met this person who understands you in a way that you haven’t had.
“I find it to be more moving than any of the versions of ‘Peter Pan’ that I’ve been a part of or seen. It’s just it’s a really special relationship.”
Contact John Benson at ndiffrence@ att.net
certification is not required for all shows, but chickens must be tested for pullorum before being able to show, she said.
“We’re not too concerned with it because there have not been any cases close to us recently,” Squire said of HPAI.
“Us, personally, when we go to shows we don’t want to be around other sick chickens, and even from a show side, the show personnel should be watching to make sure there’s no sick chickens coming in.”
Some of those shows are across state lines and throughout the year, she said. Her family makes sure to wash their boots and cloths thoroughly when they get home and any poultry that have gone to a show are quarantined from the rest of the flock.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture is able to have results of a testing sample from a bird suspected of HPAI within about seven hours of receiving it, Baldridge said. Farmers monitor their livestock and are trained on how to collect samples for diseases, including HPAI — which has a high mortality rate in flocks.
He said once a farm is identified as positive, a secondary test confirms that positive marker and then a depopulation process starts. Those bird carcasses are composted on-site and then the facility is deep cleaned and disinfected and, retested after a 14-day waiting period.
PHOTO PROVIDED
A scene from Great Lake Theater’s “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a prequel to the Peter Pan story we are all familiar with.
Pickleball facility now one step closer
Richard Perrins
The Community Guide Avon City Council has approved an agreement to sell 9 acres to a company led by former Browns kicker Cade York for a pickleball facility on Recreation Lane.
Under the agreement, Ash Innovations has one year for due diligence to determine the site’s suitability to construct a pickleball facility. The area currently also houses Crushers Stadium, T3 Performance and the French Creek YMCA.
York appeared in front of Council in October to pitch the project.
Most of the property along Recreation Lane was purchased by the city in the 1980s, the ordinance reads. It was previously used as a fly ash dump for the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company.
The resulting soil conditions and limits on use for the land meant the city acquired the property for a token amount of $1.
In 2012, the city dis-
cussed selling the property to Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports Development Group LLC for the construction of an indoor sports complex with an inflated dome, the ordinance reads.
The company never exercised its option to purchase the property, with both parties agreeing to rescind the acquisition in 2015. Under the agreement passed unanimously on Monday, the city would convey the property to Ash Innovations for a token amount. The fly ash and soil instability could make development and construction more difficult and expensive, Jensen said.
“They’ll have to do a lot more foundational work than they would for a normal project,” Jensen said.
Because of the foundational issues with the property, Jensen said the city has struggled to find interest from developers. Purchasers of the land are restricted to use it for sporting or recreation purposes, he said.
The company now has 360 days to complete a financial and physical review of the property before notifying the city whether it intends on proceeding. If it notifies the city in writing that it would not proceed, Monday’s agreement would then be nullified.
But Jensen said the company might not wait as long. Its CEO, Pramod Abichandani, spoke in front of Council Monday and said the company is in advanced stages of design for the facility and hopes to start construction soon.
“We want to get started,” Abichandani said. “It’s a major project that we’re undertaking. … The trust that the city is placing in us, we do not take that lightly.”
Ash Innovation must gain approval with the city’s planning commission following its due diligence period for the project.
Contact Richard Perrins at (440) 6875172 or email rperrins@chroniclet.com.
Ohio Trooper of Year based in Elyria
The Community Guide State Highway Patrol Trooper Sarah Korsten, who is assigned to the Elyria post, was announced Friday as winner of the 2024 State Trooper of the Year award by her agency.
Korsten was selected from among nine District Troopers of the Year. She joined the Highway Patrol in October 2018 as a member of the 165th academy class, earned her commission the following April and was assigned to the Elyria post.
In a news release, the Highway Patrol said that “leadership is one of her greatest strengths.”
“Leading by example, Trooper Korsten supports her co-workers and fosters a positive, team-oriented environment. She was nominated by her peers for her balanced and consistent dedication to providing service with a purpose and is known for her strong work ethic and leadership throughout the division,” the Highway Patrol said in a news release.
In 2024, Korsten made 1,638 total con-
tacts with members of the public, issuing 180 safety belt citations and conducted 70 distracted driving enforcements. She also investigated 105 crashes, provided 111 motorist assists and arrested 12 impaired drivers.
Korsten made three felony arrests, one each for for illegal firearms, auto theft and felony drug possession involving about 10 grams of narcotics, the Highway Patrol said.
“Trooper Korsten’s sound decisionmaking goes far beyond statistics. She has earned health and fitness honors within the patrol and promotes wellness throughout the community.,” the Highway Patrol wrote.
Korsten earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Kent State University and has served in the U.S. Army National Guard since 2015.
Local artists win state awards
The Community Guide
For the past few years, Rachel Mentzer has turned to recycled materials and things left behind in an effort to make art.
The recycled material she has used the most has been COVID-19 rapid antigen test boxes. By using them, Mentzer’s work shows “the connection between the natural world and manmade objects and industrial pieces to be able to see how they’re connected,” Mentzer said.
“It makes an interesting connection with the fact that during that time when we were all, you know, at
WEEKEND EVENTS
Today
home or in isolation, going out and seeing nature was an opportunity to, like, reconnect.”
Mentzer, along with two other Lorain County artists — Myles Dunigan and Donna Coleman — was recognized by the Ohio Arts Council for individual excellence.
Mentzer, Dunigan and Coleman all were recognized for their individual excellence in the category of visual 2D art.
All three artists were awarded $5,000 each for their previous works.
“We would not have the world-class arts and cultural institutions that we do in the state without the
Tweens and teens ages 10 to 17 are invited to drop by the Amherst Library between 4 and 5 p.m. to create a no-sew heart pillow
All supplies will be provided. Registration is required but attendees may drop-in at any point during the onehour period. Register at www.amherstpubliclibrary.org or call (440) 988-4230.
Friday Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day at 11:15 a.m. at the Amherst Library. Designed for ages 2-6 and their caregivers. Register at www.amherstpubliclibrary.org or (440) 988-4230.
artists living and working in so many places throughout the state.
“So we have the Individual Excellence Award as a means to recognize and honor that,” said Justin Nigro, operations and public affairs director for the Ohio Arts Council.
Coleman, whose art focuses on social interaction between people, reflected on what it meant to be recognized by the Arts Council.
“It feels absolutely wonderful,” she said.
“To be seen, to be heard, is what we all want. …
“It’s a great honor and I don’t take it lightly,” Coleman added.
Saturday
Enjoy a romantic Valentines-themed stroll through Schoepfle Garden during the Hearts A Glow event 5:30-8 p.m.
Fire pits and luminaria will light the paths and romantic tunes will usher in visitors. Hot beverages and sweet treats will be available, as well as a ‘special something’ for a loved one.
Registration is required and cost is $5 per person, due today. Arrival times are staggered to reduce wait times for beverages and to allow for spacing along the trail. The half-mile paved trail will be cleared of snow. Schoepfle Garden is at 11106 Market St., Birmingham. For registration and to purchase tickets, visit loraincountymetroparks.com.
Korsten
Bodycam shows man’s escape
Owen MacMillan
The Community Guide
Body camera footage released by Elyria police shows the moment that a handcuffed Donte Parker II burst through a closed door and escaped from police before disappearing.
Police and his own family are still searching for Parker, 23, of Elyria. Parker was last spotted Feb. 3 on security camera footage running toward the treeline overlooking the Black River near Washington Avenue.
On Friday the Elyria Police Department released the body camera footage from one of the four officers who was present at a wellness check that resulted in the arrest of Parker, who, police said, was wanted on multiple felony warrants and had an illegal gun.
In the video, a handcuffed Parker is able to slam his body into a closed door and take off, getting away from police but losing his shoes in the process.
Body camera footage is blurred after police enter an apartment at 290 Washington Ave., invited in by a woman who lives there, but the audio works.
The woman allows officers to search her apartment and after about a minute and a half they find Parker hiding with a gun, ordering him not to touch it and to crawl toward them.
“You touch that gun and I blow your brains all over the carpet,” one officer says. In the footage, police are able to get Parker to come to them without issue and cuff his hands behind his back.
Parker asks the woman if she has his phone and to call his mother before leav-
ing the apartment with police. The woman says “I love you,” and Parker then leaves the apartment with officers.
Parker climbs a staircase to the front door of the apartment building with one police officer who is holding him by the arm as they are followed by another officer, who is wearing the body camera that recorded the footage.
The officer at the top of the stairs takes his hand off of Parker’s arm and looks down at what appears to be a wallet, as the other officer approaches up the stairs.
Before the second officer can reach the landing, Parker then slams his shoulder into the closed front door of the apartment, flinging it open, and takes off through the opening. His hands are still cuffed behind his back.
The first officer chases Parker on foot, while the officer wearing the body camera gets into a police cruiser and follows them.
The rest of the footage includes the officer asking someone — who appears to be another police officer — outside the car which direction Parker and the other officer went and occasionally talking into his radio.
“He ran out of his shoes, so he’s either barefoot or in socks,” one officer says over the radio.
After a minute and a half the officer wearing the body camera radios dispatch and asks, “Can you see if anybody has a dog available?”
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and a North Ridgeville police K-9 joined the search for Parker
the night he escaped but were unable to locate the 23-year-old.
Searches the next day and the day after were similarly fruitless, as police searched for Parker on the banks of the Black River throughout central Elyria.
Elyria fire search and rescue teams even rappelled down to the icy river to see if Parker was in the water.
Elyria police Capt. Bill Lantz said that the department was continuing search efforts in the area Parker was last seen and elsewhere.
“Since his escape on Feb. 3, 2025, we have conducted multiple search operations in the area where Donte Parker was last seen fleeing on foot,” Lantz said Friday. “Because there is
no direct evidence confirming that Parker entered the water, we must also consider that he remains at large and is actively evading law enforcement. Our efforts remain ongoing as we continue to follow up on leads to determine his whereabouts.”
Lantz also told The Chronicle that the department would conduct an administrative review into whether officers followed department policy in carrying out Parker’s arrest. Parker’s mother, Tanya Charlton, has expressed fears that her son may have fallen or jumped into the Black River while running from police, and said she worried for his safety because of that. In the days following Parker’s disap-
pearance, she has walked the hillsides along the Black River, calling out her son’s name.
On Friday evening, nearing four days since her son escaped from police and disappeared, Charlton said the overwhelming feeling was of exhaustion.
“Based on everything on the internet I’m just overwhelmed with everything that everybody is saying,” Charlton said.
“It’ll be one thing and it’s false hope and then there’s new hope and I’m tired of going back and forth, I just need to know.”
Elyria police have asked anyone with information on Parker’s whereabouts to contact the department at (440) 323-3302. Anonymous tips can also
be submitted at cityofelyria. org/department/police/ submit-tips.
Parker has a felony conviction in Cuyahoga County and is therefore not allowed to have a firearm in his possession. Elyria police have charged him with having weapons under disability, escape and obstructing official business, all felonies. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.
Drug-soaked ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ sent to Grafton inmate
The Community Guide
The Drug Enforcement Administration has charged a Lucas County man in U.S. District Court with smuggling drug-soaked books — including Vice President JD Vance’s memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” — to an inmate at Grafton Correctional Institution in Lorain County.
Austin Siebert of Maumee is in federal custody, charged with knowing distribution of a Schedule 1 controlled substance, according to federal court records.
Arrested Thursday by State Highway Patrol troopers while leaving his home, Siebert is due back in federal court on Wednesday, according to court records.
In an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, a DEA task force officer wrote that he met with a Grafton Correctional Institution investigator on Dec. 3 about a package containing suspected narcotics.
According to the affidavit, a drug-sniffing prison K-9 had “alerted” on narcotics sprayed onto three items: A 2019 Graduate Record Examination, or GRE, handbook; a piece of paper; and a copy of Vice President and former Ohio Sen. JD Vance’s 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
All three were discolored, which the task force officer knew based on training and experience to suspect was from illegal drugs being sprayed on them so they could be smuggled into prison.
A week earlier on Nov. 25, an inmate at the prison called an individual investigators say was Siebert, who told the inmate that he had driven “f--- in like 45 minutes last night to do that s---,” meaning to mail the books to the inmate in prison.
All prison calls are recorded, and inmates and others are warned that the calls are being recorded.
Authorities suspect Siebert drove 45 minutes from his home to send the items to the inmate using a prison smuggling system called “The Amazon Technique.”
This happens when a person outside the prison orders books from legitimate stores to ship to inmates, who are only allowed to receive books
from preauthorized vendors with receipts.
Once the order is made and a receipt is printed, the order is canceled.
The shipper buys copies of the books on the receipt, soaks some of the pages in drugs or sprays drugs on them, repackages the books with the proper receipt and a shipping label that makes it appear like the package was ordered on Amazon. com or from a store like Barnes & Noble and ships them to the inmate in prison.
The affidavit details other alleged communications between Siebert and the inmate. On Nov. 27, Siebert allegedly sent the inmate an email telling him the package had been delivered, and the inmate confirmed he got it. On Dec. 3, the inmate
told Siebert he got his copy of “Hillbilly Elegy” and their conversations led authorities to believe the drugs were sprayed on its last 10 pages.
“F---ing romance novel,” Siebert allegedly told the inmate on the phone.
Investigators say Siebert also mentioned “the last lap,” which meant the drugs were on the last pages of the book. The books were seized, tested and the pages found to contain drugs called 5-Fluoro-ADB and MDMB-4en-PINACA, both controlled substances known as synthetic cannabinoids.
Two weeks later, Siebert told the inmate how to send him money on the CashApp application, according to the affidavit. A second book was seized
Dec. 30, one Siebert allegedly had sent to a different inmate called “Corrupting the Innocent” and that also had pages soaked in 5-Fluoro-ADB.
Investigators allege Siebert also was planning to send books soaked in drugs to a third inmate at Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution in Lima, Allen County. Siebert had previously been incarcerated with that inmate at Richland Correctional Institution, according to court records.
A search of Siebert’s home turned up a loaded .380-caliber Bersa Thunder handgun, a paperback book soaked in suspected narcotics, bags of suspected drugs in both pill and powder form, a binding machine and mailing labels.
PROVIDED
A Lucas County man is accused of soaking the pages of books with drugs, including a paperback copy of JD Vance’s “Hillbilly Elegy,” and sending them to an inmate at Grafton Correctional Institution.
Parker II
BRUCE BISHOP / CHRONICLE PHOTOS
The escapee’s mom, Tanya Charlton, stands — on Feb. 4 — near the hillside above the Black River where she believes her son, Donte Parker II, had gone over the day before as he ran from police while wearing handcuffs.
Valentine’s Day to roar at Rocket
John Benson The Community Guide
It takes a special love affair to celebrate Valentine’s Day with loud monster trucks.
However, that’s exactly what Cleveland Heights native Bari Musawwir will be doing when Monster Jam returns to Northeast Ohio appearing this weekend at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
“What’s pretty cool, we’ve actually had this event on Valentine’s Day before in Cleveland, so I was actually able to take my mom to dinner,” said the 1998 Cleveland Heights High School graduate, calling from Atlanta, Ga.
“She loved that. This time, I’m going to bring my wife, so that’ll be cool.” Roughly three decades after the radiocontrolled vehicles fanatic saw his first monster truck event at the old Richfield Coliseum, Musawwir’s love affair with the sport continues as the driver of Zombie.
“This is my 10th year with the Zombie,” he said. “It’s still really popular. We do the Zombie arm wave. That gets the crowd involved and engaged. It’s pretty unique, so it’s definitely got a big following. We look forward to bringing it back there to Cleve-
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Monster Jam
WHEN: Friday through Sunday (times vary)
WHERE: Rocket
Mortgage FieldHouse, One Center Court, Cleveland TICKETS: $35 to $100
INFO: (888) 894-9424 or visit rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com
land.” In fact, Musawwir’s last hometown visit was nearly three years ago when the Monster Jam series jumped into stadiums appearing at what is now Huntington Bank Field.
“It was amazing to be able to perform in front of friends and family,” he said. “There were people I went to high school with who came out. That was really fun. You know, once a Clevelander, always a Clevelander.” The upcoming Monster Jam affair features world-class male and female athletes pushing their 12,000-pound vehicles to pull off gravitydefying stunts including insane backflips and vertical 2-wheel tricks, as well as competing in four competitions — racing, skills, donuts and, freestyle.
“I love the donut competition because I hold Guinness World Records for the most donuts in a Monster Jam truck in one minute
— we did 44 revolutions — and then 58 revolutions overall,” he said.
“The skills challenge is something that I’m OK at, but there’s definitely room to improve. It’s always one of those things where we try to be different but consistent on the track. So far, we’re second in points overall out of 12 trucks so
that’s really good. Hopefully, I’ll maintain that throughout the whole season.” Monster Jam attendees are also invited to enter the Pit Party for quite the memorable meet-and-greet. They can get up close and personal with the massive trucks and meet their favorite drivers.
As far as monster truck
enthusiasts talking their better halves into spending Valentine’s Day weekend at Monster Jam, Musawwir put on his salesman cap and gave his best pitch.
“This is definitely something you have to see and feel live in person,” he said. “These trucks have 1,500 horsepower with 66-inch-tall tires so they’re
huge trucks and they’re pretty nimble to be able to perform inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
“That’ll be really cool and something different that you never would think you would have a blast at. It’s action-packed, so it’ll be a good date night for Valentine’s Day.”
Contact John Benson at ndiffrence@ att.net
Churches vow to protect immigrants
‘Have duty and obligation to provide sanctuary’
Garrett Looker
The Community Guide
Daylight broke through the stained glass windows behind the Rev. Patrick Nicolino as he sat in the quiet sanctuary of the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Elyria.
Hands clasped, he recalled his favorite verse of the Bible.
“Love one another as I have loved you,” Nicolino said.
It was there in that sanctuary nearly a week before that Nicolino, the pastor of the First Congregational Church, spoke to his congregants about the fears and concerns spiking throughout the community of threats of deportation and xenophobia.
“Historically, churches have always been places of safety and security,” Nicolino said. “The place in which, no matter what the individual has done, if they come into the church space, on to the church property, they are protected. And at this point, that looks like it’s becoming more and more possibly difficult to be able to live out.”
Nicolino’s words come on the heels of of changes by President Donald Trump to immigration policy, specifically the rescinding of policy regarding how law enforcement officials may operate in and around “sensitive areas,” such as schools and churches.
The change has sparked fears and confusion in churches and religious spaces throughout Lorain County. It’s left some church leaders and community members in the dark, wondering at times how defiant they can be and at other times what role the church is to play in helping individuals who seek refuge.
In the event that Elyria’s First Congregational Church would welcome in
an individual seeking refuge, Nicolino said that they would be protected.
“Under no circumstances would any individual be permitted into the building that would attempt to remove them,” Nicolino said. “It would be totally violating the entire belief and ongoing history of a church having sanctuary or being a place of sanctuary and safety.”
An act of civil disobedience is borne out of the belief that a church has a religious responsibility or duty to protect those in need, Nicolino and others explained.
It’s something that Gina Pérez agrees with.
“These are people who have lived for very long periods of time in communities and in cities and in places who don’t want to be separated from their children and looking to physical sanctuary in churches as a way to remain in the United States,” said Pérez, who is a cultural anthropologist at Oberlin College and Conservatory. She is the author of “Sanctuary People: Faith-Based Organizing in Latina/o Communities.”
Other church leaders in Lorain County agreed.
The Rev. A.G. Miller, pastor of the Oberlin House of the Lord Fellowship, said that his church has not been directly affected, but added that he can understand the fears many others may feel.
“The church is a sacred space,” Miller said. “And we have the church-state separation in the Constitution I think for a good reason. … If the people can’t find sanctuary inside of a sacred space, then where else? And that the federal government or any other governmental organization can willy-nilly decide and determine it can go in and do whatever it wants, that space is no longer safe.”
For decades, congregants of The First Church
in Oberlin, United Church of Christ like John Gates, have been concerned about human and civil rights, specifically as they pertain to immigrants in Oberlin seeking help.
That aid has now been threatened, Gates said.
Gates fears that if there were attempts to deport community members, that there’d be a lack of due process.
“I think it’s not following the rule of law,” Gates said.
Bob Meilander, committee chairman for the Lorain County Republican Party, disagreed with church leaders.
Meilander said that while he doesn’t think the Trump administration’s change to immigration policy has affected the local environment at the moment, churches should not aid individuals seeking sanctuary who have broken the law.
“You’ve got a lot of people that are here for reasons. They come across the border for their own safety, and it’s really hard regardless,” Meilander said.
“I think they need to enter the right way. Register, go for asylum, and take it from there. And I don’t think churches should harbor, keep people if they have done any type of crimes.”
Pérez questioned what was to be gained by deportation efforts, suggesting that many individuals who would be affected are neighbors and fellow community members.
“It doesn’t feel like it leads us into a very good place. It just breeds a lot more, you know, sadness, resentment, mistrust and isolation,” Pérez said. “It just seems very cruel.”
To Pérez, the current moment is one that is trading in human and civil rights for a climate of fear and punishment.
When asked if he thought any human or civil rights could be violated, Meilander said no.
“I don’t think it violates any rights,” Meilander said. “If you’re illegal in this country, if you’re not a citizen, we have the right to know who’s here.”
Nancy Fishburn, executive director of communications for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, said the church has many programs aimed at helping immigrants.
“As far as how any policy changes will affect the work of Catholic Charities, this is a new and developing situation, and it is unclear at this time what impact any potential changes will have on the ability of Catholic Charities to provide services,’’ she said.
Nicolino recalled previous times in history when the church gave harbor to those seeking refuge; African Americans fleeing slavery before and during the Civil War, or LGBTQ+ individuals struggling and suffering during the AIDS epidemic.
Whatever the time, the church was there for those people, he said.
But what about this moment in American history? Nicolino took a long pause and a deep breath as he contemplated how it may be remembered.
“This particular time may be remembered as a time in which the very values of being a democratic republic, the very values of
inclusion and welcome are questioned,” Nicolino said, adding that, aside from Indigenous Americans, most citizens have ancestors who were immigrants.
If immigration officials were to enter a church while searching for individuals, Pérez said she “can’t imagine anyone who would be in that room allowing that to happen without some kind of sacred resistance.”
“One thing that I’m seeing now is that there’s kind of a renewed focus, both on thinking of the value of sacred space, but also thinking about how all of us, each of us has a duty and an obligation and opportunity to rise to the occasion,”
Pérez said. While he disavowed any kind of violence, Nicolino said “we have a responsibility to not simply talk, but to allow our actions to show what we believe.”
Nicolino said he is confident human goodness will win out.
“I believe in the innate goodness of humankind, and that, ultimately, love will conquer all. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be an easy journey or everything’s going to go smoothly,” Nicolino said. “Ultimately, love will win. Inclusion will win. Acceptance will win.” Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@ chroniclet.com.
ERIC STERN
The Zombie returns to Cleveland on Cupid’s annual day of love again this year.
BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
The Rev. Patrick Nicolino is the pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ of Elyria.
Send
Wellington girls beat Clearview on senior night
Wellington celebrated its four seniors in its game against Clearview.
Wellington grabbed an early lead and never lost it as they led by 5 points after the first quarter, 16 points at the half and 20 points after three quarters. Wellington celebrates its seniors with a 62-41 win over Clearview.
Wellington boys lose, 87-62, at Brookside’s Senior Night
Wellington scored the first 7 points of the game as
rotated in all of their seniors for
However, once Brookside put in their regular starters they took the momentum back and led 18-12 at the end of the first quarter. Brookside never let up and cruised to a 87-62 win over Wellington.
At
Wellington’s Grace Knapp hits a three-point shot against Clearview.
Wellington Girls Basketball seniors, from left, Grace Knapp, Mallory Pickering, Brooke Lehmkuhl and Danica Borzy smile before the start of their game against Clearview.
Wellington’s Brooke Lehmkuhl gets 2 points over Clearview’s Adrianna Comley (10) and Annie Green (11).
At left, Wellington’s Mallory Pickering gets fouled by Clearview’s Kayla Hitchens at the basket.
left, Wellington’s Connor Kinser gets past Brookside’s Marquis Capers for 2 points.
At left, Wellington’s Landon Whitehouse gets to the basket for 2 points past Brookside’s Mason Waechter.
Wellington’s Alex Frenk scores 2 points past Brookside’s Mason Waechter.
Brookside
Brookside’s Senior Night.
Photos by Russ Gifford, The Community Guide
Learn about the deadly 1916 train crash
Amherst historian Tom Jewell will give a presentation on the tragic train wreck that took place in Amherst, one early foggy morning on March 29, 1916.
Three trains collided, resulting in 27 people being killed and 47 injured. Countless people heroically assisted that day. This crash even has a connection with silent movie actress Mary Pickford.
The free comunity presentation will be held at 7 p.m. March 18 at the AHS Hall, 113 South Lake Street, Amherst. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Please RSVP at (440) 988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org.
Seeking actors for ‘Sister Act: The Musical’ Lorain Community Music Theater is holding auditions for “Sister Act, The Musical!”
The role of Deloris Van Cartier has been cast but there are many other roles to fill.
Auditions will be held from 2-4 p.m. March 9 and 6-8 p.m. March 11. Callbacks will be made March 16. Sign up at loraincommunitymusictheater.org starting Saturday. The auditions will be held at St. Peter School Gym, 3655 Oberlin Ave., Lorain.
Talented performers of all ethnicities ar sought for the roles of Mother Superior, Sister Mary Robert, Sister Mary Patrick, Sister Mary Lazarus, Eddie, Curtis Jackson, TJ, Joey, and Pablo (Curtis’s Henchmen), The Sisters of the Convent and Ensemble. A complete list of characters and more information can be found at loraincommunitymusictheater.org or from the director, Luke Scattergood at lukescattergood@yahoo.com.
Secret Service to address K of C
The Knights of Columbus will feature Secret Service Special Agent Owen Evans who will give a talk on protecting your money and reducing your risk of being a victim of financial crime at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Rd. Avon. In addition to combating counterfeiting, the Secret Service has responsibility for access device fraud. RSVP by Feb. 14 to rudybreglia@gmail. com. Snacks and refreshments will be served. Bring a friend. Public is welcome.
Oberlin Library board to meet
The Oberlin Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting at the library at 5 p.m. today. The meeting is open to the public.
The evolution of coroners is topic in Amherst The Amherst Historical Society will present “History of the Lorain County Coroner” at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The free community presentation by Don Hilton, author and historian, will be held at 113 South Lake Street, Amherst. He will talk about the evolution of Ohio coroners and their duties over time, and will deep dive into understanding the earliest coroner inquest records in Lorain County, kept from 1867 to 1938.
THE 1960s
BULLETIN BOARD
Wellington teacher earns Star Staff honor Fifth-grade teacher Melanie Schank has been recognized as a Star Staff member at Ohio Connections Academy, an online school for students in grades K through 12.
The Wellington resident started teaching in 1992 and joined the staff at Ohio Connections in 2010.
“I am a first generation college student,” she said. “Neither of my parents graduated from high school, not by choice, but by circumstances. Despite this they instilled in me a love of learning, that I still have to this day. They encouraged me and were involved parents.
“My mom read Little Golden Books to me even though it was difficult for her to read. I have always wanted to instill that same love of learning in children and share with them the power of education to transform your life.
“I am passionate about reading and if nothing else I want to make reading exciting for students since it is the gateway to all other subjects,” she said.
When she first began teaching online in 2002, she said, “I thought this is great, but I felt sad thinking I wouldn’t get to know my students and families. The wonderful thing is I discovered that I actually get to know them better. Having one-on-one interactions with students and families really allows you to form a partnership with the student and family.”
Schank, who graduated from Ashland University, said online schooling isn’t the best option for every child. She tells parents that they have to be involved, that communication and working together can help their child succeed. Black History Month artwork to be honored
The City of Oberlin has once again partnered with the Oberlin High School Art Department and FAVA to coordinate an exhibition of artwork depicting historical figures created by Oberlin High School art students.
The Black History Month Gallery Exhibition will be on display at FAVA, 39 South Main St., Oberlin through March 2.
Regular gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. All are free. For more information, please contact City of Oberlin Communications Manager Diane Ramos at (440) 775-7217 or DRamos@CityofOberlin.com.
Beekeepers offer intermediate class
The Lorain County Beekeepers Association will hold an Intermediate Beekeeping Class from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 22 at Life Church. 1033 Elm Street, Grafton.
The “Swarm Prevention and Queen Management” class offered by the Lorain County Beekeepers Association is designed for beekeepers who have successfully kept bees for over one year. Cost of this class is free to all 2025 LCBA members. Non-member cost will be $10 or $20 to include a 2025 LCBA membership. Info at loraincountybeekeepers.org/intermed-beekeeping-class.
Oberlin sets PreK/Kindergarten enrollment
Enrollment for Oberlin City School District’s PreK/ Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year will begin on Feb. 24. Parents/guardians are required to stop by the Board of Education Office, located at 153 North Main Street, Oberlin, to pick up the enrollment packet. To be considered for preschool, your child must turn 3 by August 1 and be toilet trained.
In order to enroll for kindergarten, your child must be 5 by August 1.
For more information, contact mcoffaro@oberlinschools.net or call (440) 774-2213.
Wellington Kiwanis Pancake Day Feb. 21
Wellington Kiwanis Club annual Pancake Day will be Feb. 21 at the Wellington Eagles Hall, 631 S. Main St. The club will serve from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then reopen from 4 to 7 p.m.
Pre-sale tickets are $6 and can be purchased at Bremke Insurance, 104 S. Main St.; Fifth-Third Bank, 161 E. Herrick Ave., Main St. Wellington, 118 W. Herrick Ave., Colonial Barber Shop,121 W. Herrick Ave. or the Office on Aging on the third floor of the Town Hall. Meals are $4 for children 8 and under. Tickets purchased at the door will be $7. Take-out service will be offered.
Purchase tickets at wellingtonkiwanis@yahoo.com or www.wellingtonohkiwanis.org.
Proceeds support Wellington Kiwanis’ service leadership programs – the Wellington High School Key Club, McCormick Middle School’s Builders Club and Westwood Elementary School’s K-Kids. Proceeds also help support Kiwanis’ scholarship program and the club’s signature project, raising funds for community playground equipment, including Union School Park.
Tickets are also available at the same locations for the seventh annual State of Wellington breakfast on March 27 at the Wellington Eagles. Tickets are $15 and available at the same locations as the Pancake Day tickets. Wellington Kiwanis has been serving the youth of the community since 1924.
It meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month, usually at the South Lorain County Ambulance District, 179 E. Herrick Ave. Wellington. The location of the second meeting each, month varies depending on availability.
Oberlin Schools selling memorabilia
The Oberlin City School District Athletic Department is holding a fundraiser by selling Indian and Phoenix championship banners and trophies dating back to the 1960s. Championship banners will be sold in a silent auction. To make an electronic bid on a championship banner, email auction@oberlinschools.net through Feb. 22. Trophies will be available for sale at Friday’s boys basketball game. Only cash or check will be accepted. Yearbooks are also available. Yearbooks from before 2020 are $10 and yearbooks from 2020 are $20. For more information, email dzillich@oberlinschools. net or call (440) 776-4578.
Resource Fair Tuesday at LCCC
The free Lorain County Resource Fair will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at LCCC’s Spitzer Conference Center, 1005 Abbe Road N., Elyria.
More than 70 providers, including Cpnnecting for Kids, will there to help with anyone from birth to 22 years who is experiencing anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, academic struggles, developmental delays or disabilities. Attendees can discuss insurance, services provided and explore program options directly with the provider.
Presented in partnership with Leadership Lorain County and The Rotary Club of North Ridgeville, the fair offers a number of options for families looking for help. To register, visit connectingforkids.org/lorain-resource-fair or call/text (440) 570-5908.
Platinum sponsors of the event include Community Fund Ohio, Lorain County Children & Family First Council, Lorain County Community College, Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and Murray Ridge Center. Families who pre-register (and attend) will be entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card. The first 100 families who stop by the Connecting for Kids table at the fair will receive a free stuffed animal courtesy of Wild Republic. Those unable to attend the Resource Fair can drive up during fair hours to receive a grab-and-go bag of resource material.
Schank
Hearty Mouse
Help the mouse reach the cheese.
STEP1:
Cutout abig pink heart.
STEP4:
STEP2: Fold theheart in half.
STEP5:
Glue small hearts to make an ear. Glue on agoogly eyeordrawaneye
LoveBugs
Cutout six little strips to make whiskers.Cut out asquigglytail
Howmanyhear ts can you nd on this page in three minutes? Haveafriend tr y. Who found the most?
STEP3:
Cutout two smallerhearts
STEP6:
Glue on whiskers andtail. Usemarker to makea black nose
Allyou need isasmall bag or bowl and three or morefriends to play with!
Directions:
Cut out the coupons below. Fold them in half and put them into abag,bowlor box.
One by one,players selecta pieceofpaper from the container
Twoattime,the playersstart performing their actions, without laughing.The rst person to laugh is out
Repeatthisuntil only one lf h
Scratchyour armpitand hop on one leg
Sing your favorite song as if youare underwater.
STEP 1:
Howmany di erences
Cutout alarge and asmall heartshape, alarge andsmall circle,and two small strips
STEP 1: Cut out heart-wing shape, two mediumsized heartsand two smallhearts
Draw alinefrom each Valentine’s Day message to the animal who wroteit.
“You makemy heartsqueak!”
“I go bananas foryou!” “You’re purrrr-fect!!”
“You makemy heart utter!”
“I hopetosea you on Valentine’s Day!”
STEP2: Glue amedium and asmall heart on each wing.
STEP2: Glue together as shown. Addspots and eyes with marker
STEP3: Make twosmall horizontal slitsat centerofheart wings.Insert pencil through slits.
Look throughthe newspaper forone to three pictures words or articles thatmake you feel happy.
Sing the ABCs backwards in the style of an operasinger.
Makeasi y tand a
faceand st still like statue
ow,
Pretend to sink in ahuge bin of stinky socks
Pretend to slip on abanana peel in slow motion
Flap your armslikea bird and moo likeacow
Rub your tummyand patyour head
Pretend to swim across the oor
Balanceon one leg while singing Happy Birthday
Liftapillo, pretendingit weighs1,000 pounds. adinosaur stuck in bubble gum.
Pretend to be ll
Walk like a robot whose batteryis low.
Touch your nose with your tongue Pick up a pencil with your toes Walk likea penguin g y
Playair guitar while making sillyfaces
Pretend to climb atree that’s1,000 feet tall person i e game s leftinth
© 2025 by Vicki Whiting Sch