MAN STOPS TO HELP STUCK MOTORIST

GETS ARRESTED FOR OVI

Elyria – Elyria Police responded to the Leo Bullocks Parkway around 3am Saturday morning after receiving reports of a possible car crash with one car on fire.

When Officers arrived they found two cars off the road stuck in the snow – one fully involved.

It turned out that there was no crash – It turned out that one car went off the road and got stuck in the snow, another man who saw this turned around to help. He then ended up getting his car stuck in the snow too.

While trying to get the first car out of the snow it burst into flames, everybody fled the car to safety at that point.

Elyria Firefighters arrived a short time later and extinguished the blaze.

While talking to the man who stopped to help Officers noticed signs of impairment and wanted to have the man perform a field sobriety test. Upset over the thought of being arrested for OVI, the man began cursing at the Officers – the F word was the man’s favorite that night.

Police took the man into custody – it was then that the man began crying and telling Officers that he had just received an OVI and didn’t want or need another.


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FRIDAY CRASHES

Several crashes around Lorain County kept emergency workers busy. One in Lorain involved a utility truck that lost control and went off the right side of the road – breaking a utility pole into pieces. The men in the truck all refused any treatment from Paramedics at the scene. The Lorain Police is investigating the cause of the crash.

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Another crash occurred moments later in Elyria Township on Route 57 in the southbound lanes near the westbound entrance ramp to I-90. A Ford F-150 collided with a 4 door Cadillac in that intersection. Two women from the Cadillac were treated by Elyria Township Firefighters and transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

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WEIGHT OF SNOW JUST TOO MUCH

OLD ROOF JUST GAVE WAY TO STRAIN

Elyria – The snow was just too much for the roof of an old East Ave building to bear as it collapsed Thursday afternoon.

Elyria Firefighters responded to One East Ave, the old Brekenridge building north of the railroad bridge after being told of the collapse. Assistant Chief Ron Brlas of the Elyria Fire Department said that the building, owned by the City of Elyria, had been used for storage in the past. “Luckily nobody was inside of the building at the time the roof caved in – we did do a search of the structure just to make sure though, you never know if maybe someone had gotten into the building to take refuge from the cold – so we just really wanted to make sure.”

Brlas said that the building was empty at the time of the collapse so aside from the structure there was no additional damage.

The City of Elyria Building Department is investigating the collapse.

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Although this weekend is forecasted to be relatively calm, another potential snowstorm is expected to swing through our area on Tuesday. Better check those roof tops.

Weekend Weather: Updated Friday 10PM
Overnight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -10. West wind between 11 and 13 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values as low as -10. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 11 and 20 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind around 18 mph.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38. West wind between 13 and 17 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind around 9 mph.

EATON TOWNSHIP CAR FIRE

Eaton Township – A fire in the engine compartment of a car slowed traffic on Route 57 in Eaton Township Thursday afternoon as Firefighters extinguished the blaze.

A driver from LifeCare Ambulances Wheel Chair division was traveling south on 57 when he spotted the car with flames shooting from under the hood. Although he attempted to extinguish the blaze himself it was just too much, so with knowing that everyone had successfully exited the car – he backed away and waited for the Fire Department.

Firefighters from the Eaton Township Fire Department arrived a short time later and put the fire out and secured the car.

A witness to the event said that although the LifeCare driver wasn’t able to extinguish the blaze, he at least deserves an “atta-boy” for his attempts.


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Click image to enlarge

Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk

ODPS Encourages You to Make the Right Play

to Save Lives This Super Bowl Weekend

Columbus – As you make your Super Bowl plans, the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration want to remind you that “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.” The right play for the big game is to plan ahead and designate a sober driver in advance.

Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s biggest and most entertaining national sporting events, yet it has also become one of the Nation’s most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving. Nationally, in 2007 on Super Bowl Sunday (12:01 a.m. Sunday to 5:59 a.m. Monday), 48 percent of the fatalities occurred in crashes where a driver or motorcycle rider had a blood alcohol concentration level of .08 or higher.

“Driving safe and sober should always be a priority, but this weekend, with extra parties and events being planned, we are reminding everyone to pass their keys to a sober driver before the party begins,” said ODPS Director Henry Guzmán. “Bars, establishments and those hosting parties should plan ahead as well to arrange ride- sharing, provide contact information for cab services and ensure no one is over-served.”

Ohio’s statistics for 2008 show that three people died and 92 people were injured in close to 200 crashes that involved alcohol over the Super Bowl weekend. Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers reported 308 OVI arrests around the state for that same time period, and during the month of February 2008, local law enforcement agencies reported 105 OVI arrests through enforcement hours paid for through ODPS’ Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO).

Getting caught driving while impaired will earn you a costly penalty from law enforcement and may even result in a turnover of your driving privileges. For bars and establishments, over-serving or serving underage could also mean costly fines, suspension or revocation of their liquor permit.

To help keep the roads safe this Super Bowl weekend, more than 60 local law enforcement agencies around the state will be conducting more than 1,400 hours of enforcement activity and 900 hours of saturation patrols in addition to sobriety checkpoints, funded by federal grants provided through OTSO. The Ohio State Highway Patrol will have a visible presence on the state’s highways and Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) agents will be doing compliance checks in permit establishments as well as working with local law enforcement.

Designating a sober driver should be on the top of everyone’s Super Bowl party list along with these tips to stay safe:

If you are hosting a Super Bowl party:
Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in an impaired-driving crash; make sure all of your guests designate sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with a sober driver.
Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
Serve lots of food and include non-alcoholic beverages at the party; stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.

If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:
Designate your sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys. If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.
Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself – eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired. Remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.
Always buckle up – it’s still your best defense against other impaired drivers.

WEATHER ALERT

UPDATED: Tuesday 3:00 p.m.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR OUR AREA - WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST WEDNESDAY.

HEAVY SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS NORTHWEST OHIO THIS EVENING AND LAST THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES THROUGH THE OHIO VALLEY. SNOW WILL INCREASE THIS EVENING AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES - ESPECIALLY AROUND DAYBREAK WEDNESDAY. BY THE TIME THE SNOW TAPERS OFF WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MOST OF THE REGION SHOULD SEE 6 TO 8 INCHES OF NEW SNOW ACCUMULATION. SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS WINDS INCREASE OUT OF THE NORTHWEST.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SEVERE WINTER WEATHER IS EXPECTED. HEAVY SNOW AND/OR ICE WILL CAUSE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. IF YOU WILL BE TRAVELING IN THE WARNING AREA YOU SHOULD CHOOSE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE IF POSSIBLE, OR YOU SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS UNAVOIDABLE.

#44 SWORN IN - AGAIN

White House photo

DO OVER! Chief Justice John Roberts re-administered the Oath of Office to President Barack Obama Wednesday afternoon after flubbing Tuesday’s Oath.

The Do-Over took place in the White House Map Room.

"We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the President was sworn in appropriately yesterday. But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time." White House Counsel Greg Craig

#44 SWORN IN

Photo Courtesy: The White House

SMASH & GRAB SUSPECT NABBED

Elyria – As a would be thief lurked around cars in the Applebee’s parking lot he found what he thought would be a sure score – a woman’s purse on the floor of a minivan. The man would have scored had it not been for a woman in a second floor office window.

Renetta Hubbard was working in her Heritage Home Healthcare office on the second floor of the First Merit Bank building above the Applebee’s restaurant when she spotted a suspicious man lurking about. “I happened to see him and then I peeked through the blind and he bent down, then he came up and then he bent down again. He kept looking around and then he just pushed the passenger side door window in – he busted it.”

Hubbard said that the man then jumped into the van through the window – leaving half of his body outside of the van. He quickly emerged with a woman’s purse, stuck it up inside of his jacket and began walking away. Thinking that nobody had seen him the man did not run – he just nonchalantly walked towards West River.

Hubbard said she tried to reach 9-1-1 on both her cell phone and office phone – neither worked. “When I couldn’t reach them I ran downstairs to the restaurant, I knew I had to tell someone quickly.” Hubbard informed the manager of Applebee’s who immediately contacted the Police and with Hubbard’s help gave a full description of the suspect and direction of travel. The manager also notified the waitress who owned the van.

Quick actions of several Elyria Police searching the area turned up the suspect across the street in a lawyer’s parking lot – the man still had the purse stuffed in his jacket.

Police took the man into custody and returned him to the scene of the crime where Hubbard and the waitress stood inside the foyer. Police pulled the cruiser up near the door so Hubbard could see the suspect and make a positive ID – which she did.

Hubbard was informed that the waitress was so grateful for what she had done that she offered to buy her dinner anywhere she would like – Hubbard said that the offer was sweet but not necessary. “I did what I thought was the right thing to do – I would do it again in a minute.”

The suspect in this case, Ricky L. Frazier of Elyria, has been charged with Theft (F-5), Possession of Criminal Tools (M-1) and Criminal Damage (M-2).

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CHILD INJURED SLEDDING

Sheffield Village – Firefighters from the Sheffield Village Fire Department didn’t have to go far Monday afternoon when the call came in for a child that had been injured while sledding – the accident took place at James Day Park, right behind their station.

Firefighters were lead to the child by adults at the top of the sledding hill. After treating the child in the park Firefighters extricated the child from the woods on their own sled to an awaiting ambulance.

The child was transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. This was not the first time this season that Firefighters had to respond to the park for a sledding injury.

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66-YEAR-OLD WOMAN ROLLS CAR

Avon – A single car crash on I-90 in Avon sent one woman to the hospital and slowed traffic in the westbound lanes for an hour Monday afternoon.

Police and Firefighters responded to the westbound lanes of I-90 between Rt. 611 & Crocker Road after 66-year-old Patsy Lockhart lost control of her car while traveling east on I-90 and rolled it several times before coming to rest in the westbound lane.

Firefighters from Avon treated Lockhart at the scene and transported her to the Avon Emergency Room where she was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland a short time later.

Lockhart was alert at the scene and was restrained at the time of the crash. She was treated and released within hours from Metro.

ELYRIA DOLLAR STORED ROBBED

Elyria – A brazen robbery took place Sunday night at the Family Dollar store on East Broad Street as workers were closing up for the night.

The man was described as 5’5” tall, white male wearing a black jacket and a mask covering his face. Employees say the man came in as they were closing and forced them into a back room. The man fled on foot through the front door.

Although the store has security cameras it was unclear at the time of the robbery if it was recording.

Police searched the area but were unable to locate a suspect.


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OBAMA COOKIE SELLS BIG

Lorain – As the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama gets closer it seems that everything with the Obama name or image is selling like hotcakes – or in this case, like cookies.

Long time Amherst Baker Tim Kiedrowski of Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery started selling campaign cookies during the general election. Kiedrowski gave his customers a choice of a Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin cookie – he said the Obama/Biden cookies out sold the McCain cookies hands down. The sale of Inauguration Cookies was the obvious next step. “This kind of reminds me of the Beetles or when Kennedy was elected – the people are excited, our customers are excited.”

Kiedrowski said that during the election he supported John McCain but now rallies behind Obama and wishes him well. “He said his plan is to put people back to work and for us in this situation he has been doing that. We started making the Obama Cookie about two weeks ago and the demand has been so high that I have had to hire extra help to keep up. We have been working around the clock to keep up with the demand.”

Within the last three days Kiedrowski said that local people who are going to be at the Inauguration have been in to pick up boxes of the special cookies. “Judge Mihok was in and bought a couple dozen to take with him and there was a high school student that bought a dozen to take with him to give to some of his friends that are in college there so that is nice to know our cookies will be in DC during the Inauguration.”

If you just walked in off the street late Sunday to buy an Obama Cookie, you would have been out of luck – Kiedrowski and his crew had just enough supplies to fill the 75 plus dozen orders. In just the last two days the bakery sold over 175 dozen Obama Cookies. “We have run out of the product that makes the edible photo that goes on top of the cookie and I have called all of the local suppliers and my friends in this area and nobody has anything for me. So tonight (Sunday) my son and I will be driving to Wisconsin to buy more so we can be stocked and ready for our customers on Tuesday morning.”


What is in the Obama Cookie you ask… It’s an English Shortbread Cookie with vanilla frosting and the picture is done on an editable sheet of frosting. For those of you donut freaks Kiedrowski’s did not forget about you – they have the Obama donut too. A round Bavarian Chocolate Cream donut with white icing so the photo stands out.

Kiedrowski’s has been in business since 1984, it was then that while working for Simply Delicious Bakery in Amherst that Kiedrowski had the opportunity to buy the shop from his boss. He kept the Bakery in the same location for 10 years before moving to the Heritage Plaza at 2267 Cooper Foster Park Road. He and his family have been selling fresh baked products from there ever since.

Kiedrowski is surly getting plenty of attention for the Obama Cookies and donuts – but his store’s claim to fame still remains The Paczki. That is pronounced Punch-Key by the way. Paczki Day is the feast of the plenty before the Lenten fast begins. On this day the traditional deep fried pastries are enjoyed throughout the world’s Polish communities. Paczki takes place on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. In 2008 Kiedrowski’s sold nearly 40,000 Paczkis over a three-day period. People were lined up in front of the store as early as 4am and Kiedrowski has had to hire a Police Officer to direct traffic near his parking lot off Cooper Foster.

This year the Paczki Ball is being held on Sunday, February 23rd at Deluca’s. For ticket information you can contact the bakery – but wait until after Tuesday, they’ll have their hands full then.

The Obama Cookie sells for a mere $1.25, Kiedrowski said that the cookie is priced higher because it is so labor intensive. “It’s a hand mixed dough, it’s a hand cut dough and then we back them. Then we ice them and then decorate each one, one at a time. So I have to pay people to do all of that, so it’s a very costly cookie – but as I have said, it’s worth every bite.”


PHOTO GALLERY

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CEILING COLLAPSES ON WOMAN

Elyria – Gloria Ramos was spending a quiet evening at home in her Evergreen Village Apartment Saturday night when the unthinkable happened – the ceiling collapsed on top of her.

Anderson Ramos lives in the same building as his Grandmother – he said she was in her apartment watching TV at the time of the collapse. “It was just a typical night for her sitting in her chair in the living room watching TV when all of a sudden a huge chunk of the ceiling came falling down on her.”

Ramos said that there was a fire in the apartment directly above his Grandmother’s back in November of 2008. He says that apartment received a lot of water damage at the time of the fire and wonders if that is what caused the collapse. “I work 4-12 throughout the week so I am not here 24/7 but I have not seen any work being done in that apartment and other people that I have talked to say the same.”

Elyria Firefighters and LifeCare Paramedics treated Gloria Ramos on scene – in order to get Ramos out of the apartment they had to carry her outside on a chair, and then transfer her to the cot. Ramos was transported to Elyria Memorial for further evaluations.

Firefighters covered furniture in Ramos’ apartment with a large red tarp in an attempt to protect it from any further damage as water continues to drip into the apartment.

Ramos and other neighbors who had gathered and watched, as the elderly woman was loaded into the ambulance – many saying the apartment complex management needs to be held accountable for what happened.

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LINK TO NOVEMBER APARTMENT FIRE

WATER EMERGENCY ISSUED

Residents in Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville, Medina County, the City of Medina and The Rural Lorain County Water Authority, are being asked to conserve water tonight due to a large amount of ice that has formed on the water intakes at the Avon Lake Water Treatment Plant.

Officials say that the ice is making it difficult to keep up with the regular demands.

Customers should expect low water pressure until the problem is resolved.

LORAIN PUMPER INVOLVED IN CRASH

TWO TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL

Lorain – A collision at the intersection of Elyria Ave and East 35th Street in Lorain this afternoon has sent two people to the hospital with minor injuries.

Lorain Fire Department’s Pumper 1 was returning to their station this afternoon around 2:15 pm when it collided with a small four door Honda SUV. Witnesses say the driver of the SUV ran a stop sign while traveling west on 35th and the Pumper was traveling north on Elyria where there are no stop signs.

The collision pushed the SUV off the road taking down the street sign and stop sign.

LifeCare Ambulance Paramedics treated and transported 42-year-old Kellie Glenn of Cleveland and her infant son, to Community Health Partners with minor injuries - both were released a short time later.

Pumper 1 was returning from a fire call on Canton Ave when the crash occurred. None of the Firefighters on board were injured in the crash.

The Lorain Police Department is investigating the crash - Glenn will likely be charged with failure to yield the stop sign.


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TRUCK SLAMS POLE ON RUSSIA

VICTIM FLOWN TO METRO FROM SCENE

Carlisle Township – A single car crash in Carlisle this morning sent a 17 year old male to Cleveland by chopper.

The victim was traveling along Russia Road this morning when he lost control of his pick up truck and went off the south side of the road crashing into a utility pole. After striking the pole the truck rolled over.

When Firefighters and Paramedics arrived on the scene the victim had already been able to get out of the truck on his own. Paramedics began treating him while a helicopter was on the way to take over care.

Metro LifeFlight landed just down the street on the grounds of the Lorain County Regional Airport and flew the victim to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

While this afternoon’s expected snow had not yet started to fall – the winds were kicking up and blowing snow from the fields across Russia Road causing it to be slick and dangerous.

The National Weather Service in Cleveland is forecasting anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of new snow for us this weekend. A heat wave is also expected with temps up near 22 on Sunday.


THE NEXT 48
Tonight: Snow. Low around 19. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 15 and 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 22. West wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 14. West wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

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FOOD LEFT ON THE STOVE

CAUSE OF ELYRIA KITCHEN FIRE

Elyria – Food left on the stove was the cause of an afternoon kitchen fire on Colgate Ave in Elyria Friday. The fire could have been much worse had it not been for an alert UPS driver who spotted the smoke coming from the home and dialed 9-1-1 to report the fire.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and retrieved the family’s dog from the smoke filled home. The homeowner said that his daughter had started making Ramin Noodles on the electric stove in the kitchen – her mother was in the driveway getting ready to drive to the store. The daughter, with the food still cooking, ran to the car and went with her mother – when they returned they found Firefighters surrounding their home.

Fire officials said that the fire was contained to the kitchen area where Firefighters had to pull down sections of the ceiling.

The homeowner said that they were in the process of having the home appraised for possible refinancing – this will put those plans on hold they said.


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SCHOOL CLOSINGS - FRIDAY, JAN 16th

Schools in RED have announced that they will be closed on Friday, January 16th due to the inclement weather. This list will be updated frequently – please check back if your school has not yet announced it’s closing.

Updated: 6:08pm Friday
Amherst Exempt Village
Avon Local Schools
Avon Lake City Schools
Clearview Local Schools
Columbia Local Schools
Elyria City Schools
Firelands Local Schools
Keystone Local Schools
Lorain City Schools
Midview Local Schools
North Ridgeville City Schools
Oberlin City Schools
Sheffield – Sheffield Lake Schools
Wellington Exempted Village Schools

Elyria Catholic High School
Lorain County Joint Vocational
Lake Ridge Academy
Open Door Christian
First Baptist Christian – Elyria
Elyria Community School
Lorain County Academy of Arts & Sciences
St Anthony of Padua Elementary – Lorain
St Mary Elementary – Lorain
St. Joseph – Amherst
St. Jude – Elyria
St. Peter – Lorain
Lorain Community Middle School
LifeSkills Center of Elyria
Lorain Academy for Gifted Students
Lorain County Board of MR/DD
Lorain Preparatory Academy

PLANE LANDS IN HUDSON RIVER

A US Airways Plane Airbus 220 has landed in the Hudson River after take off from LaGuardia Airport in New York.

Initial reports indicate that the plane struck a flock of birds before landing in the Hudson River. Approximately 135 to 145 people were on board at the time of the crash – all have been safely extricated from the plane and have been safely moved onto boats.

Federal Aviation Administration Spokesperson Laura Brown says that the plane, US Airways Flight 1549, had taken off from LaGuardia and on route to North Carolina when the crash occurred over Manhattan.

The plane is still sinking into the Hudson River at this hour.

Homeland Security has said they do not believe that the crash is related to terrorism and they continue to closely monitor the situation.

WHAT DOES MINUS 25 FEEL LIKE?

WE’LL FIND OUT ON FRIDAY

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a WIND CHILL ADVISORY for Northeast Ohio beginning at 10 pm this evening and running through 4 am Saturday morning.

As a low pressure system moves eastward into Pennsylvania tonight there will be an increase in westerly winds. Wind Chill temperatures of at least 10 degrees below zero can be expected at times tonight.

The cold temps and any wind will continue to result in these very cold wind chill temperatures through Friday night. Another approaching storm system will approach the region on Friday and will cause even stringer winds.

Wind Chill values on Friday may drop as low as 25 Degrees Below Zero.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY is issued when strong wind will combine with cold temperatures to create dangerously cold conditions for exposed skin. The wind will make it feel like it is 15 degrees below zero or colder for a period of several hours.

If you will be outdoors use common sense and dress warmly – make sure that all exposed skin is covered. If possible avoid prolonged exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.

FIRE SALE

Elyria – If you are looking for a good deal on a used, slightly charred automobile – have we got a deal for you.

Takori Brown of Elyria was in the process of having some electrical problems fixed on her 2001 Mazda 626 Tuesday afternoon when trouble struck. Assistant Chief Ron Brlas of the Elyria Fire Department said that after attempting to start the car several times Brown left the car to go get a tow truck. Shortly after she left, the engine compartment caught on fire.

The car was parked in the driveway at 340 South Maple when it caught on fire. The car was parked close to the garage in the back yard sending flames up the face of the garage and into the soffit.

Brlas said that although the fire extended into the garage the damage was minimal, causing only about $5,000.00 in damage. The value of the car, pre-fire, was not available.


PHOTO GALLERY

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DOUBLE WINTER WARNING WHAMMY

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY & WIND CHILL ADVISORY for Northeast Ohio.

The WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY will be in effect from 4am Tuesday through 1am Wednesday.

The WIND CHILL ADVISORY will be in effect from 6pm Tuesday through 6am Wednesday.

A low pressure and arctic cold front moving through late tonight and Tuesday will cause snow to spread West to East over the area late tonight. By the time the snow tapers to flurries later Tuesday most areas should see 2 to 3 inches of new accumulation.

Windy conditions will develop Tuesday causing areas of blowing snow which may reduce visibility to near zero at times as winds gust 35 to 40 MPH.

The winds and falling temperatures will drive wind chill readings down to about MINUS 10 DEGREES Tuesday night so plans should be made to limit time outdoors.

The blowing snow and will chill problems should lessen late Tuesday night as the winds diminish.

CLEAN OUT THAT CHIMNEY

OR THIS GUY MIGHT BE LOOKING

DOWN YOURS SOON

LaGrange – Firefighters in LaGrange were called to a home on Route 301 late Sunday afternoon after homeowners discovered smoke filling the house.

Chief James Rader of LaGrange Fire & Rescue said that the homeowners had placed pieces of cardboard in their wood-burning stove – that, according to Rader, is a very bad idea. “As cardboard burns it kind of flakes off and that gets wider and cardboard burns faster so you get a quick amount of heat out of it which causes a draft – and since it’s lighter it gets sucked up into the chimney and if there is any Creosote up there it helps ignite it.”

Rader said Firefighters emptied the wood burner of the remaining cardboard and wood then they set off a chimney flare to extinguish the remaining fire.

Chief Rader said that this chimney fire makes the second for this year already and the cold arctic air is just now knocking on our door. Rader suggests that people maintain their fireplaces and wood burning stoves and says that your chimney should be inspected and cleaned at least once a year. Burning dry, seasoned wood is also very important. Fresh cut wood has a lot of moisture still in it making it to burn dirty which causes the Creosote build up.

Some other tips on chimney safety:
Check the exterior chimney brickwork from the top to bottom to make sure there is no evidence of white chalky deposits, moisture, cracking or loose mortar.

The clean-out pit at the base of the chimney should be emptied each year. The contents of the pit should be inspected to determine if bits of mortar, brick or stone are present. Evidence of debris could indicate the chimney is starting to deteriorate. The clean-out pit could be either inside or outside the house. It could be either a metal frame with a door, a metal sleeve with a cap, or "Y" or "T" fitting with cap installed at the chimney connection for the furnace vent. This clean-out door should always be closed or capped in place.

By proper angling of a mirror within your cleanout pit, you should have an unobstructed view up the chimney. Make sure there is no visual evidence of obstruction. Some chimneys are "off-set" and do not allow for proper viewing. If this is the case it might be necessary to call a chimney expert.

The flue pipe, which connects the appliance, should be checked for corrosion, deterioration or structural defects. Check all connections and fittings for tightness. White or rust discoloration may indicate internal corrosion. Some chimneys have separate flues for appliances and fireplaces.


PHOTO GALLERY

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PETRIC FOUND GUILTY

Elyria – After three weeks of deliberating Lorain County Judge Jim Burge found Daniel Petric guilty this morning of killing his mother and shooting his father.

Burge said during his lengthy statement that although he felt sorry for Daniel his decision must be based on the law, not sympathy. “What you have then is a society of men, and that might be the most dangerous thing to any society today, is if you have a society of men.”

Burge spoke to the Defenses argument that Petric was obsessed with the video game Halo 3 and did not know what he was doing when he shot his parents in October 2007. “You can shoot these aliens and they’re there again the next day – you would have to shoot them again. I firmly believe that Daniel Petric had no idea at the time he hatched this plot – that if he killed his parents they would be dead forever. I think that was the state of mind that this young man was in at the time of these offenses – that death would not be permanent – but that the addiction to this game was so strong that… his parent’s temporary death would… turn on a light for them so they could see just how serious he was.”

Burge will sentence Petric at a later date. Petric faces life in prison with no possibility of parole.

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IT’S GONNA GET COLD

REALLY – REALLY COLD

The National Weather Service in Cleveland is forecasting more snow and some ARCTIC AIR for this week.

Look for more snow to enter our area tonight and Tuesday with the bitterly cold temps to hit mid-week and last through the weekend. One to two inches of snow is expected tonight with Thursday bringing a high of 9 and Friday a whopping 8 degree high and a low of zero.

For TIPS on how to deal with the cold temps: CLICK HERE

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ORGANIZATION CLOTHES CHILDREN

“Sometimes you do for others,

even for people you don’t know.”

Lorain – The Lorain Morning Journal’s “Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-a-Child Program” has provided more than 600 area children with warm winter apparel so far this year.

Sunday a group of volunteers gathered at the Super K Mart in Lorain to shop for area kids. Organizers Tammy Tansey and Cynthia Simmons said that Saturday’s event was to outfit local kids with warm clothes. “We match a volunteer with one of the children and they will take them shopping for coats, gloves, shoes, pants, shirts – items that will help keep them warm and safe during the cold weather, Tansey said. “We help them out with providing items that maybe the parents haven’t been able to purchase for them.”

Tansey said that the kids are selected through a process that takes place in November, “We are not involved in that part of the program but each child is signed up and goes through a screening process and then the final list is created for the day of shopping.”

Through donations each child is allotted $100.00 worth of merchandise – Super K Mart also provides a 10% discount so the teams of volunteers and kids, with the calculator that was provided by the organizers, made the most of it getting as much as they could.

Simmons said that some of the volunteers have even gone over the $100.00 and covered the extra out of their own pockets. “They said that they were happy to do it because these kids are so appreciative and that puts the volunteers in an extra giving spirit.”
Saturday’s shopping day almost didn’t happen due to a low number of volunteers – that is until Tansey and Simmons got involved, made some phone calls to family and friends and as Tansey said – prayed. “We were shooting for 20 people to help out today and we ended up with 50 so we ended up turning volunteers away – that’s a good problem to have in this type of situation.”

Amongst the volunteers were employees from First Federal Savings of Lorain, Applewood Children Services, Family Services, Parker Hannifin and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Trooper Chris Ausse was one of the volunteers on hand Saturday. Ausse said that when he heard about the need for volunteers and that it was helping children in need he didn’t hesitate. “I have a soft spot when it comes to events like this for children and to me it’s gives me a chance to show the public that Police Officers aren’t just about writing tickets – we like to give back to our community just like anyone else.”

Ausse cheated a little bit by bringing an extra set of hands to help him shop – 3 year old daughter Madaline. “I wanted her to come along so she can learn that sometimes you shop for others – sometimes you do for others, even for people you don’t know.

One of the parents who brought her children said she had a message for all of the volunteers and to those who donated; “God bless you, God bless you for what you do.”



PHOTO GALLERY

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“TAKE BACK ELYRIA”

Like many Elyria residents, community organizer Brandon Rutherford was troubled when he found out the city’s police department could possibly be losing Police Officers due to budget cuts. He was concerned about crime in his neighborhood, and decided to take action to help Elyria residents learn how to better protect themselves and their property.

“I don’t think it’s right to just complain about a problem you might be having in your neighborhood,” Rutherford said. “I believe a few concerned citizens can make a real difference, and a little hard work can have a strong impact in the community.”

Rutherford began contacting local home security experts, self-defense trainers and other knowledgeable experts, and organized a free educational event called “Take Back Elyria” that will take place this Sunday at the Elyria West Recreational Park from 1 to 3 p.m.

“Take Back Elyria” will offer residents training on protecting themselves, their family, their property and their heath. Local businesses and organizations that will be on hand to educate the public include A.J. Perry Martial Arts, Forthofer Security, the Red Cross, and representatives from the Elyria Police Department.

Rutherford said that “Take Back Elyria” has a simple theme: that knowing how to prevent crime is the best way to fight it.

“The event is going to be geared toward women, children, and the elderly, but everyone will be able to learn important information about protecting themselves and their families,” Rutherford said. “Residents will be able to learn how to start their own block watch programs, burglar-proof their homes, and even about the child ID program.”

Admission to the event is free, but Rutherford encourages all attendees to bring a can of food to be donated for the Salvation Army.

Rutherford said he is excited about how much attention “Take Back Elyria” has gotten from local media and even from Elyria City Council, which recently asked him to make a presentation about the event at one of their meetings.

“Our city government and police department does an outstanding job in protecting our citizens, but we need to be diligent about protecting ourselves and our property,” Rutherford said. “We the citizens of Elyria need to grow some teeth, and I hope that ‘Take Back Elyria’ can help them do that.”

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MAN TURNS HIMSELF INTO POLICE

CHARGED WITH BURNING 2 YEAR OLD

Amherst – The man Police believe burned a two year old in a tub of hot water earlier this week is in custody today.

Amherst Police say that as a result of their investigation a warrant was issued for 21-year-old Peter A. Jones. Jones turned himself in Friday morning to the Police – he was charged with 2 counts of Felony 3 Child Endangering.

Jones was released after posting a $20,000.00 bond and will be arraigned in Oberlin Municipal Court on Tuesday, January 13th at 8:30 a.m.

WINTER STORM WARNING

Update 5:00 pm:
The WINTER STORM WARNING is now in effect until 7 p.m. Saturday. Light to moderate snow is expected to continue through the evening. The heaviest snow is expected to develop after midnight and continue through Noon on Saturday.

Snow amounts tonight will likely be 3 to 5 inches with additional amounts Saturday.

Total snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches are possible.
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The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a WINTER STORM WARNING for Northeast Ohio – the WARNING will be in effect until 7 p.m. Saturday.

A Winter Storm is forecast to move into the upper Ohio Valley on Saturday. Snow will spread across the area this afternoon and continue into Saturday. Moderate to heavy snow is expected to spread west to east this afternoon. Afternoon accumulations of 2 to 4 inches can be expected across Northwest Ohio, especially near Toledo.

Storm total snowfall of 6 to 10 inches is expected by Saturday evening.

A WINTER STORM WARNING is issued when severe winter weather is expected. Heavy snow and or ice will cause hazardous driving conditions. If you will be traveling in the warning area you should choose an alternate route if possible, or you should use extreme caution if travel is unavoidable.

FACKLER AVE HOUSE FIRE

Elyria – A fire that started in a dishwasher caused heavy damage to a Fackler Ave home late Thursday night.

Assistant Chief Robert Dempsey of the Elyria Fire Department said they were called to the home while they were investigating a possible fire at the River Run Apartment building on East Ave. “It turned out that someone had left food on the stove in their apartment causing a lot of smoke to fill the hallways of the apartment building. While we were dealing with that we got the call of a dishwasher on fire on the other side of town.”

When Firefighters arrived to the Fackler Ave fire they found smoke coming from the back of the structure. “The guys were able to get that fire knocked down pretty quick and while they were doing a search of the home they discovered the family dog. He was limp when they brought him out of the home – then one of the guys gave him oxygen and was able to bring him around.”

Family took the dog to a local all night Veterinarian. The condition of the dog is unknown at this time. Relatives are taking care of the homeowner for the night.

Chief Dempsey said that the kitchen received the most damage with the remainder of the home receiving heavy smoke damage.


PHOTO GALLERY

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EARLY MORNING COLLISION ON 301

Carlisle Township – A three car crash early Thursday morning left one vehicle on its roof with a woman trapped inside.

Carlisle Township Firefighters and LifeCare Paramedics responded to LaGrange Road, just north of Slife Road, at 7:57 a.m. after one SUV crossed the center line causing the three-car collision.

Rescuers found 3 vehicles off the road when the arrived, one upside down in a culvert in knee high water. The female driver was trapped inside of the SUV with lower leg injuries. Firefighters say that with the depth of water under the car they had to use a backboard as a bridge to work off of in order to gain entry into the rear of the SUV. Firefighters were able to get inside to the victim to immobilize her – they were then able to place her on a backboard and remove her from the car.

The driver of the black SUV was not seriously injured, only complaining of leg pains. Because of damage to the driver’s side she had to be removed through the passenger side of the vehicle.

The driver of the third vehicle refused any treatment or transport and was able to drive away after the tow service pulled the car out of the ditch.

The other two drivers were transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.


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WEEKEND STORM WATCH

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a WINTER STORM WATCH for much of North Central and Northeast Ohio. The WATCH is in effect from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon.

Snow will spread across the area Friday afternoon and evening. Moderate to heavy snow is possible at times from Friday evening into Saturday. Snowfall of 6 to 8 inches is possible with the heavier amounts likely farther north towards the Lakeshore. There is a small chance of sleet and freezing rain as well.

The exact track and strength of the storm system is still uncertain. Residents of North Central and Northeast Ohio should monitor the latest forecasts.

A WINTER STORM WATCH means that heavy snow is possible.

NEW HEAD COACH FOR THE BROWNS

The Cleveland Browns have announced that their new head coach will be Eric Mangini.

Mangini was fired after 3 seasons with the NY Jets and a record of 23-26 with a playoff experience. Mangini will be the 15th Coach of the Cleveland Browns and the first with actual head coach experience to be hired in the last 38 years. Details of his contract are still in negotiations.

WEATHER ALERT

The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY for Northeast and North Central Ohio – the advisory remains in effect through 3AM Wednesday morning.

Light snow will mix with and change to freezing rain and freezing drizzle this evening. The wintry mix will continue to across the central lakeshore overnight, possibly turning to just rain at times.

Across Northwest Ohio the mix will change back to all snow as temps aloft cool.

Snow accumulations will be light however some ice accumulation is possible. Untreated roads and sidewalks will be slippery.

A Winter Weather Advisory is normally issued for a variety of winter weather conditions such as light snow, blowing snow, sleet, freezing rain and wind chills. While the weather will be significant, the word advisory implies that severe weather is not anticipated.

AVON FIRE CLAIMS WOMAN’S LIFE

Avon – A late night fire in Avon claimed the life of an elderly woman who had lived in the home for over 10 years.

Assistant Chief Golay of the Avon Fire Department said they received a call at 10:55 p.m. Sunday night from a neighbor reporting a house fire. When Firefighters arrived Golay said that they found smoke and flames coming from the structure located at 1991 Applewood Ct.

Jack M. Blakemore lives in a home that is attached to 1991 Applewood Ct. – Blakemore said he started smelling smoke and then began investigating where the smell was coming from. “I first went through my house and couldn’t find any problems and then when I looked next door I saw the smoke and fire coming from her house.”

Blakemore quickly went back into his house and called the Fire Department and then he tried to help his neighbor. “Without thinking too much I went to the back yard and got my garden hose and started putting water on the fire. In my head I knew the fire was just too much, but what are you going to do – just stand there? I couldn’t do that, I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing.”

Moments later Blakemore said Firefighters arrived and got him away from the structure and began battling the blaze. Firefighters had the fire under control in about 20 minutes according to Assistant Chief Golay.

Golay said that the fire originated in the bedroom and although there was some extension, the bedroom sustained a bulk of the damage. The victim was found dead inside of the bedroom by Firefighters.

Golay said that the County Coroner has not yet positively identified the body and was not sure that all of the family has been notified.

Blakemore said that the victim was a good neighbor and a friend, a friend that he would help out whenever in need. “I would be over there helping fix things in the house whenever she needed something. She had a hard time getting around so if I could help I would.” Blakemore remembered a day when the woman returned home from grocery shopping and told him that she had forgotten her cane inside of the shopping cart – Blakemore told her to wait in her car for a moment while he went to his garage and retrieved a cane that had belonged to his father.

While talking Blakemore kept going back to saying he wished he could have done more. “People asked me if I yelled into the house – I didn’t, I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I am not sure what I would have done if she had answered. The idea of even getting that close to the house with the garden hose – I’m not sure that was the smartest thing to do, but in that situation you don’t think I guess. I worked in a Casting Plant for 26 years and supervised guys to make sure they were safe in the plant and here I am doing something like this. When it’s your neighbor though, you don’t think with your head I suppose, you don’t think about your own safety – you’re only thinking about your neighbor.”

UPDATE:Officials have released the name of the fire victim as 63-year-old Claudia Sherry. Although Sherry was a smoker it is not clear if she had been smoking in bed – due to extensive fire damage the cause may never be determined.

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TRAFFIC FATALITIES OVER HOLIDAYS

Columbus – The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 10 people were killed in six crashes over the holiday weekend in traffic crashes on Ohio roads. That number is the same as those killed during last year for the same reporting period. Eighty-three percent of the fatal crashes were OVI-related.

The following Ohio traffic fatalities are for the holiday weekend reporting period of December 30, 2008 at 6 p.m. through January 4, 2009 at Midnight.

A total of six fatal crashes – Of the six, two were on State & Federal Highways with two fatalities. Two of the crashes were on County / Township Roads with one fatality. Two were on City Streets with two fatalities. One was on Interstate Highway (outside city) with one fatality.There were no fatalities on the Ohio Turnpike.

Of the ten people who were killed, one was wearing a safety belt, two were not and seven were listed as unknown.

COPS NAB BURGLARY SUSPECTS

FOUND WITH STOLEN CIGARETTES
AND A 9MM HIGH POINT PISTOL

Elyria – While most people were sleeping an alert neighbor spotted two people attempting to break into GAS USA on Middle Ave at 4 a.m. and called Police.

Deputies from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office heard the radio traffic and quickly alerted Police that they were investigating a bullet hole in the window of the East Ave Convenient and they had found a spent shell casing.

Officers arrived at GAS USA and found a window smashed out next to the front door. On the ground amongst the broken pieces of glass Officers found 5 live rounds and a spring from a pistol magazine. There was also a piece of plastic lying on the ground believed to be part of a magazine.

A short time into the search A Deputy and Police Officer spotted two people matching the description of the suspects on Gates Ave.

The two were identified as 21-year-old Alesha D.A. Tovar and 23-year-old Herbert A. Lewis III, both of Elyria. Officers asked and received permission to search the green duffel bag that Tovar had in her possession when they stopped the couple. Inside the bag they found 60 loose packs of Newport cigarettes and an unopened carton. When notified, Officers at GAS USA stated that they could observe through the open window that a Newport cigarette rack had been pulled out and appeared to be empty.

Police also found a 9mm High Point model C pistol in the back pocket of Lewis. In the same pocket Officers found a broken magazine and a plastic bottom of the magazine was missing. The bottom piece that Officers located at the store was later matched up with the broken magazine that Lewis had and they appeared as though they matched.

Lewis and Tovar were each charged with one count of Possession of Criminal Tools (F-5) and Breaking and Entering (F-5). Both were taken to the Elyria City Jail where they were held pending appearing in court or posting bond.


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CAROUSEL THEATRE STATEMENT

The recent surprise closing of the Akron based Carousel Dinner Theatre has left many in our area and around Northeast Ohio wondering why and how do I get my money back from my 2009 subscription?

The CEO of the Theatre released a statement today in an effort to answer those questions.

The Carousel Dinner Theatre, LLC has cancelled its 2009 season and closed its doors effective January 4, 2009.For the past year, the economy has materially affected the theatre’s attendance and its ability to make cost adjustments to keep pace with the decrease in attendance.

The final tipping point became the reversal of certain stakeholders’ written or verbal promises that would have had a major impact on the theatre’s continuance for the 2009 season and beyond.

Mr. Joseph E. Palmer accepts full responsibility for this action and regrets the impact on one hundred fifty employees and their families and all others affected by this closure.

Ticket holders who have purchased advanced tickets and gift certificates on their credit cards should immediately contact their credit card company to process a full refund.
The Carousel Dinner Theatre
Joseph E. Palmer - Executive Producer/CEO

The Carousel Dinner Theatre began operations in 1973 in a converted Ravenna, Ohio supermarket and the Carousel moved to its current Akron location at 1275 East Waterloo Road in March, 1988. In January, 2003 the partnership of Joe Palmer and David W. Slaght acquired the business.