Ford to build electric van here
The Community Guide
Ford Motor Co. has announced plans to build a new all-electric commercial van at the Ford Ohio Assembly Plant in Lorain County starting in 2026.
The multibillion-dollar “Big 3” carmaker is in the midst of a $1.5 billion expansion at the plant, located across portions of Sheffield, Avon Lake and Sheffield Lake.The first steel superstructure went up a year ago.
Ford announced the expansion in 2022, and with it 1,800 new jobs at the plant. That was part of 6,200 total jobs promised in Ohio, Michigan and Missouri as part of a $3.7 billion expansion and the building of 2 million new electric vehicles built by 2026.
Ford said its commercial EV presence in the market is “strong,” led by its E-Transit electric van, and that more commercial customers are going with EVs.
Sheffield Mayor Bob Markovich said that the van is a “second generation” electric van, and first generation production that started elsewhere is being moved to Sheffield for the second generation.
He said Ford officials told hin that the Ohio Assembly Plant expansion is “priority one” and Ford wants “to get this moving along and get this done.”
Most of the electric vans are likely to be fleet vehicles for companies such as UHaul, UPS and Amazon, Markovich said. Sheffield has benefited significantly from additional income taxes — 97 percent of
its revenue is from income tax, Markovich said — and that is expected to continue.
There has been a “huge uptick” in income tax revenue from the ongoing construction, and more is expected once workers begin assembling the machinery and equipment needed to build the new vans.
Markovich said Ford officials told him the first of the line could roll out of the facility between February and June 2026.
With each of the 1,800 new jobs Ford has created, there’s an expectation that four others will be created to support them, Markovich said.
Though the new construction and production isn’t in his city, Avon Lake Mayor Mark Spaetzel said anything that benefits the region also benefits Avon Lake.
Cops say Amherst driver killed in crash was fleeing
Owen MacMillan
The Community Guide
The Elyria Police Department confirmed on Friday that a driver involved in a fatal crash on Thursday was fleeing an attempted stop by Elyria police officers.
Police said that Brandan Ryan, 40, of Amherst drove his gray Nissan Altima through a red light at the intersection of Griswold Road and state Route 57 “at a high rate of speed” and struck a blue Toyota Corolla that was turning east onto Griswold Road.
The State Highway Patrol said that Ryan and the driver of the Corolla, Robert Vormelker, 48, of Lorain were in critical condition after the crash. The two passengers of the Altima, Tanner Smith, 36, of Cleveland and Meghan Incorvaia, 36, of Wakeman were killed. According to Elyria police, drugs were found in the Altima and Ryan, Smith and Incorvaia all had active felony warrants. Ryan has been charged with several felonies by Elyria police.
On Friday, Elyria police Lt. Bill Lantz released the case report and dashboard
The Community Guide
investigators examine the car that reportedly caused a fatal crash Thursday on state Route 57.
camera footage that detailed that an Elyria police cruiser had tried to initiate a traffic stop of Ryan’s Altima just before the crash.
According to the report, Elyria police officers Chris Lewis and Chris Constantino observed what they suspected to be a drug sale taking place out of a 2015 Nissan.
Ford officials he spoke with were “very excited as we are,” he said. “It was encouraging to hear that they’re committed to building that line there.”
The fact that its an electric van “just confirms that the whole complex is going to be around for a very long time,” Spaetzel said. “You don’t spend $1.5 billion and bring in 1,800 jobs and not have it positively affect Avon Lake and the region. We’re excited to have them.”
Ford also announced Wednesday that the battery cells for the van will be made in BlueOval City in Tennessee, then installed at the Ohio Assembly Plant. Those cells also will power a next-generation electric pickup truck to be assembled in Tennessee starting in 2027.
The vehicle, later determined to be driven by Ryan, was parked in the driveway of a home on the 100 block of Erie Street that is “a known drug location.”
After the alleged transaction occurred, officers said they observed the Altima drive down Erie Street with three occupants and turn onto Route 57 without stop-
ping at a stop sign. Lewis and Constantino followed with lights and sirens on Route 57.
Rather than stopping, dashboard camera footage from the police cruiser shows that the Altima begins to speed and weave in and out of traffic and driving on both shoulders
The Lorain County Opioid Action Team will hold a vigil in memory of the 118 lives lost to accidental overdoses in Lorain County in 2023 on Friday, International Overdose Awareness Day. The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Spitzer Conference Center at Lorain County Community, 1005 Abbe Road, N., Elyria. Family and friends of those who have lost loved ones to overdose, those in recovery fromaddiction and anyone who wishes to make a difference in our community is encouraged to come together and share an evening of spirited conversation and music. Advocate and speaker John Nimmo will provide a keynote address and lead audience participation in a Sound Bath meditation program. Lorain County residents who have overcome addiction and mental health challenges will give a video presentation. The Mental Health Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County and over 20 behavioral health providers will host resource tables with information about treatment, recovery supportand Narcan kits. The
and open to the
Daisy Bockmore, 15, of Wellington and from the Brighton Buckeyes of Lorain County 4-H Club, kisses Tater before the start of the auction at the Lorain County Fair. Daisy’s steer won the Grand Champion Modern Beef title.
THOMAS FETCENKO / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Dave O’Brien
BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE
State Highway Patrol
Scenes from 200 years of county history
John Benson The Chronicle-Telegram
Aphotographic history celebrating Lorain County’s bicentennial is now on display at the Elyria Arts Council.
The new exhibit curated by member photographer Barry Penfound runs through Sept. 28 at its Broad Street venue.
“This is a spectacular array of photos of days gone by,” arts council office manager Anne Jesse said. “It’s very intriguing to view.”
Arts council co-founder and board of directors member Clint Rohrbacher said proceeds from photography sales at the gallery event benefit the Lorain County Historical Society.
“The Elyria Arts Council believes all communities are works of art,” he said. “The history of a person, a city, a county are the brushstrokes, erasures and colors that made
CRASH
From A1 of the road headed north on Route 57.
In the footage the Nissan drives onto the left shoulder of Route 57 as it crosses underneath the Ohio Turnpike bridge. One of the officers relays to dispatch that the suspect vehicle is “doing about 60 miles an hour,” but the Nissan then speeds up considerably.
“The Nissan continued to evade police, driving at a high rate of speed, and went through the red light at Midway (Boulevard), then the red light at Griswold (Road),” the report said.
It was while running the red light at Griswold Road that the Altima struck the Corolla turning left across Route 57.
“Send an ambulance, we have a wreck at Griswold Road,” the officer in the passenger seat of the pursuing cruiser said.
The officers exit their vehicle and one attempts to open the doors of the Altima while the other brings out a fire extinguisher and sprays it on the smoking
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Elyria Arts Council presents Lorain County’s bicentennial photo display WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays WHERE: Elyria Arts Council, 336 Broad St., Elyria INFO: (440) 328-3025 or elyriaartscouncil.org
them what you see today.
“We add and make changes to those canvases every day. Barry’s exhibition shows us his extraordinary art telling the story of the work of art that is Lorain County.”
The exhibit includes 25 historical photos of Lorain County.
“It’s the 200th anniversary of Lorain
front end of the smashed Altima.
The dash camera footage ends as one officer attempts to break open the back passenger side window and the other cuts away the passenger side airbag.
According to the Highway Patrol, none of the three occupants of the Altima were wearing seat belts and Smith and Incorvaia were killed in the crash.
Vormelker was transported by Elyria Township fire to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center while Ryan was flown by Metro Life Flight to MetroHealth Cleveland. Both were in critical condition and remained in the hospital Friday.
The Highway Patrol is handling the investigation of both the crash and the deaths. Elyria Fire Chief Joe Pronesti said that his firefighters had to extricate all three occupants of the Altima.
Elyria police have charged Ryan with three counts of felonious assault, four counts of drug possession, four counts of drug trafficking and one count of failure to comply, all felonies.
AUCTIONS
From A1
$24,000 purchase.
“I feel amazing,” she said of the high sale price. “I was not expecting it to do that.”
Daisy, 15, said a lot of blood, sweat and tears went into raising “Tater,” a white-colored steer that after the auction Saturday morning stood under several large cooling fans in his pen, his long coat mov-
County, so it seemed like it might be a good idea to kind of review photographs of the history of the county,” said Penfound, who previously worked as a Chronicle-Telegram reporter.
“I worked with them on other projects, a couple of gallery shows. So when I was thinking about doing something to honor the county, what better place than Elyria Arts Council since I’m a member there and do work for them?”
The exhibit includes Amherst quarry workers in 1903, the Garford Auto factory in Elyria as a stopover in a cross-county endurance race in 1913, Grafton Fire Department personnel in 1938, Broadway on June 29, 1924, just after a tornado hit, Wellington Square in 1950 and Oberlin ice skaters at Gayters Skating Rink in the early 1900s.
“There’s a great shot of the Ely House
ing in the breeze.
“It’s a lot of hard work every year, so I’m constantly missing out on fun stuff,” she said. “Honestly, I don’t mind it at all because the barn is my happy place — I turn on my speaker, listen to music and I’m there for a couple of hours just doing my own thing and it’s the best thing ever.”
This is Daisy’s seventh year in 4-H, with Brighton Buckeyes of Lorain County and fourth time having a champion animal at the fair.
right after it was finished on Washington Avenue and then when it fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished,” he said.
“There’s also a very early photograph of Cheapside, which is Middle Avenue, with horses standing in front of the stores.”
The freelance writer/photographer and Elyria native hopes the community takes time to relive Lorain County’s history.
“Unfortunately, most people’s history begins when they were born,” he said.
“They don’t really spend a lot of time thinking about when the county and cities were formed. What I’d like them to take away from this is the fact there’s been some great history in the county and people should recognize how the whole place was founded.” Contact John Benson at ndiffrence@att.net.
Kelsie Davis’ Modern Beef Reserve Champion netted the Oberlin 16 year old $8 per pound.
Kimble Recycling & Waste Disposal purchased the 1,410-pound steer.
This is Davis’ second year in a row winning reserve champion in that class.
“We had a lot of problems during the summer and when we bought him he got super sick and stopped eating,” she said. So to get him here is pretty good.”
Davis, a member of Born
in a Barn 4-H club, has been showing 4-H projects since she was 5 years old, she said. She plans to use her earnings from Saturday’s sale to buy stock and supplies for next year and go into her college fund. Davis plans to attend Wilmington College for its livestock nutrition program. For Chance Mezurek’s eighth, and last year at the junior fair, the 16-year-old won Lottery Steer Grand Champion and Dairy Steer Reserve Champion.
A Lorain County’s bicentennial photo collection is on display at Elyria Arts Council, 336 Broad St., through Sept. 28.
Workshop Players ready holiday show
Christina Jolliffe
The Community Guide
AMHERST — While the holidays may seem far away, local actors already are preparing to entertain this holiday season.
The Workshop Players recently held auditions for “A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol,” which will be performed in November.
And while the play takes place around the idea of the Dickens classic, don’t expect it to be the usual Christmas classic, said director Kristina Rivera, 46, of Vermilion.
“It’s a super charming story about a local radio station trying to reinvigorate itself,” she said. “They hire a veteran star of stage and screen to do a live performance and things just keep going wrong. He has kind of a meltdown and the other actors have to save the day. It’s a fun holiday show to get ready for the holiday season.” Rivera has been with the Workshop Players since 2011, starting off on the stage before moving to directing. She is on the board as well and considers the
WHAT: “A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol” by Walton Jones, David Wohl and Faye Greenberg
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14-16, 22 and 23;
3 p.m. Nov. 17 and 24
WHERE: Workshop Players, 44820 Middle Ridge Road, Amherst
COST: $9.25 opening night; $18.50 all other performances MORE INFORMATION/TICKETS: Visit tinyurl. com/32myyh38 or call (440) 634-0472 IF YOU GO
Workshop Players her home theater.
“We try to do something for the holidays every year,” she said. “We’ve done Santa sing-alongs and ‘Here Comes Christmas’ in the past.”
Auditions were held this week for “A 1940s Radio Christmas Carol” with Rivera and music director Jayne Kacik looking for strong singers for the production.
“There is a lot of traditional Christmas music,” she said. “Four parts have to sing a cappella and there are other songs that have accompaniment.”
As director, she finds the best fit for each role, along with coordinating lighting, sound, costume and stage
management.
“We just want everything to be smooth, organized and fun to put on the best show we possibly can and have the most fun we can doing it,” she said.
Two- to three-hour rehearsals four nights a week will begin in September around the current production, “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
“Workshop is a great place to do a show,” Rivera said. “It’s an intimate setting and just a truly unique experience. It’s a whole lot of fun. I try to put together a show that is really about the joy of theater and theater is for everybody.”
Contact Christina Jolliffe at ctnews@ chroniclet.com.
Oberlin College to add musical theater degree
The Community Guide Oberlin College and Conservatory will bolster its theatrical education in 2025, as the conservatory announces the launch of a new music theater program next fall.
The college announced the new major would begin in the fall 2025 semester, in a news release shared Monday.
This program is the latest addition to the conservatory’s more than 150 years of musical training history.
“Oberlin is known throughout the world for its deep commitment to the arts, theater and music,” President Carmen Twillie Ambar said in the release. “It therefore seemed perfectly appropriate to add music theater to our repertoire of excellence.”
Students will be able to receive a Bachelor of Music degree in music theater through classes taught by music theater professionals currently being recruited by the conservatory.
The music theater program will be headed by Victoria Bussert, an award-winning music theater director.
“We couldn’t be more delighted that an artist and educator of Vicky Bussert’s caliber will be the founding director of Oberlin’s music theater program,” Dean of the Conservatory of Music William Quillen said in the release.
p.m.
and
p.m.
According to the release, the program will run out of a fully customized facility “designed specifically for music theater education, training and performance.”
“Oberlin’s investment in the space and specialized faculty for music theater is remarkable,” Bussert said in a release.
“To me, it demonstrates an unwavering commitment to both the field and the next generation of music theater professionals. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.”
The release said that the focus on musical theater would allow the conservatory to build further on an already rich history of Oberlin alumni in the industry.
Two Oberlin alumni mentioned in the release were composer John Kander, who wrote the music for “Cabaret” (1966) and “Chicago” (1975), and writer-director Julie Taymor, who was the mind behind the stage adaptation of “The Lion King” (1977).
“Music theater is one of America’s great artistic traditions,” Quillen said. “It’s also a distinctive Oberlin tradition, as evidenced by the numerous Oberlin alumni over the years — conservatory and college alike — who have helped shape this art form while enjoying distinguished careers on Broadway and stages around the globe.”
$100 table sponsor includes four tickets. Accepting raffle donations. Facebook page — Honor Wreaths. Email honorwreaths@gmail.com. Skunkfest 2024, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 14 at South Central Park, 7565 Avon Belden Road, North Ridgeville. Skunk lovers and owners share in fun, discussions and education about skunks, also games, DJ, raffles, vendors, speakers, food skunk Costume, Most Talented, Skunk Run, Best Detective contests, awards and more. Registration for all skunk contests is 1011:30 a.m. only. Judging for official Skunkfest King, Queen, Prince and Princess is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Skunk entry fee is $10 at the door; $5 for each additional skunk. People entry fee is a cash, paper towel or natural grain cereal item per person. All skunks welcome. Skunks need to be carried, on a leash or in a carrier at all times. Rain or shine. www.skunkhaven. net.
Wellington’s 41st annual Harvest of the Arts, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 15 at 101 Willard Memorial Square, Wellington. There will be fine and folk art juried, vendors, a handmade quilt raffle and lunch available in the Friends Cafe. Free parking and admission. Proceeds benefit community programming at Herrick Memorial Library. For more info, call (440) 647-2120. Lorain County Community Action Agency is seeking sponsors for its wine tasting event, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Sunset Terrace Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave., Lorain. In addition to wines for
tasting, visitors can learn more about LCCAA programs and enjoy door prizes. Sponsorships available at a variety of levels with benefits including free tickets and more. Interested sponsors should contact executive assistant Barbara Nicholls at (440) 204-3178 or bnicholls@lccaa.net. Elyria-area Parade of Flags sponsored by Elyria Kiwanis Club. Elyria Kiwanis will provide, install, remove and properly store the flag for the following holidays: Patriot Day (Sept. 11) and Veterans Day (Nov. 11) for $30 per calendar year. Visit www. elyriakiwanis.net for form. Mail to Elyria Kiwanis, c/o Mark Stewart, 7210 Lilac Court, North Olmsted, 44070. Make checks payable to Kiwanis Club of Elyria. Contact (440) 793-4040 or elyriakiwanis@ yahoo.com to order. Elyria Evening Lions Club flagpole fundraiser: Americanmade telescoping flagpoles and flag sale, the available sizes are 17 feet or 21 feet for $295 and $350 installed. Call Lion Kerry at (440) 670-7746 for information. Fundraiser supports projects of the Elyria Lions Club.
Fundraisers are published as space allows. To have an event included, send the date, time of event, location and phone number for a contact person. Items must arrive seven days before publication and will run for three weeks. Political submissions will run for one week. Send to: Fundraisers, The Chronicle-Telegram, c/o Donna Ponczocha, P.O. Box 4010, Elyria, OH 44036, or email ctnews@chroniclet.
Detours set up around schools for construction
The Chronicle-Telegram
OBERLIN — Oberlin High and Elementary schools is in the midst of construction as the new school year starts.
Work on North Park Street started Aug. 19, and will continue through October, according to the school district.
The construction will turn North Park Street at East Lorain Street into a one-way for northbound traffic, and the traffic light there will be replaced by stop signs during the project.
Children walking or biking to school can use North Park Street to get to the high school and elementary building in marked-off areas, according to the release, and School Resource Officer Billie Neadham will be directing traffic near Oberlin High School.
Families will still be able to drop off and pick up students at both school buildings, and bus traffic will be maintained near the elementary school.
The work includes widening North Park Street from 21 feet to 26 feet and widening East Lorain Street on the north side to add northbound and southbound left turn lanes at the intersection, as well as a continuation of water and sewer main work started last summer, accord-
ing to the city.
The Ohio Public Works Commission contributed $390,000 to the $782,197 project.
During construction, contractor vehicles will not be routed through the school property, and will have flaggers to assist drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
The sidewalk on the east side of North Park will be temporarily replaced with a 5-foot-wide stone path during the project.
After Labor Day, new curbs will be poured along both sides of North Park Street and the widened sections of East Lorain Street, which will disrupt driveway access while new driveway aprons are poured. Affected residents will be able to park at the school lot on the north end of the street.
Work will be done five days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., as weather allows, to meet a late October deadline, according to the city. Those driving, biking or walking through the area are asked to use caution and expect additional traffic and delays at the start and end of the school day.
And look who’s helping to keep kids safe
Shortage of crossing guards has superintendent in neon vest
The Community Guide
OBERLIN — The shortage of school crossing guards within the City of Oberlin has prompted Oberlin City School District Superintendent David Hall to step up. Add “School Crossing Guard” to his title.
“The traffic signal at North Park and East Lorain streets was temporarily removed; and with construction at that intersection, we really need a school crossing guard,” Hall said Monday wearing a neon vest and carrying a STOP sign as temperatures reached into the low 90s. Construction began on Aug. 19, affecting not only the flow of traffic, but walkers/bike riders who utilize North Park Street.
The expected completion date of the project is late October 2024.
Last week, Hall met with the Oberlin Police Department, the Oberlin Fire Department, Oberlin City Engineer Randall Roberts, Oberlin Public Works Director Jeff Baumann and OCSD Operations Director Jim Eibel in an effort to put forth a plan regarding traffic control.
“A plan was devised during that meeting for traffic flow, but the need for a school crossing guard remained,” Hall said.
Before school starts, Langston Middle School employee and Oberlin Police Auxiliary Officer Mark Reynolds served as the school crossing guard.
However, as of Monday afternoon, there was no other option when it came to the intersection of North Park and East Lorain streets.
“It’s important that our students, and their families, know that they are able to get to and from school safely, every day, but especially during construction,” Hall said.
“Dismissal is one of the busiest times of day during school. We are having to direct buses, vehicles, bikers and walkers from all directions.”
Hall and the City of Oberlin are working together to resolve the issue of the school crossing guard shortage.
“I know the City of Oberlin has been trying to secure a school crossing guard. It’s a position that is very needed and one that requires facilitating a safe passage to school for school-age children,” Hall said.
ROUNDUP
Marking ’24 tornado wins award
AUGUST 29, 2024
BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES
ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live
AUGUST 29, 2024 CLIMATE ACTION STEERING COMMITTEE – 4:00 P.M. – 36 S. PROSPECT STREET*
SEPTEMBER 2, 2024 OFFICES CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF LABOR DAY
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – 5:00 P.M. – 36 S. PROSPECT STREET*
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 7:00 P.M. – COUNCIL CHAMBERS*
SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 CITY MANAGER SEARCH IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
– 10:30 A.M. – CONFERENCE ROOM 2 (SPECIAL MEETING)
PURPOSE: To discuss an updated job description and the recruitment strategy for a new City Manager
The Lorain Historical Society received an achievement award for its centennial commemoration of the 1924 Lorain tornado.
The Lorain Historical Society worked with city and county organizations for a year ahead of the centennial commemoration of the Lorain tornado for about a year, according to a news release.
The Ohio Local History Alliance nominated the Lorain Historical Society for an Outstanding Achievement Award in Public Programming.
Lorain Historical Society Curator and Senior Collections Manager Kaitlyn Donaldson will accept the award certificate at the OLHA Annual Meeting Awards luncheon Oct. 5.
The 1924 tornado claimed more than
70 lives in Lorain and caused millions in damage.
Tour Elyria churches Sept. 8
The Lorain County Historical Society and Elyria Community Partnership will host a tour of six historic churches in Elyria. On Sept. 8, the Lorain County History Center, 284 Washington Ave., Elyria, will have a special exhibit, followed by tours of several churches in downtown Elyria. The event is part of Ohio Open Doors, a biannual statewide effort to promote historical architecture. Ohio Open Doors is sponsored by the Ohio History Connection, the Ohio Arts Council, Ohio Tourism, the Ohio Travel Association and Heritage Ohio.
The exhibit at the Lorain County History Center opens at 1 p.m.
A map shows the route to drop off students at Oberlin Elementary and High Schools during construction project on North Park and East Lorain streets.
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Oberlin City School District Superintendent David Hall serves as the school crossing guard at the intersection of North Park and East Lorain streets on Monday.
Fair comes to smashing end
Thousands watch as almost 100 participate in annual demolition derbies at fairgrounds
Richard Perrins The Community Guide
A spectacle of metal and rubber consumed the grandstand area of the Lorain County Fair on Sunday afternoon. Cars, mangled and twisted from prior battles, revved their engines, kicking up dust and smoke that rose as high as the grandstand that rose up behind them. Above the chaos, though, all ears were focused on a loudspeaker.
“Three, two, one — let it rip!” the announcer bellowed. And the cars were off, engines screaming and metal crunching as they sped into one another.
The fair’s annual demolition derby brought 94 competing cars to the fairgrounds in Wellington at 4 p.m. Sunday for hours of driving and crashes, marking the end of this year’s fair.
Groups of cars were organized into classes based on size and category, with a competition for each class. There were six classes — youth compact, street stock full-size, pro stock compact, street stock compact, bone stock compact and no protector.
Some competitions were smaller, with as few as four cars speeding around the track, which consisted of a concrete block boundary with a field of dirt that organizers regularly sprayed with water to keep it muddy under the blazing sun. Others were larger — one competition, street stock full-size, had 20 larger vehicles on the same track.
But for all competitions, the goal was the same — be the last one running.
Over 6,000 people bought tickets for the derby, fair board member Tim Sickels said, with others walking around the area of the fair near the track for a glimpse at the cars. Emergency response teams also milled about nearby — the Wellington Fire Department had a dozen firefighters ready to respond if something were to go wrong.
Sickels has been running the derby at the fair for 15 years. He said the number of drivers, all local enthusiasts desperate to start their engines, was more than in recent years. As a driver or a spectator, Sickels said, demolition derby fans have to be a little bit “crazy.”
“In this kind of work, you got to have that mindset,” Sickels said. “Every year, it’s the same — the stands fill up right away. I think they just like to see stuff get wrecked.”
While the Lorain County Fair and its board organized the event, the derby itself was officiated by an Ohio-based company called Derbydog. Its owner, Jeremy Hejduk, said Derbydog officiates 55 shows a year across Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania, which means he and his crew organize the drivers and keep them in order during the derby.
“It’s especially about safety stuff, making sure safety parameters are met,” Hejduk said. “During the derby, we’re really watching for fires, to make sure the driver is OK inside of
the car. Anytime you see a hard hit, we’re trying to get a thumbs up from the driver to make sure he’s good.”
During the derby, the Derbydog crew stood around the concrete perimeter holding green and red flags. A wave of the red flag meant drivers should stop — either a driver was in an unsafe position or a car was emitting a little too much smoke. A green flag meant the drivers could hit the gas.
Each car had a wooden stick attached to its driver’s side window. If officials or the driver removed the stick, the driver and their car were out of the competition. Each event went until just one car was still
driveable, with first, second and third place awards handed out after.
But Hejduk said what drives people to participate in and watch a derby doesn’t revolve around a desire for trophies.
“It’s just entertaining,” Hejduk said. “That’s what these people came to see. I like to see all these people come out for a day at the fair and see a great demolition derby.”
The first competition of the day was largely teenage drivers in a range of ages. Drivers younger than 18 had to get a permission slip signed before the events started, and many were accompanied by a passenger frantically waving directions.
The winner of the youth compact competition, Mason Babb, was just 11 years old. As the Derbydog crew waved a checkered flag around his car, he stood on top of the vehicle and danced and waved in celebration toward the crowd.
After the first competition, utility vehicles came out to take out cars that were no longer driveable.
But the derby had just started. Next were lone drivers, experienced demo derby participants who had to navigate the destruction alone.
While the teens were loud, the lone drivers were louder. Their engines roaring as their tires struggled to maintain traction in the mud, drivers spun around
the track with one aim — causing damage to their competitors’ vehicles. Cars were slammed into the concrete barriers, sent flying by accelerating opponents and damaged beyond their already-fractured state.
Hejduk said the number of different classes of competition at the derby makes it accessible for drivers of all experiences to participate. All it takes, he said, is a vehicle and a willingness to enter the track.
Jason Reynolds and Kyle Osborne, from Elyria and Sheffield Township, respectively, were two of the thousands of spectators who came to watch. While for Reynolds, Sunday’s event was his first derby, Osborne was attending his first.
Reynolds said demolition derbies appeal to him because he never knows what he might see, from spectacular crashes to impressive driving skills.
“I love the competition of it,” Reynolds said. “It’s always gonna be unique in its own way. You have different drivers, different cars, different outcomes.”
After the competitions ended, deep into the evening, the awards were given out and the crowd dispersed.
Dakota Justin, a Wellington resident who finished sixth in the street stock full-size competition and also drove later on in a compact car, has been competing in demolition derbies for six years.
Justin usually just runs with bigger cars, but decided to try out a smaller compact vehicle for a second race at this year’s fair. For him, driving at derbies is all about the rush of adrenaline from competing on the track.
“Some hits hurt, but other than that you get all excited,” Justin said. “Some people like roller coasters. I like this.”
Contact
THOMAS FETCENKO / COMMUNITY GUIDE PHOTOS
Drivers compete Sunday in the annual demolition derby at the Lorain County Fair.
Multiple cars in six classes competed Sunday in the Lorain County Fair’s demolition derbies.
THOMAS FETCENKO / COMMUNITY GUIDE
People crowd the midway Saturday at the Lorain County Fair.
Girls Soccer at Twinsburg
opened the season up on the road at Twinsburg. Amherst kept it close in the first half with the scored tied at 1. However, Twinsburg controlled the ball and the game in the second half. Twinsburg scored two goals in the second half and won, 3-1.
Photos by Russ Gifford / The
Community Guide
Amherst
could
Amherst’s Allie Jackson makes the pass at Midview. Amherst celebrates a point at Midview.
Amherst’s Victoria Venable gets a hit at Midview.
Amherst keeper Maddie Gates pounces on a Twinsburg shot after it bounced off of the crossbar in the first half.
Paige Miller and Julia Ciura celebrate with Kamille Coleman after she scored Amherst’s lone goal in the first half.
Amherst’s Kamille Coleman moves away from pressure by Twinsburg’s Camryn Pucky.
Columbia’s Natalie Miller battles Cornerstone’s Maddie Tedrick for the ball in the first half at Columbia.
Wellington’s Connor Stevens breaks free past Western Reserve’s Jared Hipp on his way to the end zone.
Wellington’s Johnnie Kinter grabs a pass from Chase Hipp and Dom Edwards and takes it in for a touchdown on the play.
Historical program on preparing for D-Day
People who know about D-Day only through movies and television have a false impression that the Allied invasion of northern France was as simple as deciding to go.
On Wednesday at the Historic Brownhelm School & Museum, 1950 N. Ridge Road, Vermilion, Eric Rivet, chief curator at the Cleveland History Center, will talk about the preparations for the Normandy invasion and the unbelievable effort that went into getting the Allies into France on June 6, 1944.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for a 6:30 business meeting. Social time starts at 7 p.m. and the historical program begins at 7:15 p.m.
Saving old Lorain County houses is topic
The Avon Historical Society will have a program on the “Lost Houses of Lorain County” at 7 p.m. Thursday, at Avon Olde Town Hall, 36995 Detroit Road.
Col. Matthew W. Nahorn of the new Indian Ridge Museum will talk about the doors and other architectural treasures he has salvaged from old houses over the last 25 years, Join us as we take a trip through early Lorain County history, reviewing some prominent architectural styles. For more information, contact Ralph White at 440-6958238 or visit www.avonhistory.org
Knights of Columbus holds pro-life program
The Knights of Columbus Council 3269 will present Tony Sinito, National Account Manager, Ultrasound & Trophon Equipment, Service, and Parts, on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. in Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Road, Avon. He will talk about imaging with ultrasound, its operating principles and medical applications including pregnancy staging with associated costs and interaction with Knights of Columbus Councils for pro-life efforts. Please RSVP to rudybreglia@gmail.com.
Audubon Society talks butterflies
Black River Audubon Society welcomes Rachel Shamy and her program, “Introduction to Northern Ohio Butterflies,” on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Road, LaGrange.
This free, open to the public program will highlight common butterfly species in our area, how to identify them, along with how to identify the difference between butterflies and moths. Rachel will also discuss the importance of saving our Monarch butterflies. There will be a follow up tagging/release event a few weeks later at the Oberlin Preserve Prairie.
Rachel has been a long-time butterfly monitor for the Toledo Area Metro parks. She also helps spot and identify all of the butterfly species for the yearly North American Butterfly Association count in the Oak Openings Region.
THE 1930s
word in fairytale?
17. Doled out cards
18. *1933 movie monster (2 words)
20. Eyeball
21. Golf aid
22. French vineyard
23. *Larry or Curly or Moe
26. Between delta and zeta
30. ____ B vaccine
31. Ciphering machine
34. Kind
35. Black and white cookies
37. ___ chi
38. Fender bender consequences
39. Light beige
40. *First white chocolate manufacturer
42. Grasp
43. Elbow room, to a ship (2 words)
45. Teenagers’ emotions
47. Belly
48. East Indian pepper
50. Buzzing pest
52. *Prairie crisis (2 words)
55. Change, as in U.S. Constitution
56. “If all ____ fails...”
57. Solomon-like
59. Boatload
60. Lab gel
61. Enthusiasm
Finale 63. Grazing land
Blood vessel network
Blue Angel
Calf-length skirt
Ford option
Two-footed mortar support
Shoemaker without shoes, e.g.
BULLETIN BOARD
The Bulletin Board is published on a space-available basis and items will be edited for style, length, and clarity. Items must be submitted to news@lcnewspapers.com by 11 a.m. the Monday before publication.
Connecting for Kids September programs
Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m.: Virtual LGBTQ+ Caregiver Connect: Emotions of LGBTQ+ Parenting
Are you the caregiver of a child who is gender-questioning, expansive or LGBTQ+? Then join our interactive caregiver support group to meet and connect with other families. CFK staff will lead a discussion where families can learn, connect and find resources to better support and affirm their child.
Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m.: Adapted Playgroup at Oberlin Public Library
Adapted Playgroups offer a safe, welcoming environment for caregivers of children with concerns about development. Your child will enjoy engaging with others while practicing play and social skills. You will have the chance to interact with our experienced Intervention Specialist who can provide tips on behavioral and social skills. This program is designed for caregivers and children ages 18 months to 6 years.
Registration is required for these programs. Register online at connectingforkids.org/register or info@connectingforkids.org or calling 440-570-5908.
Genealogy group talks Pennsylvania
James M Beidler, Pennsylvania genealogy expert, will present a virtual program on “Digging Pennsylvania Roots from your Desktop” Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.
Beidler, who has written several books on researching the genealogy of German-speaking people, is a columnist for German Life magazine and is considered a “go-to” person for German genealogy articles and lectures.
Request a link by emailing meetings@loraincoogs.org and ask to be added to the list for this free event.
Mystery Dinner Theater in Amherst
The Amherst Historical Society will present “Murder on the Petulant Express,” a 1930s Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre by Jack Pachuta and directed by Valerie Farschman, in September at the Amherst Historical Society Hall, 113 South Lake St. Shows will be Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m.
With World War II looming, tensions run high as the plot unravels. You will meet and question an international cast of suspects who all have a motive for murdering wealthy industrialist Peter Petulant, the owner of the Petulant Express.
Tickets are $35 for members and $40 for non-members. It’s a BYOB buffet. Reserve tickets by contacting 440988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org
*Shenyang (China) in 1931
O in B.O., pl.
*Cole Porter’s “Begin the ____”
Oxfords and loafers
*George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”
Library card-holders get goodies
September is National Library Card Signup Month and the Amherst Public Library is celebrating with the help of local merchants.
Donors include the Amherst Historical Society, Derek Hamons - State Farm Insurance, Doud’s Veterinary Hospital, Etc. Boutique & Gifts, La Plaza Taqueria Amherst, Nicholas John Salon & Boutique and Lolajoy’s Powder Room, Puffer’s Boutique & Floral, Sandstone Candle Works, and Soul Massotherapy.
Visit amherstpubliclibrary.org for details about what all the merchants and businesses are offering.
Fresh produce at Keystone-LaGrange Library
The Keystone Empowers You Collaborative will host a pop-up produce stand at the Keystone-LaGrange Library, 133 E. Commerce Drive, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and 26. Reserve a bag of fresh fruits and vegetables online at bit.ly/KEYProducePickUp.
If you do not have internet access, you can leave a voicemail for your reservation at (440) 409-7460.
Bags of fresh fruits and vegetables are $12. You may pay ahead via Venmo (@Donna-Pycraft), or pay upon pickup with cash or Venmo.
Fruits and vegetables are provided by Pycraft Farm Market and availability will vary based on what is in season. Keystone Empowers You (KEY) is a communitybased group funded in part by the United Way of Greater Lorain County, and facilitated by Lorain County Public Health.
Sandstone Village celebrates the 1930s
Learn from reenactors about 1930s history in “Hooverville,” a Living History Event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 7 at Sandstone Village 763 Milan Ave.
The free event will include games, music and pastimes of the 30s; a Soup Kitchen for donation; Hobo Jungle and Culture; kids’ activities; a blacksmith shop and village buildings will be open; food trucks.
For more information, please contact the Amherst Historical Society at (440) 988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org
Wellington plans 41st Harvest of the Arts
Wellington’s 41st annual Harvest of the Arts will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 15.
There will be about 60 fine art and folk art vendors, a handmade quilt raffle and lunch in our Friends Cafe. Come visit us in historic Wellington at 101 Willard Memorial Square. Free parking and admission.
For more information, call 440-647-2120. This is a fundraiser for community programming at Herrick Library. Peck-Wadsworth closed for three months
The Lorain County Engineer’s Office announced that Peck-Wadsworth Road will be closed until mid-November between Hawley and West roads in Wellington Township for a bridge replacement.
Lorain County Dem women to meet
The Lorain County Democratic Women’s Club will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Lorain County Democratic Party Headquarters, 2063 North Ridge Road - Unit B, in Lorain (behind the Robert Taylor Insurance Office).
We will discuss the upcoming election and the passing of anti-gerrymandering legislation.
To learn more about the LCDW, visit our website at www.LCDWOhio.com or our Facebook page.
To make a donation to LCDW’s Act Blue account, visit: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lorain-countydemocratic-women-s-club-1
Beatles vs. Stones musical comes to town
Who is better? The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? Touring tribute bands will stop at the Lorain Palace Theatre for a show(down) at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Abbey Road, one of the county’s top Beatles tribute bands, will face off against renowned Stones tribute band, Satisfaction.
Tickets are $25 - $45, plus ticket fees, and may be purchased by phone at (440) 245-2323, at the Theatre Box Office or online at www.lorainpalace.com.
Brightest star in Cygnus
1990s negation
Second of two
Beat the Joneses
Angry stare
Battle of the ____, a.k.a. Ardennes Offensive
Test format
*Bureau of Investigation agent, to “Machine Gun” Kelly
Smart but awkward one
*FDR’s New ____
____ E. Coyote
Law school test acronym
Compass point between NE and E
Trust is abuilding block to good friendships.Trust is believinga person willkeep theirpromises.
WhatTrust LooksLike
When aperson is kind to you, especially when you’re having arough day. When youknow aperson will do what they said they were going to do
takes care
Trust Walk
Partner with afriend or family member to takea walk.
Oneperson closes their eyes or wears ablindfold
Holding hands,the person with open eyes takes their partner on awalk
At rst,the blindfolded person mayfeel abit scared.But,ifthe open-eyed partner is very careful of their safety, they will starttotrust
Afterawhile,switch roles.
Afterward, talk about how it felt to do the Trust Walk
Take this self-review to nd out Read the
and check
or FALSE
Idon’tspread rumors aboutpeople.
Iamhonest
People can countonme.
Iamloyaltomyfriends and family
Ikeepthe promises Imake
Iamatrustworthy person because:
BuildingTrust Trustworthiness
Trust is something you don’tjusthave It takes time to build trust.
Each timesomeone keeps a promise, tells thetruth, is kindto you, or is careful with your things, trust builds. It is like buildingahouse.You startby building afoundation with bricks of trust.
If youbreakapromiseortell alie, the bricks fall down, and it is hardto build them back up
Unscramble the letters on these blocksto discovera keyway to build trust.
Mirror Image
Face apartner. Oneperson will be the“mirror,” and theother willbethe person looking into the mirror. The mirror follows the movements of the person looking into
as they can. After afew minutes, switch roles.
Talk about how the mirror and thepersonlookingintoit could help each other
Read thesentences. Finish each one with an answerthat shows trustworthiness Juan hearda badrumor about Sarah. Juan should
Tomas found $10in the gym. Tomas should Sasha found Maria’s diary. Sashashould
With hundreds of topics,every KidScoop
Howmanydi erences canyou ndbetween these twofriends playingthe mirror game?
When youcan believewhataperson says to you.
When aperson
of something youloan to them.
©2024byVickiWhiting,Editor Je Schinkel,Graphics Vol. 40,No. 1