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Lorain County Community Guide - Aug. 10, 2023

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Lorain County Fair Special Edition is Aug. 31

Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023

Submit items to news@LCnewspapers.com

Volume 10, Issue 31

Ohio voters reject Issue 1 DAVE O’BRIEN THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

Ohioans soundly defeated Issue 1, a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would have made it more difficult for citizenled initiatives seeking to amend the state’s governing document. Lorain County reflected the statewide trend on Aug. 8. With all precincts reporting, Issue 1 failed 53,119 votes to 31,489 votes, or 62.8 percent to 37.2 percent, according to complete but unofficial results from the Lorain County Board of Elections. Lorain County and statewide Democrats celebrated what they saw as a rebuke of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who pub-

licly touted Issue 1 as a means to defeat a so-called leftist agenda by making it more difficult for progressive groups outside of Ohio to change state law in their favor — including with a proposed constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights appearing on the Nov. 7 ballot in Ohio. “This was a stupid idea by (Frank) LaRose, this was just stupid and I hope tonight’s statistics show him that maybe you need to think before you do this stuff,” said Lorain County Democratic Party Chairwoman Sharon Sweda, who was attending a Democratic watch party at Quaker Steak & Lube in Sheffield. “It didn’t matter if you were a Democrat or a Republican or an independent, ISSUE 1 PAGE A4

DAVID SANDS | The Community Guide

RIGHT: Lorain County Democratic Party Chair Sharon Sweda beams with excitement at early voting results, while Lisa Mackin, Avon City Democratic Party Chair, looks surprised at the early lead against Issue 1 on Aug. 8.

Wellington first responders host National Night Out event

Oberlin College sues insurance companies over Gibsons Bakery settlement

CARISSA WOYTACH THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

DAVE O’BRIEN THE COMMUNITY GUIDE

WELLINGTON — Sizzling burgers and the splash of a dunk tank provided the backdrop to Wellington’s National Night Out on Aug. 1. The annual event brought together the Village’s safety forces and the community they serve, allowing local families and children to meet police, fire and EMS in a new way, Wellington Police Sgt. Kayla Athanas said. Athanas, who has organized the event for the past few years, said the evening of food and games is a chance for residents to see the faces of first responders who may be coming to them on their worst days. “Most likely when they do see us, or fire, or EMS, it’s a bad experience or not the greatest experience,” she said – as often the departments are responding to calls for service when they first meet people. “So this is a good time for them to come out, meet and mingle in a very neutral (setting) … it’s just good public relations. We want

Oberlin College has sued four of its insurance providers in Lorain County Common Pleas Court to force them to cover the multimillion-dollar judgment that Gibson’s Bakery won against the college in 2019. The college filed suit in April against Lexington Insurance Company of New York; United Educators Insurance of Bethesda, Maryland; Mount Hawley Insurance Company of Peoria, Illinois; and StarStone Specialty Insurance Company of Cincinnati. Oberlin College claimed the insurance companies wrongfully refused “to honor promises they made in their respective policies to protect the interests of Oberlin College” and its former vice president and dean of students, Meredith Raimondo. The case is assigned to Judge Chris Cook, whom the college is asking to force the insurance companies to cover the more than $36 million it paid the Gibsons last year as a

JEFF BARNES | The Community Guide

Beka Brasse, 3, pushes the bottom on the dunk tank at Wellington’s National Night Out event on Aug. 1, sending EMT Dan Cole into the water. the people to know that we are there for them.” The dunk tank, which featured a rotating cast of fire, police and EMS workers, was a popular new addition this year — especially when the littlest attendees were allowed to

run up, hit the button and send whoever was working it flying into the cold water below. Athanas said the funds raised from the dunk tank go to fund the village’s Safety Town next week, as well as next year’s Night

Out event. Athanas said she reached out to local businesses for donations to help cover food costs, and the police, fire and EMS all brought out vehicles for kids to explore. Donna Clawson, NIGHT OUT PAGE A2

result of the lawsuit. Court records didn’t specify when the next hearing will be in the case. At the time of the events that led to the Gibsons lawsuit, Oberlin College said it had insurance policies providing “at least $75 million in total insurance coverage, which is more than enough to pay the underlying judgment and substantial unpaid defense costs” it incurred in the nearly six-year legal battle. The college got $1 million from one of its insurance companies, but “also incurred millions of dollars in defense costs pursuing its appeals,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit did not give an exact dollar amount the college spent on legal fees. Oberlin College’s insurance policies included $25 million in commercial umbrella liability coverage from Lexington; $10 million from Mount Hawley; $5 million from StarStone; and $25 million in overlapping educators legal liability coverage from United Educators, according to the lawsuit. GIBSONS PAGE A4

INSIDE THIS WEEK Amherst

Author releases book this fall ● A3

Oberlin

State funds period products in schools ● A5

Sports

Pre-season soccer ● A6

OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS A4 • CROSSWORD A7 • SUDOKU A7 • KID SCOOP A8


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