Lorain County Community Guide - Sept. 8, 2022

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AMHERST NEWS-TIMES • OBERLIN NEWS-TRIBUNE • WELLINGTON ENTERPRISE Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

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Volume 9, Issue 36

‘Students More space to learn are worried’ Oberlin College’s switch to Catholic health care provider stirs controversy

JASON HAWK EDITOR

OBERLIN — Alarms started going off in Sam Beesley’s head this summer when he learned student health services at Oberlin College would fall under the management of a Catholic organization.

The senior history and politics major, who is a member of the Student Labor Action Coalition on campus, said he was wary of religion playing any role in medical care.

The Roman Catholic church has long made its stance on birth control clear. Since a pronouncement

by Pope Pula VI in 1968, it has formally held that artificial means “to render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil.”

So Beesley fired off a series of questions to Andrew Oni, director of Carmen student safety and wellbeing at the Twillie Ambar college, asking about its relationship with Harness Health Partners.

“My transgender friends are worried about potentially having their medical files shared with a hostile provider.

They are concerned they won’t receive the same quality of care based on their gender identity or expression,” he wrote.

“Students are worried about access to abortion, morning after pills and other essential reproductive health care. Our rights and access to these resources are under attack around the country. I want to know what Oberlin is doing to ensure students get the care they need from their new health partners.”

Oni replied that Harness Health Partners would cover care for women and transgender students.

“Be rest assured that your friends and our students will be taken care of,” he said.

Harness Health Partners is a division of Bon Secours Mercy Health, the Catholic company that operates Mercy Health Allen Hospital on college property.

The health care provider will only prescribe birth control with “medical indications,” according to spokeswoman Jennifer Robinson.

Plan B, also known as the morning after pill, will only be given to victims of sexual assault, she said.

The Chronicle and Community Guide reported on that stance last week, after repeatedly reaching out to Oberlin College for information and receiving few details.

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Photos by Jason Hawk | Amherst News-Times

After a dedication ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 31, Superintendent Mike Von Gunten and Principal Cathy Keener hold open the doors of the new Firelands High School to the public for the first time.

Doors of new $23M Firelands HS open to the public for the first time JASON HAWK EDITOR

HENRIETTA TWP. — Peyton Vanderpool didn’t feel nostalgic last Wednesday night for the narrow hallways of his old stomping grounds.

As he roamed the new Firelands High School, in all its 106,000-square-foot glory, the junior said he was impressed with how much more spacious it felt.

“It’s a nice school. Definitely a lot of improvements on the other schools we’ve had,” Vanderpool said.

“You’ve got room. You don’t feel like you’re bumping up against each other.”

For sophomore Ethan Meszaros, the highlights of the new $23 million building on Vermilion Road are the soft couches and chairs spread across open areas.

“It feels like it’s a lot more relaxed,” he said.

Hundreds of visitors showed up for a dedication ceremony, and then pushed inside Firelands’ newest building to explore.

Cheryl Lyman, executive director of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, called the new high school “a testament to the community’s willingness to invest in education.”

Her state agency chipped in nearly $5.3 million to help build the school.

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In November 2018, voters agreed to up property taxes to cover the rest of the price tag.

Superintendent Mike Von Gunten expressed thanks to those voters.

“Thank you to our community for making this dream a reality for our students,” he said.

Mike O’Keefe, president of the Firelands Board of Education, said he was grateful to supporters for putting their faith in the district, and to staff for being “the heartbeat that makes Firelands great.”

But his greatest praise was reserved for Von Gunten, himself a Firelands graduate, who has “worked 36 hours a day, 10 days a week” for nearly four years to see the building project through.

“I can honestly say this would still be a soccer practice field if it weren’t for the will and determination of this man,” O’Keefe said, clapping Von Gunten on the arm.

State Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, HIGH SCHOOL PAGE A2

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Falcons cheerleaders get a big crowd in the spirit before last week’s dedication.

Amherst

Oberlin

Wellington

Ex-police chief weighs in on Wellington PD strife • A4

Ohio Supreme Court won’t hear Gibson’s appeals • A4

Take one last look at the ‘22 Lorain County Fair • B1-B3

OBITUARIES A2 • CLASSIFIEDS A4 • BULLETIN BOARD A5 • KID SCOOP A6

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Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Registration opens for music school classes

The nonprofit Oberlin Community Music School, 315 E. College St., is taking registrations for upcoming early childhood classes.

• Musical Beginnings for ages 0-3: This class, for child and parent/caregiver, allows children to learn music as a native language at the time when the brain is most ready for language development. Class times are 5:15-5:45 p.m. and 5:45-6:15 p.m. on Mondays beginning Sept. 12; or 10:30-11 a.m. on Fridays beginning Sept. 16.

• MusicPlay for ages 3-5 introduces a variety of musical concepts through singing, moving, listening, describing, analyzing and creating. Social skills such as listening and sharing will be developed in a nurturing environment. Parents will be involved in this class with their child. Class times are 5-5:45 and 6-6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning Sept. 13.

Scholarship assistance is available to those who qualify.

To register, visit www.oberlin.edu/community-music-school.

New clubs for teens and adults at the Amherst library

AMHERST — The Amherst Public Library is introducing two new clubs for teens and adults.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 13, Tabletop Game Time will meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. It is recommended for ages 12 and older. Drop in for game time with a friend or make some new friends while you learn how to play new games or rediscover old favorites.

A variety of 2-6 player card, strategy and party games will be available at every club meeting, including Catan, Bohnanza, Sagrada, Splendor, Azul, For Sale and more.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 27, Tokusatsu Club will meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. It’s recommended for ages 15 and up. Join to learn about, watch and discuss Japanese Tokusatsu films and television shows like “Ultraman,” “Godzilla,” “Super Sentai,” “Kamen Rider” and more.

Child care centers meet healthy standard

Fourteen child care providers in Lorain County recently received the Ohio Healthy Programs designation. Lorain County Public Health and the Child Care Resource Center helped these providers earn the status, which requires centers to take steps to prevent childhood obesity.

“Starting healthy habits at an early age helps set a person up for a lifetime of good health,” said county Health Commissioner Mark Adams. “Child care providers play an important role in preventing childhood obesity when they promote healthy foods and physical activity. Many children spend a significant amount of time with child care providers.”

To earn designation, child care personnel must attend training for administrators, cooks and teachers; implement a new wellness policy such as reduced screen time; improve menus to include fruit and vegetables daily; and engage families by sending home healthy recipes, flyers or information about healthy eating or physical activity.

The following child care providers qualified: • TDR in Lorain • Faith House Daycare West in Lorain • Faith House Sheffield • Horizon Lorain Community Center • Little Lighthouse Learning Center in Lorain • Oberlin Early Childhood Center • Kids Academy of Sheffield Lake • Seven Lorain City Schools locations including Frank Jacinto, Garfield, Hawthorne, Helen Steiner Rice, Larkmoor, Palm and Stevan Dohanos.

OBITUARIES DONNA Y. IRELAND (nee Barnett), 76, longtime resident of Amherst, passed away quietly at her home on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 3, 2022, following declining health. Hempel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

GRACE PATRICIA 'PAT' CONRAD (nee Banasik), 89, and a resident of Amherst, passed away Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, at The Woods of French Creek following a brief illness. Hempel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

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WORRIED

ABOVE: Nina Fisher, accompanist for the Firelands High School choir, plays piano in for visitors touring the new facility.

also laid the victory at the superintendent’s feet.

A former Firelands High School teacher, Miller saw six people fill the district’s top job during his 17-year tenure. Several tried to rally the community toward a new school, but Von Gunten was “the one to get it done,” he said.

Miller seemed a little wistful that he left for a political career before construction started.

“I will admit I wish I had my classroom in this building,” he joked. “Having dust from the farm across the street blow in my windows was never the best.”

Spanish teacher Joan Myer, whose career has spanned 36 years with Firelands, was among those who made the move from the old building over the summer.

“It was a lot of packing,” she said — in the spring, the frenzied work of boxing up materials began, but maintenance staff made the actual move easy, she said.

On Aug. 1, Myer popped in to start setting up pinatas and flags in her new classroom, and spent the

last few weeks unpacking everything else.

Ninth-graders were the first to start classes at Firelands High, reporting Tuesday. They were joined Wednesday by teens in grades 10-12.

Miranda Burnworth, a junior, said she was most excited to get into the building’s FFA classroom for agricultural studies. It’s larger with more advanced equipment than the one she’s used since freshman year.

But the biggest appeal for Burnworth and just about everyone else who attended last week’s dedication?

“It’s got to be the air conditioning,” she said — no other school in the district is equipped with climate control.

Taylor Wiley, an eighth-grader, is already looking forward to moving up to the new high school next fall.

“I think it’s amazing. We get to get a new building to graduate in,” she said.

Von Gunten said the new school “will meet the needs of generations to come.”

At the same time, he’s already

FROM A1

nervous at the prospect of more growing pains for the mostly-rural Firelands Schools. Enrollment is increasing at a steady rate, and suburban sprawl could soon lead to a boom.

Already, Von Gunten is watching plans for a proposed 450-home subdivision in Vermilion — inside Firelands’ boundaries — move ahead. Right now it’s a farm field, but it could hasten discussions about the need for additional teaching space, he said.

The Board of Education has been hammering out a long-range strategy for building out its Vermilion Road campus. Those talks involve a board office, a bus garage and the possibility of more athletic facilities.

But soon enough yet another new school could take precedence.

Firelands Elementary is likely the next candidate for replacement, Von Gunten said.

“We would be constructing something, and I don’t want to get to far ahead. But we’d be looking at adding square footage,” he said.

WORRIED

FROM A1 released a statement saying Bon Secours Mercy Health is “no longer comfortable with their prior position” on prescribing contraceptives for the express purpose of birth control.

The health care provider changed the terms of its deal with the college close to the start of the semester, informing the college “through media reports and emails.”

Scott Wargo, director of media relations for the college, said Bon Secours Mercy Health had provided a contract stipulating it would provide contraceptive services for birth control.

He declined to provide a copy of the contract.

Robinson did not respond to calls requesting comment about what the Catholic company had originally promised or Oberlin College’s claim that it had reversed course.

Harness Health Partners handled COVID-19 testing for Oberlin College through the pandemic.

Ambar said that before expanding that relationship, the college held conversations with the company about the type of care it would require to serve students effectively.

Both reproductive health for birth control and gender-affirming care were part of those discussions, she said.

Harness Health Partners “provided assurances on these issues and both parties worked together to prepare for a new school year,” according to Ambar.

“I wish to be clear. Oberlin is committed to the health and total well-being of all of our students,” her statement said. “This commitment requires that we provide a high level of care across a wide scope of services, including reproductive health care and gender affirming care.”

The college “quickly moved to ensure the needs of our students would be met without interruption,” she said — the solution was to work with Family Planning Services of Lorain County to provide reproductive health care services on campus.

The Elyria-based nonprofit has been around since 1969. Ambar said last year it held clinics at Oberlin College to test for sexually transmitted infections.

This year, Family Planning will continue to test for STIs and will also provide preventative treatment for HIV, conduct Pap exams, dispense contraceptives and medication such as Plan B on campus and offer gender-affirming care.

The hitch is that Family Planning will only operate from the Student Health Center three days a week.

Ambar said the college

will provide transportation to Elyria four days a week.

Family Planning is also considering — but had not yet committed to — offering telemedicine visits for students, according to Ambar’s message.

The student-run Sexual Information Center on campus will still provide generic morning-after medication as well as condoms, lube, binders and other items, according to Co-Director Tiffany Yuen.

“We’re anticipating students will want to have the pill on hand, because we’re in Ohio,” where a six-week abortion ban was put in place shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v.

Wade, she said.

Yuen said she feels Family Planning does “really amazing work, but it’s not enough, I think” without a full-time presence on campus.

Transportation to Elyria is now one of the biggest barriers to care for students, she said. It’s unclear whether the college will use a bus, vans, volunteer drivers or ride-sharing to shuttle students to Family Planning, Yuen said, but in any case she is wary there will be a stigma attached to using the service.

“People are going to make their assumptions” about students who take those rides, she said.

The level of confidentiality in signing up for a ride is a big question in Yuen’s mind — so is how often the rides will depart and return. She is worried they could only be available in narrow windows.

Beesley said students are still confused about exactly what services will be available on and off campus. Even if health care is available, students might be swayed from using them because they are even slight more difficult to access, he said.

“I think that’s the biggest feelings right now are outrage and confusion,” he said, calling Oberlin College administrators’ motives into question. “… Either they’re intentionally cutting costs at the expense of our community, or they’re very bad at their jobs.”

The change has raised concerns in his circles about how truthful the college is being with students, Beesley said. He wants to see the contract Bon Secours provided and verify that it included birth control and care for transgender students.

He said his request for a copy has gone unanswered.

“If it was promised, how did it change?” Beesley said. “And why aren’t (college administrators) suing for breach of contract?”

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Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Page A3

Suspended WPD Firm's analysis paints ‘troubling’ staffer accuses picture of Wellington PD culture former sergeant JASON HAWK EDITOR

JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — Denise Swanson, administrative assistant to Wellington Police Chief Tim Barfield since 2019, has been suspended indefinitely with pay after alleging she was physically and verbally assaulted by a former officer.

Swanson said she was working in the department’s Kelly Street auxiliary building shortly after 6 a.m. on April 25 when Sgt. Jeff Mecklenburg entered, apparently intoxicated, shouting and calling her a liar.

“He was using his body to bully me and to kind of barricade me from getting out,” she said in a phone interview.

According to Swanson, she called Barfield from her cell phone and had him on speaker for 28 minutes while the alleged attack played out. The chief was at his home at the time, she said.

Mecklenburg chased her out of the building and pinned Swanson against her vehicle, she claimed.

Eventually he ran out of steam and left, she said.

Swanson said she went back in the auxiliary building, and locked the door at Barfield’s urging.

A few minutes later, Barfield went to Mecklenburg’s house, where the sergeant resigned on the spot, according to Swanson.

She said she wrote out a victim statement and Barfield mandated that she receive counseling.

In an interview, Barfield said he does not believe there was a physical assault, but a verbal assault is workplace violence and would likely have been grounds for termination had Mecklenburg not resigned.

“I can’t have employees coming in and yelling at employees,” Barfield said.

In the months that followed, Swanson said she believed there was an investigation underway that would lead to charges or some other consequences for Mecklenburg.

But charges never came.

Barfield said Swanson chose not to pursue charges.

On Aug. 23, Swanson was placed on unpaid leave, which was changed to a paid suspension when she challenged the step’s legality.

Village Manager Jonathan Greever said Swanson’s status was changed from unpaid to a paid suspension within 48 hours, and that she was paid retroactively.

The same day she suspended, Swanson called the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office to file a report.

That service report redacts the name of the officer Swanson accused, but indicated it was “one of the K-9 officers.” Wellington had only one — Mecklenburg.

Sheriff’s Office Capt. Richard Bosley said the name was blacked out because it listed an uncharged suspect. Ohio’s public records law allows that type of redaction during an investigation.

The report, obtained through a public records request, shows Swanson said her assailant was intoxicated. It also characterizes the complaint as a sex offense, but Bosley said that was not accurate.

Swanson also said in an interview that there was nothing sexual about the alleged assault.

Bosley said the investigation is active and moving forward.

Mayor Hans Schneider said Wellington is also conducting its own internal investigation, giving the task to a member of the Wellington Police Department. He said he did not see a conflict of interest in having a co-worker carry out the probe.

“At the end of the day, if allegations are being made, we’re doing our due diligence to look into them,” Schneider said.

Both he and Swanson said there is not a security camera in the police auxiliary building to verify what happened.

Schneider declined to talk further on the record about the investigation, but said there is another side to the story that will come to light.

He said he is being kept out of the loop for now because it will be his responsibility to make disciplinary decisions once all the evidence is presented.

Swanson said she believes she is being targeted by village administrators. She also alleged that her confidential victim statement was shown to Mecklenburg.

“That’s a concern to me, because it obviously leaves an opportunity wide open for retaliation,” she said.

Now Swanson said she has hired a discrimination attorney and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Those complaints are not public record under Ohio law unless a lawsuit is filed and they become a part of the court record, although they can be disclosed voluntarily.

Swanson said she should be compensated for the cost of mandatory counseling and emotional distress.

Saying Barfield is the best boss she’s ever had, she also expressed reservations about returning to her job due to lack of trust in village officials.

WELLINGTON — Accusations of bullying, favoritism, toxic relationships, gossip and security holes are part of an independent review that paints an ugly picture of the Wellington Police Department.

A hostile work environment complaint filed by Detective Robert Aviles against Chief Tim Barfield and Lt. Josh Poling this spring prompted an internal investigation by Village Manager Jonathan Greever, according to Mayor Hans Schneider.

It also led the village to hire LeBrun Management Solutions Consulting of Beavercreek — the same firm that Amherst officials used to look at low morale and high turnover there. Wellington has seen as many as a dozen employees come and go in the last couple of years, Schneider said, and several have left with complaints.

Amherst’s probe led to the eventual resignation of Police Chief Joseph Kucirek. Schneider said he does not see a similar outcome for Barfield, for whom he has unwavering support.

While he is not blind to problems in the ranks — “There’s some troubling stuff in there,” he said of the LeBrun report — Schneider said Barfield has elevated the department since being hired in 2014.

LeBrun made some recommendations for how Barfield can improve, but overall said his leadership style “is not deemed toxic.”

“It is important to note that adjustments and changes in his leadership skills/traits are necessary to reduce turnover and improve morale of the police department, but he is not the sole reason for the turnover,” the report said of Barfield. “Nor were any specific examples offered that align with a toxic leadership style.”

While employees may not always agree with him, the majority do respect Barfield, LeBrun said. The report said he needs to listen and communicate more effectively and not defer to full-time employees over part-timers when making decisions.

Barfield said the report was “written by a company hired to find problems” and was “based on half-truths.”

Turnover is high at police departments across the nation. Barfield said Wellington’s issue is pay; it doesn’t offer as much money or “as much excitement as many young officers want to get,” and he believes it’s impossible to make all employees happy.

“I was commissioned to make this a more professional police department,” he said.

Wellington police have modernized under his tenure, Barfield said, noting he has vastly increased training hours and he has tried to hire people who will contribute to the betterment of the village.

The report was based on 25 inperson interviews and 16 telephone

interviews, involving both current and former employees.

Barfield said he disagreed with paying LeBrun Management Solutions $20,000 for its services, and said he was disappointed Village Council didn’t consult him first.

Greever characterized the report as balanced, professional and thorough.

“I think there were definitely some compelling areas of improvement that were identified that the village can start working on,” he said.

LeBrun’s report concluded there are relationship problems between co-workers “and potentially toxic employees harming the overall culture” of the Wellington Police Department.

“Much of the turnover was caused by toxic people in the department who are no longer employed by the police department,” it said. “Others left to take on higher-paying jobs or move to areas with more activity.”

It urged Barfield to take a step back and listen to all part-time and full-time employees regarding the schedule: “They are not happy, and this is the No. 1 reason for low morale and a big part of the turnover. They need an improved work/life schedule they can count on.”

Barfield said members of his department voted four times to accept a 10-hour schedule.

“What they’re not happy with is that we’re a very small department, and to make this schedule work we have to do some split shifts,” he said.

Hiring and promotion strategies and “protecting some employees to the detriment of the department” were also high on the list.

Those interviewed did not have any respect for Poling, LeBrun found.

Barfield said Poling “is a very good leader.”

Low morale also was chalked up to having untrained officers with a lack of experience, feelings that discipline isn’t meted out evenly, public reprimands for gossiping and allegations that Barfield has an “inner circle” that is favored.

There was also fallout from an alleged affair and flirtation that the report said included physical altercations by both parties.

LeBrun’s analysis said domestic abuse allegations should be investigated in all cases, including when they involve police personnel. It did not provide background to show what led to that statement being included in the report.

The document did go on to say, however, that “the resignation of one officer should not stop an investigation into verbal or physical abuse. All parties should be investigated, and the results documented.”

It did not mention administrative assistant Denise Swanson or former Sgt. Jeff Mecklenburg by name.

Swanson has alleged she was physically and verbally assaulted April 25

by Mecklenburg, who resigned the same day. Swanson is suspended with pay pending the results of an internal investigation.

LeBrun’s review did outline security concerns about confidential information being taken outside the police

station. It said Swanson was allowed to take payroll information home to work on it there.

Schneider said Swanson removed time sheets that did not include Social Security numbers.

Other complaints LeBrun heard from Wellington police personnel included a lack of training with firearms and other equipment, such as gas masks.

One officer reportedly spoke of suicide, which alarmed co-workers. They felt “this person was protected by the chief and yet he placed everyone in danger,” the analysis said.

Former employees put that concern high on the list of reasons they chose to leave the Wellington Police Department, according to LeBrun.

Other comments from police staff suggest officers haven’t always responded to bomb threats at the Wellington Schools — a claim Schneider dismissed as being without merit.

One person resigned when told all police personnel were required to be on duty when former President Donald Trump visited the Lorain County Fairgrounds in June 2021, the report said.

Conflicting directions from the top of the ladder, gossip and Barfield’s move to work from the Kelly Street auxiliary building were all also cited as reasons for discontent.

LeBrun said Barfield needs to cease holding meetings at his home and stop allowing employees to use the police station on their personal time.

The report also called for more training on school shootings, equipment upgrades for dispatchers, fewer Sunday afternoon meetings and said Barfield should give more consideration when staff come forward with ideas.

“There’s a lot in there that concerns us. We want to deal with it all,” Schneider said.

“The department has been taking meaningful steps to address concerns that have been raised,” Greever said.

“I think that process is ongoing.”

Barfield said he believes the situation is “getting better. That this has come up is truly unfortunate.”

Meanwhile, an investigation into Aviles’ hostile workplace allegation has concluded, at least for now, Schneider said.

He said Aviles has been asked to put his specific complaints in writing and has yet to do so.

“We are trying to get to the bottom of it,” Barfield said.

None of the parties involved in that investigation were placed on leave while it was carried out, Schneider said.

Swanson, who has been suspended with pay since Aug. 23, is angry. In a phone interview, she said she wants to know why she has been treated differently by being suspended during her investigation when that step was not taken for any of the parties in Aviles' complaint.

Schneider said he sees the Aviles complaint about the workplace environment as fundamentally different from the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident between Swanson and Mecklenburg.

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Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Feds charge 14 in Ohio Supreme Court won’t hear drug trafficking Oberlin College v. Gibsons case sting operation DAVE O’BRIEN THE CHRONICLE-TELEGRAM

STAFF REPORT

Fourteen alleged members of a drug trafficking organization operating in Northeast Ohio were charged by federal prosecutors in Cleveland last week after a grand jury returned a 38-count indictment.

The charges allege that the 14 defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 280 grams of crack cocaine base and fentanyl throughout the area.

Twelve of the 14 are from Elyria.

They are Montez Miller, 34; Mario Hoyle, 32; Marlon Hoyle, 30; Theodore Nickoloff, 48; Adrian Smith, 32; Anthony Lee Smith, 33; Mario McCray, 41; Madonna Sanchez, 36; Bernard Green, 62; Brandon Keith, 32; Toquato Knowles, 42; and Darius Glass, 32.

Alex Perez, 25, of Sheffield Lake, and Marque Miller, 28, of Cleveland, also were named as defendants.

All 14 are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of controlled substances.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio said that from February 2019 to August 2022, the alleged drug traffickers obtained large quantities of cocaine from an unknown supplier and redistributed it among the named defendants for sale in Northeast Ohio.

The alleged conspirators also used cellphones and coded language "to obscure and disguise their drug trafficking activity," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The investigation that led to the charges was done by the Elyria Police Department with assistance from the Lorain Police Department, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.

The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation, aimed at identifying, disrupting and dismantling high-level criminal organizations, and Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, which seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and their distribution networks.

Fink earns literacy fellowship AMHERST — Jackie Fink, a third grade teacher at Powers Elementary School in Amherst, was chosen from a pool of 150 applicants as a Goyen Foundation Fellow.

The Goyen Foundation amplifies the voices of students with learning differences and supports the work of teachers, scientists and parents doing the same. The nonprofit announced the Goyen Literacy Fellowship in July, giving teachers $2,000 to document excellent literacy teaching in their classrooms. The fellowship will last eight weeks this school year, and Fink will Jackie Fink systematically document literacy best practices through a combination of videos, student work samples and photographs, and write blog posts about her experience.

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• Bachelor Degree • Ability to analyze Federal, State, and Local statutes, rules,

and regulations to ensure Agency compliance as applicable

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Proficiency with spreadsheet and word processing software • Excellent problem-solving skills

Preferred:

• Working knowledge of statutes related to Human Resource Management

including, but not limited to, FMLA

• Five (5) years human resources experience • Experience analyzing Federal, State, and Local statutes, rules, and

regulations and ensuring Agency compliance as applicable in the field of Developmental Disabilities and/or for a County Board.

LEGALS PUBLIC NOTICE To UNKNOWN FATHER, whose last known address is unknown in Lorain County, Ohio, you have been named as a Defendant in the legal action entitled Patricia Wright, and Mother, Angela Horvath, et al. This action has been assigned Case No. 22 JG 63349 and is pending in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas, Elyria, Ohio with the Honorable Judge Sherry Glass

presiding.

The object of the Complaint filed in the above-captioned case is for paternal grandparent, Patricia Wright, to be granted custody by their Complaint for Legal Custody of minor child, K. H., born 01/18/2013.

You are required to answer the Complaint within twenty-eight (28) days after the last publication of this Notice, which will be published one day pursuant to Rule 16 of the Ohio Rules of Juvenile Procedure. The last publication will be made on the 22nd day of September, 2022.

Your time for answer will commence on that date as service of process by publication will be deemed complete as of the last date of publication.

In the event of your failure to answer or otherwise respond within the time allowed by Ohio law and the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, judgment by default will be rendered against you without further notice for the relief demand in the Complaint.”

LCCG 8/18,25; 9/1,8, 15,22/22 20706825

The Ohio Supreme Court has declined to hear appeals filed by both Oberlin College and Gibson's Bakery in their long-running legal dispute.

Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor issued a brief statement saying the court was declining to hear arguments by both sides in their fiveyear legal battle.

"Upon consideration of the jurisdictional memoranda filed in this case, the court declines to accept the jurisdiction of the appeal or crossappeal," O'Connor wrote last week.

The decision was 4 to 3. O'Connor and justices Sharon Kennedy, Patrick Fischer, and Pat DeWine declined to hear the appeals, while justices Michael Donnelly, Melody Stewart and Jennifer Brunner dissented and would have heard them, according to court documents.

Brunner also would have accepted a cross-appeal filed by the Gibsons for consideration by the court, according to court documents.

"On behalf of the Gibson family and the trial team, truth still matters, David can still overcome Goliath," the Gibsons and their attorneys said in a statement sent to The Chronicle-Telegram.

The Gibsons and their attorneys said they "are gratified that all judges on the court of appeals and the majority of the Ohio Supreme Court recognized the rights of individuals rather than the bullying tactics of the big institutions."

The college released a statement through a spokesperson: "Oberlin is disappointed that the Ohio Supreme Court has chosen not to hear our appeal of the Gibson’s Bakery judgment against the college," the college said. "The issues raised by this case have been challenging, not only for the parties involved but for the entire Oberlin community."

"We remain committed to strengthening the partnership

between the College, the city of Oberlin and its residents, and the downtown business community. We will continue in that important work while remaining focused on our core educational mission," the college said.

It's unknown whether Oberlin College could take the appeal to a higher federal court since the Ohio Supreme Court decided not to hear its appeal or a cross-appeal filed by the Gibsons.

Asked if an appeal was planned, Oberlin College spokesman Scott Wargo said he had no further information other than the statement the college put out.

The family bakery has asked the courts to force Oberlin College to pay it and its attorneys more than $36 million they were awarded after winning a civil lawsuit against the college in Lorain County Common Pleas Court more than three years ago.

A jury decided that the college defamed the Gibsons and their business and awarded a $44 million judgment in 2019.

Judge John Miraldi reduced that to $25 million, because Ohio law limits monetary damages in civil cases.

The bakery also was awarded more than $6.5 million in attorney fees, and millions of dollars in interest has collected on the judgment as well.

In a subsequent statement, the Gibsons and their attorneys said Oberlin College "tried to frame this case with claims and issues that weren’t on trial."

"This has never been a case about a student’s First Amendment rights.

Individuals' reputations should never be sacrificed at a false altar of free speech," the Gibsons and their attorneys said in a subsequent statement.

The case began when, in November 2016, an Oberlin College student tried to shoplift and buy alcohol with a fake ID at the bakery.

Allyn Gibson, the son and grandson of the owners, chased him out onto

the street where the two got into an altercation.

Two other students who were waiting for their friend outside joined in and assaulted Allyn Gibson.

When Oberlin police arrived, they arrested the students and let Allyn Gibson go. The students later would plead guilty to misdemeanor charges in Oberlin Municipal Court.

In the meantime, students gathered in protest outside the store for two days, calling the store racist and claiming a long history of racial discrimination against students of color by the Gibsons.

Then-Vice President and Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo was present during the protest and was accused of supporting the protesters, handing out flyers explaining the protest that called the bakery racist.

She also was the adviser to the Student Senate, which issued a proclamation in support of the protests.

Following the protests, the 100-year-plus relationship between the bakery and the college broke down, and the bakery sued the college. The case made its way through Lorain County courts for two years until the jury's verdict and both the college and the Gibsons appealed until last week’s decision was issued.

"The Gibsons and the entire state of Ohio should appreciate that the jury, a unanimous 9th District Court of Appeals and a majority of the justices on the Ohio Supreme Court recognized that the deplorable conduct of Oberlin College could not be camouflaged by misleading claims of free speech," the Gibsons' second statement of the day read.

“The jury recognized Oberlin College’s bullying tactics. The students admitted their misconduct, but Oberlin College could never admit that they were wrong. They presumed that they could bring the Gibsons to their knees. The power of truth has enabled the Gibson family to survive Oberlin's onslaught," the statement concluded.

"On behalf of the Gibson family and the trial team, truth still matters, David can still overcome Goliath."

Statement from attorneys representing Gibson’s Bakery

After Wellington report, ex-Amherst police chief rips into consulting firm JASON HAWK EDITOR

AMHERST — Former Amherst Police Chief Joseph Kucirek is once again sounding his disdain for LeBrun Management Solutions, the consulting firm he feels was weaponized against him personally.

In an email, Kucirek said he was shocked to learn Wellington officials hired LMS Consulting in an attempt to learn about low morale and high turnover in the village’s Police Department.

“I am beyond convinced that (owner) Cindy LeBrun and her company are nowhere near capable and qualified to perform such an assessment,” he said.

Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow and Safety Services Director John Jeffreys hired LeBrun’s firm in 2021 after a number of discontent officers left during Kucirek’s tenure.

Interviews with both past and present officers painted Kucirek as “authoritarian,” according to the LMS report.

Employees said they felt micromanage, untrusted, unappreciated and fearful of reprimands.

LMS concluded that Kucirek led the Amherst Police Department through “intimidation and fear.”

Eleven months into the morale investigation, he chose to retire, blasting

Costilow on the way out the door.

The LMS analysis called the atmosphere in Amherst under Kucirek “toxic.” By contrast, a report detailing the Wellington Police Department’s culture specifically said Chief Tim Barfield was not “toxic,” but used the word describe some former officers and current personnel relationships.

The LMS report showed Barfield in a predominantly positive light, recommending that he improve his communication and “soft” people skills and treat full-time and parttime employees equally.

Barfield was dismissive of its findings in general, making it clear he was not happy that it had been commissioned.

He said the analysis, based again on former and current staff interviews, was “written by a company hired to find problems” and was “based on halftruths.”

Kucirek took his criticisms a step further. In his email, he said Wellington government officials should view LeBrun’s report with “unlimited skepticism” and called her “simply untrustworthy.”

Kucirek called LeBrun and her company “grossly incompetent,” accused her of lying and said her report on the climate of the Amherst Police Department was a one-sided “hatchet

job with purpose.”

He also took aim at LeBrun’s qualifications. She worked at credit unions and financial organizations for 34 years, according to employment history listed on LinkedIn, working her way up the corporate ladder.

“There is not one police administrator in the country who would agree that their law enforcement agency has the same dynamics, personalities and issues that your common bank has,” Kucirek wrote. “There are clearly much better options should a government wish to assess the inner workings of a police agency. I would argue that LMS is the last company that should be considered.”

Costilow said he stands by the LMS report on the Amherst Police Department “100 percent.”

He said the consulting firm wasn’t hired to target leadership or to oust Kucirek, but to find out why morale was low — and Kucirek was the answer staff gave.

“We knew we had problems,” Costilow said.

“People were leaving for no other reason than that they didn’t like it here.

The object was to improve that, not to get rid of anybody.”

He praised LeBrun’s integrity, saying her determination that Barfield isn’t the root of Wellington’s

police staffing issues is proof she’s not on a crusade against chiefs.

As a result of the LMS analysis — and since Kucirek’s departure — the climate at the Amherst Police Department has changed, Costilow said.

LeBrun was contracted to provide a year of support as the department implemented changes under new Chief Mark Cawthon. She has returned to lead 12 hours of training on communication skills for all staff, and a monthslong course on management for command staff.

Costilow said police administrators spent time online, reading books and doing homework to learn leadership techniques and how to make employees feel more included in the workplace.

“We’re recruiting and hiring new officers. They are excited to be part of our department,” he said.

“The officers we already had are energized to do their jobs… The world is changing and I realize we need to change with it, and with the newer generation of employees.”

LMS remains under contract to provide a second climate assessment within the one-year time frame, but Costilow said that he does not believe it will be necessary due to the changes he’s seen.

LeBrun was not available for comment.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Page A5

BULLETIN BOARD OHS 50th class reunion

The Oberlin High School Class of 1972 will hold its 50th reunion celebration on Sept. 23-24.

Members will meet at 5 p.m. Friday at The Hotel at Oberlin, and on Saturday for dinner at Steel Magnolia restaurant. Sign up by emailing northsho@ix.netcom.com or by messaging the Oberlin High School Class of 1972 page on Facebook.

League talks ‘Post-Roe’

A nonpartisan, fact-based webinar on “Post-Roe Women’s Health Care in Ohio” will be offered at 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8 via Zoom.

The League of Women Voters chapters across Ohio will host a panel of medical professionals and legal experts to help sort through the swirl of information and misinformation surrounding abortion and reproductive care in Ohio.

How are Ohio’s new abortion restrictions impacting women’s health? How is the practice of women’s health care changing as a result? What medical, ethical and legal issues are being faced on a daily basis?

The League of Women Voters of the Oberlin Area is a cosponsor of the event.For more information and to register, visit www.tinyurl.com/PostRoeInfo.

Republican club meeting

The Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8 at Father Ragan Knights of Columbus Hall, 1783 Moore Road, Avon.

Author and radio host Tom Niewulis will present “Constitution and the Bill of Rights Defense.” Lorain County Commissioner David Moore will also speak about county issues. The cost is $5 for guests.

Explore historic Brownhelm

The Brownhelm Historic School and Museum and the Brownhelm Heritage Museum will host open houses from 1-4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9-10.

The open houses are part of a statewide event called “Ohio Open Doors,” which is sponsored by the Ohio History Connection.

Tours will be offered at the Brownhelm School, 1950 North Ridge Rd., focusing on the history of the 1870 building and its survival. Visitors will be encouraged to sit in the century-old pews, listen to piano music and the ringing of the church bell and see paintings, wood carvings, needlework, books and more.

Open Doors at the OHC

The Oberlin Heritage Center will participate in the statewide Ohio Open Doors initiative, which highlights the history and unique nature of treasured historic places.

Visitors can enjoy free self-guided tours of the Monroe House and explore the Little Red Schoolhouse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 20 W. Vine St., Oberlin.

Second Saturdays in Oberlin

Oberlin Business Partnership’s last Second Saturday of 2022 will be held Sept. 10 with activities in the city’s downtown area.

The day begins with the Oberlin Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to noon in the City Hall parking lot, with activities from 10 a.m. to noon in the East College Street courtyard. Enjoy music on downtown sidewalks and explore what businesses have to offer.

A character meet-and-greet will be held from noon to 2 p.m. downtown, and an artist will draw caricatures for free from noon to 3 p.m. Nonprofit organizations will also have booths set up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tappan Square.

Night at the Races

The Amherst Marching Comets’ Night at the Races will be held ats 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Amherst Eagles Aerie 1442, 1161 Milan Ave. The fall fundraiser will include food, drinks, raffles and horse betting. Proceeds go toward the cost of the marching band’s trailer fuel and competition costs, Senior Night, eighth grade night and all other costs and instrument repairs not covered by the school district across all grade levels.

This event is restricted to people ages 21 and older. For tickets, visit www.tinyurl.com/MarchingComets.

Wine tasting at Findley

The 7th Annual Friends of Findley State Park Wine Tasting will be held from 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the park’s campground pavilion.

Sample vintages from local wineries and enjoy live music, food and drawings while raising money to support the state park. No outside food will be allowed.

Admission is $20 and includes a souvenir wine glass, five tastings and an entry to win a wine basket valued at $100.

Additional tasting tickets will be available to purchase. Sealed bottles will be sold for off-site consumption.

Proceeds benefit projects and educational programs at the park.

ID will be required. Cash or Paypal will be accepted. No pets.

For more information, email secretary@friendsoffindley.org.

Kids Day at museum

The North Ridgeville Historical Society will hold Kids Day at the Museum from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Old Town Hall Museum, 36119 Center Ridge Rd. This event is part of the statewide Ohio Open Doors event, in which Ohio heritage sites host free events for their community to promote an appreciation of state’s history. Visitors will be able to step into the past and participate in pioneer-era crafts, games and experiences. Weather permitting, kids can take part in outdoor activities that would have entertained their ancestors, and hands-on activities will be offered inside the museum as well. A “Toys Through the Ages” display will be featured.

More information can be found on the group’s Facebook page or www.northridgevillehistoricalsociety.com.

Hickories on Tap

Sample a variety of craft beers from local breweries from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at The Hickories Museum, 509 Washington Ave., Elyria.

Ticket holders will receive 10 beer sample tickets to redeem

The Lorain County Community Guide Bulletin Board is for local nonprofit and not-for-profit events. Items are published on a space-available basis and will be edited for style, length, and clarity. Send your items to news@lcnewspapers.com. for 10 4 oz. samples. There will be several drink options in addition to beer. Additional sample tickets will be available for purchase during the event. Local breweries participating include Avon Brewing Co., Bascule Brewery & Public House, ESP Brewing Co., Railroad Brewing Co. and Unplugged Brewing Co. There will be food trucks on site to buy fare at an additional cost, and a DJ. The museum will also be open for tours, and there will be basket and 50/50 raffles. Seating is limited, so take lawn chairs to use in case tables on the grounds are full.

The cost is $35 per person or $30 for Lorain County Historical Society members. A $10 option for non-alcoholic drink tickets is also available. Purchase tickets at www.lchs.org. This event is only for people ages 21 and over.

Schoolhouse celebration

The Pittsfield Township Historical Society will host a public event from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 16889 State Route 58 to celebrate the restoration of its historic 1836-1846 wood framed, one-room schoolhouse.

This 187-year-old wooden schoolhouse is a rare find and great progress has been made in restoring it to its original form.

Shawn Godwin of Historic Preservation & Restoration Services has led the project for more than 10 years and will attend.

Premium ice cream and homemade pies will be provided.

There will be games for children and “cow pie squares” with a live cow. You can bet on a square for $10 for a chance to win a 50-50 raffle. A country blues band will provide music.

What’s the story?

Fall storytimes at the Amherst Public Library will begin Monday, Sept. 12.

Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes for children of all ages through Oct. 19. Toddler Tales for ages 2-3 will be held at 10 a.m. on Mondays. Preschool Storytime for ages 3-5 will be held at 11:15 a.m. on Mondays. Baby Bounce and Rhyme for ages 0-12 months will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. Waddlers Storytime for ages 12-24 months will be at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesdays. Family Storytime for children of all ages will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Learn about FamilySearch

The Lorain County chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will meet virtually at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12.

Peggy Lauritzen will present “Navigating Our Way Through FamilySearch.” To join this program, contact meetings@loraincoogs.org and ask to be added to the list.

FamilySearch.org changes frequently and there are many hidden assets that many people do not utilize. This virtual program is open to the public and free.

Wellington library meeting

The Herrick Memorial Library board will meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 in the library’s community room. The meeting is open to the public.

Walkin’ on Wednesdays

Main Street Amherst’s Walkin’ on Wednesdays will finish for the summer with a final festival from 4-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 in downtown Amherst.

Enjoy free, family-friendly entertainment while strolling the streets. There will be a vendors and a car show, and shops will remain open later.

Rotary to hold ‘Wing Walk’

The Amherst Rotary Club will host the Wing Walk Challenge from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 in conjunction with Main Street Amherst’s Walkin’ on Wednesdays event in the city’s downtown district.

Participants will decide the “Best Wings in Amherst.” Tickets are $20 and include a wing tasting (two wings) at four downtown restaurants. Participating restaurants include Brew Kettle, Cole’s Public House, D’Tutanelli’s Pizza and Ziggy’s Pub and Restaurant. Tickets are available for purchase at Watson Wellness, 162 Park Ave., or from any Amherst Rotarian. Tickets will also be available for purchase the day of the event at the Amherst Rotary table (while supplies last).

Ticketholders will pick up a wing score card at the Amherst Rotary table at the Walking on Wednesday event. Proceeds from this event and a 50/50 raffle that day will be used for students’ scholarships at the Amherst and Firelands school districts.

station on Eagle Street.

The menu includes a half-chicken, potatoes, corn and roll for $12, with proceeds supporting the volunteer fire department.

There will also be a 50-50 raffle and basket raffles.

Battle of Lake Erie talk

Considered one of America’s “forgotten wars,” the War of 1812 was a consequential period in the early days of our nation. One of the major turning points occurred at the Battle of Lake Erie.

Molly Sampson, director of the Maritime Museum of Sandusky, will speak at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Ritter Public Library, 5480 Liberty Ave., Vermilion. She will explore what led to the battle, its legacy and the key players. The event is sponsored by the Sons of the American Revolution, Firelands Bicentennial Chapter. The public is invited.

Harvest of the Arts

The 39th Annual Wellington Harvest of the Arts, a juried craft fair featuring about 70 folk and fine art vendors, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Herrick Memorial Library, 101 Willard Memorial Square, Wellington.

There will be indoor and outdoor vendors, a lunch cafe and a handmade quilt raffle. Admission and parking are free. This is a fundraiser for the library’s community programming.

For more information, call (440) 647-2120.

Take a CPR class

CPR training classes will be offered by the South Lorain County Ambulance District from 6-10 p. m. on the third Monday of each month starting Sept. 19.

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is the cause of death for 13.5 percent of Americans, or one of every 74 people. Excluding those that happen at the hospital, 70 percent of heart attacks happen at home, and have a mortality rate of 90 percent. Knowing how to perform CPR properly can double or potentially triple survival rates, according to SLCAD. The ambulance district is opening its classes to the public.

They will be held at 179 E. Herrick Ave., Wellington. To register, call (440) 647-5803.

Wine tasting for LCH&D

“Wine Down by the Water” will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22 at Sunset Terrace at Lakeview Park in Lorain.

The wine social will support Lorain County Health & Dentistry.

All proceeds will be used to provide primary medical and dental care to vulnerable people in the community.

Tickets are $85 each or $150 for a pair and can be purchased at www.lorainhealth-dentistry.org. Each ticket includes a selection of fine wine, beer, soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres by Taste of Excellence Catering. There will also be auction baskets and a mystery wine pull.

For sponsorship, ticket sales or to make a donation, call Ruby Nelson at (440) 233-0160.

Root Beer and Yesteryear

The Oberlin Heritage Center will hold “Root Beer and Yesteryear” from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 20 W. Vine St. This free, family-friendly event will feature live music, a a historic portrayal, old-fashioned games, exhibits and root beer floats for everyone.

Why root beer? Throughout most of its history Oberlin was a “dry” town, meaning you couldn’t buy alcohol within the city limits. Times have changed, but a fondness for this summer treat hasn’t. The floats will be provided by Oberlin IGA, while free popcorn will be made possible by the Oberlin Athletic Boosters Club and Bethany Hobbs.

The entertainment schedule includes outdoor music by Parsh, a band featuring Tom Somsak, Craig Zacharyasz, Dave Mann Wolf, Rick Hetsko and Dave Parsh. From 1:30-2:30 p.m., there will be a “Storytime with Mrs. Evans” in the Little Red Schoolhouse. Camille Hamlin Allen will portray Sarah Jane Leary Evans and share stories of her family and their home still standing at 33 E. Vine St. Each free mini-performance will be ticketed to ensure social distancing. OHC Trustee Brian Wilbert will give an antique phonograph demonstration; there will also be a display of vintage cameras arranged by OHC Communications Coordinator Steven Rice. Visitors can also take self-guided tours of the 1866 Monroe House.

Princess party at the library

A party fit for a princess will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Amherst Public Library.

Craft your own crown and tutu, and enjoy music and fun activities while you party like a princess. This event is recommended for ages 10 and under. Registration is required and each child should be registered separately. Visit the calendar at amherstpubliclibrary.org or call the library at (440) 988-4230 to register.

Advice for navigating Medicare Fall prime rib dinner New to Medicare this year and tired of sifting through the junk mail to find the best options? Have questions about making changes to your existing coverage during open enrollment?

Join Bob St. Clair from Legacy Capital Advisors at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Amherst Public Library for “Medicare 101.” He will explain options and answer questions about the program so that you can make the best choices for your health.

What’s the buzz about bees?

Buzz About Bees will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept.

15 at the Knights of Columbus Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Rd, Avon.

Hear an expert beekeeper explain how he easily deals with 50,000 of his closest and sometimes docile friends without experiencing any sharp or piercing effects. He’ll also describe how food is related to what bees do in addition to providing honey and what is threatening bees.

The public is welcome. RSVP by Sept. 12 to rudybreglia@ gmail.com. Snacks and refreshments will be served.

Rochester chicken dinner

A barbecue chicken dinner will be held by pick-up only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Rochester fire

A “Fall Fortune” reverse raffle and prime rib dinner fundraiser for student scholarships will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Knights of Columbus Father Ragan Hall, 1783 Moore Rd., Avon.

Tickets are $65 each or $480 for a table of eight. They include dinner, an open bar with beer and wine and one big board ticket for a chance to win a $2,000 grand prize. Side boards are $2, $3 and $5.

Mail checks to Father Ragan Hall, P.O. Box 224, Avon, OH 44011 payable to Father Ragan Charitable Foundation. For reservations, contact John Pabin at (440) 725-7369 or john. pabin@gmail.com; or Rudy Breglia at (440) 930-0251 or rudybreglia@gmail.com by Sept. 18. Include your name(s), number attending, phone number, email address and check.

Pancakes for the parks

The Friends of Metro Parks of Lorain County will hold a fall harvest breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., Carlisle Township.

The menu includes all-you-can-eat pancakes served with sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, tea, orange juice or milk. The cost is $8 per person for ages 11 and up, $4 for ages 3-10 and free for kids ages 2 and under. Cash only.

Proceeds benefit the Lorain County Metro Parks.

Page A6

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

© 2022 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 38, No. 40

Follow these steps to draw a scarab beetle.

Invite a friend or family member to draw one, too.

1

I

n ancient Egypt, people believed in life after death. They wrapped up loved ones, even pets and other animals, to preserve their bodies after death.

Message Carriers

Ancient Egyptians believed some animals could talk to the gods. They would mummify an animal to send a message to a god.

a

Mummified Zoo

n

l It took time to make a mummy, or mummify, an animal. First, the animal’s organs were removed. The body was rubbed with salts to dry it out. Then, it was covered in special oils and wrapped in cloth.

u

w

v

i

q x

d g

f

h

p

o

b

e

Archeologists have also found other animals mummified by ancient Egyptians. Use the code to reveal some of these animals. m

c

j

k s

r y

2

t z

3

Some animals were put into special jars made to look like them.

4

Dog Catacombs:

Tomb of the Dogs

There is a burial ground in Egypt that has millions of mummified dogs.

It’s believed there are eight million dogs buried there! This site is called Saqqara (suh-KAHR-uh).

The pyramids at Giza are “guarded” by a huge statue with the body of a lion and the head of a king.

Circle every other letter to see what it is called.

5

TSOPKHLIYNCX

News Number Puzzles

Mammoth Mummy

Imagine each letter of the alphabet was a number. A=1, B=2, C=3 and so on. Using that number code, change each letter in a headline into a number. Then add up those numbers.

Which headline has the highest number? Which one has the lowest?

N

ot all mummies are made by people.

Some get accidentally mummified, or preserved, by nature. This happened to a young mammoth more than 40,000 years ago.

Archeologists named her Lyuba (lay-OO-BAH). They think she got stuck and sunk into some deep mud. The mud dried around her and preserved her for tens of thousands of years.

Replace the missing words.

The scarab beetle was very ________________ to ancient Egyptians. Scarab beetle mummies have been ___________ with human mummies, often placed ________ the heart.

The Egyptians believed that scarabs were _______________ of their god Khepri. They believed Khepri ____________ the sun across the sky each day, just like a scarab beetle would roll up and move a ball of dung.

The scarab beetle was a symbol of rebirth. That is because the sun _____________________ each day and rises again the next day.

Standards Link: Math: Calculate sums and differences.

BODIES CLOTH DOGS DRIED EGYPT MUD MUMMY OILS PRESERVED SALTS SCARAB SUN TALK WRAPPED YEARS

X T D O G S Y E S J

B O D I E S E M L F

D D T B D I A U I H E H E A A T R M O T

I T S P K R S M W O

R P K A P L A Y N L

D Y M T L A A C U C

T G U D J T R T S U

R E D K D L S W B Q

D E V R E S E R P F

Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recognize identical words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

ANSWER: Because they don’t like to unwind.

Standards Link: Reading Comprehension: Follow written directions.

This week’s word:

PRESERVE

The verb preserve means to keep something in good condition for future use.

Ancient Egyptians made mummies of people and animals to preserve their bodies for the afterlife.

Try to use the word preserve in a sentence today when talking with your friends and family members.

Mysterious Mummy

Pets in the News

Look through the newspaper for articles and ads about pets. How many can you find?

Make a graph to show how many are about each kind of pet. How many are about dogs?

How many about cats?

6

Once Upon a Time there was a strange mummy and …

Finish this story.

B

OUR TOWNS

Lorain County Community Guide • Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

LAST LOOK AT THE 2022 FAIR

Paid attendance hit 100,000 mark JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — Paid attendance at the Lorain County Fair likely hit 107,117 over seven days, according to Fair Secretary Charisse Nikel.

She said gates sold 11,052 tickets on Monday, 13,114 on Tuesday, 14,250 on Wednesday, 13,606 on Thursday, 16,590 on Friday and 25,018 on Saturday

for a six-day total of 90,302.

The receipts for Sunday admissions were not immediately tallied because Treasurer Sonja Beat was on vacation, she said. They were updated after Labor Day with a Sunday total of 13,487.

“If kids didn’t go back to school until after Labor Day, we would have had a lot more” people on the grounds, she said.

After storms moved through last Monday, the rest of the week was full of blue skies. Fair

spokesman Kim Meyers said that brought in the crowds, and made for a profitable week for vendors.

“After Monday, they hit a home run the rest of the week,” he said.

Stromboli, pizza, doughnuts and Italian sausage were all big sellers, according to Meyers. He acknowledged that prices were ratcheted up due to inflation, but said folks were willing to pay more to get a genuine Lorain County Fair experience after two years of the COVID-19 pan-

demic.

“Everybody was ready to come back,” Fair Board President Rick Ternes said. “… We had good attendance, good numbers, the shows all sold well.”

Nikel said the fairgrounds was busier than usual on Wednesday for Kids Day, when children got free admission, and another influx came Thursday when seniors, veterans and active military personnel entered for free.

Those numbers are not counted

in the official attendance.

Thursday also got an afternoon bump as people flocked to see a team of Budweiser Clydesdales circle the dirt track and midway, she said.

Michael’s Amusements reported rides were increasingly busy toward the end of the week, Meyers said. With big lines forming Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the fair gave owner ATTENDANCE PAGE B3

Fair goes high-tech JASON HAWK EDITOR

Photos by Jason Hawk, Thomas Fetcenko and Angelo Angel

▲ Morgan Bockmore, 7, of Wellington, kisses a steer’s nose. ▼Bree Thompson, 10, of Grafton, pets her bunny, Nikoa. ◄ Ryan Squires, 8, of Elyria, dries his chicken as he prepares the bird to be shown at the Lorain County Fair.

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WELLINGTON — Cute little lambs.

Cowboy boots. Hay bales, giant pumpkins and amber waves of grain.

These are some of the images that spring to mind when thinking about the Lorain County Fair — not computers and fiber optic cables.

But even the fair runs on data these days. From animal check-ins to the sound system, security cameras, ticket booths and auctions, the fair is wired.

“Things seem to be evolving there every year. There’s always something new going on, new demand,” said Matt Fridenstine, president and CEO of North Coast Wireless.

For about 20 years, his company has been building technology into the fabric of the fairgrounds.

“Years ago, we didn’t have really any internet service at all. It wasn’t necessary.

Everything was pretty manual,” said Jed Lamb, the fair board director representing Huntington Township, and the lead on bigdollar efforts to improve fair technology in the last few years.

Today, there’s a gigabit fiber system that pumps the sound of crashing guitars over the grandstand’s loudspeakers. When credit cards are swiped, the info is transmitted from entry gates and food counters across the network, and a public WiFi system can connect about 1,000 users to the internet.

When a Junior Fair goat is sold, North Coast Wireless now collects all the facts and figures of the transaction and backs them up off-site. Gone are the old days of tally boards and clipboards, Fridenstine said.

For him, using technology to boost the fair experience is a family calling.

“We are very tied to the fair, and that goes back in my family history,” he said.

His uncle, Paul Fridenstine, built the Junior Fair sound system from scratch back in the 1950s and 1960s, when he was in 4-H. It started with a single speaker used to call out people for livestock shows — every year, young Paul would set up another barn for sound. “Eventually it got to the point where he had all the Junior Fair barns wired,” Matt said.

That went on for six decades, with Paul tinkering and upgrading the system. Matt said he loved electronics, and always was looking for ways to make the fair better with his skill.

That sound system stayed in place for a half-century before it started to break down, said Lamb.

Shorts and degraded wiring finally led fair directors to spend nearly $250,000 on a new internet-connected sound system.

SoundCom and Echo Sound Solutions installed the new system in 2020.

The project was important in large part because the grounds needed an emergency notification system, Lamb said. There is always the chance of a dangerous storm, a tornado, fire, explosion, ride failure or a lost child — in those events, communicating to every attendee at once is invaluable.

Without North Coast Wireless, that kind of high-tech option wouldn’t be possible.

Taking a cue from his uncle, Matt Fridenstine started cobbling together a small data network on the Lorain County Fairgrounds in the early 2000s “just to make stuff work.”

Advanced for its time but primitive by today’s standards, the project grew from a simple transmitter to a mesh or wireless HIGH-TECH PAGE B2

SUBMIT YOUR NEWS TO: NEWS@LCNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page B2

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

TOP LEFT: Damon Bedford, 2, of Elyria, comes face to face with a guinea pig.

TOP RIGHT: Katie and Jeff Ingersoll, both of Wellington, prepare Earl, a Belgian draft horse owned by Bobbi Miller of Elan Equine in Wellington.

LEFT: John Ternes competed in the Class C event during the Lorain County Tractor Pull on Thursday evening, Aug. 25.

BOTTOM LEFT: Kuchenritcher Draft Ponies, out of North Ridgeville, makes a loop around the track during the Lorain County Fair Open Hitch Show with exhibitor Jake Archer.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Pitchfork Pals 4-H Club member Patrick Finnegan of Amherst was the reserve champion steer winner at the Junior Fair Auction.

Vandals hit 4-H club’s anti-hate display JASON HAWK EDITOR

WELLINGTON — Vandals didn’t like what the Infinity 4-H Club had to say about America’s biggest social issues.

So they ransacked the North Ridgeville group’s booth at the Lorain County Fair, leaving behind Bibles and Christian tracts and ripping down a large flag poster that explored threats against civil rights.

Flying upside down, the flag used newsprint to highlight historical and modern wrongs including slavery, school shootings and efforts to roll back the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community.

Other signs in the booth encouraged voting, supported science and Black Lives Matter and urged people to “speak out against hate.”

The close-knit club is made entirely of home-schoolers ages 5-16.

“They’re concerned mostly about the climate the country has been in the last couple of years,” said adviser Marcy Novak.

That’s patriotism, she said — the desire to help fellow Americans, no matter their background. Infinity 4-H has at least one transgender member, and the teenagers especially are worried about what the future holds for loved ones who face attacks because of the color of their skin, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Club members carefully researched

the rules to make sure their project would fit under the fair board’s theme of “Something old, something new, something red, white and blue.”

It even ended up winning the Booth of the Day title Thursday, Aug. 25 and found praise from the Ohio State University Lorain County 4-H Extension Office.

Damage to the booth was discovered Saturday. Someone — there are no leads — jumped the barricade in front of the display, took down messages they didn’t agree with and left pamphlets and Bibles behind.

Some small American flags were left strewn about, tucked into displays or dropped on the floor.

“Our booth was vandalized by bigots attempting to destroy our children’s free speech. Our children will not be silenced!” said a sign posted after the booth was cleaned up.

Novak said nothing was stolen.

Missing materials were found stowed behind a curtain.

The fair does have security cameras, but Novak said there are none in the booth area. Infinity 4-H is considering raising funds to buy their own for next year’s fair.

Jacki Baca, 4-H youth development educator at the OSU Extension Office, reported to Lorain County Sheriff’s Office deputies on duty at the fairgrounds. She did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

LCSO Capt. Richard Bosley said the incident was not documented in a report, and there was no investiga-

tion. Deputies were assigned to patrol the 4-H booths more closely for the remainder of fair week, he said.

“We did anticipate that there would be issues, that there would be things said,” even before the fair opened, Novak said.

But the 4-H club had expected some nasty comments, not vandalism, she said.

“Our kids are classy and have chosen the high road,” posted Kendra Lane, whose son Toby is the club president. “They repaired their booth and moved on. My child isn't defeated and sees this as a call to be even louder in his future messages.”

Lane said her “revenge” would be donating to abortion rights advocacy group NARAL Pro-Choice America and LGQTQ+ rights nonprofit Equality Ohio in the vandals’ honor.

“Your act of petty cruelty has now directly funded the things you attacked our booth over,” she said.

Since posting about the incident on Facebook, the club has received messages of support from all over the country.

“Stupid people. Well done, 4-H kids! You are our hope for the future!” wrote Jane Stewart of Madison, Ohio, on the group’s page.

Fair media spokesman Kim Meyers said he had not been apprised of the incident and couldn’t comment.

However, he said that protecting First Amendment free speech rights is important to the fair board.

HIGH-TECH FROM B1

access points. Now there’s a small fiber optic network on the grounds, fed by a gigabit microwave link to North Coast Wireless.

For now, it feeds select areas, with the signal heaviest around the grandstand, Junior Fair barns and campground area, Fridenstine said.

The next big step will be installing fiber coverage all around the fairgrounds, he said. The plan is to build out the network over the next three to four years, or “faster if they want it faster,” said Fridenstine.

Tech offerings could also take a giant leap forward with construction of an $8 million exposition center.

Fair directors have pitched their “Fairs Forever” project as a way to hold events year-round, not just during the third week of August. It will also include a Junior Fair beef building, a covered outdoor arena and improved parking.

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners backed the venture by giving the fair $1.5 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Fair directors told commissioners they envision the expo center being used for sporting events, trade shows and entertainment.

Fair spokesman Kim Meyers said the facility will need a sound system and vendors will need access to the internet for point-of-sale systems, registering attendees and streaming audio-visual presentations.

The exposition center is expected to be between 43,000 and 45,000 square feet, with room for up to 3,000 people, said Meyers. That means it should also provide web access for everyone under its roof.

The fair needs to work with North Coast Wireless to upgrade now for greater data speeds and volumes, Lamb said.

He said fair directors never imagined they would need such a high level of technology at their disposal. In many cases, they’ve discovered the tech drives better service, such as online ticket sales and big screens that show competitors’ scores.

“The amount of technology it takes to put on a production like this is quite staggering, and for a bunch of farmers on the board we do pretty good,” Lamb said.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

Page B3

YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY

We asked folks about their favorite memories of the Lorain County Fair. Here’s what they said: Rick Ternes “As long as I can remember, I’ve been over there” at the Lorain County Fair, said Rick Ternes, who now serves as its president.

His grandfather, Jack Ternes, served on the fair board for 42 years. Rick remembers helping him plant and care for flowers at the fairgrounds as a small boy.

“I remember as a small child being there with him, and participating in 4-H,” he said. “The memories are about family and friends all being together.”

Kim Meyers In August 2019, the families of the late Ed Krystowski and Howard Born gathered at the Lorain County Fairgrounds to honor two men who gave year after year, making sure the fair went off without a hitch.

“Those two guys, they grew up with the fair all their lives,” said fair spokesman and past president Kim Meyers.

Before their passing, he sat down to listen to them talk about their decades as implement dealers, donating to 4-H kids’ projects and their love for the annual celebration of agriculture. Reminiscing with Krystowski and Born’s families about all they had accomplished is Meyers’ favorite memory of the Lorain County Fair, he said.

“It was the families, the tradition, the hard work they put in, the love,” he said.

Charisse Nikel “My favorite memory is during 2020 when we didn’t have a fair and it was so stressful,” said longtime Lorain County Fair Secretary Charisse Nikel. “We had to return all these refunds... Someone from the Greater Ohio ABOVE: Amanda Aten of Lorain demonstrates the art of blacksmithing.

Showman’s Association showed up and gave me the Fair Secretary of the Year award.”

It was a depressing year, she said — only the Junior Fair carried on, and with most of the public barred from the grounds.

But the recognition in the face of overwhelming adversity made all the difference, said Nikel.

She’s also partial to the memories made each year just before the official opening of the fair, via the annual hay bale decorating contest. Nikel runs the event, and said every year there are more entries, and they get more elaborate over time.

“I love seeing the creativity,” she said.

Bambi Stafirski “My dear friend and I went through the goat barn. One goat decided my friend’s jacket was good enough to eat and starting chewing her sleeve. We then walked outside and down the side of the barn and there was the goat sticking his head out the window.

We walked over and he grabbed her sleeve again. We laughed so hard and laughed about it for years to come.”

David Crawford Bixby “In the 60s: My mom working at the band doughnut booth, french fries and winning lots of ribbons for our flowers.”

Shirley Cole Searles “Straw cowboy hat, waffles, caramel apples and pony rides.”

Jennie Stauffer “David L. Vaughn Jr. proposing to Angel Vaughn during the demo derby!”

LEFT: Night Ranger performed for fans at the Lorain County Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Starting out with “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” the 1980s arena rock act set the tone by showing off its guitarplaying prowess. The band followed up with radio tracks “Four in the Morning” and “Sing Me Away,” eventually hitting hard with a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Crazy Train.”

Whether it was “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” or “Sister Christian,” Night Ranger did its part to keep rock alive while giving the audience something to remember.

BOTTOM LEFT: Backed by his band, Russell Dickerson performs on the Lorain County Fair grandstand stage on Monday, Aug. 22.

The Tennessee native opened his more than 90-minute show with Top 20 track “Home Sweet,” followed by No. 1 single “Every Little Thing.”

BOTTOM RIGHT: Miranda Bogle of the Rochester Winning Workers 4-H Club shows her steer to judges Thursday in the Junior Fair show barn.

ATTENDANCE

FROM B1 Michael Reisinger permission to keep rides open past normal closing time.

“We told them to run as late as they want.

So they were there really late, which is a good sign,” Meyers said.

Friday night’s supermodified tractor pull was just short of a sellout, said Nikel. The combine derby on Saturday was even more popular — tickets were gone a little after 7 p.m., with a long line remaining.

“Unfortunately, there were quite a few people who had to be turned away,” said Meyers. “Saturday was packed. It was like sardines. You could hardly walk.”

That was also the day Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran stopped by the fair — the first time directors could remember a sitting governor attending.

Meyers said the DeWines’ campaign stop lasted longer than they had planned. They

took their time going through 4-H barns and talking with Junior Fair kids, in addition to touching base with Lorain County Republican officials and candidates.

While 2022 was not the biggest year for Lorain County Fair attendance — it hit 117,403 in 2019 before the pandemic began — Ternes was relieved to see admission stabilizing.

This year’s paid admissions help put the fair’s finances back into “a place where we are comfortable being,” he said, breathing a little easier.

That financial picture will be a little clearer when the Fair Board meets at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, said Meyers.

“Just based on what we’ve seen, the crowds we had, what the vendors said and the amusement rides, I think we did very well,” he said.

“This year felt more comfortable, the kind of fair we’re used to.”

85 SOUTH MAIN STREET OBERLIN OHIO 44074 SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETING DATES ALL MEETINGS WILL BE Live Streamed @ http://oberlinoh.swagit.com/live NOTICE: DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL 775-7203 OR E-MAIL: banderson@cityofoberlin.com NOTICE REQUIRED: TWO (2) WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE OF MEETING (48 HOURS) CLERK OF COUNCIL’S OFFICE.

Page B4

Lorain County Community Guide

SPORTS

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Send sports news to news@lcnewspapers.com. Deadline for all submissions is 10 a.m. each Tuesday. Printed as space is available.

COMETS SUFFER A PAINFUL DEFEAT

Photos by Joe Colon | Amherst News-Times

It could be a very long year for the Comets, who suffered a 58-14 defeat Friday at home to the North Olmsted Eagles. The one bright spot was a 65-yard touchdown sprint by senior running back Bishop Fryson. Olmsted was unstoppable — Xavier Balson passed for 380 yards on the night and Jared Kelley picked up 114 yards on 10 carries and 143 more on seven catches. After falling to 0-3, this week Amherst will host the North Ridgeville Rangers in Southwestern Conference action.

ABOVE: The Comets charge the field. LEFT: Bishop Fryson picks up a 65-yard touchdown run. RIGHT: Mason Fisher eyes his target.

Quick scoring strike, but long loss for 0-3 Phoenix team ERIK ANDREWS CORRESPONDENT

Oberlin took the field Friday looking to break into the win column against the Brooklyn Hurricanes at Oberlin College's Bailey Field. The early going looked promising, as both defenses held their ground, Oberlin striking first with a 68-yard pick-six by senior captain Isaac Thompson.

The score carried the Phoe-

nix to 6-0 lead as the first quarter closed.

But a nightmarish second stanza, in which five Oberlin turnovers resulted in five Hurricane scores, put the game quickly out of reach 38-6. The visitors tacked on a couple second half scores to put the final tally at 53-6.

The Phoenix, 0-3, will host Keystone to kick off the Lorain County League schedule at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Bailey Field.

BEST IN THE WESTON

David Richard | Amherst News-Times

The Falcons’ Weston Strader nearly loses the ball during a touchdown run in the second quarter Friday night against Vermilion. Firelands came up with a big 42-12 win to extend its streak to nine in a row against the neighboring Sailors. Strader finished with 170 yards on 18 carries, and three touchdowns. Evan Tester chipped in two TDs, one on a short run and the other on a 19-yard pass from Jim Aunspaw. Cory Ransom also caught an Aunspaw toss for 25 yards and a trip across the goal line.

Erik Andrews | Oberlin News-Tribune

Senior wide receiver Chris Walker looks for room to run.

COLTS GALLUP AWAY

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Black River’s Blake Hopkins gets through the Cloverleaf line for a first down Friday during a brutal game against the Colts. The Pirates, beset by injuries and outsized by the visitors, fell 36-6 in non-conference action.

Only Nathan Urbas scored for Black River, making good on a 60-yard pass from Eric Groesser in the third quarter. A 2-point conversion toss failed.

Groesser finished the night with 149 yards in the air.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Lorain County Community Guide

OVERTIME HEARTBREAK

THE SIMMONS SLIDE

Photos by Roger Sommer | Wellington Enterprise

Wellington’s dreams of overtime glory were crushed Friday. After scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter to pull up even against Plymouth, the Dukes were bested 50-42 in OT when the Big Red’s Shae Sparks hit paydirt on a 35-yard touchdown catch and a 7-yard TD run. Dukes quarterback C.J. Polen put together four TDs late in the game, two on short scrambles to cross the line himself, and two more to Johnnie Kitner.

ABOVE: Dukes running back Nathan Patfield is upended by Plymouth’s Shae Sparks during second quarter action.

BELOW: Wellington’s Sam Smith hauls down Plymouth’s Shae Sparks after a long run.

Page B5

Russ Gifford | Amherst News-Times

Firelands' Bella Simmons slides the ball past a defender as the Falcons take down Norwalk 4-0. She had a goal in the match, with Morgan Janicek picking up two and Arianna Floyd notching one.

RAIDERS RULE THE COURT

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Black River's Morgan Kubitz prepares a set at Columbia. The Raiders won in straight sets, 25-19, 25-22, 25-15.

DUKES DOMINATE CLOSING THE DISTANCE

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Wellington's McKenna Solkiewicz passes the ball as the Dukes surge past Keystone 3-0, with games of 25-15, 2522, 25-19.

BURNED BY WASHBURN

Thomas Fetcenko | Wellington Enterprise

Black River’s Olivia Szmania closes in on Mayfield’s Fatima Sardo-Longo in cross country action Saturday morning at the Early Bird Invitational at Lorain County Community College.

Russ Gifford | Wellington Enterprise

Wellington's Nadia Greer splits two Columbia defenders on a run. She had the Dukes’ sole goal against the Raiders in a 7-1 loss. The Raiders’ Richel Washburn was on fire, nailing five shots past Dukes goalie Whitney Kirschner, who ended with three saves.

Page B6

Lorain County Community Guide

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OHSAA tackles sports officials shortage COLUMBUS — Facing a growing shortage of interscholastic sports officials across the state, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has moved all classroom instruction for new officials to a virtual platform called RefPrep.

It is also asking member schools to offer the online officiating curriculum during the school day so students can begin the process of becoming licensed officials.

Adults are encouraged to consider becoming licensed, but the OHSAA said it believes getting high school students interested in officiating will help quickly

replenish the number of officials in the near future.

Anyone interested in becoming an official should first create a profile at officials.myohsaa.org/Logon.

The online education platform is available at www.refreps.com/refprep.

“We are doing something to attack this issue and our member schools have said they want to help,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA executive director. “If there are no officials, there are no games.”

The organization is asking schools to provide credit options for students who take an officiating course.

Comito awarded Curry Achievement

Micah Comito of LaGrange was awarded the John Curry Achievement and promoted to cadet airman by the Lorain County Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol on Tuesday, Aug. 23.

The Curry Achievement is named for the first national commander of the Civil Air Patrol and a strong advocate for female aviators.