The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2001-10-17 |
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Few here worry about anthrax — Page 3 Apply now to join 4-H groups — Page 11 Amherst News-Time r-. o o o uo x x r oo h h c yi O O c m m <s> r~ <-r. s> 3 -! M J> O ^. 73 <S 3> m ro r- oo ] Wednesday, October 17, 2001 Amherst, Ohio asks for time to address 'problems' by ERIK YORKE News-Times reporter The public hearing held last Monday night by the Ohio Turnpike to discuss Amherst residents' concerns over the improvements to the Middle Ridge Service Plaza began on a sour note. Turnpike executive director Gino Zomparelli started the meeting, held at the Holiday Inn in Elyria, by informing all news media as well as citizens that no recordings, audio or video could be taken of the meeting. "If you want to record, then we don't have to have this meeting," Zomparelli said. State Senator Jeffry Armbruster attempted to calm an indignant crowd, insisting that the point of the meeting is not whether or not it is recorded, but that residents' concerns are addressed. "The turnpike cannot walk away from this issue and neither can I," Armbruster said. The meeting itself came as a result of an Aug. 13 public hearing held by the city of Amherst in Am herst Town Hall. The Ohio Turnpike had sent two representatives to that meeting, general counsel Thomas Amato and community liasion Reggie Williams. They had announced that they could not answer questions and were there simply to take complaints. Amherst residents obliged them. Zomparelli, who * id most of the talking at Monday's meeting, began with a slideshow presentation outlining how the Ohio Turnpike works. He touched on many subjects from funding to safety until finally touching on the new construction at the Middle Ridge Service Plaza. "It's definitely a gem for the state of Ohio," Zomparelli said. "(The new plazas) are cleaner, they're safer." After discussing all of the amenities that will be held by the service plaza, such as a food court filled with popular food vendors and a community room designed specifically for the people of Amherst, Zomparelli began to address the specific complaints made by those residents who live near the plaza. One of the major complaints shared by many of the turnpike neighbors was the problem of diesel trucks making a lot of noise and filling the air with noxious fumes. Zomparelli said that truck parking has been moved farther away from the eastern part of the plaza, where residential areas are the closest He added that due to the design of the plaza, trucks can no longer take up car parking places, a major problem at the old plaza. This drew a complaint from resident Marlene Ward, whose property abuts the western portion of the plaza. "Apparently we mean nothing to you," Ward said, addressing her comment to Zomparelli. Zomparelli then called on Larry Whoolum, a representative from the Ohio Truckers Association to address the problem of "Jake Brakes" in the plaza. Jake Brake is a brand name engine retarder used by truckers who drive on a lot of mountain- CONTINUED on page 11 Good blocking helped keep many of the games within reach of the Amherst Comets varsity volleyball team this season as they clinched another Southwestern Conference championship with a 13-1 SWC record for the season, their only loss coming from Rocky River in the final game of the regular season. Spikers enjoy SWC title but end winning streak by DIANA HOUGLAND N-T sports reporter The Amherst vanity volleyball team truly felt the thrill of victory last week, but they also had a big dose of the agony of defeat When the team walked out of the Rocky River gym last Thursday night, they walked out feeling very let down after losing two games to the Lady Pirates, their first Southwestern Conference loss of the season. From the tears, and Crowns, it was not obvious that these girls were also the SWC champs. After a season full of nail-biting three game matches, the nickname the "Cardiac Comets" was something that at least one spiker wanted to shed. "Every team has a bad game, tonight it was ours," senior Sam Sha govac said. "But it's not the end of the world. We keep letting teams get up on us a lot and we have to stop. It's time we need lo take control from the beginning of the game, instead of waiting and being the Cardiac Comets, which we are known for." "We don't want to be that at all," she continued. "We are not going to CONTINUED on page ? High hopes The Steele Comets cheerleaders are full of hopes at the beginning of Friday night's clash of the gridiron rulers. But it was not meant to be for the Comets, who fell to the Shoremen, 14-3. See Page 6 for the complete story. CC's through-highway law killed until revised by ERIK YORKE News-Times reporter City council last week killed a controversial ordinance that could have resulted in the changing of speed limits throughout the city. The ordinance, which would have designated many city streets not to be through highways, has been the subject of heated discussion by council, and has elicited many resident complaints. The ordinance, originally proposed by police chief Lonnie Dillon, would designate North and South Lake streets, North and South Main streets, Cleveland Avenue, Elyria Avenue, Park Avenue, Milan Avenue, Middle Ridge Road and the portion of Cooper Foster Park Road west of North Main Street not to be through highways. If approved, the ordinance would give Ae cjl£s safety service director the authority to change speed limits on any of those streets. The ordinance came out of a need to change the designation on North Lake and North Main streets. The limits on those streets were changed, but cannot be enforced until such an ordinance is passed. Those limits were changed as a result of resident concern following the death of 10-year-old Carson Harnby-Rittenour on North Lake Street He was hit by a vehicle and killed while riding his bicycle. The other streets mentioned in the ordinance came as further recommendations from Dillon. At the Oct. 8 meeting. councilman-at-large David Williams suggested amending the ordinance to delete all streets but North Lake and North Main. Couacilman-atr Utfgs David KukuUut, jaowever, suggested lolling the ordinance so that it may be rewritten and brought back to council. That motion was carried 5-2 with Williams and Ward Three councilman Steve P'Simer dissenting. According to a number of council members and safety service director Sherrill McLoda, some residents have complained to them that the speed limits should not be lowered. Kukucka mentioned that constituents have told him that the 25 mph speed limit now on North Lake and North Main is too slow. Ward Four councilwoman Jennifer Wasilk suggested traffic studies to find the correct speed limit for those streets. Mayor shares wedding bell blues, and joys, in his job by ERIK YORKE News-Times reporter Performing marriage ceremonies comes with the job. But mayor John Higgins said he has had to cut down on the number of marriages he'll perform because they can often interfere with other city business. "I used to get about 40 a year," Higgins said. "People from all over the county were coming because they found out I didn't charge. It got to be a nuisance." Higgins, who now performs only 12 to 15 weddings a year, said that calls would come in at all hours of the day, many at the very last minute. Appointments would come in sporadically, giving notice bom three months, to one day in advance of the ceremony. He said that all Lorain County mayors have cut back on the number of wedding ceremonies they arc willing to perform. "If it was just Amherst residents it wouldn't be bad," Higgins said. He also said CONTINUED on page 3 Bigger isn't better when it comes to city signs by ERIK YORKE News Times reporter When election time rolls around, local yards begin to fill with signs, as voters show their support for candidates and issues. This year, however, one issue with strong support in the county is getting little or no signage fMfgp in Amherst yards. Issue one this year is a $1.5 million operating levy for Lorain County Community College (LCCC). Signs made lo advertise the issue ate too large for the city of Amherst according lo an ordinance stating that no election sign may be larger than three square feet Amhem resident* represent the third largest community enrollment at LCCC, behind Elyria and Lorain, according to Marcia BaJlioger, director of marketing at LCCC. She said that 3,186 Amherst residents have been enrolled in associate degree programs at LCCC in the past five yean. Bellinger Mid that LCCC is aware of the Amherst sign ordinance and that the college had planned to introduced smaller cardboard signs later in the campaign. "We certainly wait lo be in compliance county-wide," Ballinger said. "We do have cardboard signs that are much smaller than the plastic ones." Ballinger said the college switched to plastic signs because of their ability to withstand 1*1***——* weather. She added the metal rickets used lo hold the plastic signs slide into the ground more easily dun ike cardboard signs which must be attached to a wooden stake and pounded into the ground. According to city safety service director Sherrill McLoda, the ordinance is a reasonable one. The signs should be big wairafttfi g) ggg the message across, but small enough not to cause a liability problem," Mcl^da said. She adifrd that too assay large signs posted near a street could block visibility for drivers. That extra four inches, if it is four inches, makes a big difference when you're looking at a smell yard sign." McLoda said Ihe currant LCCC sign is the only sign she knows of that doesn't iiair twoi CONTINUED on page • Lsh r=n whmsjaa.— i I
Object Description
Title | The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2001-10-17 |
Place |
Amherst (Ohio) Lorain County (Ohio) |
Date of Original | 17-OCT-2001 |
Searchable Date | 2001-10-17 |
Collection | Amherst News-Times |
Submitting Institution | Amherst Public Library |
Rights | Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Type | Text |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn84028333 |
Description
Title | The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2001-10-17 |
Place |
Amherst (Ohio) Lorain County (Ohio) |
Date of Original | 17-OCT-2001 |
Searchable Date | 2001-10-17 |
Submitting Institution | Amherst Public Library |
Rights | Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Full Text |
Few here worry about anthrax — Page 3 Apply now to join 4-H groups — Page 11
Amherst News-Time
r-. o o
o uo x x
r oo h h
c yi O O
c m m
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Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn84028333 |
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