Sunday, April 02, 2000
Lawsuit last straw for winless team
BRUNSWICK, Ohio — A winless youth baseball team, so bad that the father of a player sued the coaches, has disbanded.
“My heart isn't in it anymore,” said Rodney Carroll, manager of the 16-and-under Cobras team based in this Cleveland suburb.
Mr. Carroll, who got the lawsuit thrown out, and fellow coach Dennis Moore, who has coached for 23 years, agreed to disband the team in the aftermath of the lawsuit ordeal.
Charles Settles, whose son, Kevin, played on the team, sued Mr. Carroll for $2,000 after last year's winless season. Mr. Settles said the team played so poorly that his son missed out on a trip to Florida to compete in a tournament.
Medina Municipal Magistrate Charles Lawrie dismissed the case. “What youth players should know is this: In life, as in sports, you will try and you will sometimes fail,” Magistrate Lawrie said.
Service honors slain police dog
JEFFERSON, Ohio — A bagpiper played “Amazing Grace” and taps rang out at a memorial service Thursday for a police dog slain by a gunman who killed a man and then died in a shootout with police.
“My heart is just overflowing with pride for him right now,” said Ashtabula County Sheriff's Deputy William Niemi, the handler for Cero, a German shepherd killed last Saturday in this northeast Ohio community.
“Cero had a one-of-a-kind temperament,” Deputy Niemi said. “He loved people, he loved everybody; and when it was time to work, he knew it was time to work.”
About 350 police officers and more than 100 police dogs participated in a motorcade through the village to the memorial service at a community building at the county fairgrounds.
The police dogs lined up in a final salute as Deputy Niemi and others eulogized Cero.
The dog was shot and killed when he attacked Levi Ridenour, 22, of Jefferson, who police said started firing at officers after shooting a neighbor to death. Mr. Ridenour was shot several times and died after the shootout.
Woman taken by scam, theft
SANDUSKY, Ohio — Authorities in several states are trying to crack a telemarketing scam that police said conned an 87-year-old Sandusky woman out of more than $160,000.
Police have arrested two New York men, said police Capt. Charles Sams.
James Dezego, 27, and Jack Galante, 22, both of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., were arrested by police and state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation agents on March 10.
Capt. Sams said the men came to speak with the Sandusky woman. He said they had scammed her for the last couple of years.
Investigators videotaped the men stealing $30,000 worth of coins from the woman's house, Capt. Sams said.
Both were charged with felony theft.
The investigation has moved into other areas of Ohio and to New York and Maryland. Capt. Sams said there were more than 20 victims in Ohio alone.
Stadium parking? Try the church
CLEVELAND — Some churches sponsor bingo games to raise money. Others have bake sales.
But St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church in downtown Cleveland has found a more lucrative way to raise funds: The church rents spaces in its parking garage during Cleveland Indians games.
The parking garage, which went into business last season and is just a block from Jacobs Field, the home of the Indians, quickly caught the attention of passersby on busy Carnegie Avenue because of the nine religious statues that adorn the two-story brick structure.
The 5-foot fiberglass statues depict Jesus, the Virgin Mary and seven saints: St. Maron, St. Joseph, St. Theresa, St. Jude, St. George, St. Rita and St. Anthony.
“Our Catholic saints have been very good in watching our cars and, I think, discouraging car thieves,” said the Rev. Bernard C. Khachan, pastor of St. Maron.
If the saints' job is to watch over the cars in the garage, they've certainly been busy. Indians fans and others filled up parking spots to the tune of $60,000 last year.
Reds may already have won - at gate
Team comes first in Lindner era
Clinging to a glimmer of hope
Legislators told: Fix farm laws
Lung cancer lags as priority
Ohio likely battlefield for presidential race
Public schools show off their results
PBS encourages kids to read Between the Lions
98 degrees helps make the band
He's a high priest of technology
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Accused robber now under indictment
Builder wants Dayton to get a bigger share
Cards, letters ease Bob Braun's retirement
City tries again to get homes water
Covington principals reassigned
Covington schools head praised for initiatives
Festival organizers meet to avoid another Mardi Gras
Four communities get $50,000 grants
GET TO IT
Joseph Kowalewski, scientist, college dean, dies at 100
Lawsuit last straw for winless team
Lobbyists' side jobs prompting questions
Love of game built diamond
Mason backs tax abatement deck,20,1 Mitsubishi may expand
Pianist makes familiar tunes fresh
Protest criticizes health system
'Smallest chapel' was almost lost
Memories of the local report from Bombeck
Aiken for some help
Commandments bill facing fight
Thou shalt not expect miracle from Assembly
A life from which to take inspiration
