From the OFCC website:

 Yet another editorial decrying the partial closure of the media access loophole has been published, this time by the News-Herald.

Once again, I need to point out that the logic behind the public lists aiding criminals is not so much that we will be attacked, but because it serves as a shopping list for homes to burglarize when nobody is home. Many gun owners own more than one firearm, and a criminal who wants to increase his chance of finding a home with free guns has only to look to the newspaper.

Aslanides, or one of the bill's 46 co-sponsors, should produce a concealed gun permit holder who has been targeted for crime after a list of gun permit holders was published in a newspaper.

For this argument to hold water, the media should produce a concealed handgun license holder who has misused his license and become a threat to society to show that this access is required.

The News-Herald hasn't published such lists, but access to them helps ensure that all facets of the law are complied with.

The original intent behind giving the media access was to do just that. The problem is that many media outlets have abused this privilege and provided public access to the lists. If public access was intended, then anyone would be able to obtain the lists. The privilege has been abused, and now it must be more tightly controlled.

So these gun advocates don't fear criminals. Rather, they fear public accountability.

Absolutely untrue. What we "fear" is the kinds of misuse of the released names that we have already seen. People have lost their jobs, been evicted from their homes, and received unwanted attention from nosy neighbors. One anti-gun extremist openly advocated using the lists as a hiring/firing tool to make sure you don't have "those kinds of people" working for you. Some people, especially women, have shied away from obtaining a CHL because they don't want their name and age printed in the paper like they are a criminal. Not to mention the fact that there are battered women in hiding who would like to be able to protect themselves, but are concerned that their abusive spouse will use the information on the list to track them down.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants a right to bear arms. But the freedom of religion, speech, the press and to petition the government, remain rights protected by the First Amendment.

No right is absolute. I can't walk into a courthouse with my firearm, and the media can't print my medical records.

If concealed gun permit holders can't deal with this scrutiny, they should turn in their weapons.

And if the media can't control themselves and stop misusing the lists to push their own agenda of intimidation and flaunting their privileges, then they should turn in their pens.

I didn't write this, but it is an interesting read.

 Why You Should Resist the National ID Card



http://www.propagandamatrix.com/articles/september2005/160905resistid.htm

September 16 2005

This piece focuses on the introduction of the British national ID card but the same principles can be applied in any country.

1) A government engaging in escalating criminal actions and becoming more and more secretive should not be watching and tracking us as if we're all criminals. The same goes for CCTV surveillance. That's not freedom. Would you let a convicted murderer and pedophile watch your child 24/7?

The often peddled mantra of 'why should you care if you have nothing to hide?' is manifestly ridiculous in light of the fact that we have a government that has everything to hide and yet we're the ones under suspicion.

Should it concern us that our government shredded hundreds of thousands of documents before a 1st January Freedom of Information deadline? Why should the government care about freedom of information if they have nothing to hide?

But they did care enough to order this mass shredding.

We are told by the government to make our lives completely transparent or go to jail while the government itself becomes more secretive than ever before.

Why should they know everything about me when they won't tell me anything about them?

Would you walk up to a gang of criminals and give them your credit card and PIN number?

2) The government told us that the ID card would make our information more secure. Blair said this would protect, not infringe our liberties. And how did they propose paying for it? By selling the information of 44 million British citizens to private companies. How secure is that?



3) As a perspective on how governing powers use ID cards, consider the fact that residents of Fallujah in Iraq were finger scanned, given retina scans and ID cards just to be able to leave and enter the village. Every citizen is treated as a potential insurgent and is given an ID card. Is that how our government views us all, as potential insurgents?

So, what do you have to hide? is the wrong question. The question should be, why does the government need to know everything about me?

4) ID cards will not stop terrorism. Even the Home Secretary Charles Clarke admitted it after the London bombings. In addition, the Blair government has been caught faking terror alerts to push through increased power. Firstly in the case of the Ricin plot that never was and also an attack on Canary Wharf which was admitted to be totally scripted. Furthermore, the so-called London bombing mastermind was an MI6 asset. Reams of evidence point to the bombings being an inside job, one of the purposes of which was making British people accept ID cards. Large scale terrorist atrocities worldwide always lead back to government perpetrators. In this instance it is important to recall Herman Goering's quote,

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."



5) Top criminologists have gone public to say that ID cards will actually result in an increase in identity theft, not a decrease as the government claims.

6) The introduction of the national ID card is one step further towards the mandatory implantation of ID chips in all British citizens. Does this sound outlandish? Implantable chip technology has been in existence for a decade and discussions on ID chipping humans is in the news regularly. Tommy Thompson, the former Health and Human Services Secretary in the Bush administration, had a chip implanted and is now touring the country lauding the virtues of ID chips. During the the confirmation hearings for John Roberts Jr., George W. Bush's nominee for Supreme Court chief justice, Roberts was questioned by Senator Joseph R. Biden on whether he would rule against a mandatory implantable microchip to track American citizens.

7) The purpose of government is to serve the people, not control them. Any scheme of national registration is alien to the basic fundamental principles of a supposed free country.

Top: Firefighters Dan Russell and Mike Cieslak. Bottom: Lt. Lorbach and Firefighter Brian Molina

They range from eight to seventeen years experience as Lorain Firefighters and are well seasoned in all aspects of firefighting. All four are Emergency Medical Technicians. Their applications were electronically sent to FEMA for consideration and they were accepted over the Labor Day weekend. They were notified on Labor day and informed that they had to leave for Atlanta Georgia on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at 0700. They only had roughly 36 hours to get their personnal affairs in order before leaving. They will be deployed by FEMA for a minimum of 30 days and were required to take only a sleeping bag, rain gear, a couple of changes of clothing, toiletries, a first aid kit and a flashlight.

It is unknown at this time what or where their assignment will be but we a re confident that they will be able to handle any task they are assigned. They arrived in Altanta on Wednesday morning and received innoculations, and government instructions and training before receiving their assignments. We will update you as soon as we hear more on their assignments and any news they share with us in the days to come.

Since they have left, many other Lorain Firefighters have requested to deploy to the region to help with relief efforts. The IAFC had fullfilled its request for 2,000 firefighters within 24 hours of putting out the request. These four men represent all of the Firefighters of the Lorain Fire Department and we are proud of their response to the request for help. There are many hazards in the region and we pray for their safety and the welfare of their families while they are gone. We ask that everyone please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

FEMA will reimburse the city of Lorain for all wages and benefits incurred by the four firefighters while they are deployed to the region.

We will keep you posted of any further news from our four Firefighters.

Tom Lorbach

Dan Russell

Brian Molina

Mike Cieslak

Ok, I'm back! I spent most of August and early September travelling and subsequently getting caught up on work.

There's an article in the Chronicle Telegram today attacking Mayor Foltin. The primary complaint seems to be that Mayor Foltin (gasp) took a vacation!

The charge is being led by Lorain Councilman, "Crazy Eddie" Edwards. He is still upset that the mayor didn't attend the criime prevention community forums from a while back (which appear to have been nothing more than posturing anyway... nothing ever came of them, not even the committees that were to be formed). Edwards is also upset that Foltin didn't cut his vacation short when that 15 year old girl was killed a couple of weeks ago.

“I think if he takes these trips, he ought to come back if something happens,” Eddie raved, eyes popping and arms waving.

Foltin did have Safety-Service Director Craig Miller attend a meeting at City Hall after the shooting, and was in touch with his office often. But, apparently that wasn't good enough.

"Ancient Anne" Molnar also got into the act, saying that city hall officials aren't being outspoken enough against crime.

“I think that overall, he’s not really getting involved with the crisis, and that’s my only problem with the mayor — he’s not at the helm to stop the crime in Lorain,” she croaked. Gee, maybe he should grab an 2x4 and go Walking Tall in the streets.

Even Elyria Mayor Bill Grace got a piece of the action.

“In the last six years, I’ve probably taken about four or five weeks of vacation,” Grace said. “I go to Oak Rapids one week every year, and I went on a long weekend vacation last year." Way to showcase those math skills, Bill.

What's really funny is that the article started out by admitting that Foltin has only taken one week a year for the past 20 years. Then it spent the rest of it wailing and gnashing its teeth because he went on a 3 week camping trip this year. Doesn't seem all that excessive to me.

From the Ohioans For Concealed Carry website:

Had this poor woman been in a retail store that prohibited firearms for self protection, chances are the man who saved her life would have been turned away at the door, shopped elsewhere, or left his firearm elsewhere.

This woman is alive today because Wal-Mart has taken the high road and made the right decision that has resulted in one innocent woman's life being saved. We all owe a debt of gratitude both to Wal-Mart for bucking the politically correct “easy” decision, and the unknown individual whose life will never be the same after being forced to defend someone he didn’t know.

When most stores and managers are approached to remove their signs the first question they ask is "Why do you think you'd need a gun in here?" -- due to yesterday's unfortunate events we can point to a reason that nobody can deny.

The New Mexico Wal-Mart situation could happen anywhere, at any time, and to anyone of us, armed or not.

You fucking asshole.

A fifteen year old girl was shot in the head yesterday after mutant scum Adrian Lindsey fired shots into her house, thinking he was at the residence of some people he had fought with earlier. Instead, Samarrie Soler was hit with one bullet while watching television and died instantly.

This is one of those cases when you wish public hangings were still practiced. This guy is scum and represents the state of affairs the city of Lorain, and society in general, finds itself in today. This murder pushed the city's total to six for the year, and the earlier incident that prompted the shooting was probably drug related. Lindsey had a run-in with the Lorain Drug Task Force earlier in the day when they broke up a street drug deal that he was involved in. These damn gangster wannabes have no respect for life and care about nothing but proving their reputation and fulfilling their fantasies of being the biggest baddest man in town.

Well congratulations you sick fuck, you killed a little girl. You're a big man now. You, and everyone like you, have obviously lost your fear of humans and need to be put down. There is no place in society for people like this, and they need to be removed from the gene pool.

More information:

 Lorain teen shot dead while watching TV; man arrested

 Lorain teen 'livened up the room'

 It's about time. I've heard lot of complaints about how bad the fountain in Lakeview Park has gotten. When fully funtional, it is definitely a highlight of the city at night.

Lakeview Park fountain getting a makeover
JENNIFER BRACKEN , Morning Journal Writer

LORAIN -- Lakeview Park's once-colorful fountain has been shut off and drained, but officials say it won't be out of operation for long.
The fountain, built in the 1930s, has been suffering from weakened water pressure and is down to only one pink light for its evening light show. A recent evening drive convinced Mayor Craig Foltin to give the fountain a face-lift.

"I was driving by and noticed that the water wasn't going as strong and there was only one color -- pink," he said. "It will now pump to full capacity and have all six colors."

Foltin wasn't the only one who missed the former beauty of the water structure. He said residents who picnic in the area told him how "beautiful the fountain used to be."

The fountain was built in the early 1930s and has since become, to many, a landmark and jewel of Lorain.

The fountain will receive a new pump system with new piping and electrical components. In addition, three layers of fiberglass will replace the top rim, and a brass fixture will adorn the top.

"It will be a dramatic difference," Foltin said.

Foltin said the $15,885 needed for the project came out of money budgeted for park improvements.

Lucas Plumbing and Heating Inc. of Lorain is restoring the fountain's pipes and electrical components. The project officially started yesterday with old piping being removed. The city hopes to have the fountain restored by Labor Day.

Foltin said the next restoration project is the fountain's surrounding rose garden.

The Elyria Chronicle Telegram ran the following article today. The Lorain Port Authority has landed a $600,000 grant to bring ferry boats and water taxis to the Black River. This is a great idea if it is marketed properly, and would fit well with the other planned projects in downtown Lorain. I would urge them to reconsider the pricing, though. $20 is a bit high for a water taxi. A river cruise is one thing, but if it is just to cross the river or go out to the lighthouse, that is too much.

Story from the Wednesday, August 10, 2005  Edition of the Chronicle Telegram

Federal aid jump-starts Lorain ferry boat plan

Shawn Foucher
The Chronicle-Telegram
LORAIN — The director of the Lorain Port Authority looked distinctly satisfied Tuesday, as if he just discovered the secret to walking on water. But walking on water is not what Rick Novak and the Port Authority board have in mind.

Novak and the board are thinking boats, and a $600,000 federal grant is a giant step toward those goals.

The grant, included in this year’s federal transportation bill, will go toward the purchase of two high-speed ferry boats that will carry tourists to hotspots along the Lake Erie coastline.

“This is a culmination of taking advantage of all the modes of transportation Lorain has to offer,” he said.

The high-speed ferry boats could cost as much as $4 million brand-spanking new, but Novak hopes the Port Authority can locate used boats to reduce the cost.
The Black River Landing in Lorain would be the base of operation, and the service could pull in tourists from all over Ohio, Novak said.

“This is a step in the right direction,” he said. “The $600,000 is a start toward having a ferry service to the Lake Erie islands, Cleveland, Port Clinton … and Cedar Point.”

And while the christening of such an undertaking is at least a year or more down the road, Novak said the federal grant — which the Port Authority learned July 29 had been awarded — will plant the seeds for additional funding.

“Now we can start to look at other sources of funding through the federal government,” he said.
The Port board conceptualized the ferry plans some 10 years ago when members were hammering out a wish list, Novak said.

A similar boat — the Jet Express — is already used to transport island-hoppers from the Port Clinton and Sandusky ports to Put-in-Bay and other Erie islands, traveling up to 40 mph.
But the two high-speed watercrafts aren’t the only vessels the Port Authority is pinning its hopes on. Novak said that as early as next spring, two water taxis will be docked at Black River Landing.

“They would go to the Lorain Lighthouse or across the river during events, or even tours up the river,” Novak said. “The MetroParks naturalists could be on board for excursions up the river.”

The Port Authority had to dig $50,000 from its own pockets to help purchase the two water taxis, which together cost $250,000. The other $200,000 came from a federal grant the Port received last year.

Both taxis will be about 28 feet long, one carrying 20 and the other up to 25 people.

“They could be up next spring or summer,” Novak said. “It all depends on who we get to manufacture them.”

The agency likely will outsource operation of the boats.

“We can enter into an agreement with (a company) to serve as operators,” Novak said. “We have four or five different companies we can negotiate with.” The water taxis will operate from May to October.
The $600,000 grant that the Port received from the 2006 Transportation Equity Act was procured by U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown, one of 10 projects that made up the $13 million in funds Brown helped acquire for his district.

The second grant can be used to improve “peripheral” elements for the Port’s proposed trolley system, according to Brown’s office.

Novak said the Lorain Trolley would cost the Port about $4 million, and would first run from 21st Street to the lake.

“Initially we’ll have it by the river, but we hope to put it right on Broadway Avenue,” Novak said. While the city uses its $600,000 Broadway reconstruction grant to tackle the streets improvements, elements that will be conducive to a trolley system are also being taken into account, such as electrical and lighting.

The cost to ride the trolley could be as little as $1, while the Black River water taxi would cost about $20 a person. Novak said the Port Authority hasn’t discussed potential costs for the high-speed ferry boats, but costs for comparable services — such as the Jet Express in Port Clinton — are $11.

“It’s too premature to tell how much it’ll be,” Novak said. “But we want to make it affordable for people.”

Lorain also received a $600,000 grant to spruce up Broadway Avenue, including lights, roads, sidewalks and electrical systems.

While in Ashtabula over the weekend, I heard about giant hogweed for the first time. Today, newsnet5.com is running a story about it as well. Nasty stuff.

Dangerous Plant Spreads Into Northeast Ohio

Sap From Plant Can Cause Second-Degree Burn

PIERPONT, Ohio -- A towering, caustic Asian weed is spreading from western Pennsylvania into northeast Ohio, agriculture officials say, and there's little they can do to contain it.

Clusters of giant hogweed have been found in Ashtabula County, with unconfirmed reports of toeholds in Lake and Columbiana counties.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has the plant on its noxious weed list and considers it a danger in at least 12 states, from Maine to Washington. Hogweed sap can cause second-degree chemical burns by acting as "a reverse sunblock," said David Marrison of the Ohio State University Extension office in Ashtabula County.

Specimens grow up to 15 feet tall, with green and purple-splotched hollow stems about 3 inches in diameter and green leaves up to several feet long. An umbrella-like spray of small white flowers tops the stalks.

"It's an amazing thing, really, but a dangerous thing," said Alan Tasker, coordinator of the USDA's Federal Noxious Weeds Program.

Last week, Marrison arrived in Pierpont, about 60 miles northeast of Cleveland near the Pennsylvania state line, to find more than 100 of the plants surrounding a barn.

"It's a forest of hogweed," he said.

Settilio Codispoti, who owns the property, said the hogweed patch started growing a decade ago near a well and has gradually multiplied.

"I tried to kill them, but you can't destroy them," said Codispoti, 73.

The hearty hogweed is impervious to most commercial weed chemicals, so agriculture officials use more potent herbicides when they find the plant.

In Pennsylvania, which established a hogweed eradication program several years ago, hogweed has spread from six known sites to more than 600 in seven years.

"You're all going to find out what we know: It's very attractive until you know the dangers of the hogweed," said Jason Fuller, a field technician for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Lorain County Metro Parks' first ever Astronomy Fair will be Aug. 12 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Carlisle Visitor Center. Come to the center, 12882 Diagonal Road, near LaGrange, for a celebration of astronomical proportions. Learn about stars, planets, constellations, telescopes, meteor showers, galaxies and nebula. Take a tour of the constellations in the portable Star Lab, explore the solar system on the ''Walk of the Planets'' and get a safe look at the sun. Make a constellation to take home and get advice on telescopes and astrophotography with the Black River Astronomical Society. Bring a blanket, lawn chair and some patience to the Nielsen Observatory, 13630 Diagonal Road, LaGrange opens at 9 p.m. for telescope viewing and the Perseid meteor shower (weather permitting). For more information, call Lorain County Metro Parks at (440) 458-5121 or at (800) 526-7275.

"Do The Right Thing" Picnic

The Lorain Police Department, in partnership with the Lorain City Schools and The Morning Journal, has adopted this program which is designed to bring attention to positive activities. Now in its fourth year, the "Do the Right Thing" program offers rewards and recognition for good behavior and helps portray kids in a more positive light. Any youngster in the City of Lorain can be nominated by parents, peers and community members for their good deeds and accomplishments.

For more information on this program visit: Lorain Police Do The Right Thing program

Last night, a couple of asshat kids were fooling around and playing a stupid driving game. One of the drivers lost control, careened into a crowd, and hit 19 people.

Bystanders then dragged the asshat driver out of the car, and proceeded to open a can o' whoop-ass.

While vigilante justice can easily get out of hand, there are times when people need a good old-fashioned ass kicking. This guy was certainly a candidate.

I remember a story about Abraham Lincoln's father, who didn't know how to read. He was selling off a piece of his property, and decided to have his son, Abe, read over the contract. Abe noticed that the contract called for a much larger piece of the land to be turned over to the buyer than was agreed upon. Instead of calling the sheriff or a lawyer, as would likely happen today, Daddy Abe beat the shit out of the guy. And I'll bet the guy thought twice before trying to swindle someone again.

Lorain Councilman "Crazy Eddie" Edwards is concerned that there might be a gang war brewing in Lorain. Lord, I hope not. If he's right, the fight I saw a couple of weeks ago may have been related to this.

07/22/2005
Five shooting incidents in a week
MIKE SAKAL and ALEX M. PARKER , Morning Journal Writers

LORAIN -- The fifth shooting incident in Lorain this week has a councilman concerned there is a turf war in the city involving gangs, drugs and young men with grudges.

In the latest shooting early yesterday, shots were fired from a vehicle at 17th Street and Long Avenue, according to a police report. So far three people, including a 16-year-old boy, have been shot. Three men have been arrested in three of the incidents, according to police reports.

While police said they are investigating to see if the shootings are linked, they are tightlipped about details.

However, Councilman Eddie Edwards, D-5, whose ward includes parts of South Lorain, where one of this week's shootings happened, said the incidents stem from gangs in the city having turf wars over drugs and "beefs" with one another.

"You talk to these people -- senior citizens, parents and kids -- and they'll tell you that when they hear a knock on their door at night, they are scared to death to answer it," Edwards said.

"They will tell you they know that there are guns out there, and if you get close to some of these gangs, they will let you know.

"People who aren't a member of the African-American community don't realize what a problem it is," Edwards said. "There's kids, 11 years old to 18, 19 years old, who are in gangs. The problems are about drugs, turf wars and guys who have beefs with one another. It's part of Lorain, period."

Part of that problem is parents who aren't aware of the activities that their children are involved in, Edwards said.

None of the suspects arrested has been charged with any drug-related offenses, according to police reports.

Two men were reported shot on Apple Avenue early Monday; a 16-year-old boy was shot on Elyria Avenue Monday night; shots were fired at a car near 17th Street and Long Avenue Tuesday night; shots were fired at a car by 30th Street and Globe Avenue early Wednesday; and early yesterday, shots were fired at a car, again by 17th Street and Long Avenue, according to police.

One of the men arrested, Billy Gilbert, 20, of Lorain, was the victim of a shooting early on Monday morning on Apple Avenue , according to police reports. He was arrested early yesterday morning and charged with carrying a concealed weapon in connection with one of the two shooting incidents by 17th and Long, according to a police report.

The first shooting incident on Long, late Tuesday, was reported by two witnesses who said someone in a vehicle fired shots at another vehicle, the report said.

In another incident, David West, 23, of Elyria, was arrested for felonious assault in connection with the shooting of the 16-year-old boy Monday night on Elyria Avenue. The boy was shot in the lower leg, according to police. Yesterday, West denied he shot the boy. "I don't shoot people," he said.

The 16-year-old boy told police he had been at Apple Avenue early Monday morning where two men were shot, according to police. He indicated to police the shootings were connected, police said. Police have released little information about those shootings.

The third man arrested, Jason Fowler, 19, of Lorain, is charged with felonious assault in connection with a shooting incident Wednesday morning at 30th Street and Globe, according to a police report. A Dodge Caravan with two men was shot at several times and Fowler was arrested at East 34th Street and Fulton Road after the men in the van identified him as being in the group where someone fired the shots, according to the report. None of the other men were arrested, the report said.

In the latest shooting incident, Gilbert was arrested just after 1 a.m. yesterday by the Lorain County Strike Force Team which was patrolling around East 28th Street and Caroline Avenue. They stopped his vehicle for a safety violation, according to the report.

Capt. Dennis Cavanaugh, administrative coordinator of the Strike Force Team, said the team was in the area at the request of the Lorain Police Department because of the recent shootings.

A sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun was found under the driver's seat of Gilbert's truck, and there was a bullet hole through the front grill and radiator, the report stated.

Edwards credited the Strike Force Team, formed about a month to combat escalating violence in the county, with keeping aggressively going after suspects.

"Unless they don't keep the heat on, the problem won't go away," Edwards said. "If they keep focused, they're going to get the problem eradicated, and it'll make it difficult for these people to do business in Lorain. If they keep locking people up, it'll get somebody's attention. We'll get the little guy, and we'll get the big guy."

Edwards also said that more people such as city leaders, ministers and parents need to get involved in helping rid the problem.

"City and community leaders need to stand up and be counted," Edwards said.

How rude! The following appeared in today's Chronicle Telegram:

 A case of a daylight dognapping?

Ryan Merrill
The Chronicle-Telegram
ELYRIA — The purple bed at the foot of the coffee table sits empty in Millie Terrell’s living room.
Up until Sunday, Rosie, a 6-year-old golden retriever-miniature collie mix slept there each morning as Terrell fixed her first cup of coffee.

But Terrell’s morning routine changed Monday. Terrell, 71, made the coffee and at about 8 a.m., she put Rosie on her leash and spent a little time outside with her, Terrell said, just as she always does.
Then Terrell came back in to read the paper.

But when she went to check on Rosie, her beloved companion was gone. She found the dog’s red collar, unclipped, on the porch.

“I didn’t hear her bark to be let back in,” Terrell said. “After seeing the collar I was pretty sure she was kidnapped because there was no way her head would come through the collar.”

Terrell said she bought Rosie as a present for her granddaughter, 11-year-old Nicole Ickes. She kept Rosie when Nicole and Nicole’s mother moved.

Rosie had been neglected, abused and abandoned by her former owners, Terrell said, and the mistreatment led to some unusual behavior. Rosie becomes depressed easily, Terrell said, and flat out refused to ever go in the basement.

 

Showing a resolve I didn't think the NRA posessed any more, they have announce that the previously scheduled 2007 annual convention will be relocated from Columbus. Columbus recently passed an "assault weapons ban" that is not only feel-good, do-nothing-to-reduce-crime legislation, but also contains language that "no one is allowed to possess assault weapons", which would prohibit some exhibitors from displaying their wares.

Another questionable portion of the new ban is the prohibition on any "semi-automatic pistol, or any semi-automatic, centerfire rifle with a fixed magazine, that has the capacity to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition"; which appears to ban ALL semiauto pistols as nearly every one has the capacity to receive a magazine which can hold more than 10 rounds. That is the language in the ban posted on the Columbus website, although some sources are reporting that the final language of that section was changed to "Semi-automatic pistol with a fixed magazine, or any semi-automatic, centerfire rifle with a fixed magazine, that has the capacity to accept more than ten rounds of ammunition", which would be better.

Some snippets from various articles:

It's one of the biggest conventions in the city of Columbus, but on Monday, the National Rifle association announced plans to move the convention.

The National Rifle Association chose the capital city to host its 2007 convention.

Speculation is that the city's recent vote to ban assault weapons has the group worried about the impact on exhibitors.

---

On the line for the city are the 50 to 60,000 tourists projected to fill restaurants and hotels in the city, along with their money. City leaders say the convention could hace brought $12 to $15 million to Columbus

---

Speaking at a press conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre stated that the NRA would return to Columbus when the Legislature enacts a preemption law that would override the Columbus ban.

---

The City Council’s decision will have a negative economic impact on businesses in the greater Columbus area. Earlier this year, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce said it estimated $20 million in revenue from hotels, restaurants, entertainment and other NRA convention related spending. In addition, Columbus would have received free publicity from major national and regional new organizations covering the NRA Annual Meetings.

The storm we had Saturday is being called a "100 year storm" by city officials. Nearly three inches of rain was recorded in less than 20 minutes. Flash flooding under the 21st Street underpass claimed the lives of an elderly couple who were stuck in their vehicle.

From newsnet5.com:

LORAIN, Ohio -- Swift-moving storms proved deadly for a Lorain couple Saturday.

Walter and Mary Jane Kalinowski were in their car on a well-traveled Lorain street when the storm turned a railroad underpass into an ocean of water that they couldn't escape, NewsChannel5 reported.

The East 21st Street underpass filled with water after 2.8 inches of rain fell in about a half-hour.

As fast as the rain came down, the floodwaters went up, trapping the 85-year-old and 77-year-old inside a red Oldsmobile.

"Would-be rescuers tried to get to the car as the water was rising too fast. They tried to break a window. They couldn't get in and the waters just buried the car before anybody can do anything," Lt. Jim Rohner said.

With water that was almost 12-feet deep in spots, rescuers initially feared that more victims might be trapped.

"We're unsure at this time. That's why our dive team is en route and we'll be checking for survivors hopefully or any other vehicles that are under there," Sgt. Jim Wolford said.

As the dive team entered the water, they painstakingly searched the murky mess. A second vehicle was eventually found under the water but the people inside had been able to escape.

Over the last couple of days, the papers have been buzzing about Mayor Foltin's attempts to get minor league baseball to come to Lorain. Recently, Foltin broke away from the grand plan of having a brand new stadium on the lakefront to a more modest idea for renovating the ballfield at Campana Park.

From today's Morning Journal:

What Frontier League officials call ''the Lorain contingent'' threw an impressive pitch last night in its proposal to land a baseball team for the city, according to Frontier League officials.

If Lorain could finalize a deal by September, the Missouri-based Ohio Valley Redcoats ''would look very seriously'' at relocating to Lorain by the 2006 season, according to Detroit businessman Phil Ullom, a co-owner of the team that visited the city last month.

The city is proposing to renovate an existing major league regulation baseball field at P.C. Campana Park to accommodate 4,000 seats at a cost of $870,000.

(snip)

Pending City Council approval, Lorain could spend about $455,000 of two years' worth of recycling funds that it currently receives from the county to help pay to renovate the ballpark, which already has lights and utilities, such as water lines, in place.

And therein lies the catch. City Council has traditionally tried to trash just about everything Foltin proposes. Hopefully, they can set aside their bias and see that this would really be a boon for Lorain to land this team

While I would really like to see a new stadium on the lakefront, I agree with Foltin's plan to start small, see if it is successful, then expand in the future. Eastlake went crazy to build a big fancy stadium for their minor league team, and it is reportedly in financial trouble. Lorain doesn't need another money pit, so this is the correct course of action.

You hear people say all the time... what are we doing in Iraq? Why are we sticking our nose into other people's business when there were no WMD destruction found?


The reason is because these are the kind of people we are dealing with:

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A suicide car bomb exploded next to U.S. troops handing out candy and toys, killing 18 children and teenagers Wednesday. Parents heard the shattering explosion and raced out to the discover the worst -- children's mangled, bloodied bodies strewn on the street.

These fanatics intentionally blew up children just to carry out their terror plans. Their own countrymen. Human life is not sacred at all, and those in power rule with fear and opression as their weapons. They must be stopped.

We say it over and over... you are responsible for your own safety!

Today's Lorain Morning Journal posted a story about a woman who had a man show up at her door drunk and trying to get into the house. She called 911, but nobody ever showed up. After an hour, she called again. Fortunately, by this time the man had already left. If this guy had been intent on causing her harm, this story could have a very different ending.

Lorain Mayor Craig Foltin is saying that although crime is on the rise in the City, it isn't as bad as it has been in the past.

Well, that's a relief. [/sarcasm]

So, things are bad, but they could be worse. So, do we say the same thing to people who are down on their luck and having financial difficulties?

"Hey, cheer up! At least this isn't the Great Depression!"

The good news is that something is being done. The City is actively working with developers to try to being new homes and businesses to Lorain, and the police chief has taken a more proactive stance to reducing crime with his community forums and participation with the county Strike Team.

 Story from the Wednesday, July 06, 2005  Edition of the Chronicle Telegram

‘UFO’ seen in county skies

Cindy Leise
The Chronicle-Telegram
Several county residents reported seeing a strange flying object over the weekend, resembling a military Stealth fighter plane.

Brandon Nixon and his wife, Valerie, saw it Saturday afternoon when they were at Jamie’s Flea Market in South Amherst, and a Lorain police dispatcher reported seeing it, too.
One caller to The Chronicle-Telegram described it as “a big black triangle in the sky” flying east to west.

Nixon’s drawing of the object was nearly identical to photos of a Stealth fighter plane, and Tony Molinero, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the object seen by a number of people could have indeed been a military plane.

“We’re not able to comment on any of the military aircraft flying — only they can do that,” Molinero said. “There was lots of fly-by stuff going on because of the holiday.”

Nixon, 24, of Elyria, said he was helping his mother-in-law clean up her barbeque booth at the flea market when he saw the triangle-shaped object at about 4:30 p.m.

He said it didn’t sound like a typical jet, but it made a noise that was more like a hiss. Initially, he said he thought he saw a UFO, but he didn’t call authorities.

“I didn’t want anyone to think I’m crazy,” Nixon said with a laugh.

I saw this plane. I was having a BBQ in my backyard Saturday, and my whole family saw it. It definitely was NOT a UFO. My dad thought it looked like a Stealth fighter, but I wasn't so sure. Looked more like an SR-71 Blackbird to me, but it was pretty far past when I saw it. It was hauling ass!

The Morning Journal is all over this Strike Team concept. In a story today, they reveal that current Police Chief Cel Rivera was part of a special team back when he was a patrolman. The Morning Journal at that time eventually had a reporter ride with the team to chronicle their activities. It would be great if they were to implement a similar program today.

There are people out there who are hard to feel sorry for. Then there are people who you can openly root against.

jug-jug-jugaaaaah.......