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Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024
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Volume 10, Issue YY
SAYS IT HAS ENOUGH MONEY FOR NEW SCHOOL
Oberlin pulls levy from ballot voters for money outside of what The Oberlin School District has their new property taxes will be starting in 2025,” Oberlin Schools pulled a $22 million bond issue Treasurer Robert Rinehart said in for new school construction off a release. of the November ballot, but the Rinehart said the district’s district said the project still will go Finance Committee had deemed forward. the bond unnecessary due to The Oberlin Board of Education money the district would receive has voted to have the 4.21-mill, from the NEXUS gas pipeline and 37-year bond issue removed from increased property values in the the Nov. 5 ballot. district. The intent of the issue was to According to Rinehart, residents raise $22 million for the construcof the Oberlin school district are tion of a new sixth through eighth grade middle school at its Pleasant expected to see an average increase in their home valuation of Street campus. “We are happy to not have to ask 30.4 percent. The Community Guide
The office of Lorain County Auditor Craig Snodgrass recently completed its six-year reevaluation of property values in the county, which increased property values for many in the county. That bump would increase the district’s general fund revenue enough that, in combination with NEXUS money, it would provide for the new building. The district will pursue a bond to pay for the building, Rinehart said, but the district will be able to pay that bond off without a levy. “We have the NEXUS funding coming, we have some funding
left in our accounts here at the district and of course we’re anticipating renewals will pass and things like that,” Superintendent David Hall said. The NEXUS pipeline is a 256mile gas pipeline which was completed in 2018, running through Michigan and Ohio. It passes through several municipalities in Lorain County and will pay taxes to Lorain County Public Health, the Lorain County Joint Vocational School District and the Firelands, Keystone, Midview and Oberlin school districts. The vote to remove the issue
from the ballot passed unanimously, and Lorain County Board of Elections Director Paul Adams confirmed that Oberlin Schools officials submitted the paperwork to pull the issue. “They actually informed us in advance that they were gonna do it,” Adams said. “So we knew it was coming. They came in this morning, filed and it’s going to be removed from the ballot, it will not appear.” Hall said that it had always been the district’s goal not to go to the taxpayers to fund the new building unless it was necessary.
‘VOICE OF THE BROWNS’ IS RETIRING
Jim Donovan’s cancer is back Scott Petrak The Community Guide
PHOTOS COURTESY SHEA ALLTMONT
Ding dong!
During the month of September, Avon Lake Public Libraryvisitors (and passersby) will be greeted by a massive inflatable display of the Wicked Witch’s legs crushed by the farmhouse ala “The Wizard of Oz.”
Parent wants LifeWise lawsuit dismissed Sued after publishing its controversial school-time Bible-study curriculum offers Bible study programs for students during school hours. An organizer of Parents Against While a sample curriculum is LifeWise has filed a motion to have available upon request from Lifea copyright lawsuit against him by Wise’s website, the organization and LifeWise Academy dismissed. its founder and CEO Joel Penton LifeWise filed the lawsuit in July have argued LifeWise has a licensagainst Zachary Parrish, a parent ing agreement with the company that who it said volunteered as a Lifeprovides its curriculum, and publishWise instructor to get and publish the ing it does not qualify as “fair use.” organization’s curriculum. Parrish and the Electronic Frontier Parrish is one of the organizers of Foundation, a nonprofit digital rights a Facebook group that has amassed group based in California that filed over 6,000 members to criticize the motion to dismiss in the United the transparency and objectives of States District Court for the NorthLifeWise Academy, a nonprofit that ern District of Indiana on Aug. 26, Richard Perrins The Community Guide
disagree. “(Parrish) posted the curriculum to inform parents and school boards and the public about the contents of what LifeWise is teaching,” said Mitch Stolz, the foundation’s litigation director. Penton said parents are free to ask specific questions about LifeWise’s educational material and emphasized the program is optional. LifeWise has been looking to establish programs in Lorain County over the past few months. The organization is starting its program in Firelands Schools this fall.
BEREA — Jim Donovan’s voice will always be synonymous with the Browns, and his exuberant calls of touchdowns and victories will echo in the ears of fans. The fans received terrible news last week, as Donovan announced he has stepped away from the microphone for good. The longtime radio playby-play announcer’s cancer has returned. “I have called my last Browns game and that’s why I’m writing to you,” he wrote in a letter to his fans. “As many of you know I have been dealing with cancer for many years. I’ve gone through every treatment imaginable. But my cancer is a defiant opponent and has returned and very aggressively. This will require me to devote everything I have in me to continue the fight and my family and I are committed to doing that.” Donovan, 68, began calling the games in 1999 when the Browns returned to the league. He retired from WKYC-TV in June after nearly 40 years as the lead sports anchor but planned to keep broadcasting Browns games, which is a great passion of his. He was with the Browns in July for the start of training camp and called their three preseason games. The last one, in Seattle, turned out to be his last game. It’s the second time
cancer has returned. Donovan, who lives in Hinckley, announced in May 2023 Donovan that his leukemia had returned. He had been in remission since he had a bone marrow transplant more than 11 years earlier. He called the opener last year, then missed some games before returning to finish the season. “I have called Browns games for 25 years,” he wrote in the letter. “Not a day has gone by when I haven’t paused and been so proud to be ‘The Voice of the Browns.’ Cheryl (wife), Meghan (daughter) and I thank you for all the love, support and prayers during my rough patches. It’s like having a huge family around us. And that’s what makes the Cleveland Browns so special. You do. “Now let’s get those Cowboys and make this ’24-’25 season a great one! I’ll be watching and listening. Here We Go Brownies ... Here We Go! It’s been an honor.” The Browns didn’t announce a replacement. “We have been so honored to have Jim Donovan as the Voice of the Browns since we became a part of the organization in 2012 and quickly understood why our fans have absolutely loved him for the last 25 years,” owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said.
INSIDE THIS WEEK Wellington
9-year-old donates fair hog proceeds. A5
Amherst
Come see “Arsenic and Old Lace.” A3
Oberlin
Root Beer & Yesteryear on tap. A4
SPORTS A6 • CROSSWORD A7 • SUDOKU A7 • KID SCOOP A8