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Wellington insurrectionist gets 27 months
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Source: US Census Bureau ED BETZEL / CHRONICLE
Trying to save Golden Acres sledding hill
The Community Guide
A Wellington man has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $2,000 restitution for taking part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Michael Mackrell, 42, received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly after pleading guilty to assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, a felony, in October. He also was ordered to spend one year on supervised release. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, according to federal court records, Mackrell assaulted local and federal police officers during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. This disrupted a joint session of Congress that was meant to count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election, won by President Joe Biden. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said in a news release that Michael Mackrell and son Clifford Mackrell traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in former President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse. Michael Mackrell wore a camouflage jacket, an earth-tone camouflage baseball cap-style hat, green gloves,
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those older cities. Lorain County Community Development Director Rob Duncan said, “I am not surprised by the influx as Lorain County has grown every year with the exception of one since the census has been collecting these numbers. Our low taxes, availability of land and the availability of good paying jobs are some of the reasons.” Among the state’s shrinking counties are seven large urban centers — Cleveland’s Cuyahoga, Cincinnati’s Hamilton, Akron’s Summit, Dayton’s Montgomery, Toledo’s Lucas, Canton’s Stark and Youngstown’s Mahoning.
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Gallo in part credited the area’s location for Lorain County’s overall growth. “I think people are taking adLorain and Medina counties are on the state’s shrinking list vantage of the fact that we’ve of growing counties, according got good housing stock, we’ve got affordability, good schools, to Census Bureau data. businesses that are growing The new report estimates Lorain County’s population at and expanding,” he said. He said the county’s effort 317,910 as of July 1, 2023 — about 5,000 more than counted to bring businesses to the area is attracting residents as well, in the 2020 census. That 1.6 including continued growth in percent increase ranks Lorain the 11th fastest-growing county Avon, North Ridgeville and the townships. in the state. He expects its legacy cities Overall, the report found population increases in only 30 could see a boon with development at Midway Mall attractof Ohio’s 88 counties. ing more businesses and, by Lorain County Chamber of Commerce President Tony extension, infill housing in David Knox and Carissa Woytach The Community Guide
Ohio county populations
Gains losses and unchanged
ntg om
Population grows in Lorain County
Volume 10, Issue YY
Cra wfo
Submit items to news@LCnewspapers.com
Mo
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Lauren Hoffman The Community Guide
COURTESY U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Federal prosecutors say this image depicts Michael Mackrell of Wellington at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
and black pants. He also carried a green backpack, walked with a darkcolored cane, and used an American flag gaiter to cover his mouth and nose, according to federal prosecutors. He and his son then went from the Trump rally to the Capitol, where they
pushed back police barricades and illegally entered a restricted area of Capitol grounds, federal authorities said. They were carrying gas masks, bandanas, gloves and backpacks, authorities said.
Commissioners table budget vote think it would be appropriate to move forward without the full board.” With only two of its members pres“And my feeling is, I’m well on ent at its last meeting, the Lorain record that three commissioners … County Board of Commissioners dedoesn’t provide as much diversity as layed until Tuesday a vote on its $84.4 seven commissioners would, and since million 2024 general fund budget. we only have three, to be down to two, Commissioner Jeff Riddell recomthat seems to conflict with the way I mended waiting. think we should do this,” Riddell said. “We don’t have a full board,” Com- “So I think all three commissioners’ missioner David Moore said. “I don’t input is important. It’s a lot of money.” Dave O’Brien The Community Guide
The two commissioners, both Republicans, then voted to table the matter. The budget shouldn’t need too much discussion, Riddell said. The board decided to use its remaining American Rescue Plan Act funding and give all elected officials and department heads the budgets they requested through the end of the year, he said.
AMHERST — The city is in talks with several other local government entities about saving the Golden Acres sledding hill. Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow said the city has been talking with the Lorain County Metro Parks about the possibility of taking over 45999 N. Ridge Road, also known as the “Golden Acres sledding hill.” The land, along with neighboring parcels at 46001 North Ridge Road and 105 S. Leavitt Road/state Route 58, has been owned by the Lorain County Port Authority since 2013 and is the site of the former Golden Acres Nursing home, which was demolished in 2022. The hill has been a place that Lorain County residents have flocked to in the winter months for many years and has been deemed a part of Amherst history by many residents, including Costilow. In February, the Port Authority announced that Giant Eagle had purchased 46001 North Ridge Road and 105 S. Leavitt Road/Route 58 for $1.6 million with plans to build a GetGo convenience store and WeGo car wash. The sale has not yet been finalized. Some Amherst residents weren’t thrilled, and Adam Cassady started a petition to prevent the sale from going through. “The former Golden Acres property is essential to the historic character of the city of Amherst, Amherst Township, the city of Lorain and the surrounding region,” Cassady wrote in the petition on Change.org. Since going live on Feb. 3, the petition has gathered hundreds of signatures. Costilow said the city is in talks with the Port Authority and the Metro Parks over the possible purchase of the sledding hill land. “There is going to be some land left over that is not very conducive to further development so it is an option we are talking about,” Costilow said. “The Metro Parks already own land across the street along Dewey Road and it is a protected flood zone.” While no plans have been made official and nothing has been put on paper yet, Costilow said the possibility is there.
INSIDE THIS WEEK Amherst
Sewer rates to rise. A3
Oberlin
What it’s like to be principal. A4
Wellington
Caller to schools arrested. A5
LEGALS AND CLASSIFIEDS A7 • CROSSWORD A7 • SUDOKU A7 • KID SCOOP A8