Ryan Williams deserving of youth honor

BOUQUETS >> To Ryan Williams Jr., the 14-year-old Lorain High School freshman who was named the 2017 Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County Youth of the Year, making him the group’s youngest ever recipient.

Seven years ago, Ryan joined the Boys and Girls Clubs because he said he was going through a lot.

Since joining, Ryan has involved himself with Healthy Habits presentations, sports and recreation teams, the Triple Play Club, water and boat safety, and life saving courses, the Claymation Club, Teen Leadership Days, community service projects and community festivals.

At Lorain High, Ryan takes college prep courses, maintains a 3.75 grade point average, participates with the Freshman Student Council and holds the lead role in Lorain Public Library System’s Dramatic Arts production.

He’s involved with the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, annual Black River Clean-Up, FireFish Festival, Lorain Public Library System’s arts program, and has helped with service projects for cancer patients, senior citizens and people in need.

We congratulate Ryan on his honor.

BOUQUETS >> To the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio for honoring its volunteers at a ceremony April 25 at Vermilion-on-the-Lake Historic Community Center, 3780 Edgewater Drive.

Last year, more than 2,600 people logged an incredible more than 14,000 volunteer hours in sorting and repacking nearly 2.5 million pounds of food.

External Affairs Director Susan Bartosch said volunteers are absolutely essential for the logistical operations of providing food security for the areas they service.

Bartosch said, “We could not do what we do without having volunteers.”

The Lorain Lions Club received The Harvesters Award for its two decades of volunteering each month with the food bank.

Paul and Carol Hiltabidel, volunteers since 2012, received the Jimmy L. Davis Spirit of Community Service Award for their willingness to get involved and lead others in enhancing the quality of life for others.

Forty people were honored with the Jeptha Carroll Society for completing between 40 and 99 volunteer hours over the past year; and 18 individuals were selected to join the Eric and Evan Nord Circle for volunteering at least 100 hours. Second Harvest also recognized Maxine Conibear and Betty Schneider, two volunteers who died over the past year after being an integral part of the Second Harvest family.

We applaud Second Harvest for recognizing its volunteers.

BRICKBATS >> To Jonathan McCann, the 29-year-old South Amherst man who admitted in court to assaulting his then girlfriend and slashing her friend with a knife in August.

As part of a plea agreement, McCann pleaded no contest to attempted murder and guilty to three counts of felonious assault and a single count of domestic violence April 25.

Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge John R. Miraldi found McCann guilty of the attempted murder charge.

Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Peter Gauthier said one of the women drove her friend, who was McCann’s girlfriend, to her 45th street home. A short time later, the woman received a phone call from McCann’s girlfriend that damage was done inside the house and then the phone suddenly cut off.

The woman returned to the house and saw McCann lying on top of his girlfriend.

Gauthier said the woman beat on the door and yelled. The knife-wielding McCann approached the door, attempted to stab her twice in her abdomen. He cut her arms and sliced her cheek.

McCann will receive his punishment June 5.

It’s apparent McCann needs to be incarcerated for a long, long time. He’s truly a danger to society.

BRICKBATS >> To Shawndell Partin, the 37-year-old Lorain man who was sentenced to two years of community control in connection with a March 2016 fight that left a 6-year-old girl with a bullet wound.

A little girl could have been killed because of Partin’s erratic behavior.

In court April 24, Partin did not speak before sentencing by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Mark A. Betleski.

Partin was charged with aggravated riot in connection with the incident. He also was sentenced in a separate case in which he was charged with domestic violence and unlawful restraint.

If Partin doesn’t learn from his mistakes, he could find himself behind bars for many years.