Kudos to groups for helping foster children

BOUQUETS >> To Operation Open Heart for partnering with Shear Thairapy which donated its services and presented care packages to 65 foster children July 24.

Operation Open Heart kicked off its 2017 festivities at Shear Thairapy when police, fire and emergency services units from Lorain, Amherst, Sheffield Lake, Wellington, Grafton and LifeCare Ambulance Service and others rolled into the salon parking lot in a motorcade with lights flashing.

Karrie Dakin, owner and stylist at Shear Thairapy, said, “We are offering the kids haircuts and we are donating our time as well as offering them care packages from my dad and some of his friends from his motorcycle group.”

Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Pablo Cruz of the Elyria Post said Shear Thairapy was the only salon in Lorain County to offer its services.

Week-long activities include camping, plane rides at the Lorain County Regional Airport in Elyria and bowling.

We commend Operation Open Heart and Shear Thairapy for giving their time and services in helping the youngsters.

BOUQUETS » To Lorain City Council Ward 3 residents who are discussing whether to create a neighborhood watch program in an effort to make the area safer.

Several citizens gathered July 22 at Grace Community Church, 1980 W. 20th St., to contemplate becoming a unified voice in the fight against crime and blight.

Block captains Gwen Jackson, the Rev. Ernest Battle and Lorain police Lt. Dan Reinhardt facilitated the meeting.

During the meeting, Reinhardt described how police are trying to protect and serve everyone in the community.

Reinhardt said, “Our department, not trying to make excuses, but we only have so many people and so much time to address so many issues. We have so many people calling all the time.”

A block watch, he said, will enable residents to handle minor situations faster, and allow police to address major situations. It also will keep crime down if criminals know that neighbors are watching out for other neighbors.

This is an effort the residents should support.

BRICKBATS » To Devonte A. Randleman, the 24-year-old Elyria man who will spend 33 years to life in prison for killing another man Aug. 5 during a botched burglary in Sheffield Village.

Although Randleman maintains his innocence, a jury convicted Randleman on July 17 of one count of on aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts aggravated burglary, two counts of felonious assault and single counts of tampering with evidence and having weapons while under disability in the killing of 26-year-old Stephen A. Dukes.

During the trial, prosecutors said Randleman and an unidentified accomplice broke into Dukes’ Waterford Circle apartment in the early hours of Aug. 5 in search of money, drugs and guns. They were interrupted by Dukes who returned from a Brunswick strip club and was shot four times in the driveway of the complex with a .40-caliber pistol police never recovered.

Despite Randleman’s repeated claims he was in Sandusky at the time of the shooting, his cell phone and sunglasses were found near Dukes’ body in the driveway.

Investigators also found a Ruger P89 9 mm pistol in Dukes’ home that tested positive for Randleman’s DNA.

Randleman will have a long time to reflect on his actions.

BRICKBATS » To Chamiyia Wheeler, the 21-year-old Elyria woman who is facing a laundry list of charges after crashing her car into a tree and then breastfeeding her infant son in the early morning of July 24.

Wheeler was charged with two counts of operating vehicle while under the influence and single counts of endangering children, driving under suspension and reasonable control.

At 1:57 a.m., police were called to Middle Avenue and Ninth Street for a 2003 Chevrolet Impala that had crashed into a tree.

When officers arrived, police said Wheeler admitted to driving the vehicle before it crashed and having two shots of Crown Royal Apple.

Authorities said officers could smell alcohol on Wheeler, she slurred her words and had trouble putting sentences together.

While speaking with officers, Wheeler started breastfeeding her 3-week-old son.

Officers told her not to breastfeed her son because of her intoxicated state, but she continued to do so.

The boy was transported to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center for evaluation. Lorain County Children’s Services was advised.

Wheeler is innocent until proven guilty. In the meantime, she needs to get her life together for herself and her son.