‘Project’ could save Lorain County lives

BOUQUETS >> To Project Lifesaver Lorain County, a group of volunteers raising money and spreading the word about new bracelets available to help police actively search for an adult with dementia or a child with autism or other special needs.

Criteria for prospective clients include: Age 3 years or older; resident of Lorain County or lives with a caregiver in Lorain County; under care 24 hours a day and seven days a week; documented diagnosis by a physician with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome or other conditions involving wandering and risk of physical harm; and documented history of or highly susceptible to wandering.

Barry Buck, a Lorain Lions Club member, said Project Lifesaver already has trained deputies at Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and police officers in Avon and Elyria. Avon Lake, Lorain, Amherst and Lagrange police officers are coming on board.

The training and starter equipment costs $4,000 per department. Each additional bracelet costs $300.

Buck said eight Lions Clubs in the county stepped up to raise money, adding largely because of efforts of Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti, which raised more than $23,000 in the first year.

The wrist bands emit a signal that is not picked up unless a caregiver calls a local police department.

This is another tool for law enforcement to protect and keep our community safe.

BOUQUETS >>

To First Evangelical Lutheran Church, which along with its pastor, the Rev. Jimmy W. Madsen, committee members, Lorain City Council members and children, on its July 24 ground breaking of the new church site at 423 Washington Ave. in Lorain.

This is the start of a new beginning for the church home that was destroyed by arson Aug. 28, 2014. The church was located at 603 Washington.

Thomas & Marker is the construction manager and Groth Design Group is the architect for the project.

General bidding should be out by Aug. 22. The church New Building Committee aims to award contracts by Sept. 19. The church is expected to be finished in September 2017.

We congratulate First Lutheran for continuing its commitment to Lorain. The church is needed in this community.

BRICKBATS >>

To Tarrence Anthony Scott, the 29-year-old Lorain man who was the focus of at least two police investigations this month.

In the first case, Scott pleaded not guilty to abandoning animals in connection with an incident involving nine dogs that occurred July 6.

According to police, Scott left an adult male bulldog mix, an adult female pit bull, two juvenile female pit bull mixes and five puppies — four male and one female — alone in his Elyria Avenue home. The landlord found the dogs July 6 while trying to reclaim the property after learning Scott was moving out.

Lorain police officer Rick Broz wrote in his report that all three floors of the home were covered in urine and feces, with the basement being the worst.

The puppies, who all still had their eyes closed July 7, were located upstairs in a bedroom. One was found in a ripped garbage bag .

Scott’s most recent brush with the law came when he was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, possession of heroin, trafficking cocaine and trafficking heroin.

Police say they observed Scott making a drug transaction at West 18th Street and Washington Avenue in Lorain. Scott possessed about $600 in heroin, $300 in cocaine and $1,000 worth of prescription painkillers.

Although innocent until proven guilty, Scott needs to find something positive to do instead of being the focus of police. If he doesn’t, he’ll end up behind bars, and for a long time.

BRICKBATS >>

To Monique Overstreet, the 23-year-old Elyria woman and former Lorain County Joint Vocational School employee who avoided jail stemming from a sexual relationship she had with an 18-year-old student.

Overstreet, who pleaded guilty in June to misdemeanor assault, was sentenced July 20 by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Christopher R. Rothgery to two years of community control, or probation, ordered to relinquish her teaching certificate and to never work with children again as a teacher or coach.

Sgt. Randal Koubeck with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office has said the student involved in the case was 18 years of age at the time and the relationship was consensual.

Ohio law doesn’t allow intimate relationships between teachers and students.

Hopefully, Overstreet’s punishment will serve as a deterrent to others and send a message to child predators.