Agency’s new digs welcome to community

BOUQUET >> To the Lorain County Community Action Agency which hosted a ribbon-cutting Nov. 9 to formally open its new headquarters at 936 Broadway in Lorain. The Community Action Agency moved into a renovated building on the thoroughfare of downtown Lorai

It’s located in the building that housed the former T.N. Molas & Sons Furniture.

Community Action Agency Board Vice Chairwoman Nancy Sabath said the bottom line for the agency is to serve people in need, and the new office space will help that.

Jackie Boehnlein, its president and CEO, said the building is a community resource center.

Boehnlein was joined by Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer; Lorain developer Jon Veard, president and CEO of United Properties Management Co.; and Community Action Agency Board Chairman Henry Patterson to cut the ribbon.

The previous headquarters was at 502 and 506 Broadway, with an office at 401 Broadway.

We congratulate the Community Action Agency for moving into its new and improved digs and its commitment to helping those in need.

BOUQUET » To Lorain police officers Miguel Salgado and Officer Eric Runyan who received commendations Nov. 6 for saving the life of a man who was shot last month.

Lorain City Council approved a resolution recognizing Salgado and Runyan for their prompt lifesaving actions “which saved the life of a victim they encountered when responding to a call on Oct. 1, 2017.”

The officers secured the scene and Salgado saw an injured 21-year-old man lying on the ground bleeding heavily from the upper thigh.

They assessed the injury and determined a tourniquet to the upper thigh was needed so the man would not bleed to death.

Mayor Chase Ritenauer, who presented the resolution, said Salgado and Runyan went above the call of duty.

Lorain police Sgt. Buddy Sivert said it appeared the man who was shot, was intoxicated and thought he was entering a nearby bar.

Then the resident there, a 32-year-old man, thought it was a break-in attempt and fired the gun because he was scared.

We commend Salgado and Runyan for their actions in saving the life of another.

BRICKBAT » To Randy E. Hamilton, the 51-year-old North Ridgeville man who learned Nov. 13 he will spend the next 15 years and six months in prison for the shooting death of his live-in girlfriend, Michelle L. Ryals, 45, in the Avon Belden Road home they shared.

A Lorain County Common Pleas Court jury found Hamilton guilty Nov. 7 of two counts of reckless homicide and single counts of involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, having weapons under disability and receiving stolen property Oct. 25, 2016, with a gun stolen from the Lorain County Airport.

Hamilton, who claimed the shooting was an accident, was acquitted of two counts of murder.

Authorities said Hamilton was angry Ryals was texting with her ex-husband and was attempting to take the house in which the two lived.

Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Anthony Cillo sought the maximum sentence for Hamilton citing his history of convictions in courts throughout Lorain County for incidents including head-butting his daughter, stealing and shooting his daughter’s dog and multiple alcohol-involved incidents.

Defense attorney Kenneth Lieux said Hamilton would appeal.

Hamilton admitted he shot and killed Ryals. Case closed.

He’s lucky he wasn’t convicted of murder, but he’s where he should be: behind bars for a long time.

BRICKBAT » To Amy Whited, the 45-year-old Avon woman who teaches in Brooklyn, avoided going to jail Nov. 9 for permitting her students to drink alcohol at her home.

Whited received a $1,000 fine and 100 hours of community service after pleading no contest to two counts of providing alcohol to minors.

Authorities say a joint investigation by the Avon Lake and Brooklyn police departments in February showed that Whited provided alcohol to students in her home.

She’s supposed to teach. She failed miserably.

Whited should have taught the students about the dangers of alcohol and drinking responsibly as adults.

Hopefully, Whited realized what she did was just plain dumb, especially because she’s an educator.

The court system will keep tabs on Whited for two years. Authorities will review her case March 22. If not, there’s a jail cell waiting for her.