Focus on families at camp is good

BOUQUETS >> To the Lorain County Metro Parks for hosting a unique seven-week Park Trekkers Family Camp which started July 5 and will conclude Aug. 9. The family-focused programming for children and their parents is taking place at the Carlisle Reservation Visitors Center, 12882 Diagonal Road in Lagrange.

What’s different about this camp is it’s designed for children ages 6 to 10 to come with their parents to enjoy some fun nature-based activities.

Sarah Mazzola, naturalist with Lorain County Metro Parks, said, “Families really don’t get enough time to spend together.

“The camp works as a way to have them work on projects here and get them out doing stuff.”

The families will keep binders to document what they have done.

Camp activities also give parents more activities to do when they are at home with their children.

This is good program and we applaud the efforts of the Metro Parks.

BOUQUETS » To The LCADA Way, one of the region’s leaders in alcohol and addiction treatment and recovery, for expanding the number of women’s treatment beds to 21 from 16 at its Key Women’s Services Center, 1882 E. 32nd St. in Lorain.

Based on a recent decision by the Centers on Medicaid and Medicare on the Institutions for Mental Diseases Rule, The LCADA Way can help more women fight addiction.

There also are plans to increase to 36 total beds at the Key Women’s Services Center.

Past rules prohibited the use of federal Medicaid financing for care provided to most patients in mental health and substance use disorder residential treatment facilities with more than 16 beds.

And the new ruling allows service providers like The LCADA Way to increase the number of beds it offers for medically necessary care furnished by licensed medical professionals.

Thomas Stuber, president of The LCADA Way, said, “We are so very pleased that rules regarding the number of beds we can offer to women suffering with substance use disorder has increased so we can offer more beds for recovery treatment at our Key Women’s Services Center.”

Treating more women with addictions is good for the community.

BRICKBATS » To the person who Lorain police say used a gun to rob Chase Bank, 5971 N. Leavitt Road in Lorain and then flee on foot, hopefully your freedom is about to end.

The robbery, which occurred at 12:31 p.m. July 9, was engineered by a man younger than 40 years old armed with a black revolver.

Police said the suspect was wearing tan pants, a grey hooded sweatshirt, a black mask and white gloves, and a witness reported the culprit had a black duffel bag.

Lorain police Sgt. Dennis Camarillo said, “No injuries reported. Multiple witnesses said they saw a weapon. He was pointing it at the patrons.”

It’s troublesome that this person robbed the bank, but it’s frightening that he pointed a firearm at innocent people.

A lot of things could have happened. The gun could have discharged and someone could have been killed.

Catch this criminal now before he strikes again.

BRICKBATS » To Robert D. Beane III, the 27-year-old Lorain man who is on the run after failing to return to the Lorain County Jail after receiving medical treatment.

Beane received a medical furlough to undergo treatment and failed to return to the lockup.

Officials didn’t say where he was receiving treatment.

The fact that Beane is on the lam is disturbing.

Beane was arraigned July 5 before Common Pleas Court Judge Raymond J. Ewers and pleaded not guilty to felony counts of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, assault, weapons under disability and theft.

Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said he was part of the chain of communication in this particular case; however, he said it isn’t unusual for criminal defendants to be granted furlough to receive medical treatment.

Will said, “In this case, I’m not sure who evaluated it. But clearly, it wasn’t the result that they were expecting.”

A Facebook post to the Lorain County CSI page identifies Beane as being wanted for escape and other outstanding warrants.

The post adds Beane is a known member of the O.B.A criminal street gang with an extensive history of criminal violence.

So, authorities must get Beane off the streets to face the charges.