Painesville Twp. man deserves our recognition

BOUQUETS >> To Thomas Jones of Painesville Township, who saved a woman and two children from being assaulted. Jones protected his neighbor and her two children May 10 after she knocked on his door yelling for help.

He brought them into his home and noticed the suspect running across the street charging toward him, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect allegedly attacked Jones on his porch as he attempted to gain entry into the home. Jones struggled with the man on his front porch until deputies arrived on scene.

Prior to seeking shelter at Jones’ home, the neighbor told the sheriff’s office an unknown man had broken into her home by forcibly entering the rear door. The woman said the man chased her into her bedroom and then proceeded to lay down on the bedroom floor claiming someone was trying to kill him. The woman said she fled her home with her children — ages 5 and 7 — and ran across the street to Jones’ home yelling for help.

Lake County Sheriff Daniel Dunlap awarded a commendation for heroism to Jones for his actions.

In a Facebook post, Dunlap said he wanted to commend Jones “for his outstanding actions in protecting his neighbor and her two children, and for his willingness to put his safety on the line in protecting them by wrestling the attacker to the ground until deputies could arrive to help.”

We couldn’t agree more.

BOUQUETS» To the about 35 Eastlake and Willowick businesses teaming up for a trickor-treat event along the Vine Street corridor on June 16.

The 3 to 5 p.m. event will include a costume contest where kids — and dogs! — will randomly be awarded gift cards from area businesses for their costumes.

An award will be given for the best decorated business as well.

“Trick or treat street is an idea that came from the Vine Street Corridor Business Owners meetings and Eastlake Economic Community Development Committee to help showcase the businesses on Vine Street and introduce their unique products and services to more people,” Eastlake Councilman Michael Zuren said.

We’ve all heard of Christmas in July; so why not Halloween in June?

It’s exciting to see businesses come together.

BRICKBATS» To Shawn Grate, the 41-year-old man who was sentenced to death in Ashland County for strangling two women.

The occasional drifter was described as a charmer with a dark side.

An Ashland County judge accepted a jury’s recommendation that Shawn Grate, who is also suspected in two more deaths, should get the death penalty.

Grate, 41, was convicted nearly a month ago of killing two women in 2016. Their bodies were found after a third woman called 911 and said she was being held captive. Jurors convicted Grate on aggravated murder and kidnapping charges.

He apologized on Friday before the sentencing, telling the victims’ families that he wished he could have changed what happened. “Not for me, but for you guys,” he said.

“I can’t say I am normal, but I know right from wrong,” he said. “I ask you to forgive me, find it in your heart someday. I know not today, someday.”

Authorities have said Grate has also confessed to another killing and is linked to yet another.

If he is truly sorry for his actions, Grate should fully cooperate with authorities on these deaths and any other he may be involved in.

BRICKBATS» To the 23-year-old Pataskala, Ohio, man charged with making a terroristic threat.

He told co-workers at a packaging company that he wanted to get bomb-making materials with the goal of blowing up a judge’s home, a courthouse, a police station and buildings that housed the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to court documents.

The employees told human resources, who then contacted police.

He said he was angry at the government for how he was treated following his conviction of vehicular assault.

This is no way to deal with anger.

Those who make such statements should know they will be taken seriously and be prepared to face the stiff consequences.