Governor Mike DeWine announced Thursday, plans for a loosening of restrictions for sporting and entertainment venues when safety protocols are followed.

Sporting and entertainment events will be able to reopen with 25 percent maximum indoor capacity and 30 percent maximum outdoor capacity, provided they follow precautions such as mandatory mask wearing for employees and customers.

New guidance for proms, banquets, wedding receptions, fairs, festivals, and parades is forthcoming.

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Huron County Public Health wants residents 80 years of age and older to know that they are still scheduling their age group for the COVID-19 vaccine.

All individuals aged 80-plus who were on the health department’s waitlist have been contacted, with remaining individuals aged 80-plus who wish to receive the vaccine, will be given priority scheduling.

Huron County Public Health is continuing to schedule vaccine appointments for all those who are eligible.

They ask those who are interested to give them a call.

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In Huron County COVID-19 figures…

Fatalities remain at 117…with 23 new reported cases on Thursday.

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Schools across Lorain County are closed today as teachers and staff get vaccinated for COVID-19.

More than 6-thousand people are expected to take the needle at 5 locations across the county.

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Police in Elyria have arrested two 17-year-old boys in connection with Wednesday night’s major fire in the downtown building that once housed “Uncle Vic’s”.

One…charged with arson. The other…with breaking-and-entering.

Crews have worked through the night, bringing down the east end of the building that spans a city-block.

Washington Avenue and Kerstetter Way remain closed at Broad Street.

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The Sandusky Public Library is opening back up. 

Beginning next week, the library will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Visitors are required to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines, including mask-wearing.

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Mark your calendars Willard residents.  

The city has announced that their annual community-wide yard sale will take place May 13th to15th.

The deadline to sign up is May 4th.

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SPORTS

-In college basketball last night, #4 Ohio State fell on the road to Michigan State, 71-67.

-We have boys’ high school basketball tournament coverage tonight here on 92.9, as Norwalk takes on Upper Sandusky.  Tipoff at 7 o’clock.

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From the National Weather Service…

Today

Sunny, with a high near 44.

Tonight

Showers likely, mainly overnight.

Increasing clouds, with a low around 36.

Saturday

A chance of morning showers.

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48.

Sunday

A chance of showers early.

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

Governor Mike DeWine announced Thursday, plans for a loosening of restrictions for sporting and entertainment venues when safety protocols are followed.

Sporting and entertainment events will be able to reopen with 25 percent maximum indoor capacity and 30 percent maximum outdoor capacity, provided they follow precautions such as mandatory mask wearing for employees and customers.

New guidance for proms, banquets, wedding receptions, fairs, festivals, and parades is forthcoming.

—————————————————————————–

Huron County Public Health wants residents 80 years of age and older to know that they are still scheduling their age group for the COVID-19 vaccine.

All individuals aged 80-plus who were on the health department’s waitlist have been contacted, with remaining individuals aged 80-plus who wish to receive the vaccine, will be given priority scheduling.

Huron County Public Health is continuing to schedule vaccine appointments for all those who are eligible.

They ask those who are interested to give them a call.

—————————————————————————–

In Huron County COVID-19 figures…

Fatalities remain at 117…with 23 new reported cases on Thursday.

—————————————————————————–

Schools across Lorain County are closed today as teachers and staff get vaccinated for COVID-19.

More than 6-thousand people are expected to take the needle at 5 locations across the county.

—————————————————————————–

Police in Elyria have arrested two 17-year-old boys in connection with Wednesday night’s major fire in the downtown building that once housed “Uncle Vic’s”.

One…charged with arson. The other…with breaking-and-entering.

Crews have worked through the night, bringing down the east end of the building that spans a city-block.

Washington Avenue and Kerstetter Way remain closed at Broad Street.

—————————————————————————–

The Sandusky Public Library is opening back up. 

Beginning next week, the library will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Visitors are required to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines, including mask-wearing.

—————————————————————————–

Mark your calendars Willard residents.  

The city has announced that their annual community-wide yard sale will take place May 13th to15th.

The deadline to sign up is May 4th.

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SPORTS

-In college basketball last night, #4 Ohio State fell on the road to Michigan State, 71-67.

-We have boys’ high school basketball tournament coverage tonight here on 92.9, as Norwalk takes on Upper Sandusky.  Tipoff at 7 o’clock.

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From the National Weather Service…

Today

Sunny, with a high near 44.

Tonight

Showers likely, mainly overnight.

Increasing clouds, with a low around 36.

Saturday

A chance of morning showers.

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48.

Sunday

A chance of showers early.

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.

Checking Huron County COVID-19 figures…

1 new death reported…to equal 117.

There were also 21 new cases reported on Wednesday.

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Lorain County Public Health reports another 7 deaths over the past week from COVID-19.

The local death toll now stands at 317.

The county says, of those 317, about half were 80 years of age and older.

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Monroeville Schools have announced that they’ll be closed next Friday, March 5th, according to Superintendent Ralph Moore.

This…as many staff members are set to receive their second COVID-19 vaccinations on the morning of the 5th.

Students will have virtual learning that day.

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Demolition crews are expected in downtown Elyria today after last night’s fire at the former Uncle Vic’s nightclub.

The fire was reported at about 8 o’clock last night.

-Several dozen residents and businesses lost power for several hours.

-No word yet how the fire started…

-No one was hurt.

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Police in Grafton have arrested a suspect in this week’s armed robbery of the Dollar General store on North Main.

And…they credit residents who provided tips…in helping them arrest 29 year old Kevin Kowalski of Grafton.

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Fisher-Titus in Norwalk has announced that they’ll be hosting a drive-thru hiring event next month.  

It’s scheduled for March 10th from 11 to 1 and 4 to 5:30, as they look to fill open Medical Assistant and State Tested Nursing Assistant positions.

Attendees should remain in their vehicles and come prepared with resumes.

Hiring managers will be conducting on-site interviews and offering on-the-spot contingent offers.

COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place, including the wearing of masks.

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A man referred to as “Mr. Milan” now has a road named after him.  

According to the Sandusky Register, Old U.S. 250 in Milan Township is now named “Lindecamp Road”, after 101-year-old resident and community leader, Charles Lindecamp.

He’s lived on the road he’s now named for since 1946.

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A partial road closing this morning in Huron County…

The Huron County Engineer’s Office says that Wentz Road, between Route 60 and Jarvis Road, will be shut down to traffic from 9:00 am to 12 noon today for bridge repairs.

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The first egg of the season has been spotted in the eagles’ nest near Redwood Elementary School in Avon Lake.

Several years ago, crews mounted a camera above the nest for a bird’s eye view.

Last year, there were 3 eggs total…with 2 surviving

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SPORTS

-In boys high school basketball last night, Plymouth’s Clayton Miller made a 3-pointer from midcourt to win it for the Big Red over Monroeville, 57-54, in opening round tournament play.  The game aired on 92.9 WLKR Classic.

-The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 2 straight.  They defeated Houston last night, 112-96.

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From the National Weather Service…

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Friday

Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 42.

Saturday

A chance of rain showers in the morning.

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48.

In remembrance of the more than 500,000 Americans who have died due to COVID-19, including more than 14,000 Ohioans, Governor Mike DeWine has ordered all flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state until sunset on Friday.

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Checking Huron County COVID-19 figures…

The county had 10 new cases reported on Tuesday, with the death toll sitting at 116, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

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Pharmaceutical companies are pumping more and more COVID-19 vaccines into the pipeline, and now, Lorain County Public Health is considering large-scale vaccination clinics in the spring.

Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen has offered up Crushers’ Stadium as a possible site.

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A familiar name in the local, auto retail industry has died.

Joe Sharpnack Junior of Vermilion was 81.

Joe followed in his father’s footsteps, and with his brother Tom, owned and operated several auto dealerships in Vermilion and Willard.

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Monroeville Schools have found their successor to Superintendent Ralph Moore, who’s retiring at the end of the school year.  

According to Norwalk Ohio News.com, the school has hired Shelby Dowds Elementary principal Dr. Kristin Kaple-Jones to be their new superintendent.

Kaple-Jones has been principal at Shelby for the last decade.

Moore has spent the last 7 years in the top job at Monroeville.

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New London has named their new police chief.  

The Norwalk Reflector reports that its lieutenant Joe Hicks, who’s been serving as interim chief following last November’s death of former chief Mike Marko.

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The City of Vermilion has plans to start reopening.  

The Morning Journal reports that city hall will open back up to employees on March 1st, with goals of opening their city pool and holding summer festivals, with safety precautions.

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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded nearly 3-billion-dollars in funding to nearly 2,900 public housing authorities across the country, to make capital investments in their public housing units.

Locally, the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority is set to receive nearly 4-million-dollars.

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SPORTS

-The Cleveland Cavaliers snapped their 10-game losing streak last night, with a 112-111 win over Atlanta.  Collin Sexton led the Cavs with 29 points.

-We have boys high school tournament basketball for you here tonight on 95.3 WLKR, as Willard hosts Edison.  Game time set for 7:00 pm.

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From the National Weather Service…

Today

Partly sunny, breezy, with a high near 49.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 39.

In local COVID-19 numbers…

The Erie County Health Department says 4 new deaths were reported from Friday to Monday, for a total of 186 since the pandemic began.  Also, 44 new cases were reported during that time frame.

In Huron County, 16 new cases were reported from Sunday to Monday, with the death holding at 117.

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As the number of nursing-home cases continues to drop due to vaccinations in long-term facilities, Governor Mike DeWine on Monday reminded nursing home staff and families of residents about the status of visitation in Ohio’s nursing homes. 

Visitation is permitted at nursing homes in Ohio if the facilities meet the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services criteria to allow visits. Those include:

-No new onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days;

-The facility is not currently conducting outbreak testing; and

-Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports the COVID-19 county positivity rate at less than 10 percent.

What’s called “compassionate care visits” are always permitted, regardless of the criteria.

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An appeals court in Toledo has upheld a Bellevue man’s conviction of involuntary manslaughter, as the Fremont News Messenger reports.

61-year-old John Frost, who was previously sentenced to 7 years in prison, shot and killed 44-year-old John Gibbs at the Bryn Mawr apartment complex in Bellevue in 2018.

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Police in Grafton are reviewing surveillance video of an armed robber who targeted the Dollar general store on North Main.

The robber is seen, wearing a mask, although police describe his clothing as ‘unique’.

You can check out pictures of the suspect on the Grafton Police Facebook page.

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Police in Elyria are reviewing surveillance video of two women, accused of shoplifting from “Best in Pets” on North Abbe Road.

The women reportedly stuffed their purses with items used in an animal tank…along with a 300-dollar tortoise.

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Norwalk has a new safety service director. 

According to the Norwalk Reflector and Norwalk Ohio News.com, Charles “Mike” White has been hired for the position.

White replaces Ralph Fegley, who recently resigned due to health concerns.

White, a current criminal justice professor at Tiffin University, was once the police chief in Monroeville and chief detective for the Norwalk PD.

White will start his new job at the end of April.

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Crime is down, way down, in Erie County, due to the pandemic.  

According to the Sandusky Register, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office 2020 annual report shows that arrests, classified complaint calls, jail bookings and warrants were at their lowest point in 15 years.

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Local school superintendents are waiting for details…but Monday, the Biden administration announced, mandatory annual student exams will still be mandatory this year.

Opponents questioned whether the exams would be relevant, given the impact of COVID-19 on the overall learning process.

——————————————————————————–

Main Street Lorain is in the market for an Executive Director.

Main Street Lorain has been around for about a year, and President Kurt Herndon says, they’re ready to take the group…and their community activities…to the next level.

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The Little Pioneer Round-Up is back.

Saturday, the Elyria City Schools will host registration for all new and returning pre-school and kindergarten students for the 2021/22 school year.

The registration will run from 9:30am until 11:30 in the Elyria High School dining area.

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SPORTS

-Boys basketball tournament action tips off tonight on 95.3 WLKR.  We’ll bring you Galion at Norwalk, with coverage starting at 6:45 pm.

-The Cleveland Cavaliers look to snap a 10-game losing streak tonight, as they host the Atlanta Hawks.  Tip-off at 7:00 pm.

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From the National Weather Service…

Today

Partly sunny, breezy, with a high near 38.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Wednesday

A chance of showers.

Partly sunny, breezy, with a high near 42.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on Friday afternoon on Toussaint Portage Road in Carroll Township, in Ottawa County.

The Patrol says 71-year-old Robert Tarbuskovich of Oak Harbor was killed when he drove into the back of a garbage truck that was stopped for trash collection.

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Looking at Huron County Corona Virus numbers…

The death toll is now 117, after an increase of 14 since Thursday.

5 new COVID-19 cases were reported Sunday.

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The Ohio Department of Health will launch a series of COVID-19 Vaccine Town Halls for several specific communities.

The Town Halls are designed to separate fact from fiction about the COVID-19 vaccines.

They will be live-streamed on ODH’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

First up…tonight, 6:30…focused on African-American Ohioans.

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The Lorain Historical Society has announced; it will re-open one week from tomorrow.

COVID-19 protocols will be in place, including the wearing of masks.

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The National Weather Service is warning people of the dangers of venturing out on the ice of Lake Erie.

 Yesterday, the Coast Guard had to rescue 10 people from 2 separate ice flows that has broken away, off of Edgewater Park in Cleveland.

They say, the situation will only get worse, with warmer weather on tap for at least the next week.

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An industrial company from Port Clinton is set to move into the former Sandusky YMCA building on West Perkins Avenue.  

According to the Sandusky Register, Ahner Commercial has purchased the building for roughly $215,000.

The company, which expects to open in its new location this spring, deals in commercial-based windows.

The building has been vacant since 2018.

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It’s a busy start to the week for Second Harvest Food Bank’s mobile food pantries.  

They’ll make a stop at Ely Stadium in Elyria today from 3 to 5 pm, and they’ll be at Edison High School in Milan on Tuesday from 4 to 6 pm.

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University Hospitals has announced that the facility currently under construction on the campus of UH Avon Health Center will become the newest UH Seidman Cancer Center.

The 31-million-dollar investment is scheduled to open in September, and

will offer both radiation oncology and medical oncology.

 ———————————————————————————–

Now hiring…the Sandusky Police Department.  

They’re looking to recruit police officers, with testing beginning on March 1st.

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The Monroeville Police Department has alerted the public of a phone scam.

They say that many residents have reported receiving a call from Apple Support, that appears to be from local phone numbers.

Authorities say the numbers are spoofed, and to simply hang up and ignore if you receive the scam call.

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We begin the week with pump prices at about 2-69-a-gallon…

This…after 3 increases over the past 10 days.

Industry experts blame increased demand, bad weather in the south, and O-PEC.

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SPORTS

 -The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped their 10^th straight on Sunday, falling to Oklahoma City 117-101.

-In college hoops, #4 Ohio State lost to #3 Michigan on Sunday, 92-87.

-In the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, Christopher Bell won his first career race at the road course at Daytona.

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From the National Weather Service…

Today

Rain and light snow.  Breezy.

High near 36.

Tonight

 A slight chance of snow overnight.

Mostly cloudy, breezy, with a low around 31.

 Tuesday

Partly sunny, breezy, with a high near 38.

Wednesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 41.