Amherst News-Times, 1999-02-10

              t»l
Cop turns court employee — Page 3   j He learns government's tough — Pag
Amherst News-Time
Wednesday, February  10.  1999
Amherst. Ohio
Nurses, female patients victims of closing
EMH Regional Healthcare System officials are not sure when they
will close Amherst Hospital's
maternity ward, although a clinic for
tow-income women will shut down
April 1.
EMH spokeswoman Lois Koehler
said both facilities are being closed
has part of a plan to consolidate services at the main hospital in Elyria.
Started about four years ago, the
Northern Ohio Care Center provides
contraceptive services and performs
tubal ligations at the hospital. The
services are not done at Community
Health Partners because it is a
Catholic hospital operated by the
Mercy Health System of Cincinnati.
Dr. Jihad Bitar, who started the
gynecological services clinic, could
not be reached for comment. However, doctors who provided treatment at the clinic have temporarily
agreed to see patients in their offices, Koehler said.
She said up to 11 nurses stand to
lose their jobs when the officials at
the EMH Regional Healthcare System decides to close the maternity
CONTINUED on page   3
Count to 100?
That's no problem
for these young
Powers students
If creativity is a sign of
genius, then a lot of children
at Powers Elementary School
may have high college admission scores by the time they
reach high school.
About 300 first graders and
extended first graders used
their imaginations to create
something to celebrate their
first 100 days of school this
academic year.
The project helped them to
learn to count to the century
mark, one of the goals teachers set for first graders, according to Patti Wegehaupt,
an extended first grade
teacher.
One child created a solar
system with plants and stars
made of M&Ms. Another
made a Toostie Roll house
with exactly 100 pieces of
the chewy chocolate candy
while others made various
pieces of jewelry made of everything from popcorn to
Cheerios.
And there were the snow
men. Since there isn't any
snow, the kids used 100
marshmallows.
One little girl, wrote out the
number "100" on a decorative
wooded board using 100 tiny
Christmas lights.
Like her's, every creation
had exactly 100 pieces.
The creations were to be
family projects in which
moms and dads could participate, although the kids were
the boss. The parents were
just subcontractors who got to
view all the creations during
a special Feb. 4 open house.
Everything done in classrooms last week added up to
100: 100 jumping jackets, 100
words each child could spell
and 100 words they could
read, for example.
"We wanted to have a
homework activity that involved the family because often times many of them don't
spend quality time together,
Creative first grader Ben Oster shows his Tootsie Roll house to his teacher Patti Wegehaupt.
especially when it involves a
childs learning." W»aLcrtaupt
said "It gave^GSnlrc
chance to talk and discuss
what they (the kids) would
like to make and then get
involved."
And the children could see
what they were doing thanks
to some colorful glasses pur
chased by the school. They
't real, rather caaaaboard.
had something distinctive written on it — 100, of
course.
Next year, there may be an
even bigger first 100 days of
school celebration. After all,
it also will be the beginning
of a new century.
Legion's
change
is divine
for them
by OLEN MLLER
News-Times reporter
*1»raise the Lord and pass the
paint" is a phrase members of the
Trinity Evangelical Free Church are
saying thesedays.
Under the leadership of the Rev.
Matt Wilke, more than 100 church
members have embarked on a four-
month mission to turn the former
American Legion Post #118 into
their new church.
: Poet leaden officially handed
over the building's keys Jan. 29, bringing to an end more than a decade
of American Legion ownership. The
church purchased the post and the
nine acres it sits on in early January
for nearly $800,000.
The change in ownership was
prompted by the revocation of the
Elmer Johnson Post's liquor license
by the state last year because of repeated violations.
But legion members aren't out in
the cold. Local Veterans of Foreign
Wars post officials have graciously
consented to allow them to meet at
their Cleveland Street facility until
they decide if they want to build or
rent another smaller post.
"We haven't got a building anymore, bat we still have our charter.
We're still intact," post adjutant
Con Godfrey said.
Legtanaires took down lettering
oa the post's front exterior Jan. 30
as church members begin planning
Lori Betchker (front center) signs a letter of
intent to play volleyball at Cleveland State
University. With her are her coach Laurie <
gan, father Ron and mom Rose Betchker.
MLS athlete makes deal
to play volleyball for CSU
It eventually wiU be replaced with
the church's name and its logo, a
%
taHOCa
The Elmer Johnson post has 500
oral days helping to move and store
CONTINUED on page 8
by DIANA HOUQLAND
N-T raevwrtai laaaaaattaaf
eat^emare aaa   a ma fa ma* aaara
Lori Betchker signed her
name last Thursday, something she's done millions of
times. But this time, with this
signature, she not only
secured her future, but tte
also made history for Marion
L. Steele High School.
Betchker. a 5-foot-10 outside hitler for the girls vanity
volleyball team, signed a letter of intent lo play volleyball
at Cleveland Suae University.
She am offend a fuU-ride
•choteship from CSU head
coach Debbie Bom.
According to Laurie Cogan,
Betchker's coach at Amherst,
this is not the first time a
Lady Comet has received an
athletic rcholarship for a full
ride from a college, bat it is
the first time that one has
been received for a Division I
"What this-—~.  —»-..
explained to family, friends,
and fellow tsamaisms of
Betchker's, "is a one-year
rormnitmem Usually it is followed ap with a cortmiitment
far te entire four yean. Basically, after aha sips the letter, Lori belongs to Cleveland
State. VoOttybal is her job
aad her pajfaiaat ie aa
Cogan admitted that she
did not really see this coming
in Betchker's future, and that
it was somewhat of a
surprise.
"We're very proud. She has
tfpa-»»|rfi|a>fif a lot," Cogan
laid. "It juet goes to ttew
that hard work, rtewn.iaa.inn
and dedication to a sport pays
off."
It makes you fed good to
work around young players
that haw ten type of goals," tte commaed. "Aad I
of
Downtown promoters
adopt new name
but keep same goal:
attracting business
A non-profit business group
formed last year to promote downtown Amherst has changed its name
from the Amherst Merchants Association to the Amherst Downtown
Business Association (ADBA).
The change was prompted by the
inclusion of several businessmen in
the 75-member group who are not
merchants, yet recognize the need to
have an organization whose goal is
to promote the revitalization of the
downtown.
The new name was one of the
steps taken toward formally organizing the group at a Feb. 4 meeting
at which three levels of membership
were adopted.
For $200 a year, businesses can
become charter members, a full-
fledged membership. Associate
membership will cost $50 and sponsorships $20. So far, the only difference in membership is what chair-
man David Fox called an
"raonorarium."
Five businesses enrolled n charter members following the meeting,
a "good sign" of the level of
support
Fox said he hopes to eee more
charter memberships.
1 think $200 ie a good invest-
ment far any business to make tow-
ard promoting te town ia which
they do business,'' he added.
Tha membership money initially
wnni   98*9*   awamamay  W   (*"■#    ****}   a8mrmmammammmmaamB>
pnn»£ted»».
aaaanaaTJrWd   bv   taafi      natal
"There's a lot we have to get
worked out yet, but this is just a first
step to get the ball rolling and have
a more formalized structure, al<.
though it's our intention to stay at:-
loose-knit group," he added
The association also is considering developing a group marketing
effort that could be used to advertise
the benefits of shopping in the historic downtown n well aa individual efforts. It is considering buying
a 30-second commercial that would
be shown on MediaOne TV cable
channels in the Amhent, Elyria and
North Ridgeville areas.
Details on the commercial are expected to be worked out within the
next few weeks. Fox said.
Although the commercial will be
"generic" and feature downtown as
a whole. Fox said individual merchants can opt to buy "tags" shown
at the end advertising their business
or service.
The group was formed last year
after the Amherst Chamber of Commerce shut down because of lack of
support and insufficient finances.
Although it is uaformally structured,
the group has helped. lasprove park'
ing ia the downtown area and is
jllt.2
to .tep hi te dowojowe ana.
h also has thrown ha aupport behind a city effort to nvhaliie te
area with te help of Downtown,
lac Urn part of Mem Street USA. a
hi teMatoric down-
CONTMUID S*
each tin* of matte a*
*a_ be weted eat e 988898
Lags or iffnsm Itefe «f
ate may he ajvaa
c*f a city's ateoricel
nasaaeneofat-
goto
he, en
an aaaatmtm) m view te
ewmt  mmawemamtmW^a maW    mmSmWmmr    ejeaaTeJ
w-aaawsW ate a^*a^*fm\% m\fmmm\f, mmmmaamaW
mamma.
I