Amherst News-Times, 1999-12-29

              Veteran councilman retires — Page 2       Local dancer has magic talent — F
Amherst News-Time
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Wednesday, December 29, 1999
Amherst, Ohio
;
Y2K bug isn't scaring anybody in Amhe.
oi
by STEVE BARRY
News-Times reporter
The Y2K bug has been
making people sick for a
while, and Amherst is only
three days from finding out
whether the city will be
infected.
The News-Times has polled
different people and organiza
tions to find out their readiness for the Y2K problem,
and what if any fears they
might have.
Scott Kodger from the Amherst Historical Society, said
most of the computers in his
office are new, so there isn't
much concern there.
When the patrons of
Johnny K's were polled about
trembling under the table
when the clock strikes midnight on Friday, Bill
O'Connell, a part-time bartender at Johnny's replied,
"We'll be under the table all
right, but for an entirely dif
ferent reason."
At the Mermaid's Tale
there doesn't seem to be
much concern about the Y2K
CONTINUED on page 2
Daring rider wants pro
status for competitions
by STEVE BARRY
News-Times reporter
Junior Brian Gerth of Marion L.
Steele High School won the 2S0 B
class at the 28th annual Winter National Olympics in Gainesville, Fla.,
The 16-year-old took first place
in the week-long event, which included three different races, TT
scrambles, Supercross and Moto-
cross competitions.
The TT scrambles involve use of
a flat track with a series of "ski
jump" type hills. Motocross is a fast
race with big jumps and Supercross
is lots of jumps and tight turns.
This event was held during
Thanksgiving week, and Gerth is
thankful he was able to compete.
Last year was a rough year. Gerth
wrecked frequently, and some of the
wrecks damaged  more  than  the
equipment. Last season he broke his
collar bone, wrist, leg and back. He
escaped serious injury when his
handlebar put a three inch puncture
wound in his groin muscle, just
missing a major artery. This year
Gerth has put more emphasis on
strength training, and things have
gone better. He and his father Charlie play golf, racquetball and work
out at the gym.
Gerth began 10 years ago when
he rode an 80 c.c. Suzuki at the
Meadowlarks club, and the county
fair circuit, including the Lorain
County Fair. He has moved up into
the "B" class with enough points to
move into "A" class, but because he
was only IS when he started this
year, none of the points he accumulated count toward A class, where
the minimum age is 16.
From A class the next step is a
professional license issued by the
AMA. No, not the American Medical Association (which the Gerths
wish they would have had stock in
last year), but rather the American
Motorcyclist Association.
There are six big races for the circuit, Gainesville being one of them.
The race everyone wants to win as
far as motocross racing goes is the
Loretta Lynn Amateur Race, held in
August on Loretta Lynn's massive
ranch. Winning this race almost
guarantees one a professional
license.
"This is the biggest race for amateurs, after that you might as well
turn pro," Gerth said.
The competition is made up of
three separate races, and to win the
overall, riders will normally have to
take at least two of the races and
place well in the one he doesn't win.
CONTINUED on page 2
Brian Gerth of Amherst won the 250B class at   his trophy; at left, he shows off his expertise on
the 28th Annual Winter National Olympics held in   the track. A
Gainesville, Fla., recently. Above, he shows off
Firefighter
donation
aids seniors
For die last 10 years the
Amherst Fire Department has
contributed to help needy seniors during the holidays.
This year the department
has given out two turkeys
and two IGA gift certificates.
The contributions were made
to the Sandstone Office on
Aging.
The money is going to
help senior citizens who have
had a rough year," explained
Sandstone's executive director
Nina Lorandeau.
For as long as anyone in
the fire department can remember, their social club.
The Live Oak Engine Company No. 2 has been in existence, and it is from the benevolence fund of Live Oak
social organization that the
donations originate.
The fire department raises
money for this fund by holding their annual Halloween
Meak fry, and occasional pancake breakfasts.
The social club derives its
name from the 1833 hand
pumper used by Amherst in
days gone by. The antique
fircftghting machine was purchased from Cleveland in
r
Amherst firefighters Roger Mace and Tony
Syrowski present gift certificates to Nina Lorandeau, the executive director of the Sands
tone Office on
who have had
1872 after a 40-year career
with the Cleveland Fire Department, and saw service in
Amherst until 1907. After fire
gutted the Central School in
1907. the pumper was removed from service and
clntwt
The fire department had it
restored, and it is now a
show piece in the front area
of the Fire Station, along
with other memorabilia.
The engine, with its prairie
schooner type wheels, was
pulled by hand to the ske of
a fire. Precious due was lost
trying to hitch up a team of
horses, sad so at the men ar-
Aging, to assist elderly people
a rough year.
I
rived at the fire station, lo-   -
cated on the lower level of
town hall, they would pull
the engine to the fire. It took
a total of 10-15 men, pump-
. ing feverishly on both sides
to make the equipment an effective fjrefighting tool.
We welcome the new
year with a special Thank
You to our readers. Please
see today's Editorial page.
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