The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2005-12-21

              ladies remain undefeated - page 1 i school story draws eyes pag 0 r 3) m c "o o to x n .-i l" en . 33 ! amherst news-time mp; letters santa unions await words of supi jolly old saint nicholas haven't stopped pouring into the news-times mall box this week as christmas grows nearer. but last-minute deadline has kids shifting gears away from small talk and more toward list-making. don't worry, kids, we've forwarded your on north pole, we hope brings you everything wish for. here's what local children wrote: dear hi, like christmas! can't vjaiimmu come tagtir hmison cliristfwe' will make cookies for hajieindeer food, too. can?t .wait until christmas'! helena st) jjlljjjjjjjjjljjjl claus, see 6. police: slippery roads, ice can help sartre said that "hell is other people," hasn't 158 million americans staying constantly con nected friends, family, work every waking minute via cell phones. today, people have mobile phones than traditional land lines, 90 percent users say having device makes them feel safer. now police are hoping craze be harnessed in emergencies a form identification. department asking residents use "in case emergency" (or ice) program, which was first developed by east anglican ambulance service england. voluntary, cost-free, police, fire, medical personnel identify victims during crisis situation. especially helpful event an auto crash when driver or passengers unconscious. premise simple: phone may entry their phone's address book labeled "ice" includes cru cial contact numbers, including next kin. could even specific, such "ice mom" dad" quicker reference. participants arc encouraged one primary not reached. often possession carrying driver's licenses id, involved athletic activities .as biking, jogging, walking. officers also quick point out placing info penance only solution identification it's simply extra precaution set motion free. additional benefit, proponents say, law enforce ment would able easily return lost phones, routinely wind up at station diffi cult owners. cops catches grow popular united states. survey results spell victory defeat district budget jason hawk , reporter teachers crossing fingers district-wide compiled, jobs stability students. questionnaires were mailed lorain families fall, methods funding appeal most likely voters. three pro posals put forward survey: 4.6-mill levy passed 2008 keep schools solvent through 2011, 1.5-mill special education november 2006 free public expenses, our spending down. done internally already been done, voters," teacher's association president scott pecze. 4.4-mill restore busing students grades five eight, tutors cut june, knock pay-to-participate fees $400 $100 per student. "we're pretty much minimum terms offer already. we're really strapped," "our vot ers." educators largely third alternative get support so class room aides bolster grades, pecze said. particular concern upcoming state achievement tests, determine rankings fund ing, he said, because used spend bulk time propping standard ized exams. "most important things directly affect seeing classroom those positions sorely missed," following back-to-back levies 2004 2005, made $2 mil lion worth reductions. believes parents seen effects fident they new levy. down lowest be," "we just continued 8 glenn crowe bob pippert pagk boxes with candy, soap, socks sent men women serving iraq afghanistan. vets play sending gifts soldiers past months, crowe's basement middle ridge road transformed miniature pole workshop. holidays draw near, area veterans ore gathering house regularly, chuck ling stuff cardboard full presents bound dismal, war torn corners earth. goal cheer who sacrificed ' serve "they need supplies. they're home it should nice know someone here cares," vol unteer last stuffed plastic bags tootsie rolls. crowcstarted collecting mod est donations october, buying peanuts, popcorn, chew ing gum, beef jerky, dry soup, cotton balls, baby wipes, hard tooth paste, brush 7 lance cpl. justin berry fighting marines holiday season. family struggles against fear worry editor's note: sixth piece series about veterans, wars, issues face. 'tales battlefront' run year. won't white dusty streets al asad, making sure claus still drop chimneys eastern military barracks. ties overseas 50 loaded lifesuvers, rolls, goodies iraq. former american legion post commander jim had considered far item add certain ship ment. letter his grand son, 20-year-old berry, exact whereabouts unknqwn. going miss him lot christmas," father tear eye. nervous find ourselves watching news more. right now, he's operating rapid response team wherever needed means hottest." lfanie-cpl. little over 22nd marine expeditionary unit, attached u.s. army's 1st battalion, 2nd division, charlie company. i.1 forjust 14 volunteered head 6 county crimes demand high-tech gops car simulator training save both lives money :no, that's xbox 360. instead, strapping $100,000 "gaming" equipment very well tax payers millions dollars lawsuits incalculable cost human lives. jamherst's acting pointmen initiative, allow roughly 540 enforcers endure rigorous tests behind wheel rid themselves bad driv habits. r"thls minds do all, high-stress event," captain dennis seger. "using risk-free way being safe before road," l3 patrolsim vs iii dumps drivers mid dle highly-detailed virtual city- countryscanes, where practice nigh-speed tactics fog, rain, snow. cockpit emulates cruiser lights, sirens, air conditioning, shield wipers, cb radio. "it's realistic," south chief roger kimble trial spin earli er month, town amherst, highspeed chases prepared be. happen any time," never clearer. 2003, died vehi cle pursuits 30 years, while same time, shooting deaths among dropped 36 cent. 2004, traffic rivaled shootings enforcement deaths; 57 killed firearms 51 wheel, accord national memorial fund. year, 46 offi cers errors (as nov. 30). large problem, releases, majority states, no addi tional required after graduation academy. thing seger wants change, "i'm there guys catch mis takes 24 hours day," "here, correct wc might otherwise wrong, pick driving habits fix them." train 5 discovers fixes flaw simulation session,