Amherst News-Times, 2001-07-25

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Amherst News-Time
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Wednesday, July 25, 2001
Amherst, Ohio
o
X
a
Raceway
crash
kills one
in stands
In the wake of a crash at the Lorain
County Speedway that left one woman dead, neighbors of the face
track are saddened by the fatality.
Two cars participating in a NASCAR race on Saturday night collided and careened into the grandstand, injuring 13 people. One of
those injured, Virginia Whyel, died
later at MetroHealth Medical Center
in Cleveland. Whyelh, 65, was in a
wheelchair.
"It was just one of those freakish
things," said Hal Dunfee, owner of
Absolute Lighting Etc. located near
the Lorain County Speedway. Dunfee said that since the cars were airborne, the barrier between the track
and the bleachers couldn't have
changed the outcome of the
accident
David Molnar, part owner of
Molnar Outdoor, also near the race
track, said that he didn't feel there
was an adequate barrier between the
track and the grandstand.
"It doesn't seem to me that it
would be that safe," Molnar said of
the track. He did agree with Dunfee,
however, that the tragedy on Saturday night was not ordinary of the
races there.
"I guess it's just a fluke," Molnar
said.
Leavitt Road resident Dallas Jus-
ten agrees.
"It was just a regular Saturday
night," Justen said. Justen also said
that though the rescue vehicles dis-
r:hed to the track kept him awake,
was unsure as to the magnitude
of the tragedy until later.
"I didn't know what was going on
until I saw the TV in the morning,"
Justen said.
Joe Schramm, who races frequently at the Lorain County Speedway, was one of the drivers on the
track on Saturday night. When the
crash took place, Schramm was in
the pit having a flat tire fixed.
"I think it was just one of those
racing mishaps," Schramm said.
Schramm said that the employees of
the track did a good job drying the
track off after a brief rain delay.
They go out of their way for the
safety of the drivers and the spectators," Schramm said. He said that he
does plan to continue racing.
Chief Dave Faight of the South
Amherst Fire Department and his
squad responded to the accident
There were several ambulances
there already when we arrived," he
said. "For the situation, it was very
controlled. Everyone was doing
their job."
"A couple of girls from Oberlin,
the North Central Lorain County
Ambulance service, had set up a
triage," he continued. They did a
great job, they got all of the
wounded in one central location on
the track."
Faight said three helicopters, one
from University Hospital and two
from Metro General responded, and
they landed in the middle of the
track. He said that his crew actually
Mtiitfd in fftahil'ying the injured.
He compared the accident to
Mother at the track about 10 years
•go.
Ten years ago I was there and it
was just total chaos." Faight recalled. "Five people were hurt and it
looked like 200 or more. You
couldn't tell who was hurt and who
wasn't I had lo climb up on a hill
and count the injured and I counted
1 This situation was much wore
controlled." be repealed. "I guess
we have come a long way."
The Lorain County Sheriff's Department concluded the crash was
not caused by a slick track, according to Detective Sgt. Shawn
Hadaway.
"We walked the track that night
ad there was no oil or any other
substance on the track." Hadaway
raid. Though there had been a rain
.delay. Hadaway said that the track
-was dry when the cm resumed
ro
Gene and Doris Lyle sit in their enclosed porch. The two have     former teachers at Steele High School,
just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They are both
As parents, teachers, partners,
Lyles enjoyed work in Amherst
by ERIK YORKE
News-Times reporter
Gene and Doris Lyle have
watched Amherst and its people grow and change for
more than 40 years.
As teachers, they taught the
children of Amherst for over
two decades. Having just
celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary, the couple share
fond memories of their profession and their life in
Amherst
"I think I made a good
choice in teaching," said Gene
Lyle. "There were an awful
lot of very fine students."
Doris Lyle agreed.
"I hadn't originally intended
to be a teacher but I'm glad
I was. It was a wonderful
life."
For 34 years, Gene Lyle
taught in Amherst, much of
that time spent at Marion L.
Steele High School, beginning
there when Marion Steele was
the principal
"She devoted her life." said
Lyle of Socle's oonmitment
10 the students. Lyle himself
taught sixth grade English and
seventh grade geography as
well as economics, sociology
and psychology at the high
school level. Other offices
held by Lyle during the
course of his career in Amherst were Dean of Boys, assistant principal at Steele and
guidance counselor. He also
coached or helped coach tennis, track, football, baseball
and basketball
Early on in his teaching
career, Lyle was very
coaching-oriented. It was later,
when he had an opportunity
to move for another coaching
position that U became dear,
to him and his wife that living and teaching in Amherst
was more important to them.
"We still think it's a good
place to raise children," said
Doris Lyle. She was actually
a pre-med student at Heidelberg College where she and
her husband met
"I could show you the spot
where I was standing and
where he was," said Doris
Lyle of the first time she laid
eyes on her husband. Gene.
"She's the first woman I
met that I thought I could
marry," he admitted.
It wasn't until after her
husband had started teaching
that Doris Lyle began to consider it After spending a
short period of time teaching
in New London, Ohio, she
began teaching chemistry. La-
CONTINUED on page 10
War memorial jars some nerves
by ERIK YORKE
News-Times reporter
A new war memorial overlooking
Rt 2 is inspiring different reactions
among Amherst residents. The memorial, which was honored in a
ceremony on July 4, features one
World War II cannon of two that
once sat in the lawn outside city
hall. Residents have different opinions on where those cannons should
be nitnaffd
"It's the only lasting remembrance of WWH," said Amherst resident Leroy Kubuske. According to
Kubuske. the cannons should be
near the town hall, where more people can see them. "Its land of out of
the way for anybody to visit".
Kubuske went on to suggest that
if the city has to move the cannons,
a good place would be on the
grounds of the Amherst Historical
Society.
Amherst resident Mort Plato
agrees with Kubuske that the cannons should not have been moved.
The new war memorial is not as satisfying as having the cannons at
town hall, Plato said.
"I didn't think much of it" Plato
said. "I don't think it's appropriate.
Especially at the sewage disposal
plant"
The new memorial is approximately 2,000 feet from the sewage
treatment plant, according to mayor
John Higgins.
It's farther away from die sewage treatment plant than the new
park is," Higgins said.
The war memorial does share a
parking lot with the Amherst Sewer
and Water Department building,
which is different from the sewage
treatment plant
According to Higgins, who made
the original request to have the can-
removed from the lawn at
hall, the memorial was bulk
Rt 2 to allow it to be seen by
He atto antd that as
This Active Battle Site Memorial was officially
dedicated on the July 4 holday. Some residents
are upset that the cannon was removed from the
lawn of city hall, while others are glad to see it
moved.
without the cannons.
"We wanted to open up the front
lawn and use it for various social
events," Higgins said. "Eventually
we'd like a centennial bell and fountain over there."
The cannons belong to the American Legion who bad representatives
present at the opening ceremony.
The second cannon will be returned
to the American Legion to be displayed there after conetnrrton Js
complete on their building. Higgins
make those signs two sided.
Amherst resident Diane Yale-
Ptabody agrees with Higgins that
the area near town hall will benefit
from   having   the   memorial
Construction of the war
isi. the first of as kind in Amherst
Higgias mid, wss hurried to make
the July 4 opening. Canendy the
sips posted then face only *•
"sonRt
The area around city hall was so
■nail-Peabody said. Peabody went
on to say that she felt the cannons
were too indicative of too violence
of war and should not be in such s
public place. She suggested adding
a plaque to the eagle statue in front
of city hall as a memorial.
It isn't die guns so much," Plato
said of die move which he felt was
itMLppnaaiam. "It's am she guns are
a memorial to toe vstanas in this
north lawn at town hall could be
used ss a memorial site.
Then the memorial to the vets
would be uptown where it belongs,"
Plato said.
"Personally. I don't mink people
noticed (the cannons), didn't know
they were there." said vims Gnaso,
■ftjffttyr of the Amherst beautifica-
tion committee, of the prior Vf^**^
of the
Gnaso agreed with Higgins, diet
an important reason for moving the
cannons was lo auks them more
visible.
"Making (the war memorial) a
Mitt* in— accessible to Dsoaas that
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Cop*
underage
drinking
offenders
The Amherst Police Department
has something to say to kids about
drinking before they are 21 years
old: don't do it
According to Lt Dennis Seger,
Amherst police officers are prepared
to cite any underage person who is
consuming alcohol Drinking underage is a first degree misdemeanor
and being caught could result in a
fine of up to $1,000 as well as six
months in jail
"If we run into you, you're going
to be cited," Seger said.
According to Seger, many young
people like to throw parties at area
motels. Others throw parties in their
homes, sometimes with their parents' supervision. This, according
to Seger, is still a violation of the
law, contrary to the belief of some
residents.
According to Seger, area merchants, such ss Dairy Mart, are conscientious about the problem of
underage drinking. In many cases,
he said, the shops take it on themselves to punish employees who sell
alcohol to minors. Still there are
kids with friends, or even their own
parents who are over 21 years old
and are willing to purchase alcohol
for them.
To the parents that feel that it is
acceptable for their underage children to drink as long as they are
supervised by an adult Seger has
this message: "It's just not worth
putting your house and everything
you've woiked for on the line to
have alcohol at a party with kids."
Seger went on to add that officers
will also arrest the owner of the
home, in addition to those individuals who are drinking underage.
"We certainly won't tolerate it"
agreed mayor John Higgins. There
are a myriad of accidents and tragedies that result from that particular
behavior."
Art sale
to benefit
schools'
play areas
The first annual Art Auction and
Social Night benefiting new school
playgrounds will take place on Aug.
11 at the St Joseph Social HalL
The event sponsored by die Amherst Playground Committoe. wil
include an auction of a variety of
works ranging in media, style and
price. Media include lithographs,
etchings, engravings, original oils,
watercolors and more. Prices wiB
range between an affordable collection at $20 and up, to a Collector's
Corner starting at $400 and up.
Styles include impressionism, abstract modem, children's art. sports
scenes, wildlife and many more.
The auction will also feature n
wide range of artists, from masters
like Picasso and Monet to pop-
culture icons like Disney and the
Warner Brothers. There will also be
original works by lesser known
artists.
The preview will begin at 630
pjn. and toe suction will begin at
7JO pjn. Tickets cost $25 per par-
son and include two chances to win
$325 m ait All ticket holders amy
also enjoy hot and cold ten
d'oeuvras provided by Pink 1
com Catering.
AD proceeds from toe
go to fund the new playgrounds II
what is now Shupe Middle School,
which is set to be converted into an
elementary school, and Nord Jr.
High School Nord will switch from
teaching grades seven and eight to
grades five and sat aft* toe asw Ja*
alar high school Is built
For more information, cast
(44QN940B.
to AfatossstSo
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