The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2003-12-31

              lady comets undefeated - page 7 r- rrt t -. j amherst news-time 00 ) z rn -v r m 3 rj event benefits prom 6 a year in review taking look at the top stories of 2003 for amherst, provided same challenges as 12-ycar-old child: growing pains, mistakes, momentous physical changes, and struggle to overcome temptation. looking last 52 issues, news-times has selected those wc consider embody ups downs exercised most profound impacts on city its residents. here arc 10 important 2003: 1 taylor defeats higgins (nov. 12) without doubt amherst's single influential 2003, election republican challenger dave over democratic incumbent john city's mayoral race was revolution local government. after eight years office, higgins, retired u.s. steel employ ee, narrowly ousted 2,227 1,816 decision, with 55.08 percent vote. gauntlets were tossed aside just weeks earlier each candidate abandoned friendly campaign styles more aggressive play live weol am radio broadcast. air, criticized what he called higgins's weak manage ment style, projected financial deficits, wasteful spending, unautho rized agreements, mismanagement projects. denied "doom gloom" fiscal predictions pointed perceived weaknesses taylor's management safetyservice director under former mayor anthony dcpaola early 1980s. end, voters sided than paving way along three council mem bers conservative-minded 2 turnpike take acreage (march 26) being discussed, debated, protracted nearly decade, long-in-thc-wings project build an ohio inter change route 58 finally launched this year. march's events checkered flag construction proj ect, included initiation court case by commission against several landowners area between middle ridge road 113. using legal authority (jailed eminent domain, asked officials determine fair equitable price land force holders sell. result transfer property from sev eral groups, including mullinax ford consolidated investors, which paved multi-million car-pcr-ycar increase tourist travel volume. result, become hot commodity is expected produce new batch commercial industrial enterprises that will boost economy infusing millions dollars into other neighboring communities pro viding jobs. wal-mart isn't welcome (jan. 15) when developer bob bcrryhill tried sell cities lorain mcga-rctailcr wal-mart, world's largest corpo ration, residents gave him firm "no thank you." officials, intent grabbing much-nccdcd cash rework cooper foster park make chastised home business owners concerned about declining values intense retail competition. countered, saying 140,000-squarc foot would generate revenue both because it offer nearby shopping large discretionary incomes provide minimum mid-wage failed garner enough support building project, but month returned planning rein troduce his proposal. yet approach monetary or support. 4 time bridge lawsuit (sept. 24) scheduled completion date jackson street bridge, law ken stumphauzcr decid ed every alternative litigation had been attempted. announced level suit designer brunkhorst engineering parties behalf faulty plans construction. move came attempting out-of-court settlement brunkhorst, during handed insur ance company while hired independent consultants bridge's blueprints, brunkhorst's insurance turn engineers mannik smith propose fix mangled design, results "woefully, woeful ly inadequate," consultants, hntb, inc., found 50 flaws inherent plans. they also designs suggested demolishing half-finished structure scratch. no filed yet, stumphauzer said "loading guns." initiated, battle stretch years, said. meanwhile, $6 million contractor bender construction, claims never paid work completed project. 5 debate finances brews (oct. 1) wliile issues such botched their effects race, perhaps impact ing contention state finances. three-way feud auditor diane eswine, county mark stewart ensued eswjne predicted $2 deficit 2004. continued 9 cut above rest kelton kosik gets royal treatment stylist paula mittler monday ron's barber shop avenue. ave sworn newest jason hawk reporter yesterday, w'as marking era govern ment. "i'm forward getting things accomplished," taylor, who defeated 41 1-vote margin november. 'this jan. like all dressed up nowhere go." cherry valley resident, trwnelson stu'l welding sales produc tion manager, stranger politics. served ward two representative 1970 1972, com mission 1972 1980, 1980 1982 dcpaola. prior mayoral-vinstalla-tion ceremony sneak peck next years. "this going be team effort," "and i don't want any surpriscs...i'vc talking treasurer, our priority right now sit down president dietrich department heads worlc out permanent budget." ail general fund will, end 2004, "in good standing one other," resolving budgetary lay foundation fixing remaining prob lems. "the big issue campaign," we'll able tackle budg et real numbers get definite carry have with. that's important, interim balanced budget passed didn't include considera tions raises police afsme union employees." creating sustainable 2004 crucial begin ning 5, 2005, owe $720,000 per 8 daily grind mike maclejewskj. owner frank's shoe repair avenue, smooths heel grinding machine. he's plenty practice sinco moving store 1991. lawyer, try 58th district young parents working class repre sentation, amhcrstonian threw hat political ring' monday. attorney matt barrett, golden russett drive resident lived since 1996, run house march primary race. 1985 graduate elyria high school, barrett obtained degrees aeronautical studies embry riddle university 1989, institute america 1993; cleveland 1996. p,