BROWNS WRAP UP A BIRTHDAY A look back at the Browns’ season with its (mostly) Avon Lake Public Library highs and lows and a look toward the future, C1-2 begins celebrating its 90th, B1 MONDAY, February 1, 2021 $1.25 BOARD OF ELECTIONS Man shot in Oberlin Dems favor Sweda to fill vacancy Dylan Reynolds The Chronicle-Telegram Former Lorain County Commissioner Sharon Sweda was recommended to fill a vacancy on the county Board of Elec- tions in a vote by members of the local Democratic Party’s executive commit- tee Sunday. “I am up for the job. I am up for the work,” Sweda said. “I want to meet with each of you and figure out where you think we can go, what we can do and how we will make sure that come next fall fall and the fol- lowing fall, we have feet and boots on the ground again, we have a campaign that is something to reckon with and we start getting Demo- crats back in office.” In a speech asking executive committee members for their sup- port, Sweda said she once owned the only ANGELO ANGEL / CHRONICLE female-owned real Law enforcement sets up a presence after a shooting on South Park Street in Oberlin on Sunday. estate firm in Lorain Sweda County and later owned the county’s Condition unknown; schools on lockdown today only female-owned title company. She said that business background Dylan Reynolds and victim spilled into the driveway. As a precaution, Oberlin Schools will start puts her in a good position to assume The Chronicle-Telegram The suspects are believed to have fled on foot, school today in Level I lockdown, meaning all the Board of Elections member role. OBERLIN — A man was shot at a South Park according to police. Responding officers found exterior doors will be locked. Parents will be County boards of elections in Ohio Street address Sunday afternoon. the victim outside the residence and adminis- given the option of having their children remain are governed by four-person boards, Oberlin Police Chief Ryan Warfield said the tered first aid. at home and participate in virtual learning for composed of two members from each call for shots fired came in at 4:08 p.m. following Detectives blocked an area around the res- the day. the Democratic and Republican parties. an altercation at the residence. idence with police line tape and were examin- Parents can also choose to keep their children Former Lorain County Board of Elec- Warfield could not confirm the medical sta- ing what appeared to be blood spattered on the at home rather than attending the Virtual Learn- tus of the victim, identified as a 20-year-old snow outside. The road was blocked by Lorain tions member Tom Smith, a Democrat, ing Center. The district asks that parents notify resigned from his position last month, Black male, Sunday. The victim was transported County Sheriff’s Office vehicles. their children’s building administrator if they Later, police say a vehicle of interest was giving the party the task of choosing to Mercy Health-Allen Hospital with a gunshot will be staying home to learn virtually today. impounded and three firearms recovered. The a candidate to recommend that the wound to the upper thigh and was subsequently Kane Papania, of Lorain, was visiting family taken to Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Crime Ohio Secretary of State approve for the in Oberlin around the time of the shooting and for further treatment. Scene Unit was called to the scene where they vacancy. recalled seeing when police pulled up to the Initial investigation found two suspects and assisted collecting evidence. “The secretary of state is not required the victim were in the living area of the residence Police issued a notice about 6:30 p.m. for resi- scene. He said he had to make sure his broth- to accept our recommendation but gen- in the 200 block of South Park Street when an dents to be cautious and lock their doors. er’s house was not hit by gunshots. Papania erally does, assuming (Sweda) is other- altercation started, according to a news release Later in the evening, Oberlin Schools issued a described the neighborhood as generally quiet wise qualified,” said county Democratic from police. news release stating police still were searching when he has been around. Party chairman Tony Giardini. “I don’t Over the course of the dispute, shots were and would provide Superintendent David Hall Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@ know anything that prevents Sharon fired and the struggle between the assailants with updates throughout the night. chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @drey1357. from being qualified so I anticipate his approval.” As a precaution, Oberlin Schools will start school today in Level I lockdown, meaning all exterior Sweda was nominated for the vacancy by Amherst City Councilman Martin doors will be locked. Parents will be given the option of having their children remain at home Heberling, at-large. Also receiving a nomination was for- and participate in virtual learning for the day. Parents can also choose to keep their children mer Oberlin City Councilman Ronnie at home rather than attending the Virtual Learning Center. The district asks that parents notify Rimbert. He said he feels it is important for the local Democratic party to look at their children’s building administrator if they will be staying home to learn virtually today. itself and figure out where it is going. See SWEDA, A2 Ohio tallies 3,011 new COVID cases, 54 deaths The Chronicle-Telegram firmed by PCR test. The other 679 patient. units at Ohio hospitals because of the weekdays only. State data shows the Ohio reported 3,011 new COVID- are labeled probable, a designation Forty-eight of the deaths were con- virus. county has had a cumulative total 19 cases and 54 new deaths Sunday, meaning the patient either tested firmed and six were probable. New numbers for Lorain County’s of 3,728 probable COVID-19 cases. A according to state health department positive on just an antigen test or The state also tallied 80 new hos- confirmed cases were not available presumed 759 of those probable cases data. developed coronavirus symptoms pitalizations for COVID-19 and eight Sunday because Lorain County Pub- are still active. Of the new cases, 2,332 were con- after being exposed to a confirmed new admissions to intensive care lic Health updates those statistics See COVID, A3 Oberlin looks to sell abandoned, vacant lots for new homes Jason Hawk The residential land was signed up for sale in 2021. yards with overgrown grass. tax-producing status.” Oberlin News-Tribune over to the city a year ago due to tax All fell into the city’s possession Over time, Handy said, it became Her hope is that buyers will build OBERLIN — Abandoned, fore- delinquency and a home there was through tax foreclosure except one on obvious that some of those properties new homes and inject both new life closed on and seized, several vacant demolished, said Oberlin Planning Groveland Street, which was donated were abandoned. and income into Oberlin. Director Carrie Handy. voluntarily after a house there was That could mean the owners died lots are going up for sale. There are also several small strips Lorain County auditor’s records condemned. and had no heirs, or the owners of land, just a few feet wide, that the The city of Oberlin has put out show the property has a market value “We’re responsible for taking care of moved away and washed their hands city has taken possession of. Handy a call for bids on 230 Lincoln St., a of $14,180. lots that basically people aren’t taking of the situation, she said. 26,000-square-foot property border- Bids will be accepted until 4 p.m. care of,” Handy said. A short list of those properties — all said they will probably end up being ing the North Coast Inland Trail a March 12 at City Hall, 69 S. Main St. It starts with mowing lawns. Like residential — was sent to the prose- ceded to neighbors. stone’s throw from the Oberlin Arbo- Handy said the Lincoln land is the other cities and villages, Oberlin often cutor and acquired by the city. Handy Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 retum. first of eight buildable lots that will go ends up sending workers to mow said the goal is to “get them back to or [email protected]. High of 31. Low of 23. ACCENT .......D1,C6 CLASSIFIEDS .....D4 CROSSWORD ....D2 OPINION .............A4 CHILLY, Forecast on A8 INDEX ADVICE ...............C6 COMICS ......... D2-3 OBITUARIES .......B2 SPORTS ......... C1-5 SNOW WWW.CHRONICLET.COM cyan A1 magenta A1 yellow A1 black A1 A2 Monday, February 1, 2021 FROM PAGE ONE The Chronicle-Telegram A FEW FLAKES ANGELO ANGEL / CHRONICLE Snow falls in downtown Elyria on Sunday. The snowfall continued through the evening and more snow is expected today. CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS ROUNDUP The Chronicle-Telegram is committed to providing accurate news coverage. Call us at 329-7155 to let us know about factual errors. Myanmar military says it is vening of the National intended to promote a sense of stability taking control of the country Assembly, consistent surrounding the Trump defense team with the results of the as his impeachment trial nears. Several NAYPYITAW, Myanmar — Myan- November 2020 general South Carolina lawyers had been set to LOTTERY mar military television said today that election,” she said. represent him at the trial, which starts the military was taking control of the Ohio (Sunday) Myanmar lawmakers the week of Feb.