News-Journal from Mansfield, Ohio • 11

Obituaries Region news mm Trail -good for business Sales and repairs of bicycles on the increase in area To avoid breakdowns, check the bicycle's tire pressure, brakes and chain before departing. Carry water or other fluids to avoid dehydration. A miniature first-aid kit, a multipurpose tool similar to a Swiss Army knife for making minor bike adjustments, and a compact wind-proof jacket also could come In handy. Bike shop owners strongly recommend wearing helmets. The News Journal is planning the following stories for Thursday: The News Journal will continue its coverage of the international conference on the "American Identity" at Ohio State University-Mansfield.

Loudonville is getting ready for its annual street fair this weekend. The sports department will profile Robbie Manley, the Buckeye Central High running back who's led his team to a 5-0 start. Jeff I-app, bicycle mechanic at Not Cycling Fitness, 40S Ashland Road, said the new bike trail has kept the repair business going full strength. "People are calling and saying, 'Can you fix my bike? I haven't ridden it for about 20 years and the bike trail is really close to my said Lapp, noting he is scheduling repairs a week in advance. Dave Starr, the manager at the Mansfield Not shop, said a lot of people who haven't cycled in years are getting them out and cleaned up.

That is the biggest trend he's noticed this summer with people just starting to use the trail. Thursday: No matter where you go in Ohio, you're close to a bike trail. This is the fourth in a weeklong series of articles that examines the Richland Trail which runs from Mansfield to Butler, is definitely going to be a boost to the Richland County economy. "Anytime you have a recreational or sports facility in your town, it's going to be a real plus and this is kind of that sports facility that bridges all generations," he said. "We've seen tiny children riding and elderly people riding the trail." Webster said the bike trail has had probably the biggest single impact on his store since he opened it three years ago.

His shop has been selling tandem bikes, three-wheeled bikes and bike trailers for pulling babies and toddlers By Lou Whitmlre News Journal correspondent MANSFIELD The new Richland Trail is keeping area bike shops rolling. Steve Webster, the owner of Webster's Mountain Sports, 307 E. Main Lexington, said his shop this summer has been busy repairing and selling bikes for use on the trail. His shop is also renting bikes and in-line skates. "We also have a service that if (bikers) break down, we'll send one of our trucks to pick them up," said Webster.

"We're kind of like the AAA Club for the bike trail." Webster said the 18-mile trail, along the winding trail. Jay Bookwalter, owner of Best Bike Shop, 78 Lexington said bike repairs normally would be finished by this time of year. "We're still running a week and a half behind," he said. "Repairs have been good and sales, well, they've been just about as crazy as repairs have been." The bicycle shop owner said he knew the trail would be good for business. "I don't think we expected this though," he said of the recent surge of business in August.

Drug free is the way to be Police Court lifts suspension on local attorney Rees Davis placed on probation 'X. bf 'J, ...1 necessary steps to incorporate another client's business. The court had ordered that Davis consume no alcohol and submit to periodic drug tests while maintaining contact with the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program. "The court finds that (Davis) has substantially complied with that order," the high court announced. The Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program has won a fan in Davis.

"I can't say enough for it," said Davis, who started practicing law in Cleveland during 1952. "I found I had a disability in terms of addiction to alcohol, and they got me straightened around." It's good that people have faith some lawyers can be rehabilitated, he said. "You're not pushed down the tube after 40 years in practice because you're found wanting at some point," he said. By Mike Rutledge News Journal Statehouse Bureau COLUMBUS Thanks to compliance with requirements that were established in August 1994, the Ohio Supreme Court lifted Mansfield lawyer Rees Howell Davis suspension from the of law-, The court had suspended Davis' license for two years on Aug. 31, 1994, but with an order announced this week, the justices lifted the second year and instead placed him on probation.

"O.J. (Simpson)'s back in business, and so am Davis chuckled, when contacted at his Mansfield office. The court last year voted 6-1 for the suspension, after finding that Davis had failed to respond to an opposing lawyer in an employment case, and had failed to complete Alexander HorvathNews Journal Talwonda Davis sings along with Jessica Hassenzaho and other students rallying for Drug Free Month Tuesday at the Richland County Administration Building In Mansfield. Making a statement Ashland Road, Richland County Richland County sheriffs deputies arrested a 38-year-old Mansfield man late Monday after he beat up his 31-vear-old girlfriend earlier in the evening. The reason, she told deputies, was that her boyfriend had a bet on the Cleveland Browns and was upset when the Browns lost.

After he beat and choked her, he jumped in his car and drove north on U.S. 42, where he was stopped by deputies who cited him for driving under the Influence of alcohol and driving under suspension of his license. The victim told deputies she has been living with the man 10 months and has been assaulted IS times. This time, deputies said, she decided to file charges. Ashland Shooting Supplies, Mansfield A shipment of three handguns valued at $720 was stolen before it arrived at this firearms dealership at 110 Baird Parkway, the business told Mansfield police Tuesday morning.

The handguns a a 9mm semiautomatic and a were sent In early July. Auto Wrecking, Mansfield Someone broke Into this business at 435 Piper Road during the last two weeks and stole $610 in auto parts and cutting tools, the owner told Mansfield police Tuesday afternoon. 400 block of Bowman Street, Mansfield A 16-vear-old Mansfield boy told police he was cut with a knife by another 16-year-old boy during an argument Tuesday morning. The boy was treated at Mansfield General Hospital for cuts on his right eyebrow and right side. 6000 block of Ohio 546, Richland County A resident reported his 1989 truck valued at $4,000 was stolen from outside his home sometime overnight Monday.

Richland County sheriff's deputies later found the truck on Wagner Road in a ditch. Nothing was missing from the truck. Traffic 1515 W. Fourth Mansfield Martha Munsell, 78, of 191 Taylor Road, was Iniured when her auto was hit Monday at 1 :24 p.m. by an auto driven bv Matthew B.

Brown, 23, of 353 S. Main Bellville. Police said Mrs. Munsell was westbound on West Fourth and turned left into a private drive, right in the path of Brown's oncoming auto. She was cited for failure to yield the right of way while making a left turn and was treated at Mansfield General Hospital.

612 Claremont Ashland Two persons were iniured in a car-motorcycle accident at 7:44 p.m., Monday. Police said Kathleen Piatt, 44, of 1230 Davis Road, Ashland, was driving north on Claremont and turned left to enter a business entrance. As she did, she pulled into the path of a southbound motorcycle driven by Terry Fike 30, of 1 1 16 Orange Road, Ashland. The cycle hit the car, injuring Fike and a passenger, Clara Carey, 21, of 606V4 Cottage Ashland. Fike and Carey were treated at Samaritan Hospital.

Piatt was cited for failure to yield the right of way while making a left turn. By Heather Smith News Journal Man given prison term in drug case By Doug Caruso News Journal said. "It's just ruining your life." Megan Miller, 12, who attends Madison Junior High School, said the event will show other kids throughout Richland County that it is OK to be drug free. "Adults can tell us," she said as she held red ribbons in her hand. "But if kids tell you, you want to do it more." The march was the big kick-off for Drug Free Awareness Month.

Community Action for Capable Youth and other agencies sponsored the event. Organizers of Tuesday's kick-off march including CACY Executive Director Karen Moody and David Milliken, president of Informed Teens Advisory Council, considered it a success. "What they represent is a drug-free community," said David, 17, who is a senior at Lexington High School. "We're not afraid to go out in the middle of Mansfield and say we're drug free." Students rally to proclaim drugs aren't cool students, passing out stickers that praised their drug free decision. The students also marched to the municipal building, where Mayor Lydia Reid read a similar proclamation.

"We believe the long-range solution is through prevention and education of our youth to help them say no," she said. She encouraged the students to remain drug free. "It all depends on the friends you hang around with," said Ryan Kleshinski, 17, a senior at St. Peter's High School. Like Ryan, Bert McConachie, 12, a sixth-grader at Bellville Elementary School, said he won't getinvolved in drugs.

"Ifs no use doing drugs," he MANSFIELD Hundreds of children in purple T-shirts promoting a drug-free lifestyle took to the streets Tuesday shouting and chanting. "Drug free the way to be," the 250 kids from the Richland County Schools shouted. "We are family." Students tied red ribbons around trees and sign posts in downtown Mansfield as they marched through the streets in drizzling rain to the county and city buildings. In front of the Richland County Courthouse, county commissioners read a proclamation declaring October "Drug Free the Way to Be Month." "This is the only way we're going to stop drugs in America through education," Commissioner Dale Cook said. Even Common Pleas Judge James Henson marched with the punched one of them in the face while they were arresting him.

Henson said federal prosecutors are considering charges against Downs that could result in life in prison if he is convicted. The judge said he ordered the fine paid out of the seized money because the federal government usually takes drug money when it prosecutes cases. "Now I think we have a superior claim on that money," Henson said. If federal charges are not filed, Richland County prosecutors can still charge Downs with several crimes, he said. More than 600 grams of crack were seized from Downs' home.

The drug is usually sold in 0.10 gram weights for $50, yielding a street value of more than $300,000. MANSFIELD Eric Downs, 29, of Mansfield was sentenced to 18 months in prison Tuesday for violating his probation by having more than $300,000 worth of crack cocaine in his Spring Street home. Richland County Common Pleas Judge James Henson also fined Downs $1,500. He ordered that the money be taken immediately out of more than $8,000 in cash that probation officers seized when they searched Downs' home Sept. 15.

During that search, three probation officers found drugs, cash and a handgun in Downs' basement. Downs, who was on probation for a drug abuse conviction, struggled with the officers and Fall's many wonders never included the Tribe before i5. Drill SIMON jH News Journal work on my chili recipe and to learn a little more about how to run that personal computer in the kitchen. There are always leaves to rake, that last mowing to do and some grass planting and fertilizing in hopes that spring will be kind. Victoria and I have already explored the northern parts of the new Richland Trail, but we'd like to check out the southern end before the snow and cold roll in.

Fall is so short. But it never included the Cleveland Indians before. It barely has room for O.J. Simpson. I'll pick up the book or books at some later date if the dust ever settles.

When the rest of the leaves do turn color, Victoria and I will hit the road, taking Ohio 3 from Loudonville to Jelloway, Ohio 205 to Danville and Ohio 62 from Danville to Utica. That's probably the best leaf tour in Ohio unless you favor Ohio 39 to Millersburg and Ohio 83 south to Coshocton, with Ohio 36 back to Mount Vernon thrown in. Somehow, I won't have too much time for thoughts about the Simpson trial. Too busy with the Tribe, with a two-week October vacation and the World Series. No matter who plays, I never miss the Series.

This is my favorite month to drive to those out-of-the-way book shops and recall people in Holmes County MJike to visit. Time to for this all my life. So have a lot of you. If you almost shed a tear at the end of the film "Major League," this real-life story could send you into transports of joy. Or depression if things don't work out.

There are a bunch of baseball teams out there that scare me to death. What isn't happening out there today are the leaves. This is the latest I have ever seen more green than gold in the woods. I am told that by next week we'll have real beauty. Tim Snider tells me fall slipped by him too quickly.

One day the tree in his yard turned bright red, and the next morning it was a skeleton. Standup comedians never have any luck. What a day. This is, of course, O.J. Day in America as we go nuts over the verdict and start hashing this whole murder trial mess from here to eternity.

I have never seen an event to match the interest and the indignation this trial has caused. But today's edition is full of that. No matter what I think of its decision, I am glad to see the jury finally freed from what may be the longest imprisonment since the American hostages in Iran back in 1980. I imagine these people are going to need police protection, psychiatric counseling and lawyers of their own to handle divorces or Township OKs roller coaster i AINBRIDGE, Ohio (AP) The Geauga County community that is the home of the Geauga Lake Amusement Park will allow the tourist attraction to build a new roller coaster. Officials of Bainbridge Township agreed this week not to enforce an 80-foot height limit.

In return, Geauga Lake will drop two lawsuits which it filed against the township on the matter, said Trustee Raymond Mattson. other ugly consequences resulting from their long separation. A few, of course, will sign book deals, and maybe money can cure a few of their problems. Aside from the story of the day, decade and possibly the century, I have another reason to be excited this day. For this is Day Two of the Cleveland Indians climb to the World Series.

I have been waiting.