🌱 LPD Investigates Fiery Crash + Owner Of Rescued Dogs Pleads Guilty

Hello all. I'm back in your inbox this Saturday morning to share all the most important things happening in town these days.

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Here are the top three stories today in Lakewood:

1. Lakewood police are investigating a Jan. 5 vehicle crash on I-90 Westbound near Bunts Road. According to police, the driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the median. The vehicle was completely engulfed in flames, injuring a 27-year-old Parma man who was rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center. (Cleveland 19)
2. Yesterday, Jan. 6, the owner of the 41 beagles that were rescued from unsanitary conditions by Lakewood Police pleaded guilty to multiple counts of cruelty to animals in Lakewood Municipal Court. As part of the plea, the defendant surrendered ownership of the dogs to the City of Lakewood and agreed to pay full restitution to City for the care of the dogs. He will also enter a five-year diversion that includes mental health assessment and grief counseling to address the underlying causes of his behavior. He will face up to 18 months of incarceration if he violates the terms of the agreement. (Lakewood OH Gov)
3. Fear's Confections, a chocolates and “treats” shop in Lakewood, will permanently close after Feb. 14 of this year. Cassandra Fear, the owner of Fear’s Confections, announced the news yesterday, Jan. 6. (CleveScene.com)
   

Today in Lakewood:

• Super Saturday At Beck Center for the Arts (11:00 AM)
  
• Sassy Saturday Drag Brunch! At The Winchester (12:30 PM)
• Couples And Bourbon At Western Reserve Distillers (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Did you know the average Ohio resident’s average monthly electric bill in 2022 increased by over 8 percent from the previous year? Learn more about where the Buckeye State stands on power consumption and costs compared to the rest of the country in this new Ownerly data study. (Ownerly)
• Boom’s Pizza will open on Jan. 24 at 14730 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood! Chef-partners Ben Bebenroth and Jonathan Bennett’s weekly pizza pop-ups created their perfect pizza, described by Bebenroth as “crispy, not too chewy, thin crust, not too filling – not a gut bomb,” which they will serve at their new brick-and-mortar store. (CleveScene.com)
  
• Congratulations to the 30 Lakewood High School and West Shore Career-Tech Media Art & Design students whose artwork was honored in the Regional Scholastic Art Exhibition competition! The 30 artists earned 47 awards collectively, including the highest honor given, six Gold Keys. Click here for details. (Lakewood Schools via Twitter)

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Events:

• 2023 Cuyahoga County Solar Co-op Online and In Person Info Session (January 12)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start the day! See you all Monday for your next update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.