Lakewood|News|
Man Sentenced to Two Years for Airborne Metroparks Crash
Thomas C. Smith, 24, had faced more than 10 years in prison for the July 10 crash that left his 47-year-old passenger in critical condition.

I am the editor of Lakewood Patch and a local news enthusiast.
I joined Patch because the company is at the forefront of the future of journalism — and I am deeply committed to this changing media landscape. And, I love Lakewood.
I have delivered, printed, packed, stacked, written for, edited and, of course, read newspapers. My first reporting gig came in the fourth grade when Mrs. Williams ordered – since I talked so much — that I report news and weather to begin the class each day. No sweat.
So, the kid with soda-pop-bottle eyeglasses began his career, sharing the latest news and weather forecasts with a room full of confounded classmates.
Since then, I have worked in different media environments, and worn several different hats. I have picked up a camera; learned to handle video equipment and edited my own work. I have kept a blog. I have taped interviews and posted them to the Web. These are a few of the skills that I have acquired in an ever-changing media environment.
After stints in Chicago and Southern California, I returned to home to Northeast Ohio to attend the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State University. I held a reporting internship at the Record Publishing Co. by day and worked in the Akron Beacon Journal production department by night, stacking newspapers.
I later worked as a reporter and wire editor at the Record-Courier and received several awards for news and sports reporting.
In my freelance work, most notably for hiVelocity, I have followed the changing economic landscape in Ohio. I have identified start-up bio-tech and biomedical companies as they sprout up around the fertile health-care industry, with area institutions of higher education propping them up. The state's economy is changing.
Not unlike my own industry.
I live in Lakewood with my wife, Kelly Flamos, and our children, Ruby and Clyde.
Kelly co-owns and operates Mahalls 20 Lanes with my brother-in-law, Joe Pavlick.
... In case you're curious, that will never affect my ability to report news professionally and fairly in this city that I love.
Thomas C. Smith, 24, had faced more than 10 years in prison for the July 10 crash that left his 47-year-old passenger in critical condition.

The restaurant's manager Leisha Campbell, 22, of Cleveland — who told police that she was held up at gunpoint by two masked men — was part of the plan to rob the restaurant. She faces three years in prison for her involvement.
A half dozen of the world’s top skateboarders spent a better part of the day at the Lakewood Skatepark on Wednesday.
For her dedication to the Bees lacrosse program, Lauren Jirousek was recently recognized at a recent lacrosse game, appropriately on the night of senior honors.
Brecksville Patch's new look will let you can share neighborhood news much easier than before.
Lakewood Patch's new look will let you can share neighborhood news much easier than before.
The following information was supplied by the Brecksville Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
The school board is considering two sepeate measures that would remove the asbestos from Chippewa Elementary School and at the middle school, with a total price tag of about $120,000.
Superintendent Jeff Patterson hosting "important community meeting" to give an update on the district’s school construction project at 6:30 p.m.
Some neighbors believe the Forest Road resident is being singled out for filing a lawsuit against the Clifton Club over property rights.
Cathy & Marcy part of a “weekend of fun, music and learning” on June 7 and 8.
Roxu expected to open in time for the Car Kulture show on Madison Avenue. A grand opening is planned for the spring of 2014.
Just 4 Girlz, a Detroit Avenue women’s clothing store — that closed earlier this year — filed a lawsuit based on a building department inspection last year.
An annual parade and ceremony will mark the holiday.
The district now looks to collect about $30,000 more than expected, and spend about $1.1 million less.
The following information was supplied by the Brecksville Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
Lakewood City Council’s public works committee decides to give the 750-foot stretch of the street an honorary title instead of an official name change.
After returning to court to face jail time for violating the terms of her probation, a Lakewood woman allegedly attacked an officer assigned to the court. She now faces a felonious assault charge.