From a happy ending at the county dog kennel to serious concerns over a chemical spill in Avon Lake, last week brought a mix of uplifting and pressing news in Lorain County. Here’s a look back at the biggest stories you may have missed:
Lorain County Dog Kennel’s longest resident finds forever home
After nearly six months at the Lorain County Dog Kennel, Storm was the last dog waiting more than 100 days for a forever home. Volunteers had rallied behind him and cleveland.com featured their plea on Wednesday. Just one day later, Storm found his forever home.
Friends of Lorain County Dog Kennel shared their excitement on Facebook: “When I tell you volunteers are SOOOO excited — I mean SOOOOOOOO excited for this adoption. STORM is OUTTA HERE! This boy has been so great here… and today — he found his home. Send pupdates — and thank you, Adopters! What a beautiful day!”
Avon Lake City Council demands answers after 6,600-gallon Lubrizol spill
Avon Lake City Council members are calling for accountability after a Sept. 16 chemical spill from Lubrizol’s Avon Lake facility released 6,600 gallons of diluted polyurethane into Powdermaker Creek. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. after a valve was mistakenly opened due to human error. However, the spill was not reported to the city until about 12:30 p.m. — when a resident noticed and alerted officials.
Avon leads Lorain County in Ohio’s School Report Cards; Lorain ranks last statewide
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce released its 2025 school report cards last week, and results show wide disparities across Lorain County. Avon City Schools earned top marks in the county, while Lorain City Schools received the lowest overall ranking in the state. The report cards evaluate academic performance, graduation rates and student progress, among other measures.
Lorain County data breach may have exposed employee and vendor Social Security, bank information
The Lorain County Board of Commissioners confirmed last week that a data security incident may have exposed sensitive personal information earlier this year.
An unauthorized party gained access to internal records through the Lorain County Auditor’s network. A forensic investigation determined that files containing Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and routing details for employees and vendors may have been compromised.
Phone scammers threaten arrest, demand money from Lorain County residents
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in which callers pose as law enforcement officers. Multiple residents have reported receiving calls stating they failed to appear for a court hearing and now face arrest unless they pay money immediately. Officials stressed that law enforcement does not demand payment over the phone and urged residents not to provide personal or financial information.
See the 10 most expensive home sales in Lorain County last week
Luxury homes across Lorain County drew big buyers last week, with two Lake Erie properties topping the list at more than $1 million each. The most expensive sale was “Erie Escape,” a $1.3 million waterfront retreat in Lorain designed as a turnkey vacation rental. Close behind was a Sheffield Lake property that sold for $1.2 million, featuring its own private beach and heated pool.