MyFriendCleveland

What Else do you Want?

Anti-smoking groups have already conquered Ohio. The smoke-free workplace, restaurant, and bar are all in place, while the rate of teenage cigarette use has dropped. So what else could they possibly want? Well, now they want to tax other tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco and, ahem, “small cigars” with the same rate as cigarettes, which is 55%. It seems the use of these products has not dropped amongst teens at all; showing that packing lippers and rolling a doobie is still quite in style. So yeah, raise those taxes! Make teens turn to a cheaper outlet, like drugs.

Which Way Does Cleveland Swing?

The Free Times reports (just below a piece about education cuts which are part of that masterful Keno plan) that 16 Cuyahoga County Democratic groups met in Lakewood last Thursday to get some idea of how Democrats in the area would vote come the primary. Kucinich, and most of his opponents, were also in attendance to chat up their fellow Dems. Sorry, no interesting Dennis anecdotes today. At the end of the night the results were tallied and here is what it looked like… one vote for Mike Gravel, one vote for Joe Biden, two votes for Dennis Kucinich (this marked his largest take of the season), 7 votes for John Edwards, 34 votes for Hillary Clinton, and 73 votes for Barack Obama. Maybe we won’t need a recount after all.

Where’s the Money?

Back in December we informed you of a legal battle between a homeowner and contractor/friend who discovered Depression-era cash in the walls of a bathroom he was remodeling. The money was valued at $180,000 and the contractor was not willing to merely take a 10% finder’s fee leading to an ongoing legal battle. Now, there are a couple new problems. First off is the fact that the homeowner, Amanda Reece, says that she’s somehow gotten rid of 90% of the money. Second, descendants of the home’s original owner are now claiming that the money belongs to them, because it once belonged to their relative. Let’s just say money isn’t the only thing coming out of the woodwork here! I feel like I should be sweating on some tiny stage while wearing an ugly tuxedo and having vegetables thrown at me. Still, it’s a better position to be in than these people.

Who’s a Perv?

A health club manager in Solon is being charged with voyeurism after placing a camera in the ceiling of a tanning room. A woman noticed the camera after she had finished tanning and then went to the manager to inform him. Dude asked the woman to fill out a report while he hauled ass back to the room, removed the camera, and then returned and asked the woman if she was really sure she saw something. Luckily, after noticing the camera was gone, the woman did not give herself the old “I must be losing it!” speech and instead, called the police. Perv.