First Place, News Picture Story - Ed Suba, Jr. / Akron Beacon Journal
First Place, News Picture Story - Ed Suba, Jr. / Akron Beacon JournalFamily members, friends and members of the police community watch as the casket of Massillon police officer Eric Taylor is transported by an honor guard for a memorial service at Mt. Peace Cemetery in Akron. Taylor was killed in the line of duty while making a routine traffic stop.
First Place, News Picture Story - Ed Suba, Jr. / Akron Beacon JournalA photograph of slain Massillon police officer Eric Taylor is held by a member of the Massillon police force during his memorial service at Mt. Peace Cemetery in Akron.
First Place, News Picture Story - Ed Suba, Jr. / Akron Beacon JournalFamily members watch as the casket of slain Massillon police officer Eric Taylor is transported by an honor guard for a memorial service at Mt. Peace Cemetery in Akron.
First Place, News Picture Story - Ed Suba, Jr. / Akron Beacon JournalA member of the police community fights with her emotions as she stands at attention during the playing of taps during a memorial service for slain Massillon police officer Eric Taylor at Mt. Peace Cemetery in Akron.
First Place, News Picture Story - Ed Suba, Jr. / Akron Beacon Journal(r) JuWanna Taylor, wife of slain Massillon police officer Eric Taylor, is presented the American flag that covered the casket of her husband during a memorial service at Mt. Peace Cemetery in Akron.
First Place, News Picture Story - Ed Suba, Jr. / Akron Beacon JournalA Massillon police officer kisses the casket of slain Massillon police officer Eric Taylor while paying his last respect after a memorial service at Mt. Peace Cemetery in Akron.
First Place, News Picture Story - Ed Suba, Jr. / Akron Beacon JournalA Massillon police officer wipes tears from his eyes after paying his last respect to slain Massillon police officer Eric Taylor after a memorial service at Mt. Peace Cemetery in Akron.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The Blade
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeOn November 10th, an outbreak of 88 tornadoes covered the east coast from Ohio to South Carolina, killing 38 and causing billions of dollars in damage. 5 people in Ohio lost their lives. This is some of my coverage fro NW Ohio in the towns of Tiffin and Port Clinton. This f3 tornado rips through the south part of Tiffin.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladePatrons of Stiney's 3 Oaks bar on second Street in Tiffin watch a tornado form in the south part of town.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeDave Sauber stands in the wreckage of his home on TR 1177, after a tornado moved through the south part of Tiffin.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeSteve Tooman of Columbia Gas company, signals he can't find the source of gas odors around this home. The home has a complete tree on the roof and is just south of the city park. Rescue workers were now allowed to enter the building.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeA framed view of the inside of the Marveleen Weenger home on Cedar St. reveals that the chair where the TV sits, is where Marveleen, 78, was sitting when a car, thrown by a tornado, slammed into her home. Knocking her to the ground and across the room. Putting the TV in the chair where she was sitting.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeDave Weenger of the who is stunned at what he found at his grandmother's, Marveleen Weenger's home on Cedar St. as he calls the insurance agent. Marveleen 78, was sitting watching the TV when a car slammed into her home, knocking her to the ground and across the room.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeA garage sale sign sits in a pile of debris at the corner of Cedar and Second streets in Port Clinton, the day after a tornado struck this town and others in Northwest Ohio.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeA cross hangs on the wall of the destroyed home of Paul C. Fisher in the area of the convent in Tiffin which was hit by an f3 tornado. The entire roof was taken off the home but the cross remained on the wall hung by a thread.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeDave Massey takes photos of his condo that was blown into Lake Erie by the November 10th tornado, which hit Port Clinton.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeGale Rose, a Port Clinton resident, is frustrated as she talks to FEMA employee Vince Yelmini in the newly opened Disaster Relief office at 315 Madison, in the basement of the County Courthouse in Port Clinton, two weeks after the tornado.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeAn American flag sits tangled in a twisted tree at the home of a man in Republic, Ohio who was killed by the November 10th twisters that ripped through Northwest Ohio.
Second Place, News Picture Story - Allan Detrich / The BladeTiffin residents as well as Menonites from Richland County, push up a newly constructed wall of a business in Tiffin. The Mennonites are with The Christian Aid Ministries and their disaster response team.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina Gazette
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteThe Medina County Commissioners announced November 2001 that they were going to close the Medina County Home February 2002. Because of the public’s negative response to this decision the commissioners agreed to let the public decide the future of the home by putting it on the ballot in May. After announcing to the residents that the County Home would be closing County Home Administrator Joyce Farnsworth goes to Flora Naftzger, a resident of the home for 21 years, who is overcome by the news.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteResident Cynda Bowman comforts Betty Snanigan who is afraid of losing her home.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteAs County Commissioner Steve Hambley sits in the office of Joyce Farnsworth, after telling the residents that the Medina county Home would be closing; he says, "Sometimes I really do not like my job." A month later Hambley would change his mind and recommend that the county have a chance to vote on the future of the county home.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazettePhyllis Brown, aid in charge of the first floor men's wing, checks resident John Aucker's face to make sure he didn't miss a spot when shaving.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteJoyce Daugherty, an employee of the Medina County Home for almost 17 years, laughs as she is caught trying to hide from Tim Johnson. He helps every Monday morning by making the beds in the first floor men's wing.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteFinn Dietrich, who at 77 runs down the stairs instead of walking and is responsible for helping residents confined to wheelchairs get around the home, pets Rex the house cat at 5:30 am before breakfast.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteAfter pulling weeds out of the flower beds all morning, Tim Johnson, 64, takes a nap in the sun. Johnson has been known to forget to eat because he is busy taking care of the yard.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteBernice Daulbaugh and Mary Moore wait patiently to be called for lunch.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteDonna Skraba helps Emil Vanek, 89, into bed. It is not unusual to hear county home residents and employees wishing each other a good night at bedtime.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteElection night, Joyce Farnsworth thanks god after winning the majority in the first 10 precincts at the Medina County Home.
Third Place, News Picture Story - Monique Ganucheau / Medina GazetteAfter 6 months of waiting Finn Dietrichs celebrates with Lynn Remington assistant administrator a majority vote to keep the Medina County Home open.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain Dealer
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerOn October 9, 2001, Anthony Michael Green was released after serving 13 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. Now, back in Cleveland he is "starting to get his life back" by going out to look for employment and apply for proper identification. Here, at the home of his parents, his step-father Robert Mandell and his sister, Sharon, both in the background, talk about Michael's success in passing his driving test. Michael is now a legitimate citizen.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerBuilding A-4 at Grafton Correctional Institutionis where Anthony Michael Green resided for eight years after his transfer from Lima Correctional Institution. "Society thinks we've got it made in prison," said Michael. "That is false."
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerCell number 312 is where Anthony Michael Green spent most of his days while serving time at Grafton Correctional Institution. He slept on the top bunk.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerThe gates at Grafton Correctional Institution. Anthony Michael Green exited these gates on a sunny afternoon after he was exonerated of a rape crime he did not commit.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerAfter his release, Michael Green walked for hours in his old Hough neighborhood on Cleveland's East side. "Everything looks so different," he said. "Everything has changed."
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerAnnie Mandell stands next to her son Anthony Michael Green on her front deck. Mrs. Mandell always believed in her son's innocence throughout the years while he was still incarcerated. Tension grew between Michael and his mother over their different lifestyles. "I grew up here in Hough, and everyone remembers the old Michael," he said.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerAnthony Michael Green looks at his new set of eye glasses before heading off to apply for a job in downtown Cleveland.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerAnthony Michael Green fills an application form of employment at Cuyahoga County Juvenile Correctional. When he first got out of prison, Michael thought the Juvenile Detention Center would snatch him up as a corrections officer. "I've got a lot to offer those kids," he said. "I've been there, and I can tell them what it's really like."
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain Dealer(left) Anthony Michael Green now works as an operations manager for Youth Re-Entry Program, a community program for juvenile offenders under the auspices of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries in Cleveland. Green oversees the repair and day-to-day maintenance of nine apartment buildings where the youths live.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerAnthony Michael Green pays $12 for his first haircut as a free man to Reggie Meadows a former inmate, at Virginia's Beauty Salon in Cleveland.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain Dealer"It finally feels good to get a haircut. Now, I can go and find a job," said Anthony Michael Green. He received a haircut from Reggie Meadows a former inmate, for the price of $12 at Virginia's Beauty Salon. The day after, Michael began to fill application forms in search for a job. It took several weeks before landing a job as a server at McDonald's.
Award of Excellence, News Picture Story - Eustacio Humphrey / The Plain DealerAnthony Michael Green returns to Lima Correctional Institution as a free man to keep a promise to his mentor Arthur Freeman. That promise was to visit. Freeman was Green's mentor for eight years while he was at Lima for a rape crime he did not commit. Green was later found innocent of all charges thanks to DNA evidence and the help from his step-father Robert Mandell and the Innocent Project in New York.
