ELYRIA — An argument outside the courtroom where Alverno Howse Jr. is on trial for allegedly killing Charles “Chuckie” Howard last year has led to at least one member of Howard’s family being barred from the courtroom.

The “altercation,” as Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski described it, began as the court was preparing to adjourn this morning so that a witness — whose name Betleski has since ordered the media not to report — could refresh her memory of her prior statements to a county grand jury and Elyria police.

County sheriff’s deputies rushed to break up the dispute, which Betleski said involved minimal physical contact — a chest bump — before the two feuding people were pulled apart by family members. No one would be charged, the judge said, but he planned to ask jurors if they felt comfortable continuing with the trial after witnessing the courtroom clear as the sounds of the argument wafted in through the closed doors.

The witness had said she couldn’t recall the details surrounding the Aug. 19 shooting death of Howard, who was shot in a Taft Avenue home, allegedly by Howse.

On Wednesday, two other witnesses had to review their grand jury and police statements be-cause when they took the stands they insisted Howse wasn’t in the room with Howard when he was shot.

One of those two men — Jeris Nelson and Clyde Anderson — was involved in the dispute today and one family member of Howard could be heard complaining that the men were lying about what happened.

Assistant County Prosecutor Mike Kinlin warned jurors earlier in the trial that none of those at the home at the time of the shooting wanted to be considered a “snitch” and all were reluctant to testify.

Two people were briefly arrested earlier this week for allegedly trying to avoid testifying in the case and deputies have kept a heavy security presence around the trial because of concerns about arguments and violence between the families and friends of Howard and Howse.

The witness is expected to return to the stand this afternoon and Betleski is also weighing a request from prosecutors to clear the courtroom when a confidential informant testifies later today.

Read Friday’s Chronicle for more on this story.

LAGRANGE — The mother of a 24-year-old local man charged with an assault during a Bible study class said claims of demonic possession by fellow churchgoers documented by police are “ridiculous.”

John Andel, of LaGrange, was charged with two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct while intoxicated after kicking and punching a husband and wife sitting in front of him during a Bible study class Jan. 20 at LaGrange Church of God on North Center Street, police said.

“People must just be gossiping at church without knowing what’s going on,” Karen Andel said, adding she was present when the incident occurred and is worried about her son.

“We’re hoping it’s nothing serious,” she said. “He had a seizure.”

The church’s congregation is praying for John Andel, the church’s pastor, Daniel Wright, said Wednesday, adding he also disagrees with a police report quoting church members claiming John Andel “was possessed by a demon.”

“He was just having a fit, like a seizure,” Wright said. “He just started wailing, throwing himself around. I don’t think he deliberately attacked them.”

LaGrange Police Chief Daniel Moore said Andel smelled of alcohol when police arrived to find church members restraining John Andel on the floor.

Read Thursday’s Chronicle for more on this story.

LORAIN — Three people have been taken to the hospital from the scene of a two-car accident in Lorain, and police working the scene are unable to locate an infant who was in one of the cars.

Photo by Bruce Bishop, The Chronicle-Telegram.

The accident happened about 1:15 p.m. at West Ninth Street and Washington Avenue and involved a white Toyota Corolla and a purple Dodge Caravan.

The driver and front-seat passenger from the Toyota were both taken to the hospital, and police working the scene were not initially able to locate an infant that had been in an infant seat in the car’s back seat.

According to Sgt. Mark Carpentiere, “somebody left the scene with the infant, presumably to take it to a hospital,” but police don’t know who the person or people were or where the baby is.

Asked if the person who took the infant was someone who was authorized to do so, Carpentiere said he didn’t know.

The driver of the minivan was also taken to the hospital.

The Toyota received heavy damage to its passenger side door and struck a fire hydrant before coming to rest. Both the driver and the passenger struck the car’s windshield, which shattered.

There was blood on the car’s door and blood on the infant seat. It was not clear whether the blood on the infant seat was from the baby itself or from the driver or passenger.

The minivan received heavy front end damage.

The intersection was closed to traffic as police worked the scene.

Police can be contacted at 204-2100 if anyone has information about the infant’s whereabouts.

Read Thursday’s Chronicle for more on this story.

A new company called Go Basalt has been awarded a tax credit valued at $384,000 for a $16 million expansion project that will create 100 new jobs in Lorain or Elyria, according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Development.

Company President Dwayne Dillingham said Go Basalt hopes to be up and running in three to four months. He hopes to locate in the old Ford plant in Lorain because it is a free trade zone, but he is also considering the old GM plant on Lowell Street in Elyria.

The 100 jobs created would pay $20 per hour and include benefits and profit-sharing, Dillingham said.

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority announced on Monday it has approved job creation tax credits for 23 businesses involved in projects that are expected to create 1,284 total positions and retain 2,595 jobs for Ohioans.

According to the news release:

Go Basalt LLC has been awarded a 50 percent job creation tax credit for a seven-year term as a result of the company’s expansion in either the City of Lorain or the City of Elyria (Lorain County).

The value of the tax credit is estimated at $384,000 over the term, and the company would be required to maintain operations at the project site for seven years.

Go Basalt was incorporated in Ohio in June 2009.

The company has developed a new type of rebar made from basalt fiber.

This $16 million project is expected to create 100 jobs.

“These investments are creating and saving jobs today, while laying a strong foundation for future growth and expansion,” Gov. Ted Strickland said. “We’re partnering with these businesses to help them obtain the resources they need to succeed for the long-term here in Ohio.”

Check back at Chroniclet.com and read Wednesday’s Chronicle for more on this story.