ELYRIA — The Elyrians First Committee started this year’s Issue 10 campaign with little money in the bank, but two companies known to do a lot of work in the city quickly stepped in to fill the war chest. (more…)

Elyria’s trick-or-treat Thursday night was the first round for candy seekers this Halloween.

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LORAIN — If the city can’t find additional revenue and employees refuse to take a pay cut, as many as 39 city workers will be laid off, Safety Director Phil Dore said Thursday.

The city sent letters Wednesday to the city’s five bargaining units asking whether those workers would consider taking a 7 percent paycut to offset a projected $530,000 shortfall for 2009. That’s on top of 2008’s $1.3 million deficit.

So far, the dispatchers have said no to the pay cut, Dore said, adding the other four bargaining units haven’t yet responded.

City officials plan to meet with all five units Friday.

Read Friday’s Chronicle for more on this story.

LORAIN — Police announced Thursday they are upping to $5,000 the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting deaths of two Lorain teenagers, as well as the city’s other unsolved homicides.

“Hopefully, this will get us some more information,” said Sgt. Mark Carpentiere.

The reward is per case.

“The cost is being born by the Lorain Police Department and the Lorain County prosecutor’s office,” Carpentiere said.

Christopher Hill, 16, was shot in the face June 22 while sitting in a car parked on Long Avenue at West 18th Street. He died the next day in a Cleveland hospital.

Marquis McCall, 18, died at the scene after being shot in the chest June 22 during a drive-by at West 13th Street and Long Avenue. Seventeen-year-old Craig Roberson was shot in the leg.

“We haven’t gotten much helpful information at this point,” Carpentiere said. “We’re hoping more people will contact us at this point.”

Police are hoping surveillance video that captured four suspects shortly after McCall’s murder will lead to identifying the people responsible for what police have called a “revenge” slaying for Hill’s shooting.

Police believe the shootings were spurred by territorial issues — south side versus west side — and have said McCall and his friends were not specifically targeted but were shot for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

People can leave information anonymously, however, if they want to receive a reward, they will have to identify themselves at some point, Carpentiere said.

Christopher Lundberg, 35, of Lorain, was shot near West 29th Street and Ashland Avenue and died Feb. 4 in what police believe is a drug-related crime. Two men were arrested in that case, but Carpentiere said it’s still under investigation.

Georgino Melendez was gunned down inside his Packard Drive home Oct. 5.

To share a tip

Anyone with information on Hill’s murder is asked to call Detective Steyven Curry at (440) 204-2105 or (440) 204-2100.

Anyone with information on McCall’s murder is asked to call Detective Buddy Sivert at the same numbers.

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.

Surveillance video of individuals believed to be involved: