A former NASA employee in Ohio has pleaded guilty to illegally shipping night-vision rifle scope equipment to South Korean companies.

Sixty-six-year-old Kue Sang Chun of Avon Lake entered the plea today to two counts in Cleveland federal court. Sentencing is scheduled April 14.

He admitted exporting defense items on the U.S. munitions list without federal approval. He also admitted making a false individual income tax return.

The Korean-born U.S. citizen is a former employee at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Authorities say he wasn’t accused of taking technology from the center.

Chun could face up to 13 years in prison but under federal sentencing rules will likely receive a shorter sentence.

Lorain firefighter Chris Bennett, left, and Lt. Greg Neal at the Lorain Central Fire Station. Bennett was scheduled to be laid off after 12 years with the Fire Department, and Neal to be demoted to a firefighter before concessions with the city were reached. The Department just received a $1.7 million grant to rehire seven other firefighters who were previously laid off. (CT photo by Steve Manheim.)

More than $1.7 million has been awarded to the Lorain Fire Department by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Fire Administration.

The funds will be used to re-hire laid off firefighters and recruit new firefighters through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, according to the Fire Department and a news release from Sen. Sherrod Brown.

From the release: “SAFER grants bolster fire departments’ ability to respond to fires and fire-related hazards, along with their overall level of preparedness. These round four funds can be used for recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and hiring firefighters. The funds provide for salaries, benefits, and general equipment needs.”

In March, the Elyria Fire Department received a $3.7 million SAFER grant. That grant allowed them to pay the wages and benefits of 23 additional firefighters for two years, according to a story at the time.

The Lorain Fire Department laid off seven firefighters last year. The department also planned to lay off another 11 and demote six officers, but those cutbacks were averted after the department and the city were able to agree to concessions, according to Fire Chief Tom Brown.

Check back at Chroniclet.com for more on this story as it becomes available.

Elaine Georgas announces $5.6 million for mental health treatment in Lorain at a City Hall press conference today in Lorain. (CT photo by Bruce Bishop.)

LORAIN — Lorain is one of three communities across the nation chosen for a federal grant to promote mental health treatment for individuals and students, officials announced at a City Hall press conference this morning.

Lorain will receive $5.6 million — $1.4 million a year for each of the next four years — because the city was considered to be hit especially hard by the recession, according to Elaine Georgas, executive director of the alcohol and drugs addiction services board.

A recent study by the U.S. Census Bureau found that more than 25 percent of Lorain residents live below the federal poverty level.

Lorain Mayor Tony Krasienko said Georgas approached him last fall, and the program looked like a perfect fit for the city.

One thousand people will be screened beginning Feb. 1 at a number of locations, and assistance will be provided by numerous agencies and health care facilities.

Read Friday’s Chronicle for more on this story.

CLEVELAND — If only the Indians were as successful on the field as they are at avoiding arbitration.

Choo

Chris Perez

Cleveland agreed to terms with its three remaining arbitration-eligible players Tuesday, signing outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and relief pitchers Chris Perez and Rafael Perez to one-year contracts for the 2011 season. The deals came on the day teams were required to exchange salary figures with players for potential arbitration hearings that will be held Feb. 1-21.

The Indians, who have qualified for the playoffs just once in the last nine years, haven’t gone to an arbitration hearing with a player since Greg Swindell and Jerry Browne in 1991.

“Ideally, you’d always like to avoid going to a hearing room,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. “But it has to be a value that makes sense for both sides. We’ve been fortunate that we’ve been able to work towards finding common ground with our players’ representatives over the course of the last few years. We hope to be able to do it in the future.”

The Indians had four arbitration-eligible players prior to signing shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to a one-year contract worth $2.025 million Monday night. Right-handed closer Chris Perez will make $2.25 million in 2011, while left-handed setup man Rafael Perez agreed to a $1.33 million pact. Choo, a right fielder who is emerging as one of the American League’s best, will earn $3.975 million.

Though the contracts are largely positive, one negative aspect is Cleveland’s inability to sign Choo to a long-term contract.

Choo, who made $461,100 last year, and his agent Scott Boras, have been in discussion with the Indians, but the club typically doesn’t negotiate contracts during the season, and the two sides don’t appear close to reaching a deal.

“We’re still in the midst of those discussions,” Antonetti said. “I’m not going to go into specifics of where we are with that. I don’t view the negotiations as being closed at this point.

“We’re always mindful that we certainly don’t want to cause any distractions during the season. We want players to be able to focus on playing and competing, so we typically refrain from negotiating during the season.”

Choo, 28, became the first Indians player to bat .300 with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in consecutive seasons, when he hit .300 with 22 homers and 90 RBIs in 144 games last year. He was tops in the AL with 14 outfield assists and fourth with a .401 on-base percentage. In November he avoided a two-year military service requirement in his native South Korea by helping the national team to a gold medal in the Asian Games.

During baseball’s Winter Meetings in December, Boras said his client would prefer to see how the Indians performed in the future before agreeing to a multiyear contract. Choo, who is under Cleveland’s control through 2013, said this offseason that he would like to play for a contender.

The cash-strapped Indians, who haven’t been in contention since coming a win away from qualifying for the World Series in 2007, appear in no rush to lock up Choo.

“Choo’s a great player who we’re certainly excited to have part of our organization,” Antonetti said. “We’re in a very fortunate position that he’s under team control for at least three more years. We have natural junctures in time to explore extending that relationship further. This is one of those junctures in time to explore it.”

Chris Perez (2-2, 1.71 ERA) earned a substantial raise from the $423,800 he made last year by taking over the closer duties from Kerry Wood and flourishing in his first extended stint in the role. Perez, 25, converted 23 of 27 save opportunities, saving 18 of his last 19 chances, while posting a 0.53 ERA after June 27. His season ERA was the second-best among AL relievers in 63 appearances.

Rafael Perez, 28, bounced back from consecutive subpar seasons to once again serve as a key late-inning reliever, going 6-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 70 games last year. The Dominican Republic native made $795,000 in 2010.

Every member of the Indians’ 40-man roster is under contract for the 2011 season.

Heeeeee’s baaaacck

The Indians have hired former manager Mike Hargrove as a special adviser.

Hargrove, who guided the Indians to five Central Division championships and two AL titles during his tenure from 1991-99, will fill a variety of roles, including assisting manager Manny Acta and his staff during spring training and joining the SportsTime Ohio broadcast team on select telecasts.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to once again be a Cleveland Indian,” said Hargrove, who served as a spring training consultant to former manager Eric Wedge. “Even when I was away and managing other teams, I always had an interest in what was happening with the Indians. All I can really say is that it is good to be home.”

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
–