Better In Mentor

08/30/2025

08/29/2025

In 1969, 20-year-old bank teller Theodore John "Ted" Conrad robbed $215,000 from Society National Bank in Cleveland, Ohio (equivalent to roughly $1.5 million today). He stuffed the cash into a simple paper bag, walked out of the bank on a Friday evening, and disappeared without a trace. Conrad immediately became one of the FBI’s most wanted, but he was never caught. This robbery became one of the largest bank heists in U.S. history.

Life After the Heist:
Conrad assumed a new identity as "Thomas Randele" and settled in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, in the 1970s. He lived a quiet life, working as a golf professional and eventually becoming a manager at Pembroke County Club. He married and had a daughter, Ashley Randele, all while keeping his true identity a secret from friends and family.

Confession on His Deathbed:
In March 2021, after being diagnosed with lung cancer, Conrad revealed the truth to his daughter Ashley. He confessed that he had committed the 1969 bank robbery. This revelation shocked his family, who had no idea about his past. Ashley later described the confession as serious and astonishing, not a joke.

The Mystery Finally Solved:
After Conrad’s death, a local obituary for Thomas Randele listed details like birth date and parents’ names that matched Conrad’s. Using this information, Peter J. Elliott, the son of a former U.S. Marshal in Cleveland, investigated and confirmed that Thomas Randele and Theodore Conrad were the same person. After 52 years, the mystery of Conrad’s disappearance and new identity was finally solved.

Summary:
This is the story of a man who committed a major bank robbery, lived an entirely new life under a different name, and ultimately revealed his past on his deathbed. It shows how someone can hide from their past- but in the end, the truth always comes out.

08/28/2025

Very rarely will you see an adult Eagle on the beach here in the Mentor Headlands . You will see juveniles from time to time , but not really adults . This bird knew I was present , and stayed put . Just goes to show that they are getting used to me being in the same spot every single day , all day , and they are accepting me . They know I mean no harm , and the pictures are only getting better because of this . The best is yet to come . As I always say to my followers , stay tuned ....

08/28/2025

08/27/2025

Pedestrian Struck in Mentor

At approximately 6:22 AM, a 54-year-old male driving a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado turned south onto Center Street from Fairfax Avenue. While navigating the intersection, he struck a 16-year-old female student who was crossing northbound. The student was dragged several feet and found beneath the vehicle when Mentor police and fire units arrived on scene. She remained conscious and alert and was transported to Lake West Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident remains under investigation. No additional information is available at this time.

08/20/2025

The unemployment rate for the City of Mentor increased 0.2% to 4.5% for the month of July 2025. One year ago in July 2024, the unemployment rate was 3.8%. In Lake County, the unemployment rate increased 0.1% to 4.7% for the month of July 2025; one year prior in July 2024, it was 4.0%.

Among cities in Ohio with a population of 50,000 or more, Lakewood has the lowest unemployment rate with 4.3%, Mentor has the next lowest rate at 4.5%, Parma and Cuyahoga Falls have the third lowest rate with 5.0%, and Kettering has the fourth lowest rate at 5.1%. The City’s civilian labor force increased 400 to 26,900.

The State of Ohio’s unemployment rate increased 0.4% to 5.5% for the month of July 2025. The rate for the State was 4.7% in July 2024.

SOURCE: July 2025 Civilian Labor Force Estimates – Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, Office of Workforce Development and Bureau of Labor Market Information.

08/19/2025

08/05/2025

🔗: https://l.cleveland.com/2kipvh

The brewery, which went into the former Willoughby Brewing Co. space at 4057 Erie St., had been open just more than a year. Owner Bobby Ehasz confirmed the closure to cleveland.com but did not give a reason why.