AKRON

Woman seeking drugs reports holdup

AKRON: A Canton woman has told authorities that she drove to Akron on Tuesday night to buy drugs, only to be robbed before she was able to make the purchase.

Akron police said the woman, 33, said she parked her car somewhere on Copley Road shortly after 9 p.m. She said she had $465 on her lap, the money she brought to buy marijuana, when a man approached her car. When the man saw the money, he pulled out a handgun, pointed it at her head and demanded the money.

The man is described as black, 27 to 30 years old, about 6 feet 2 inches tall. He weighs between 180 and 200 pounds, has a mustache and gold capped teeth. He was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 330-375-2490.

Deadbeat father sentenced to prison

AKRON: An Akron man was sentenced Wednesday to 12 months in prison for criminal nonsupport.

Ronald Sanson, 55, of Snowfall Spur, was sentenced by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Robert Gippin.

Sanson owes more than $26,000 in back child support for his four children.

Sanson previously served six months in prison for a 2005 conviction for criminal nonsupport.

Al Silver's Tire owner loses court ruling

AKRON: The 9th District Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the city of Akron in its nuisance complaint against a towing company to clean up its property.

William Obuch Jr. of Parma, owner of Al Silver's Tire shop at 424 W. Thornton St., appealed a lower court's decision ordering a cleanup.

The owner contended the action was unlawful because there was no evidentiary hearing before a permanent injunction was ordered.

The appeals court ruled Wednesday that the owner's argument was irrelevant because he failed to answer the complaint or make any subsequent responses in the case.

Rededication of church set

AKRON: A church rededication service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 1250 S. Hawkins Ave.

The church was damaged in October when a police cruiser crashed into the building during a chase. Since the accident, the congregation has been worshipping at the J.E. Scott Funeral Home on South Arlington Street.

The guest speaker for the service will be Bishop Robert V. Webster, leader of the Third Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

BARBERTON

Man, 36, charged in break-in, stabbing

BARBERTON: A 36-year-old Plum Street man, accused of breaking into a home and stabbing a man Wednesday is in the Summit County Jail. James Stalnaker, 36, has been charged with aggravated burglary and felonious assault.

He made an initial appearance before Barberton Municipal Court Judge Greg Macko on Wednesday. Macko set bond at $100,000 and ordered Stalnaker to return to court Friday.

Curt Wachtel, 42, of Lake Milton, was treated and released from Barberton Citizens Hospital for a stab wound to his side.

Stalnaker went to his ex-girlfriend's home in the 500 block of Grandview Avenue around 2 a.m., police said. He reportedly pounded on the door then broke it down.

Barberton Detective Chris Mitchell said Wachtel was visiting at the home when Stalnaker broke in. The two men began to fight and Stalnaker's ex-girlfriend called 911.

Authorities say Wachtel didn't realize he had been stabbed until after officers arrived.

— Gina Mace

BATH TWP.

Status of ball fields reported on the Web

BATH TWP.: The Bath Parks Department has taken the guesswork out of field playability in the Bath parks, including the eight fields at Bath Baseball Park on Everett Road and the fields at Bath Community Activity Center on North Cleveland-Massillon Road.

Park personnel make final decisions about field conditions by 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

In addition to updates on game day on the township Web site at http://www.bathtownship.org, there will be a voice-mail message at 330-666-4007.

According to Parks Administrator Michael Rorar, the phone message will enable even out-of-town teams to determine the playability of the fields before traveling to Bath for an event.

— Jody Miller

BOSTON TWP.

Photo competition in Cuyahoga Valley

BOSTON TWP.: The Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association and the Cuyahoga Valley Photographic Society are accepting prints in the annual Cuyahoga Valley National Park Photography Contest.

All contest entries, taken in the 33,000-acre federal park between Akron and Cleveland, may be submitted from Saturday through July 6 at the Boston Store Visitor Center in Boston Township.

Awards will be announced in five categories at 7 p.m. July 15 at the Akron-Summit County Public Library's auditorium, 60 S. High St., Akron.

The photos will hang at the library from July 15 to Aug. 15.

First-place winners in each category will be displayed from Aug. 18 through Sept. 21 at Park Place in Peninsula, 1593 Main St., Peninsula.

Entry forms and additional information are available at http://www.cvps.org. For more information, call 216-524-1497 or 800-445-9667.

COPLEY TWP.

Trustees to rebid Town Hall renovation

COPLEY TWP.: After rejecting the sole bid for the project, township trustees voted Monday to rebid a Town Hall renovation that includes a bell tower.

The sole bid was $222,000. Based on an engineer's specifications, ''we thought it was going to be closer to $150,000,'' said township Service Director Mark Mitchell.

The project includes an elevator and roof insulation in the two-story brick building at 1540 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, just south of Copley Circle.

New bids are expected by late July.

''It will probably be a four- or five-month project,'' Mitchell said.

Trustees also unanimously approved a resolution to bar ''transient vendors from selling or soliciting orders within the township, except for individuals who represent religious, charitable or school groups.''

Vendors must apply for a township permit before they can start going door-to-door.

''We [will] eliminate all door-to-door sales except for the nonprofits,'' said township Police Chief Michael Mier.

— Bruce F. Griffin

GREEN

Concerts, fireworks at Freedom Fest

GREEN: Freedom Fest, the city's second annual two-day celebration of community and country, will begin at 5 p.m. Friday and end with a fireworks display beginning at 10:15 p.m. Saturday at Boettler Park.

The event is free and open to the public.

The celebration will feature a concert in the park by the Akron Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Friday. If inclement weather occurs, the concert will be moved to The Chapel on Raber Road.

Music will be provided beginning at 3 p.m. by the Remember Band and the Dayna Malow Band. Maranatha Bible Church will present a patriotic tribute at 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

There will be other shows and games for the family as well as a classic car show.

Parking shuttles will be provided from the City Annex at 5383 Massillon Road and Greensburg Park at 4899 Massillon Road.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, a Green Family 5K race at $15 per family will be held along with 2-mile and 1-mile fun runs at $10 and $5 each, respectively.

— George W. Davis

Akron General panel adds mayor to ranks

GREEN: Green Mayor Dick Norton was named to the eight-member Akron General Hospital System's Finance and Audit Committee.

Norton's appointment was announced by Alan J. Bleyer, president and CEO of Akron General Hospital System.

A retired banker, Norton ''brings his expertise in fiscal management and deep desire for community improvement to the (committee), which is charged with recommending financial and operational policy for the health system,'' Bleyer said.

Norton previously was chair of the system's Development Foundation Financial Oversight Committee and a member of the Community Health Committee.

— George W. Davis

HUDSON

Diabetes swim event beats world record

HUDSON: The Guinness World Records has confirmed that the group of 273 people who filled two swimming pools at LifeCenter Plus Health & Fitness Center in April has been certified the world's ''Largest Aqua Aerobics Display.''

The turnout topped the previous record of 247, set in Norway in 2005.

The world record attempt was staged by LifeCenter Plus on April 5 to raise money for the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland's Swim for Diabetes event.

In a letter, Guinness told LifeCenter Plus that the new record does not guarantee a spot in the annual Guinness World Records book, though it will be considered.

LAKE TWP.

Two properties declared nuisances

LAKE TWP.: Township trustees declared two properties in the community a public nuisance at their meeting Monday night following a public hearing.

Property owners at 3630 Mulberry St. and 3255 Sweitzer St., Uniontown, will have seven days to mow high grass and weeds and clean up the property.

If they do not comply, Vaughn's Refuse Co. will mow the property and the cost will be placed on the owners' tax duplicates.

In other action, the board appointed John Arnold to represent the township on the Stark County 911 Planning Committee.

The board set a public hearing for 6:25 p.m. July 14 at the township hall.

This meeting will be for another nuisance tall grass and garbage complaint at 3330 Edison Street N.W.

— Betty O'Neill-Roderick

NORTHEAST OHIO

Legislator honored with veteran award

State Sen. John Boccieri, a candidate for the 16th Congressional District, has received the Vietnam Veterans of America, Buckeye State Council's Veteran Advocacy Award of the Year.

The award is given to the person who best advocates for issues affecting active-duty, retired, injured or fallen soldiers in Ohio.

''You listened to veteran issues and followed through to do something about it,'' Thomas Burke, the association's Buckeye State Council president, said when presenting the award. ''All veterans in Ohio are better off this year than they were last [year] because of you.''

Boccieri, D-New Middletown, a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has worked on legislation benefiting veterans, including establishing a fund for injured soldiers and bolstering job projections for active service members.

He will face state Sen. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, in the November election.

Cleveland museum seeks nominations

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is seeking nominations for its 2008 Conservation Education Award to honor one Northeast Ohio teacher or naturalist.

The deadline to apply is June 30.

The winner will be chosen by the museum's Center for Conservation and Diversity and will be honored at the fifth annual Conservation Symposium Sept. 5 at the museum.

Nomination forms are available at http://www.cmnh.org.

For information, contact Renee Boronka at 216-231-4600, Ext. 3505.

NORTH CANTON

Residents want help with gypsy moths

NORTH CANTON: Five residents from southwest North Canton have asked the City Council for help in dealing with an infestation of gypsy moths.

The residents fear it might spread to the rest of North Canton.

The moths, now in the caterpillar stage, are exfoliating hardwood trees, particularly in the Glenwood Street area, they said. Residents first noticed an abnormal number of caterpillars in May.

The moths, now heading from the caterpillar to pupal stage, have few natural predators, and spraying individual yards is ineffective and costly, said resident Julie Fonte, who would like to see a citywide spraying program.

City officials plan to seek guidance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

— Dottie McGrew

NORTON

Truck hits bridge over I-76 — 3 times

NORTON: A westbound truck on Interstate 76 struck the Summit Street bridge about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, closing one lane and jamming traffic on I-76 and other expressways as thousands of motorists were rerouted.

The driver was hauling a dismantled steel cement hopper for Broadway Iron and Metal that was too high to clear the bridge, acting Norton Police Chief Thad Hete said.

Police said the truck's driver hit the bridge and then backed up and struck the span two more times as he attempted to get under it.

When the driver backed up a third time, the truck tipped over.

Officials closed one lane of I-76 as workers moved the truck and examined the bridge for damage.

STOW-MUNROE FALLS SCHOOLS

Board OKs director of special services

STOW: The school board has approved a two-year contract to hire Martha E. Saternow-Gadola as director of special services.

She will receive an annual salary of $90,000 and will replace Roberta John, who will retire in September.

Saternow-Gadola has been with Crestwood Local Schools since 1999.

— M.A. Ferguson-Rich

SUMMIT COUNTY

Foster parents honored at dinner

AKRON: Summit County Children Services recently held its 58th annual Foster Parent Recognition Dinner to honor hundreds of dedicated local foster parents.

Cassie Duckworth of Akron received the 2008 Heart Award, the top honor.

Duckworth has been a foster parent to 40 children in her home since 1983.

Other foster parents receiving special recognition at the event were: Veteran Foster Family of the Year, Cecil and Joyce Higginbotham of Atwater; Rookie Foster Family of the Year, William and Susan Smith of Green; and Retiring Foster Parents, Charles and Geraldine Figley of Norton, Iola Jones of Akron, Jerry and Betty Kearns of Akron and Michael and Doretha Williams of Akron.

The Foster Care Month Slogan Contest winners were: Jeffrey and Linda Reming of Twinsburg, whose slogan ''Fostering: Families Embracing Families'' was used in this year's local Foster Care Month activities; and John and Crystal Abernathy of North Canton, whose slogan ''Watch Life Bloom: Foster/Adopt a Child'' will be used to celebrate local Foster Care Month activities next year.

For additional information about becoming a foster parent or adoptive parent, call Children Services at 330-379-1990.