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Family found dead in Ohio home
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Robbers order bar patrons to empty pockets
Sex-toy study at Duke University raises some eyebrows
Akron man turns himself in after authorities turn up heat
Man appears alive at own funeral
Take comfort in knowing Browns could be bigger losers
Blogs:
Pets:
Not 101 Dalmations…but close!
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your perusal
Akron Zips:
No. 1 UA soccer remains perfect, Zips football defeats rival Flashes
Tribe Matters:
Tribe makes roster moves
Cleveland Browns:
Lewis doesn't like boycott
Kent State Sports:
Kent State falls to Akron, 20-28
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Knicks
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Wrestling, bowling teams prepare for season
All Da King's Men:
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (62) The Stupak Amendment
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Perfect Weather for an Autumn Drive
Let's Talk Real Estate:
RUMORS: Downtown Restaurant Explosion
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Published on Wednesday, May 06, 2009
AKRON
Fun at lunchtime
AKRON: Akron is offering downtown workers a ''recess from work'' weekdays at the city's Lock 3.
From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, fun activities will be offered.
Downtown workers or residents can borrow Frisbees, balls and gloves, and kites for use on the lawn.
New this summer is an area under the State Street bridge with bocce and cornhole courts and marble rings.
Equipment will be available to borrow.
Two sand volleyball courts are being built, where league volleyball and open play will be offered at scheduled times.
Also new this summer will be the ''Market at Lock 3,'' beginning June 5.
The market will be open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 25.
Fresh produce, farm products, art and other items will be sold.
Specialty hot dogs also will be available at a grill wagon.
The market will replace the traditional Friday market at Cascade Plaza.
The free trolleys offered during Friday lunch hours proved successful in February through April so the service will be continued for the rest of the year.
The trolleys have stops throughout the downtown area.
Riders receive coupons to local restaurants and can buy snacks from the Peanut Shoppe.
Tax deal approved
AKRON: Akron this week became the latest Summit County community to approve an unusual tax revenue-sharing agreement aimed at discouraging the poaching of companies from one community to another.
The Akron City Council on Monday approved the agreement — considered the first of its kind in Ohio.
Under the agreement, revenue sharing will be triggered if a company that relocates has a $3.5 million payroll or constitutes 5 percent or more of the income tax in the community losing the company.
It also will apply if a community offers financial incentives for a company to relocate.
The community losing the company will receive up to 50 percent of the tax revenue in the first year.
The amount will decline to nothing over three to five years.
Communities also can negotiate their own deals.
Akron Councilwoman Terry Albanese described the agreement as ''a model code of conduct'' for local communities.
Other communities that have approved the agreement are: Barberton, Fairlawn, Lakemore, Macedonia, Mogadore, Munroe Falls, Reminderville, Silver Lake and Twinsburg.
Communities that participate in the voluntary agreement will receive bonus points on some state and federal funding applications.
City wins awards
AKRON: Akron received two awards Monday in the 28th annual Northern Ohio Live Awards of Achievement.
The city's Neighbors Day, which encourages people to get to know their neighbors, won in the category of community events/urban issues. Akron received an honorable mention in the dance category for the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival, a free summer event.
The awards, presented by Northern Ohio Live magazine, honor people and organizations that enhance the quality of life in Northeast Ohio.
Grants offered
AKRON: The Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation is accepting grant proposals for 2009.
The money will be used to benefit women's and children's programs throughout the county.
Last year's grants totaled $9,000 to seven organizations. The fund has provided $51,352 since it was established in 1998.
Application forms are at http://www.akroncommunityfdn.org/medinawef. Proposals should be sent to the Medina County Women's Endowment Fund, Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St. Akron, 44307-2407 by Jun. 1.
CUYAHOGA FALLS
Bus passes stops
CUYAHOGA FALLS: Cuyahoga Falls school officials are looking into allegations that a bus driver apparently drove elementary schoolchildren past their stops after they became disruptive Monday.
Superintendent Edwin Holland said that the driver faced a disciplinary hearing Tuesday.
The driver had to appear before his immediate supervisor and Len DeChant, the district's business affairs director.
Holland said the driver did not drive a bus Tuesday and has been assigned to other duties.
Holland said he would not comment further on the incident or the hearing.
Holland said it appears the students ''would not listen'' and the driver ''decided to leave them on the bus, drop off kids at the end of the route and then come back'' to the students' stops.
One or more students on the bus used cell phones to contact their parents.
Some of the parents then called police.
Falls police said an officer stopped the bus to talk to the driver. Police say the driver told the officer that he was returning the students to Dewitt Elementary School because they were being disruptive — climbing on the seats and yelling.
No charges were filed against the driver by police.
MEDINA
Milestone in service
MEDINA: Medina General Hospital is marking a major milestone in the life of a family who contributed more than 103 years of service to the hospital.
Newly retired Jane Schmidt logged 42 years and 10 months, beginning in the business department and moving to medical records, where she spent 26 years.
Her late mother, Irene Schmidt, retired from Medina General in 1972 with 20 years of service; she worked in accounting from 1952 to 1972, then spent five years as a volunteer in the hospital's snack bar.
Ruth Dunn — Jane's sister and Irene's daughter — retired from the hospital after 36 years in patient financial services.
NORTHEAST OHIO
Projects funded
Fuel cell research projects in Akron and Jackson Township received nearly $3.3 million in federal funding under the omnibus appropriations act.
The University of Akron received about $1.7 million for research of fuel cells that can convert coal into electricity with minimal environmental impact. The money will be used to develop fuel cells that can serve more than 50 households. UA already has created a fuel cell that can provide energy to one household.
Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems in Jackson Township was awarded about $1.5 million to develop fuel cells for commercial use. The objective is to reduce the carbon footprint of the country's electric grid.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who pushed for the funds to be part of the spending bill, said Ohio could become ''the Silicon Valley of clean energy manufacturing.''
SUMMIT COUNTY
'Fast Pay' program
AKRON: Summit County Clerk of Courts Daniel Horrigan has created a ''Fast Pay'' program.
''We had noticed a need for people to be able to pay any monies due to the courts or our office on a quicker basis,'' he said. ''Rather than having people wait in line, we installed a secure drop box, complete with payment envelopes to help reduce wait times and parking expenses.''
Forms of payment accepted are cash, check, money order, MasterCard/Visa and American Express.
The ''Fast Pay'' program is available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
For more information, call 330-643-2211.
WADSWORTH
Road improvements
WADSWORTH: The City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution listing 12 streets that are expected to be improved this year.
In the northwest section of the city, Clark Road, Orchard Street, Dawna Drive, East Prospect Street, Apple Drive and Pegan Drive are slated for improvement.
King Street, Mills Street and L Street are on the list in the southwest.
The southeast can expect improvements to South Lyman and East Streets and Hall Drive is on the list for the northeast area.
Property owners to be assessed will be notified of the estimated cost.
The council also gave the Director of Public Service the authority to advertise for bids to have 600 feet of storm sewer between State Street and Rainbow Street in the southwest section of the city improved.
AKRON
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