NORTHFIELD: Ride for the Record will attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for most motorcycles starting at the same time Sunday in the parking lot of the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park.

The event, presented by Quaker Steak & Lube, is part of a daylong fundraising event for North Coast Community Homes.

More than 5,000 motorcycles are expected.

The current record is 1,446 motorcycles set in 2014 in the Philippines. The event begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. with the attempt at 2:30 p.m.

The activities include live performances by The Spazmatics, stunt riders and motorcycle displays, beer and food vendors, raffles, prizes and giveaways.

Tickets are $25 and are available through www.Ride4Record.org. Walk-ins and non-riders are welcome as are donations from those not able to attend.

All proceeds benefit North Coast Community Homes, which has developed more than 200 customized homes throughout Northeast Ohio cities for 1,000 men and women who have developmental disabilities, severe mental illness and other disabilities.

An Akron man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he crashed into several Cuyahoga Falls police vehicles and seriously injured one officer.

Donald Watson’s bond was set at $750,000 during his arraignment in Summit County Common Pleas Court. He will have his first pre-trial Wednesday before Judge Lynne Callahan.

A Summit County grand jury indicted Donald Watson, 46, of Cutler Parkway, on charges of attempted murder, felonious assault, aggravated arson, failure to comply with the order of a police officer, vandalism, and criminal damaging.

Police say Watson intentionally crashed into three parked patrol cars July 23, then fled and crashed into Falls officer Ted Davis’ car, landing them both in the hospital.

Davis, an 11-year veteran of the department, remained in the hospital for a week and then began rehabilitation.

Watson also is accused of starting a fire at his Akron home.

The man who sparked national outrage when he shot and killed a Canton police dog during a burglary in January was sentenced Wednesday to 45 years in prison.

Kelontre D. Barefield, 23, pleaded guilty to a list of charges stemming from multiple court cases on Wednesday. Specific to K-9 Jethro’s death, Barefield was sentenced to six years — the maximum allowed by state law.

Jethro was among a group of officers, including his handler Ryan Davis, who responded to a burglary in Canton on Jan. 9. Barefield fired at officers and injured the dog with four gunshot wounds. Jethro, who was trained as an attack dog, died after a daylong struggle to recover.

The canine’s death drew hundreds to a public funeral in Canton. Many police from in- and out-of-state attended the service with their own police dogs. State lawmakers responded to the national outrage against Barefield by introducing legislation to strengthen the sentence for killing police dogs.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin G. Farmer labeled Barefield’s crimes as “intolerable” and accused him of putting at risk the “safety and security” of the public and police, according to the Canton Repository. She defended her sentence by pointing out Jethro’s death, Barefield’s firing at police officers and the “terror” he inflicted via his crimes.

Former Akron City Councilwoman Barbara A. Sykes has been named the new president and chief executive officer of the Ohio AARP, the organization announced this week.

She will assume the new role Monday.

Sykes most recently served in the same role for Ohio United Way; prior to that she was the first African-American woman to serve on Akron City Council and served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives. She also has served as deputy auditor for Summit County.

As director of the Ohio AARP, Sykes will lead and manage the advocacy, communications and community outreach work of the group and its 1.5 million members in the state.

“I am grateful to be appointed to this leadership position with AARP,” Sykes said in a news release. She said the staff and volunteers “are passionate about and committed to this organization and its social mission to fight for and equip each individual to live their best life.”

Sykes is a graduate of the University of Akron, where she earned her undergraduate degree in social work and her master’s degree in public administration.

An Akron woman was arrested Wednesday on charges of robbing a PNC bank in the Wallhaven neighborhood on Tuesday morning.

Akron police cited tips from the public as the reason Malzena V. Lagarde, 51, was identified. Lagarde was charged with robbery, a felony.

According to reports, a woman went to the PNC branch at 1546 W. Market St. at 9:15 a.m. and handed a teller a note explaining a robbery was happening. She was not armed. The teller handed the woman — who was captured on video cameras — an undisclosed amount of cash, and she fled.

Police released photos from the surveillance cameras, and several tipsters identified Lagarde as the perpetrator.

In a rare show of bipartisan support, 17 Congress members from Ohio are urging that Ravenna become the site of a new military missile defense system.

In a letter to Vice Admiral James D. Syring, director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the signers state: “Ohioans stand ready to support the defense of our nation and look forward to this potential opportunity to strengthen the regional economy.”

The letter, dated Tuesday, was signed by Democratic representative Tim Ryan, whose 13th Congressional District includes the Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center, one of three sites being considered for a potential East Coast Missile Defense System.

Other signers are Republican Sen. Rob Portman and Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown; Republican Representatives Steve Stivers, Dave Joyce, Pat Tiberi, Bill Johnson, Brad Wenstrup, Warren Davidson, Jim Renacci, Jim Jordan, Bob Gibbs, Bob Latta and Steve Chabot; and Democratic Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Marcia Fudge and Joyce Beatty.

Missile Defense Systems are used to intercept ballistic missiles. The defense missiles are housed in steel-and-concrete silos and are intended to be deployed to destroy enemy missiles in space before reaching U.S. targets. They do not contain any explosives. They use a solid fuel propellant.

They are about 55 feet long, about 4 feet in diameter and weigh about 25 tons a piece. Each costs about $50 million.

Currently, there are two Missile Defense System locations in California and Alaska.

In 2013, facing growing threats from North Korea to Iran, Congress told MDA to conduct environmental impact studies and select a “preferred site” should another system need to be built closer to the East Coast.

The MDA has narrowed their choices to Ravenna, Fort Drum in New York and Fort Custer Training Center in Michigan. The three installations are all that remain of 457 sites that were in the running.

The potential eastern Portage County site was the former Ravenna Arsenal, used by the Army during World War II to manufacture bombs and projectiles and employing 18,000 people at its peak.

The property became an Ohio Army National Guard training site in 1971 and currently is used to prepare troops for deployments and routine exercises.

The Ohio delegation argued that Camp Ravenna is close to Akron and Youngstown transportation networks, making it easier for the flow of military and construction traffic the project would bring.

“It is estimated that the $3.6 billion project could help support 2,300 jobs in the region during construction and directly employ up to 850 people full-time once the system is operational,” the letter stated. “This represents a significant investment in a region of our state that is continuing to recover economically.”

In May, military representatives held a public meeting in Ravenna to present the draft of its environmental study.

While some wetlands and streams would need to be relocated and construction would have to be timed so as not to interfere with a threatened species of bat, there were no impacts significant enough to rule out the Northeast Ohio location.

Officials have said they will reveal their preferred site by the end of the year.

Not everyone is a fan of the idea.

During the spring presentation in Ravenna, members of Concerned Citizens Ohio passed out letters of objection to anyone who wanted to sign their name and mail it in.

Among the arguments: The Pentagon has stated it doesn’t need, nor can it afford a third site; the existing missile defense technology is flawed, with recent tests failing to intercept their targets half the time; and other Congress members have supported using the money instead for improving technology to keep nuclear material out of the hands of terrorists.

The Union of Concerned Scientists has also argued against such efforts, saying the missile defense system is flawed and “may actually undermine national security by impeding deep cuts in nuclear weapons, complicating important international relationships, and engendering a false sense of security among policy makers,” according to their website.

Northeast Ohio members of that national group have written letters in opposition.

Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.

GREEN: The city may be able to rebuild the historic one-room schoolhouse destroyed by arsonists earlier this month, Mayor Gerard Neugebauer said at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

While a structural engineer initially has found the walls of Lichtenwalter Schoolhouse in Boettler Park are sound enough to rebuild, Neugebauer said, the city is waiting for the engineer’s written report with details.

On Aug. 9, arsonists and vandals at Boettler and Ariss parks, damaged numerous sites and took about $6,000 worth of merchandise from the Ariss Park concession stand. The schoolhouse built in 1885 was left with only some outer walls standing.

Two adults ages 18 and 19 and three 16-year-olds — all five from Akron and Springfield Township — were arrested by Summit County sheriff’s deputies and confessed, according to authorities. Investigators said items stolen from the concession stand were found in the basement of one of the adult suspects.

The schoolhouse has been used during the last several years to show third-graders first-hand how their peers were taught in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Neugebauer thanked “the hundreds of people from our community, who have reached out to the city to express their appreciation for the [schoolhouse] and their support to restore this local treasure.”

The city already has begun gathering information from building and historical reconstruction experts to understand the true estimates of rebuilding the structure, which was insured, Neugebauer noted.

“In the upcoming weeks and months, we will be asking for community involvement and feedback to determine if rebuilding the schoolhouse is best for our community. More immediately, we will be asking City Council to allocate funds to begin clean-up of the debris and shore up the walls to prevent collapse.

“We are just beginning a long process of determining the possibility of restoration. We truly appreciate all those who have offered their expertise to this point and look forward to the community’s input and feedback on this project moving forward.”

The new Akron Children’s Museum is moving forward with plans to open this fall.

Organizers recently launched an online, matching fundraising campaign and construction workers are busy building out the space.

“Everything should be on track for the fall,” museum spokeswoman Katie Smith said.

The museum started a fundraising effort on Crowdrise.com, with an initial goal of raising $30,000. The response was so great that it hit that amount in two weeks.

The museum upped the goal to $45,000 and, as of Wednesday morning, had raised more than $39,000.

The campaign was buoyed by a $10,000 matching pledge from the Akron-based Maynard Family Foundation.

Phil Maynard said he recalled the joy of visiting a children’s museum in Boston when he was younger.

“To have one here locally will be incredible and will be a tremendous asset to our city,” he said.

The Akron Children’s Museum, designed for children up to age 12, will be located in city-owned space on the ground floor of the O’Neil’s parking deck at Lock 3 downtown.

The museum is the brainchild of parents Ryan and Betsy Hartschuh who decided to bring a children’s museum to Akron.

According to the museum’s website, planned exhibits include DerbyTown (an experience modeled after the Soap Box Derby race), a STEM/Maker Studio, Farm-to-Table Experience and “Lighter Than Air” exhibits featuring wind tubes and air tunnels. Plans also include an arts and crafts area and a KIDJAM! sound studio in partnership with WAPS (91.3-FM) and KIDJAM! Radio.

Find more details about the museum at www.akronkids.org.

For more details about the fundraising campaign, go to www.crowdrise.com/ACM-MonsterMatch.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.

Chanting, “Justice for Marcus Glover,” family members of the late Glover marched back and forth between the Akron police station and the Summit County Courthouse on Wednesday morning.

They are upset with how David Hillis, who shot Glover after police say Glover and another man broke into Hillis’ house, remains free on bond after he pleaded guilty last week to voluntary manslaughter. They also want Hillis to be sentenced to prison and not receive probation, the penalty Hillis and his supporters are seeking.

“The possibility of probation for murder — that is a slap in the face,” said Crystal Thomas, Glover’s mother, who wore a hand-made “Justice for Marcus Glover” T-shirt.

About 30 members of Glover’s family marched and carried signs with messages such as “No Justice, No Peace,” “Young Lives Matter” and “Equal Time” for about an hour Wednesday.

Hillis, 22, pleaded guilty Aug. 17 to one count of voluntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony. Prosecutors, under a plea agreement, dismissed a firearm specification. He is free on a 10 percent, $50,000 bond, but faces three to 11 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 7 by visiting Judge Richard Reinbold.

Prosecutors have said they will seek prison time for Hillis.

After Hillis’ guilty plea, family members of Glover and Hillis clashed outside of the courtroom, with deputies breaking up the two groups and urging the Glover family to leave the courthouse. Hillis’ family left after the Glover family departed.

Police said Marcus Glover, 25, and Terry Tart, 38, forced their way into Hillis’ Hillbish Avenue house at gunpoint Aug. 7, 2015, and threatened Hillis. When Hillis showed a handgun, they fled. Hillis chased after them, firing several shots, with one hitting Glover in the back of the head, killing him. Glover was about 70 yards away and no longer on Hillis’ property, according to prosecutors.

Tart pleaded guilty Aug. 4 to involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification, a first-degree felony. He will be sentenced by Reinbold Sept. 7.

Glover’s family members question the circumstances of Glover’s shooting. They say they have been told by people who live in Hillis’ neighborhood that Tart and Hillis were invited to Hillis’ home, an altercation happened between Tart and Hillis, they fled, and Hillis shot at them, striking Glover.

Lt. Rick Edwards, the Police Department’s spokesman, however, said this isn’t what detectives investigating the shooting found. He said they found that Tart and Glover knocked on the door, Hillis opened the door and the two men forced their way inside. He said an altercation ensued, Tart and Glover ran and Hillis shot at them.

Edwards pointed out that Tart already pleaded guilty to his part in what happened.

“Glover was with him,” Edwards said. “They were there uninvited and forced their way in.”

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith.

Troopers don’t believe a woman shot while driving south on Interstate 77 near the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton early Wednesday was the victim of a random shooting.

The Stark County woman was shot about 3:30 a.m., suffering non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

More than six bullets were fired at the woman’s gray 2005 Kia Sedona minivan, according to Lt. Leo Shirkey of the Canton post of the State Highway Patrol. Bullet holes were found on the vehicle’s passenger side.

The woman was shot in the hand and a bullet grazed the back of her head.

“This was not road rage,” Shirkey said. “This was not a random act of violence. There’s something to this.”

He would not give a specific reason that leads troopers to believe the shooting was not random.

He said troopers investigating the shooting made the determination after talking to the victim and looking at the minivan that she was driving.

“The vehicle had multiple gunshot rounds shot at it,” he noted.

Shirkey said the patrol is not revealing the woman’s name at this time.

Social media posts showed the minivan with gunshots in the sheet metal and with shattered windows.

The woman left the minivan and ran to a nearby home. Emergency personnel transported her to the nearby Mercy Medical Center in Canton.

A trooper driving south on the interstate initially spotted broken glass on the roadway, Shirkey said. He then found the minivan, with bullet holes on the passenger side and blood inside, in the right southbound lane past the Exit 106 ramp, near Mercy Medical Center.

The shooting shut down the southbound lane of the highway for hours, backing up morning rush-hour traffic. The highway reopened to traffic about 9 a.m.

State traffic cameras showed traffic was backed up as far north as Dressler Road on I-77 as of 8:45 a.m.

Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. Beacon Journal staff writer Jim Mackinnon contributed to this report.

MEDINA

Colley, Shirley Ann, 87, of Spencer. Died Wednesday. Parker & Son.

STARK

Harper, Beverly Ann, 82, of Massillon. Died Monday. Paquelet.

Lovette, Michael, 33, of Massillon. Died Saturday. Paquelet.

PORTAGE

Savage, David J. Sr., 75, of Edinburg. Died Monday. Wood-Kortright-Borkoski, Ravenna.

OTHER

Greenwald, Lois M., 81, of Cuyahoga Falls. Died Saturday. Wood-Kortright-Borkoski, Ravenna.

An Akron police sergeant has been charged with causing an alcohol-fueled crash that severely injured his wife a couple of weeks ago.

Sgt. Vince Yurick was charged with aggravated vehicular assault, operating a vehicle while impaired, operating a vehicle while impaired with an illegal alcohol limit, reckless operation, failure to control and speeding.

According to reports, Yurick was driving at about 9 p.m. Aug. 7 when he lost control of his 2008 Ford Shelby GT500. He went left of center, struck a curb and smashed into a tree in the 2100 block of Canterbury Circle.

He and his wife were injured.

Yurick, a 19-year veteran who works in the department’s Intelligence Unit, is scheduled for arraignment in Akron Municipal Court at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Yurick is on paid administrative leave pending his court case.

Coventry Crossing, where the crash ­happened, is a popular residential development for police, firefighters and other government employees, earning it the nickname “Copland.”

The Akron police union contract has a progressive disciplinary system in which officers are disciplined more severely on repeat offenses and depending on the seriousness of the offense.

An Akron man will spend two years behind bars for building fireworks illegally and attacking a woman in his home.

Paul Plazak, 52, pleaded guilty in June to felony charges of domestic violence and illegally manufacturing fireworks.

According to reports, police responded to a call in May that Plazak attacked the 44-year-old woman. While police investigated, she directed them to Plazak’s basement — where officers discovered more than a thousand homemade fireworks. Some were the size of footballs and bricks, police said.

A bomb squad was called to the scene, and police arrested Plazak.

Neighbors told the Beacon Journal they knew he made fireworks because he set them off around Independence Day. They didn’t know how many he had, though, and they didn’t know he made them year-round.

Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Paul Gallagher sentenced Plazak.

A federal judge dismissed the idea that there could be two men in Akron named Dezay Ely with the nickname of “Scrap” in deciding to move forward with a trial for the Ely in custody.

Ely is accused of shooting a woman in the head three times and leaving her for dead in a Cuyahoga Valley National Park field. The woman was blinded and spent several days in a medically induced coma, but survived and identified her would-be killer as Dezay “Scrap” Ely of Akron.

In a Wednesday hearing to decide whether there was probable cause for charges of attempted murder and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, defense attorney Charles Fleming argued that because the victim is blind, she cannot confirm that the Dezay “Scrap” Ely that she believed shot her is the same Dezay Ely with “Scrap” tattooed on his arm who was arrested for the shooting.

Magistrate Judge Kathleen Burke of the U.S. District Court in Akron didn’t buy that defense, saying she had heard enough compelling evidence for the case to move forward. It is being tried in federal court because the shooting occurred on federal land.

No trial date has been set, but the 27-year-old Ely will remain in custody until its conclusion. The state’s parole agency ordered him held because he was on parole in a case in which he served time for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery. Independently, Burke also ordered him held without bail, saying Ely “poses a danger to the community.”

A second suspect in the case, Raymond Moore III, had his probable cause and detainment hearing delayed until 11:45 a.m. Friday because his previous court-appointed attorney had to be replaced with another due to a personal emergency.

The only evidence presented at the hearing came from investigator and Special Agent Christopher Fassler.

Fassler said the full identity of a third suspect is known but was not asked by the court to provide it. That man, who goes by the nickname “G,” is accused of providing the gun used in the assault.

Bikers find victim

Fassler said his investigation began July 3 when he was called to the crime scene in a field on the west side of Akron-Peninsula Road in Boston Township. Bikers had found the 18-year-old woman — semi-conscious, bloody and lying in a fetal position — and called park rangers at 9:20 a.m.

The Beacon Journal is not identifying the victim for her safety.

She was transported to a local hospital and subsequently placed in a medically induced coma, with no personal belongings to identify her. An examination revealed three bullets embedded in her skull.

A family member eventually identified her and said that while the victim’s 2-year-old child was staying with a grandparent, the victim herself had been “missing” for several days. Another witness said the victim had been staying with brothers known as “Scrap” and “Kilo” in a house off Manchester Road.

Having been given the victim’s cellphone number by family members, law enforcement determined a 10-second call was placed between the woman’s phone and a phone belonging to Michael Ely the night before the shooting. A review of social media accounts revealed Michael Ely, aka “Turffboy Kilo” had a brother Dezay Ely, aka “Scrap,” and that they were both known to the victim.

Previous convictions

Meanwhile, a criminal history check revealed Dezay Ely’s manslaughter and robbery case in 2008, for which he was paroled on Nov. 9, 2015.

Investigators also interviewed two people who were biking in the park when they heard gunshots at about 8:30 a.m. July 3, then saw a blue or maroon vehicle pull away from the field where the victim was found. The witnesses told investigators two black men in their early 20s were inside.

Surveillance videos from businesses farther down the road recorded a car that met the description: A maroon Chevrolet Impala driving on a temporary “donut” spare tire and with temporary tags.

After the victim woke from the coma, she filled in other details with investigators. She said the night before the shooting, Dezay Ely became angry with her and contacted someone called “Ray” to come pick him up. Ray — whom investigators later determined to be Raymond Moore III — did so in a maroon Chevrolet Impala with a spare tire, she told investigators.

Ely told the victim and Moore that he wanted to test a gun that he planned to use in a robbery. It was a small black and gray automatic that could fit into a pocket, she said, and had been purchased from someone named “G.” G used to live in Springhill Apartments and was from Alabama, but had lost his apartment a few months earlier after being arrested for fighting, she told investigators.

Ely gave Moore $5 to pay for the ride, and Moore drove Ely and the woman to the park, she told investigators. Moore stayed in the car, and Ely and the victim got out.

The victim told investigators that Ely shot the gun a couple of times, then told her it was jammed. He then suggested he heard something, causing the victim to look away. After she turned, she was shot three times in the head. She said she saw Ely run away and the car drive off.

She tried to stand a couple of times, but kept falling.

Accepting her fate, she thought to herself, “Forget it. I’m about to die,” she told investigators. She remained on the ground and closed her eyes, and did not recall being found.

Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.

Another big traffic inconvenience is hitting the Akron area.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says state Route 18, also known as Medina Road, will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Hametown Road and Medina Line Road beginning Sept. 6.

The reduction will remain in place through late October as workers replace a bridge.

Copley Township Police Chief Michael Mier said he expects the lane closures to create significant congestion on the road.

About 23,000 motorists a day use that four-lane stretch, which serves as an important route between Akron and Medina, and interstates 77 and 71.

The traffic is even heavier near the I-77 interchange.

The road, which divides between Bath and Copley townships, crosses a creek, even though there doesn’t appear from the roadway to be a bridge there, ODOT said.

Motorists in that area already have been dealing with heavy construction, as the state continues to widen the roadway east of Hametown.

“It has caused problems but it’s all part of the process of working on the roads,” Mier said.

The bridge work is part of the larger $7.7 million project to widen and resurface the road.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.

AKRON

Arrest in PNC bank robbery

AKRON: An Akron woman was arrested Wednesday on charges of robbing a PNC bank in the Wallhaven neighborhood on Tuesday morning.

Akron police cited tips from the public as the reason Malzena V. Lagarde, 51, was identified. Lagarde was charged with robbery, a felony.

According to reports, a woman went to the PNC branch at 1546 W. Market St. at 9:15 a.m. and handed a teller a note explaining a robbery was happening. She was not armed. The teller handed the woman — who was captured on video cameras — an undisclosed amount of cash, and she fled.

Police distributed photos from the surveillance cameras to local newspapers and television and radio stations.

Several tipsters identified Lagarde as the perpetrator.

Information on adoption

AKRON: Summit County Children Services is sponsoring a free foster care and adoption information meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Ellet Branch Library, 2470 E. Market St.

The agency has more than 200 children in foster care, including nearly 40 children in permanent custody waiting to be adopted.

Those attending the meeting will learn a variety of details about foster care and adoption, including what and how long the process is, what kind of support is provided by the agency, and the costs involved.

Agency staff will be available to share basic information about the children coming into care.

The event is open to the entire community and reservations are not needed.

For more information, 330-379-1990.

GREEN

Task force seats available

GREEN: The city is looking for residents and members of the business and nonprofit community interested in three-year terms on the city’s Living Green Task Force.

Three committee seats are open, and a three-year commitment is preferred, according to Mayor Gerard Neugebauer.

Those interested should email a letter of interest plus resume to gneugebauer@cityofgreen.org.

The committee’s role is to make recommendations for policies and practices that would improve the city’s environmental stewardship and also a culture of sustainability.

Members don’t need to live in Green, but residency is preferred.

Monthly meetings will be at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday at the Central Administration Building, 1755 Town Park Blvd.

Added meetings and special-event participation may be requested.

Contact Sarah Haring in the city’s Planning Department at 330-896-6614 or via email at sharing@cityofgreen.org for more information.

STARK COUNTY

No marijuana for workers

PLAIN TWP.: Township employees will not be permitted to use medical marijuana when the new state law goes into effect Sept. 8, trustees said at their meeting Tuesday.

Marijuana use — even with a prescription — is not allowed under the township’s drug-free workplace policy. Medical use of marijuana for certain health conditions was legalized with the passage of House Bill 523 in May.

Trustees will hold a special meeting to discuss the issue at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 8.

In other business, trustees approved the purchase of three MSA 6000 thermal imaging cameras with laser range finders for the township’s Fire Department.

The cameras will be purchased from Fire Force Inc./Eagle Emergency at a cost of $23,500.

The trustees also approved outside lighting for Station No. 4, from Furbay Electric Supply at a cost of $4,780.

Security and surveillance cameras will be purchased for the Road Department building from Security USA at a cost of $4,153; and the board approved a 10 percent increase in fee charges for rentals and concessions at township parks.

SUMMIT COUNTY

Man pleads not guilty

AKRON: An Akron man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he crashed into several Cuyahoga Falls police vehicles and seriously injured one officer.

Donald Watson’s bond was set at $750,000 during his arraignment in Summit County Common Pleas Court. He will have his first pretrial hearing Wednesday before Judge Lynne Callahan.

A Summit County grand jury indicted Watson, 46, of Cutler Parkway, on charges of attempted murder, felonious assault, aggravated arson, failure to comply with the order of a police officer, vandalism and criminal damaging.

Police say Watson intentionally crashed into three parked patrol cars July 23, then fled and crashed into Falls Officer Ted Davis’ car, landing them both in the hospital.

Davis, an 11-year veteran of the department, remained in the hospital for a week and then began rehabilitation.

Watson also is accused of starting a fire at his Akron home.

TWINSBURG

State OKs project funds

TWINSBURG: The state has announced $310,000 in new funding to support the city of Twinsburg’s Amazon.com project with roadwork improvements.

Approved Monday by the Ohio Controlling Board, the funds will support the extension of Independence Parkway by 750 feet to enable the construction of Amazon’s new 248,000-square-foot distribution center in Twinsburg’s CornerStone Business Park.

“The investment in this new site is an investment in the local families who will benefit from the 150 high-quality jobs the project will bring to our community,” State Sen. Frank LaRose, R-Hudson, said.

In May, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a six-year tax credit for Amazon.com to construct a distribution center in Twinsburg.

The facility is expected to support 150 full-time employees and generate more than $4 million in new annual payroll by the end of 2019.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Stevenson fundraiser

AKRON: Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Scot Stevenson will have a Friday Night Tailgate from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at Windsor Pub, 1322 E. Tallmadge Ave.

Suggested contributions range from $50 to $100.

Stevenson was appointed by Gov. John Kasich in June to fill the vacancy created when former Judge Tom Parker became a federal magistrate in March.

Retired Judge Judy Hunter has been handling Parker’s docket since he left.

Stevenson, a Republican, is running in the November election to retain the seat for the remainder of Parker’s term, which ends in 2021.

Interim University of Akron president Matthew Wilson surprised freshman students and parents as he mingled with them Wednesday as the students moved into residence halls.

“You know what I was really impressed with was getting to shake the president’s hand,” said Glen Wagner of Pittsburgh, who was there with his wife, Jill, to help settle son Maxwell, 19, into a dorm room. “That doesn’t happen, having him [Wilson] right here.”

The Wagners were also impressed with how smooth the move-in was for Maxwell, who was one of about 1,000 students who checked into rooms in UA’s North and West quad residence halls. On Thursday, another 1,200 students will move into the South and East quad dorms.

They are part of the 3,334 freshmen enrolled this year, down 813 students from last year’s fall enrollment.

More than 400 volunteers were on hand to help the students move in. Most of the volunteers were from various campus fraternities and sororities, but some were UA staff members or other freshmen who moved into their dorms just last week.

UA staff members drove trucks or Polaris vehicles with a truck bed to haul items from cars or U-Hauls to the central parking lot of four area dorms. Staff and student volunteers then transferred the goods into shopping carts, which were pushed over to the dorms and taken to students’ rooms.

There was also lively music by UA radio station WZIP (88.1-FM) at the event and Residence Life and Housing supplied water and chips.

“We have music and balloons and T-shirts as a fun distraction,” said John Messina, vice provost for student success, “to distract all the volunteers from lifting heavy stuff on a hot day into a small room and to distract parents who are sending their child off to college and to welcome all the new students who are leaving home and beginning their adult career.”

Jill Wagner said: “This is great. We didn’t have to move anything, it was well organized and the weather is perfect.”

The family particularly appreciated Wilson, who spent several hours walking around welcoming students and their families.

Passing out cards

Wilson gave Maxwell Wagner his business card, which had his office and cellphone numbers on it as well as a message on the back.

The message signed by Wilson read: “So happy you are here. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.”

Wilson continued to pass his card out as he introduced himself to students and parents and engaged in conversation.

“She’s my baby. We’re a little nervous, we have no other children in college,” Colleen Stewart of Wauseon told the president. “We have three children. We are officially empty nesters. She’s it.”

Wilson told Stewart he has four children himself and every time one leaves home, he is sad.

“What are you studying?” Wilson asked Emalee Stewart, who is 17 and wants to become a nurse.

After a few minutes as the line moved on, Wilson handed Emalee his business card and told her to feel free to call or text if she had any questions.

“We are so excited to have you here,” Wilson said. “Have a great day.”

Shannon Greaves of Bridgeport told Wilson that moving her daughter to college was hard for her because her daughter, Lexie Willoughby, is her only child.

The fashion merchandise designer major said the University of Akron was her favorite of the five campuses she visited.

“I chose this university because it was a little far, but still a little close to home,” said Shannon, whose family lives near the West Virginia/Ohio border.

Her mom was surprised by all the people there to help and greet students.

“The fact that the president is walking around is amazing,” Greaves said. “It’s a nice surprise. I work in a corporate world and I can tell you, that would never happen.”

Emerging leaders

The president also talked to volunteers helping with the moves, thanking them for their help. Some were freshmen who are part of an emerging leaders program.

“Hi, Mr. President,” said Ellie Ewing, 18, of Akron, when she saw him.

“Normally, you wouldn’t see the president unless you went to a special event on campus, but he was at our weeklong leadership training program last week and even ate lunch with us,” she said as she pushed a shopping cart full of items for another freshman. “He gave us his business card and I feel like I can totally call him.”

Wilson, who plans to greet students and parents on Thursday, said meeting students is the “best part of my job.”

Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.

Akron police are looking into whether a bicyclist found unconscious on Clearview Avenue in Akron shortly before 6 a.m. today was hit by motorist who then drove away, leaving the man on the ground.

The 57-year-old bicyclist was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General and is listed in serious condition. Police have not named him.

The man was found in the fork in the road just west of Manchester Road, Akron police said.

The Akron police department’s reconstruction unit is investigating if the bicyclist was struck by a motor vehicle or just lost control due to road conditions.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Akron’s traffic bureau at 330-375-2506.

Clearview Avenue runs between Manchester Road and East Avenue and is just south of I-77/I-76. The incident was close to Margaret Park and Summit Lake.

STARK

Caldwell, Paul, 83, of Massillon. Died Wednesday. Paquelet.

Saylor, Ronald C., 87, of Massillon. Died Tuesday. Paquelet.

OTHER

Newrones, Donald E. Sr., 78, of Troy Township. Died Wednesday. Green, Mantua.

Perdue, Pete, 94, of Sullivan Township. Died Wednesday. Parker & Son, Spencer.

Young, Maria C. (Tassone), 77, of Akron. Died Monday. Paquelet, Massillon.

AKRON

Cops investigate bike crash

AKRON: Akron police are looking into whether a bicyclist found unconscious on Clearview Avenue in Akron shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday was hit by motorist who then drove away, leaving the man on the ground.

Mark Whitmire, 57, was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General and is listed in serious condition. Whitmire was en route to work in information technology at Akron’s Department of Public Safety.

He was found unresponsive in the fork in the road, just west of Manchester Road, Akron police said.

The Akron police department’s reconstruction unit is investigating whether Whitmire was struck by a motor vehicle or just lost control due to road conditions.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Akron’s traffic bureau at 330-375-2506.

Clearview Avenue runs between Manchester Road and East Avenue and is just south of I-77/I-76. The incident was close to Margaret Park and Summit Lake.

Fireworks maker sentenced

AKRON: An Akron man will spend two years behind bars for building fireworks illegally and attacking a woman in his home.

Paul Plazak, 52, pleaded guilty in June to felony charges of domestic violence and illegally manufacturing fireworks.

According to reports, police responded to a call in May that Plazak attacked the 44-year-old woman. While police investigated, she directed them to Plazak’s basement — where officers discovered more than a thousand homemade fireworks. Some were the size of footballs and bricks, police said.

A bomb squad was called to the scene, and police arrested Plazak.

Neighbors told the Beacon Journal they knew he made fireworks because he set them off around Independence Day. They didn’t know how many he had, though, and they didn’t know he made them year-round.

Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Paul Gallagher sentenced Plazak Wednesday.

Cuyahoga falls

Area teachers win honor

CUYAHOGA FALLS: Two local teachers will compete this fall for the Ohio Teacher of the Year award.

On Thursday the Ohio Department of Education named Jennifer Culver, a music teacher in Cuyahoga Falls City Schools, and Debra Bordo, a vocal music teacher in Stark County’s Lake Local School District, as 2017 Teacher of the Year for State Board of Education Districts 7 and 8, respectively.

Culver, who lives in Stow, has taught in the Cuyahoga Falls City School District for 17 years.

Bordo, of Fairlawn, has spent the last eight years of her 29-year career as a teacher as a vocal music instructor at Lake High School.

Both will compete for Ohio Teacher of the Year, who is selected from the pool of 10 district winners by a state panel of education and community stakeholders. The winner will represent Ohio in a national Teacher of the Year competition in 2017.

HUDSON

Weekend art show

HUDSON: Artists will showcase their work at the 36th Art on the Green, held at the town square at the corner of state routes 303 and 91 on Saturday and Sunday.

Organized by the Hudson Society of Artists, visitors can brows the original artwork of more than 150 artists including paintings, jewelry, pottery, woodcarving, glass, weaving, enamel, sculpture, leather, photography, garden décor, and more. Seven food vendors will be available in the food court area.

The event will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, rain or shine. Admission is free.

NORTON

Running area opens Friday

NORTON: A new Summit Metro Parks area in southwest Summit County will host college and high school runners, and maybe even future Olympians.

The new Silver Creek Metro Park Cross-Country Course, 4579 Medina Line Road, will open Friday.

Built to college specifications, the course sits on about 140 acres. It has a 1-mile inner loop and 1.25-mile outer loop. The trails measure 33 feet wide.

Summit Metro Parks purchased the former farmland, north of the existing Silver Creek trails and facilities, in 2011 and 2012, then worked with University of Akron coaches to develop plans for the course.

There are two cross-country meets scheduled in the new Silver Creek area within the first nine days of September. During meets, the course will be closed to the public.

On most days, however, visitors may enjoy a quiet walk or run in the area, which features a gently rolling landscape, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pets on leashes will be permitted, and restrooms are available.

ReVERE LOCAL SCHOOLS

Food service gets help

BATH TWP.: The Revere Board of Education unanimously approved this week a $56,500 annual agreement with Pisanick Partners LLC to aid in the operation of the district’s food service department, from menu selection, cooking and ordering food to oversight of free and reduced lunches.

With the resignation of the most recent food services supervisor this summer, the board opted to retain the services of Pisanick, which also operates in other area districts including Hudson, Woodridge, Copley-Fairlawn and Tallmadge.

The board also approved a three-year School Resource Officer agreement, effective Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2019, in collaboration with Bath Township and Richfield Village, both of which already approved the agreement. Bath Police Officer Eric Shaffer has served in the role for three years.

Cost for the SRO is divided between the schools and the two governments.

Summit County

Vets program given money

AKRON: Summit County and the FirstEnergy Foundation donated a total of $20,000 this week to the Laura Williams Dunlop Memorial Stand Down for Homeless and Displaced Veterans of Summit County.

The donations are part of a partnership called Step Up for Stand Down, which was created when the local Stand Down found itself in need of donations.

In the past, the U.S. Department of Defense supplied Stand Down with surplus items. But this year, a fire destroyed a New Jersey warehouse that housed more than $700,000 worth of donations that were being sent out to assist local agencies.

The county also announced that a GoFundMe account has been set up for anyone in the community to make a donation as small as $1. The website is: www.gofundme.com/summitstanddown.

The Stand Down for Homeless and Displaced Veterans of Summit County will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Firestone VFW Post 3383, 690 Waterloo Road, Akron.