AKRON
Ex-judge arrested
AKRON: A former Akron municipal judge was arrested at his home early Friday following a quarrel with his pregnant girlfriend, police said.
Orlando J. Williams, 55, and his girlfriend, Ashley Boykin, 26, both were charged following the alleged incident.
Williams is charged with a misdemeanor offense of misconduct at an emergency. Boykin is charged with domestic violence menacing. Williams was freed on a $2,500 bond set in Akron Municipal Court, where he served as judge until 2009 when he lost an election bid.
He was appointed a magistrate that same year and served until June, when he abruptly resigned. The resignation came about the time it was learned Williams may have had a personal relationship with Boykin while overseeing her eviction case. At the time, Williams denied any romantic relationship.
Late Thursday, police say he called 911 during an apparent argument with Boykin. He later tried to cancel the call and asked to be left alone, police said. Police are required to respond to domestic calls and forced their way inside.
Williams, they said, had facial and other injuries. He told police the argument was over Boykin’s pregnancy and his fathering of the child, police said.
Zoos trade lions
AKRON: Zoos in Akron and Naples, Fla., are swapping female lions on the recommendation of the Lion Species Survival Plan.
Shani, an African lion who arrived in Akron in 2007 from a Texas zoo, will be headed for Florida. Mandisa, who was born July 19, 2008, in Green Bay, Wis., is coming from Naples.
Mandisa will go into a 30-day quarantine before being introduced to Akron’s male African lion, Tamarr. She will be on contraceptives because the Akron Zoo does not have a “breeding recommendation” or permission from the Lion Species Survival Plan.
Shani will continue on exhibit in Akron until Sunday.
BRIMFIELD TOWNSHIP
Rape arrest
BRIMFIELD TWP.: Police have arrested a 20-year-old township man on charges he engaged in sexual conduct with an underage girl.
Dustin Hayes was arrested about 5 p.m. Thursday at a residence in Akron after police received a complaint he was involved in a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl.
A police investigation included interviews with Hayes before a warrant was issued for his arrest, Brimfield Chief David A. Oliver said in a news release.
Hayes has been charged with eight counts of felony rape. He was booked in Brimfield, then transported to the Portage County Justice Center pending arraignment.
GREEN
New council leader
GREEN: Ward 2 Councilman David France was elected to lead council as its president during an organizational meeting Thursday night.
France, a retired firefighter/paramedic in his 16th year on council, is entering the final year of his second eight-year stint. He cannot run for re-election in November because of the city’s term limits, which permit a person to serve only two consecutive four-year terms before sitting out four years.
He began his council career in 1994 and served through 2001 before waiting till 2005 to run again.
France succeeds two-year council President Joel Reed.
Councilman-at-large Gerard Neugebauer was chosen vice president.
For more details on the council’s leadership and committee assignments, go to http://green.ohio.com.
Fatal crash
GREEN: A 44-year-old Akron man was killed in a traffic accident early Friday morning when his car flipped over on northbound Interstate 77.
Three passengers were taken to Summa Akron City Hospital, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
Stacey Juniel died after losing control of the Buick Park Avenue he was driving near mile marker 116 — between the Akron-Canton Airport and Massillon Road exits — about 12:55 a.m.
All four occupants were ejected from the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.
Juniel was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:45 a.m.
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.
The sheriff’s office and the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the accident.
HARTVILLE
Council vacancy
HARTVILLE: Village Council has until Jan. 30 to appoint a replacement for Edsel Tucker, who resigned his council seat Monday.
Tucker said he wants to spend more time with a son who has invited him to work with his home-building business. He was elected to council after serving as mayor from 2008 through 2011.
Tucker said he had wanted to retire from village office sooner, but decided to serve on council to “tie up loose ends” and to help Mayor Richard Currie begin his administration.
Council will take the lead in choosing Tucker’s replacement. Some resumes of possible candidates remain on file from June, when members replaced Thomas Hough, who had resigned.
If council is unable to make a selection, the responsibility falls to the mayor.
HUDSON
Director hired
HUDSON: Concluding an eight-month search, City Manager Anthony Bales announced Mark Richardson as the community development director in Hudson on Wednesday.
Richardson has been the acting community development director for the city since April, after former Director Tom King announced his retirement.
He will receive an annual salary of $96,491.
The community development department administers the city’s development codes and regulations. It provides guidance to residents and businesses requesting information on property, zoning and development issues.
Richardson, who has been a city planner with Hudson since 2000, began his career as a planner with Bismarck-Burleigh in North Dakota. He received his degree in architecture from North Dakota State University.
STARK COUNTY
Service restored
CANTON: Drive-up window service will resume Monday at four Stark County District Library locations: the Main Library downtown and the North, Lake and Jackson branches.
The feature had been suspended due to systemwide budget cuts.
“Thanks to Stark County passing the library’s levy last November, we can keep our promise to restore drive-up service, which is highly regarded by many library patrons,” Tena Wilson, executive director of the library, said in a news release Friday.
TALLMADGE
Fire in trailer park
TALLMADGE: A fire destroyed a manufactured home on South Thomas Road near Midway Plaza on Friday.
Tallmadge fire Chief Patrick Gaffney said a police officer on patrol spotted the fire about 11:43 a.m. and firefighters arrived at the burning residence within a minute.
The trailer’s owner had already fled the trailer and ran to a neighbor’s unit. He was not injured.
Gaffney said an unattended candle started the fire that destroyed the unit. A damage estimate is pending.
The fire was under control by 12:11 p.m. Tallmadge was assisted by Akron and Monroe Falls fire departments.
“It’s a good day when no one is injured and no damage is done to the neighboring properties,” said Gaffney. “The Gaslight Village trailer park was built in the 1950s. There used to be about 120 trailers in the park, but it has dwindled down to about 85 to 90 trailers.”
The unit’s owner told the fire chief that he has lived in the trailer park for 14 years.
The American Red Cross of Summit and Portage counties is assisting the unit’s owner.
WADSWORTH
Senior site to open
WADSWORTH: A state-of-the-art facility known as the Soprema Senior Center and Cafe is expected to open for business Monday.
Memberships are free.
The site is another part of the new community center at 617 School Drive.
There is also a fitness center administered by the YMCA that opened in December. Summa Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital is expected to open a branch at the community center this month. The Wadsworth library also will use a small space, and Wadsworth Community Television will be housed there.
The Soprema Senior Center and Cafe replaces an 80-year-old building at 138 High St. that began serving as the Wadsworth Center for Older Adults nearly four decades ago.
A full kitchen will serve the cafe, with students from Windfall Industries providing the help. Director Nancy Likens said it might be February before the cafe serves a full menu.
Programming will include tai chi, crafts, movies, card games, arthritis exercise, veterans’ assistance, Bible study, food distribution, cooking classes, bingo, various support groups and income tax assistance.
For more information, call 330-335-1513.