AKRON
Man shot in leg
AKRON: An Akron man was being treated for a leg wound after he was shot while sitting in his car.
The man, 28, was treated at Akron General Medical Center for nonlife-threatening injuries, police said.
He told police he was sitting in his car about 7 p.m. Friday near the 100 block of Ogle Terrace when he was shot. He told police he saw several youths in black hooded sweatshirts running toward West Thornton Street immediately after the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips may be left at http://akronohio.gov/asp/tip.html.
Robbery thwarted
AKRON: A pizza delivery driver scared off a would-be robber by sounding his car’s security alarm, police said.
The Domino’s employee told police he had just finished a delivery in the 900 block of Clement Street about 10 p.m. Saturday when the robber approached with a gun.
The driver ran back toward the house screaming, “Get out of here,” police said. As the robber went to the driver’s car, the worker sounded his car alarm, triggering the vehicle’s horn and lights. The empty-handed robber then fled toward Ray Street.
Police describe the robber as a black male, 16 to 25 years old, standing about 6 feet tall and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips may be left at http://akronohio.gov/asp/tip.html.
Town hall meeting
AKRON: State Rep. Zack Milkovich, D-Akron, will hold a public town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Firestone Park Library, 1486 Aster Ave.
Topics of discussion will include safety and security issues.
Guest speakers will include police union President Paul Hlynsky and a representative from the Akron Board of Education.
Snow Bowl
AKRON: The Akron Zoo is signing up teams for Snow Bowl, one of its largest fundraisers of the year.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at Stonehedge, 580 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron. Teams can sign up for staggered bowling times of noon, 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. (A 10 a.m. shift already has sold out.)
Snow Bowl is a friendly, target score bowling competition for local companies and organizations. Each five-person team predicts its score prior to the event. The closest team to its predicted score wins.
The cost per team is $300 and includes three games of bowling, the company’s name listed at Stonehedge, shoe and ball rental and T-shirts for each member of the team.
Tickets are $5 each or six for $20 and can be purchased at the zoo or at Stonehedge during the event.
In its 25-year history Snow Bowl has raised over $730,000 for the Akron Zoo. Money raised goes to help support the zoo’s conservation and education programs and the feeding and care of all of the zoo’s 700 animals.
For more information, call the zoo at 330-375-2550, Ext 7230.
CUYAHOGA VALLEY
Volunteers needed
The National Park Service is seeking volunteers for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Volunteers must be outgoing, reliable, friendly and have a willingness to learn.
The railroad is seeking volunteers for the Rail Rovers, the Student Explorer and Canal Camp programs. Training will be provided.
Contact ranger Pamela Machuga by Jan. 31 at 330-657-1914 or pam_machuga@nps.gov.
Interviews will be scheduled for Feb. 10 and 11.
For more information, call 330-657-2299.
Portage COUNTY
Lecture plans
KENT: The 2012 National Teacher of the Year Rebecca Mieliwocki will present a Gerald H. Read Distinguished Lecture at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Kent State University Student Center Kiva, 1075 Risman Drive.
Mieliwocki is a seventh-grade English teacher at Luther Burbank Middle School in Burbank, Calif. She is known for her unconventional teaching methods that inspire and motivate students, often using a Socratic method of questioning to stimulate students’ critical thinking.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
For more information about the lecture, contact Linda Robertson, at lfrobert@kent.edu or call 330-672-0563.
ROOTSTOWN SCHOOLS
Committee meeting
ROOTSTOWN: The Rootstown School Start Time Committee will host an informational meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the high school cafeteria.
The group will discuss the recommendation to exchange elementary with middle/high school start times.
A copy of the report the committee issued in November to the superintendent and school board is available for review at the administration office by calling 330-325-9911.
The meeting Saturday is open to the entire community.
For more information, contact committee chair Stacy Simera at 330-325-1788 or ssimera@aol.com.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Polar bear jump
AKRON: The annual Portage Lakes Polar Bear Jump to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank will be Feb. 16.
Jumpers can register online for the event at a cost of $5.
Registration the day of the event begins at noon at Portage Lakes State Park at the swim beach followed by the jump at 2 p.m. Portage Lakes State Park is at 5031 Manchester Road in New Franklin.
Jumpers are required to bring their driver’s license as well as a minimum of $25 in donations to participate.
Sponsors and donations are also being accepted.
To register and sponsor this event, visit www.akroncantonfoodbank.com.
For more information about the Polar Bear Jump, call 330-535-6900.
Support groups
AKRON: Ten-week adult stress and anger support groups will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesday beginning Feb. 4 at the University of Akron’s Clinic for Individual and Family Counseling.
The cost is $10 per session.
These groups are open to the public, but preregistration is required.
To register call 330-972-6822 or visit www.uakron.edu/clinics/ifc.
The University of Akron’s Clinic for Individual and Family Counseling is at 27 S. Forge St., second floor.
Race aids park
AKRON: The fourth annual Chase Your Shadow 5K Race in Portage State Park will be held at 10 a.m. on Groundhog’s Day, Feb. 2.
Entry fee for the race is $20 and includes a race T-shirt for advance registration.
Register online at www.active.com by Jan. 30.
The race will benefit the Friends of Portage Lakes State Park projects at the park.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available by contacting Lynn Stamp at 330-644-2422 or email lynnstamp@sbcglobal.net.
STATE NEWS
Restitution ordered
ATHENS: The former mayor of a small town in southeast Ohio must pay back more than $19,000 after pleading guilty to theft in office.
A judge in Athens County also ordered that the former mayor of Jacksonville can never hold public office again.
The Athens Messenger reports that George Pallo apologized in court Friday.
Pallo stepped down from his office two weeks ago after serving as mayor for more than 30 years.
Authorities say he deposited money designated for the village into a fire fund and used some for personal items.
They say he also opened a credit card in the village’s name without authorization and bought a lawn mower.
— Associated Press
Father arrested
CLEVELAND: The father of a 6-year-old Cleveland girl police say fatally shot herself in the face has been arrested.
The Plain Dealer reported Monday that Edmund Benson is in custody on charges of child endangering and having a gun after a felony conviction. It says he’ll remain in custody for arraignment today.
Neveah Benson was shot Saturday afternoon at her home. She died later at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
Police say she shot herself but haven’t explained how she got her hands on the gun.
Edmund Benson is barred from having guns because of felony convictions in 2008 for not registering his address and in 2009 for receiving a stolen vehicle and having criminal tools.
He could not be reached for comment Monday.
— Associated Press