RAVENNA
Tanker accident
RAVENNA: A tanker crash Sunday morning spilled “off-road diesel fuel” into a nearby stream and the fuel made its way into the West Branch Reservoir, authorities said.
The Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers were called in because of the fuel going into the watershed, the Ravenna post of the State Highway Patrol said.
All but about 20 gallons spilled out of the truck.
The crash also closed state Routes 5 and 59 just east of the city for several hours.
The tanker, which was carrying about 7,800 gallons of diesel fuel, was westbound on Route 5 when it overturned while rounding a curve at about 6 a.m.
Driver Robert Dyke, 46, of Canfield was taken to Robinson Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, the patrol said.
Dyke, who was driving for Ainsley Oil Co. of Cortland, was cited for failing to maintain reasonable control.
AKRON
Bomb plot case
AKRON: The case against the last of five bridge bomb-plotting suspects in Northeast Ohio is headed back to court.
Four defendants have pleaded guilty, but the case against Joshua Stafford of Cleveland has been delayed by a psychiatric review.
A judge in Akron federal court wants legal briefs on the psychiatric issue from both sides by Feb. 15. A hearing could come later.
The target was a highway bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park between Cleveland and Akron. The FBI has said the public was never in danger and the device was a dud provided by an informant.
— Associated Press
COLUMBUS
University debt
COLUMBUS: Outstanding debt among Ohio’s 13 four-year public universities has nearly tripled over the past decade amid a building spree on classroom buildings, dormitories and recreation centers.
At Ohio State University, which has built a recreation center and student union, debt has more than quadrupled. Ohio State has the largest total debt load at nearly $2.5 billion — more than four times what it was in 2002.
But, according to the Columbus Dispatch, campuses must find new money sources or leave it to future generations of students to pay for the construction spree.
Last month, Moody’s Investment Services downgraded the outlook for the higher-education sector to negative because of such concerns.
Over the past 13 years, the University of Akron spent more than $600 million to transform its campus, said Ted Curtis, the school’s vice president for capital planning and facilities.
— Associated Press
GREEN
Chef fundraiser
GREEN: An Iron Chef Fundraiser to benefit Springtime of Hope will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Queen of Heaven Parish Life Center, 1800 Steese Road.
Tickets are $50 per person and $90 per couple.
Springtime of Hope is a nonprofit that serves the local poor and homeless, and provides more than 800 hot meals a month.
For ticket information, call Denise at 330-325-2141 or email dhorning2@neo.rr.com or call 330-294-0056 or go to www.springtimeofhope.com.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Adoption effort
AKRON: Summit County Children Services is sponsoring a free foster care and adoption information meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Odom Boulevard branch library, 600 Vernon Odom Blvd.
As of last month, there were 49 children waiting to be adopted; 44 of them are 12 years and older.
For more details, call 330-379-1994.
KENT
Program plans
KENT: The Kent State planetarium will host a program on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence at 8 p.m. Feb. 15, 16 and 22.
The hourlong show in room 108 of Smith Hall on the Kent campus will spotlight the efforts to communicate with other beings within the haystack of cosmic radio noise.
Reservations will be accepted by calling 330-672-2246. For details, visit http://planetarium.kent.edu.