AKRON
Teacher on ‘View’
AKRON: Martin Drexler, a geometry teacher at Akron Digital Academy and a stand-up comedian, is scheduled to appear on The View on WEWS (Channel 5) today.
The show is having a “hilarious teacher” competition among educators this week, with each of the five contestants vying for a trip to Sandals Resort Jamaica. Each day has presented a different teacher performing for about 90 seconds for judges Sherri Shepherd, Joy Behar and Mario Cantone.
Drexler has been a teacher for almost 15 years and a comedian for three, performing at the Cleveland Improv and other venues. As Marty Drexler, he is also the author of 2009’s Almost Joke Book and has a website, http://drexjokes.webs.com.
The View airs at 11 a.m. So far, the teachers’ comedy segments have been near the end of the show.
BRUNSWICK
Fracking vote
BRUNSWICK: City Council voted 6-1 Monday to approve a resolution against the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ control over gas and oil drilling.
The measure passed despite vocal opposition from local businesses, including the Philpott Rubber Co. and the local Chamber of Commerce.
Brunswick is joining a number of Ohio communities pushing the Ohio legislature to return local control over drilling.
At present, the ODNR has total control over drilling with no input from communities.
One of the loudest critics of the Brunswick resolution was Michael Baach, president and CEO of Philpott Rubber. A subsidiary of his firm sells a well-cleansing agent to drillers.
Baach has threatened to move his company out of Brunswick in protest of the council vote.
CANTON
Raises for workers
CANTON: More than 700 city employees are being offered 2.5 percent raises under terms of contract amendments City Council approved Monday.
Members unanimously approved the increases for members of two bargaining units of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
Local 2937 has approved the change, Service Director Warren Price said. The unit represents garbage collectors, Street Department employees and other laborers.
Local 3449 is scheduled to vote on the terms Thursday, Price said. It represents dispatchers, clerical workers, administrative assistants and technicians.
The raises will cost $300,000 this year, Price said. About $130,000 will come from the general fund.
Plants seized
CANTON: Authorities seized more than 80 marijuana plants and multiple bags of marijuana while investigating a complaint of a growing operation Monday.
The Special Investigations Unit obtained a search warrant for the property in the 500 block of 11th Street Northwest and uncovered other items for growing and cultivating the sale of marijuana, including power ballasts, lights, exhaust fans, ozone generators and digital scales. Other dug paraphernalia, including pipes, spoons and syringes, were also found.
Warrants will be filed against the resident of the home.
Demolition money
CANTON: The city will borrow up to $2 million from its own funds to demolish dilapidated houses over two years.
City Council approved the measure Monday to match $1 million offered by the Stark County Land Reutilization Corp., or land bank.
Only $1 million in city funds is expected to be used this year, Law Director Joseph Martuccio said. The rest of the borrowing authority will be available if additional funds become available from outside sources.
An estimated 250 homes could be cleared with this year’s allocation.
CARROLLTON
Drilling accident
CARROLLTON: Authorities say one man was killed and another was injured in a drilling accident in eastern Ohio.
Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams said it happened Monday afternoon at a gas drilling rig near Carrolton, southeast of Canton.
The injured man, 21-year-old Alex Cox, told the sheriff that he and the other victim were using drilling equipment and hadn’t hooked up a safety line designed to keep it from swinging around and striking workers.
The dead man’s name hasn’t been released.
Cox fell backward and suffered a severe laceration to the back of his head.
Media reports said the rig is owned by R.E. Gas Development, a subsidiary of Rex Energy Corp.
The investigation is continuing.
— Associated Press
GREEN
Body identified
GREEN: Authorities have identified the body found behind an auto dealership in Green on Monday afternoon as that of Cary Stutzman, 48, of Dover.
Summit County Sheriff’s deputies and the Green Fire Department responded to the area about 2:20 p.m. They found Stutzman’s body near a wooded area near Interstate Parkway, inspector Bill Holland said.
Stutzman was pronounced dead at the scene.
There appears to be no indication of foul play in the death, the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office said Monday.
KENT
Tree award
KENT: For the fifth consecutive year, Kent State University has won a Tree Campus USA award.
The award, made by the national Arbor Day Foundation, was created in 2008 to honor college campuses for their tree management.
LAKE TOWNSHIP
Building to be razed
LAKE TWP.: Following a public hearing, trustees voted for removal of a fire-damaged dwelling at 9747 Cleveland Ave. NW.
The Stark County Building Department and the Stark County Health Department have declared the structure a safety hazard and a health hazard since the fire a year ago.
Trustees said the building is structurally defective and will be demolished if the owners do not remove it within 30 days.
The board also approved an annexation agreement with the village of Hartville for property at 1400 Edison St. NE. The location of Nick’s Body Shop is surrounded by Hartville, and the property owner needs to hook up with the village sewer system.
Property taxes for the parcel will be divided equally between the township and the village for 10 years.
Trustees also approved placing a privacy fence at Mount Peace Cemetery at a cost not to exceed $7,500.
NORTH CANTON
Water rates to rise
NORTH CANTON: City Council unanimously approved a first reading of legislation that would increase water rates over the next five years.
Required second and third readings are scheduled for March 11 and March 25.
Rates would rise 5.5 percent annually for the first three years. Increases for the following two years would be tied to the Consumer Price Index, which is projected to rise 2 percent annually.
There has been no water rate increase since 2009.
The legislation also mandates an annual review of water rates.
ARCADIS, the city’s water consultant, recommended the 5.5 percent rate increase to keep pace with escalating costs of treating water as well as replacement and rehabilitation of aging water lines.
In other action, council authorized bids for waterline replacement on Clearmount Avenue, Fairview Street and Woodside Avenue at a cost not to exceed $710,000.
TUSCARAWAS TOWNSHIP
Pedestrian struck
TUSCARAWAS TWP.: A 24-year-old Massillon woman was seriously injured Monday night while walking on state Route 172 east of Kenyon Avenue Northwest.
The Stark County Post of the Highway Patrol is investigating the one-car crash that happened about 9:55 p.m.
A 2000 Chrysler 300 driven by a 42-year-old North Lawrence woman was headed westbound on Route 172 when it struck the pedestrian, who was walking in the westbound lane, the patrol said.
The victim was taken to Affinity Hospital with serious injuries and later was transferred to Aultman Hospital in Canton. The driver was not injured. The incident remains under investigation.