AKRON
Streets to close
AKRON: Several downtown streets will be closed from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday because of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The parade on South Main Street will begin at noon at Cedar Street and end at Bowery Street.
More than 100 units are expected to participate.
The event is organized by the Mark Heffernan Division and the Margaret Judge Ladies Division of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians.
The streets that will be closed are: Main Street northbound between Bartges and Mill streets and southbound between Mill and Cedar streets; East Exchange Street westbound between North Broadway Street and Main; West Exchange eastbound between Paul Williams Street and Main; Buchtel Street between High and Main; State Street between Bowery and High (access to the State Street parking deck will be maintained); University Street between High and Main; Church Street between High and Main; and Bowery between Center Street and Main.
GREEN
Pastor prays
GREEN: A Green pastor delivered the opening prayer during the Ohio House session Wednesday.
The Rev. Joel Engman recently became pastor of Harmony Springs Christian Church in Green.
He is a Wooster native and was born and raised in Northeast Ohio.
He graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and attended Ashland Theological Seminary, where he received his Master’s of Divinity degree in 2007, according to a news release from state Rep. Marilyn Slaby, R-Copley, who welcomed Engman.
Engman and his wife, Emily, have cared for a number of foster children and are expecting their first child in May.
HARTVILLE
Pay freeze
HARTVILLE: No raises will be given to elected officials or employees this year under terms of legislation the Village Council enacted this week.
Pay for members of the council and the Board of Public Affairs will remain $78 per meeting through 2017.
The mayor’s salary is scheduled to be $17,292 for the same period.
In other action Tuesday, the council:
• Agreed to pay $17,500 to the Columbus law firm of Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLP to handle the bond issue for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade and expansion.
• Learned the village expects to receive $378,038 in federal funds to extend a waterline east from Kent Avenue to the fire station, subject to Stark County commissioners’ approval.
• Entered into an annexation agreement with Lake Township for the 1.1-acre Nick’s Body Shop property.
NORTH CANTON
Suspect sought
NORTH CANTON: An arrest warrant has been issued for a North Canton man who ran from officers after they tried to stop his vehicle.
Thomas R. Patton III, 27, is being sought by authorities after he led North Canton officers on a brief car chase Tuesday evening.
The chase occurred along South Main Street and Easthill Street SE.
He abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. Officers searched the area, but were not able to locate Patton.
His last known address was on Bainbridge Street NE.
He is described as a white male, 190 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. He about 5 feet, 11 inches tall.
NORTHEAST OHIO
Firefighting grants
Three local fire departments will receive more than $250,000 in combined Assistance to Firefighters Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Perry Township Fire Department in Stark County was awarded $165,717; the Northfield Center Sagamore Hills Fire District and the Hudson Fire Department were awarded $61,750 and $22,680, respectively, according to information from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office.
The money can be used to purchase protective equipment, vehicles or other apparatus for first responders.
STARK COUNTY
Collection sites
CANTON: All locations of the Stark County District Library will be collection sites for the Harvest for Hunger during the month of March.
Items will benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, which suggests that donors consider these “super six” most needed nonperishables: boxed cereal, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned vegetables, canned beef stew and canned soup.
Space questioned
CANTON: A Logan Avenue resident is asking Stark County officials to make more jail space available to help reduce crime in the city.
Bruce Nordman told county commissioners on Wednesday that citizens who approved a 0.5 percent sales tax for criminal justice are growing impatient with the fact that the jail has not reopened to its full capacity of 501 inmates.
He blamed the 100-bed shortfall for a recent incident in which, he said, an offender was released shortly after his arrest.
Commissioner Thomas Bernabei asked Nordman for details about the case.
He said it was possible the individual would have been subject to pre-trial release anyway.
Serious offenders are not being released, he said.
Commissioner Janet Weir Creighton said jail space has doubled since a low point of 200 beds before the sales tax passed in November 2011.
Bernabei, Creighton and fellow Commissioner Richard Regula said a full reopening has been hampered by difficulty in hiring and retaining qualified staff, a challenge for former sheriff Timothy Swanson and current Sheriff George Maier.
The board agreed to invite Maier to discuss the jail at their next regular meeting, at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Stark County Administration Building.
“We don’t oversee the jail,” Creighton said. “County commissioners are only the appropriating authority. We are not the sheriff’s boss.”
Nordman said he had gathered city residents’ concerns about crime in the course of running classes required for permits to carry concealed weapons.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Unclaimed money
BARBERTON: Barberton Municipal Court has more than $4,500 in unclaimed funds waiting to be picked up.
“Every year, checks issued as refunds, restitution payments, or judgment payments fail to get cashed by the payee,” Clerk of Court Diana Stevenson said. “People and organizations lose track of money that is rightfully theirs.”
Stevenson has sent letters informing payees of the unclaimed funds. On April 1, all unclaimed funds must be turned over to the city.
Stevenson urged people to check the unclaimed funds list for their name at www.cityofbarberton.com/clerkofcourts or at the court, 576 W. Park Ave., Barberton.
Scam alert
AKRON: The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office issued a alert Wednesday regarding a potential scam targeting residents in Bath Township, Copley Township and Fairlawn.
A man who identifies himself as “Capt. Jack Dembrowski,” a local law enforcement officer, calls homeowners and says that someone stole a large amount of money from their account.
The caller asks for personal information, including whether there is jewelry, money or guns in the house.
In some cases, the caller has threatened to get a search warrant if the resident refuses to answer his questions, according to Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh’s office.
“Capt. Jack Dembrowski” does not exist and anyone who receives this call should hang up and notify local police, Walsh advised.
She reminds residents never to give out personal information or information about valuables kept in the home.
Monte Carlo Night
AKRON: A Monte Carlo Night fundraiser will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 15 at Todaro’s Party Center, 1820 Akron-Peninsula Road.
The event will benefit the Catholic Charities Community Services of Summit County.
Tickets are $75 per person and include $300 in fun money for activities.
All proceeds will support the local Catholic Charities emergency assistance, food pantry and hot meals programs.
For more information, go to www.ccmontecarlo.org or call 330-762-2961, ext. 220.