AKRON
Meth lab busted
AKRON: Two people were arrested and a 5-year-old girl was placed with relatives after police said they uncovered a methamphetamine lab inside an East Akron home.
The raid Monday afternoon on Paxton Avenue revealed the 42nd working meth lab so far this year in Akron, police said.
Jessica Lawson, 24, and Kory Huffman, 29, were arrested. Officers said they went to the house off Canton Road about 2 p.m. after receiving complaints that meth was being made inside.
The couple is charged with illegal manufacturing of methamphetamine, illegal assembly of chemicals, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The couple’s daughter was home during the raid, police said. She now is in a relative’s care.
Two men wounded
AKRON: Two men were shot early Tuesday outside a North Hill apartment complex.
The victims, 21 and 24, were taken to Summa Akron City Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. A suspect had not been identified.
Police Lt. Rick Edwards said the shooting took place about 2 a.m. on Colonial Hills Drive at an Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority complex.
The 21-year-old was found inside a car parked on Colonial Hills Drive. The second victim was found outside a home in the 600 block of Patterson Avenue.
AKRON SCHOOLS
Gunfire near Crouse
AKRON: Staff at Crouse elementary in Akron called children back into the building and delayed dismissal Tuesday afternoon after hearing a gunshot in the neighborhood.
The school at 1000 Diagonal Road was locked down briefly.
About 2:40 p.m., Dan Rambler, director of Student Support Services for Akron schools, said staff at the building notified district officials of a gunshot “in the distance.” He said two Akron Police Department officers employed by the district arrived at Crouse and remained there until all students had been dismissed.
Rambler said officers and additional staff would return this morning to ensure children arrive back at Crouse safely.
BARBERTON
Stabbing arrest
BARBERTON: A Barberton man was stabbed during a quarrel Monday with an Akron man, police said.
The victim, 27, was treated at Akron General Medical Center for multiple stab wounds, police said. His condition was not released.
Wilfredo Vera Baez, 34, of Akron, was charged with attempted murder and was being held in the Barberton City Jail.
Police said the two men fought at the Barberton man’s home in the 100 block of Eighth Street Southwest about 10 p.m. Police did not say what the two men fought over. Police detectives said they later arrested Baez at a Henry Street home about 4 a.m. Tuesday after obtaining a warrant.
CANTON
Razing list at 403
CANTON: The City Council declared 403 buildings to be public nuisances requiring prompt demolition.
Monday’s action does not mean all the structures will be torn down, however. Demolition costs about $8,000 per house.
The city has $1 million in state funds, obtained through the Stark County land bank, and $1 million of its own funds to devote to the cause.
The money is enough to remove about 250 structures.
Owners may appeal demolition orders in court.
$50,000 returned
CANTON: Police say a Northeast Ohio scrap-metal collector who found a small box containing nearly $50,000 in gold and silver won’t face charges because he returned it all.
The Repository reported an employee of Hartville Coin & Jewelry put the box in a vehicle, but it fell out of the trunk as he drove away last week. Someone passing by scooped up the box, and police began using surveillance footage to track down the perpetrator.
Michael Swogger said a friend recognized his picture on the news and told him police were looking for him in the theft case. The 36-year-old Canton man said when he realized what was happening, he contacted police to return the box of gold coins, Canadian silver dollars and scrap gold Saturday.
— Associated Press
COPLEY TOWNSHIP
Water main breaks
COPLEY TWP.: Students were dismissed early at Copley High School and all after-school activities were canceled Tuesday because of a broken water main.
Students were dismissed from the high school at 9:30 a.m.
All other schools in the district were dismissed at the normal time.
GRANGER TOWNSHIP
Devices purchased
GRANGER TWP.: Trustees on Monday approved the purchase of a $1,500 electrical inverter from Emergency Vehicle Repair and Service of Louisville.
Fire Chief Jim Paulett said the device is necessary for some of the new medical equipment. It will be installed on the 2010 rescue squad.
Also, the fire department will sponsor its annual Easter Party for township children at 1 p.m. March 30.
PORTAGE COUNTY
Grant for housing
COLUMBUS: The Community Action Council of Portage County on Monday received $210,000 from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund’s Housing Assistance Grant Program.
The money will assist about 100 households, according to the office of state Rep. Kathleen Clyde, D-Kent, which announced the grant.
The Community Action Council of Portage County will provide emergency home repairs and handicapped accessibility modifications to home owners who are at or below 50 percent of median income in Portage County.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Website enhanced
AKRON: Attorneys with cases in the Summit County Common Pleas Court may now access schedules and other documents on the court’s website.
The website, www.summitcpcourt.net, also gives the public a link to the county clerk of courts online records and dockets.
Judge Tom Parker, the court’s administrative judge, said county workers recently enhanced the website at no added cost to taxpayers.
The site allows the public to search cases by entering the judge’s name, the name of the person involved or the case number. Attorneys can search for their specific schedule in two-week increments by entering their Ohio Supreme Court identification number.
STATE NEWS
New school leader
COLUMBUS: Ohio’s state school board picked Gov. John Kasich’s top education adviser Tuesday as the new superintendent of public instruction.
Richard Ross was selected over acting Superintendent Michael Sawyers by a 10-6 vote of the state Board of Education, with Kasich appointees dominating Ross supporters. The two finalists emerged from a list of 30 applicants from 14 U.S. states, New Zealand and Bangkok who were attracted in a search.
Ross said he is excited to oversee the Ohio Department of Education and pledged to advocate the interests of the independent board despite coming from inside the governor’s administration.
He helped craft Kasich’s school-funding formula and education reform package, which has received mixed reactions from districts and educators.
— Associated Press