CANTON
Teacher killed
CANTON: City police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a Perry Local teacher Saturday morning.
Matthew McLeese, 32, of Perry Township, a sixth-grade science and social studies teacher at Pfeiffer Intermediate, was injured after his car struck a trash-hauling semi at Sherman Church Avenue and Faircrest Street Southwest, the Canton Repository reported. He was pronounced dead from his injuries at Aultman Hospital just before 11 a.m. Saturday.
McLeese was in his eighth year teaching at the school and was a Perry alumnus. He also coached track.
The community held a vigil for him Saturday and grief counseling was available Sunday afternoon at the school for students “to share memories, make cards, or just talk,” the Pfeiffer website said.
Perry Superintendent Marty Bowe in a statement called McLeese’s death “devastating to the Perry family. Matt was a wonderful young man and an outstanding teacher.”
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP
Serious accident
LAWRENCE TWP.: A 22-year-old North Lawrence man was seriously injured early Sunday in a one-vehicle, alcohol-related accident on Erie Avenue, authorities said.
Nathan R. Richards was listed in serious condition Sunday night at Akron City Hospital. He was a passenger in a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Corey Ramey, 22, of Massillon.
Ramey was driving north near Bonham Avenue at about 3:30 a.m. when his car went off the road, struck a utility pole, overturned and stopped against a tree, the Canton post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
Ramey and two other passengers, Brittany R. Winter, 22, and Karl H. Prusser, 23, both of Massillon, were treated at Affinity Medical Center in Massillon for non-life-threatening injuries, the patrol said.
Speed and alcohol were factors in the crash, the patrol said. Ramey was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and refused a blood test, the patrol said.
The crash remains under investigation for possible charges.
BRIMFIELD TOWNSHIP
Party busted
BRIMFIELD TWP.: Township police busted a major party Saturday evening on Meloy Road, arresting 25 individuals, including 15 juveniles.
Brimfield Capt. Christopher Adkins said officers were called to the scene after a report of a loud party and a fight at about 11 p.m. When they arrived, people began to scatter, he said.
Officers determined there was underage drinking and found some marijuana growing. An adult female at the party was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. One man had an outstanding extradition warrant from Oklahoma for passing a forged document.
Kent police sent an officer and a transport bus to take the group to jail.
coventry tOWNSHIP
Sailing talk
COVENTRY TWP.: The Akron Sail and Power Squadron will hold its annual dinner meeting April 4 at Prime 93 restaurant, 4315 Manchester Road.
The keynote speaker will be Tom McNeill, design engineer for Tartan and C&C yachts and lead designer for the new C&C 101.
There will be a cash bar at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $20.50, including tax and gratuity.
Advance reservations are required. Contact Jim Paolucci at 330-929-8133 or tilecraft@sbcglobal.net. The deadline for reservations is Sunday.
AKRON
Hearing set
AKRON: A federal judge will hear testimony next month on whether the last of five bridge bomb-plotting suspects is mentally competent to stand trial.
Judge David Dowd has scheduled the hearing for April 15 for Joshua Stafford of Cleveland.
Court-ordered psychological tests were inconclusive. Written legal arguments are due in the coming week.
No bomb went off and no one was hurt. The four other defendants have pleaded guilty.
The intended target was a bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The FBI said the device was a dud provided by an informant.