AKRON
School lockdown
AKRON: Akron’s David Hill elementary school was placed on lockdown Thursday morning.
A school spokesman said police received a tip that a father suspected of murder was coming to the school to pick up a child.
The family’s history also includes domestic violence, the spokesman said.
The father reportedly was from somewhere outside the city of Akron.
The lockdown, which meant no one was allowed to enter or leave the school, was lifted at 10:23 a.m.
Man shot, wounded
AKRON: Akron police are investigating the shooting of a man about 5 p.m. Thursday in the 800 block of Lovers Lane.
Police said the victim is cooperating with investigators, and his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.
No other information was immediately released.
Murder sentence
AKRON: An Akron man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for the strangulation death last May of 68-year-old Leonard McHaddon in the bedroom of his Ripley Avenue home, authorities said.
Shannon Mount, 44, of East Turkeyfoot Lake Road, must serve 40 years before he is eligible for his first hearing before the Ohio Parole Board.
Mount was sentenced by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tammy O’Brien after a jury returned guilty verdicts in March on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property.
At the time of the slaying, May 30, Mount was out on parole. He had been released from prison the previous October after serving time for aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and theft from a 2006 case.
Prison for molester
AKRON: A 62-year-old Akron man was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison for molesting two young children, authorities said.
Jack Carmel, of Killian Road, pleaded guilty to five counts of gross sexual imposition. Prosecutors said he admitted molesting two girls over a period of several years.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands issued the sentencing order.
COVENTRY TOWNSHIP
Fire grant
COVENTRY TWP.: The Coventry Township Fire Department was awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The $58,036 grant will be used for operations.
HARTVILLE
Truck purchase
HARTVILLE: Village Council authorized the purchase of a dump truck with a snow plow and other equipment at a cost not to exceed $80,000.
The 2013 Ford F-550 truck will be obtained through the state’s cooperative purchasing program.
NORTHEAST OHIO
Peace awards
The Barberton, Norton, Wadsworth Peace Group will forgo its customary meeting on the fourth Tuesday of the month and instead will sponsor the eighth John T. Looney Peace and Justice Award banquet at 6 p.m. April 27.
This year’s recipient is the Rev. Glenn Royer.
The ceremony will be held at Grace United Church of Christ, 3285 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton.
Tickets are $16.
Reservations are due by Monday.
For more information, call 330-644-4249.
MEDINA
Chief shoots self
MEDINA: The city’s police chief says he was accidentally shot in the leg when his gun discharged as he was pushing it into his holster while getting ready for work.
Chief Patrick Berarducci was shot through his upper thigh when the .40-caliber handgun went off Thursday morning.
The 62-year-old chief told the Medina Gazette his wife helped him stop the bleeding. He later was treated at a hospital and released.
Mayor Dennis Hanwell says an investigation will be conducted to determine if there is a training or safety issue that needs to be addressed.
— Associated Press
NORTH CANTON SCHOOLS
Van donated
NORTH CANTON: A longtime supporter of Hoover High School athletics has donated a new 2013 eight-passenger Chevy Express 1500 van to the district.
The list price of the van is $32,000 but the educational deduction lowered the price to $24,000.
The Board of Education officially accepted the gift at its monthly meeting Wednesday.
The van will be used to transport members of the varsity golf, tennis and swim teams to competitions, district Business Manager Todd Henne said.
The donor asked for anonymity.
“I know people will be curious, but they just have to keep on guessing,” Henne said.
PORTAGE COUNTY
Park cleanup
Volunteers are needed on Saturday for an Earth Day cleanup of the shorelines and roads at West Branch State Park.
Individuals and groups are asked to arrive at 9 a.m. at the park’s west boat ramp on Rock Spring Road in Edinburg Township. Volunteers will be assigned areas in the park.
Dress for the weather and bring work gloves.
The event will conclude at noon with a hot dog cookout and potluck lunch. Each participant will get a packet of wildflower seeds and a tree seedling.
For more information, call 330-654-4989.
STOW
Blast probe
STOW: Authorities have cordoned off the home where an explosion Wednesday night rocked a neighborhood and injured two men.
The city’s narcotics unit and members of the Summit County Drug Unit were called to a duplex in the 1400 block of Mac Drive on Wednesday night.
Authorities say investigators “removed a large quantity of materials from the residence for evaluation.”
Fire crews were called to the home around 8 p.m. after a violent explosion blew out the front windows. Neighbors who ran to the home said the two injured men told them they were mixing floor cleaners.
Responding safety personnel found the front windows of the home blown out when they arrived at the residence.
Authorities say a 29-year-old Stow resident and a 28-year-old Middlefield resident were in the home at the time of the explosion. They were taken to the burn unit at Akron Children’s Hospital for treatment.
Police said Thursday that the investigation continues and no charges had been filed.