AKRON
Robbery arrest
AKRON: A homeless Akron man was arrested after police say he robbed a credit union Tuesday afternoon.
Efrem Twitty Jr., 25, is being held in the Summit Count Jail on felony robbery charges.
He is accused of robbing the Buckeye State Credit Union, 197 E. Thornton St., of an undisclosed amount of cash.
Police say he went inside the credit union about 3 p.m., walked up to a teller and demanded money. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, ignoring a credit union security guard who had followed him out of the building, police said.
Twitty continued to walk until an Akron patrolman found him near Sumner and East Thornton streets. The officer ordered the suspect to the ground and fired his stun gun when Twitty ignored his order, police said. He was then subdued and taken into custody.
BARBERTON
Canoeists sought
BARBERTON: Mum Fest organizers are looking for canoe race participants.
The fundraising event will be held 3:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Lake Anna, and will be reminiscent of similar races held on Sundays in Barberton during the Victorian era.
Barberton Beautification is looking for groups of two people per canoe to race in heats, leaving the east shore, turning midway and returning.
Registration fees are $20 per canoe for the general public, $40 per canoe for nonprofit organizations and $60 per canoe for businesses. All equipment will be provided, and participants will receive a T-shirt.
A trophy listing the winners’ names will be displayed in the Barberton Parks and Recreation offices, and winners will receive an individual plaque.
To register or for more information, call 330-848-6653 or send an email to lmclean@cityofbarberton.com.
CUYAHOGA VALLEY
Bridge opens
The National Park Service is opening a new pedestrian bridge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The nearly $1.36 million bridge is at the Rockside Station at the northern end of the park and will be dedicated today.
The 240-foot-long bridge will take park visitors across the Cuyahoga River to link the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Rockside Station to the Lock 39 Trailhead on the Towpath Trail.
The new bridge will eliminate the need for hikers and bicyclists to use busy and dangerous roads.
GREEN
Public meeting
GREEN: Ward 4 Councilman Skip Summerville will host a public meeting for all residents at 7 p.m. today in City Council chambers, 1755 Town Park Blvd.
The hourlong meeting will begin with an overview of council’s role and a brief update on current Green events.
Guest speakers will include Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry, who will update residents on safety as well as crime statistics and tips for residents; county Prosecutor Sheri Bevan Walsh, who will share the variety of services for families and victims of crimes; and city Deputy Service Director Paul Oberdorfer, who will speak about completed stormwater improvement projects and upcoming projects.
Refreshments will be served.
Reservations are not required but would be appreciated by calling 330-896-6604. The meeting will be streamed at www.cityofgreen.org.
STARK COUNTY
New dog warden
CANTON: Stark County commissioners on Wednesday hired as their next dog warden a man who formerly held the same job in Portage County.
Jon Barber of Edinburg Township in Portage County was hired at a salary of $50,000, which is set to increase to $52,500 after successful completion of a 90-day probationary period.
Barber, who will start Tuesday, said his first priority will be to make the pound cleaner and brighter to make it more attractive to people who visit to adopt a dog. He said he also intends to work with pound volunteers and rescue groups.
Commissioners Thomas Bernabei and Richard Regula approved the permanent replacement for Reagan Tetreault, who resigned. She temporarily had been replaced by Toni Middleton, the former Alliance fire chief and mayor.
Commissioner Janet Weir Creighton, who did not attend Wednesday’s meeting, sent word through county Administrator Brant Luther that Barber possesses the skills and temperament for the job.
Barber, 51, also has worked in Portage County as a deputy sheriff, director of security services and director of homeland security and emergency management.
Portage County commissioners released him from the last position in June. He ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner as a Democrat in the 2012 primary.
In addition to his professional work, Barber said he has rehabilitated animals with Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary in Ravenna.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Rape conviction
AKRON: A Summit County jury convicted a 28-year-old Northfield man of rape, kidnapping and gross sexual imposition for abducting a girl who had been baby-sitting, authorities said Wednesday.
John M. Muzic, of Cranbrook Drive, faces a maximum term of life in prison at his Sept. 6 sentencing hearing before Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty.
In late January, prosecutors said, Muzic stopped at an acquaintance’s home while a baby sitter was there and brought her back to his house after she asked to see his dogs. He then grabbed the girl, dragged her to his bedroom and raped her after threatening to kill her.
Prosecutors said Muzic’s DNA was identified by investigators at the scene of the attack.
Town hall meeting
AKRON: Summit County Councilman Frank Comunale will host a Highland Square town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Highland Square Public Library, 807 W. Market St.
Guest speakers include Phil Nabors, owner of Mustard Seed Market and Cafe, and representatives from the Highland Square Neighborhood Association.
Refreshments will be served.
Comunale also will host office hours from 5 to 6 p.m. at the library.
Both meetings are open to the public.
WADSWORTH
Food festival
WADSWORTH: The 10th annual “A Taste of Wadsworth” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the area between the public library on Broad Street and the Cool Beans Cafe on High Street.
Jack Ollom, executive director of Downtown Wadsworth, sponsor of the event, said 19 vendors have registered to participate. A few are from out of town, with local entrants ranging from the Galaxy Restaurant to pizza shops.
Those who want to sample the range of foods available purchase tickets for $1 each. Ollom said up to 13,000 tickets are sold each year.
When the event is concluded, the vendor with the most tickets is declared the “winner” with the prize being “bragging rights,” he said.
In case of rain, the event will be held Sept. 11.