AKRON
Pedestrian killed
AKRON: A woman was struck and killed by a hit-skip driver while crossing Darrow Road on Wednesday night in Akron.
Rebecca Altuz, 58, was crossing Darrow Road near Eastlawn Avenue about 9 p.m. when she was struck by a vehicle and the driver left the scene, according to the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office. Altuz, who lived on Darrow Road, was taken to Summa Akron City Hospital, where she died from her injuries.
About 2:30 a.m. Thursday, police arrested Jimmie D. Kirkman Jr., 67, of Newton Street, who reportedly admitted driving the Chevrolet Blazer involved in the crash.
Kirkman was charged with hit-skip. Police said alcohol appeared to be a factor in the crash.
Naming an octopus
AKRON: Akron Zoo officials will hold a naming contest for the park’s newest acquisition: a giant Pacific octopus.
Like most of the zoo’s residents, the octopus arrived minus a moniker.
To remedy that oversight, people can nominate and vote for their favorite name online at www.akronzoo.org. The contest, which started Thursday, will conclude at 5 p.m. Sept. 13. Zoo personnel will narrow down the names to three and present them in the tank for the octopus to select her own name, much as her predecessor, Cora, had done.
The person submitting the winning name will receive an octopus prize pack and a behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo’s Journey to the Reef exhibit.
The new octopus has been on exhibit since mid-July. She was acquired after Cora passed away because of an age-related illness. Cora, whose exact age was unknown, arrived at the zoo as an adult.
Typically, the life span of a giant Pacific octopus is three to five years.
The naming contest for Cora in 2008 drew 2,220 suggestions.
Crash closes road
AKRON: Merriman Road in Akron was closed for several hours after a traffic crash early Thursday.
A vehicle knocked down a utility pole at Merriman and Eaton Avenue just after 3 a.m.
According to Beacon Journal news partner WEWS, the woman driver of the vehicle was taken to an area hospital. Her condition was not released.
Police said alcohol might have been a factor in the crash.
Anti-violence talk
AKRON: Assistant Chief of Police Charles Brown will speak at the monthly Community Welfare Forum luncheon at noon Sept. 18 at First Congregational Church, 292 E. Market St.
Brown’s topic will be In Search of Urban Peace, Addressing Violence.
Cost is $10, payable at the door in cash or by check made out to Community Welfare Forum.
Reservations are due by 2:30 p.m. Thursday by emailing CDonatelli@All4Youth.org or calling 330-864-1359.
BRUNSWICK
Stabbing arrest
BRUNSWICK: A Brunswick man accused in a stabbing case made his initial appearance Thursday in Medina Municipal Court.
Karl M. Phelps, 27, of Old Eagle Drive, is charged with felonious assault. His bond was set at $300,000.
Brunswick police said Phelps is accused of stabbing another man Wednesday behind Buehler’s on Center Ridge Road.
Child porn charge
BRUNSWICK: Bond was set at $100,000 Thursday for a Brunswick man charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.
Police on Wednesday arrested Brandon T. Price, 26, after a search at a home in the 2000 block of George Drive.
Computers and other electronic devices were confiscated.
Price was booked into the Medina County Jail. He was scheduled fro a preliminary hearing Sept. 16.
COPLEY TOWNSHIP
Homes to be razed
COPLEY TWP.: Trustees approved resolutions Wednesday authorizing the demolition of two homes on Hemphill Road and one on Aberth Drive.
The demolitions are part of the Move Ohio Forward program, which focuses on ridding municipalities of problem properties. Township crews demolished seven abandoned homes in July.
Move Ohio Forward grant money is paying for the demolitions. Summit County received $3.8 million in state funds that was divided among municipalities to cover the cost of razing abandoned homes.
Planning Director Matt Springer said if the one-time grant program were extended, it might afford the township the opportunity to raze additional abandoned properties.
In other business, township brush collection is scheduled on the township’s east side for Monday and on the west side Sept. 16.
Trick-or-treat in Copley will be 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27, in sync with begging in Fairlawn and Bath Township.
CUYAHOGA FALLS
Appreciation day
CUYAHOGA FALLS: Cuyahoga Falls will celebrate its first First Responders Appreciation Day on Sept. 29.
The event is sponsored by Summa Western Reserve Hospital, the city of Cuyahoga Falls and the Cuyahoga Falls fire and police departments.
The all-day, family friendly event at Falls River Square will feature face painting, rock wall climbing, police dog demonstrations, the Woodridge High band and other attractions.
All attending first responders will be entered into a drawing to win prizes.
Leading up to the event, children in kindergarten through fifth grade can take part in a poster contest. Through Sept. 16, students can submit posters to their teachers showing first responders in action or what first responders mean to the community. Four winners — two boys and two girls — will be selected to receive new bicycles as prizes.
For more information about the appreciation day, contact Kathy Romito, community outreach coordinator at Summa Western Reserve, at 330-971-7408 or romitoks@summithealth.org.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Utility trailer theft
GREEN: A man from Green faces charges stemming from the theft of a utility trailer from Jackson Township.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said it was contacted by a buyer on Craigslist who complained that a utility trailer that was purchased for $800 was found to have been stolen in Jackson Township on Aug. 29.
Investigators tracked down the seller in Green.
Joseph Sparrow, 43, faces a charge of receiving stolen property.
Authorities said a search of his home recovered two additional trailers, HVAC tools, a firearm and cash. One trailer did not have a vehicle identification number, and the other had an obliterated number.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 330-643-8634.
March talk
COPLEY TWP.: The Federated Democratic Women of Summit County will have a luncheon meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. George’s Fellowship Centre, 3204 Ridgewood Road.
The topic will be comparing and contrasting the March on Washington in 1963 to the march in 2013.
Speakers will be Ernestine Hayes, secretary and first vice president of the Federated Women of Summit County, and Judith Lynn Lee, who is a photographer and reporter with the Reporter.
Cost is $15 per person.
For reservations, call 330-865-8280.
WADSWORTH
I-76 ramp closures
WADSWORTH: Highway construction workers will close the westbound entrance ramps to Interstate 76 from state Route 261 and state Route 94 for five days each this month, the city said.
The ramps will not be closed at the same time. The ramp at Route 261 will be closed starting Monday. The Route 94 ramp will be closed beginning Sept. 16.
Contractor Shelly and Sands will set up detour routes, the city said.
The closures are planned to alleviate safety concerns while the contractor works on the ramps.
The work is part of a larger project to rebuild I-76 from state Route 57 to the Summit County line.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Ice cream social
AKRON: Akron Councilman Bruce Kilby will host a free ice cream social at 1 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot at 1495 S. Hawkins Ave., just north of Henry’s Acme.
Kilby, the Ward 2 councilman, is running for one of three at-large seats in Tuesday’s primary. He is competing against the three current council-at-large members: Jeff Fusco, Linda Omobien and Mike Williams.