AKRON
Fatal SUV accident
AKRON: An Akron man was killed Tuesday night when he lost control of his SUV and crashed into a tree on the city’s west side.
Michael W. Smith, 32, of Yukon Avenue, died immediately after the crash, which took place about 6 p.m. in the 1400 block of East Avenue.
Police say Smith was driving a 2000 Oldsmobile Bravado south on East Avenue near Russell Avenue when he drove off the road.
There were no skid marks at the scene, police said. Smith was not wearing a seat belt.
Alcohol use does not appear to be a contributing factor in the crash.
Akron police and the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating.
Valle office hours
AKRON: John Valle, Akron’s director of neighborhood services, will hold office hours this month at two community centers.
Valle’s hours will be noon to 2 p.m. today at Patterson Park Community Center, 800 Patterson Ave., and 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mason Park Community Learning Center, 700 E. Exchange St.
Milkovich meeting
AKRON: State Rep. Zack Milkovich, D-Barberton, will host a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. today at the Ellet Community Center, 2449 Wedgewood Drive.
Citizens are invited to discuss issues of concern in the 35th House District.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Sykes fundraiser
AKRON: Emilia Sykes, who is running next year for the seat currently held by her father, state Rep. Vernon Sykes, will host a fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Brouse McDowell, 388 S. Main St.
Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, is prohibited from running for re-election in the 34th House District because of term limits. That prompted his daughter to run for the seat he and his wife, Barbara, long have held.
Cost is $100 per person.
For more information, go to www.emiliasykes.com or to her Facebook page, which also is under her name.
HARTVILLE
Village budget flat
HARTVILLE: Appropriations for 2014 will be about 1 percent more than the 2013 total, according to the spending plan the Village Council approved Tuesday.
The general fund of $1,374,596 does not include capital purchases, Finance Committee Chairman James Sullivan said. A police car that had been considered for acquisition in the fall of 2014 might be bought in 2015.
In response to questions from Kenneth Brott of South Prospect Avenue, Sullivan acknowledged the committee had considered raising the village income tax higher than 1 percent.
The suggestion was part of a brainstorming session over ways to compensate for reinstatement of the tax credit for municipal income taxes paid elsewhere as the result of a successful voter initiative.
The 1 percent credit became effective again Monday, Fiscal Officer Scott Varney said. That means residents who paid taxes elsewhere may take the credit for December.
The village income tax cannot be raised without voter approval, Mayor Richard Currie said.
Persons with questions about the application of the credit for the current tax year are advised to call Varney or the income tax clerk at Village Hall, 330-877-9222.
KENT
Memorial service
KENT: A reception and memorial service for Kent State University associate professor Kirk Mangus will be held Saturday at the School of Art Gallery and auditorium.
Mr. Mangus, head of the ceramics program at the School of Art since 1985, died Nov. 24 from a brain aneurysm. His ceramics and drawings have been exhibited and collected for more than 35 years, and his awards included two National Endowment for the Arts grants and four Ohio Arts Council fellowships.
He is survived by his wife, Eva Kwong, a part-time faculty member in ceramics at Kent State, his son Jasper and daughter Una.
The reception will begin at noon with the sharing of poems and artwork; the memorial service will begin at 2. Call 330-672-1369 for more information on the service.
PERRY TOWNSHIP
Serious crash
PERRY TWP.: The State Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that seriously injured a Massillon man who lost control of his car Tuesday afternoon on state Route 21.
Brian Jernigan, 25, was southbound on Route 21 in Perry Township when his 2005 Hyundai Accent went off the left side of the road.
Authorities say the vehicle came back onto the highway and then hit the back of a tractor-trailer, the patrol said.
Jernigan was taken to Affinity Hospital in Massillon after the crash.
The truck driver, an East Canton man, was not injured.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
Bicyclist, 16, injured
SPRINGFIELD TWP.: A Lakemore teenager was seriously injured late Tuesday afternoon when a passing car struck the bike he was riding on Canton Road.
Brandon Kelley, 16, is being treated at Summa Akron City Hospital for unspecified injuries.
The driver of the car was not injured.
Police say Brandon was riding his bike north in the southbound lane of Canton Road near Nidover Drive in Springfield Township when he was struck about 5:30 p.m. by a 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by a 59-year-old Lake Township woman.
The State Highway Patrol said neither drugs nor alcohol use appear to be involved.
The Northeastern Ohio Regional Crash Reconstruction Team was called to the scene to assist.
No charges have been filed.
STARK COUNTY
Tax projections
CANTON: Stark County’s sales tax revenue is expected to increase in 2014 by $1 million, to a total of $23.5 million.
Total revenue in the general fund and the justice system sales tax of 0.5 percent is projected at nearly $55.6 million.
The estimate of resources is included in temporary appropriations county commissioners approved Wednesday.
Temporary appropriations are $19 million, or one-third of the total general fund spending of $57 million expected for 2013.
The Sheriff’s Department has the largest amount of any department at nearly $6 million.
State law requires a permanent spending plan by April 1.
Budget hearings are expected to start Jan. 6.
TALLMADGE
Police food drive
TALLMADGE: The Tallmadge Police Department and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 111 will host their fifth annual “Fill-a-Cruiser” event on Dec. 14.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Giant Eagle, 205 West Avenue in Tallmadge and Acme Fresh Market, 600 South Avenue.
All proceeds and donated items will go to Tallmadge Good Neighbors, a nonprofit organization that supports churches, synagogues, civic and social organizations, businesses, schools, and many private individuals.
Police department workers will be at these locations with police cruisers to accept donations on behalf of the Tallmadge Good Neighbors.
Canned goods and nonperishable food items are always welcome, as are toiletries, monetary donations, and newborn and infant supplies.
WADSWORTH
Raises approved
WADSWORTH: City Council on Tuesday approved 2 percent salary increases for most city employees and some elected officials, effective Jan. 1.
A general salary schedule covering most city employees ranges from $23,942 for entry-level clerical employees to the highest salary for professional/managerial at $125,931.
Salaries of the city auditor and treasurer will increase to $28,176 each, while the president of the council will receive $7,660 and council members, $7,232.
For additional details from Tuesday’s meeting, go to http://Wadsworth.Ohio.com.
WOODRIDGE SCHOOLS
Calendar revisions
PENINSULA: The Woodridge Board of Education will hold a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Woodridge High School library, 4440 Quick Road.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss revisions to the 2014-15 academic calendar.
For additional information, call 330-928-9074.