AKRON
Drug bust at AMHA
AKRON: Three people were charged, and crack cocaine and a digital scale were seized, during a raid this week at an Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority residence.
Germaine Brooks, 37, was charged with illegal manufacturing of drugs, possession of cocaine, possession of criminal tools and occupying drug premises.
Kenneth D. Johnson, 35, of Akron, was charged with illegal manufacturing of drugs, possession of cocaine and possession of criminal tools.
Anita L. Johnson, 54, of Akron, received a court summons for allegedly permitting drug abuse.
The monthlong investigation by Akron police narcotics officers and AMHA security ended Monday with a search warrant executed in the 400 block of West Miller Avenue. Officers seized 5 grams of crack cocaine, a digital scale and equipment used to manufacture crack cocaine.

Heist at Swensons
AKRON: A Swensons restaurant worker was robbed of the business’s bank deposit early Thursday.
The worker, 19, told police a gunman confronted him outside the South Hawkins Avenue restaurant about 1 a.m.
The man demanded the money bag, containing $1,495, fired a shot into the air and then drove away in a silver Ford Crown Victoria. The worker was not harmed.
Police described the robber as a black male in his early 20s with black dreadlocks and a goatee. He wore acid-washed jeans and a black coat.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips can be left via the Internet at http://akronohio.gov/asp/tip.html.

Burglary witnessed
AKRON: Three teens were arrested Wednesday after a neighbor spotted them carrying a TV from a house, police said.
Akron police were called to the area of LaFollette Street about 2:30 p.m. when a neighbor saw the teens break out a window of a nearby house. The teens were seen carrying a TV from the home and driving away in an SUV, police said.
As officers arrived, the youths exited the vehicle and ran. Police eventually caught all three and recovered the TV.
Dante D. Walker, 18, of Baird Street, and two 15-year-old boys were charged with burglary and obstructing official business.

Drugs discovered
AKRON: Akron police responding to a couple’s domestic fight discovered 36 marijuana plants, 20 firearms and a large amount of ammunition.
Jason Gower, 34, was arrested on charges of domestic violence, cultivating marijuana and drug abuse. He was taken to the Summit County Jail.
Officers were called to Gower’s home on Watson Street about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a dispute led Gower to push his wife to the ground and hold a gun to her head.
She is 10 weeks pregnant, police said.
She was eventually freed and called police. She was treated at a local hospital.
Officers investigating the incident said they smelled marijuana while talking to Gower after the incident. They noticed marijuana inside the house and they obtained a search warrant to seize the plants and weapons, officers reported.

Vehicle strikes boy
AKRON: An Akron boy who ran into the street to avoid a charging dog was struck Thursday morning by a passing car whose driver never stopped.
The boy, 9, was treated at Akron Children’s Hospital for what police described as nonlife-threatening injuries.
Police were looking for the driver of a four-door brown Lincoln Towne Car.
According to officers, the boy was walking on a sidewalk along Wall Street about 8 a.m. when a dog began charging him. To avoid the animal, the boy ran into the street and into the path of the car, police said. The driver kept going.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips can be left via at http://akronohio.gov/asp/tip.html.

Sledding at Lock 3
AKRON: Area residents can slide their way into fun starting today in downtown Akron’s Lock 3 Park.
A new 150-foot-long sledding hill, which will work with or without snow, is opening, as is the city’s large ice-skating rink.
The rink will be attended Thursdays to Sundays. At other times, during daylight hours, skaters may use the rink at their own risk. Skates can be rented for $3.
The sledding hill will be open weekend evenings until 9and 1 to 4 p.m. on weekend afternoons. The cost is $3 per sled for a half-hour.
The other holiday festivities at Lock 3 Park, including shopping, food and drinks, will begin next weekend, starting with a lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday.
A complete schedule of hours and events is available at www.lock3live.com.

Bath township
Grant to build deck
BATH TWP: Bath was recently awarded a $45,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund federal grant through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The grant, which Bath submitted earlier this year, will pay for half the cost of building a deck and observation platform at Bath Pond in the Bath Nature Preserve, according to Mike Rorar, assistant service director/park administrator.
The grant requires a 50 percent match of $45,000, to be funded by Bath Township and the Bath Park Board.
The decking, which replaces an old dock at that site, will be more than 100 feet long, said Rorar, and will extend over the scrub brush marsh and lily pads that normally make the pond inaccessible.

BOSTON HEIGHTS
Sewer proposal
BOSTON HEIGHTS: The Ohio Department of Transportation intends to tie its Summit County Garage into the city of Hudson’s sewer system.
The $535,814 project, scheduled for next summer, would eliminate a septic system at the garage, 6144 Chittenden Road.
The state will accept public comment on the proposal until Dec. 16.
Comments should be directed to Robert Lang, a state environmental specialist, at 330-786-4975 or Robert.Lang@dot.state.oh.us.

Railroad seeks CEO
BOSTON TWP.: The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is seeking a new president and chief executive officer.
The tourist railroad on Thursday announced that Steven Wait has announced his intention to retire in April 2012.
Wait, 59, had led the railroad since November 2006.
During his tenure, Wait expanded the visibility of the organization, increased ridership levels over 70 percent and stabilized its financial condition.
Board of trustees chairman George Snider said, “Steve has helped CVSR become one of America’s largest and most respected excursion railroads. The board plans to conduct a nationwide search for his successor.”
Senior-level executives interested in applying for the position can submit their resume to ceosearch@cvsr.com.
Stan Austin, superintendent of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, said, “Steve Wait’s vision and commitment to improving visitor safety, accessibility and responsiveness to customer needs has enabled the National Park Service to provide improved services to the public. His collaborative and cooperative spirit has benefited us all.”

COPLEY TOWNSHIP
Meeting on budget
COPLEY TWP.: Trustees will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 29 in Township Hall to discuss the budget and 2012 capital expenditures.
The annual Christmas tree lighting on Copley Circle is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Township Fire Chief Michael Benson said Santa will make an appearance.
The event is sponsored by the Copley Township Fire and Rescue Association, which also does the lights and decorations.

KENT
Free gaming kiosks
KENT: The PlayStation College Tour will be in Kent tonight.
Six PlayStation 3-D gaming kiosks will be set up from 9 to 11:59 p.m. at Ray’s Place, 135 Franklin Ave., for people to check out new PlayStation games and equipment.
The event is free.

northeast ohio
Peace group talk
The Barberton, Norton, Wadsworth Peace Group will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Grace United Church of Christ of Loyal Oak, 3285 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton.
Guest speaker Betty Taylor, acting president of Citizens for Global Solutions, will discuss The International Criminal Court, Responsibility to Protect.
The talk is free.

Civil rights forum
CLEVELAND: The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms are hosting a civil rights forum today and Saturday.
The event, titled A Wake-Up Call for Civil Rights, will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with speakers both days at the Islamic Center of Cleveland, 6055 W. 130th St., Parma.
For more information, call 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247.

Orrville
Peanut butter recall
ORRVILLE: J.M. Smucker Co. of Orrville has voluntarily recalled some 16-ounce jars of its Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter (chunky style) because it might be contaminated with salmonella.
Smucker says no illnesses have been reported.
The jars being recalled have “Best if Used By” dates of Aug. 3, 2012, and Aug. 4, 2012, and the production codes 1307004 and 1308004.
The product was distributed in Ohio and other states, and would have been purchased since Nov. 8.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and others with weakened immune systems.
Consumers who purchased the jars with the production codes and use-by dates can call the company at 888-550-9555 — from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. — for more information and to obtain a replacement coupon.
The company might require proof of purchase.

SUMMIT COUNTY
Sex arrests in park
GREEN: Summit County sheriff’s deputies arrested three men on sex-related charges during a sting operation this week at Nimisila Reservoir.
The men, ages 62, 73 and 70, were charged with misdemeanors.
According to sheriff’s officials, two of the men were charged with sexual imposition. The third was charged with public indecency. The men were booked into the county jail and their cars were towed from the park.
Other men, deputies said, engaged in sexual talks with undercover officers during the operation but said they were afraid of being arrested.
Sheriff’s deputies pledged more patrol and undercover operations in the future.

Arrest in invasion
GREEN: A woman sleeping on her couch was attacked by three men who forced their way inside her Green home.
One suspect was taken into the custody Wednesday.
Darrnell Roper, 22, of Akron, was charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. He was being held in the Summit County Jail.
Arrests on two others were imminent, sheriff’s deputies said.
The attack occurred Oct. 29 at the woman’s home on Sewell Avenue. Earlier in the day, she was visited by one of the suspects in response to an ad she posted on Craigslist.com, deputies said.
The 43-year-old woman told police she was awakened and assaulted with a handgun. Her purse, cell phone, cash and electronics were stolen. She suffered minor injuries from the assault, deputies said.

TALLMADGE SCHOOLS
Grant awarded
TALLMADGE: The Tallmadge Board of Education on Wednesday accepted a gift of $1,240 from the Tallmadge Education and Community Fund.
The money is a grant awarded to Justin Christopher, a middle-school teacher who runs the Gateway to Technology program.
It will be used to complete projects under way by the Tallmadge Middle School Robotics Club.

wadsworth
Help for sewers
WADSWORTH: The City Council has approved a dry basement program to help property owners remedy problems of sanitary sewers backing up into homes.
Under the program, home­owners will be reimbursed up to $2,500 to investigate and solve problems caused by the back flow.
Up to $1,000 of the total amount can be used for investigation and the remainder to reimburse the property owner for up to 50 percent of the construction cost to fix the problem.
The council also signed an agreement with Copley Township that provides the township the use of the city’s firing range to train its police officers and Wadsworth the use of the township’s Internet connection to run certain mobile data systems for its police department.