AKRONHousing grantAKRON: FirstMerit Bank and East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. have received $41,500 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati to help low- and moderate-income
homeowners with rehab and emergency repairs.The money, awarded through the Carol M. Peterson Housing Fund, is targeted to homeowners with special needs and the elderly. Through the program, each homeowner may receive a grant up to $7,500.Overall, the bank has awarded $849,000 to financial institutions and nonprofit housing organizations in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.“Many special needs and elderly homeowners live on fixed incomes and these grants will significantly improve their quality of life,” said Damon Allen, the bank’s vice president and community investment officer.Facebook rapeAKRON: An Akron man will spend eight years in prison for raping a woman he met through Facebook.Daran Thomas, 21, of West Long Street in Akron, was also labeled a Tier III sex offender.Authorities say Thomas invited the victim to his house and professed his love to her. When the woman tried to leave, he raped her.BEACH CITYCrossing workBEACH CITY: The RJ Corman Railroad Co. will install flashing lights and gates at the Justus Avenue/County Road 307A railroad crossing, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio said.The upgrade will be paid for through federal funds. The railroad will be responsible for completing construction by Sept. 14, 2012, the PUCO said.The PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devices. Last year, the agency played a part in the installation of lights and gates at 72 crossings.COLUMBUSLawyer reprimandedCOLUMBUS: Kent attorney Eric R. Fink was given a public reprimand by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline for initially failing to cooperate in the investigation of a client grievance, court officials said Wednesday.There was no fine for his conduct and no suspension of his license to practice law.Although the grievance eventually was dismissed, the high court findings stated that Fink did not reply to certified letters seeking his response to the grievance, or to subpoenas ordering him to appear and give a deposition to the grievance committee of the Akron Bar Association.Failing to do so, court officials said, was conduct “prejudicial to the administration of justice.”Court officials said Fink fully cooperated in the investigation once he learned of its seriousness and “did not cause any harm or monetary loss to his clients.” Inmate escapes MANSFIELD: Authorities are searching for a Mansfield Correctional Institution inmate who walked away from the prison Wednesday.Jeffrey Lewis, 25, of Akron, was incarcerated Oct. 4 after being charged with two counts of receiving stolen property. He was expected to be released March 2, 2013.Lewis was noticed missing from his work assignment at the prison’s garage at 9:25 a.m.Local police, the State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are working to find Lewis.The prison was locked down after his escape, meaning inmates will remain in their cells until further notice.Lewis is white with blond hair and blue eyes, stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 166 pounds. He has ties to Summit and Medina counties. He was sent to prison after being sentenced for drug-related cases out of the two counties.GREENAppropriations setGREEN: John “Skip” Summerville, chairman of the city’s Finance Committee, told council on Tuesday that Green’s 2012 budget would be about $35.4 million — 16.2 percent lower than appropriations for 2011.Council approved the operations appropriation after Summerville said the city had no reduction of staffing levels this year while maintaining a six-month operating reserve and adding a part-time clerk in human resources and three new workers for the Service/Highway Division.Raises also were granted to firefighter/paramedics and nonunion staff members. Interest rates on borrowing and investments remain level, he said.Council also approved:• A change order totaling $292,000 for Town Park Boulevard Extension and Steese Road Extension, primarily for special lighting using less energy and for construction of a temporary retention pond.• A new three-year contract for nearly $5.8 million with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office for 17 deputies, a full-time detective and a part-time direct indictment officer. Law Director Stephen Pruneski said the contract is cheaper than the expiring contract, due primarily to concessions by the sheriff’s office.• A maintenance and beautification easement for Heritage Crossings of Green at the intersection of Massillon and Boettler roads.NEW FRANKLINSuspect nabbedThe U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Southern District of Florida U.S. Marshals arrested a man wanted in New Franklin on a rape charge.Jeremy P. Huth, 40, had been wanted on charges of rape of a minor that occurred at the end August in Summit County.Authorities say Huth, who is originally from the Akron area, had traveled from his Florida home and was in Akron visiting family members when the minor was attacked. Earlier this month, Huth was profiled by media outlets in Florida as the Fugitive of the Week.Based on a tip, U.S. Marshals in Southern Florida spotted Huth’s vehicle Monday parked in a lot in Key West.Authorities say Huth had changed his appearance and dyed his hair. Officers staked out his vehicle and he was arrested without incident. He is in the Munroe County Jail, awaiting an extradition hearing.NORTH CANTONGolf leaseNORTH CANTON: City Council has approved an amended lease with R&S Golf Properties, operators of the Fairways at Arrowhead.If the city opts to sell the property within the next two years, the amended agreement stipulates that R&S Golf Properties must be notified by June 1, 2012 or June 1, 2013.R&S would then have until Dec. 31, 2012 or Dec. 31, 2013 to operate the course.Council President Jon Snyder said there has been interest in purchasing the property. He declined to provide further details.The agreement also gives R&S Golf Properties principals Robert C. Purcell and David Scott DeMuesy, an option to buy the property for not less than the appraised value. The option is good until 2014.After 2014, R&S has an option to manage the course for another three years. The lease includes a five-year option after 2017.R&S Properties is current with lease payments to the city but has fallen behind in paying property taxes. The city will pay the tax bill of $16,089, but has asked the county to reconsider basing the taxes on the lower $1.9 million appraised property value.Councilman-at-large Mark Cerreta said R&S seems to be making progress, with a growing membership and a strong revenue stream from banquets.PLAIN TOWNSHIPFirefighter retiresPLAIN TWP.: Trustees on Tuesday accepted the retirement/resignation of one of the original full-time firefighters in the Plain Township Fire Department.Bill Meers officially retires Jan. 7. He served 33 years with the department.After holding two public hearings on electric aggregation, trustees approved a plan for township residents with FirstEnergy Solutions. It will save residents at least 9 percent on their electric bills, trustees said.After a discussion about building restrooms at Schneider Park, trustees authorized the park director to look into obtaining grants to pay for the facilities.REVERE SCHOOLSContract extendedBATH TWP.: The Revere school board has granted a three-year contract extension for Superintendent Randy Boroff.The contract, which runs from Aug. 1 to July 31, 2015, includes no change in Boroff’s current salary of $128,469. But he will be offered a stipend of $1,500 for the 2012-13 school year. Any salary change in the final two years of this contract will be merit-based after reviews of Boroff’s performance evaluation.While Boroff’s new contract includes no salary increase in 2012-13, he does annually receive $10,000 for an annuity, IRA and other related expenses; plus $9,000 for mileage and a car allowance; plus $3,000 Internet access and cellphone service. Those figures remain the same from the contract Boroff received three years ago.SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIPFood driveSPRINGFIELD TWP.: The Springfield Township Professional Fire Fighters Local 3040 said it collected enough nonperishable food and money during its Nov. 12 annual pancake breakfast to feed more than 50 families.The breakfast, held at the fire station, was done in conjunction with Springfield Cares. Donations were received from Giant Eagle, Pressler Meats, Golden Coral and Dollar General.PORTAGE COUNTYFlood repairNELSON TWP.: The state will help resolve flooding problems on Pierce Road in Nelson Township with a $76,326 grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission.Pierce Road had a critical structural failure when severe floods washed away a significant portion of the road. A segment of the road was deemed impassible and closed. The damage also caused significant safety implications, as it lengthened response times for emergency vehicles.State Rep. Kathleen Clyde, D-Kent, helped arrange for the grant.STARK COUNTYMeeting canceledCANTON: Stark County commissioners will not hold their regular weekly meeting Dec. 28.The last meeting of the year will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday on the second floor of the County Office Building, 110 Central Plaza S.SUMMIT COUNTYLibrary hoursAKRON: The Akron-Summit County Public Library will be closed Dec. 24-26 for the Christmas holiday.On Dec. 31, the system’s branches will close at 5 p.m. All branches will be closed Jan. 1 and 2 for the New Year’s holiday.For information, go to http://ascpl.lib.oh.us/.Councilman electedAKRON: Summit County Councilman Nick Kostandaras was chosen this week as second vice president of the County Commissioners’ Association of Ohio.The Columbus-based group, made up of representatives from all 88 Ohio counties, advocates on behalf of counties at the state and federal level. “I’m very honored and privileged,” Kostandaras said. “It’s all about helping and I’m totally committed to collaboration and bringing jobs to Summit County.”Food driveTWINSBURG: FirstLight Home-Care of Twinsburg and Covenant Medical Equipment & Supplies are hosting a food drive for residents of low-income housing complexes for the elderly throughout Summit County.“It is astonishing to learn how many seniors in our community go without essentials like food,” FirstLight owner Kent Craig said.Donors can drop off non-perishable items at FirstLight, 9241 Ravenna Road, Suite C-10, by Dec. 21. Ideas for donations: boxed food like macaroni and cheese, pizza mixes, pasta, crackers; canned goods like caned meats, soups, pasta, vegetables and fruit; and snacks such as pudding and chips.The food will be delivered Dec. 22.WADSWORTHScam warningWADSWORTH: Police say they have received reports recently of a person going door to door claiming to represent ADT Security and trying to sell home security alarm services.The man is wearing a shirt with an ADT logo, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.ADT does not solicit service by going door-to-door, authorities warn.If residents get a visit from a person matching this description, they should contact the police department. Authorities would like to speak with him.If you have seen this person, notify Wadsworth police of the area of the city where he was seen by posting a comment on the Facebook page or by calling the department tip line at 330-335-2769.Authorities request residents provide any information they might have about the person, including a vehicle description.