West Side News & Notes
By Stephanie Kist
Metro Parks levy set
for November ballot
SUMMIT COUNTY — The Metro Parks, Serving Summit County Board of Park Commissioners agreed July 12 to place a levy on the November General Election ballot.
Voters will be asked Nov. 7 to approve an eight-year, 1.46-mill levy that would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $3.73 more per month, according to Metro Parks officials. The proposed levy is the park district’s first requested millage increase in 12 years.
Metro Parks relies on one property
tax to fund programs like
the Fall Hiking Spree, as well as maintenance, operating
costs, capital projects and land acquisition. The park
district does not receive tax money from other sources,
such as income and sales taxes.
Director-Secretary Keith Shy
said the increase is necessary if Metro Parks is to
maintain quality programs and services.
“We’ve extended the
Towpath Trail, added new land and created new recreation
and leisure opportunities for visitors,” he said.
“And just like at home, our costs have increased
in recent years. It costs more now to heat our buildings,
mow the grass and drive park vehicles.”
The current five-year, 0.85-mill
levy was approved in 2002.
Shy said going from the current
five-year term to an eight-year levy is an example of
the park district’s continued fiscal responsibility.
“We will not appear before
voters again until 2013,” Shy said. “We
will live within that budget and continue to provide
residents with clean, safe parks that are accessible
to everyone.”
For more information, call Metro
Parks at (330) 867-5511.
Citizens for Metro Parks, a committee
that supports the levy initiative, has created a Web
site at www.vote4metro parks.com with
further information.
Four arrested
in undercover operation
COPLEY — A July 13 undercover
surveillance operation resulted in the arrests of four
people and the seizure of more than 100 grams of cocaine,
marijuana, guns and other drug paraphernalia from a
residence in the 800 block of Rothrock Circle.
Members of the Summit County
Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit and uniformed officers
from the Copley Police Department were involved in the
operation.
Surveillance teams observed Dave
Marsh, 38, of Eller Avenue in Akron, leave the residence
driving a vehicle also occupied by Eric Jones, 23, of
Gayle Street in Akron.
Marsh was known to be driving
under suspension as well as having an active warrant
for probation violation from the Summit County Court
of Common Pleas.
Uniformed patrol officers from
the Copley Police Department initiated a traffic stop.
When Marsh was removed from the driver’s side
of the vehicle, a metal utensil commonly used for smoking
“crack” cocaine reportedly fell out.
A drug detection K-9 was called
to the scene, and a plastic bag containing approximately
1 ounce of marijuana and two plastic bags each containing
approximately 1/8 ounce of cocaine were discovered in
the vehicle.
During the traffic stop, the
owner of the Rothrock Road residence, Ashley Thompson,
23, left the residence and traveled to the scene of
the traffic stop. Thompson admitted to officers that
Marsh was residing with her at the residence.
Members of the Summit County
Drug Unit secured the residence and obtained a search
warrant. During the search, officers found approximately
100 grams (or more than 3 ounces) of cocaine, as well
as marijuana, electronic digital scales, money, other
paraphernalia, a loaded pistol and a handgun.
While officers were conducting
the search, a vehicle driven by Ronald Black, 31, of
31st Street in Barberton, arrived at the residence.
Black was found to be under suspension and cited for
driving under suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Thompson, Jones and Marsh were
charged with one count each of possession of cocaine,
a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable with three to
10 years in prison and fines up to $20,000. Marsh was
additionally charged with probation violation.
According to the Summit County
Sheriff’s Office, the investigation continues,
and more charges are expected.
Family rallies for fund-raiser
RICHFIELD — Family members
of a 1986 Revere High School graduate have joined forces
to organize an event to help him with mounting medical
costs.
The son of Robert and Laura Lea
Frank, of Bath, Brian Frank, 38, is the seventh of nine
siblings, many of whom still live in the area. Brian
now lives in Longmont, Colo., with his wife, Jennifer,
and daughter Kenna, 2.
Brian is battling stage III multiple
myeloma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the plasma
cells. Multiple myeloma causes anemia, a shortage of
plasma, holes in the bones, kidney failure and susceptibility
to infection, according to Laura Lea Frank.
Since his diagnosis, Brian has
undergone two stem cell transplants. The first was not
successful; the second took place earlier this year.
“He has taken bone-strengthening
drugs, steroids, thalidomide and enough chemo to wipe
out all of his white blood cells and most of his red
blood cells,” said his mother.
She added that Brian’s
prescriptions cost about $12,000 a month, and it’s
not certain how much of his care and medications will
be covered by insurance.
The entire Frank family has organized
and will host a Reverse Raffle and Silent Auction Dinner
Aug. 11 at St. Victor’s Church in Richfield. The
evening will begin at 6 p.m., and the $40 ticket
price includes dinner, drinks and bidding on items in
the silent auction.
Silent auction donations include:
gift certificates from hair salons; tickets to the Pro
Football Hall of Fame, National Inventors Hall of Fame,
Great Wolf Lodge, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum and Weathervane Community Playhouse; sports memorabilia
packages; and gift certificates from Garth Andrew’s,
Fussy Cleaners, The Gardener of Bath, Loyal Oak Golf
Course, the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, Distinctions, Wild
Bird Center and Little Gym.
There are also special items
such as a gift basket of 12 Grammy-winning CDs put together
by Brian’s sister, Dawn, who works in the music
business; a painting by Sean Berrodin, a friend of Brian’s
brother, Bruce; and a handmade, quilted wall-hanging
donated by Peggy Bingham, a neighbor and friend of the
family.
Raffle tickets are now being
sold for three special donations, including a $500 ring
from The Jeweler’s Shop, a stay in a San Francisco
bed and breakfast, and a dinner for eight prepared in
the winner’s home by Roger Thomas, chef at Piatto
Novo.
Tickets for a chance to win the
special donations will be available July 22 at the Acme
Fresh Market in Montrose; at Bath Community Day Aug.
5 at the Bath Country Journal table in the tent at the
Bath Community Activity Center; or by calling Mary Alexander
at (330) 867-0892 or Laura Lea Frank at (330) 666-5364.
Tickets for these prizes are
priced at one for $10 and three for $25. For tickets
to the Aug. 11 event or to make a donation, call (330)
867-0892 or (330) 666-5364.
Brian, Kenna and Jennifer Frank
Photo courtesy of Bath
Country Journal
State Route 303 to close
for two weeks
RICHFIELD — The Ohio Department
of Transportation (ODOT) will close state Route 303
at Black Road in Richfield Township July 24 through
Aug. 7 for culvert replacement work.
The detour will be Wheatley Road
(state Route 176) to Interstate 77 to Interstate 176.
The length of the detour is 5.5 miles, according to
the ODOT District 4 office.
PCOS voting system coming
to events near you
SUMMIT COUNTY — The new
Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) voting system will
be on display at fairs and festivals throughout Summit
County this summer. Summit County Board of Elections
representatives will give hands-on demonstrations, register
voters and distribute information about the
new identification law. Residents can use the voting
equipment to cast practice ballots before the Nov. 7
General Election at the following events:
• Akron Arts Expo at Hardesty
Park in West Akron, July 22-23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
• Summit County Fair at
the Summit County Fairgrounds in the Family Pavilion,
July 25-28 from 2 to 8 p.m., July 29 from 8 a.m. to
8 p.m. and July 30 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
• Bath Community Day at
the Bath Township Activity Center, Aug. 5 from noon
to 6 p.m.;
• Annual West Akron
Fest at Erie Island Field, Aug.
12 from noon to 7 p.m.;
• National Hamburger Festival
in Downtown Akron Aug. 12 from noon to 8 p.m. and Aug.
13 from noon to 7 p.m.;
• Summit Lake Community
Festival at the Summit Lake Community Center in South
Akron, Aug. 19 from noon to 5 p.m.;
• Akron Reading Festival
at Lock 3 Live! Park in Downtown Akron, Sept. 16 from
10: 30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and
• Gun Show at the Summit
County Fairgrounds, Sept. 23-24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Forum to discuss re-entry
of ex-felons
WEST AKRON — The Summit
County Community Reentry Forum will host the third in
a series of forums on the re-entry of ex-felons into
society Aug. 1 from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at St. John’s
CME Church, 1233 S. Hawkins Ave.
The target audience for this
forum is Summit County public officials, although the
event is open to the entire community. The forum will
feature speakers Steve Libby, director of public safety
for Summit County; Summit County Court of Common Pleas
Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer; and Edward Rhine, of the
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
The cost is $10, which includes
a continental breakfast. Register by sending a check
to St. John’s CME Church. Reservations are requested
by July 25. For more information, call Joan Davidson
at (330) 996-7296.
Case against exotic animal
farm owner in hands of judge
COPLEY — A U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) administrative law judge is weighing
the case of L&L Exotic Animal Farm, run by Lorenza
Pearson at 2060 Columbus Ave. in Copley.
Pearson has been accused
by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) of violating the Animal Welfare Act
while being licensed and operating as an exotic animal
exhibitor.
A hearing took place in Akron
during the week of June 20, at which USDA lawyers presented
their case against Pearson, who was given the opportunity
to defend himself against the accusations.
USDA spokesman Darby Holladay
said there is no time limit on when a decision can be
made, but media reports have indicated a decision is
expected in November or December.
The farm, which houses animals
such as tigers, a lion, bears and a raccoon, was the
scene of a May 24 fire that killed two tiger cubs, a
bear cub and two iguanas.
Animals also have been removed
from the farm in recent years by representatives from
different agencies, citing violations.
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