COVENTRY — The Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the homicide of Tracy Schley, 41, of Lakota Avenue.

According to Summit County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Investigations Keith Thornton, Schley was found by deputies with a gunshot wound to the head and one to the abdomen in the early morning hours of Nov. 18 at her home.

Deputies also found Edwin Posey, 53, with a gunshot wound to the head at the home. He was taken to a local hospital but died Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m., according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Thornton stated Schley called 9-1-1 as someone broke into her home at approximately 4:20 a.m. When deputies arrived, she was found dead.

Thornton also said deputies found the rear door had been forcibly opened.

Schley’s 8-year-old son was in the home at the time of the shootings but was unharmed. He was taken from the home to a hospital and later released to Schley’s parents. He will be questioned later to help determine what happened, according to Thornton.

Thornton added they believe Schley and Posey had a past relationship.

He also stated Posey has an extensive record of arrests, including a conviction for trafficking in cocaine and marijuana, and burglary. He also was convicted for felony possession of a firearm and spent time in prison for that.

Thornton said the investigation is continuing.

The Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Schley died of the gunshot wounds after an autopsy was performed Nov. 18.

Poda announces launch of meth awareness Web site

SUMMIT COUNTY — A new countywide Web site aimed at helping to provide residents with resources about methamphetamine is now up and running.

The Summit County Meth Awareness site, at www.co.summit.oh.us/SCMA.htm, provides general resources about meth as well as links to affected property searches and other tools. The site also can be found on a link labeled “Summit County Meth Awareness” on the county’s main Web page, www.co.summit.oh.us under “Other Links.

“I am very excited to announce that this Web site is now up and running and ready to help residents gather information on methamphetamine from one central site,” said Summit County Councilman (D-at large) Jon Poda. “If someone wants to see photos of the ravages caused by this drug, they can go to the site. If someone wants to link to a property search for homes found to have the presence of meth, they can do that, too.”

The idea of the Web site stemmed from a recommendation set forth from the Summit County Methamphetamine Property Awareness Task Force earlier this year. Poda sponsored legislation establishing the task force and served as its chairman.

For more information, call (330) 643-2725.

    — By Stephanie Kist

Ohio EPA issues Tuscarawas River Watershed report, sets public meeting

CANTON — Ohio EPA has issued a draft report and set a public meeting concerning water-quality problems and recommended improvements in the Tuscarawas River watershed. 

The draft total maximum daily load (TMDL) report, which identifies adverse impacts and what it will take to restore and maintain watershed health, was completed with local input and incorporates ideas from local planning efforts, according to Ohio EPA officials. The TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards.

Once finalized, the TMDL report will guide Ohio EPA’s issuance of discharge permits and implementation of local storm water programs.

A copy of the draft TMDL report and supporting documents are available on Ohio EPA’s Web site, www.epa.state .oh.us/dsw/tmdl/TuscarawasRiv erTMDL.html. 

The public meeting will take place Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Exploratory Gateway of Sippo Lake Park, 5712 12th St. N.W. 

The Tuscarawas River watershed, comprised of approximately 2,589 square miles, flows through 13 east Ohio counties. This TMDL deals with a portion of that watershed that includes all of the mainstem of the Tuscarawas River and several of its small tributaries.  Akron, Barberton, Massillon, New Philadelphia and Coshocton are among the cities within the project area.

Much of the watershed suffers from organic and nutrient enrichment, flow alteration and loss of protective habitat, according to Ohio EPA officials. Recommended fixes include lower limits on phosphorus discharges from wastewater treatment plants, improving sediment erosion control and storm water management, and eliminating pervasive bacteria problems. 

The federal Clean Water Act requires comprehensive TMDL reports for all impaired water bodies.

Comments concerning the report may be presented at the public meeting, e-mailed to gregg.sablak@epa.state.oh.us or mailed to: Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water, attn: Gregg Sablak, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049, until Dec. 15.

Sheriff’s personnel receive award

SUMMIT COUNTY — Summit County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. William Stokes and Deputy Jeffrey Sampson have received the Medal of Honor from the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association, headquartered in Columbus.

Representatives from the Sheriff’s Office attended an awards luncheon Nov. 12 at the Buckeye State Sheriff’s annual conference at the Canton Marriott to accept the award.

The deputies were honored for their lifesaving efforts in rescuing Tona Fesler, a disabled resident, from a blazing fire in her Green home in December 2007.

Williams has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 11 years and is currently assigned to corrections. Sampson has served for nine years and works in the Patrol Division.

Goods for Guns taking place this week

AKRON — Goods for Guns will take place today, Nov. 21, and tomorrow, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the two locations of Jerusalem Baptist Church: 1225 Vernon Odom Blvd. and 270 E. Wilbeth Road.

Anyone surrendering a firearm will receive a $100 gift card for groceries, no questions asked.

The guns will either be destroyed or returned to their rightful owners if reported stolen.

Nearly 1,000 guns were collected during last year’s event by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.

    — By Stephanie Kist

State auditor issues findings against MAD

SUMMIT COUNTY — State Auditor Mary Taylor released her audit of the Barberton-Norton Mosquito Abatement District (MAD) Nov. 13. The audit includes 10 findings against the MAD, including one finding for recovery that was promptly remedied.

The audit report states MAD Executive Director/Attorney/ Treasurer Joseph Harrison was inadvertently overpaid $850, his monthly compensation for the time period of Feb. 1, 2006, through Jan. 31, 2007. Harrison promptly repaid the $850, the report states.

Taylor also issued material weaknesses and noncompliance citations against the MAD. Most are being remedied by the hiring of a new treasurer, according to MAD officials. These findings include:

• weaknesses with the MAD’s accounting and financial reporting procedures, which officials responded was caused by an outside accountant without experience in government accounting and should be prevented in the future by the hiring of a new treasurer who will use the Uniform Accounting Network to prepare financial statements;
• failure of the outside accountant to maintain a cash journal, receipts ledger or appropriation ledger and to provide Harrison with financial statements in a timely fashion, and the failure of the district to estimate revenue for 2005, 2006 and 2007, again being remedied by a new treasurer; and
• Harrison improperly fulfilling the duties of both executive director and treasurer for a period of time, a matter being referred to the Ohio Ethics Commission. MAD officials responded the duplication was necessary during the MAD’s startup years, and the audit did not detect any unethical conduct.

For a full copy of the report, go to www.auditor.state.oh.us.