AKRON
Man robbed, shot
AKRON: Police say a 22-year-old Akron man was shot after he was robbed of his iPod, credit cards and driver’s license Tuesday afternoon.
The victim said he was at a car wash on Frederick Boulevard around 3 p.m. when five males approached.
One pulled out a gun and demanded the victim’s property. The victim was shot as he tried to run away after surrendering his belongings.
The victim suffered a minor wound to his arm and refused treatment.

Election complaint
AKRON: Akron Councilwoman Tina Merlitti has again filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against David Reymann, one of her challengers in the Ward 7 race.
Merlitti contends that Reymann, her Sept. 13 primary opponent, made a false statement in a campaign piece. The commission will have a probable cause hearing today.
Merlitti plans to go forward with the hearing, despite Reymann’s unexpected statement Wednesday that he is withdrawing from the race. Reymann sent an email to the Beacon Journal saying he is dropping out and throwing his support behind Donnie Kammer, another candidate for the seat.
Merlitti said Reymann’s name still will appear on the ballot and she wants to clear up a statement he made in a campaign piece he distributed. She said he is “trying to deceive the voters.”
In his piece, Reymann said Merlitti was illegally appointed to serve on council because she was a civil servant and wasn’t permitted to hold an elected position.
Merlitti said her appointment in 2005 was done in accordance with Akron’s charter.
Summit County Executive Russ Pry moved Merlitti into an unclassified position after questions arose about whether she could hold both the job she had and her council position. The county Human Resource Commission is developing a policy on political activity by classified county workers.
Reymann said this week that he might have “used the wrong wording” in his flier, but he thinks this “didn’t make any difference.”
The elections commission reprimanded Reymann, who has run for council numerous times, in 2007 for making false statements about Merlitti.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Williams’ fundraiser
AKRON: Akron Councilman Mike Williams, a Democratic candidate for Akron mayor, will have a community barbecue fundraiser from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Local 330 union hall, 161 Massillon Road.
Pulled pork, cheesy potatoes, collard greens, baked beans and desserts will be served. The suggested donation is $20 and may be paid at the door.
Williams will face Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and Janice Davis, who has never held office, in the Sept. 13 primary.
For more information on the event, call 330-431-4816 or visit www.williamsforakron.com.

COPLEY TOWNSHIP

Husband sentenced
COPLEY TWP.: Summit County Common Pleas Judge Lynn Callahan sentenced an 86-year-old Copley Township man on Tuesday to 15 years to life in prison for the shooting death of his wife last March.
Glenn Burbridge pleaded guilty to shooting his wife of 67 years, Alice Burbridge, 83, in the face and head after an argument that lasted through the day.
After the shooting, Burbridge called 911, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Alice Burbridge died at Akron General Medical Center shortly after the shooting.

CUYAHOGA FALLS

Grandfather charged
CUYAHOGA FALLS: A grandfather was arrested Wednesday on charges stemming from the accidental drowning earlier this year of his 1-year-old granddaughter.
Michael Yoder, 46, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endangering, according to a news release from Cuyahoga Falls police.
Gary Guenther, a spokesman for the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Officer, said Yoder’s granddaughter, Isabella Jones, was left with a sibling unattended in a bathroom at Yoder’s home on Hanover Street about 8:45 p.m. March 30.
Yoder told police he left the children in the tub with about 6 inches of water while he went to the kitchen on the same floor to put away groceries. After a few minutes, Yoder returned to the bathroom and found Isabella lying face up, partially submerged.
The girl was taken to Akron Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
An attorney for Yoder could not be identified.
A spokesman for Cuyahoga Falls police was not available to provide more information.

FAIRLAWN
Ribbon cutting
FAIRLAWN: The city will unveil the Fairlawn Park Soccer Fields at a public event scheduled for today.
The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the soccer fields, 3303 Ridgewood Road.
Mayor Bill Roth will cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the opening of the fields. Teams from the Copley Fairlawn Athletic Association will take to the fields on Saturday.

MEDINA
Wine, cheese party
MEDINA: The Medina Rotary Club is hosting the 28th annual Wine & Cheese Party on Friday at Medina Hospital.
The event runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the hospital’s Entrance A near parking lot B. Cost is $25 per person and will be held rain or sunshine.
The annual event benefits the Medina Hospital Foundation and the families it serves. The occasion also offers wine basket raffles and 50/50 prizes. The party is open to the public.
For ticket information, call Pam Voss at 216-357-9386, Fran Hober at 330-721-5229 or Ken Tender, 330-524-2190.

STARK COUNTY

Civil War
CANTON: The Stark County District Library will remember the beginning of the Civil War on Saturday with a Rally ’Round the Flag program.
The program at the main library, 715 Market Ave. N., will feature music, speakers, readings, history re-enactors and children’s games from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. Speakers will include Kelly D. Selby, a history professor at Walsh University with expertise in Civil War history, and Civil War blogger Geoffrey Elliott of North Canton, who maintains a site dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln.
Re-enactor Sally Whitson will portray Julia Grant, the wife of Union general and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, and Frank Motz, Lincoln.
Kris and Jeff Kiko-Cozy will play guitar and pennywhistle to perform music from the Civil War era.
The program is free and open to the public. For details, call 330-458-2754.

SUMMIT COUNTY

Crash report
AKRON: Traffic crashes last year in the Akron region were higher than the previous year, but still lower than the figures from nine years ago, according to the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study.
A three-year analysis released Wednesday included reviews of more than 52,000 crash reports from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
The group’s analysis shows that area crashes increased by 2 percent to 16,873 in 2010 from 16,471 in 2009. Last year’s figures are about 6,200 fewer than in 2002, the study notes.
Motorcycle riders were most vulnerable, representing 2 percent of the crashes but 22 percent of fatalities. Pedestrians accounted for 1 percent of the crashes but 14 percent of the fatalities, the study found.
As for the highest-ranked roads for crashes, the study identified Canton Road from Akron’s south corporate line to Triplett Boulevard as the most prevalent spot for crashes. Total crash figures were not available.
Portage County is home to the second- and third-highest ranked crash sites with state Route 44 from Tallmadge Road to Interstate 76 in Rootstown Township and state Route 59 from Willow Street to Luther Avenue in Kent.
The other most accident-prone sites in Summit County include South Broadway at East Thornton Street in Akron and the Darrow and Graham roads intersection in Stow.