aKRON
Cops: Boy threatens teacher
AKRON: A North High School student is no longer attending the school after he allegedly set off a firecracker to retaliate against a teacher who issued him an in-school suspension a day earlier.
The 14-year-old student faces criminal charges in Summit County Juvenile Court. A school district spokesman said the teen is no longer attending the school, but declined to elaborate.
According to police and school reports, the teenager set off a firecracker — possibly an M-80 — inside a glue stick on Oct. 12. The firecracker, though, failed to detonate.
Students said the boy threw it toward the teacher, and it smoked, but never exploded.
School officials later found comments the teen made on social media accounts threatening to use a “grenade” to kill the teacher, referring to him by name.
A note was also found on the glue stick reading, “You will pay,” and again referred to the teacher by name.
No one was injured in the incident.
barberton
Library sets holiday shows
BARBERTON: The Barberton Public Library has scheduled a variety of free holiday-themed concerts, with activities ranging from singalongs for kids to Christmas caroling for the family. Seating is first come, first served.
• Joanie Calem will present a singalong performance 10:30-11:30 a.m. Dec. 1, especially geared toward youngsters up to the age of 5.
• Great Lakes Light Opera will perform Christmas carols 7-8 p.m. Dec. 5.
• The Bethany Band Holiday Concert will be 6:30 - 7:45 p.m. Dec. 14. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the performance from the 30-piece band.
CANTON
City to install cameras
CANTON: The city plans to keep a close eye on downtown in the future.
Canton City Council on Monday agreed to spend $40,200 to install 10 security cameras around the center of the city as a way to improve safety, the Canton Repository reports.
“The city’s been exploring this concept, exploring cameras downtown, due to several reasons: the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, developed Hercules, Bliss Tower and the Onesto adding more people downtown,” Councilman David Dougherty told the newspaper.
PENINSULA
Scenic rail chief to retire
PENINSULA: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad President and CEO Craig B. Tallman has announced his intention to retire at the end of the year after nearly five years in the post.
The board of trustees has formed a search committee and hired Ratliff & Taylor of Independence to conduct the search for a new chief executive.
Board Chair Raymond Labuda saluted Tallman for increasing the railroad’s array of service offerings, attracting new riders, maintaining a balanced budget and improving safety, reliability and overall passenger experience.
Formed as a hobbyist railroad in 1972, today the popular excursion railroad that runs through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park serves nearly 200,000 passengers annually and generates revenues of over $3 million.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Sobriety checkpoints set
The Summit County OVI Task Force has announced sobriety checkpoints this Thanksgiving holiday.
An unknown number of checkpoints are scheduled at undisclosed locations across Summit County on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
Unlike many OVI task forces across the state, Summit County’s task force does not release the specific locations or times of sobriety checkpoints ahead of their appearance.
According to a news release from the task force, the timing for these checkpoints is not coincidental.
“Want to spend your Thanksgiving ‘cuffed and stuffed?’ ” law enforcement agents wrote in the release. “Just drink and drive, because we’ll see you before you see us.”