AKRON
Nightly interstate closures
AKRON: The Ohio Department of Transportation is warning highway motorists that there will be various nightly lane closures and stopped traffic along Interstate 76/77 through Akron from March 15 through March 20.
The state agency will be placing bridge beams under Wolf Ledges Parkway through mid-March.
The stoppages should last no longer than 15 minutes and take place between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The work is part of an ongoing $84 million project to reconstruct the interchange at South Main Street and South Broadway.
The reconstruction project is scheduled to be completed by July 2020.
Court stays execution
AKRON: The Ohio Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the execution of Akron’s Dawud El Spaulding pending the outcome of his appeals.
His execution had been set for Jan. 20, 2021.
In February 2013, Spaulding was sentenced to death for the killings of 28-year-old Erica Singleton and 31-year-old Ernest Thomas outside Singleton’s Akron home in December 2011.
Court records show a judge had granted Singleton a protection order against Spaulding at the time.
Prosecutors said Spaulding stalked and terrorized Singleton before killing her.
Spaulding also was convicted in a related shooting hours earlier that left Thomas’ nephew paralyzed.
BATH TOWNSHIP
‘Owl Prowl’ event
BATH TWP.: The education programs provided to the community by staff from the University of Akron Field Station continue with “Owl Prowl” starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Nature enthusiasts of all ages are invited to participate in this dusk hike in the Bath Nature Preserve to look for some of Ohio’s owls under the expert guidance of a birder from the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Following the hike, guests will return to the UA Field Station to warm up and learn more about these fascinating creatures.
Each family will be able to dissect an owl pellet.
Participants should meet at the UA Field Station parking lot, accessible from 4240 Ira Road.
Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather.
For updates, check: https://www.facebook.com/UAFieldStation?fref=ts or call 330-972-7155.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Nichols-Rhodes fundraiser
CUYAHOGA FALLS: The Nichols-Rhodes for Council Committee is hosting a fundraiser to re-elect Cuyahoga Falls Ward 4 City Councilwoman Mary Nichols-Rhodes.
The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cashmere Cricket, 2235 Front St. Sponsorship levels are $25, $50, and $100.
CUYAHOGA FALLS
Boil alert issued
CUYAHOGA FALLS: The city has issued a water boil alert for the areas of Northland Street between Second Street and Wadsworth Avenue, and Wadsworth between Second and Third streets until 5 p.m. Friday.
The alert was required after water pressure dropped following a water main repair, the city said.
For more details, call the Water Utilities Department at 330-971-8130.
GREEN
Memorial campaign
GREEN: The city of Green this week launched a $125,000 campaign to complete the combined Veterans and First Responders Memorial Park by the proposed Sept. 11 dedication.
Valerie Wolford, the city’s communications coordinator, announced during this week’s council meeting that the joint project will continue to be called the Green Veterans Memorial Park.
The memorial is located off Steese Road near the John Torok Senior Center and Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.
Council approved moving $40,000 from the park’s capital project for the fundraising events related to construction of the First Responders Memorial.
The Ducks of Portage Lakes organization also made a $4,000 donation to help finance the memorial.
Dining out events to benefit the memorial will begin all day both March 13 and 14 at Menches Brothers in Green; April 11 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Jerzee’s on East Turkeyfoot Lake Road; May 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at CiCi’s Pizza in the Arlington Ridge Plaza; and a date yet to be announced in June at Chipotle in the Arlington Ridge Plaza.
An Honor Our Heroes poker run is also a summer fundraiser for the memorial, along with the sale of veterans and first responder T-shirts throughout the campaign.
A percentage of each check will be donated to the project, Wolford said.
Two other major events include:
• A parent/child ShamRock Dance Party featuring dinner and dancing March 18 at the Queen of Heaven Parish Life Center off Steese. Cost is $25 per one parent and one child couple. Additional adult tickets are $20 and additional youngsters are $5.
• Sale of paver bricks for both the first responders and veterans memorial sites. Order forms, prices and donation forms are posted on the city’s website at: www.cityofgreen.org.
Education fundraiser
GREEN: The Green Schools Foundation is hosting its Celebration of Education from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Green High School, 1474 Boettler Road.
The event includes musical performances from third- and fourth-grade students, the middle and high school jazz bands, vocal ensemble and a Greenwood’s Got Talent show.
There also will be an Academic Challenge and Laws of Life reception.
Interactive binary clock demonstrations will be in the Bulldog Beat Studio at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
Other activities include inflatables, face painting, the Scholastic Book Fair, Deputy Hart with the MRAP armored vehicle and more. Concessions will be sold.
Proceeds will help support teacher grants and scholarships to graduating seniors and the Academy of Scholars program for all grade levels.
MEDINA COUNTY
Jail program tested
MEDINA: Medina County is participating in a pilot program that allows some nonviolent felons to serve sentences in county jails instead of going to state prison, Beacon Journal news partner Newsnet5.com reports.
Medina is one of eight counties in the program that state officials say could save the state $20 million over two years, the television station says.
Instead of inmates being sent to prison, the state pays the counties $23 a day per inmate to serve their sentences in the local jail.
Gov. John Kasich included the program in his state budget and it could be expanded to 50 counties if approved by lawmakers.