AKRON
No delays in trash
AKRON: The city will not have a delay in its trash pickup next week, despite the Presidents Day holiday on Monday, authorities said.
Normal curb service will happen on Monday and the rest of the week.

Barberton
Defibrillators in bill
BARBERTON: U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced a bill this week that would provide grants to schools across the country to buy automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and train staff to use them.
This is a companion to legislation introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley Township.
The legislation, which Brown and Sutton are shepherding in honor of Josh Miller, a Barberton High School football player who died of cardiac arrest during a game in 2000, made it through the House twice, only to be rejected in the Senate because of the expense.
“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen at any time and to anyone — even to young and otherwise healthy individuals, like Josh Miller, who had no history of heart problems,” Brown said in a news release.

COLUMBUS
BMV to shut for day
COLUMBUS: All deputy registrars offices of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles will close at 4:30 p.m. March 2 and remain closed all day March 3 for what the state is calling “a complete BMV system modernization.”
Sites are scheduled to reopen March 5.
A list of deputy registrar locations and phone numbers can be found at http://bmv.ohio.gov/county_lst.stm.
Customers also can renew vehicle registrations or purchase license plates online seven days a week at www.oplates.com or by calling 866-675-2837.

COPLEY TOWNSHIP
Zoning code revised
COPLEY TWP.: Township trustees approved zoning code amendments that consolidate 10 residential districts into seven, five commercial districts into four and two industrial districts into one.
The zoning code amendments were in five resolutions approved Wednesday following public hearings.
Township Zoning Inspector Matt Springer said the changes eliminate overlap in code language.
In other business, the township moved toward adding fire dispatch services for Barberton to Copley’s joint dispatch center that already services the township and neighboring Norton.
Trustees voted to authorize township Fiscal Officer Janice L. Marshall to apply for Ohio’s Local Government Innovation Fund for a loan to facilitate “dispatch operations for the cities of Barberton and Norton.”
Copley Fire Chief Michael Benson said the money would be used for new equipment purchases.

GREEN
Board member quits
GREEN: Randy Oing, appointed two months ago to the city’s Parks and Recreation Board, has resigned that position.
An immediate successor is being sought.
City Council President Joel Reed said this week that anyone interested in the five-year term expiring at the end of 2016 should file a resume and letter of interest by 4 p.m. Tuesday with council Clerk Molly Stevens at the Central Administration Building.
Reed also said those filing should be in attendance at council’s Feb. 28 meeting at 7 p.m. in case council members have questions.
Reed gave no reason for Oing’s resignation.
Shortly after his appointment to the parks board, Oing was passed over in a three-person bid to succeed Ward 3 Councilman Anthony DeVitis for the two-year balance of the four-year term.
DeVitis resigned in December to accept appointment as state representative for the Green area.

NORTHEAST OHIO
Gun charges rise
Federal prosecutors in northern Ohio obtained more than 200 indictments for illegal firearms in 2011, the most in six years.
U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach, who oversees the Northern District of Ohio office, said the 218 indictments filed last year are the result of greater emphasis by law enforcement.
“This office places a high priority on keeping firearms out of the hands of those who are forbidden by law from obtaining them,” Dettelbach said in a news release Thursday. “Whether it is a person using a gun to commit a violent crime, a felon illegally obtaining a firearm or a straw purchaser trying to circumvent the law, we will aggressively pursue those who would violate our nation’s firearms laws.”
According to Dettelbach, the agency’s Cleveland office led with 83 indictments.
Youngstown reported 53, Akron had 49 and Toledo recorded 33.
Federal prosecutors say 157 defendants were sentenced last year on gun-related charges and served an average sentence of about five years in prison.
The office filed 220 indictments in 2005. In 2010, the office reported 166 indictments.

Renacci to meet
U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth, announced he will host mobile office hours in the district Feb. 27 and Feb. 29.
Renacci’s staff will be available to provide assistance to constituents on a variety of services and issues including Medicare, Veterans Affairs, Social Security, the IRS and matters regarding federal legislation.
The first session will be from noon to 2 p.m. at the Wads­worth Public Library Public Room A, 132 Broad St.
The second session will be from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Orrville Public Library Community Room A, 230 N. Main St.

STARK COUNTY
Hagan plans hours
LOUISVILLE: State Rep. Christina Hagan, R-Marlboro Township, will hold district office hours from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday at Milann’s restaurant, 1909 W. Main St.
Residents unable to attend can call her office at 614-466-9078 to share their thoughts and concerns on state issues.

STOW SCHOOLS
Program sought
STOW: The Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education has authorized Superintendent Russell Jones to seek World School status for Indian Trail Elementary through the International Baccalaureate program.
IB is a nonprofit educational foundation begun in 1968 and based in Switzerland that enrolls more than 3,000 schools in 141 countries.
Its program has a global emphasis and includes foreign language training.
Jones said the program is “a fantastic opportunity” for Indian Trail students and that the IB program is recognized around the world for its cutting-edge approach to education in the 21st century.
Alternative sources, such as grants, currently provide funding for the program. Jones said the district will continue to seek such funding to keep down costs to the district.
The board limited current participation in the IB program to Indian Trail.
Member Rodney Armstrong voted against the resolution, citing cost concerns and other factors.
He said the IB program is an unnecessary financial burden in a district already rated “Excellent.”
He also said the six district elementary schools should be providing a consistent framework, rather than singling out one for an alternative program.
Board member Fred Bonacci had expressed similar concerns about the program, then met with teachers at Indian Trail.
He said those most involved with IB informed him they wanted to see things through for at least another year, so he voted in the affirmative.

STREETSBORO
Crash victim dies
STREETSBORO: A Ravenna man died Thursday from injuries in a two-car accident earlier in the week, Streetsboro police reported.
Henry Kelker, 68, was driving on state Route 14 between Lake Rockwell and Price Road in Streetsboro about 3 p.m. Tuesday when his 2006 Kia went left of center, authorities said.
He struck a red 2011 Kia being driven by a 29-year-old Streetsboro woman.
Responders from the Streetsboro Fire Department transported Kelker to Summa Akron City Hospital.
The Ravenna Township Fire Department took the woman to Akron General Medical Center, where she remains hospitalized.
Streetsboro police said it is unknown why Kelker went left of center.
Neither alcohol nor drugs are considered factors.
An investigation continues.