AKRON
Gas station robbery
AKRON: An Akron man tackled a robbery suspect just after the man snatched cash from a woman at a gas station early Wednesday.
Lee A. Caldwell, 32, was being held in the Summit County Jail on one count of robbery.
According to Akron police, a 65-year-old woman was outside the Circle K gas station at 940 S. Arlington St. about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Police said Caldwell approached the woman, asked for spare change and grabbed the woman’s $20 bill and tried to flee.
The woman’s nephew, 19, was inside a vehicle and tackled Caldwell in the parking lot. A struggle ensued, but the nephew was able to hold Caldwell until police arrived.

Suspect nabbed
AKRON: Akron police, Summit County sheriff’s deputies and members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force have arrested a third suspect in the robbery and slaying last month of an Akron man.
Rahsheem J. Carr is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery. He was arrested Tuesday night at a home on Talbot Street and is being held in the Summit County Jail.
Carr, Demarcus Williams and Robert Davis, all 20-year-olds from Akron, are accused of taking part in the Jan. 10 robbery and shooting death of Phillip Anderson of Akron. Anderson, 24, was found shot and injured in a car parked outside a Princeton Street home. He later died of his injuries.

Fugitive caught
AKRON: An Akron man listed among the “Dangerous Dozen” by the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force has been arrested.
Tramell Wilson, 26, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after law enforcement received numerous tips on his whereabouts, authorities said.
Wilson was wanted in connection with several pending cases in Akron Municipal Court, most recently two counts of felonious assault involving the shooting of two men outside a restaurant on Romig Road.
According to an Akron police report, Wilson approached two men about 3 a.m. June 18 in a parking lot in the 2200 block of Romig Road. Police say he shot one man between the legs and the other multiple times after he had turned to leave. The men survived their wounds.
Wilson was arrested Wednesday after officers saw him enter a house in the 200 block of Turner Street in Akron. He surrendered after about 15 minutes and was taken to the Summit County Jail to await a court hearing.

Prison sentence
AKRON: An Akron man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for armed robbery, kidnapping and fleeing from police during a chase after holding a man at gunpoint outside a home in Hudson last summer, authorities said.
Gerome J. Burns, 34, of Richmond Street in Akron, was convicted of the crimes and other offenses in a bench trial before Summit County Common Pleas Judge Paul Gallagher.
In the Aug. 17 armed robbery, prosecutors said Burns stole the man’s wallet, Rolex watch and gold wedding band, then ordered him to walk behind the home. After the victim refused, staying in the front yard, Burns drove away.
Officers spotted Burns driving a gray late-model Cadillac, chased him through parts of Hudson, Stow, Silver Lake and Akron and finally caught him in the Summit Lake area.
Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh praised the victim for his cooperation with authorities and his courage for “testifying against the person he feared had intended to kill him.”
Court records show Summit County authorities filed 17 separate felony cases against Burns since 1995.

Bus route hearing
AKRON: Metro RTA is considering changes to service on Akron’s west side and will hold hearings Tuesday to hear from the public.
The No. 4 Delia/White Pond route would be streamlined and the No. 26 West Exchange route, discontinued in the 1990s, would be restored in a modified form.
The hearings are 2 to 2:30 p.m. in Metro Transit Center’s Community Room, 631 S. Broadway, and 6 to 8 p.m. at Akron-Summit County Public Library’s Northwest Akron Branch, 1720 Shatto Ave. For more information, go to www.akronmetro.org.

BARBERTON
Grant announced
BARBERTON: Child Guidance & Family Solutions received a $20,000 grant from the Barberton Community Foundation for its Toddlers and Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS) program.
Applications were sent to all child-care centers in Barberton, from which the TAPS Program Advisory Council selected three centers to be served: KinderCare, DiscoveriClub and Lots of Tots. On-site services and training began Jan. 1.
TAPS focuses on children up to 6 years of age, their families and early-care providers. It was created to respond to a trend of preschoolers experiencing expulsion or suspensions from early-care settings due to aggressive behavior. By addressing behavior problems in pre-kindergarten, children can dramatically improve their academic and social success in the years to come, program organizers said.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Judge fundraiser
AKRON: A group of lawyers supporting the campaign to re-elect Judge Paul Gallagher to the Summit County Common Pleas bench will host a “Groundhog Day” fundraiser from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today at Paolo’s, 1 W. Exchange St. Suggested donation is $50.

COLUMBUS
Sawyer tapped
COLUMBUS: State Sen. Tom Sawyer, D-Akron, was chosen by Senate Minority Leader Eric H. Kearney, D-Cincinnati, to help lead the Finance Committee.
The committee oversees legislation impacting the expenditure of state funds. It is also responsible for balancing the state’s operating and capital budgets.
Sawyer has been a member of the Finance Committee since 2009. He will also continue to serve as the ranking minority member of the Senate Education Committee.

KENT
Professor killed
KENT: An 88-year-old Kent State professor died Tuesday night while trying to cross the street near his home.
Authorities are investigating the death of Gordon Vars of Fairchild Avenue.
Gary Guenther, spokesman for the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office, said Vars was attempting to cross the street in front of his residence at about 10 p.m. when he was struck by a Volkswagen Beetle.
Vars was taken to Akron City Hospital following the accident, where he died from his injuries at 11:32 p.m.
Kent State officials say Vars was an emeritus professor of Teaching, Leadership and Curriculum Studies, which is a school in its College of Education, Health and Human Services.

STARK COUNTY
Library book talk
CANTON: The Stark County District Library will help launch the new book Twice as Good about William Powell and the Clearview Golf Club at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Book author Richard Michelson and illustrator Eric Velasquez will be at the Main Library, 715 Market Ave. N to talk about the late William Powell’s struggles as a black golfer in the 1940s and the golf course he built, Clearview, that welcomes people of all races. The book is geared to the young adult audience.
Six holes of miniature golf will be playable throughout the library and door prizes will be distributed. For more information, call 330-452-0665.

streetsboro
Burglary cases
STREETSBORO: A multi-agency investigation has resulted in second-degree felony charges being filed against five people. Three have been arrested: John Hudak, 34, of Streetsboro; Albert Yoho Jr, 38, of Twinsburg; and Janice Posey, 56, of Twinsburg. As of Wednesday afternoon, two were still being sought: Sandra Arciszewski, 44, of Streetsboro, and David C. Rutter, 41, of Streetsboro.
Investigators from Streetsboro, Aurora, Twinsburg, Bainbridge, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Hudson, Stow and Moreland Hills say the suspects were involved in at least 28 burglaries and four other felony thefts in four counties.
Police say suspects would approach a home during morning hours and knock on the door. If no one answered, they would enter the home through an open window or door or by force and look for cash, jewelry, coins and small electronics. Much of the stolen property was then taken to pawn shops and sold for cash.
Some stolen property was recovered at a Wellman Road address in Streetsboro, where police arrested three suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call Streetsboro Police Department at 330-626-4976 or email crimetips@streetsboropolice.com.