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In The Region

Blaze ousts residents

from dormitory at KSU

All 183 persons living in a residence hall at Kent State University were evacuated at about 11 p.m. April 1 after a fire caused damage.

Displaced students from Prentice Hall huddled outdoors, stood on a hilltop behind the building to snap photos and gathered inside nearby Dunbar Hall, waiting for news on where they would spend the night.

Lt. Robert Nation of the KSU police said the fire broke out on the second floor. While damage was limited to the room where the fire began, there was smoke and water damage throughout the building.

It is suspected a lamp came in contact with furniture and started the blaze. Firefighters from Kent, Ravenna and several neighboring departments turned out to provide mutual aid.

Students who were displaced for the night were relocated to vacant rooms on campus, according to residence services director Betsy Joseph. Most students returned to their rooms by the end of the day April 2.

Public input sought on

transportation needs

Area residents will have two opportunities to speak out about the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study's "Transportation Outlook," an update of the area's 2030 regional transportation plan.

The meetings will be April 23 at the Twinsburg Library on Ravenna Road and April 24 at the Kent Free Library on West Main Street. Both will start at 7 p.m.

Updated every four years, the plan is a long-term guide for state and local officials in implementing transportation improvements with federal funds.

The April meetings will allow AMATS to explain to the public what the plan is and describe ongoing demographic trends that will affect the agency's identification of area transportation needs.

The April meetings are the first set to seek public input. More meetings will be scheduled in the fall and next spring. At the latter, the draft "Transportation Outlook" will be presented for review and comment.

Spelling Bee planned

The annual corporate spelling bee sponsored by the Portage County Literacy Coalition and Record-Courier will be April 25 at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown.

The bee raises money to fund worthwhile programs in adult literacy and education. A raffle is planned, with tickets costing $2 each or 15 for $10. For details, call 330-221-4667.

Mantua woman faces

ecstasy drug charges

A Mantua woman was charged March 28 with selling ecstasy to an undercover narcotics officer.

Crystal L. Rose, 20, of Woodford Street, was arrested by the Portage County Drug Task Force in Aurora, according to County Sheriff Duane Kaley.

Kaley said Rose is charged with one count of drug trafficking after she allegedly sold ecstasy pills to an undercover officers.

Rose was taken into custody and arraigned March 31 in Portage County Municipal Court in Kent, where her bond was set at 10 percent of $7,500.

The Portage County Drug Task Force comprises officers from the Aurora, Streetsboro, Garrettsville, Kent and Ravenna police departments, Portage sheriff's and prosecutor's offices.

Highway work includes

two routes in Portage

Four area highway projects are scheduled to be completed either this summer or this fall after contracts were awarded recently.

Resurfacing is planned on Route 14 from Streetsboro's east corporation line to a railroad bridge east of Route 88 in Ravenna. A $1.65 million contract was awarded to the Shelly Co. of Thornville.

New turn lanes are planned on Route 59 in Franklin and Ravenna townships from the CSX railroad overpass to Menough Road and resurfacing from Route 261 to Menough Road. North Star Asphalt of North Canton will do the work for $3.97 million.

Resurfacing, turn lane and signal coordinator improvements will be done from the southbound ramps of Route 8 at Steels Corners Road to Hudson Drive in Stow. Shelly & Sands of Zanesville bid $5.1 million.

The Perk Co. of Cleveland will do bridge rehabilitation and erosion repair on Route 8 spanning the North Street railroads and Little Cuyahoga River in Akron. The job will cost $3.29 million.

Nearby library seeks

levy to raise $799,182

Twinsburg Public Library is losing state money, and residents will be asked to help out by passing a 1-mill levy in August, according to Director Karen Tschudy.

"Since 2001, the library has been receiving less funding from the state," Tschudy said. "The only way we get money is through taxes either through the state or locally. for us to continue [our] excellence, we need additional funding."

Library Clerk Treasurer Eileen Holloway said the levy, if approved by voters at a special Aug. 5 election, would bring in $799,182 per year in property tax from residents in the Twinsburg school district.

It would be a continuing levy, meaning it would not have an expiration date. Holloway said it would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $30.63 extra per year.

Twinsburg to get trail

Twinsburg City Council passed legislation March 25 paving the way for a multipurpose trail.

The 3,750-foot trail from Center Valley Parkway to Post Road will allow residents to run, walk or bicycle in the a nature preserve-type setting.

Initially, the trail would have cost $424,750, but $56,350 in savings from in-house work and a $117,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant could reduce the cost to $251,000.

Republican panel sets

election and fundraiser

The Portage County Republican Party's Central Committee will meet April 10 at Maplewood Career Center in Ravenna to elect new officers, according to its chairman Norman Sandvoss.

Dinner will be available for $5 per committee member and guests at 5 p.m., with the meeting set for 6:15.

Current officers, in addition to Sandvoss, are Garrett Ferrara, vice chairman; Mary Parson, secretary; and Debbie Petrone, treasurer.

A chairman's fundraiser is slated May 1 at ThornCreek Winery and Gardens in Aurora.