AROUND THE REGION
Two Akron residents plead guilty in 2023 shooting that left 1 dead, 2 injured
One day before they were scheduled to appear before a jury, two 27-year-old Akron residents pleaded guilty to charges including involuntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony, in a shooting that left Darius Hoisten dead and two others injured in May 2023.
Meriah Lewis also pleaded guilty to assault, a first-degree misdemeanor, but had a firearm specification dismissed, according to court documents. She is represented by attorney Rhonda Kotnik.
Derren Lewis, represented by attorney J. Reid Yoder, also pleaded guilty to assault, a first-degree misdemeanor, and felonious assault, a second-degree felony, with an amended one-year gun specification. A second felonious assault charge and one three-year gun specifications were dismissed.
They will be sentenced at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross’ courtroom.
City Council seeks residents’ input on Ward 8 replacement
Ward 8 residents can tell Akron City Council what they’d like to see in their new council representative at a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the cafeteria of Firestone CLC, 470 Castle Blvd. City Council is seeking a replacement for James Hardy, who resigned from the council July 1.
Council has until July 29 to appoint a replacement, otherwise the mayor will appoint someone. Interested applicants must have resided in Ward 8 for the past year and can submit their letter of interest and resume to the clerk of council at sbiviano@akronohio.gov by noon July 22.
Hardy’s replacement will be selected from the pool of applicants by a committee of council members that includes Margo Sommerville, Jeff Fusco, Eric Garrett, Tina Boyes and Sharon Connor.
Those who are unable to attend the town hall can share their thoughts with the selection committee by contacting Sommerville, the council president, at ward3@akronohio.gov.
Blasts expected at Camp Garfield from Thursday through July 19
Residents and business owners near Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center in Portage and Trumbull counties may notice an increase in blast noise from the area while explosives and hand grenades are used by several units during nine days of training starting this Thursday and continuing through July 19.
Sounds from the explosions may be heard farther away than what occurs during normal operations. There will be intermittent explosions and gunfire at the facility during annual training season, which typically runs through about September.