BLOOMINGTON, Minn.: Scott Weiland, the former frontman for the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, has died. He was 48.

The singer’s manager, Tom Vitorino, confirmed the death to The Associated Press early Friday morning. Vitorino said he learned of Weiland’s death from his tour manager. He did not provide further details but referenced a statement on Weiland’s Facebook page.

The statement said Weiland, who was dogged by substance abuse problems throughout his career, passed away in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Weiland’s current band, Scott Weiland & the Wildabouts, had been scheduled to play a show in nearby Medina, Minnesota, according to a local venue’s website. The website showed the event was canceled. It did not give a reason.

Weiland’s wife, Jamie Weiland, also confirmed his death to the Los Angeles Tribune.

“I can’t deal with this right now,” she said, sobbing. “It’s true.”

The singer rose to fame as the frontman of the Grammy Award-winning Stone Temple Pilots, whose hits include “Interstate Love Song,” “Plush,” and “Vasoline.”

The band broke up in 2003 and Weiland went on to front Velvet Revolver, the supergroup that featured former members of Guns N’ Roses, including guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan. Among that group’s hits was “Fall to Pieces.”

The Stone Temple Pilots eventually reunited in 2008.

“The story’s not finished,” Weiland told The Associated Press at the time. “There’s more to be revealed and more to be told.”

But the group split again in 2013.

Weiland had a long string of drug- and alcohol-related arrests and stints in rehab. In 1995, he was arrested after deputies found him carrying crack and heroin. He pleaded guilty to felony heroin possession in 1998. And his arrests for drug possession and stints in rehab led the Stone Temple Pilots to cancel tour dates and contributed to their 2003 breakup.

WASHINGTON: The U.S. economy generated another month of solid hiring in November, making it highly likely that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates from record lows this month.

The Labor Department said Friday that employers added 211,000 jobs, led by big gains in construction and retail. And the government revised up its estimated job growth for September and October by a combined 35,000.

The unemployment rate remained a low 5 percent for a second straight month. More Americans began looking for jobs in November, and most found them.

Employers have now added an average 213,000 jobs a month over the past six months. The robust hiring indicates that steady consumer spending is powering the economy even as weak growth overseas and low oil prices squeeze U.S. manufacturers and drillers.

Investors didn’t react much to the jobs report, which was generally in line with expectations. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was little changed at 2.31 percent, and stock index futures were up about 0.5 percent in pre-market trading, roughly the same as before the report was released.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen said this week that the economy appeared to be improving enough to justify a rate hike as long as no major shocks undermine confidence before the Fed meets Dec. 15-16. For the Fed, conditions seem nearly ideal for a period of small and gradual rate increases: Job growth has been consistently solid, and wages have begun to rise but not so much as to cause concern about future high inflation.

Since the Great Recession ended 6½ years ago, average hourly pay has grown at only about two-thirds of the pace typical of a healthy economy. In November, average hourly wages rose 2.3 percent from 12 months earlier. The November jobs report shows that the U.S. economy “is strong enough to withstand an initial hike in interest rates from what were seen as emergency record-low levels some six years ago,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit. “A December rate hike now looks to be in the bag.”

Job gains were broad-based across the economy in November. Construction companies added 46,000 jobs, the most in two years. Construction spending has jumped to the highest level in eight years, boosted by more homebuilding and development of more roads and infrastructure. Government added 14,000 positions, retailers nearly 31,000. But factories shed 1,000 jobs.

Americans are spending more on costly items like cars and homes. Their stepped-up spending has supported the U.S. economy and offset drags from falling oil prices and weak growth overseas.

Auto sales, for example, jumped to a 14-year high in November, boosted in part by Black Friday deals offered throughout the month. Industry analysts expect auto sales to total a record 17.5 million for 2015.

Steady job gains this year and low mortgage rates have also boosted home sales, though sales have leveled off in recent months. Purchases of existing homes have increased nearly 4 percent from a year ago. Sales of new homes have jumped nearly 16 percent.

Americans are eating out more often, driving restaurant sales much higher. Retailers have reported weak revenue in recent months, but online purchases were robust on Black Friday.

Still, a strong U.S. dollar is weighing on U.S. exports and cutting factory output, while also lowering profits for U.S. multinational corporations. The dollar has jumped 13 percent in value in the past year, thereby making U.S. goods costlier overseas and imports cheaper in the United States.

The dollar could rise further next year should the Fed raise interest rates even as its counterparts overseas, such as the European Central Bank, cut them further. Higher rates would attract investors to the dollar, driving up its value.

Separately, falling oil prices have cut factory output as drilling companies have ordered less steel pipe and other materials, such as fracking sand. Businesses overall have cut back on investing in computers and equipment this year.

The economy expanded at a modest 2.1 percent annual rate in the July-September quarter. Most economists have forecast that it will grow at a still relatively subpar 2.5 percent this year, only slightly above its average pace since the recession officially ended in mid-2009.

FRIDAY

DIVISION V

Canton Central Catholic (10-3) vs. Coldwater (14-0), 10 a.m.

DIVISION VII

Mogadore (13-1) vs. Fort Recovery (12-2), 3 p.m.

DIVISION II

Perry (12-2) vs. Cincinnati La Salle (12-2), 8 p.m.

———

SATURDAY

DIVISION VI

Kirtland (13-1) vs. Maria Stein Marion Local (13-1), 10 a.m.

DIVISION I

Lakewood St. Edward (13-1) vs. Huber Heights Wayne (14-0), 3 p.m.

DIVISION IV

Steubenville (13-0) vs. Columbus Bishop Hartley (10-3), 8 p.m.

———

THURSDAY

DIVISION III

Archbishop Hoban 33, Toledo Central Catholic 20

An Akron-based jewelry retailer has created a geeky collector’s piece that is in a price range far, far away all in the name of charity and Star Wars.

As part of the “Force 4 Fashion” effort, Kay Jewelers, part of the Akron-based Signet Jewelers family, has created a “custom-designed gold and diamond BB-8 collectible” that pays tribute to the new droid in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The one-of-a-kind collectible is part of a collaborative effort by designers to create fashion items inspired by characters from the new movie that will be auctioned for charity.

Kay’s droid stands at 4¼ inches and weighs just over a pound, but don’t let its tiny size deceive you. The custom BB-8 collectible is set in 18 karat yellow gold and has a total diamond weight of 18 carats.

The creation will be on display at the Star Wars “Force 4 Fashion” event — presented by Kay Jewelers — in New York along with works by other designers including Billy Reid, Cynthia Rowley, Diane von Furstenberg, Giles Deacon, Halston, Opening Ceremony, Ovadia & Sons, Parker, Rag & Bone, Timo Weiland and Todd Snyder.

Once the show wraps up later this month, the BB-8 collectible — with its more than 860 diamonds — will be put up for auction to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as part of the Star Wars: Force For Change effort. Details of the auction are still being finalized.

“We are honored to be presenting the ‘Force 4 Fashion’ event and thrilled that this one-of-a-kind collectible design will benefit our long-term partner, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said George Murray, Kay’s chief marketing and merchandising officer, in a statement. “More than 600 hours went into the design and development of the BB-8 replica.”

The one-of-a-kind item has reportedly been appraised at $135,000.

For those shoppers on a Stormtrooper’s salary, Kay offers a more affordable line of Star Wars-inspired jewelry in its stores.

From rings to pendants to earrings to bracelets, the jeweler’s items in its store feature Star Wars characters from Yoda to R2-D2 to Darth Vader to a BB-8 with a whole lot of less bling.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will launch in theaters on Dec. 18.

Craig Webb can be reached at 330-996-3547 or cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld pointed to this week’s gun violence to distance himself from his opponents in the 2016 U.S. Senate race.

Before a small crowd at the Akron Press Club luncheon Friday, the 31-year-old Democrat and Prince­ton graduate attacked former Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, and Sen. Rob Portman, the incumbent Republican, for signing and supporting bills that have made it easier to buy and carry guns in Ohio.

Sittenfeld’s pro-gun-control message, coming after a week of deadly mass shootings in Colorado and California, played well to the 42 attendees.

“I agree with everything he’s saying based on the violence getting out of control,” said Amanda Brown, a University of Akron political science and criminal justice major who voluntarily attended the speech at her professor’s recommendation.

“As a student, honestly, sometimes I don’t feel safe.”

Sittenfeld railed against the NRA’s influence in a “broken” Congress. He reiterated the gun-rights lobby’s endorsements of Portman, who voted again Thursday to block universal background checks, and Strickland, who signed a bill that added bars to the list of places where Ohioans can carry guns.

The Ohio Democratic Party, which has endorsed Strickland, said that its candidate, like many other Democrats, has supported stricter gun laws ever since the December 2012 deadly shooting in Connecticut at Sandy Hook Elementary, which took the lives of 20 children and six adults.

“He certainly picked a timely subject,” noted Sen. Tom Sawyer, a Democrat who attended the luncheon.

Sawyer said Sittenfeld delivered an impressive “policy speech — not a stump speech.” But the state senator is withholding his judgment.

“I’m not endorsing anyone at this point,” the contemplative Sawyer said. “I’m not making the same mistake as the Ohio Democratic Party.”

Experience and guns

Periodically glancing at his typed notes during his 25-minute talk, Sittenfeld rattled off alarming statistics and anecdotes: 32,000 U.S. gun deaths each year; persons on terrorist watchlists barred from planes but buying guns; the Charleston, S.C., church shooter acquiring a gun through a federal loophole; and on and on.

An equally long question-and-answer session immediately deviated from the gun-control debate.

Attendees instead volunteered questions on engaging millennials (Sittenfeld would be the only millennial in Congress if elected), a $15-an-hour minimum wage (the candidate said increasing base pay is good for the economy but should be implemented gradually), Islamic terrorism (Sittenfeld prefers supporting an international coalition to fight terrorism) and political experience (Sittenfeld has never held public office beyond city council).

Sittenfeld, who has challenged Strickland to a debate, conceded that he lacks experience.

“I look forward to a debate with Sen. Rob Portman,” he said. “When he says something along the lines of, ‘Well, Sittenfeld, you don’t have much experience.’

“And I look forward to saying I don’t have experience when it comes to voting against common-sense background checks. I don’t have experience when it comes to telling women what to do with their bodies. I don’t have experience when it comes to voting against the living wage. I don’t have experience as the Bush budget director before the economy took a dive. I don’t have experience as the U.S. trade rep when the trade deficit with China exploded.”

“There is good experience and there is bad experience.”

Getting out there

Sittenfeld not only lacks experience, but he also lacks name recognition.

Still, he’s hopeful that he can celebrate a win over Strickland in March by getting married in June before advancing to the general election in November. Early polling, however, is not in the young politician’s favor.

A Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released in October showed Strickland, who will address the Press Club on Jan. 25, narrowly defeating Portman, who has not committed to speak at the Akron luncheon. The same poll has Portman trouncing Sittenfeld, should the two meet.

There’s hope for Sittenfeld, though. While 78 percent polled gave an opinion of Strickland, a well-known ex-governor, a whopping 86 percent said they hadn’t heard enough about the lesser-known Sittenfeld.

Two things will happen between now and March, the candidate told the audience. People will start to tune in and his campaign will begin to spend the $750,000 he said it has raised.

But even with outside help — New Leadership for Ohio, an outside super PAC, raised $370,000 in two weeks to promote Sittenfeld — Portman is far out front with $11 million left in the campaign war chest.

Doug Livingston can be reached at 330-996-3792 or dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com.

The city of Norton has a Dec. 15 deadline to respond to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency after it cited the city for failing to comply with a 2013 agreement on building sewers in the Nash Heights neighborhood.

Norton has failed to take the needed steps to implement that 2013 sewer agreement, the EPA said.

The agency directed its letter to Norton Law Director Justin Markey because of what it called the seriousness of the violations resulting from the city’s noncompliance.

Norton potentially faces escalated enforcement action, a referral to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, a lawsuit and civil penalties imposed against the city, the EPA said.

The agency demanded to know when it can expect Norton to seek needed state permits, start construction and complete the entire sewer project to serve about 270 houses, the EPA wrote.

Norton City Council met on Thursday for two hours behind closed doors to discuss the matter. No action followed.

Norton administrative officer Valerie Wax Carr declined comment on Friday.

In the agency’s strongly-worded letter, EPA officials were clearly unhappy with Norton.

“It is unclear to Ohio EPA as to the city of Norton’s intentions going forward and its plans to comply with the findings and orders,” wrote attorney Bill Fischbein of the Ohio EPA.

“After expending significant efforts to assist the city and affording the city the additional time to bring this effort to fruition, it is extremely disappointing to find the agency’s efforts and courtesies were not well spent,” he added.

Norton and the EPA had signed an agreement on Nov. 14, 2013, on unsanitary conditions occurring in the Nash Heights area due to pollutants including health-threatening bacteria from failing home septic systems that fouled local waterways.

The state’s findings and orders that were signed had been negotiated by Norton and the EPA.

That agreement called for the work to be done in three phases and to cost about $11.3 million.

Phase 1 for Nash Heights East called for Norton to seek an EPA permit by Nov. 15, 2013, start construction by May 15, 2014, and complete the work by June 1, 2015.

Phase 2 along Greenwich Road called for a state permit by April 30, 2014, beginning construction by March 30, 2015, and completing work by May 30, 2016.

Phase 3 in Nash Heights West called for plans to be submitted to the EPA by April 30, 2015, construction to begin by March 30, 2016 and the project to be completed by May 30, 2017.

None of those deadlines have been complied with by Norton, the EPA said.

On Jan. 29, 2014, Norton requested a 90-day extension for Phase 1 and Phase 2. That request was approved by the EPA.

Summit County and Barberton are working with Norton on the sewer project. During much of 2014 and 2015, Norton was involved in sewer negotiations with the county and Barberton. The EPA assisted in those meetings.

The EPA said that the county and Barberton are complying with the terms of an April 22, 2015, agreement on the sewer project but Norton has not. “Progress to effectuate the terms and conditions of the [agreement] on the part of the city of Norton apparently have not occurred,” the EPA wrote.

Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.

Akron Mayor Jeff Fusco has removed himself from the crowded contest for Akron City Council president.

Fusco, who ascended to mayor earlier this year after a political shuffling that began with longtime Mayor Don Plusquellic’s resignation, was one of four council members who had expressed an interest in leading the council.

“It’s cool,” Fusco said Friday in a phone interview. “I have no problem taking my name out of the equation.”

Also on Friday, Council President Mike Freeman announced that the council will have a special meeting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday to vote on legislation that would delay the council’s organizational meeting from Dec. 14 until Jan. 4. Freeman is proposing this one-time change to remove any potential conflict with Fusco voting on council leadership when he is the mayor.

Council’s Rules Committee deadlocked 2-2 last Monday on the ordinance. Councilman Jim Hurley, who has indicated his support for the legislation, was absent.

Freeman said the special council meeting was necessary because of a timing issue. The legislation moving the organizational meeting must be passed 30 days before the meeting will be held. That meant Saturday was the last possible day for a vote on the issue.

Councilman Bob Hoch, who is among those interested in the council presidency, has said changing the organizational date would “delay the process of government and the business of council.”

Fusco and three other new council members were elected to the council and will assume their seats in January. This is expected to disrupt the balance of power on the council that had favored the council members who generally sided with the administration.

The other council members who have said they are interested in the presidency are Donnie Kammer and Linda Omobien.

Fusco said he isn’t sure whom he will support for the presidency.

“I don’t know who, exactly, all the players are,” he said.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith. Read the Beacon Journal’s political blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/ohio-politics.

Summit County Councilwoman Sandra Kurt is angling for a different position in county government.

Kurt, who also is the temporary chairwoman of the Summit County Democratic Party, filed petitions Friday to run for Summit County Clerk of Courts, a seat that will be open next year because of current clerk Dan Horrigan being elected Akron mayor.

“For stability and continuity, we need somebody good in that office,” Kurt said Friday in a phone interview. “We need someone who is competent to make sure Danny’s improvements are continued and can be built upon.”

The Summit County Democratic Party’s precinct committee officials will appoint someone early next year to fulfill the remaining year of Horrigan’s clerk term. Whoever is appointed, though, will have to run for election for a full, four-year term next year.

The filing deadline for the March primary is Dec. 16.

Kurt will cease heading up the county party in January when Akron Mayor Jeff Fusco reassumes the chairman role. Fusco, who became mayor this year after a political shuffling that started with the surprise resignation of longtime mayor Don Plusquellic, was elected to an at-large council seat in the November election.

Kurt will return to being the county party’s second vice president when Fusco retakes the party’s reins.

Kurt said she is hoping she will be chosen to fulfill Horrigan’s term and then can hold on to the seat in the election. She thinks she is the right person for the job because of her private- and public-sector experience. She is a retired industrial engineer from Goodyear who has served for five years on Summit County Council and did a brief stint on Akron City Council before that.

In addition, Kurt said she has worked closely with people in all levels of county government during her time on the county council.

“They know me. They understand me,” she said. “I can pretty much hit the ground running.”

Kurt, though, faces competition from at least one other Democrat and may have a challenger from the Republican ranks.

Bradford Carlton, also a Democrat and an attorney in Cuyahoga Falls, is circulating petitions to run for clerk. Carlton filed to run for the Ward 6 Akron City Council seat this year, but withdrew from the race.

Carlton, who plans to file his clerk petitions next week, said he decided to run for the clerk seat shortly before the November election after hearing about other people who were considering pursuing the position.

“I heard other names and the reasons why they wanted to do it,” said Carlton, who has never held public office. “To me, the reasons had nothing to do with performing the job. I figured someone needs to step up.”

Carlton says he’s qualified based on his experience as a lawyer and working for Stark County Probate Court where he served as deputy clerk of courts, a staff attorney, a bailiff and a court administrator.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith. Read the Beacon Journal’s political blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/ohio-politics.

‘A Christmas Story’ in Cleveland

Bumpus hounds, Chinese turkey and decoder rings: Cleveland Play House’s live version of the perennial favorite A Christmas Story continues with performances at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, running through Dec. 23. Get there early so you can check out the decorated trees in the lobby and take a selfie with the “Major Award.” It’s at the Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland; tickets are $20-$80 at 216-241-6000, www.playhousesquare.org.

Bar crawl in Cuyahoga Falls

Seven bars and restaurants in Cuyahoga Falls are hosting the Christmas-themed Front Street Pub Crawl from 3 to 9 p.m. The Cashmere Cricket, Burntwood Tavern, Hurt’s Bar and Grille, Craft Beer Bar, The Office, Beau’s on the River and Hibachi Japan are offering $1 off various holiday brews. For more information, go to: tinyurl.com/p7ylfr5.

Winter Fest at Lock 3 Park

Summit DD hosts Winter Fest beginning at 10 a.m. at Lock 3 Park. Sensory-friendly activities for families with special needs will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. with fun for the entire family continuing until 1 p.m. including visits with Santa, cookies and ice skating. See www.SummitDD.org/Events.

Santa at Perkins Stone Mansion

The Summit County Historical Society will host a Night with Santa at the historic Perkins Stone Mansion, 550 Copley Road, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Akron mansion will be aglow with lights. Visitors can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and receive a small gift, while enjoying the sounds from the society’s new music box. Kids can help decorate by doing a craft in the historic kitchen. The evening will end with wassail or hot mulled cider and cookies. The event is free to society members, $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 16.

Reindeer Day in Peninsula

It’s Reindeer Day in Peninsula, with live reindeer on the green next to Bronson Church from 1 to 4 p.m. and activities for kids. Santa will be at Trail Mix from 1-3 p.m.; the Community Christmas Bazaar at the Boston Township Hall runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and free concerts and sing-alongs will be held at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Christmas in Peninsula continues Dec. 12 and 19. www.explorepeninsula.com.

BEREA: Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby is on the doorstep of the exclusive 40-20 club, but he has doubts about his ability to immediately enjoy entry because the Browns are in the midst of a miserable season.

Dansby needs one interception to become just the fifth player in NFL history with at least 40 sacks and 20 interceptions in his career.

He could reach the milestone Sunday when the Browns (2-9) host the Cincinnati Bengals (9-2).

“It’ll be cool and all, but I can’t really enjoy it because of the situation we’re in right now as a team,” Dansby said Friday. “It really doesn’t matter individually when we’re not winning. It really puts a black eye on everything you do individually. So my individual stats really don’t matter right now if we can’t get a win. [Shoot], we’ve got to win. That’s at the top of the food chain.”

With 41 sacks under his belt, he got his 19th interception Monday night when he returned one for a touchdown in a 33-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

There’s no doubt Dansby would cherish a 20th interception once he’s able to cleanse his palate of defeat.

Dansby set the 40-20 goal while he was a teammate of former Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson in 2009, when the latter became the 10th NFL player with at least 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in his career. Now there are 14 players in the 20-20 club.

“Watching that whole process with him, it motivated me to go after it,” Dansby said. “I knew it could be done.”

Dansby became the 15th player and eighth linebacker in the 20-20 club. The four players he would join in the 40-20 club are all linebackers: Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Wilber Marshall and Seth Joyner.

“Everybody I’ve graced the field with, graced the locker room with, had a hand in this,” Dansby said. “... I can’t really put it in words how I feel. I’m very humbled.”

Of course, Dansby has been far from perfect this season, as evidenced by the defense being ranked 31st in the NFL against the run (135.6 yards allowed per game). On the other hand, his three interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, prove he can still make game-changing plays.

“I’m not going to put [the poor run defense] on one guy. It takes all 11 to stop the run,” defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil said. “He’s done some good things. He’s been inconsistent at times, just like everybody has been on the defense. It’s not on him. He’s done some good things for us.”

In his 12th NFL season, second with the Browns, Dansby does not have a sack. He has never finished a season without a sack. He has had an interception in all but three of his seasons.

The key for Dansby as he seeks his 20th interception is to avoid pressing.

“You can’t think about it,” he said. “The opportunity has to prevent itself, and once the opportunity presents itself, you’ve just got to capitalize. I’ve dropped so many interceptions. Those are the only ones I remember — the ones I’ve dropped. If I’d have caught half of them, I’d already be at 20, probably about 25, almost 30 by now. That’s how many I’ve dropped over the years. Timing is everything.”

Browns cornerback Tramon Williams hopes Dansby accomplishes the feat.

“I know how much it means to Karlos, how much he does the small things that people don’t see as far as taking care of his body, putting in the film study,” said Williams, who’s in his ninth NFL season. “It shows the work he’s put in over the years.”

Dansby, 34, has expressed dismay about never being selected to a Pro Bowl despite his resume. The greatest snub occurred in 2013, his last season with the Cardinals, when he finished with 122 tackles, including 6½ sacks, 19 passes defensed and four interceptions, including two returned for a touchdown.

The four players in the 40-20 club have made multiple Pro Bowls: Lewis with 13, Urlacher eight, Marshall three and Joyner three.

“Not making the Pro Bowl, in my book, is not a big deal,” Williams said. “As a player, we know the guys who put in the work around the league, and Karlos is one of those guys.

“We consistently were like, ‘Man, this guy is having a really good season.’ But they’ve got other names who people want to see there. That’s the way the Pro Bowl has always been.”

No one would be able to take the 40-20 club away from Dansby.

“I don’t need a statistic to validate the thoughts on him, [but] that would be a special accomplishment,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “It’s a tribute to how long he’s been able to stay in the league and be healthy and play at a high level.

“Sacks and interceptions aren’t easy things to come by, especially the position that he’s played. You’re not in a scheme where you’re blitzing the linebacker a lot to get a lot of [sacks]. He’s got good ball skills, has a good feel for the pass game. I just think it’s a tribute to a lot of those factors that make Karlos what he is.”

Dansby has all 19 balls he intercepted. Most of them are in storage, but he already has plans for the next one.

“Twenty goes on the mantel,” Dansby said. “Put in a little glass box. Paint it up and put No. 20 on it. It was a goal I set a long time ago, and I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to get there.”

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ.

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.: The FBI announced Friday that it is investigating the mass shooting at a Southern California office party as an act of terrorism, but the agency’s director said there is no indication the husband and wife who killed 14 people were part of a larger plot or members of a terrorist cell.

If the investigation confirms those initial suspicions, the attack would be the deadliest inspired by Islamic extremism on U.S. soil since Sept. 11.

While authorities did not cite specific evidence that led them to the terrorism focus, a U.S. law enforcement official said that the wife, Tashfeen Malik, had under a Facebook alias pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and its leader. Malik, 27, was a Pakistani who grew up in Saudi Arabia and came to the U.S. in 2014 on a fiancée visa.

A Facebook official said Malik praised the Islamic State in a post at 11 a.m. Wednesday, around the time the couple stormed a San Bernardino social service center and opened fire.

Malik and her husband, Syed Farook, 28, died in a fierce gunbattle with authorities several hours after their commando-style assault on a gathering of Farook’s colleagues from San Bernardino County’s health department.

An Islamic State-affiliated news service called Malik and Farook “supporters” of their Islamist cause but stopped short of claiming responsibility for the attack.

FBI Director James Comey would not discuss whether anyone affiliated with IS communicated back to Malik, but he said there was no indication yet that the plot was directed by any other foreign terrorist group.

“The investigation so far has developed indications of radicalization by the killers and of potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations,” Comey said. He cautioned that the investigation has not yet shown evidence the couple was part of a larger group.

Despite mounting signs of the couple’s radicalization, there “is a lot of evidence that doesn’t quite make sense,” Comey said.

Attorneys representing Farook’s family urged the public and media to wait for specific evidence before jumping to conclusions. They said none of his relatives had any indication either Farook or his wife held extremist views.

The gunman’s brother is a Navy veteran who earned medals for fighting global terrorism. According to military records obtained Friday by the Associated Press, Syed Raheel Farook — the brother of gunman Syed Rizwan Farook — was in the Navy from 2003 to 2007.

During his stint, he received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among other awards.

Looking at evidence

David Bowdich, head of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said “a number of pieces of evidence” point to the attack being terrorism and that the agency was focused on that idea “for good reason.” He would not elaborate.

The U.S. official who revealed the Facebook post was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Facebook official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not allowed under corporate policy to be quoted by name, said the company discovered Wednesday’s post on Thursday, removed the profile from public view and reported its contents to law enforcement.

Farook and Malik rented a town home where investigators said they found an arsenal of ammunition and homemade bombs. On Friday morning, the property’s owner allowed reporters inside in an unusual scene broadcast live on cable TV.

Bowdich said the FBI was done with the scene. Analysts were trying to retrieve data from two cellphones found nearby that had been crushed in an apparent attempt to destroy the information inside.

“We hope that will take us to their motivation,” he said.

The couple’s orphaned 6-month-old daughter is in the care of child protective services and the family will try to recover her next week.

FOOTBALL

State Finals

(All games at Ohio Stadium, Columbus)

Thursday’s Result

DIVISION III

Archbishop Hoban 33, Toledo Central Catholic 20

———

Friday’s Results

DIVISION V

Coldwater 35, Canton Central Catholic 18

DIVISION VII

Fort Recovery 33, Mogadore 14

DIVISION II

Cincinnati La Salle 42, Perry 0

———

Saturday’s Games

DIVISION VI

Kirtland (13-1) vs. Maria Stein Marion Local (13-1), 10 a.m.

DIVISION I

Lakewood St. Edward (13-1) vs. Huber Heights Wayne (14-0), 3 p.m.

DIVISION IV

Steubenville (13-0) vs. Columbus Bishop Hartley (10-3), 8 p.m.

Scoring Summaries

Division V State Championship
COLDWATER 35, 
CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC 18

CCC 0 3 8 7 — 18

Coldwater 7 6 14 8 — 35

Col.: Schoenherr 2 run (Mckibben kick)

CCC: FG Mills 40

Col: Harlamert 16 pass from Hemmelgarn (kick failed)

Col.: Post 2 run (Mckibben kick)

Col.: Harlamert 33 pass from Hemmelgarn(Mckibben kick)

CCC: Colangelo 74 pass from Platek (Stuffel pass from Platek)

Col.: Schoenherr 4 run (Hemmelgarn pass from Harlamert)

CCC: Ditty 8 run (Mills kick)

CCC Coldwater

First downs 15 16

Rushing 37-189 36-88

Passing 6-16-118-2 18-27-287-0

Records 11-4 15-0

Division VII State Championship
FORT RECOVERY 33, MOGADORE 14

Mogadore 0 7 0 7 — 14

Fort Recovery 14 13 0 6 — 33

FR: Sheffer 15 pass from Martin (Sheffer kick)

FR: Koch 10 pass from Martin (Sheffer kick)

Mog.: Dunn 17 pass from Pollock (Pollock kick)

FR: Schoen 75 pass from Martin (kick fail)

FR: Koch 8 pass from Martin (Sheffer kick)

FR: Wenning 30 pass from Martin (Sheffer kick)

Mog.: Williams 6 run (Pollock kick)

Mogadore Fort Recovery

First downs 15 21

Rushing 23-139 33-73

Passing 17-37-167-2 25-40-385-0

Records 13-2 13-2

Late Thursday

Division III State Championship
ARCHBISHOP HOBAN 33,
TOLEDO CENTRAL CATHOLIC 20

TCC 0 14 6 0 — 20

Hoban 14 14 2 3 — 33

Hob.: Sibley 55 run (G. Kersh kick)

Hob.: Morris 53 pass from Clark (G. Kersh kick)

TCC: Warren 4 run (Hoover kick)

TCC: Warren 10 run (Hoover kick)

Hob.: Christian 33 pass from Clark (G. Kersh kick)

Hob.: Sibley 22 run (G. Kersh kick)

TCC: Warren 21 run (kick failed)

Hob.: Safety

Hob.: FG G. Kersh 34

TCC Hoban

First downs 21 10

Rushing 40-151 40-188

Passing 17-29-234-3 4-12-125-0

Records 12-3 14-1

Basketball

BOYS

Scoreboard

Friday’s Results

Alliance 81, Canton South 71

Brecksville 64, Cuyahoga Falls 60

Brooklyn 80, Black River 77 (OT)

Buckeye 56, Columbia Station Columbia 51

Cambridge 52, Dover 40

Carrollton 59, Marlington 53

Copley 58, Barberton 45

Coventry 96, Cloverleaf 53

Dresden Tri-Valley 70, West Muskingum 55

Ellet 89, Garfield 73

Elyria 47, Euclid 45

Elyria Cath. 62, Parma Normandy 41

Garfield Hts. 73, Cle. Hts. Lutheran E. 57

Jackson 81, GlenOak 55

Kingsway Christian 53, Elyria First Baptist 48

Keystone 49, Rocky River Lutheran West 43

Lorain Clearview 89, Sheffield Brookside 59

Louisville 79, Salem 55

Mansfield Madison 58, Ashland 42

Mansfield Sr. 80, West Holmes 35

Medina 73, Solon 63

North Ridgeville 49, Berea-Midpark 34

Northwestern 86, Hillsdale 58

Norton 77, Field 67

Norwalk 42, Shelby 41

Olmsted Falls 80, Lakewood 64

Ottawa-Glandorf 61, Bowling Green 44

Parma Padua 74, Parma Hts. Valley Forge 57

St. Thomas Aquinas 67, Northwest 38

Sandusky 61, Ontario 47

Southeast 54, Rootstown 49

Streetsboro 70, Springfield 32

Stow 68, Wadsworth 29

Triway 48, Tusky Valley 41

Tuslaw 79, Manchester 60

Twinsburg 58, North Royalton 56

Waterloo 50, Canton Heritage Christian 45

West Branch 61, Minerva 47

Woodridge 62, Ravenna 40

Scoring Summaries

WATERLOO 50, 
CANTON HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 45

Heritage 10 14 14  7 — 45

Waterloo 18  7 13 12 — 50

CANTON HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (1-3) — Herring 5-2-12, Hawkins 3-0-7, Lawton 2-3-7, Martin 5-0-14, Barkley 1-0-2, Wofter-Brooks 1-0-3. Totals: 17-5-45.

WATERLOO (1-2) — Miller 1-0-2, Simpson 3-0-6, D. Dorsey 8-3-20, Smith 2-0-4, V. Dorsey 6-6-18. Totals: 20-9-50.

3-point goals: Martin 4, Hawkins, Wofter-Brooks, D. Dorsey. Fouls: HC, 16-12. Rebounds: Wat., 35 (V. Dorsey 14). JV score: Waterloo, 44-36.

KINGSWAY CHRISTIAN 53, 
ELYRIA FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTIAN 48

First Baptist 9 10 12 17 48

Kingsway 13 12 16 12 53

ELYRIA FIRST BAPTIST (1-2) — Jav. Jones 9-1-19, Snelling 3-2-9, Odle 4-0-9, Josue Collazo 2-0-5, Jonaton Collazo 1-2-4, Jam. Jones 1-0-2. Totals: 20-5-48.

KINGSWAY CHRISTIAN (3-2) — H. Hlmes 5-6-16, Bochart 3-6-12, G. Hlmes 5-0-11, Shalala 1-3-6 , Gold 1-0-3, Money 1-1-3 Totals: 17-16-53.

3-point goals: Snelling, Odle, Josue Collazo, G. Hlmes, Shalala. Fouls: FB, 19-15 Rebounds: FB, 35 (Jav. Jones 8); KC, 41 (Bochart 14). Turnovers: FB, 23-18.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 67, NORTHWEST 38

St. Thomas 15 17 16 19 — 67

Northwest 10 12  9  7 — 38

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (2-1) — Newman 5-0-11, Pellegreene 5-0-12, Sommers 2-1-6, Paul 1-1-3, Smith 3-0-8, Knott 4-0-11, Duplin 3-0-7, Knox 2-2-6, Pedrozzo 1-1-3. Totals: 26 5-9 67.

NORTHWEST (0-3) — Penrod 3-0-7, Hippli 0-2-2, Wormald 2-2-7, Fennell 1-0-2, Devenport 1-0-2, Workinger 0-1-1, Booth 3-1-8. Totals: 14 7-18 38.

3-point goals: Knott 3, Smith 2, Pellegreene 2, Newman, Duplin, Sommers. Fouls: Vin., 16-15. Rebounds: STA, 31; NW, 29 (Fennell 13). JV score: Northwest, 39-28.

JACKSON 81, GLENOAK 55

Jackson 15 15 30 21 — 81

GlenOak 12 17 12 14 — 55

JACKSON (1-0, 1-0) — Johnston 1-0-2, Nicolas 2-1-6, Jar. Pallotta 4-2-10, Mikesell 2-0-5, Kelly 1-2-4, Zitney 0-1-1, Seaman 2-1-5, Jak. Pallotta 1-0-2, Young 8-4-22, Hill 11-2-24. Totals: 32-13-81.

GLENOAK (0-1, 0-1) — Chapman 1-1-3, Tibbs 1-1-3, Gibbons 4-3-11, Kozma 1-0-2, Mason 6-1-15, Perduk 2-0-4, James 1-0-2, Andres 3-4-11, Greynolds 2-0-4. Totals: 21-10-55.

3-point goals: Mason 2, Young 2, Andres, Nicolas, Mikesell. Fouls: GO, 18-17. Rebounds: Jac., 34 (Young 11); GO, 22. JV score: GlenOak, 51-48.

ELLET 89, GARFIELD 73

Ellet 23 20 24 22 — 89

Garfield 10 21 18 24 — 73

ELLET (2-0, 1-0) — Bridges 10-6-27, Jones 4-6-16, Byrd 5-0-10, Williams 2-2-6, Kaut 1-0-3, Smith 1-4-6, Johnson 1-0-2, Gareri 7-2-19. Totals: 31 20-41 89.

GARFIELD (0-2, 0-1) — Waters 6-4-19, Kelley 1-2-4, Powell 5-3-13, Williams 2-0-4, Campbell 1-0-2, Watson 2-2-6, Cherry 1-2-4, Humphries 4-0-8, Thompson 0-2-2, Jeffries 1-1-3, Kidd 3-2-8. Totals: 26 18-27 73.

3-point goals: Garreri 3, Waters 3, Jones 2, Bridges, Kout. Fouls: Gar., 28-22. Rebounds: Ell., 37 (Smith 9). Turnovers: Gar., 21-17. JV score: Ellet, 65-53.

TUSLAW 79, MANCHESTER 60

Manchester 17 11 24  8 — 60 

Tuslaw 27 17 20 15 — 79 

MANCHESTER (0-2) — France 7-5-24, Grizer 5-0-15, Knight 1-0-2, Mars 2-0-6, Payne 3-0-5, Beans 2-0-4, Wallbrown 1-2-4. Totals: 20-7-60.

TUSLAW (2-0) — Carrol 6-5-17, Wake 6-3-15, Snyder 6-0-12, Hewitt 4-0-11, Karn 2-0-5, Ryder 1-0-2, Litman 4-2-10, Meyer 3-1-7. Totals: 32-11-79.

3-point goals: France 5, Grizer 5, Hewitt 3, Mars 2, Karn, Payne. Fouls: Man., 20-14 Turnovers: Man., 18-15. JV score: Tuslaw, 65-37.

TRIWAY 48, TUSKY VALLEY 41

Triway 4 19 18 7 — 48

Tusky Valley 10 9 10 12 — 41

TRIWAY — Sprang 2-2-6, Shetler 1-0-2, Schafrath 3-8-15, Biggs 1-0-2, Walker 5-6-16, Sparr 2-4-9. Totals: 14 20-25 48.

TUSKY VALLEY — Burrier 3-2-10, Shelter 1-0-2, Stotzer 2-3-9, Ross 2-0-4, Higl 1-1-4, Franks 7-0-14, Locker 1-0-2. Totals: 17-6-41.

3-point goals: Burrier, Schafrath, Sparr. Rebounds: Tri., 31 (Sparr 10); TV, 24 (Stotzer 4, Ross 4, Higl 4).

REVERE 50, HIGHLAND 49

Highland 16  6  7 20 — 49

Revere 6 14 14 16 — 50

HIGHLAND (1-2, 0-1) — Rittman 5-0-12, Matejin 3-0-7, Wiencek 2-4-8, Shaw 2-2-6, Frederick 3-0-9, Levandowski 0-2-2, Mall 1-3-5. Totals: 16-11-19 49.

REVERE (2-0, 1-0) — Hill 5-3-14, Nance 2-5-9, Benson 3-0-7, Russell 1-0-2, Albert 1-0-2, Hughes 2-1-6, Milovancev 2-2-6, Boyer 2-0-4. Totals: 18 11-16 50.

3-point goals: Frederick 3, Rittman 2, Matejin, Hill, Benson, Hughes. Fouls: Rev., 19-17. Turnovers: Rev., 22-17. JV score: Highland, 45-36.

COPLEY 58, BARBERTON 45

Barberton 7 16 13  8 — 45

Copley 13 11 12 22 — 58

BARBERTON (1-1, 0-1) — Woolridge 1-4-6, Riese 1-3-5, Mins 4-2-10, Walker 6-1-17, Rector 2-1-5, Miller 1-0-2. Totals: 14-11-35.

COPLEY (2-0, 1-0) — Nealy 4-4-12, Harvey 6-10-22, Brenner 4-0-11, Neal 1-3-5, Ester 1-0-2, Bodnar 2-0-4, White 1-0-2. Totals: 19-17-58.

3-point goals: Walker 4, Brenner 3. Fouls: Bar., 17-15. JV score: Copley, 58-36.

STOW 68, WADSWORTH 29

Stow 23 18 17 10 — 68

Wadsworth 12  4  3 10 — 29

STOW (1-0, 1-0) — Wright 1-2-5, Rice 5-1-14, Denholm 1-0-2, Lindsay 2-2-8, Bower-Malone 5-0-11, Kollar 2-0-4, Bainbridge 1-0-3, Jolly 1-1-3, McMurray 2-0-5, Harvey 3-0-6, Huffman 3-1-7. Totals: 26-7-68.

WADSWORTH (1-2, 0-1) — Szalay 2-0-4, Hewitt 5-1-12, Mills 2-0-4, Deemer 1-1-3, Storad 1-1-4, Black 1-0-2. Totals: 12-3-29.

3-point goals: Rice 3, Lindsay 2, Wright, Bower-Malone, Bainbridge, McMurray, Hewitt, Storad. Fouls: Stow, 16-13. Rebounds: Stow, 36 (Bower-Malone 67); Wad., 22 (Szalay 7). Turnovers: Wad., 18-15. JV score: Stow, 48-44 (OT).

BRECKSVILLE 64, CUYAHOGA FALLS 60

Falls 12 21 10 17 — 60

Brecksville 15 20 11 18 — 64

CUYAHOGA FALLS — Friga 5-0-13, Gainer 4-0-10, Tofil 5-3-13, Freeman 2-0-5, Single 3-0-8. Totals: 19-3-60.

BRECKSVILLE — Austin 4-0-12, Bazil 5-0-10, Dimitrijeves 70--20, Harwood 3-0-8, Bruno 2-0-6, Auble 2-4-8. Totals: 23-4-64.

3-point goals: Asustin 3, Friga 3, Gainer 2, Freeman, Single 2, Bruno 2, Dimitrijeves 6, Harwood 2.

TWINSBURG 58, NORTH ROYALTON 56

North Royalton 5 17 12 22 — 56

Twinsburg 20  8 10 20 — 58

NORTH ROYALTON (1-1, 0-1) — Farinacci 1-0-3, Midovi 3-3-10, Ninkovick 1-0-2, Kyle 0-1-1, Fillippi 4-4-14, Glass 4-0-8, Garnowski 3-0-6, Loberty 5-2-12. Totals: 21-10-56.

TWINSBURG (1-1, 1-0) — Heath 4-3-11, Foust 8-3-19, Simmons 1-0-2, Paolucci 0-1-1, Fitzgerald 0-1-1, Moore 9-3-24. Totals: 22-11-58.

3-point goals: Moore 3, Fillippi 2, Midovi, Farinacci. Fouls: Twi., 17-16. JV score: North Royalton, 42-32.

STREETSBORO 70, SPRINGFIELD 32

Springfield 1 9 12 10 — 32

Streetsboro 23 12 21 14 — 70

SPRINGFIELD (1-1, 1-1) — Dawson 2-1-5, McLean 0-4-4, Hanna 2-0-4, Price 0-2-2, Pollock 1-0-3, Leon 1-0-2, Hedrick 0-1-1, Thomas 1-0-2, Jordan 1-0-2, Wilson 1-0-2, Carper 2-0-4. Totals: 11 9-15 32.

STREETSBORO (1-0, 1-0) — Gillings 5-1-13, Judd 5-0-11, B. Tucker 2-2-7, Aten 3-0-6, Dixon 3-1-8, VanReeth 3-2-10, J. Tucker 3-4-11, Benson 2-0-4. Totals: 26 10-18 70.

3-point goals: Gillings 2, VanReeth 2, Judd, B. Tucker, Dixon, J. Tucker, Pollock. Fouls: Str. 20-10. Rebounds: Str., 26; Spr., 19. Turnovers: Spr., 22-15. JV score: Springfield, 46-37 (OT).

SOUTHEAST 54, ROOTSTOWN 49

Rootstown 4 12 18 15 — 49

Southeast 6 13 20 15 — 54

ROOTSTOWN — Moore 6-2-14, England 2-0-6, Kaut 3-4-10, Hluch 5-1-12, Shank 2-1-7. Totals: 18-8-49.

SOUTHEAST — Munger 4-0-12, Chaney 5-6-17, Nicolino 5-0-10, Myers 2-3-7, Dailey 4-0-8. Totals: 20-9-54.

3-point goals: Munger 3, England 2, Hluch, Shank, Chaney. Fouls: Roo., 14-13.

COVENTRY 95, CLOVERLEAF 53

Cloverleaf 6 11 24 12 — 53 

Coventry 20 34 27 15 — 96 

CLOVERLEAF (0-3, 0-1) — Schuerger 7-1-27, Kapeluk 3-4-10, Martin 1-1-6, Hisson 2-1-5, Grimm 2-0-4, Heishmam 0-1-1. Totals: 15-8-53

COVENTRY (2-0, 1-0) — Wess 7-2-22, Hargrove 9-1-22, Burkhart 3-1-10, Sturm 2-3-7, Patterson 1-1-5, Collins 1-0-2, Wagner 1-1-5, Roberts 2-1-5, Vanadia 4-1-9, Wallace 3-0-9. Totals: 30-9-96.

3-point goals: Schuerger 4, Wallace 3, Wess 2, Burkhart, Hargrove, Patterson, Wagner, Martin. JV score: Coventry, 77-36.

WOODRIDGE 62, RAVENNA 40

Woodridge 24 15 17  6 — 62

Ravenna 8  8 12 12 — 40

WOODRIDGE (2-0, 1-0) — Clark 3-0-6, Potts 2-4-10, Dickon 4-0-8, King 3-2-8, Howard 1-1-3, Shaheen 3-0-6, Soland 0-1-1, Nelsen 1-1-3, Lydic 6-2-15, Jones 1-0-2. Totals: 24-11-62.

RAVENNA (0-2, 0-1) — Barfield 0-2-2, Prentice 1-0-2, Suart 1-0-2, Cross 1-0-2, Jamison 1-0-2, Jenkins 5-0-13, Daugherty 1-0-2, Starkey 4-0-9, Berry 1-0-2, Wagner 1-1-3, Jones 0-1-1. Totals: 16-4-40.

3-point goals: Jenkins 3, Potts 2, Starkey, Lydic. Fouls: Rav., 16-13. Rebounds: Woo., 35 (Dickon 7).

NORTON 77, FIELD 67

Norton 17 19 16 25 — 77

Field 17 14 18 18 — 67

NORTON — Hardy 3-2-8, T. Murray 2-0-3, Csepe 2-3-6, Becker 11-0-18, Destefano 2-0-4, M. Murray 0-1-1, Zimmerman 2-0-4, Robinson 7-0-12, Pratt 9-3-21. Totals: 38 9-11 77.

FIELD — Ridgell 13-3-25, Crespo 1-0-2, Petelin 8-0-13, Begue 1-0-2, Cutlip 8-0-13, Bookman 2-2-6. Totals: 36 5-9 67.

3-point goals: Becker 4, Petelin 3, Cutlip 3, Robinson 2, Murray, Csepe.

MEDINA 73, SOLON 63

Solon 16 19 14 14 — 63

Medina 17 15 17 24 — 73

SOLON (1-1) — Carry 6-1-14, Gulley 1-0-3, Thompson 6-4-20, Johnson 3-0-6, Perry 4-0-9, Steele 4-1-11. Totals: 24-6-63.

MEDINA (1-0) — Geschke 3-0-6, Moran 0-4-4, Szunski 1-4-7, Schaefer 7-7-21, Daw 1-0-2, Clark 1-0-2, Ceske 7-2-17, Sartain 6-0-14. Totals: 26-17-73.

3-point goals: Thompson 4, Steele 2, Sartain 2, Geschke, Ceske, Perry, Gulley, Carry.

STRONGSVILLE 69, SHAKER HEIGHTS 57

Shaker Heights 17 10 10 20 — 57

Strongsvile 13 12 21 23 — 69

SHAKER HEIGHTS — Je. Burge 8-1-19, Evans 5-1-11, Binda 2-0-4, Bishhiop 2-0-4, Bonner 2-1-5, Jo. Burge 3-3-9, Garner 0-2-4, Williams 1-1-3. Totals: 23-9-57.

STRONGSVILLE — Yezbak 8-1-22, Hopkins 3-7-13, Aske 2-6-11, Jamison 3-2-8, Mocho 1-1-3, Nofal 2-0-4, Pesarchik 3-2-8. Totals: 22-19-69.

3-point goals: Yezbak 5, Burge 2, Aske.

NORTHWESTERN 86, HILLSDALE 58

Hillsdale 18 13 16 11 — 58

Northwestern 25 16 23 22 — 86

HILLSDALE — Pickering 7-15 2-4 17, Rogers 5-6 1-3 11, Cline 1-3 7-8 10, Wolf 2-7 2-6 6, Maki 2-3 0-0 5, McFadden 2-4 0-0 4, Richter 0-2 3-4 3, Williams 1-5 0-0 2. Totals: 20-45 15-25 58.

NORTHWESTERN — Smith 10-14 2-2 30, Kooch 9-14 2-3 22, Kline 4-7 0-1 0, Besancon 4-8 0-0 9, Peterson 1-5 2-2 4, Alberts 1-1 2-2 4, Wharton 1-2 1-2 3, Smith 1-4 0-0 3, Burgan 10-2 1-2 1. Totals: 31-57 10-15 86.

3-point goals: Smith 8, Koch 2, Kline 2, Besancon, Pickering, Cline, Maki. Fouls: NW, 17-15. Turnovers: Hil., 17-10.

DALTON 59, SMITHVILLE 44

Dalton 13 13 11 22 — 59

Smithville 11  9  8 16 — 44

DALTON (1-1, 1-0) — Clark 7-1-15, Steiner 7-3-20, Husted 3-6-11, Alger 1-0-2, Kandel 1-0-2, Hershberger 2-0-4, Dalessandro 1-1-3, Nussbaum 1-0-2. Totals: 22-43 11-14 59.

SMITHVILLE (1-1, 0-1) — Cottrell 2-1-7, Viator 1-1-3, Kauffman 4-0-8, Boyes 0-2-2, Smith 0-4-4, Reed 2-8-12, Snell 4-0-8. Totals: 13-41 14-17 44.

3-point goals: Steiner 3, Cottrell 2, Husted. Fouls: Dal., 20-17. Rebounds: Dal., 27 (Husted 10); Smi., 27 (Smith 6). Turnovers: Dal., 13-9.

Schedule

Saturday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

CVCA at Walsh Jesuit

Dover at Canton South

Garrettsville at West Branch

Hillsdale at Black River

Newton Falls at Windham

Orrville at Triway

Wooster at Ontario

GIRLS

Scoreboard

Friday’s Results

Cle. E. Tech 89, Cle. Whitney Young 13

Cle. Glenville 62, Cle. Collinwood 39

Cle. JFK 59, Cle. Lincoln W. 12

North Royalton 55, Hudson 40

Scoring Summary

NORTH ROYALTON 55, HUDSON 40

North Royalton 20 9 13 13 — 55

Hudson 7 5 19  9 — 40

NORTH ROYALTON (2-3, 1-1) — White 5-3-15, Chuppa 1-2-4, Lebo 4-3-12, Plagens.1-0-2, Camino 1-0-2, Parks 6-1-13, Lineweaver 2-2-7. Totals: 20 11-21 55.

HUDSON (1-4, 0-2) — Klemncic 4-4-13, Spivak 2-0-5, Prosser 1-1-3, Crstofoli 2-1-6, Chiarappa 2-0-4, Madar 4-1-9. Totals: 15 7-12 40.

3-point goals: White 2, Lebo, Lineweaver, Klemencic, Spivak, Cristofoli. Fouls: Hud., 18-11. JV score: Hudson won.

Schedule

Saturday’s Games

(All games 2:30 p.m., unless noted)

Aurora at Barberton

Beaumont at Archbishop Hoban

Buckeye at Rocky River Lutheran West, 7:30 p.m.

Canton South at Marlington, 1:30 p.m.

Chippewa at Rittman, 1 p.m.

Copley at Revere

Cuyahoga Falls at Wadsworth, 7:30 p.m.

CVCA at Triway

Dalton at Hillsdale, 7 p.m.

Fairless at Indian Valley

Garrettsville at Lake Ctr. Christian, 7:30 p.m.

Lake at North Canton Hoover

Lexington at Smithville

Louisville at West Branch, 1:30 p.m.

Mansfield at St. Vincent-St. Mary

Mentor at Brunswick, 7:30 p.m.

Mentor Lake Catholic at Walsh Jesuit

Minerva at Alliance, 1:30 p.m.

Mogadore at Crestwood

Nordonia at Stow, 7:30 p.m.

North at Windham

North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Academy at Canton Central Catholic, 1 p.m.

North Royalton at Hudson, 7:30 p.m.

Norton at Cloverleaf.

Perry at Green

Ravenna at Springfield

Salem at Carrollton, 1:30 p.m.

Strongsville at Shaker Heights

Solon at Medina, 7:30 p.m.

Southeast at Waterloo

Streetsboro at Woodridge

Tallmadge at Kent Roosevelt

Tusky Valley at East Canton

Tuslaw at Manchester, 5:30 p.m.

Twinsburg at Brecksville

Warren JFK at St. Thomas Aquinas

Waynedale at Orrville, 1:30 p.m.

BOWLING

BOYS

WOODRIDGE 2,485, STREETSBORO 2,075

High Games: A. Fleming (W) 249; T. Fleming 228 (S). High Series: A. Fleming (W) 442; T. Fleming (S) 452.

Records: Woodridge 6-0, 5-0.

SPRINGFIELD 2,377, 
GARRETTSVILLE 2,125

(At Sky Lanes, Garrettsville)

High Games: Garrettson (S) 242; McGurer, Kawolics (G) 192; . High Series: Garrettson (S) 454; McGurer (G) 349. JV Score: Springfeield, 1,496-1,340.

Records: Springfield 3-1, 3-1; Garettsville 1-4, 1-4.

CUYAHOGA FALLS 2,306,
WADSWORTH 2,225

(At Ghost Alley Lanes, Wadsworth)

High Games: Frankina (C) 257; Wrobel (W) 213. High Series: Frankina (C) 488; Wrobel (W) 396. JV Score: Winner, Cuyahoga Falls 1,290-1,085.

ARCHBISHOP HOBAN 2,350,
 KENMORE 1,703

(At Stonehedge Lanes, Akron)

High Games: Lavrita (K) 159; Hewitt (H) 235. High Series: Lavrita (K) 290; Hewitt (H) 427.

Records: Kenmore 1-1; Hoban 2-0.

GIRLS

WADSWORTH 2,000,
CUYAHOGA FALLS 1,656

(At Ghost Alley Lanes, Wadsworth)

High Games: Weckerly (C) 177; Stevens (W) 193. High Series: Weckerly (C) 312; Stevens (W) 372. JV Score: Wadsworth, 866-846.

Records: Wadsworth 3-1, 2-0.

ARCHBISHOP HOBAN 1,874,
KENMORE 1,464

(At Stonehedge Lanes, Akron)

High Games: Bly (K) 168; Krolikowski (H) 169. High Series: Bly (K) 302; Krolikowski (H) 334. JV Score: Archbishop Hoban, 1,075-959.

Records: Kenmore 1-1; Hoban 2-0.

Boys basketball

Ellet 89, Garfield 73

Junior Marquise Bridges scored 27 points for the visiting Orangemen (2-0, 1-0) in a City Series win over the Golden Rams (0-2, 0-1).

The Orangemen led 23-10 after the first quarter and led 43-31 at halftime in their first league win of the season.

Junior A.J. Gareri scored 19 points for the Orangemen, and senior Crysjawn Waters led the Golden Rams with 19 points.

Stow 68, Wadsworth 29

Coryon Rice led the visiting Bulldogs (1-0, 1-0) with 14 points in a Suburban League-National Division win over the Grizzlies (1-2, 0-1).

Nathan Bower-Malone scored 11 points for the Bulldogs, and Tony Hewitt led the Grizzlies with 12 points.

Jackson 81, GlenOak 55

Junior Logan Hill scored 24 points and junior Kyle Young scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the visiting Polar Bears (1-0, 1-0) to a Federal League win over the Golden Eagles (0-1, 0-1).

The Polar Bears led 30-29 at halftime but outscored the Golden Eagles 30-12 in the third quarter to pull away for the win.

Senior Cross Mason led the Golden Eagles with 15 points.

Coventry 96,
Cloverleaf 53

Bryce Hargrove and Conner Wess each scored 22 points for the host Comets (2-0, 1-0 Portage Trail-Metro) in a win over the Colts (0-3, 0-1).

Streetsboro 70,
Springfield 32

Junior Cory Gillings scored 13 points, senior Jerry Judd scored 11 points and the visiting Rockets (1-0, 1-0 Portage Trail-Metro) defeated the Spartans (1-1, 1-1).

Medina 73, Solon 63

Senior Luke Schaefer scored 21 points to lead the host Bees (1-0) over the Comets (0-1).

Senior Reid Thompson led the Comets with 20 points.

St. Thomas Aquinas 67,
Northwest 38

Gino Pellegrene scored 12 points and Logan Newman and Bryson Knott each added 11 points for the visiting Knights (2-1) in a nonleague win over the Indians (0-3).

Girls basketball

North Royalton 55,
Hudson 40

Junior Gabby White scored 15 points, freshman Taiyier Parks added 12 points for the visiting Bears (2-3, 1-1) in a Suburban League-National Division game.

NEW ORLEANS: LeBron James has remained steadfastly protective of his children and keeping them out of the media spotlight as much as possible. The James family pulled back the curtain ever so slightly now that his two sons, LeBron Jr. and Bryce, are featured in a billboard campaign for the Sean John clothing line.

Both boys are joined by Carmelo Anthony’s son, Kiyan, and the son of a Sean John executive who is close friends with the James boys. There is one billboard up already in downtown Cleveland in what is expected to be a national ad campaign for the holidays.

“It’s a proud moment for our family to be able to see my sons represent their family like that,” James said. “To be able to be on a billboard and have the look and the smile and the pizazz that they carry, that I see every single day in our household.”

It’s difficult to keep the children shielded when their father is one of the most popular athletes on the planet, but James is trying. LeBron Jr. turned 10 in October, and Bryce is now 8.

“Obviously, they’re some handsome young men and there are going to be opportunities for them to do some things,” James said.

“As a family we will look at things and if we feel like it’s best for the families, best for the boys, we’ll do it.

‘‘And if it’s not then we won’t.”

Slowing down

The Cavs’ offense has been grinding into a rut in recent games. Their scoring dwindled in each of the previous four games prior to Friday, bottoming out with a season-low 85 points scored in Tuesday’s loss to the Washington Wizards.

Coach David Blatt identified two areas for the bulk of the problems: turnovers and shooting. The Cavs totaled 39 turnovers in their past two games and were shooting under 40 percent in their last four games prior to Friday.

“Those are the two main things. And obviously we went through a couple of weeks here without practice, without a chance to sort of work on things,” Blatt said. “Get our ball movement and body movement back in line.”

New commercial

James and Kia took a refreshingly honest approach to their latest ad campaign, featuring James reading real tweets from people questioning whether he actually drives a Kia.

James doesn’t believe it’s a problem that people are skeptical and insists he drives his Kia sometimes — including to some home games.

“I have a couple cars and I love driving mine,” James said. “It’s pretty cool when you can drive something sometimes that no one thinks you’re in. So I can be away from everybody, no one’s going to think that’s going to be me in that car, but it’s a great car.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that Kia sought permission from the Twitter users before using their tweets in the commercial. Kia is trying to break into the luxury car competition with the K900, which James owns. Prices on the K900 begin at $55,000.

“It’s not about the car, it’s about the partnership that I have with Kia, and them being a title sponsor in the NBA,” James said. “They do so many things around this league and I am happy to be a part of it.”

Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs.

NEW ORLEANS: LeBron James matched his season high with 37 points following a terrific fourth quarter, but the Cavaliers fell in overtime to the New Orleans Pelicans 114-108 on Friday. It’s the second time in as many games the Cavs allowed a team with a losing record to end a four-game losing streak against them.

The Cavs managed just 3 points in overtime and didn’t score their first basket until three minutes remained. They seemed to wear down after expending so much energy to rally late in the fourth.

James took over the fourth quarter, scoring 23 of the Cavs’ 28 points in an incredible rally from an 11-point deficit with 5 1/2 minutes to play.

James saved his best work for last, from a terrific, slashing three-point play to attacking the basket and making the elbow jumper that ultimately gave the Cavs their first lead since midway through the third quarter.

James had a chance to win it in regulation, but the shot clanked off the rim after the Pelicans tied the game at 105 on a 3-pointer from Jrue Holiday with 8 seconds left.

The Pelicans pushed the tempo in the second and third quarters, scoring more than 30 points in each, before the game slowed a bit in the fourth.

Davis’ 3-pointer, followed by Dante Cunningham’s long jumper pushed the Pelicans lead to 94-81 with 6:52 left – their largest of the night. But they managed just three baskets the rest of the quarter as the Cavs’ defensive tenacity improved.

Anthony Davis had 31 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans after leaving briefly in the first half with an apparent ankle injury. It didn’t take long for him to return.

J.R. Smith scored 18 points, but 15 of them came in the first quarter. Kevin Love had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavs.

Coach David Blatt shuffled his starting lineup before the game, inserting Matthew Dellavedova and removing Mo Williams, whose suspect defense has been an issue throughout the early part of the season.

Blatt made clear the move wasn’t solely based on Tuesday’s loss to the Washington Wizards, but it’s no secret the Cavs have started poorly more often than not lately and were hoping Dellavedova’s steady hand on offense and defensive tenacity could inject some life into a team still trying to figure out how to play hard for 48 minutes every night.

“It has nothing to do with,” the loss to the Wizards, Blatt said. “Just a matter of thinking about where we can gain an advantage and where we can prepare ourselves going forward.”

NEW ORLEANS: LeBron James matched his season high with 37 points following a terrific fourth quarter, but the Cavaliers fell in overtime to the New Orleans Pelicans 114-108 on Friday.

It’s the second time in as many games the Cavs allowed a team with a losing record to end a four-game losing streak against them.

The Cavs managed just 3 points in overtime and didn’t score their first basket until three minutes remained. They seemed to wear down after expending so much energy to rally late in the fourth.

James took over the fourth quarter, scoring 23 of the Cavs’ 28 points in an incredible rally from an 11-point deficit with 5½ minutes to play.

James saved his best work for last, from a terrific, slashing three-point play to attacking the basket and making the elbow jumper that gave the Cavs their first lead since midway through the third quarter.

James had a chance to win it in regulation, but his shot clanked off the rim after the Pelicans tied the game at 105 on a 3-pointer by Jrue Holiday with 8 seconds left.

The Pelicans pushed the tempo in the second and third quarters, scoring more than 30 points in each, before the game slowed a bit in the fourth.

Davis’ 3-pointer, followed by Dante Cunningham’s long jumper pushed the Pelicans’ lead to 94-81 with 6:52 left — their largest of the night. But they managed just three baskets the rest of the quarter as the Cavs’ defensive tenacity improved.

Anthony Davis had 31 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans after leaving briefly in the first half with an apparent ankle injury. It didn’t take long for him to return.

J.R. Smith scored 18 points, but 15 of them came in the first quarter. Kevin Love had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavs.

Coach David Blatt shuffled his starting lineup before the game, inserting Matthew Dellavedova and removing Mo Williams, whose suspect defense has been an issue throughout the early part of the season.

Blatt made clear the move wasn’t solely based on Tuesday’s loss to the Washington Wizards, but it’s no secret the Cavs have started poorly more often than not lately and were hoping Dellavedova’s steady hand on offense and defensive tenacity could inject some life into a team still trying to figure out how to play hard for 48 minutes every night.

“It has nothing to do with,” the loss to the Wizards, Blatt said. “Just a matter of thinking about where we can gain an advantage and where we can prepare ourselves going forward.”

Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.

NEW ORLEANS: Twenty-six thoughts for 26 Cavs fouls in a 114-108 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday…

1. Judging by the postgame locker room, a smidge of frustration might be setting in for the Cavs. They’re 5-5 in their last 10 games. They’ve lost consecutive games now to opponents with a.) a losing record and b.) dragging a four-game losing streak into the game.

2. LeBron James is still annoyed the Cavs can’t defend for 48 minutes. David Blatt thinks James needs more help and for a split-second, James all but agreed. J.R. Smith, meanwhile, believes his 15 points in the first quarter was sufficient enough help.

3. A lot of these issues maybe wouldn’t have surfaced if the Cavs got just one more defensive stop at the end of regulation, or if James would’ve made his shot near the buzzer of regulation. Blaming James, however, seems silly since this would’ve been a double-digit loss if not for his remarkable fourth quarter.

4. James matched his season high with 37 points Friday, including 23 in the fourth when he took the game over and brought the Cavs back from an 11-point deficit with 5 1/2 minutes to play.

5. “We needed to give him a little more help, honestly,” Blatt said.

6. In so many words, James seemed to agree. Asked why he imposed his will in the fourth quarter, James paused before responding, “Who else was going to do it?”

7. “I tried to make something happen, make something happen for our team, be aggressive, see if I could make a push,” James said. “I missed some easy shots in the third quarter, got to the rim and missed a couple off-balance ones. Same shots I missed in the third I made in the fourth. Just trying to be aggressive, my teammates followed the lead and I just tried to win a ball game for them or help them win a ball game.”

8. James took 15 of the Cavs’ 22 shots in the fourth. He scored their final 13 points of regulation and 23 of their 28 in the quarter. He had the assist on one of the two baskets he didn’t score. And yet when told Blatt believed James needed more help, Smith chuckled.

9. “I mean, I had 15 in the first,” Smith said. “I don’t know what else you want me to do.”

10. Of course there were three quarters after that and Smith was a non-factor in most of them. He took eight shots in the first quarter and six the rest of the night. Smith didn’t say when asked if the ball stopped finding him after the first.

11. “I don’t know, man. I’m going to let that be where it sits,” Smith said. “Just try to do whatever it takes.”

12. The Cavs’ defensive issues have grown apparent during their last 10 games, resulting in this .500 stretch. They were a top 10 team in defensive rating and on the cusp of the top 10 in defensive field-goal percentage during their 8-1 start. But since then they’re in the bottom 10 in defensive field-goal percentage and defensive rating, which measures how many points they allow per 100 possessions.

13. “We do not play a 48-minute game,” James said. “It’s either one or two guys that breaks down and it breaks the whole team down. Until we find the right lineup, the right matchup, that guys are gonna play 48 minutes or when they’re on the floor they play their minutes the right way, then we won’t have stretches where we continue to let guys get to the rim or make shots.”

14. Speaking of the defense, Blatt changed his starting point guard because of Mo Williams’ defensive issues. Williams has often acknowledged he’s not a good defender. He never was and he’s certainly not now at 32. Matthew Dellavedova provides the perimeter defense, he doesn’t turn the ball over and he can make an open 3. He’ll likely remain in this role until Kyrie Irving returns, which should be later this month.

15. “I’m cool,” Williams said. “It’s a role that I envisioned myself in when I signed here, so I’m fine.”

16. Don’t expect Williams to be motivated into becoming a lockdown defender because of the demotion. “At this point, we are who we are as players,” he said.

17. Opponents seem to be pushing the tempo on the Cavs lately and they haven’t responded well. The Wizards played fast Tuesday and the Pelicans quickened the pace in the second and third quarters Friday, scoring at least 30 points in consecutive quarters. The Cavs have the third-slowest pace in the league, which isn’t necessarily a problem

18. The San Antonio Spurs play at an even slower pace, but their system is predicated on spacing and ball movement. The Cavs aren’t there yet. And they’re not an overly athletic team aside from James, either. Iman Shumpert will help, but this isn’t a team of racehorses who can fly up and down the floor even when they’re whole.

19. “We as a team gotta get back, we gotta be able to take a stand,” Smith said. “I don’t care who they got on their team, they could have track stars on their team, if we got the heart and willpower to do it, we’ve got to be able to do it.”

20. Smith has to shoulder some of the blame on this. James threw the ball away in the final minute with the Cavs ahead 101-100. Smith let Anthony Davis beat him to the ball, resulting in an easy dunk and a Pelicans lead rather than a backcourt violation or shot-clock violation. It was a big play and it was all pure hustle.

21. James sidestepped Blatt’s suggestion the Cavs needed to get him more help, instead pointing to the fact they were one defensive stop away from a victory in regulation. “We get a stop, we win the ball game,” he said. “We’re up three. We get a stop, we win the ball game. It’s that simple.”

22. But Jrue Holiday made a tough 3-pointer with 8 seconds left and the Cavs couldn’t get anything going in overtime.

23. If the Cavs are treading water waiting on Irving and Iman Shumpert to make everything better, James doesn’t like that plan. He called the two guards’ return to practice on Thursday “a breath of fresh air” and a number of players were pleased with the intensity and trash talking in practice with both Irving and Shumpert back. Only they’re not back. At least not yet. Whatever good mojo they created in Thursday’s practice certainly seemed to dissipate throughout Friday.

24. “I hope we don’t think that way. It’s never that way,” James said when asked if the players are waiting on the injured guards to make everything better. “When you get your guys back, you prepare just as you prepare before. It’s only one guy in the world, ever, where everything will be all right when he comes back, and that’s Jesus Christ. Other than that, you can’t bank on nobody being OK.”

25. It won’t be any easier Saturday at Miami. The Cavs haven’t won there since before James left for the Heat in 2010 and he didn’t play well in two games at AmericanAirlines Arena last season.

26. Compounding matters, the late start to Friday’s game plus the overtime session and time change means the Cavs weren’t going to get into Miami until the middle of the night. But at least Saturday’s game is an 8 p.m. start. Given the physical nature of this game, every minute off helps. Talk to you Saturday from Miami.

Akron police and the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the homicide of a 21-year-old man found on Storer Avenue at 8:22 p.m. Friday.

An autopsy is planned Saturday.

Further details were not immediately available.

A divided Akron City Council agreed Saturday morning to move its reorganization meeting from Dec. 14 to Jan. 4.

The vote was 7-5 in favor at a special session that lasted less than 15 minutes.

Council President Mike Freeman had proposed the change because of a concern about a potential conflict with Mayor Jeff Fusco, who will return to council in January, voting on council leadership when he is mayor.

With the all Democratic council split among two factions, Fusco’s vote is seen as vital when electing a new president who will dole out committee assignments.

Council members Bob Hoch, Donnie Kammer and Linda Omobien have expressed an interest in the position.

Before the vote Saturday, Hoch and Omobien both called the move unnecessary, with Omobien saying the administration hadn’t made a strong enough case that there’s a problem.

Meanwhile, members Marilyn Keith and Rich Swirsky both spoke in favor, with Swirsky saying it was about “inclusion vs. exclusion.”

Including Keith and Swirsky, council members James Hurley III, Jack Hefner, DeAndre Forney, Kammer and Freeman voted in favor.

Meanwhile, Hoch, Omobien, Russel Neal Jr., Tara Mosley-Samples and Michael Williams voted against.

Councilwoman Margo Sommerville was absent.

Council members will be sworn in Dec. 14, but not take office until Jan. 1.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.


The Meijer chain of grocery and department stores is seeking a site in Northfield Center Township as it continues work to bring a store to Stow.

A proposed zoning change that would allow for the construction of a roughly 190,000-square-foot Meijer superstore facing state Route 8 in Northfield Center will be the subject of a public hearing Wednesday.

Township zoning inspector Donald Saunders said Friday he does not expect the five-member zoning commission to vote on the proposed zoning change until Jan. 11 at the earliest.

Michigan-based Meijer, which currently has no stores in Northeast Ohio, would build the store on about 20 acres north of the Spitzer Chevrolet dealership off state Route 82, west of state Route 8.

The property is owned by Spitzer Management, and is zoned residential. It would need to be rezoned commercial to allow for the store.

Meijer’s spokesman Frank Guglielmi said the company “has the site under contract [and has negotiated a price], which is the first step when we are looking at a new development.”

He said he had no development timeline. Saunders said a company representative told him that Meijer would like to begin construction late next year.

Trustee Paul Buescher said some residents will likely object to the proposed development. He noted that the backyards of homes along Beechwood Drive would run up against the western edge of the development.

Saunders said Meijer has proposed a 50-foot-wide buffer between the homeowners’ property line to the rear of the building; the township zoning code requires a 25-foot setback. At the public hearing, a company representative will present options for landscaping the area.

“They know they are up against a residential area,” Saunders said. “They want to be nice neighbors and minimize the impact the development will have on the immediate backyards and residential property.”

Meijer would build a gas station and convenience store west of the Spitzer dealership.

The zoning commission meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Northfield Elementary School’s cafeteria.

Expansion in Ohio

Guglielmi said proposed Northfield Center and Stow stores are part of the company’s plans to expand in Ohio, which now boasts 41 Meijer stores. Ohio has the largest number of stores after Michigan, which has more than 100 stores.

The company has 223 stores in six states: Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

Guglielmi said the site in Stow, at the former Stow-Kent Plaza, also remains under contract. “We’re farther along on that site,” he said, in terms of going through all the “due diligence,” needed before breaking ground.

The Stow Planning Commission and City Council approved a site plan last year for a 190,000-square-foot Meijer store off state Route 59 and a separate 2,500-square-foot convenience store with a 10-pump gas station that together would cost nearly $25 million and employ about 200 people.

The existing Wendy’s restaurant off Route 59 would be demolished to make room for the gas station.

The Stow Meijer store would be built next to an existing Macy’s department store, and Stow officials have said the Meijer should help draw more customers to the area to benefit both of them and other nearby businesses.

Meijer also plans to build a store in Avon, and has been talking with Bainbridge Township officials about building in the parking lot of the former Geauga Lake amusement park.

Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.