AKRONToddler abandonedAKRON: A woman apparently distraught over the recent death of her father stopped her car Tuesday morning on West Waterloo Road, took out her 3-year-old son and drove away, Akron police said.The boy was cared for immediately by a resident who saw the mother drive away and shouted in an effort to stop her. The woman then called police.The boy and two siblings were in the custody of Summit County Children Services, police said.The mother, whose name was not immediately released, crashed her car a short time later. She was undergoing a psychological evaluation at a local hospital, Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards said.Officers were called to the 500 block of West Waterloo Road about 11 a.m. by the woman who rescued the child. The boy was not injured.Edwards said the mother, who is in her 30s, was distraught over her father’s death Saturday. She was the primary caretaker for her father and mother, he said.Fire hits facilityA fire Tuesday evening inside the Akron Compost facility on Riverview Road sent heavy smoke billowing into the Merriman Valley and kept Akron and Cuyahoga Falls firefighters on guard for hours.No one was injured, according to Annette Berger, vice present of operations with KB Compost, which operates the facility.A front loader moving compost inside the facility’s mixing area caught fire about 6:30 p.m. The fire flared up again about 10:30 p.m.A cause and damage estimate were not available.Nature Realm openAKRON: The Seiberling Nature Realm will be open on Labor Day.The nature center at 1828 Smith Road in North Akron is typically closed on Mondays.Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 330-865-8065.CAMPAIGN TRAILIssue 2 discussionAKRON: The group We Are Ohio will host a panel discussion on Issue 2 at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St., in downtown Akron.State Issue 2 on the Nov. 8 ballot seeks to repeal Senate Bill 5, which would set limits on the collective bargaining power of public employees.Panel speakers will highlight what they believe are the negative effects the legislation would have on the community and the police, firefighters, teachers and nurses who work in it.For more information on Issue 2, go to http://weareohio.com.For more information on the forum, call 330-812-0101. CantonCouncil OKs raisesCANTON: City Council has granted pay raises to nine members of Mayor William J. Healy II’s administration.Council members William Smuckler and Mary Cirelli opposed the increases on grounds that resources are needed more urgently to add police and fire department personnel.Raises approved Monday followed 3.2 percent increases approved June 20.The largest proportional increases went to Service Director Warren Price and Safety Director Thomas Ream, whose salaries have increased from $70,000 to $83,771 this summer.Other management salaries approved Monday are for Fire Chief Stephen Rich, $94,090; fire division chiefs, $85,537; Police Chief Dean McKimm, $93,115; Civil Service Director Samuel Sliman, $71,410; community development executive specialist Fonda Williams, $64,947; and management assistant Derek Gordon, $35,000.The council also approved paying $40,000 to the YMCA of Central Stark County to manage the Edward L. “Peel” Coleman Community Center for the rest of the year.green schoolsDonor buys iPadsGREEN: Students at Green Primary School will learn with the aid of new technology thanks to a $30,000 gift for the purchase of 61 iPads.The donation was accepted by the Green school board Monday night from Randall R. Theken, who has children in the district, Treasurer Eydie Snowberger said.The board also approved the transfer of all Kleckner Elementary pupil support funds because the school has been closed and the students have been shifted to the Primary and Intermediate schools.Superintendent Michael E. Nutter said 70 percent of the funds, $43,407, will go to Primary support funds, and 30 percent, $18,603, to the Intermediate School. The Kleckner drama student activity fund of $1,450 will go to the high school drama fund.MEDINA COUNTYWest Nile detectedMEDINA: The Medina County Health Deparment reported Tuesday that mosquitoes collected at Letha House Park in Chatham Township this month have tested positive for West Nile virus.“This is the first report of WNV in mosquitoes in Medina County since 2007,” Donald Stewart, the county health department’s environmental division director, said in a news release.The Ohio Department of Health said there have been 248 positive tests for West Nile in mosquito pools statewide this year, compared to only 78 at the same time last year.NORTHEAST OHIOArrest in robberiesA Hudson man suspected in armed robberies at three local gas stations was arrested at his home Monday, the Streetsboro Police Department reported.Jason W Douglas, 23, surrendered without incident, police said.Streetsboro, Wadsworth and Cuyahoga Falls police investigating similar robberies within the past few weeks found that store surveillance photos showed the suspect appeared to be the same person.A joint investigation identified the suspect as Douglas, and Streetsboro police obtained a warrant for his arrest.The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force located Douglas at his home.He was being held in Portage County Jail on a $250,000 bond. A preliminary hearing on the Streetsboro robbery charge is scheduled for Friday.wadsworthZoning hearing setWADSWORTH: The Planning Commission has set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Sept. 12 on proposed revisions to senior housing zoning ordinances.Under the proposal, congregate, adult care facilities, nursing homes and residential care facilities will be allowed in commercial areas. Present zoning laws allow them only in residential areas.Planning Director Jeff Kaiser said the revisions were prompted by a company looking for commercially zoned land for a complex but found city regulations did not permit it.Other provisions of the proposed changes include requirements for recreational spaces for the facilities including water features and walking paths to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.The commission also approved the final plat for a home to be built by Habitat for Humanity at 92 S. Park St.