Friday, April 17, 1998
The group "Friends of the Observatory" is sponsoring a cleanup around the Mount Lookout Observatory throughout the day Saturday. A free lunch will be given to volunteers.
The 155-year-old observatory, at the northern end of Observatory Place in Mount Lookout, was recently declared a national historic landmark.
SCPA students win awards in competition
Students from the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) Music Theatre group won several awards at an interstate competition this month.
About 40 SCPA students competed against 350 performers from schools in Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Honors included: first place - superior rating for the Snow Choir; best vocal solo for Katy Graves in the Snow Choir; second place - superior rating for the Chamber Choir; second place - excellent rating for the Jazz Band; outstanding jazz soloist for William Menefield, who also shared the best rhythm-section award with Tony Williams and Jordan Scanella.
The competition took place during the first week of April in Virginia Beach, Va.
Settlement ends McDonald's strike
MACEDONIA, Ohio -- A dispute between young fast-food workers and management of a McDonald's in suburban Cleveland was settled Thursday, ending what was thought to be the first strike against the restaurant in the United States.
The 20 strikers, mostly teen-agers angry about what they said was a steady stream of insults from their bosses, halted their five-day walkout once supervisors agreed to undergo human-relations training. "I'm glad it's over. I can go back to school," said Bryan Drapp, 19, a University of Akron freshman who organized the strike. "I'm kind of happy."
Mr. Drapp decided to walk off the job last week after a supervisor yelled at an elderly crew member for setting down a trash bag in the wrong place and made her cry. He said it was one of many times bosses were too harsh with the restaurant's crew.
On Sunday, he convinced co-workers to walk out with him from the McDonald's 20 miles southeast of Cleveland. Local Teamsters lent their support to the young pickets as word of the strike spread. Dominic Tocco, president of the 1,400-member Teamsters Local 416, said the strikers were made associate members of the union -- an informal association. The local will make sure the teen-agers are treated fairly, he said.
Offended bar patron may have killed cop
CLEVELAND -- An off-duty policeman killed outside a strip club may have offended a bar patron who became so angry he got a gun and lay in wait for the victim, police said.
Authorities on Thursday had not yet filed charges in the shooting death of Officer David Smith, on the force for five years. A man and a woman were arrested Wednesday in the Cleveland suburb of Solon. Their names were not released.
Both Officer Smith and his cousin were shot once in the chest as they left The Office nightclub early Wednesday. Edward Wright, 28, was in stable condition at Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center. It appeared that either Officer Smith or Mr. Wright somehow offended a man in the nightclub, police Chief Rocco Pollutro said. The men didn't not speak but were giving each other dirty looks.
Man convicted of murder in killing 2 bow hunters
CADIZ, Ohio -- An Akron man was convicted Thursday of killing two brothers while hunting in eastern Ohio last fall.
A jury in Harrison County Common Pleas Court deliberated three hours before finding Danny H. Jenkins, 51, guilty of two counts each of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.
He was sentenced by Judge Ray Karto to life in prison. Mr. Jenkins will not be eligible for parole for 72 years, said Prosecutor Matthew Puskarich.
Duane Lockard, 60, and William Lockard, 61, both of Suffield Township in Portage County were shot in their backs with a 12-gauge shotgun while bow hunting for deer in Harrison County on Oct. 31. Their bodies were found near Tappan Lake, about 35 miles south of Canton.
The prosecution wrapped up its case on Wednesday and the defense offered no witnesses, claiming the prosecution failed to prove Mr. Jenkins was the killer. Mr. Jenkins and the Lockards were friends who often hunted together. Two witnesses testified Mr. Jenkins argued with one or both brothers prior to the shootings.
