AKRONSB 5 talkAKRON: A panel discussion of Senate Bill 5 will be held at the Akron Press Club’s luncheon at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 20 at the University of Akron’s Martin Center, 105 Fir Hill.The Republican-controlled legislature adopted SB 5, which limits collective bargaining by public employees, and a Democratic-led effort responded with a referendum —state Issue 2 — on the Nov. 8 ballot to repeal the legislation.The panelists will be Molly Bloom, a Kent-based reporter for a collaboration of WKSU, WCPN, WOSU and NPR; Steve Brooks, associate director of UA’s Bliss Institute of Applied Politics; and Doug Oplinger, managing editor of the Beacon Journal.They will discuss how the bill became law and the coming referendum.Audience members will be permitted to ask questions.Cost is $15 for Press Club members and $20 for nonmembers.Reservations are required by calling 330-564-4211 or sending an email to RSVP@cmoresearch.com.Company finedAKRON: Kenmore Construction Co. Inc. will pay a $20,000 penalty to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency as a settlement for violating the state’s air pollution control laws at several construction sites in Summit County.The company also agreed to take steps to minimize or eliminate visible emissions of dust and particulates from its construction sites, the state agency said Wednesday.Kenmore, a general construction contractor, failed to properly control emissions at construction projects in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls on numerous occasions between 2007 and 2010, the Ohio EPA said.The settlement includes a civil penalty of $8,000 to support state and local air pollution control programs, $8,000 to the Ohio Environmental Education Fund and $4,000 to Ohio EPA’s clean diesel school bus program fund.Prison sentenceAKRON: An Akron man was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison for aggravated robbery and a firearm specification, authorities said.Aswad A. Bey, 31, who had a last known address of Edward Street in Akron, was sentenced in Summit County Common Pleas Court by a visiting judge, Robert J. Brown, a former common pleas judge in Wayne County.Prosecutors said Bey and a co-defendant robbed the victim at gunpoint May 25 while he sat in his car outside the Open Pantry store on Copley Road in Akron.Man shotAKRON: Akron police responding to a domestic argument between brothers early Wednesday morning shot and injured one of them who they say refused to surrender a rifle.Jacob Ragsdale, 37, was being treated at Akron General Medical Center for a gunshot wound to the left arm, police said.No officers were injured in the shooting that took place about 1 a.m. near Ragsdale’s home in the 2000 block of 13th Street Southwest.According to police, Ragsdale and his brother, Lloyd Lamarr Provitt Sr., 40, became embroiled in a dispute inside Ragsdale’s home. At some point, Ragsdale grabbed a rifle and fired a shot at Provitt, police said.Provitt, who was not struck, ran outside and called police. During the call, he told police he heard another shot being fired from the backyard, officers said.Officers confronted Ragsdale in the driveway. He was still armed with the rifle, police said, and refused orders to drop the weapon. At that point, police say an officer shot Ragsdale, who ran injured toward the rear of the home. He was then taken into custody on charges of felonious assault, domestic violence and illegal weapons possession.The officer, a nine-year veteran, was placed on paid leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.Issues discussedAKRON: The Women’s Interfaith Spiritual Heritage group will present a panel discussion on women’s issues that draws on the themes of the film and book The Secret Life of Bees from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Founders Hall, 662 Wolf Ledges Parkway.WISH, which was established in 2006, offers an opportunity for women of different faiths, generations and backgrounds to come together to share their stories and explore women’s issues. Each gathering focuses on a book discussion and gives those in attendance a chance to express their viewpoints based on their life experience and share how the book enhanced their spiritual development.The forums are open to the public. No reservations or fees are required.For additional information, contact 330-644-7265, 330-336-7043 or neowish2006@gmail.com.GREENStorm-water reliefGREEN: Work is expected to begin shortly on two of three storm-water problem areas, while two others requiring pipe replacement and engineering could be started by year’s end.That update came from City Engineer Paul Pickett and Service Director Randy Monteith during City Council’s committee meetings Tuesday afternoon.Pickett said four of five private contractors have submitted cost estimates and noted when they could start work. Pickett and Monteith are going over the figures and plans to proceed with immediate cleaning and maintenance of the Anderson Ditch, an area of Melanie Drive and Lauby Road.The engineer said some immediate fixes are planned for a portion of Spade Road and three properties in the Solar Estates area. Long-term solutions also are being contemplated in both areas.Monteith said Service Department crews have completed cleaning a flood area between Melanie and High Tower drives, bringing the area back to the original grade and line.City crews, rather than an outside contractor, will handle storm-water problems on the east side of Golden Wood Way soon, while those on the west side will be done later.PLAIN TOWNSHIPBracing for winterPLAIN TWP.: Looking ahead to winter, trustees authorized the purchase of 20 snowplow blades at their meeting Tuesday evening. They will be purchased from Chemung Supply of New York at a cost of $3,379.Trustees learned construction will begin on the Loop Trail through Schneider Park on Nov. 7. The construction will wind through Schneider Community Park and around GlenOak High School and is expected to be completed within 90 days.Plain Township residents can drop off yard waste at two locations — Fire Station No. 4 at 2855 Easton St., and Warstler Landscaping, 4125 Salway Ave. NW — during normal business hours six days a week.Electric aggregation for Plain Township will be discussed at public meetings Oct. 24 and Nov. 2. Both meetings will start at 7 p.m. at Township Hall, 2600 Easton St. NE.