News

Youth athletes across Northeast Ohio are already training for their fall seasons and Akron Children’s Hospital is ready to launch its third annual “Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer” campaign in conjunction with the Go4TheGoal Foundation. “September is ‘Childhood Cancer Awareness Month’ and it’s a great time for athletes to get Read more…

Born from pain and concern, the Wadsworth Drug Free Community Coalition (WDFCC) is dedicated to fighting the drug epidemic. With drug overdoses nearly doubling in Wadsworth from 2014 (23 overdoses, 4 fatal) to 2015 (42 overdoses, 6 fatal) — and on the rise this year (39 overdoses, as of 8/30/16 and 4 fatal) Read more…

Elijah’s Truth Foundation is hosting International Overdose Awareness Day in Wadsworth on Aug. 31 at Memorial Park from 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. With the number of overdoses increasing daily, Elijah’s Truth found it imperative to bring awareness to the community. “Each year, we lose thousands of people from drug overdoses Read more…

More than 200,000 U.S. crashes involved road debris during the past four years. These resulted in approximately 39,000 injuries and more than 500 deaths, according to new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research. The number of road debris crashes involving items falling from vehicles has increased 40 percent since 2001.

Study and Key Findings:

Researchers examined common characteristics of crashes involving road debris between 2011 and 2014 and found that:

· Nearly 37 percent of all road debris crash deaths occurred after a driver swerved to avoid hitting an object.
· Debris-related crashes are much more likely to occur on interstate highways, as high speeds increase the risk for vehicle parts to become detached or cargo to fall.
· More than one in three road debris crashes occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., which is prime time for hauling or moving heavy items like furniture or construction equipment.

About two-thirds of crashes involve items falling from vehicles. The most common types of vehicle debris are:

· Parts becoming detached from a vehicle (tires, wheels, etc.)
· Unsecured cargo (furniture, appliances, etc.)
· Tow trailers becoming separated

“This new report shows that road debris can be extremely dangerous, but all of these crashes are preventable,” said Jurek Grabowski, research director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Drivers can easily save lives and prevent injuries by securing their loads and taking other simple precautions.”

Tips to Prevent Road Debris Crashes:

· Maintain Vehicles: Badly worn or underinflated tires often suffer blowouts. Exhaust systems and the hardware that attach them to vehicles can rust and corrode, causing mufflers and other parts to drag and eventually break loose. Regular maintenance can prevent these issues.

· Secure Vehicle Loads: Tie loads down with rope, netting or straps; tie large objects to the vehicle or trailer; cover loads with sturdy tarps or netting; don’t overload vehicles; always double check loads to make sure they’re secure.

· Drive Defensively: Drivers should continually scan the road at least 12-15 seconds ahead to be prepared for debris. Also, never tailgate and try to maintain open space on at least one side of the vehicle to make it easier to steer around an object. If debris is unavoidable, reduce speed as much as possible before making contact.

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The city of Wadsworth is growing in size. At their last meeting, members of Wadsworth City Council agreed to the annexation of 53 acres of land that was formerly in Sharon Township. The land in question is located off State Road. The property will be serviced by Wadsworth’s utilities, but Read more…

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for much of the state of Ohio. The measure goes into effect at 11 o’clock this morning until 9 o’clock Saturday night. High temperatures for both Friday and Saturday will be in the low to mid 90s. The maximum heat index Read more…

The city of Wadsworth has announced that they have saved $1.2 million by refinancing debt while interest rates are at an all-time low. The bonds were originally issued by the city of Wadsworth back in 2010 and funded the construction of the Wadsworth Community Center which opened back in 2013. Read more…

Wadsworth Congressman Jim Renacci is co-sponsoring a measure on Capitol Hill that would award a posthumous Congressional gold medal to Cleveland Indians legend Larry Doby. Congress has awarded over 300 gold medals since the American Revolution in appreciation for significant achievements. Doby was the first African American baseball player in Read more…