BARBERTON
Council to interview
BARBERTON: The sitting council members will begin interviewing candidates Saturday for an at-large seat that became vacant when Bill Judge was sworn in as mayor on New Year’s Day.
Scheduled to be interviewed are Joyce Anderson, Mike Anderson, David Brumagin, Carla Debevec, Dennis Evans, Terry Graham, John Hollenbaugh, Michael Hollenbaugh, Larry Okolish, Jeffry Pixler and Carlton Ramsey.
The interviews will begin at 8 a.m. in the mayor’s conference room.
Mike Anderson lost the race in Ward 6 in November against Carol Frey. Brumagin and Graham served on Barberton council several years ago.
Frey and Gary Endres (Ward 1) were sworn in on Monday.

CLEVELAND
City files lawsuit
CLEVELAND: Cleveland sued the state of Ohio on Tuesday for the right to ban the sale of prepared foods that contain artery-clogging trans fats.
The city filed suit in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court seeking to invalidate a state law blocking the ban.
In announcing the suit, Mayor Frank Jackson said the law unconstitutionally takes away the city’s home-rule rights.
The city ordinance passed last year would ban industrially produced trans fats in restaurant meals and grocery and bakery takeout items.
The Ohio Restaurant Association backed the state legislation and said it will mean consistent statewide regulations.
“The Ohio Restaurant Association believes that the new law enacted as part of the budget will help restaurants expand and, most importantly, create more jobs,” association communications director Jarrod A. Clabaugh said in an email.
In 2006, the federal government began requiring packaged foods to list trans fats on nutrition labels. U.S. dietary guidelines call for keeping levels as low as possible.
— Associated Press

PLAIN TOWNSHIP
Fire chief sworn in
PLAIN TWP.: Donald Snyder formally will take over as chief of the Plain Township Fire Department on Friday, following the retirement of current Chief John Sabo.
Snyder, who has been with the department for 38 years, was sworn in as chief in a ceremony Thursday at GlenOak High School. He is following in the footsteps of his father, Clarence Snyder, who was Plain Township’s first fire chief.
Sabo was with the department for 44 years.
Also sworn in at Thursday’s ceremony before their families and friends were Charles Shalenberger as deputy chief, Howard Hershberger as shift commander, Jason Kuhn and Troy Slabaugh as captains, and Eric Wiedlebacher as lieutenant.

SUMMIT COUNTY
Officers elected
AKRON: Summit County Council unanimously re-elected Councilman Jerry Feeman as president and Councilman Nick Kostandaras as vice president during its organizational meeting Monday.
“I’m looking forward to 2012 being a very successful year,” said Feeman, of Tallmadge.