Electricity theft up amid economic woes

Electricity theft up amid economic woes

DAYTON — Consumer advocates in Ohio are urging people struggling to pay utility bills not to risk injury or death by tampering with power equipment to steal electricity.

Dayton Power and Light Co. says it has investigated 860 case of suspected electricity theft in January and February, up 70 percent during the same period last year.

“It is a sign of the times in terms of how desperate consumers are,” said Ryan Lippe, spokesman with the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

People should work with utility companies and seek help from special payment programs before they consider doing something desperate and dangerous, such as tampering with electric meters, Lippe said.

Man gets stimulus money to silence train horns

HUDSON — A man who wanted to silence train horns near his home asked for $168,300 in federal stimulus money. It paid off.

Greg McNeil’s project was one of 149 selected by the Ohio Department of Transportation to receive a slice of $774 million in stimulus money — and the only one based on an application from a private citizen.

The money will be used to make safety upgrades at a railroad crossing so trains won’t have to blow their horns when they pass. The noise has been an issue for homeowners in Hudson and Macedonia.

McNeil said he submitted a proposal on behalf of his homeowners association March 3, the deadline for filing applications to the state.

“I kind of looked at it as a ’Hail Mary’ pass,” he said.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission recommended grade-crossing safety projects to ODOT for stimulus funding, said spokesman Stu Nicholson.

Prosecutor: No charges against Canton mayor

CANTON — A prosecutor says no charges will be filed against the city’s mayor, who had been investigated over allegations he had an improper relationship with a teenage girl.

Stark County Assistant Prosecutor Chryssa Hartnett said Friday her office made the decision after reviewing a sheriff’s investigation.

Mayor William Healy II says he’s happy that justice prevailed. His attorney, Richard Blake, says the mayor is the victim of an orchestrated smear campaign.

Blake says the mayor received anonymous letters containing the allegations and went to the FBI in January for help.

The FBI reviewed the allegations and closed its case, saying it couldn’t corroborate a claim of an improper relationship or anything that was a federal crime.

Associated Press