Newton Falls renames playground to honor slain teen

Staff report

NEWTON FALLS

The village has placed a sign in Apache Park in the East River Gardens neighborhood designating the playground there the Everett Greathouse Memorial Playground.

Greathouse, 15, was killed July 6 at his house on Trumbull Court, next to the park. He and his mother, Kathy Cogley, 39, and his stepfather Rikki Cogley, 42, were also killed by a gunman.

Police believe Robb Brazzon, 55, who lived on nearby Newton Drive, committed the killings. They also believe he killed his girlfriend, Tracey Engler, 38, and then himself.

Members of Everett Greathouse’s family have said the boy enjoyed helping people, and frequently got up early to shovel the snow from neighbors’ driveways.

Residents of East River Gardens said the boy frequently played in the park.

Village council approved a resolution Monday naming the park in the boy’s honor.

It also approved a resolution allowing village Manager Jack Haney to enter into an agreement to have the Trumbull County 911 system take over the village’s police and fire dispatching.

The change to the county dispatching is expected sometime in September, Haney said.

The reason for making the change was to save money, Haney said.

Two current Newton Falls dispatchers will be hired to work for the county, Haney said.