While Summa Western Reserve Hospital had hoped to build off of Season's Road in Stow this year, the city's mayor says groundbreaking is up in the air.

"Initially, they were hoping for breaking ground later this year, that may or may not be able to happen," Drew said, on the 1590 WAKR Ray Horner Morning Show Thursday. 

Drew says she's told the economy has slowed the process for SWRH, but the principle partners remain optimistic.

"They're confident that they're moving forward," Drew said.

The hospital, proposed to sit off the newly paved Route 8 exit, would bring 600 jobs to Stow.

"That's the linchpin for further medical office or associated type development," she said.

Drew doesn't see the location attracting a large number of retail businesses similar to the bustling Steels Corners Road exit.

Meanwhile, redevelopment efforts are underway to better utilize the current Stow-Kent Shopping Center on Rt. 59.

Stow city officials have met with the owner of the plaza to institute a zoning overlay district, which would allow for a mix of residential, retail and office space, similar to First and Main in Hudson. Drew says the owner is enthusiastic about the possibility.

"I couldn't be more pleased with how things are going right now," Drew said.

The new future for the plaza could become a reality. The city planning commission approved the overlay district and the measure will go before city council in late July.

If it's given the green light, Drew expects the old plaza to be demolished, with a new structure in its place. A study is planned to determine the proper mix of housing, retail and office space.

Previous Coverage:

Doctors Eye 3rdQ Starting Point For New Hospital

Stow Eyeing Shopping Plaza For Possible Redevelopment

A clean-up effort is underway after a train derailment in downtown Akron.

Akron Police tell News Channel 5 that the collision forced three train cars into a nearby parking lot at Quaker Square.

According to police, a CSX train traveling about 20 miles per hour rear-ended a stationary train at about 1:30 Thursday morning. Both of the trains were empty at the time of the collision.

A section of the parking is expected to be closed off until the trains are removed.

No one was injured.

Ohio's Attorney General launches a statewide effort to stop prescription pill thefts in care facilities.

In response to the growing concerns of abuse and missing drugs, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is intensifying his efforts to slow the growing number of pharmaceutical thefts with a new assistance program.

Beginning next week, the state will send letters to every care facility in Ohio, reminding them of their obligation under law to report suspected illegal activity.

DeWine says his office will also make investigative assistance available through its Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for each and every facility-- if needed.

"Every time this happens a real patient is deprived of the medication they need to get well," DeWine said, in a press release. "This is why my office is now contacting facility administrators throughout the state. We want to remind them that we can help."

Press Release:

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that he is intensifying his efforts to stop pharmaceutical drug thefts in adult care facilities by offering investigative assistance to every nursing home, assisted living agency, and residential care facility in Ohio.

The effort is in response to growing concerns over prescription drug abuse, including drug diversion (theft), by care facility employees.  In many cases employees steal prescription drugs to feed their own addictions, the addictions of a loved one, or to sell the medication on the streets.

"Every time this happens a real patient is deprived of the medication they need to get well," said Attorney General DeWine. "This is why my office is now contacting facility administrators throughout the state. We want to remind them that we can help."

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the Ohio Attorney General's Office is authorized to review and investigate complaints of elderly abuse, neglect, and drug diversion. Along with the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Ohio Department of Health, the MFCU can also seek the prosecution of suspects.

"Our law enforcement officers have been aggressively shutting down "pill mills" across the state, but now addicts may turn to care facilities to feed their dependence," DeWine said. "We want to remind those who work in these licensed care facilities that they have the mandatory duty, as required by law, to report suspicions of abuse, neglect or drug diversion."

Over the past several years, drug diversions cases have become more common, including several cases prosecuted by the MFCU:

• A Fairfield County nursing assistant convicted of stealing pain patches from a 71-year-old man suffering from several severe medical conditions.
• The convictions of three nurses in Meigs County who were caught by surveillance cameras stealing prescription pain patches and pills.
• A Franklin County nurse convicted of stealing Oxycodone pills.
• A Cuyahoga County nurse convicted of stealing Percocet and Oxycodone pills and replacing them with Tylenol and Zofran tablets, respectively.
• The MFCU has an entire team of agents who specialize in the investigation of crimes against care facility residents, and they are available to help law enforcement agencies that may not have the resources to investigate these cases.

Beginning next week, administrators of every care facility in the state will receive a letter reminding them of their obligation under state law to report suspected illegal activity and that investigative assistance is available through the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Anyone who suspects abuse, neglect or drug diversion in one of Ohio's care facilities can file a complaint by contacting the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 614-466-0722, by calling the Attorney General's Help Desk at 800-282-0515, or by filing a complaint online at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Enforcement/Report-Patient-Abuse-or-Neglect.

The Stow-Kent Shopping Plaza could become the site of a new mixed-use housing for those over 55, commercial and retail properties.

Citing the partially empty plaza off of Rt. 59 as a "major concern for many years" in her city, Stow Mayor Sara Drew says the city's now considering acting upon recommendations from a study conducted a few years ago-- by enacting a change in zoning by creating an overlay district.

"We are moving forward on some possible plans to take a look at redevelopment options," Drew said.

Burton Carol Management LLC, owns and operates various properties across Northeast Ohio, including the Stow-Kent plaza. President and CEO Rob Risman oversees the company, which formerly owned the State Road Shopping Center off of State Road in Cuyahoga Falls, now known as Portage Crossing.

Drew says conversations with Risman as of late, have been positive.

"It's been one of my primary goals to have that re-developed and turned into something that's an asset to the community instead of a detriment," Drew said.

The city's feasibility study is underway to determine what "works" for the location in terms of percentage of retail, commercial and housing.

"It would likely involve multi-family buildings, apartments, in some design," Rob Kuntz said, city planning director.

While there's no firm plans in place, he says it's likely the study could call for a larger commercial component for the 35-acre space.

"It may be that there's a lower percentage of retail, it's certainly a likely outcome," he said.

Kuntz describe's Stow's retail vacancy rate as slightly lower in comparison to other towns within the Akron region.

Currently, the plaza boasts a Fitworks and retailers Big Lots and Macy's.