Judge John Sutula was conducting his usual screening session with prospective jurors last week when he asked a question everyone in the jury pool must handle: "Has anyone you know ever been convicted of a crime?"

After some routine answers about relatively minor crimes, the question was put to John Backderf, better known as Derf, the cartoonist and graphic novelist who draws "The City" for a number of alternative newspapers, including Cleveland Scene.

"I had a close friend in high school who killed 17 people," he said.

Lawyers dropped their pens. The judge froze his stare. Everyone in the jury box turned their heads on Derf all at once.

"Who?" asked Sutula.

"Jeffrey Dahmer," answered Derf, who wrote and illustrated a collection of short stories, soon to be published as a graphic novel, called "My Friend Dahmer." Dahmer, a native of Bath, went on to become a notorious mass murderer. He died in prison after suffering a beating at the hands of another inmate in 1994.

Derf was dismissed from the jury list.

"I could just see the wheels turning in the prosecutor's head: Anti-government conspiracy theorist? Check. Once drew (Cuyahoga County Prosecutor) Bill Mason in diapers? Check. Gave Jeff Dahmer rides home from school? Check.

"We would like to thank and dismiss Juror Number 8."

Clean it up: A the American Pride Car Wash on Bellaire Road on Cleveland's west side has this enticement for passing motorists: "Come wash the Dimora off." It's a reference to the corruption charges against Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, who maintains his innocence while others, as they plead guilty to bribing him, splash his reputation like so many rain-filled potholes.

At the car wash known as the polls, it took 141,419 bristled voters Tuesday to scrub Bridget McCafferty – also indicted in the corruption probe and awaiting trial – off of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas bench. She said being indicted would make her a better judge. Some would argue it now has.

Lakewood's next leader: As Lakewood Mayor Ed FitzGerald moves on to become the first Cuyahoga County administrator, who will replace him in Lakewood?

The line of succession goes Law director, Finance director, Public Works director, City Council president.

And the odds-on favorite to take the helm?

Councilman Mike Summers, who holds none of those positions, but does want to become mayor.

"I want what's in the best interest of Lakewood," said Summers, who owns Summers Rubber Co. in Cleveland.

Summers said he's had discussion for more than a year with FitzGerald about his desire to take the post should the mayor win the countywide post. Council President Kevin Butler is on record not wanting to move to the executive side of City Hall and it does not appear to observers that any of the directors appointed by FitzGerald want to take the post for a year and run for re-election next November.

That means City Council will decide. And while 8 residents also applied for the post, Summers, a former school board president, is held in high regard for his smarts and business sense. And, he says, it would make the transition from FitzGerald smoother.

"We don't want to have three mayors in a year and a half," said Summers.

Voters, of course, will have the final say on that.

What parade?: The press release from the city of Akron seeking parade units and volunteers was breathless: "Parades don't march themselves! We need volunteers from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m."

Parades don't identify themselves, either, which is why a second release followed the first, this time including such key information as which parade the city was talking about and when.

The 24th annual "Welcome Santa" holiday parade, scheduled for noon Nov. 27 in downtown Akron, needs volunteers to work as parade marshals and for check in. Call the Akron department of recreation at 330-375-2835.

Laughing in heaven: The folksy local comedian who was a friend to all who laughed and made others laugh, Mike Veneman, died last week. It is a huge loss for the local comedy community. He was 54.

Known as "The Professor" for his Comedy 101 workshops on how to do stand-up and his constant mentoring, the Stow comic became ill with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, last year.

Fellow comics held a benefit for him in January at the Funny Stop Comedy Club in Cuyahoga Falls, where Veneman appeared regularly, and buoyed his spirits with visits, emails and Facebook messages. In addition to performing his own act and mentoring others, Veneman wrote jokes for "Blue Collar" comedians like Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall.

"You were a great friend to the comedy community, a hell of a stand up, and an all around good guy," reads the tribute on the home page of clevelandyucks.com, where local comics usually needle each other.

Comedian Barry Crimmins, who spent some time in Cleveland, shared this final e-mail he got from Veneman shortly before his death: "Well, lungs too weak for trach. Coming off Saturday. Loved each and every moment with you. I see The light LOL. Remember the laughter and the joke. That's my time. Mike V."

Sound of Ideas: Last week on the program, we hashed out the election and learned about how technology is changing the way educators teach our kids. Today, tune in for a discussion on the science behind event data recorders in cars, which measure things like whether you were speeding or wearing your seatbelt before a crash. Is it valuable information, or an invitation to invade your privacy? The program airs at 9 a.m. weekdays on WCPN 90.3 FM.