This Week, social media in the spotlight, with another big Facebook data sharing scandal, new information on just how much the Russians are influencing Americans by using social media, and a local woman actually sentenced to jail for inducing panic, after posting false information on Facebook.
We'll also find out about efforts to to bring more software companies to Akron, a giant leap ahead in computing power, and how you can take a ride on a space ship, even if you're not an astronaut.
Police are looking for a missing Norton teen who hasn't been seen since the night of December 18th around 10 p.m.
Not much information regarding the diappearance of 17-year-old Alexis Sickafoose, but police are looking for the public's help.
Anyone with information is asked to call Norton PD at 330-825-2491.
his week our 1590 WAKR Female Student Athlete of the Week is Emily Andrassy, a senior basketball player from Stow-Munroe Falls High School.
Emily says she started playing basketball from an early age, and has enjoyed the game ever since.
“My parents are very athletic, but I’ve always been athletic and I enjoyed playing outside with my neighbors,” she said.
As a four-year letterwinner and two-time captain both junior and senior year, Emily said that even though she can motivate her teammates vocally, she mostly leads by example on the practice floor, and on game day.
"I probably lead more by example, but I try to be more vocal, but it’s all about coming to practice and working hard.”
Her head coach Bob Podges had some great words for Andrassy and what she brings to the court.
"Emily is the heart and soul of our team," he said. "She's our best defender with an oustanding competive spirt."
The leadership qualities that she displays on the court also are on display off the court as Andrassy participates in the Freshman Mentorship program, something she takes a great deal of pride in.
Upon graduation in the spring, Emily plans on attending Kent State University.
Our next Male Student Athlete is Jackson Carlson, a senior basketball player from Stow High School.
He said he too fell in love with the game of basketball from an early age.
"My dad put a basketball in my hand since I before I can remember, and I’ve always been around the sport and loved it,” he said.
As a two-sport athlete for Stow (basketball and baseball), Carlson says he enjoys being with his teammates and working with them towards a common goal.
Coach Dave Close, the longtime coach of the Bulldogs, said that Jackson has grown as a player and as a person.
"He is a young man who has worked very hard to improve as a player and as a junior, he did not receive a lot of playing time. But he rolled up his sleeves and worked hard
the entire off-season to become a better and more well-rounded player," he said.
He also works hard off the court as well to become a more well-rounded person as well.
"He too has volunteered at Open M and has volunteered in the summer helping to teach youngsters
the game of basketball," Close said.
Carlson plans on majoring in education when he attends college in the spring, He says helping youngsters is something he's really interested in.
"I always liked being around students and want to coach as well,” he explained.
We wish Emily and Jackson the best in all of their future endeavors.
UPDATE: Akron Police say Calvin T. Hunter turned himself in Friday evening, and has been charged with felony theft in connection to the Monday, December 10th theft of roughly $1,000 worth of toys that were meant for the "Toys for Tots" campaign in Akron.
The day of the theft, Hunter posed as a volunteer at the First Faith Development building on Easter Avenue, and walked away with the donated toys.
--
Akron Police Detectives have signed a warrant for felony theft on Calvin T. Hunter (pictured), 46, of Akron.
There is no last known address for Hunter, who police say signed up as a volunteer for the USMC "Toys for Tots" campaign at the First Faith Development - Toys for Tots building at 790 Easter Avenue on Monday.
Throughout the day, Hunter was observed on surveillance camera taking more than $1,000 worth of toys out the back door and loading them into a vehicle. He left with them later Monday.
--
Akron Police are investigating a theft of about $5,000 worth of toys that were supposed to be donated to families in need for the annual Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.
According to a press release from USMC Staff Sergeant Phillip Greer, the theives posed as volunteers and were taking higher end toys, bikes, and more out the back door of the First Faith Development Corporation building on Easter Avenue in Akron Monday night.
They were caught on surveillance video, but haven't been caught yet. Staff Sergeant Greer says that in spite of the loss, they still expect to meet the needs of the more than 15,000 children and families they serve every year.
Anyone with more information, meanwhile, is asked to call Akron Police.
See more details from the full press release below:
[Akron, OH, December 11] – Last night, people who had volunteered to help count and sort toys collected by the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program stole approximately $5,000 worth of toys. The individuals in question were working to prepare toys for the less fortunate children of Akron. Instead, they began to move toys and bikes to the back door where they then began to remove them without permission. One of the persons managing the warehouse noticed some of the higher value toys missing and investigated. She caught the individuals in the act of removing the toys for their own gain. Those involved then ran off with the toys and bikes.
The loss of the toys will have an impact on the Toys for Tots program’s ability to help the children of Akron. With the program reaching 15,000 registered children, the volunteers are hard at work preparing requests. The Marines involved in the program are working hard to ensure that no child is left without a Christmas this year. The Toys for Tots Coordinator, Staff Sergeant Greer, is confident that his Marines will be able to meet the needs of the community and execute a successful Toys for Tots season for the citizens of Summit County.
The Toys for Tots program is the Marine Corps’ nonprofit agency to provide toys to less fortunate children in local communities across the United States.
On Thursday, 12/13/2018, at 3:19 pm, Stow Police received a panic alarm at PNC Bank, 815 Graham Rd. As dispatchers were taking the initial alarm call, bank employees called 911 to report that the bank had just been robbed.
Upon Officer’s arrival, it was determined that the suspect entered the bank, approached a teller, presented a note, demanded money, and threatened that he had a gun. No gun was brandished or seen by the employees. The teller turned over cash (the amount will not be disclosed) to the suspect who then fled the bank. No one was injured during the robbery.
The suspect was last seen fleeing on foot northbound from the front door of the bank. A Stow Police K-9 tracked the suspect to a nearby parking lot where it is believed he had a waiting vehicle.
The suspect is described as a black male, late 20’s to early 30’s, thin build, 5-07 to 6-00, with short facial hair, glasses, possible dreadlocks, and a visible tattoo on the right side of his neck. He was wearing a black Nike ball cap over a black do-rag, a black sweatshirt that read “CALIFORNIA” and had a picture of a bear on the front of it, and blue jeans.
Anyone with information relating to this crime is asked to contact the Stow PD Detective Bureau at (330) 689-5700 or call our tip line at (330) 689-3784.
(University of Akron) - More than 100 local youth will team up with police officers representing The University of Akron, Akron City, Copley Township, Fairlawn, Bath Township, Summa Health and the Summit County Sheriff’s Department to enjoy ‘Christmas with a Cop’ this Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018.
Referred by local school districts, these youngsters will have the opportunity to enjoy a ride to Fairlawn in a cruiser, complete with lights and sirens, where they will enjoy a hearty breakfast before embarking on a $100 shopping spree at the Walmart in Fairlawn.
Officers have been raising money for the event since September by selling raffle tickets.
Officer Pamela Helmick, a 21-year veteran of The University of Akron Police Department, looks forward to the event each year. “Giving back to the community is important, and I am so happy that I get to be part of it,” she said. “It’s wonderful to spend time with the kids and see the excitement this event brings to them.”
While participants are encouraged to shop for gifts for themselves, many often prefer to purchase gifts for family members in need. “It is heartwarming to see how much they want to help their own family,” Helmick said. “We always have some extra gift cards on hand to make sure they can still buy something for themselves.”
This week, the link between internet access and your health, how China is scoring and penalizing citizens for what they do online, why your phone's fingerprint reader isn't so safe after all, and how flying cars may one day help you sail high above traffic jams.
***Please note: This show is now available as a podcast on Apple and Android devices. To find out how, follow these links: Apple, or Android
This week our 1590 WAKR Female Student Athlete of the Week is Imani Jackson, a senior basketball player from Buchtel High School.
“Imani is in the Nursing Program at Buchtel CLC, maintains an accumulative GPA of 3.8, scored a 24 on her ACT & is an overall outstanding individual.”
A Cuyahoga Falls man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his part in an online child pornography ring that was run out of Michigan.
According to the report from the U.S. District Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, 38-year-old Caleb Young was the only Ohioan involved, as federal agents say he and 7 others were posing as teenagers online, coaxing young girls, some as young a 10, to sent videos and pictures of themselves.
Young and the group were operating the child porn ring which yielded more than 450,000 videos and pictures over the course of 5 years.
See more at the Justice Department website.
Cleveland Police are looking for help finding missing 12-year-old Shannon Bell.
Police tell News 5 that Shannon left her home on East 59th Street around 5 p.m. Wednesday, after an argument with her family, and hasn't been seen since.
Anyone with information is asked to call Cleveland Police at 216-621-1234.
Akron Police were called to ManorCare Health Services at 1211 West Market Street on a call of a domestic robbery Tuesday afternoon.
According to the report, the victim, a 75-year-old man, told police that his son, 38-year-old Kahli Murphy (pictured), showed up to his residence asking for money. When the victim told Murphy that all he could give him was $20, Murphy became aggravated and left. About 10 minutes later, Murphy allegedly returned to the room and physically assaulted his father, choking him, and then took his wallet from his back pocket and ran.
A short time later, police found Murphy at his house on South Rhodes Avenue, and arrested him on domestic violence and robbery. Murphy was booked in Summit County Jail Tuesday night and was scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday morning, according to police.