Massillon Gradually Powering Down Affinity Site
Written by Ryan LangMassillon city officials say they're looking to cut costs at the former Affinity Medical Center, that's currently not staffed, but still being powered and secured daily.
The average cost to manage the closed property, according to the Canton Rep, is roughly $6,800 per day, including utilities, maintenance, and building security.
Earlier in December, City Council gave the green light on a new deal with Aultman, that is assuming emergency and more services for Massillon residents.
Starting early 2019, Massillon will begin winding down most operations at the former Affinity site.
Read more on the story from the Akron Beacon Journal.
Update: Wednesday afternoon, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Randy Fitzgerald on a traffic stop on Route 8 in Macedonia.
The task force was assisted by officers from Boston Heights, the Summit Count Sheriff's Office and the Macedonia Police Department.
Although several tips were submitted on this case, the arrest was not a result of a tip.
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The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is looking for Randy Fitzgerald, of Akron, who is this week's Fugitive of the Week.
U.S. Marshals and Akron Police are reporting that Fitzgerald is wanted for Weapons Under Disability in connection to an incident that left a small child shot in the stomach.
Back on May 20th, three children, ages 8,9 and 12, were left alone in a home on Marcy Street, when one of those children found one a gun, believed to belong to Fitzgerald, and shot another child in the stomach. The child lived. In the home, responding officers found another gun, drugs, and body armor. A warrant was issued for Fitzgerald who has been on the run since.
Anyone with information regarding Randy Fitzgerald, please contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED or Text keyword WANTED and tip to 847-411 (tip411). Tipsters can remain anonymous and reward money is available.
Driver 4-Times Legal Limit, Hits Macedonia Officer
Written by Ryan LangThere are still a few days left in the year, but Akron Police have released homicide and gun-related incident statistics for 2018, with a slight dip in the former.
So far this year, there have been 37 homicides in Akron; that's five fewer than last year. That said, there have been more non-homicide shootings in the city. As of Thursday, Police in Akron say there were 417 reported shootings not resulting in a death; 30 less than the same period of time in 2017.
APD adds that throughout the year, 798 guns were recovered or seized in Akron, averaging out to about 2 per day.
See more on the report from the Akron Beacon Journal.
1590 WAKR Student Athletes of the Week: Andreana Gotto & Nick Hussing
Written by Aaron ColemanThis week our 1590 WAKR Female Student Athlete of the Week is Andreana Gotto, a senior basketball player from Tallmadge
“Nick volunteers at his church and helps with youth basketball, Johnson explains. “He is a great worker and an even better leader.”
“On the court, Nick is a senior captain for us,” he continued. “He is the kind of kid that will run through a wall for you and never ask questions,” he said.
“Since I’m a senior captain, I’ve always led by example, but this year I try to lead with my voice,”Nick explained.
Hussing is a 3.8 student, a member of NHS, the Tallmadge High School Pep Club and the French Club.
We wish Andreana and Nick the best in all of their future endeavors.
Firestone Celebrates Big Day in Akron History
Written by Jeanne Destro
December 21st marks a historic milestone here in Akron.
It's the both what would have been Firestone founder, Harvey Firestone's 150th birthday, and the 30th anniversary of the day when Bridgestone merged with Firestone--cementing the company's position as the world's largest tire and rubber company.
(City of Akron) Effective Wednesday, January 2, 2019, continuing through Monday, January 6, the City of Akron Sanitation/Curb Service Division will permit residents to place extra trash, in the form of wrapping paper and boxes alongside their trash carts, on their normal collection day.
"Each year we provide this extra service to our residents after the holidays, most of whom have additional items to discard or recycle,” Mayor Dan Horrigan said. "This particular pickup is intended for extra holiday items, like wrappings and boxes, which we realize won't all fit in one or maybe even two trash carts."
Following the holidays, the City will also collect residents' holiday trees left alongside trash carts on their normal collection day. As always, customers who wish to put out a larger volume of other household trash are asked to contact the Mayor’s Action Center at 3-1-1, (330) 375-2311 or www.akronohio.gov/311 to pre-schedule one of the three special bulk pickups allotted to each household, each year.
Please note, there will be no curb service on Tuesday, December 25 (in observance of Christmas Day) or Tuesday, January 1 (in observance of New Year’s Day). Curb service will resume Wednesday through Saturday, on a one-day delay.
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This Week in Tech with Jeanne Destro-12-21-18 Featured
Written by Jeanne Destro
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.
1590 WAKR Student Athletes of the Week Emily Andrassy and Jackson Carlson
Written by Aaron Colemanhis 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.