Have I Got News For You!

David Hack storify

2011-11-05T16:08:00.005-04:00

A hike with my boys and all the snakes in our paths

2011-04-10T17:23:00.000-04:00

Hiking near the covered bridge in Cuyahoga Falls on 4/10 .. we came across a ton of snakes .. here's the best of the highlights including my youngest son picking em up!

Kent state student journalists dig deep into where colleges really commit their scholarships

2011-04-05T10:43:00.002-04:00

Excellent work by TV2 reporters at Kent State .. tracking scholarship $$ at area universities ..

Post-911 G.I. Bill discriminates against Guardsmen, Reservists

2011-04-03T14:01:00.000-04:00

This is a re-posting of a blog I wrote some months back .. but I'm hoping it will get a new look.

I applied for education benefits under the new Post-911 G.I. Bill, which just recently went into effect and offers the best college benefits to date for our men and women in uniform.

As a veteran of the Iraq War, I'm thrilled to have access to the funds as a way to further my education, but I'm a bit miffed that the system is set up to offer most Guardsmen and Reservists a reduced benefit compared to the Active Duty troops wearing the same uniforms.

Here's my gripe:

The bill provides a full 100 percent tuition for any service member who serves an aggregate period of 36 months on Active Duty after 9/11. So in short, if you serve three full years in uniform on Active Duty, you get a full ride for tuition. It doesn't matter where you served, just as long as you laced em up one boot at a time for a trio of years.

But if you only serve 12-18 months on Active Duty, your benefit is only 60 percent. That's how long most Guardsmen and Reservists serve as part of their deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan or other hot spots around the globe.

My point is: why should any reservist who served in a combat zone for a year+ only get partial tuition, while some other soldiers who never had to even wear their helmet or even think about carrying live ammo can get the full 100 percent simply because they were on a U.S. base for three years?

I'm not knocking those who didn't deploy overseas. I'm not. Clearly every military job is necessary and valuable, and I know that you go where Uncle Sam tells you to go. Dick Goddard always makes fun of his deployment to Iceland during the Korean War saying that "not one North Korean soldier got into Iceland when I was serving there!" It's his way of affirming that you go where Uncle Sam sends you, and you don't have to apologize.

But when it comes to this new benefit, I'm just saying that if someone whose job never had them leave the U.S. for three years is entitled to a full tuition benefit, shouldn't those who served 12-18 months in actual war zones be entitled to the same thing?

In most cases, the Guardsmen/Reservist actually put in more than just their official Active Duty time .. often in the form of months of train-up time in their home states .. as well as post-mobilization time in uniform as they begin attending monthly drills again. Yet, none of that time is considered when it comes to the new G.I. Bill.

Don't even get me started on the difference in retirement pay between Active Duty and the Guard/Reserve Forces ..

... but when it comes to this new education benefit, there's still time to make a change so that all of our heroes who stepped up when called get equal benefits.

Couldn't we change the eligibility to: 100 percent tuition for anyone who served either a) three total years in uniform since 9/11 OR b) at least ____ months in a combat zone?

Anyone in Washington listening?

The assignments to serve are the same, so why aren't the benefits? This is just one in a slew of benefits that are unfair to Guardsmen and Reservists, but nothing will change without someone recognizing the inequality.

Remember this: the Active Duty military CANNOT survive with the Guard and Reserves. It's literally drawn up that way. They CANNOT deploy in mass without additional Guard and Reserve forces being part of the package. So why not even out the benefits, eh?

Okay . .I'm off my soapbox.

Running the bases .. running blog from Opening Day at Progressive Field

2011-04-01T11:53:00.027-04:00

5:37 p.m. Success! video successfully fed through the Internet. My work here is done. Thanks to Rob Campbell with the Tribe and all the bloggers for a great experience. Tribe down 15-7 in the bottom of the 7th .. still hope, eh? It's been so great to get back to blogging today .. I've soooo missed this .. more to come!

5:29 p.m. Having some website issues but it looks like my video went through .. 14-7 now .. nice to see the Tribe add a few, but still need 7 more with only two innings. I was convinced the 6p news wouldn't start on time, but with two innings to go, it's still possible to be done in time .. if no more runs are scored. Thought for a short time that the producers wouldn't need my 6p story but it looks like it'll be close!

5:07 p.m. I've been editing my story and am now feeding it back via the web. Sox up 14-4. If the Tribe comes back from this, they'll make a movie. If this wasn't the opener, I think some fans would be leaving .. but hey, it's a nice friday and it's baseball, right? I'm having a great time getting to know these bloggers.

4:30 p.m. 14-0 Sox .. where do I begin? Just did some interviews and then edited them for the 6p news, which will likely be pre-empted now that this game is going long. I'll be feeding the soundbites back via dropbox.com

4:11 p.m. Tribe down 6-0 .. Curtis just brought in the baseball used in the opening ceremonies so that all of the bloggers could see it and tweet/post it around the world. I got to hold it! Very cool. It's signed by Ann Feller, Bob's widow, and will be kept in the Tribe's own museum. About 10 bloggers here now. Most are inside cuz the breeze is a bit tough .. and the team is getting thumped. Here's the ball:

3:47 p.m. 2-0 Sox .. bottom of second .. just wrote some of my broadcast copy for channel 3 News at 6 and 7. I'm still amazed that technology lets me sit at the ballpark and yet I can write copy for a news anchor to read at another location. In a few minutes, I'll be shooting video too and then feed it via the Internet. Even though I use the technology every day, I'm still amazed some days ..

3:31 p.m. 2-0 Sox .. bottom of first . .tribe got a base runner .. so much fun to have game going. Blogger from Cleveland.com here now ..
My story from earlier is now on-line showing off the social media site
http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=876772727001

3:20 p.m. White Sox up 1-0 .. Carmona missed on strikeout of Konerko and he made em pay on next pitch. Looking for double play ball but gets strikeout instead. So five batters .. three hits and two strikeouts ... social suite nearly full now .. good conversation .. oddly, i'm the only one blogging right now .. will be interviewing a few of them in a moment for tonight's story on WKYC

3:12 p.m. First pitch and we're off .. and the first foul landed 10 feet from us! Lot of empty seats in the upper deck .. lots of folks standing in the sun rather than hiding in the cold ..

3 p.m. Feller tribute was very, very well done .. Giant flag and balloons make for a colorful, sunny opening day. Looks like we'll start right on time too .. great job by the Tribe to make it happen .. the social media suite is busier now .. about 7 bloggers are now here and doing their thing ..

2:50 p.m. Tribe players now being introduced .. just amazing to see them ALL wearing number 19 in memory of Bob Feller ... with the background music .. it's really well done

2:42 p.m. Dominic Litten from Points to Point is here now .. he's among the multiple bloggers who are returning from last year's social media deck .. he's glad to have the suite as well .. Tom Hamilton is now on the field leading the pre-game festivities .. the weather is awesome .. Carmona is still soft tossing in the outfield around the balloons. These bloggers are a riot .. they love to chat and talk baseball ..

2:30 p.m. Checking rundowns to see how we will script our 6 and 7p broadcasts. Days like these, we have no idea if the game will go short or long .. so we always have to prepare for the worst case scenario .. and often times, we put together stories that never make air .. especially if the game goes long .. here come the military honor guards .. about ready to get started!

2:20 p.m. Scott from WFNY is here now as well . .the food is getting a workout . ha .. the pre-game stuff with Bob Feller is set to start soon .. fans are asked to be in their seats by 2:30 p.m. but many are still streaming in .. not much of a breeze, but enough to let you feel the chill.   I feel like I need additional hands .. blogging, tweeting, and then also facebook .. plus i have to shoot and edit a story at some point ..

2:08 p.m. Giant banners of Bob Feller, including a giant jersey, are now being hung on the outfield walls ... the first pitch is expected to be special too. Feller's widow putting the ball on the mound and just leaving it there .. grounds crew is working the baseballs off right now ..

2:01 p.m. Rick Grayshock from WFNY is here now .. he's from Lima and writes for waitingfornextyear.com ... great to have some company here now! chilly in the shade ..

1:51 p.m. White Sox now done with warm ups and the grounds crew is moving in to get the field ready for the ceremonies. As a journalist, can I tell you that it feels really bad to be celebrating on opening day when a Springfield Police Officer is in bad shape after being hit overnight by a suspected drunk driver. On any other day, that's the story I'd be chasing. My colleague, Paul Thomas, is covering the story and will have more tonight after the game. Just being honest .. tough day for those in law enforcement and those who love and support them

1:36 p.m. Liveshot went great ... camera crew now mauling the food! ha! Ed Esposito from WAKR stopping in to say hello. First bloggers from Dayton have arrived .. the social suite will be busy. Sox still taking BP .. lots of fans in stands trying to get autographs and foul balls ... Rob Campbell from indians just stopped in .. the guy never stops smiling!

1:18 p.m. White sox shortstop just threw wild during infield practice and hit a photographer in the thigh. Ouch!

1:14 p.m. The entire pre-game show is being streamed live to wkyc.com so give it a look-see on-line ..

1:03 p.m. Top of the show went clean .... Jim and Romona sound great ... White Sox now taking BP.. Plenty of folks in the outfield now hoping to snag a home run ball ... others on the home run porch. Great to hear "welcome to the show" playing on the speakers as the gates opened for opening day. By the way, one of the stadium announcers is Ryan Pritt -- a great guy who was a student of mine when I taught part-time at the University of Akron a few years ago. He's great!

12:56 p.m. Mic checks are done. I'm using a cell phone in back pocket to get my cues ... and we're off! gates just opened and here come the fans .. feels like opening day for sure!

12:44 p.m. Microphone and earpiece checks .. can't hear well .. might have to switch to earbuds and a cell phone to hear the toss from Romona ..

12:29 p.m. The progressive truck in centerfield is open now .. guess they're loading it with goodies to launch once the tribe hits some home runs. I'm told it doesn't have an engine and it stayed there all off-season.
Just got a station e-mail that Anchor Jeff Maynor is retiring and this Sunday will be his last show. Jeff, wishing you all the best ... a great guy with a great voice .. and I've always enjoyed working together. Best of luck my friend!

12:18 p.m . A few tribe players have reached the seats with home runs during batting practice. Can't tell who though since they are all wearing coverups ..

12:08 p.m. None of the other bloggers have arrived yet, but they'll be greeted with joy .. the food here is amazing. Just sampled the carribean pork wings .. unreal .. great stuff.   Tribe still stretching and taking some soft toss. Lots of media near the tribe dugouts for the noon live broadcasts across town. Pre-game on Channel 3 starts at 1pm!

11:57 a.m. Stadium crews are bringing food and more into the suite .. getting it ready for the national bloggers .. included on the menu are different foods from different parts of the ballpark. The tribe is now on the field stretching .. fans are outside the gates .. ready to roll in .. oh, and it's picture perfect weather .. a bit chilly, but sunshine is great!

11:51 a.m.   Videogapher Barry Wolfe and Producer Brandon Simmons are with me now in the suite .. they're testing the connection on our mobile three camera for our scheduled liveshot at 1:24 p.m. during the pre-game broadcast on TV3. So far, the connection is good .. fingers crossed.

Oooh .. the fridge is open .. diet pepsi here I come.

Tribe Opening Day -- back to baseball and blogging

2011-04-01T11:36:00.000-04:00

I'm back! Just like the Tribe.
Blogging from the tribe's new social media suite along third base at Progressive Field. Here's my seat!

I'm in here already getting ready for our pre-game show that starts at 1 p.m. Later today, this suite will be filled with bloggers including:

@WFNYScott

@TheTribeDaily

@starmoon

@OnlyInCLE

@RickWFNY

@caralageson / @YelpCleveland

@dawgpndgirl / @clevelanddotcom
@craigcalcaterra / @HardballTalk

so you can find em on social media .. anyway .. more pics and more info to come!

Stadium is not yet open to fans, but the media and stadium crews are hard at work.

As for the blog, I'm back baby! I've really missed being able to blog and weigh on the big topics .. so much of my non-on-air time has been spent on shooting, editing, facebook, and other social media .. that the blog time hasn't been there ..
anyway .. would love to hear from you throughout the day! Go Tribe!

Akron's predictions for police layoffs, others are staggering

2010-08-09T18:26:00.003-04:00

I don't know if I can find the right words to describe a layoff of 60-90 Akron Police Officers or more. Probably because I'm friends with so many of them from over the years. I always tell people that Akron is a big city, but a small town - translation: we don't need six degrees of separation to know who is who.

The city's prediction of a year-end deficit of $4 million is staggering considering all the cuts we've seen in the last 18 months. Early retirements, buyouts, etc .. shouldn't that have helped us beyond this?

I spoke in depth with FOP President Paul Hlynsky last week and then with Mayor Plusquellic by phone today. Both are passionate about their positions and both agree they want to save jobs, every single one they can.

But can they work together to make it a reality?

Whether it's 10 officers or 100, police layoffs will hurt the city. Without the Akron Schools to hire more (not going to happen) or some other revenue source coming in in the next few weeks (maybe the COPS grant the Mayor applied for in Washington), we ARE going to see layoffs in Akron in the next month.

One local leader told me there has been talk of a study to limit the department to two officers per every 1,000 residents. That would give us a police force of around 400 give or take. That's a lot less than we have now. Would a force that size really work in Akron?

City Hall has NOTHING to gain by cooking the books to make us look poor and let people go.

APD has NOTHING to gain by playing chicken with a budget crisis.

Akron has EVERYTHING to lose if we can't find middle ground.

Stay tuned.

Lynn France on Today Show

2010-08-03T15:10:00.000-04:00

Lynn France, who first shared her story with Channel 3 News, shares her identity and more with the Today Show. What would you do in her shoes?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tiger, Tiger burning bright .. bringing $$ to Akron day and night

2010-08-02T17:42:00.000-04:00

I can't complain. Getting paid to go to Firestone Country Club for the first day of World Golf Championships week isn't tough duty, although there isn't much to report on day one. The usual story -- and the one that I was assigned today -- is to preview the week's activities while looking at the economic impact of the events.

Only in this case it's eventS .. add the "s" at the end to include the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions this weekend. And oh yeah, LeBron James has his bike-a-thon too.

Dan Colantone from the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce estimates the financial impact to the region at $30 million. Big bucks for a big week for sure.

I just wonder if it wouldn't be better to have the two major events on separate weeks rather than competing for air time and restaurant seats.

I was asked about security for Tiger so I checked with the tournament. Security is always tight for the world's number one player, and I was told by both the tourney folks and APD that his traditional plan is in place. Honestly, I don't think anyone expects there to be trouble anyway .. but as a journalist, we get paid to ask.

My son sings on WAKR-AM (1590) to promote "Seussical - The Musical" at Weathervane Playhouse

2010-07-30T14:36:00.001-04:00

OK .. I'm proud .. what can I say? Come see the show .. it's great. Get tickets by calling 330-836-2626 or visit http://www.weathervaneplayhouse.com/.

Facebook's impact on divorce just as messy as ever

2010-07-28T16:31:00.003-04:00

My story on a local woman discovering her husband's second wife on Facebook plays tonight at 11, but the more I think of her case -- and others like hers -- the more I wonder if FB helps or hurts cases like this.

On one hand, it adds clarity to a spouse's actions when you can see photos of them with another person or doing something they said they weren't doing. Tough to argue you never met "that woman" when there are photos of you two kissing on a boat.

On the other hand, photos and status updates can always be debated by one or the other so it creates even more objects for debate in an often messy process.

Either way it's painful.

In tonight's story, we'll meet "Megan" and hear about how she watched helplessly from Ohio as her husband's "business trips" to Florida led to him not only meet another woman but to marry her too -- all while still married in Ohio. Wedding photos were eventually posted on Facebook and soon thereafter pictures of the Ohio's wife's two children interacting with her husband's "second" wife were added as well. Can you imagine how hard that is to see?

I spoke with the husband's Florida attorney who says the hubby is claiming a clerical technicality that makes the first wedding null and therefor he's not a bigamist. Megan says that's a crock, but we'll let the courts settle that.

In stories like these, my experience is usually that the truth is somewhere in the grey area between the two parties' stories. In this case, it's just bizarre.

Either way, it's heartbreaking to see marriages ending period. To see FB as a part of the divorce process -- either as a vehicle to temptation or after-the-fact as an evidence-gathering tool -- just adds another obstacle that keeps some folks away from FB altogether when they could be using it as a great way to stay in touch with family and friends.

Wow .. I'm sooo overdue to write!

2010-07-28T09:00:00.005-04:00

Just learned that this Blog was runnerup as "Best Blog" for Akron Life and Leisure Magazine. (Here's the cover from when I returned from Iraq a few years ago)

Clearly I am both humbled by those who voted and ashamed that my life has gotten so busy that I haven't written like I used to write .. so I promise to get back at it.

Heck the stories inside our newsroom alone will give you a chuckle ...

More later ..

Eric

Akron flags send wrong message

2010-03-02T18:08:00.000-05:00

Scribbles in my notebook ..

I realize the City of Akron is scraping together its pennies right now, but I was a bit miffed at the flags I saw flying over the snow and ice center on Triplett Boulevard. (see photo) The American Flag is tattered something fierce, and the City of Akron flag isn't much better. Maybe I'm a bit more sensitive as an Army veteran, but I really hope someone puts up new ones soon. If it's a cost issue, I'll bet a local citizen or two (or 100) would volunteer a replacement Stars and Stripes soon. I need to take a look around town to see if this is a city-wide problem or just at this location.

I can't seem to go more than three days without doing a story that has a social media element -- blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Makes me wonder how viewers who don't use social media react when they see so many TV stories involving these sources.

I was thrilled to see the city step forward on a deal to keep the All-American Soap Box Derby in town. Yes, I'm biased as a Derby Dad, but I've always believed it's one of the most unique, family-friendly events in the country. One more way to get the city's name out there in a positive light.

Akron uses technology to keep up with record snowfalls

2010-02-16T18:47:00.000-05:00

Akron uses technology to keep up with record snowfalls

A record snow fall keeps the city busy .. and challenges the city's wallet at the same time.

WKYC.com | Cleveland, OH | Smart Living: Cell phone analysis can save money on monthly bill

2010-02-15T18:40:00.000-05:00

WKYC.com | Cleveland, OH | Smart Living: Cell phone analysis can save money on monthly bill

I was amazed at how fast this website analyzed her bill for savings! Check it out.!

WKYC.com | Cleveland, OH | Farmville or Mafia Wars? Social media games can have addictive side effects

2010-02-11T08:24:00.001-05:00

WKYC.com | Cleveland, OH | Farmville or Mafia Wars? Social media games can have addictive side effects

Former local news photographer Ken Love takes risk to fulfill dream

2010-01-26T08:31:00.002-05:00

Ken's talent is real gift, and his drive to turn a bad situation into his dream job is certainly one that others could follow. Dick Dawson's guidance is good too, but I fear that too many folks aren't willing to take the risk.

Catching up .. long overdue

2010-01-22T17:21:00.005-05:00

Blogging .. oh yeah, I remember how to do this. My schedule has become so much busier these days that it's been tough getting back in the habit.

Thanks to those of you who have been encouraging me to keep writing .. and to Phil for threatening to UN-bookmark me if I don't share more soon. Ha.

A few notes:

I'm still pretty sore from our "Channel 3 News at 7 Olympics" in which Monica Robins, Betsy Kling and I compete in 10 winter sports for fun. The series of stories will run each night during the Olympic games. We shot all 10 events in one day. Skis, skates, sleds, and even curling. It'll be funny for sure.

I'm not hearing any complaints about fire response during the months following the layoffs of 37 fire fighters. That's not to say that there aren't manpower issues or that the department doesn't desperately need these fire fighters back. Rather, I'm just noting that no complaints have surfaced.

I find it semi-amusing that the 18 Akron Police Officers now working in our schools as their full-time assignment are being forced to pay for a background check because "everyone who works in the schools must have one" .. or something to that effect. Hmmmmm ... me thinks having Akron cops doing background checks on their own seems a waste of time and money. Nes pas?

Last week, it was a pot-bellied pig .. and now we have hybrid wolves? Ummm what the heck? A few months ago I actually got a tip that the Akron Zoo was hunting for a bear that escaped. After shifting one of our videographers to head to the zoo immediately, I learned that it was a drill.

Interesting to hear Matt Patrick on the air at WTAM. Can't get over hearing him read other call letters.

Got my first "I can't tell you" from Lisa following her first meeting on the Akron School Board. Nothing like being married to a public official, eh? Of course, in my line of work, that goes both ways.

Felt bad for the North Ridgeville Police today. They were already stretched thin by helping cover President Obama's visit to Lorain County when they got a call of a homicide -- a 55-year-old man found dead in his home. Tough to meet all those manpower demands on the same day.

Monday webchat

2009-12-28T20:32:00.001-05:00

[ Copy this | Start New | Full Size ]

NewsNight Akron to return to 9 p.m.

2009-12-16T08:29:00.003-05:00

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

Beginning Jan. 15, NewsNight Akron will move from its 9:30 p.m. time slot back to its original time of 9 p.m. The show had changed times to allow NeoTropolis time to debut at 9. The Thomas Mulready production will now air at 8:30 p.m., so both shows will remain interlocked.

The Jan. 8th show will be our traditional "Newsmaker of the Year" debate. Last year's winner was Ralph Regula, and Dr. Luis Proenza won the previous year. This year's show will include a live audience as members of Leadership Akron will be in attendance.

As a new nugget to the debate, we are inviting the public to weigh in as well. A list of the 16 finalists should be on-line soon at Western Reserve Public Media , so weigh in and vote. You can also share your comments here.

I can tell you that the panelists have already begun quite a debate with email traffic .. I can only imagine the fireworks for the actual show.

Catching Up ..

2009-12-14T16:48:00.003-05:00

OK .. after being challenged by folks all over town who keep giving me grief over not writing much (or at all) in the last two months, I'm making it my New Year's resolution to catch up.

Scribbles in the notebook:

NewsNight Akron's move to 9:30 p.m. from the 9 p.m. slot it held for years seems to be going well. I haven't gotten too many complaining emails from folks after the first week, so it sounds like viewers found us.

My Nov. 26th story on Lenny King (see below) is one that will stick with me for a while. To have life choices lead you to a life living under a bridge is tough enough, but to be attacked multiple times, including being set on fire, would leave me bitter I'm afraid. I'd like to believe I'd have the power to forgive the attackers, but I fear that I wouldn't. Lenny's story is really unique.

The University of Akron Soccer team is amazing. The NCAA needs to get rid of the penalty kick scenario though. It's no way to really settle who the better team was. Would we let the NBA Finals be settled on a free throw shooting contest? Ridiculous.

Can't believe Matt Patrick won't be on the air at WKDD after Friday. I don't remember the station without him.

I hope Mayor Plusquellic will promote some police officers soon. With Gus Hall now interim Chief, APD has NO Deputy Chiefs. All three positions are empty. That means four officers are being denied advancement for each vacancy. Promoting a captain to major also means that a lieutenant will get promoted to captain and a sergeant to lieutenant and a patrolman to sergeant.
Just like the military, there's an escalator as the higher ranks get filled. I understand why he kept one or two of the Deputy Chief slots open the last few years, but at this point, those promotions shouldn't have to wait while a permanent Chief is selected.

And while I'm on my bandwagon, I do hope the city will consider some of its senior captains as the long-term chief. Sylvia Trundel is well-respected and will-liked, and many in the Patrol Division tell me they'd feel "great" about having her as the department's new leader. Gus Hall is really dedicated and well-liked, so there's no immediate rush. Still, I hope that the nationwide search will include a fair review of the current leadership.

I learned a lot about the other side of public service during my wife, Lisa's, campaign for Akron School Board. It was odd to be working with some of the local leaders when I'm so accustomed to covering their events as a journalist. Many were very gracious with their time and advice for the campaign, while others weren't helpful at all. My goal now is to avoid a conflict-of-interest in my reporting. Lisa and I already have an agreement that there will be some things we can't tell one another, and if WKYC is pursuing a controversial story on the Akron Schools, I'll certainly raise my hand and step aside. Still, I hope that all my rants and raves to Lisa (and other board members I've gotten to know) about pitching more stories to the media will take shape.

I froze my you-kn0w-what off last Thursday night when I was live outside of Channel 3 for our newscast leading up to the Browns-Steelers game. The ratings were great that night, but the 15 minutes I spent in the cold wind of the third-floor balcony chilled me to the bone.

Today is the one-year anniversary of my role as co-anchor at 7 p.m. Hard to believe a year has flown by so fast. Carol Sullivan is now working as a morning anchor in San Diego. She left WKYC in the spring to head West after her husband, Mike, got a job with the Chargers organization. I fell so comfortable with Monica Robins by my side each night. No one works harder or is more dedicated in this business, and I'm so glad that she and I are teamed together.

Matt Patrick to announce retirement from local radio

2009-10-29T16:12:00.014-04:00

Update: Matt said this morning his not retiring, and that he'll be back (sounds a bit like the Terminator) some day, somewhere. His statement and the audio are both on-line now. Wishing you all the best Matt!

Radio host Matt Patrick is expected to announce Friday morning that he will be stepping down as host of WKDD's morning program, a role he's championed for 30 years.

I'm told that Matt will make the announcement at 7:45 a.m. and that his final WKDD broadcast will be Dec. 18.

To say the least, anyone 40 and under in this town doesn't know local radio without Matt at the microphone.

I remember listening to him in grade school, wanting to be him in high school, and being relieved to hear his voice when I returned from Iraq .. as a sign that "wow, if I hear Matt's voice, I must really be home." Matt and I have had some great laughs over the years, including his willingness to play along with my April Fool's Day blog posting that Led Zeppelin would be playing a concert at the U of A's new football stadium. Matt's also been a great friend to Childrens Hospital as the heart and soul of its annual Radiothon fundraiser. I have an old cassette tape with Matt and B.A. doing "Wheel of Meat" .. back when they were the "waking crew."

I haven't had a chance to talk with Matt yet about the big move .. or his future plans .. but I'm sure he'll share some of that on Friday. I'm also not sure what this means to his conservative talk show on WHLO, but Matt will surely address that when he's ready too.

And regardless of which station is your favorite .. or whether or not you were a regular listener .. Matt is one of the guys (and voices) we all know .. and he's been part of Akron's community personality .. he's our Matt .. and that's not easy to replace. Make sure you listen ..

Fire Fighter apologizes to Mayor Plusquellic

2009-10-27T16:22:00.003-04:00

It didn't take a beer with President Obama .. but Mayor Plusquellic and a fire fighter have kissed and made up. Sort of.

It's been 10 days since Lt. Dennis Shumaker and his girlfriend, "Melanie", tailed DP from a Tallmadge restaurant and then called 911 in order to have DP pulled over. The firestorm that followed has been a mess for the entire city.

Today (Tuesday), Shumaker met with Plusquellic and apologized both in written and verbal form.

By phone, Plusquellic told me that the meeting was "civil" and "the way two men with differences should sit and talk." He told me that he'll have a press conference on Wednesday to discuss this and other issues .. but he released this written statement a short time ago:

"Today, I met with Lt. Dennis Shumaker who last Friday, requested a personal meeting with me to apologize.

I assured him that his apology would end this matter as far as I was concerned, and that I would take no action to initiate any action against him or anyone else, and that I would not consider any disciplinary action against him arising out of this matter.

It is unfortunate for everyone involved that emotions over public policy decisions I have to make have produced strong reactions rather than discussions on solutions. Tough decisions - including residency for public employees and requirements to balance the budget in this difficult economic downturn - must be made by mayors around the country every day on behalf of all taxpaying residents.

All of us make mistakes. This apology puts this matter behind us. We will move forward and concentrate on serving the people of Akron with the best services we can provide."

I haven't had a chance to talk with Shumaker yet, but I'm hopeful that two things will come out of this: a) the end of the cell phone paparazzi .. and 2) our city can make headlines for more positive reasons indeed ..

more to come ..

Odds and Ends on a Thursday

2009-10-22T18:05:00.002-04:00

Scribbles in my notes ...

Today's story about the Black Press push for major concessions -- including a 17 percent pay cut -- for Akron Beacon Journal staffers is a major shot at some hard-working journalists. How do you expect an overworked, understaffed group like their newsroom to keep up the good fight with cuts like that? How much is greed? How clear is the future of our newspaper?

I had an amazing interview Tuesday with Alex Soloweyko, the man who was trapped under the flaming gas pump in Geauga County and lived to tell about it. His faith is amazingly strong, and while he was having trouble processing what was happening, he said he thought clearly enough to pray as the flames closed in.

I fully expect that someone will soon come up with a political cartoon of Mayor Plusquellic driving down Main Street with a bumper sticker that reads "How's my driving? Call 375-2181". OK .. just trying to find some humor in what has become a real soap opera of a week. Just when I think the news in this town can't get any weirder ..

I met some good folks at a career fair at the University of Akron today .. quite a few folks who are hunting for jobs, including some who'd like a job in TV. One that stood out was a nice young student with quite a bit of "face" jewelry who told me she wants to anchor the evening news. Um .. how do I put this gently ...

If you're out and about weekday mornings from 7:55-8 a.m., you really need to flip over to WAKR and hear "Reeling in the Years." Host Ray Horner plays movie trailers and challenges Traffic reporter Ryan Haidet to guess the movie. Ryan does pretty well most days. I know there's a lot of radio fun at that hour, but I really think this one's a keeper. This week it's been all scary movies .. a few weeks back they were all combat movies. Try it .. I think you'll enjoy it.

Everyone has an opinion on LeBron staying in Cleveland .. a) he stays and b) he goes. Yet, I don't hear anyone talking about option c) LeBron exercises his one-year option to stay in Cleveland for one more season .. and (drum roll please) we get to do it all over again for another year. It's a real possibility considering that many experts say the salary cap will drop next summer and no one will be able to offer LeBron as much as he'd like .. and while I'm making sports predictions, I said on opening day that the Super Bowl this year would be the "Manning Bowl" .. with Peyton vs. Ely .. Colts vs. Giants. So far, I'm on track. Oh .. and one more .. I'd really like the Indians to hire Tony Larussa .. since it appears the Cardinals aren't showing him much love.

Akron's cell phone paparazzi has been active for some time

2009-10-21T17:24:00.003-04:00

A dirty secret that's now going public in the developing story of Mayor Plusquellic's drive home early Sunday morning has been going on for quite some time.

Trust me folks . I've known about it for months .. and so have others in the media and at city hall.

Here's what I know about Akron's "cell phone paparazzi":

A growing group of local citizens who are upset with Plusquellic and other leaders have begun their own underground movement to do what they believe the media hasn't or won't do -- catch local leaders breaking the law. They've been at it for months.

I spoke at length with one of the "cell phone paparazzi" last month about what their intentions were, and he was open about their disdain for city hall and other Akron leaders. He never mentioned the $1,000 bounty that Mayor Plusquellic spoke of Wednesday, but he did say that he was so frustrated with city hall that it was open season to see who could record a "gotcha" moment.

The man I spoke with is not a city employee.

The man told me that he and others didn't follow or stalk local leaders ... but rather just made it a point to always have their cell phone with them so they could record video if they happened to run into Plusquellic and/or others while out on the town.

I watched one of the cell phone videos last month, and I felt there was nothing on it that was newsworthy. The one-minute video showed Plusquellic at a local bar speaking with a woman, probably a waitress. The man who sent me the tape said he believes the video showed the mayor saying inappropriate things to the woman, but the audio wasn't clear enough to discern anything, let alone an inappropriate comment.

Certainly, there's no way I'm just going to "take someone's word for it" when it comes to accusations like this .. so that's where our conversation ended. I don't know if that particular video was peddled to other news organizations when I passed on it, but I believe it probably was.

In the big picture .. some TV journalists would salivate at the opportunity to have vigilante photographers out there every night trying to get our daily exclusives. Not me. The longer this has gone on in Akron, the more I fear it's becoming dangerous and reckless.

How would you feel if you were eating dinner and someone began shooting video of you and your family with their cell phone? Regardless of whether it's legal because you're in a public place, the idea of cell phone stalking doesn't lead to anything positive .. nor do I begin my news day hoping to catch a leader doing something wrong.

Expose journalism needs to be specifically targeted and with probable cause. Following someone just to follow them isn't journalism .. it's stalking.

I've had discussions with other Akron journalists about the cell phone tapes they've received and what they planned to do with them. To date, none have been broacast or generated stories -- not because journalists are hiding anything, but because the "cell phone paparazzi" tapes were each evaluated for what they really area .. and haven't been newsworthy. (If that TV station-that-shall-rename-nameless, the one that started this latest story, hasn't aired any of the cell phone tapes, what does that tell you about whether or not they're newsworthy?)

I also made it very clear that we won't pay for video from someone who is purposely following someone just hoping to catch them in the act .. so just know that going forward. With rare exception, we don't pay for home video period. Also, I don't offer anyone incentive or guidance to go out and get this type of video or information. I can do my own work .. again, when the story truly warrants it.

Personally, I always want to know what someone's motives are when they come to me with dirt -- a rumor, an email, a taped phone call, or a cell phone video - because it can skew the validity of the information. I need to know what the real story is ... and what information was left out of what someone is slipping my way.

Recently, a viewer brought me personal information about LeBron James that seemed to warrant a big exclusive, but when I was unable to validate the sources, the story didn't go to air.

Likewise, the reason none of these cell phone tapes has to date seen the light of day isn't because of some media conspiracy .. rather it's media responsibility.

I don't yet have enough information on this weekend's story to say that it's all tied in with the existing paparazzi, but the scenario does fit what I've seen and heard about around town. Seems all the CPP folks have my direct line every time they get a new tape.

Those who are upset with the mayor and others .. need to find civil ways to deal with their issues .. because even valid arguments (and the group does have some solid points of contention) get lost in translation when cell phone stalking is at play.

Just know this .. if there's video of someone's hand in the cookie jar, I'll be the first to tackle the story .. but when the person is only walking past the cookie jar, don't try to tell me he's guilty of anything.

Matt Patrick out from Akron Parade .. and other odds and ends

2009-10-12T15:53:00.005-04:00

A holiday tradition is coming to an end. Matt Patrick will no longer be the host of the City of Akron's "Welcome Santa" Parade.

Patrick talked at length about the decision during his Monday talk show on WHLO (AM-640) saying that the City of Akron was dumping him because he had taken city hall to task over last month's proposed layoffs.

Patrick said that "it's their parade, they can do what they want," and "I don't care." He also mentioned that he wasn't paid for the event, but rather gave his time to support the event.

On his Facebook page, Patrick penned: "I got gassed from my 25 year, non-paying job of hosting The City Of Akron Holiday Parade! Why? I spoke to the Police and Firefighters last month. Well...that's a GOOD reason!!"

He later ranted a youtube video to remove all doubt:

Rumors began to circulate late last week that the city was considering ousting MP.

Matt told me this afternoon that he actually found out from an employee at competing local radio station, so he's accepting that it's true. No one has told him he's wrong.

Got to admit .. as an Akron father who takes his sons to the parade, it won't sound the same with MP ... 4th of July fireworks either, if MP is gone from that event as well.

I have a request in to city hall for its side of the story .. and I'm told that a press release will be sent out. Not sure when, but when it comes, I'll post the info here.

Odds and Ends ..

Got quite a few emails from folks wondering what happened to NewsNight Akron from Oct. 2nd. The broadcast aired at 10 p.m., an hour later than its usual time slot, to allow for a special on the National Parks. If you missed the broadcast, you can watch it on-line here. I wasn't aware that the show was being pushed back, but in the future, I'll try to make sure I confirm the air time. As for this specific episode, I was a bit surprised that the panel jumped on the fire union the way that they did, but they raised some specific points.

I was surprised that Saturday's Infocision Stadium crowd was only 16,000+ .. a little more than half full. This was the first MAC game in the new stadium, and while I know the team is struggling, I thought the crowds would continue to be closer to capacity. It really is a great place to watch a game, so I hope fans get a chance to get to a game. I'm sure the seats will be full for the Zips matchup with Kent State.

A friend tells me that her nephew, who is attending Ohio University, got sick and went to the doctor, who told him that he had swine flu .. and sent him back to the dorm to get better. A day or so later, he was near death in a hospital in Columbus with bacterial meningitis -- not swine flu. I share this not to take aim at a doctor's misdiagnosis, but rather to highlight that swine flu is becoming so common that the symptoms could be mistaken.

Since we don't have a 7 p.m. newscast on Mondays due to "The Point After" Browns show, I'm trying to use my Mondays to catch up on my writing . .and to get additional interviews for future stories. Some days I make more progress than others.

Loving the Big Bang Theory on CBS on Monday nights. If you haven't discovered this comedy yet, give it a try. And don't give up after one episode; some of the humor cuts back to previous episdoes so stay with it. One of the stars, Kaley Cuoco, was on the Morning Show today .. and she was great. Watch it here:

And finally .. I guess I need to check my attire a little closer. Wearing a white shirt and solid red tie, I recently went to a supermarket with a photographer to do a story on the economy. I let the photographer wander around the store to get some shots, and I waited near the cash registers. Not once .. but three times .. someone asked me if products were on sale or where to find certain items. Each time I had to smile and say "I don't work here."

Cuyahoga Falls soldier's plight upsetting

2009-09-18T06:59:00.004-04:00

Needless to say, Eric Lancaster's situation is upsetting to anyone in uniform. The more he told me about being turned away when he sought help, the more frustrated I became.

I first learned of Eric's emotional journey a year ago when his mother, Peggy, contacted me to see if I could meet with her son and reinforce his spirits, offer advice. He's certainly been through a lot .. and readjusting to the United States again is tough on anyone who has been overseas.

I'm hopeful that some local veterans will reach out and offer support to him .. at least until the Army can figure out what it's going to do . .and the Pentagon completes its investigation.

Our soldiers don't deserve to be turned away .. and any commander worth his commission should at least call a soldier who goes AWOL .. and not just go along with some scheme to erase him from the roster.

This one really upsets me .

Ethics, Social Media, and beating the competition

2009-09-17T17:45:00.002-04:00

Had a great time today at Kent State University .. taking part as a panelist is a discussion on Social Media and ethics. The event was put on by Poynter and covered a great number of topics that apply directly to how journalists do their craft.

The event was streamed live .. but you can watch it here: http://new.jmc.kent.edu/ethicsworkshop/2009/?page_id=8

Would love your feedback .. Eric

Odds and Ends on a Friday ..

2009-08-28T17:15:00.003-04:00

Scribbles in my notebook .. and stuff on my brain on this wet Friday afternoon.

I'm looking forward to seeing tonight's NewsNight Akron since I wasn't on the show today. Ed Esposito was nice enough to host in my place so that I wouldn't be in a conflict of interest in the discussion about candidates for Akron School Board. (My wife, Lisa, is one of nine who will be on the ballot for four seats). I'll probably step aside at least once more before the November election for the same reason.

I saw Bruce Kilby a few weeks back at the Board of Elections. He was dressed in a camouflage pants, boots, and a black-and-gold shirt as I recall. He looked like was ready for war going door-to-door to campaign. It illustrates to me of how much is at stake in the Sept. 8 council races. I'm also hearing that Anthony Dilauro might be a real surprise in Ward 5. He's spent a lot of money on signs in a race of four for the Democratic nod with the winner facing Republican write-in candidate Dwight Pulos in November.

$195,604.18 for the Recall that ended with a status quo? Wow! As a taxpayer I'm speechless.

I'd expect more layoffs from City Hall to be announced sooner than later. The 120+ employees taking the buyout incentives will help but are still pretty short of the mandated goal of a balanced budget.

Sandra Kurt's bold move in Ward 8 to secure the Summit County Democratic Party's nomination will limit her competitors use of any DP tools. Apparently the rules state that if enough of the Precinct Captains support one candidate -- in this case Kurt -- the others are prohibited from even using the party's fax machine. A written rule or not, some are crying foul .. that so much is at stake with these council elections that voters need to get the most they can from each candidate. Thoughts?

An Akron Police officer told me that he met a man and his sons from Ashtabula who were downtown looking for the Aeros game. He said he had good seats and wanted directions to Jerry Uht stadium. The officer told him that he had never heard of that stadium, and that the Aeros play at Canal Park. Long story short, the tickets were indeed to see the Aeros play .. but the game was in Erie.

And finally .. a U of A professor recently rode the "Roo Express" along with the students during a jaunt across campus. She tells me that the song playing on the speaker system was Adina Howard's "T-shirt and panties" which is one of the filthiest sets of lyrics you'll ever hear. She said some of the students seemed to be singing along, but thought the U of A should show better judgement in what's appropriate to play on campus transportation.

UPDATE: City of Akron says 106 take buyout saving $6 million

2009-08-14T16:49:00.002-04:00

New info released from the COA around 4:30 p.m. today says that 106 employees have taken the buyout and that it will save the city around $6 million, which is about half of what's needed.

We still don't know how the cuts spread out across the departments (police, fire, water, etc..) but I'd say that's an amazing start for financial savings, but the adjustment to city services is just beginning. Eric

Akron extends buyout incentives, says 75 have taken separation deal

2009-08-14T14:48:00.004-04:00

Akron is extending its deadline for employees to take the buyout. 4 p.m. today (Friday) had been "Zero Hour" but now it's been extended until Aug. 24th at 4:30 p.m.

Mayor Plusquellic's letter to city employees indicates that 75 employees have accepted the incentive to step down, and I can only assume that Law Director Max Rothal is one of them. (His retirement was announced earlier today with Cheri Cunningham now taking over.)

The number is higher than I expected. Most city employees with whom I've spoken in the last few weeks have told me that they doubted many of their co-workers could afford to take the risk.

The Mayor's release indicates that some employees thought they aren't eligible when in fact they are. Still, even with 75 folks stepping forward, Plusquellic warned of tough days ahead:

"Make no mistake - as agonizing as it is for me to consider - there will be layoffs in September of permanent, full-time city workers on multiple levels in order to fill a projected budget deficit of approximately $12 million before year’s end. I would hate to see someone miss this opportunity for a one-time cash payout, and then suffer the loss of their job when this alternative is being made available to all."

Plusquellic said last month that approximately 260+ employees would need to take the buyout in order for the city to meet budget. Hopefully the voluntary furloughs that at least three of the unions have agreed to take will also make a difference.

Still .. I can't help but wonder how our city will operate later this year with what could be a 10 percent drop in overall employees. For example, whether 30 police officers take the buyout or 30 are let go, the net result is still 30 fewer officers.

What are your concerns?

No myth about viewer's reaction to Health Care Interview

2009-08-13T18:27:00.002-04:00

I've received quite a few emails today .. from folks who took issue with last night's FOCUS issue with Dr. Jason Johnson, a political science professor from Hiram College.

Monica and I invited Johnson to come on and analyze some of the key complaints about the health care proposal, specifically whether they are myths. I always find it interesting that viewers seem to think that we should beat up people whom we've invited to come as guests. Does that make any sense? Again, we asked him to come on the air with us .. so should we beat him up? Especially a guy who is not in the health care field and doesn't have a stake in the plan?

Some viewers felt that Johnson was too open about being in favor of the program or is flat out Pro-Obama on this topic. I invite most to watch the interview again .. and to understand its intent.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on the topic .. but just because someone calls one of the charges -- the "death panels" for instance -- to be a myth, is not the same as saying that you endorse the health plan.

I'll agree the Johnson editorialized a bit on the final points, but he also took aim at President Obama at the end of the interview for failing to follow through on his part of developing the plan.

We plan a great many more segments on this topic, including an upcoming town hall meeting here at TV3.

Again, few people email to tell you when they like a segment .. so I don't read too much into the idea that criticism filled my in-box.

Catching up ...

2009-08-12T15:12:00.004-04:00

Scribbles in my busy notebook:

More layoffs and changes are all but certain at Akron City Hall .. and don't be surprised if they go as high as cabinet members or department managers. Lifeguards and law clerks will only save so much. As for how many police officers may go -- either via layoffs or from the buyout incentives -- that's anyone's guess. I did speak to a 30-year veteran who was taking the buyout because "I'm tired of the younger officers who don't want to work for what they have and want everything handed to them." His words, not mine.

Lately I've seen some local parents who have set me off. First, a woman walking her young child to school (good so far) while wearing a jacket with Scarface on the back holding up a few handguns. I mean, what heck kind of message is that to show your child? Second, I saw a woman with her three children on Exchange Street and she was wearing a shirt that said "Do I look like a F*(*)()*g People Person?". Again, here's a mom who has her young children walking beside her, and that's the message she shows the world? Note to parents -- your kids see what you do and how you act! So wake up!

I keep getting emails about an unreleased 911 call from the Lux fight. To date, everyone tells me that it doesn't exist, so I'm starting to believe it was urban legend that got away from people who were looking for a smoking gun. For the record, the initial tips that I received about the incident alleged that Mayor Plusquellic used much, MUCH stronger language in his 911 calls. As we've since heard, that wasn't the case. If another call of substance truly exists, it's bound to come out. If not, let's move on.

The Ernie Tarle-Dave Reymann debacle is just that. Regardless of who was right or wrong, it makes our city look bad .. and it makes a great many voters ask "just who the heck is running for council these days?"

I had a chance to take in the Hall of Fame Game Sunday night. Hot and humid, but a lot of fun. Before the game, I had a chance to shake hands outside the stadium with an interesting combination: Fred Biletnikoff and Eric Metcalf. One is a Hall of Famer and the other is a Browns player who just couldn't find the right niche to be effective but who did provide some electric touchdowns. Both men were very nice and shook hands with a lot of fans.

My days have been busier with no end in sight. The ever-changing business requires me to shoot video and even edit sometimes (four out of five days last week for example), which reduces the amount of time to blog, twitter, and write on Facebook too. It's a busy world for journalists trying to feed so many platforms. Want to see my shooting skills in action? Click here and take a look at this photo from the Plain Dealer. You can't see my face, but it's me in a shirt and tie and sporting a camera. That story ended up as our lead story at 7. Guess that makes me a "full service" journalist.

More later ..

911 calls released from city hall

2009-08-04T12:02:00.006-04:00

Call #2 .. Mayor speaking with Radio Room Sergeant

Call #1 .. Mayor calling in initial incident

Call #3 .. Mayor receives call back from Dispatch

Mayor's response to downtown fight .

2009-08-04T09:55:00.002-04:00

I'll have the 911 calls up in a minute, but for starters, here's the mayor's statement released at 9:25 a.m.

Statement
Mayor Don Plusquellic
August 4, 2009

On Saturday evening, August 1, at approximately 10:50pm, I met friends at the Bricco Restaurant on South Main Street. Earlier that evening, I welcomed audiences at our Ballet Summer Festival at Glendale Cemetery, and at the 9:00pm concert at Lock 3.
I exited the restaurant shortly after 2:00am, and walked north on Main toward the place where I had parked my car.
A friend who had been in Bricco came outside to continue our discussions for several minutes. Suddenly, I heard a commotion going on around the corner at Main and Exchange. Someone was yelling “fight.” I immediately walked in that direction to see if I could help. A large crowd of people came rushing past me, and continued around the corner where they proceeded to carry on a fight that apparently broke-out on Exchange Street.
I attempted twice to call 9-1-1 when the fight first started, but was placed on hold. Given all the people running around, and not being able to determine how to physically help, and believing I could have been hit while holding the phone, I hung up.
While I was blocked from seeing the faces of the combatants, I became aware that someone had been punched and was lying in the street. I witnessed a person kick the victim lying on the ground but was unable to see his face.
As people (combatants and witnesses alike) scattered, and police started to arrive on the scene, I called 9-1-1 at 2:38am for the third time, to get EMS to the scene. I was advised that they had already been called, and I informed the 9-1-1 center that I was concerned about having been put on hold earlier.
At 2:41am, I received a call from the 9-1-1 center asking if I had called in. I told them that I had called-in, and had received a recorded message, and was placed on hold. I asked to speak to the police sergeant on duty. As Safety Director of the City of Akron, I directed him to document the number of calls received in the 9-1-1 center about this incident, and to document what circumstances required calls to be placed on hold. I indicated to him that I would take-up the matter with Chief Craig Gilbride the following day.
This action - stated in tough terms in a stressful situation - was partially in reaction to the incident that had occurred June 27 in Firestone Park -the botched response to the several calls that went unreported for over three weeks following a terrible assault. Even our hard-working detectives couldn’t get accurate and timely information from the 9-1-1 center, which caused a very bad perception of the Akron Police Department.
The Firestone Park incident on June 27 had raised these concerns anew because detectives investigating the assault case after the fireworks, were first advised that there were no other calls, and later learned that there were multiple calls to the 9-1-1 center, some of whom had been placed on hold.
It was essential that this problem be documented so that solutions to this problem can be applied.
During the time that I was on Main Street early Sunday, I spoke to witnesses regarding what they had seen, and I continuously relayed to police officers what others had said to me about the start of the fight. I directed individuals who had seen the fight take place to make their statements to police officers. I did everything I could to help police get the information they needed, so that an arrest could be made.
The police officer who completed the written incident report listed me as an ancillary person to the investigation. The report form provides a box labeled speech, in which the officer wrote the word “slurred.” Recordings of my calls to the 9-1-1 center do not support this conclusion. The recordings are posted on the city’s website.
I have witnessed a number of fights before - as a coach present on basketball courts and baseball playing fields. I have been involved in breaking-up fights, including one on Main Street several years ago. The incident Sunday was much more horrific because of the injury to the victim. People at the scene who spoke to me believed that this was more than a few rowdy guys throwing punches. This is why we were motivated to help police as much as we could.
The truth however, was that from the arrival of the first officer on the scene - who displayed an attitude that drove most of the witnesses away - had I not remained at the scene and encouraged other witnesses to cooperate, the officers who later took the statements that are now being used by detectives, would not have been able to gather the information that led to the arrest of a responsible person, which occurred because of my insistence that they interview certain witnesses to the event.
The president of the FOP has chosen to attack me for getting involved. Anyone listening to the 9-1-1 tape recordings will agree that the story concocted by the FOP president is flatly wrong - for whatever political or personal reason he may have. We simply cannot afford to not have people involved to help police. Without my remaining on the scene, and insistence that witnesses also remain to be interviewed, we could have had yet another unsolved case.
I am never just an ordinary bystander when I am present at the scene of a safety emergency. The Charter of the City of Akron designates me as the Safety Director, and I am in charge of all police and fire matters. Because I was a practicing lawyer and former criminal prosecutor, I also know the importance of gathering information immediately. This was my only purpose Sunday morning - to direct the people who had approached me with valuable information because they knew who I was - to officers who could take down the details to secure an arrest, and hopefully a conviction of whoever was responsible for this horrible beating.
It is always my responsibility to ensure that the police department in all its facets - patrol officers, detectives, 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers - do their jobs properly, so that we never again have an unfortunate situation like the one that occurred in June in Firestone Park.

Things you shouldn't say when there's a recording device

2009-08-03T16:43:00.001-04:00

If you think you've heard it all in Akron Politics .. just wait .. it's about to rain hard .. really hard ... stay tuned .. Eric

Further cuts coming to First Energy

2009-07-22T16:38:00.004-04:00

The news just keeps getting dimmer for our local electric giant.

An internal release to company employees says that more cuts will be announced next week:

"Severed employees will meet individually with their supervisors on July 28, along with representatives from Human Resources. They also will have the opportunity to talk to representatives from Right Management, the firm helping us with career transition consulting. Severed employees’ last day on the payroll will be August 27."

Don't yet know how any numbers .. or how these cuts will impact the Akron area, but the memo says the reductions come from the combining of its Finance office with its Strategic Planning and Operation folks.

Odds and Ends on a Thursday

2009-07-16T18:40:00.007-04:00

Catching up ..

My first day back (Tuesday) ended with Mayor Plusquellic's Press Conference on the budget crisis. I wish I could be a fly on the wall as the five union leaders meet with city hall and with their members to find ways to cut. NO ONE wants layoffs this fall, but serious cuts are looming if enough dollars aren't caught. My jaw about hit the floor when the Mayor was asked how many employees need to take a buyout incentive to meet the goal. He responded with a reference to Summit County's incentive program, which netted about 130 or so .. and then said Akron needed "twice that many."

Mayor Plusquellic has agreed to be my live guest for a FOCUS segment of Channel 3, but we are still coordinating the details for his appearance in an upcoming news broadcast. Stay tuned.

I was amazed traveling west for vacation at how many giant wind turbines are out there. Hundreds and hundreds of windmills generating power in Nebraska, Iowa, etc. Why don't we see more of them here in NE Ohio?

I want to hear more about this racial hate crime involving a group of teens accosting a family in Firestone Park.

I'm looking forward to getting back to NewsNight Akron. Friday's show boasts Ed Esposito, Larry States, and Phil Trexler.

Finally, today's story still has me amazed. If the government can use a proactive virus to search my hard drive without me knowing it, what else can folks find? Check it out:

Back .. and ready to write!

2009-07-13T19:51:00.003-04:00

After a three-week hiatus from all things journalism, I'm finally back .. did anything newsworthy happen other than Michael Jackson? Seems that's all I heard about during a camping trip out west with my wife and boys. One of my favorite parts was stopping at Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA, and playing catch, hitting a few balls, and visiting the ghostly corn in the outfield (see photo).

I can't tell you how many times I came across something during the travels that made me want to write .. or inspired me to comment in some way. As a journalist, it was very, very difficult to not be working the night of the recall election. I mean, that's a BIG news night here in town.

Anyway, after 23 days off, I feel good. It's been a long time since I've felt this refreshed .. and it's a really good thing.

Returning to work at TV3 tomorrow .. and I have lots to catch up on here on the blog. Thanks for sticking with me ...

See ya soon ..

2009-06-23T18:04:00.000-04:00

Governor Strickland approves gambling, major cuts to help with budget ..

2009-06-19T17:35:00.005-04:00

Governor Strickland's arms are probably pretty tired. I can only imagine how many scenarios he drew up in the last 24 hours before coming up with his plan. Facing a $3.2 billion budget deficit and only two weeks from the new budget taking hold..

If you missed his 4 p.m. press conference, you can watch it here.

The big news is that he's approved extending the lottery program by adding slot machines to Ohio's racetracks .. all in a state that has knocked out casino gambling four times at the polls. He hopes the slots will raise just shy of a billion big ones in the next two years.

You think it's a good idea?

The Gov still needed to cut $2.43 billion .. so here's what he proposing:

37% cut to retirement contributions for state employees
$200 million cut to public library funding
$1.1 billion cut from Medicare
cuts to early education, pre-school programs
close one youth correctional facility

A lot to consider .. a lot on the line .. thoughts?

Brian Williams' ties are haunting me

2009-06-18T18:46:00.005-04:00

In the news game, appearance is always, always an issue. The women I work with (no names) face the daunting task of keeping track of their outfits, to ensure they don't wear the same outfit too often .. usually never more than once in a three-week period.

I feel for them .. I really do.

Us guys .. we got it easy .. most male anchors could wear the same coat every other night and the viewers would never know ..

That is .. except for the tie .. (or the "vine" as Dick Russ likes to call it).

The rule of thumb is: the brighter, the better.

Orange, green, lots of "power" reds ... stripes are back in fashion too.

But now .. here comes NBC's Brian Williams .. or "B-dub" as we call him in our newsroom. He loves his ties, and his ties always seem to be just right. Monica and I often comment on his ties since he signs off and then we come up at 7 p.m.

My boss hit me a few weeks back with how strong BW's ties are and suggested I find a few purple ties. So last week, I stopped and got a few .. and have been wearing them this week.

Then this morning .. the Today show got into the act ... and took aim at the whole tie saga and compared B-dub and the other broadcasters.

Between him saying "goodnight" just before I say "good evening" . I'm beginning to feel like I can't get away from B-dub! And now I'm wearing my ties after him too!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Phil Trexler's Tribe book great for Indians fans and Father's Day!

2009-06-17T06:36:00.009-04:00

Book review

OK .. our Tribe is running in sand right now .. and even with "Dollar Dog" night, there's only so many beatings at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers and others before closing our eyes and wishing Manny Ramirez was back in Right Field, Buddy Bell was at Third, and Rocky Colavito was just in an Indians uniform!

Certainly the Good Old Days of the Tribe aren't all that good ... although some are quite old .. but when the memories and history are looked at in quantity, we certainly have a lovable and unique team.

That's why Phil Trexler's new book Yesterday and Today: Cleveland Indians is such a good read. Phil is a tremendous encyclopedia of Tribe facts and figures already, but the book is put together in snip-its and short stories so that a fan can begin reading on any page and find something entertaining.

There are hundreds of pictures -- literally something on just about every page -- that tell a great history and show us the fun of attending a Tribe game before bobbleheads became all the rage. There's not only photos not-recently (or ever) published, but lots of shots of collectibles (including some from Phil's own collection) that tell a great deal about the dugout fun of being a Tribe player and fan.

I consider myself a knowledgeable Indians fan but far from an expert. I learned a lot from the book, including more about Herb Score's head injury and what Trexler dubbed "The Lost Tribe 1969-1993." Those are the years of my youth, so I can totally empathize. If you're a Bob Feller fan, you'll find a lot of interesting reads. (Feller writes the book's Forward by the way).

I really enjoyed all the side stories that I'd never heard, such as Bill Veeck flying in orchids from Hawaii for the women in the stands, while other fans got live rabbits or ladders. Rabbits? Ladders? Oh this must have been a wild franchise all those years ago.

As a large, colorful hard-cover gem, Yesterday and Today screams coffee table, but it's so much more than that. It's an historical reference when a player or special moment jumps in to your head, and you just need a quick glimpse of it.

My favorite Indian of all-time is still Omar Vizquel. If you've followed the Tribe, then you know how special he was to the team and how entertaining and talented he was at the games. His smile, his diving stops, and his double plays were the things of rock videos. Trexler has a good sequence on Omar titled "Magic Man."

So if you're out and about looking for something for dad .. or just something for a Tribe fan .. this is a no-brainer. Buy the book at Barnes and Noble in Montrose and keep it out in the open where you can grab it for entertainment on the nights when the Indians struggle, which has been a lot lately.

It's a good investment, and one you'll be proud to show off, regardless of where the team falls in the standings.

Enjoy.

A return of television news to Akron .. sort of ..

2009-06-16T07:29:00.005-04:00

Hard to believe it's been a year now since our last "Akron-Canton News" broadcast ended its seven-year run, and with this economy a traditional evening newscast for our area is a longshot at best.

Still . it's something that the area will always desire and deserve.

While the economy isn't cooperating, the opportunity for a newscast continues on-line .. and AkronNewsNow.com is taking strides to fill the void.

Lindsay McCoy, a Kent State grad and a former WKYC intern, is doing a great job with ANN's on-line news. The short broadcasts include a few news stories and even sports . .and it's all local. Lindsay is a solid young journalist who is really getting to know the area and the cast of characters that make up the Akron news scene.

Speaking from experience, filling the Akron TV news void ain't easy .. and Lindsay does almost all of it herself, including the camera, green screen, writing, editing, graphics, u name it.

Anyway .. check it out here .. and be sure to give Lindsay and ANN some feedback ..

Setting the record straight on my political contributions

2009-06-15T06:18:00.004-04:00

No .. I did NOT contribute to Citizen For Akron's campaign to stop the recall of Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. Contrary to what you're hearing on local talk radio, I didn't do it.

The Akron Beacon Journal published a list of all of the contributors to the campaign as part of its coverage. Near the bottom is the name "Eric S. Mansfield" having contributed $23 to the effort by buying a ticket to a recent fundraiser at an Akron union hall. There was pizza and beer, for what that's worth.

Now .. I'm being taken to task by Akron-area talk radio for contributing to a local political campaign when I'm supposed to be staying neutral as a journalist. Not that the talk radio folks would call me first to find out the true story, but instead, I'm getting blasted.

Here's the truth: It wasn't me.

I wasn't even in the county during the event.

It was my wife, Lisa, who is a candidate for the Akron School Board. She signed in as a political candidate and also signed the personal check used to pay the contribution .. and that's where the miscommunication comes in to play.

Since both of our names are on our personal checks, my name got credit for the contribution. I'm told by others that this isn't out of the ordinary. Another woman in local politics tells me that her husband often gets a thank you note for political contributions she made because his name is first on their joint personal checks. It's the same with Lisa and me. (As soon as I can get a computer scan of the check, I'll post it here so you can see her signature on the check.)

Still .. what does it say about a talk show host who blasts me without at least checking to get the info correct?

For the record, I don't contribute to campaigns, attend fundraisers or rallies, or even put up a sign in my yard -- even for school levies for my own kids' school district. I view my role as a journalist seriously, and I won't cross that line.

Lisa's campaign is just getting started ... and so far, she's gathered about 450 signatures on petitions (300 valid signatures are needed to get on the ballot). Her passion for the role is solid, and as an Akron Schools Grad (North High alum), a mother of three APS students, and a Secondary Education Major from the U of Akron -- just for starters -- Lisa's more than qualified to make a solid run. Her website and Twitter feeds are just getting off the ground, but you can take a look to see this is legit.

I hadn't planned on talking publicly about Lisa's candidacy this early in the campaign, but I needed to set the record straight.

Oh .. and if you think I was riled by the criticism, you should hear from Lisa... and you will in the coming days for sure.

10 ways journalists can use social media to improve stories

2009-06-12T14:53:00.003-04:00

As a television reporter/anchor, I use social media (Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc.) as often as I used to dial the phone. In short, I use these tools all day long.

They make my job easier by helping me get the information I need from the sources I desire at at time when I need to beat the clock. Yet, after taking part in a panel about the rise of social media and its impact on the media, I'm realizing that many of my peers still aren't seeing the value.

So .. I'm putting my David Letterman "Top 10" skills to the test .. and opting to share what I've found to be helpful on the front lines of today's local news coverage.

1. Morning tweets save time in the afternoon -- How often have you received an assignment at the morning news meeting and thought "how in the world am I going to find someone to talk about that?" Usually, we open our Rolodex and begin calling our friends and relatives asking, "hey, do you know anyone who has such-n-such?" Then we wait hours for someone to call back, hoping that a friend of a friend of a friend will be the right anecdote for our stories.

Twitter speeds up the process. If you're doing a story on local moms of multiples weighing in on the octomom, send out a tweet such as .. "do you or someone you know have twins or triplets? and have advice for the octomom? drop me a line at ... "

A few weeks back, I put out this tweet: "Bankruptcies are on the rise. I'm looking for individuals who've done it to share their story. If you're willing: ericmansfield@wkyc.com"

Within minutes, I got a note from Rod Ice .. who was dealing with a serious financial crisis and was willing to go on camera that afternoon. Here's the story:

I never would have found an interview like this doing it the "old fashioned way". Twitter helps me find subjects faster and gives me more time to prepare their story before deadline.

2. Use Facebook's "status" for trial balloons -- Ever had thoughts about a possible story but wondered if it would fly before investing a lot of time and research? Use your Facebook status to gauge interest. For example, if your status reads "Has anyone found a real diet that works for overweight kids?" you can expect that readers with real ideas will weigh in. Even if they can't answer the question, they may share the story of their own childhood obesity problems .. or that of their child's. Bingo! Instant interview subjects. On the flip side, if no one comments in a 24-hour period, you can bet it's not a hot topic right now.

3. Blogging is for big kids too -- You're reading this post, therefore I've at least done something right when it comes to blog writing. If you're a working journalist, you should have a blog. The subjects on your beat will look for it before you come to visit them. Most importantly, blogging allows readers/viewers/listeners to get a more personal take on your story. Don't be afraid to share the inside story of the story you just put together. We all want to turn good followups, and getting the public to see you're in tune with the topic via your blog will help get sources to come to you with additional information.

In January, police discovered the body of a little girl in a dumpster. She'd been beaten by a parent. I wrote about it on my blog from the perspective of a parent who couldn't believe someone could do such a thing. That baring of my soul brought an email from a local man who knew of a area film aimed at keeping teen moms from tossing their babies away. A few phone calls later and I had the most unique "day two" story in the market. Here it is:

I never would have had that story had I not taken the time to blog, which really is an effective tool to interact with viewers/readers and get unique tips and feedback.

4. Go ahead and tip your hand -- Stop worrying about the competition knowing the topic of today's story. Unless it's a true exclusive, there's little danger in the other reporters in town catching up with you. Send tweets and FB statuses only about a topic and not the specifics. In other words, it's ok for others to know you've gone fishing; just don't tell them which pond you're at or what you're using for bait.

5. Become a social media voyeur for story ideas -- I log on to FB and up comes the home page with all the latest statuses for my "friends." One friend's status reads, "Anyone know a good way to make $115 in five days?" While I don't have a good suggestion for her, I'm going to keep tabs on what others suggest. If someone chimes in with a creative idea that no one has ever heard before, I'll message that person and see if it's a story. Likewise on Twitter and other social media platforms.

For example, when a major earthquake strikes, start browsing your FB Friends' status updates for anyone whose status includes "prayers for my brother in India ..." Remember how long it used to take to find a local connection? Now there's a way to find them by opening your cyber ears and listening in on the conversation. Become a fly on the wall for others' posts and you'll not only see which topics the public is really talking about, but you'll find the instant subject matter to tell the compelling parts of the story.

6. We're all in this together -- High School Musical made the song famous, but the concept applies to social media too. We're all in this together. That includes politicians, police officers, pro athletes, etc .. What are they saying on their profiles? Who are their "friends"? If a local public officials gets in trouble and you want to find the real story, look at the profiles of others on the government payroll until you find ones with friends on that same department. Then, contact them discreetly and see if they'll clue you in to the real story. During the tough economy, the status updates will also tell you when people are being layed off or when someone at the top gets fired. It's the kind of tips you need to beat the competition and sometimes beat the PR staff at the agency too.

7. Always update 60 minutes before air -- 5 p.m. is a great time to find lots of people on-line. Many folks are just getting home from work and catching up on the day's events. (It's easy to forget that most folks are NOT like journalists and don't get to check email and websites throughout the day.) By updating your FB status and a tweet, you can tease your big story in the 6 p.m. news, and you can go a step further by asking viewers for their concerns about the topic. (sometimes the viewers will mention something you forgot, and then you've still got time to get the info). I like to use my 60-minute rule in conjunction with live interviews by asking viewers what they would ask the person we're going to be interviewing. Not only will give you good questions, but then they'll tune in to see if you ask their question. Boom! Instant ratings help!

8. Elephants never forget and neither does social media -- What you write about today can pay big dividends the next day, week, or month. I'm always amazed at the number of "hits" some of my blog entries get many weeks after they're written. For example, I wrote a small blog entry about Katie Couric's return to Today. I just happened to be blogging when Matt Lauer mentioned that KC was returning on the following day for an important announcement. My blog post that day drew 1,000 hits and now, many many months later, it still draws a few dozen hits every week or so. The good thing is that it brings new viewers to my blog. If they stopped by to read about KC, maybe they'll browse around to my other topics and thereby broaden my audience. The larger audience feeds itself and gives me more folks to lean on for story ideas and the like. The blog also serves as a magnet for national and overseas media when they're looking to interview someone about a particular topic. In 2007, I blogged extensively about the murder of a pregnant woman at the hands of her married boyfriend. Because of the blog -- and not necessarily because of my reporting -- I've had calls from authors, national media outlets, etc .. looking for comments and info whenever the story has a new update.

9. Two "tweets" beats one "breaking news" -- When a local police department announced it was having a rare, evening press conference to discuss an officer-involved shooting, no one in the press had any idea what was on the line. There had been no scanner traffic to follow. No phone calls about police tape or ambulances. What could they possibly be talking about? The agency refused to give info over the phone and instead kept telling us to come to the press conference, which was still 90 minutes away.

A simple tweet-FB combo request for info: "Anyone know about a police shooting in Mentor tonight?" led to a number of instant messages requesting more info .. and then bingo! I got this message: "Eric - I have details if you need them. You can call my cell ..." It was from a dispatcher in a neighboring district. The tip led me to the neighborhood of the shooting before the press conference, and it allowed me to get a good interview with a witness that no one else had when the 11 p.m. broadcast began. Here's the story:

Again, without the use of social media, I wouldn't have had info on the shooting until after the press conference, and that would have been too late to get the personal interviews in time to make air.

10. Social Media helps keep you employed -- While there's no guarantee that being your organization's Bob Woodward ensures you'll keep a paycheck, it does mean you'll stand out from your peers. On the television side, there are many in this business who don't want to mix business with pleasure, and since they see FB and Twitter as social tools, they intend to keep them separate. I totally get that. Still, maybe there's a way to have a pair of FB and Twitter accounts .. or maybe allow the two to overlap a little here and there .. and you'll stand out. Plus, twitter can give you headlines in the field like never before, allowing you to know what the competition is doing as they're doing it. That too stands out to the bosses.

So that's it . that's how I use social media while on the clock .. and how it pays dividends for me every day.

Hope to "friend" you soon ;)

Akron Police stuck in middle, can't win in residency, recall battle

2009-06-10T16:30:00.003-04:00

I've heard from so many police officers over the last week that I feel like I'm either being deputized or investigated.

Most feel they are caught in the middle of the news headlines .. and today, two of the major issues came to a head.

First, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled 5-2 to ban laws that mandate city employees live in the city limits. In Akron, Cleveland, and elsewhere, this means police officers, fire fighters, dog wardens, etc .. can now freely relocate without it costing them their jobs.

APD was always stuck in the middle of this one .. as the police officers were most vocal about wanting that freedom.

Some claimed it was too difficult to arrest a bad guy one day and then see that same bad guy in a neighborhood store a week later. Others have felt the law tied their hands as far as a public school district for their kids and/or prevented their spouses from seeking government work in neighboring cities that might have their own requirements.

There are strong arguments FOR residency as well, but the one common theme in the officers' words this week was that they just couldn't win. If they say they want freedom, they get backlash, and if they say they don't mind living in the city, they get grief from some fellow officers too.

Many in the media -- myself at times included -- have made this out to be a police issue, when in fact it's been an issue affecting all city employees.

The timing of the Supremes' ruling coincides with today's FOP vote on the mayoral recall -- again, officers tell me they can't win. The membership voted 168-166 to support the recall. Pro-recall folks will call it a "win", while supporters of the Mayor call it a "wash."

Couldn't they just vote on election day (June 23rd) and maintain their privacy? While their specific vote would always be private, no one would know which way the force swayed.

Yet, even though this vote has no legal standing, here the officers are again caught in the middle. If the force is supposed to be a representation of the public, than what does their close vote tell you about the recall?

I quipped on NewsNight Akron last Friday that there was a reason Fredo ended up in the rowboat at the end of The Godfather Part II -- never go against the family. In this case, I was trying to show the no-win situation of the officers who might hesitate to vote at all knowing there's a perception of retaliation, especially if they vote one way and the final result goes another.

In this case though, it's just the perception of retaliation.

Like I said, they just can't win.

Bob Serpentini is alive and well .. contrary to rumors

2009-06-03T16:24:00.004-04:00

I've now gotten several emails from viewers who've heard that car dealer Bob Serpentini has flown the coop with a suitcase of cash and is now on a beach in a faraway country sipping drinks with little umbrellas.

Apparently, viewers haven't seen enough of his commercials lately and are jumping to conclusions because of the GM crisis.

While Serpentini has had some recently publicized financial problems, I've been assured that he's in New York attending meetings with General Motors... and NOT on his way to a secluded island.

It doesn't surprise me that rumors can circulate about people in the public light .. but I can't believe how wide-spread this one is.

Last week, I heard a rumor that LeBron had flown home from Orlando between games 3 and 4 to attend a Barbecue. That one even got some life on Facebook. Umm .. no .. LeBron was giving interviews in a hotel lobby in Florida that day .. not grilling burgers in Akron.

Regardless of whether you're in the market for a new car, just make sure you corner the market on the truth. In this case, the truth as I've been told from those close to Serpentini is that he's alive and well .. and still "American and Proud of it."

Saying goodbye to Abby .... and other items of note

2009-06-03T05:51:00.002-04:00

It feels like Abby Ham just arrived at TV3 and now she's leaving again. This is her last week on the morning news, and then she'll be returning to her home state of Tennessee. She'll take over as morning anchor at our sister station, WBIR-TV, and be closer to her family. While we work opposite schedules, I've never seen Abby without a smile on her face in the newsroom. She'll certainly be missed.

I was all set to turn a story yesterday on the DTV walk-in centers when the news came in about an explosion in Wayne County. This was one of those quandary moments in a TV newsroom. Do we wait until we have more information on damage and injuries before putting a crew on the road? Or do we cancel an existing story (in this case, my DTV story) and hit the road immediately in hopes of beating the competition to the scene should it turn out to be a major story while also risking a long trip for nothing if it turns out that it wasn't much of a house? Turned out to be a relatively minor story as far as damage -- and fortunately injuries too -- so the shift didn't pay off as far as getting a significant news story, but it's the coin flip we face every day in the newsroom. Besides, the DTV switch still has another 9 days until it becomes reality.

Akron's recall election is now three weeks away, and I'm still wondering about what kind of turnout we'll see. Getting folks to sign a petition on their porch is one thing, but getting people to take the time to come to the polls is another.

Now that the Cavs are out of the playoffs, I have time to actually pay attention to the Tribe. Ughh. Last place is no place to be. Will Travis Hafner ever turn it around and get healthy? Feels like the whole team is hamstrung by this fat contract for a designated hitter with a bad back.

Pair of Akron teachers show the worst of the worst

2009-05-29T16:44:00.003-04:00

There's irony. There's coincidence. And there's the day I had today.

Two Akron teachers whose sins became lead stories for me are both back in the news.

First, William Bennett -- the Firestone High School counselor who molested teen boys -- launched a Facebook profile and ironically one of the first friends he acquired recommended him as a friend for me. I mean, what are the odds?

I immediately recognized his name and face from 10 years ago, and after checking that he was still a registered sex offender (tier 3, the worst) I contacted Sheriff Drew Alexander who sent a deputy out to talk to Bennett.

Meanwhile, Facebook, which has a strict "no sex offender" policy, yanked Bennett's new cyber page within minutes of my notification to them.

Coincidentally, on the same day I'm updated that Akron teacher's story, I get word that another former educator, Benjam Terril, has been released early from jail; he served less than three months of an 18-month sentence.

Terril was the Buchtel Science teacher who pointed a loaded gun at another man's head on Labor Day and then told Akron Police that he had "military experience" and that's why he needed an arsenal of guns and knives in his house. I checked his resume with the Akron Schools and determined through public records that his entire military career -- including claims of combat service in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne -- was bogus. Terril never served a single day in uniform.

The Akron School Board fired Terril based on the bogus resume alone.

So today .. I'm writing stories on both of these former educators .. and I'm lamenting that the hard-working teachers my sons currently have in the Akron Schools get a bad rap because two of their colleagues became the worst of the worst when it comes to our schools.

I spoke to a teacher today who told me that she routinely is up past midnight grading papers and trying to keep up with the amount of work her students turn in. Those are long days, and they're not for mega wages either. She does it because she loves kids -- period.

Most teachers go into education for all of the right reasons ... and it's really upsetting when teachers like Bennett and Terril cross the line.

For what it's worth, both have now served their prison time and are abiding by the rules of their release. Let's hope both have peaceful futures and do not re-offend.

Yet, oddly enough, both are back in the news in the same day.

Like I said .. There's irony. There's coincidence. And then there's the day I had today.

Monica Robins' Blog

2009-05-28T18:08:00.003-04:00

My co-anchor, Monica Robins, has joined the blogging ranks by launching her new prose at Monica's Daily Dose.

As Senior Medical Correspondent, Monica has insight into the medical world like no one else. She's one of the hardest-working journalists I've ever met, so she's already typing a lot as it is .. but I think she's going to enjoy blogging as an outlet to her daily news assignments.

Stop by and check out Monica's blog .. and give her some feedback .. I know she'd love to hear from you.

Seriously? This is an ad .. for what???

2009-05-26T11:42:00.003-04:00

Logged on to ohio.com lately? Go visit and you'll see an animated ad that leads to this picture.

Think a short skirt and legs surrounded by colorful shoes grabs your attention? You bet it does.

Now .. want to guess what the product is?

Believe it or not, it's for a natural gas supplier.

Not that showing a gas meter or a well would grab my attention, but umm .. just how dumb are we?

Ohio Vietnam Memorial in Clinton - my second documentary

2009-05-25T19:13:00.002-04:00

I know most of us were glued to the Cavs Friday night, but over on 45/49, my second documentary on the Ohio Vietnam Memorial in Clinton, south of Akron, took shape. You can watch it here.

Executive Producers Barb and Duilio Mariola put a lot of hours into shooting and editing this piece, which follows the path to making Ohio's first memorial for Vietnam a reality. I learned a lot about the war through this experience.

Take a look . and I'd love some feedback.

Veterans Day speech in Copley

2009-05-25T17:06:00.002-04:00

I had a great experience today delivering the Memorial Day address in Copley. We had a great turnout, great weather, and veterans and families who really understand the meaning of sacrifice. Hopefully, my words fit the occasion.

Odds and Ends on a Friday

2009-05-22T20:22:00.004-04:00

I've got so many responsibilities in the newsroom these days, that I never get to write for the blog these days .. so I'll try to catch up before the Cavs tip off.

Had a nice sit-down this week with Frank LaRose Jr., who has declared his candidacy for the 27th Senate Seat being vacated by Kevin Coughlin (term limits). LaRose is a Green Beret with Iraq and Kosovo experience, so we had lots to chat about when the camera was off. Dick Russ will be airing a story on LaRose soon, but here's some more about him. First impressions are that LaRose is pretty sharp .. and he's polished on the talking points of making our economy and education better .. and he's got time to research and learn how to make those ideas a reality. He's declared a bit early since the election is in the fall of 2010, but then again, what do I know???

I got a call from an older couple in Coventry that received their Social Security stimulus money this week via direct deposit. A whopping $2. Two bucks. "What am I supposed to stimulate with that?" the man told me. I reminded him to make sure his wife got her dollar too before he spent all of it. He didn't sound amused.

I'm looking forward to Monday when I'll be honored as the Grand Marshall of Copley's Memorial Day parade. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at the Middle School. Come out and say hello if you can.

I broke new ground at work on Tuesday by reporting, shooting, and editing my story for the evening news. Our business is quickly shifting from two-man teams (1 reporter, 1 videographer) to a single MMJ (Multi-Media Journalist) who does it all. I was a guinea pig of sorts to try this for WKYC. My assignment -- the latest on Akron's Mayoral Recall. The good news was that I tracked down both Mayor Plusquellic and Warner Mendenhall for interviews.

Both were pretty surprised that I showed up in my own car with a tripod and camera instead of a Channel 3 car with a photographer. The bad news was that I wasn't nearly as focused on my questions because I was so worried about the focus and audio of the camera and making sure that it was recording properly. Later, I had a mega-problems with editing as my laptop editor didn't cooperate with the additional videotapes that I needed for the story. So in the final moments, I re-wrote my story to match the few video shots (city hall, two web sites) that I had and the story got on the air.

Not my best work by a long shot, but it made air. After my editing nightmare in the Akron office, I drove north to Cleveland and arrived about 20 minutes before the 7 p.m. broadcast. I was frazzled on the anchor desk to say the least.

After talking it over with the computer folks .. and my managers .. the decision's been made that future MMJ shoots that are for that same night's broadcast will be edited on "newscutter" computers in the newsroom rather than laptops. The Newscutters are connected to the entire video system and will allow faster editing that can be uploaded into the actual broadcast.

Personally .. I just can't have another day like that and expect to relaxed on the air. Everyone in TV News is doing more these days than they used to do, but we've got to find ways to work smarter to make it all work.

OK .. Cavs just tipped off in Game 2 .. more later!

Doing battle with the Orlando anchors

2009-05-21T16:39:00.001-04:00

They really do need to get some new material but it was fun to throw down with them ...

Knute Larson's passion, heart will be tough to replace

2009-05-14T09:30:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Pastor Knute Larson of The Chapel to talk about his final week with the church. He's retiring after more than a quarter century to spend more time with his family and help develop younger pastors. His final sermon will be this Sunday.

Knute is one of those few leaders who clearly puts his organization above himself. I know that a lot of corporate CEOs and politicians will tell you they do .. and point to accomplishments to show how much they value their supporters .. but few will miss a beat to talk about themselves.

Not Knute. Getting him to talk about himself in great detail is like slaying a giant with a slingshot. It doesn't happen often, and when it does, it's worth remembering.

Ask him why he thinks he was chosen to be a leader, and he'll quickly push the answer to "God is Good." Ask him if he thinks he's made a difference, and he'll usually end the sentence with a message about God's grace.

There's staying "on topic" and then there's Knute.

His heart is genuine and his intentions are always aimed at reaching the unreachable. During our interview, I had the opportunity to walk up to the podium at the Worship Center. The podium is sacred ground for pastors. Knute told me he enjoys having it there as a symbol of the way preachers have spread the Good News for centuries.

Still, to stand there next to someone whose words are aimed at reaching into the souls of thousands and guiding them to a journey of Salvation, well .. that's a lot of weight to carry on your shoulders. Knute likened it to my job of delivering the news, but I was quick to point out that if I make a mistake, people can move on with their day and be ok .. but if HE makes a mistake on Sunday, it could drive someone away from the church or confuse them forever. BIG difference.

Knute told me that this final sermon will come from Acts as Paul tells the disciples that he is leaving them because he loves them. Great parallel.

I could go on and on .. and I know that I don't know Knute nearly as well as so many others in the community .. but I do know that he's been a great leader, a good friend, and a solid example for us all.

Godspeed.

Council debates, researches recall election date

2009-05-11T17:02:00.006-04:00

The answer to the trivia question is 3,774.

That's how many signatures were validated in order for the recall of Mayor Don Plusquellic to reach the ballot.

The group hoping to recall DP has been pounding its chests with numbers closer to 7,000, as though that many people wanted to see an immediate change in leadership, but it's the valid number that officially counts. 3,774 is about 600 more than was required.

City Council will certify the petitions tonight and will officially start the clock for a special election to be held sometime between June 20th and July 4th.

Some of the comments I'm already receiving:

"...to get out and vote on JUST that issue. All this is going to do is burrow DP deeper in his bunker and make it that much more difficult to effect change. DP and I have been friends for over 30 years. BUT ... if it's time for a change, then present lOGICAL, CAPABLE, SUITABLE challenges to his office.The late great John S. Knight once said ... 'I don't care who runs Akron - but someone had better. It's too important to be left without leadership.'"

Others have weighed in that they believe the recall will be successful and that they firmly believe it's time for a change while many believe it's a waste of time and money and are upset that it's gotten this far.

I still haven't seen one point that validates the need for a recall; saying that you don't like DP or didn't agree with some of his decisions seem to fly in the face of the need for a recall. Shouldn't recalls be saved for elected officials who commit crimes (Blagojevich) or get caught in major ethical jackpots (Marc Dann)?

Council's task now is to determine what kind of election it hopes to have. Do you schedule it on a traditional Tuesday when there might be a traditional turnout (whatever that is for a late June election)? Or do you schedule it on an odd day of the week .. say Sunday or Monday .. in hopes of having a smaller turnout? Don't roll your eyes .. more than one insider at city hall tells me that's possible.

And if it's scheduled closer to the fourth of July, what burden does that place on the Board of Elections to have volunteers for the polls as well as staff members at the BOE who might have vacations scheduled for that week? Will there be early voting like we saw in the fall?

Will the ballot read "Should Mayor Don Plusquellic be recalled?" in which case a "yes" vote would remove him from city hall?

Or will the ballot read "Should Mayor Don Plusquellic stay in office?" in which case a "yes" vote would defeat the recall?

A lot still be to be decided ..

Movie about LeBron, St. V Team enticing

2009-05-08T08:50:00.003-04:00

I had a great chat with a good friend, David Lee Morgan, yesterday. He's a great writer and an even better man.

He joined Monica and me for a live segment talking about LeBron's growth and success. As author of LeBron James, the first book on The Chosen One, David gets a lot of calls for interviews about what LBJ was really like in high school.

I'll write more when I get time ... but David sent me this link to the preview trailer for "More Than A Game", the documentary movie that's set for a fall release. Check it out .. looks great.

Here also is David's interview from last night .. good insight in our FOCUS segment.

Recall petitions to be filed at 1 p.m.

2009-05-06T12:34:00.003-04:00

A post from Warner Mendenhall says that he plans to deliver additional petitions fo the city clerk at 1 p.m. He claims to have about 2,000 additional names. The recall group needs about 500 more valid signatures to get the recall on the ballot over the next 60 days.

We're still a few days away from seeing if the list of names will hold up; that's where the Board of Elections will have final say.

But we could know for sure by Monday ...

More later .. Eric

He's no Don Plusquellic ..

2009-05-04T16:45:00.007-04:00

I just came to the end of my first press conference at Cleveland City Hall with Mayor Frank Jackson. I say that "I just came to the end" because the press conference wasn't finished. It just ended.

Jackson and County Commissioner Tim Hagan announced the signing of a letter of intent for the county to pay the city $20 million for the Convention Center site to build the Medical Mart.

$20 million. That's a bunch.

The media was handed a two-page list of the details of the agreement, and it was a lot to digest.

I'm accustomed to being at press conferences where the media has a chance to really iron out the details and make sure that we understand what's being presented. After all, if we get it right in our stories, everyone benefits. There's nothing worse than making a mistake in fact, especially when it involves a major development deal.

So you can imagine my surprise when I got to ask one -- 1 -- uno -- a single -- question about the deal. A few other reporters each got a single question in as well .. and then it was over. A press secretary said "thank you" and that was it.

Done. Over. Thanks for coming. Don't let the FREE statue hit you in the butt as you walk back towards E. 9th Street.

My first thought was " .. well, he's no Don Plusquellic."

Akron's Mayor has been known to hold marathon press conferences; many of them easily busting the one-hour mark and that includes issues with only a fraction of the impact of a $20 million sale. Plusquellic would go out of his way to ensure the media understood the details he was announcing ..

I can't for the life of me understand why Jackson and Hagan would gloss over the bullet points of this issue without wanting to make sure the media's questions were answered to the smallest detail.

For example, the release included bullet points about:

Bed tax dollars the city will continue to collect for the convention center even though it will no longer own it. So where will those dollars go now?

$2.5 million of the price tag encouraged to go for Perk Park but Jackson won't guarantee how/how much of those dollars will be spent there. So what's the plan for it then?

Clauses in the contract that provide for a training program for kids in the Cleveland schools to learn skills for employment with the Medical Mart. Really? What skills would those be? Does that mean these kids will get jobs when they graduate?

The city will support the county's push for tax abatement on the nearly $500 million project. So how much will local schools and other community projects miss out?

The city would covey title to the Public Auditorium, but the city can re-take possession in 2067. Why then? What's up with a 48-year agreement on that property?

The county agrees to hire at least 10 of the Convention Center employees to work in the new Medical Mart. How many are there now? Which jobs will transfer over? And why only 10?

Those are just the basic questions that came to mind based on the handout given to the media.

I also wondered what Mayor Jackson meant by calling the Commissioners "courageous" for having the foresight to approve a tax for the project without going before the voters.

Say what???? Isn't that the single biggest complaint by the public over the project?

This has nothing to do with whether or not the media agrees with a project like this, or whether I agree or disagree with anything Plusquellic or Jackson present to the public.

But I stand firm that when a public leader has the opportunity to make sure the facts are presented correctly and all pertinent questions are answered, they have a responsibility to do so.

Jackson should carve out some time and take a few notes at a Plusquellic Presser. The public could benefit a lot.

I know I still have a lot to learn about Cleveland, but likewise, what I saw today tells me the leaders have a lot to learn too.

Plane crash, RAM event canceled in busy news day

2009-04-28T17:23:00.003-04:00

Our newsroom is buzzing with a number of developing stories ...

First, the RAM free medical event this weekend has now been canceled. An event that was expected to draw thousands of folks to the Cleveland area for a weekend of free medical care has been deemed two dangerous by state leaders who fear the swine flu spreading in large crowds. Monica Robins will have all the details at six, but she's pretty disappointed. She worked hard on her end to help bring this event to life. She and others are wondering if this means sporting events might also have to be canceled .. stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Childrens Hospital has issued a restriction on visitors while the swine flu continues to be an issue. It's just a precaution, but it's another reaction to this story that can't go unreported. I hear a lot of media bashing going on right now in talk radio .. as though the media is making too much of the swine flu problem .. but considering our President issued a health emergency and the CDC is now sending all 50 states flu treatment meds from the strategic reserve, wouldn't the media be dropping the ball if we didn't give this story heavy coverage?

Also .. we've got crews headed to Mayfield Village right now. At least one dead in a plane crash involving a prop plane. Dave Summer is out there for us and will lead our 6 p.m. report with the details.

I spent most of the day in Akron working on a story for next week on the next wave of law enforcement -- computer crime fighters. If the existing training programs continue to grow, Akron could become the place for those wanting to play CSI on the computer.

I began my day on Jesse Avenue in North Hill .. speaking with the family of Diane Mitchell-McMillan, who was gunned down early Sunday morning by a killer who fired through the front of her home. What a senseless, pointless killing. At first Diane's family was very vocal about not wanting the killing on the news in any fashion, but later in the day, they called me and asked me to come back to hear their story. Sometimes illuminating the loss can help lead to information coming forward. Prayers for all involved on this one.

I'm also keeping tabs around NE Ohio as the axe continues to fall at Clear Channel shops. Vincent Duffy hears that CC is chopping almost 600 jobs today alone. There are multiple reports that Brian and Joe from 106.5. Those guys have been on forever!

Busy day indeed .. more in a bit .. Eric

News Cleveland Cavaliers commercial is hilarious .. love it.

2009-04-23T07:04:00.003-04:00

This is raw .. and really funny. feel free to fast-forward through the first 45 seconds .. you'll still get the jokes ..

This and that .. What I'm seeing and hearing ... and saying goodbye to Abby

2009-04-22T18:24:00.004-04:00

Busy week so far ... but a few thoughts.

I have had a pleasant day covering the impact of President Obama's bill to add billions of $$ to service programs like Americorps. Think of it as a domestic Peace Corps where young adults (18-24) can serve a few years at low pay .. but with some college benefits .. while serving their country. Groups like Habitat For Humanity will benefit, and this should be a nice draw for young adults who can't get their lives jump started in this economy.

The backdoor whining from the recall folks is getting extreme .. and ridiculous. Several other journalists say they too are tired of receiving a constant barrage of emails and phone messages with out-of-context facts and challenges to do something about it. Bob Dyer's Monday column took aim at one part of the issue .. but several journalists in town say they too are tired of the personal attacks because the recall folks don't like the stories that are coming out .. or simply don't think the coverage is fast or complete enough.

Another of my colleagues is leaving. Morning Anchor Abby Hamm is returning to her home state of Tennessee as morning anchor at WBIR-TV, our Gannett station in Knoxville, TN. Abby is a great lady with a genuine heart. She's a lot of fun to be around. We didn't get to work together often, but I always enjoyed her company. She and her husband will be closer to their families and that means a lot in this business.

The General Motors summer shutdown is quite scary. The ripple effect of Lordstown shutting down for about nine weeks -- which is rumored -- would impact the entire region. We really need some good economic news.

My colleagues at the Plain Dealer are among those struggling too. As has been reported, the PD is asking the union to take significant cuts and to help trim $5 million from the budget or face more layoffs. I'm told that the cuts include a proposal for a whopping 15% pay cut across the board. That's the largest cut I've heard of any media group to date. Stay tuned.

Twitter is quickly becoming a constant in my daily news-gathering rhythm. It's not so much a way to tell people "hey I'm getting coffee", but it gives me a way to reach out and find contacts for stories on deadline. For example, for my story on families who have recently become homeless, I sent out a "tweet" that I was looking for families willing to talk . .and got responses within an hour. Things just never went this fast in traditional journalism, so computers are helping like never before.

OK .. off to the set .. we have a live audience tonight .. so I'll have to sit up straight during the commercials too :)

Yes .. we were all young once ... the 2000 promo

2009-04-22T08:47:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Frank Macek for resurrecting this gem. Ahh .. the benefits of lasik surgery.

911 call debate misses the point, but is well-intentioned

2009-04-20T18:06:00.004-04:00

Sen. Tom Patton, R-Strongsville, has the right idea .. or, in my opinion, at least the right intention .. but his Senate Bill 105 misses the target and creates more problems than it solves.

His bill aims to prevent Ohio's broadcast outlets, including websites, from airing part or all of 911 calls. TV stations and others that air a call would be subject to a whopping $10,000 fine.

While I haven't spoken with him yet about the bill, print reports indicate that he's trying to protect the callers .. believing that their safety could be in jeopardy if they call in details on a bad guy only to have their name and voice put on the evening news.

It's a good point .. and one that's not lost in my disagreement with the plan.

What's missed is that police departments already have the power to hang on to 911 calls that might fit this category.

What's the harm in airing a 911 call of someone saying "My neighbor's house is on fire!" or someone saying "there's teenagers drag racing on my street!"

As a TV journalist, 911 calls can add drama and story-telling, but I won't try to argue that we couldn't live without them. We certainly can still provide the facts to viewers.

Sometimes, however, the 911 call itself is key part of the story, especially when showing the "customer service" side of dispatchers .. or when doing stories on response times.

So .. my argument is that police already have the ability to control the release of calls that could be problematic .. so why legislate it again? And why the hefty fine at a time when small websites (and TV stations too) are struggling like any other business?

I'm open to debate here .. but on the surface, this seems like a good intention but one that may be unnecessary.

Thoughts?

Mendenhall offers to step down from leadership role in recall effort

2009-04-16T06:48:00.003-04:00

Warner Mendenhall says he'll let someone else lead the campaign and keep the books, at least when it comes to Change Akron Now, the group trying to oust Mayor Don Plusquellic from office.

In a group e-mail sent Wednesday evening, Mendenhall warned of today's ABJ article highlighting his $178K tax lien and promising to have it paid back within 12 months.

Mendenhall penned: "Nevertheless, if the co-chairs of this campaign and its thousands of supporters feel that my roles as spokesperson and treasurer of Change Akron Now is detrimental to the recall effort, I am offering to stop filling those roles."

Knowing the group, I would expect most would still rally around Mendenhall and encourage him to stay in on in both capacities. Who else would want those roles?

Still, it's a second major setback to the group this week. On Monday, a Can email charged that an electrical worker's firing by his private company somehow meant that Plusquellic had allowed new Akron School buildings to be constructed with safety concerns just didn't get any traction .. and the ABJ again followed the bread crumbs that showed it to be a stretch at best.

Copies of the Mendenhall's tax lien were sent out to the media by the pro-Plusquellic folks on Tuesday. Those loyal to the Mayor seem focused on the spin that if you can't believe the messenger (Mendenhall), you can't believe the message (recall).

As the daily darts keep flying, I can hardly wait for what arrives today! (sarcasm)

From the calls and e-mails I'm getting at the newsroom, a great many folks are really sick of this campaign already, and they just want hard facts from both sides to make a decision should this get to the ballot. Others just don't want to see it on the ballot -- period.

I wish I had more time to explore this issue on Channel 3, but we'll discuss it at length this Friday on NewsNight Akron. More will come on Channel 3 in the coming days, but to date, our coverage has only covered the basics because we haven't had the available news crews.

With so much on the line, many Akron folks just want the headlines (and the few journalists left in town) focused on local businesses, schools, and the economy instead of this political pillow fight.

Thoughts?

Live Webchat on Demjanjuk developments

2009-04-14T17:35:00.001-04:00

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Developing Story: Ashford Thompson pleads guilty in cop killer case

2009-04-13T15:21:00.003-04:00

Ashford Thompson has admitted that he pulled the trigger and killed Joshua Miktarian. We'll have full coverage tonight .. but if you'd like a blow-by-blow . .akronnewsnow.com has done a great job .. read here for a the courtroom blog.

Update: I spoke to the Prosecutor's Office and have been told there is NO PLEA DEAL in place .. that Thompson simply plead guilty on his own ... and that the death penalty and other possible penalties are all still in play here.

Back on the news treadmill

2009-04-13T12:16:00.002-04:00

Odds and ends as I return to work from a much-needed break ..

I expect the trial of Ashford Thompson will be quite emotional indeed. The manner in which he shot and killed Twinsburg Police Officer Joshua Miktarian leaves little room to argue anything in his defense. I'm interested to see how defense attorney Eddie Sipplin addresses the court when opening statements begin this afternoon. I'm not sure why a trial happening in downtown Akron requires the ABJ to credit the Plain Dealer for the info included on Ohio.com .. read here. I can only assume that it's because of staff shortages .. but I would think just about anyone in the ABJ's newsroom could have written those four paragraphs from memory.

Browns supposedly close to deals that could send Brady Quinn and/or Braylon Edwards packing, according to cleveland.com. I'd be really surprised to see Quinn go .. but I guess nothing is off the table when it comes to the Browns these days. If that happens today, expect our evening news plans to get turned upside down.

4,200 signatures sounds like a lot and -- providing each name is that of a valid Akron voter -- will be enough to warrant the recall election. We'll have to see if the petitions go unchallenged, but this certainly takes the debate to the next level. I've long since been telling the members seeking the recall that it's not up the media to be the messenger for their campaign to remove Don Plusquellic. If the issue gets on the ballot -- which is more likely now -- then it becomes an issue certain to warrant more media discussion. I did get quite an email from the petition folks complaining that our news cameras weren't there on Friday when the petitions were presented to Akron City Hall. I responded that a) I'm out of the office so contact the news desk directly .. and b) good luck getting television coverage when you choose to file opposite the Cleveland Indians home opener. Let's just say that most groups seeking television news attention know that there are certain days/times to stay away from .. and Opening Day is one of them.

Along that same line of thinking .. I'm amazed at the number of local groups that will leave me a voicemail about their organization's event even though my message states that I am out of town and that they should call the news desk instead. There's nothing like getting a message about a news event that has already happened.

Good to be back .. much more to write about .. more later .. Eric

Gone Fishing .. back in a few days

2009-04-05T21:04:00.003-04:00

Need a few days away from all things journalism .. just to recharge my batteries .. i'll have more to write mid-week .. and promise to get back to writing on a daily basis ..

and again .. I'm sorry to anyone who really got creamed by my April Fool's day blog posting. A good friend of mine stopped me at church today -- four days after the post -- to tell me that she's been going ga-ga ever since hearing about it. Next time I'll add a bunch of extra zingers that make sure it's a no-brainer April Fool's joke.

As always .. thanks for stopping by ..

See ya later this week ...... Eric

Pizza Shop owner fires "shot heard round Akron"

2009-04-01T18:07:00.003-04:00

John Hayes fired the shot, and Patrick Finney took it in the chest.

That much everyone agrees. Now the investigation begins into whether Hayes was justified to open fire when Finney entered the restaurant with a shotgun. Legal folks tell me that Hayes will be cleared and quickly, but it'll be up to the prosecutor as to what happens next.

I actually met Hayes at 10 days ago and he was armed then. Now it feels like foreshadowing

"Your Pizza Shop" had circulated some coupons, and I thought I'd give my business to a newly-reopened neighborhood shop.

My 14-year-old son and I stopped in to pick up the pizzas, and we had a nice conversation with Hayes and two employees, one of them a childhood friend of mine I haven't seen in years. So it was a good experience and the food was good too.

On the way back to our car, my son asked me if I'd noticed the gun on Hayes' hip. I had not, but I told my son that beyond his keen attention to detail, he'd probably just witnessed a neighborhood business owner who knows that he needs to protect himself. I also told my son that I assumed the owner had a concealed carry license and was hoping that by making it clear to customers that he was armed.

Maybe would-be bad guys would get the message and stay away.

Obviously, that didn't happen.

Thoughts?

April Fool's: No big concert .. just big laughs!

2009-04-01T09:31:00.003-04:00

After only a few hours, I can't let it go much longer ...

As most of you figured out quickly, my blog post about the big Clapton/Zeppelin concert is an April Fool's joke.

There's no concert at the new U of A stadium ... and as far as I know, Led Zeppelin and Clapton won't be passing through any time soon.

Still .. it was a fun few hours as Matt Patrick and Krissi Taylor picked up on my prank and had some fun with the WKDD morning drive. Their listeners (most anyway) saw through the April Fool's prank right away.

Last year (check the archives), I posted a similar prank about a giant aquarium coming to downtown Akron complete with Shamu and a Disney hotel. Some folks called the Beacon Journal and the University of Akron just to be sure.

My point today -- beyond just having fun on April 1st --is to illustrate how easy it is to portray fiction as news. Just add a headline and a few photos , and a great many people buy into the story immediately.

Remember how War of the Worlds came about?

Now .. I know that my role as a journalist gives more weight to a story like this .. so I don't take my blog posts or stories lightly. I would never do something like this if it wasn't April Fool's day.

I teased the made-up blog via social media (Facebook, Twittter) this morning .. which also generated a great many "not-gonna-get-fooled" emails and responses .. but a few friends (Nadine!!!) got suckered. My sister-in-law called me immediately and said "I don't believe a word of it" before I even got to say hello.

Unfortunately, our station's twitter feed picked up just the headline as a new item and mass blasted it this morning ... but when I found out, I pulled it down .. although had anyone clicked on the link, they would have come to my blog and then decided for themselves on its validity. Other news organizations also sent a few April Fool's "tweets" today.

My friend Chris Hyser has his own take on his blog .. and thinks jokes with media involvement can go too far.

Still ... whether you like my April Fool's prank or not .. .ask yourself how many times you take a headline or quick broadcast sentence as fact? How many times you've bought in to an email only to realize later it's bogus? How many times you've almost gotten taken by a scam?

Scary .. isn't it ..

Clapton, Zeppelin to open University of Akron stadium with a bang!

2009-03-31T17:35:00.005-04:00

Let me be the first to utter phrase "Zeppelin in Zipville" although I'm sure others will make a humorous comparisons about Zeppelin taking on a blimp.

The announcement is coming early next week, but I've learned that rock legends Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin will christen Akron's new football stadium with back-to-back concerts on Sept. 11th and 12th. The two icons of Rock are making Akron the second stop on their "Better off Dead" tour .. which looks to be a blockbuster in the world of music.

Clapton's Friday night show will be followed by the Akron Zips home opener Saturday afternoon .. and then Led Zeppelin's performance later on Saturday night.

A separate ticket is needed for each event, but package deals are in the works.

The announcement has been kept hush-hush this week so as not to take anything away from the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame's induction week ceremonies.

If you want to know whom to thank, look no further than Matt Patrick. Akron's radio king reportedly played pool with Plant some years ago, and invited him to come to Akron and play a gig.

Plant said he'd only come if Akron had at least 30-thousand seats to sell .. so when the U of A got its new stadium in place, Patrick called Plant telling him to pay up.

No word yet on opening groups, but it would be a lock to have Akron's Chrissie Hynde take part in some way.

Most of the other details are being withheld, although I understand Bob Dyer has the exclusive coming up Sunday in the Akron Beacon Journal. He's sure to come up with some better humor than mine.

Remember you heard it here first! On with the show!

Vintage TV23

2009-03-30T18:02:00.010-04:00

Mark Williamson uploaded this to Facebook, where it's getting a lot of great play. I first saw it when Jim Kaimbrich was saying goodbye to the Akron news scene, and for those who had the chance to work with these two at WAKC, you'll enjoy it.

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LeBron on 60 minutes this Sunday!

2009-03-26T14:19:00.001-04:00

It was only a matter of time. You'll recognize the background as St. Vincent-St. Mary's gym. The teaser is pretty good ..

Watch CBS Videos Online

Carole and Monica .. two of the best!

2009-03-25T16:31:00.002-04:00

I'm sad to say goodbye to Carole Sullivan, a great friend and colleague, who is leaving next week to follow her husband to San Diego. (Mike Sullivan left the Browns for an assistant coaching position with the Chargers)

I felt like Carole and I were really finding a "groove" in our on air roles as an anchor team .. so it's tough to let her go. More importantly, this is the bet move for Carole and her family .. so I wish her the best. I'll really miss our afternoon chats .. and how many laughs we had in the makeup area before the shows. Plus, if only the viewers could have seen how many times Carole spilled her makeup on the floor during the news each night .. hilarious!

The good news for me is that Monica Robins will take over the seat next to me beginning April 6th. Monica is as good as it gets in this business. She's a great writer and journalist .. and really knows how to tell a compelling story. Her medical stories are among the best work our station has done in years.

Monica and I have worked together for more than 10 years .. and we've actually anchored together more than Carole and me. We've always gotten along great .. and I'm really looking forward to teaming with her every night.

Monica and I are quite similar in our demeanor .. both serious journalists who wise-crack with sarcasm .. so we'll have to push one another to "lighten up" on the air. If you didn't already know it, Monica is dynamic singer ... who could walk away with American Idol if she wanted to .. so I suppose I could bring my acoustic guitar to work and we could put on a show if the news runs short some night (kidding).

I'll soon be moving my desk .. from my spot next to Carole .. to an open desk next to Monica .. so that we can work together on the 7 p.m. broadcast. The computer folks here at the station tell me that the new work station isn't wired for the work I need to do ... but .. once they go home, I have a feeling I can find a "creative" solution to those wires .. stay tuned!

The "New Homeless" aren't on street corners, so were are they?

2009-03-24T12:25:00.003-04:00

I'm beginning a new series of stories I'm dubbing "The New Homeless".

I'm looking to feature families that have lost their homes and are now living in relatives' homes, shelters, their cars, churches, etc ... wherever they now hang their hats.

Seems everyone is chattering things like "I hear people are living in tents now .." or "Some guy and his kids are now living in a car ..." but where are these people? And who are they? And is this really happening in our area? How do we know they all didn't just take jobs out of state and move?

If you .. or a family or person you know .. fit the description of "The New Homeless" ... let me know .. and if enough people are willing to share their stories, I think we'll be able to put a real face on this issue ... instead of just another map of foreclosed homes or a list of job losses.

Drop me an e-mail ... ericmansfield@wkyc.com

Hoping you can help .. Eric

News organizations struggling with Donte Stallworth revelation

2009-03-19T14:39:00.002-04:00

Right now .. new organizations across NE Ohio, including our news leaders here at WKYC, are struggling and discussing how to handle a story that broke a few hours ago in Miami. News organizations there are quoting unidentified sources that Donte Stallworth was over the legal limit when he hit and killed a pedestrian.

Other organizations .. including Ohio.com .. have now picked up the story, which includes a reference to "unconfirmed reports".

The Miami Herald's story seems to have the most attribution (and home video of Stallworth taking a sobriety test) but still can't attach the blood-alcohol tests to a person.

No attribution = no story. At least, that's the way it used to be.

Police might confirm more in the coming hours, but as of this writing, it seems the race-to-be-first is beating the race-to-be-right .. and I guess I'm just as bad for writing it myself .. although a blog generates more latitude and I'm trying to generate discussion here.

Your thoughts?

Tom Haley's words still ring to me today

2009-03-17T15:04:00.004-04:00

Tom Haley passed away this morning after a two-week bout with pneumonia. Tom was 88.

Viewers will remember Tom from his long run with Del Donahoo as a morning show team in the 80's and early 90's .. long before early morning news programs became all the rage. My grandmother, Jeanne Mansfield, never missed a show.

Here's a look back from our 50th anniversary show .. a few years ago.

Tom was one of the first people I met at TV3. I was pretty young, just 25, and pretty overwhelmed to be working for a big station. When you're new at this business, you watch and re-watch every liveshot and pick yourself apart looking at the good and bad .. looking to improve .. and over-analyzing everything.

Tom saw me one time looking at last night's liveshot and shaking my head because I had stumbled. I'll never forget that he leaned down and said softly, "don't worry about it kid. Viewers like it when you mess up because it makes you appear human."

To this day .. I still hear Tom Haley's words when I have a big flub on the air. It helps me shake off a mistake and keep on trucking.

I had opportunity to fill in for Del a few times .. and sit in on the morning fun with Tom. He was a riot. He really had a wit that was engaging, and he would have so much fun reading the prices of the morning commodities .. like bacon and eggs. For a serious news guy like me, it was a great eye-opening experience to just sit there and relax and help the viewers wake up.

Tom would always tell me about his seven daughters, and he'd ask me how my kids were growing. He was always very genuine and caring.

I haven't seen Tom in a few years ... with my busy career and Tom enjoying retirement, we just hadn't crossed paths. I'd hear every now and then that Tom had stopped in. Thinking back, there were times I saw Tom at the station Christmas party. He always had a smile and was always curious at how the business was progressing since he'd left.

Now .. we're missing him .. and I'm realizing that I missed out on catching up with him.

Tom .. thanks for making a great impression .. and for being genuine ... I miss you already.

Odds and ends on a Monday

2009-03-16T11:49:00.009-04:00

Last week's "Project AED" series really ate me up .. and didn't allow much time to write .. but here's a few things I'm hearing and/or observing.

The All-American Soap Box Derby is having serious financial problems -- again. I'm told that the traditional post-race awards ceremony is being moved from EJ Thomas Hall to the Soap Box Derby track. EJ charged the derby $13K for the venue last year. EJ had been a great way to end the event for the hundreds of families and racers who spent the entire week (and a lot of money too) in Akron. Now, that's changing. I'm told that this year's AASBD awards will be held right on the track with parents sitting in the stands -- the same place they will have just spent hours in the sun watching racing all day. I realize it's the reality when it comes to the finances of today, but do we really want hundreds of families leaving Akron with their final impression being one of sitting on the bleachers in the sun .. instead of a nice, air-conditioned venue? The lack of a major national sponsor gets much of the blame, but the reality is that each year we get closer to losing the race, which brings millions of $$ to town.

Both sides of the Akron Mayoral recall effort are really starting to get on my last nerve. Each has a website and a Facebook presence, and each is sending out daily notes about their campaigns. I can only imagine how much stronger this will get as the weeks progress, especially if it does indeed make it to the ballot. On Friday's edition of NewsNight Akron, I predicted both sides will turn on the media before this ever gets to election day. I suspect each side will accuse the media of not digging in to the other side to get the real story. Call it a hunch.

It figures that the U of A makes the "big dance" the spring after the Akron-Canton News goes off the air. Just my luck.

I can't believe how many phone calls and emails I've received from AED manufactures and distributors following last week's series. Many began their correspondence offering support and tips, but most eventually came around to trying to position themselves to be interviewed or quoted for the series. I know there's a business side of AEDs, but it just wasn't our focus with this series.

Last week's long lines at a job fair in Independence was quite a sight. There may have been as many as 1,000 people .. many standing in the rain .. just to get a soggy resume into the hands of folks who already had a stack of them. Very tough looks on many of the job hunters' faces. I saw some job seekers spread out on the floor writing their name on applications. Employers were hardly impressed. I saw others who were turning on the charm -- even after a depressing hour in the rain -- to make sure they made the best impression possible. But to be honest, there's nothing that makes a person more appreciative of their employment than seeing others out of work.

Yesterday's ABJ sports page photo of the Zips clinching victory was a poor choice. Rather that put up a color photo of the team with the trophy or a player celebrating their first MAC title (pictures that were included inside the section in black-and-white), the ABJ gave us a color photo of a Brent McKnight reaching his hand up in the air looking out of control as he puts up a shot. Don't the sports folks realize that these are the types of sections that readers save for history? The kind students and faculty like to frame on their walls? Their on-line gallery of photos is great .. with a great many better photos from which to choose.

Project AED checks status of defibrillators across NE Ohio

2009-03-12T10:49:00.004-04:00

I'm very proud that Project AED is kicking off today as our newsroom takes a critical look at where these life-saving devices really are.

Here's a preview of our project's goal:

I'll write more later, but for now, if you've ever wanted to see how easy it is to save a life, this video is for you:

140+ let go at Akron General

2009-03-10T14:13:00.005-04:00

Akron General let go of more than two percent of its work force today. I'm already getting emails and calls from stunned employees who are out of work.

Did you see this coming?

Here's an excerpt from one employee who kept a job but says staffers are calling it "Bloody Friday" even though it's Tuesday:

"Everyone is shocked, worried, and scared. We heard it was going to happen, but thought they were rumors because the date kept changing. It's not all at once. They are calling in one by one. The rumor was only part time and on call positions, but full-time employees are being laid off too.
They shut down Pastoral care and diabetes center. I've run across people laid off in housekeeping, dietary, dietitians, and maintenance too.
They are passing out papers to employees who didn't lose their job. It says: 'Unfortunately, we have come to a point where we have no choice but to reduce our staff. Today, directors and supervisors will be meeting with 142 of our employees to let them know that they will be laid off. All these employees will receive priority rehiring throughout the Akron General Health systems as opp. become avail.... more information at our upcoming town hall meeting sched to start the week of March 16th. any question please contact H.R. at 330-344-1891'
Employees who lost their job are given blue papers and sent to H.R."

Romona Robinson shares why she loves what she does

2009-03-08T22:29:00.001-04:00

Hope you had a chance to see today's article about Romona Robinson in the PD. If not, you can read it here.

The interviews were done a few weeks ago, and I wasn't sure when the article would actually reach print.

I can tell you this much, Romona is quite focused every night on preparing for the broadcast. We've had several heart-to-heart talks about the tough stories before they make air, and I really hope viewers "get" how much the rough stories -- like last week's mass shooting -- really impact those who cover the news, to include the anchor who must deliver it.

The PD put some of the interview on video, although the newsroom is sure to give reporter Mike O'Mara grief because he's in so many of the photos :)

Channel 3's anchor Romona Robinson goes solo on evening news

Mass shooting in Cleveland challenges the senses .. and the vocabulary

2009-03-06T11:25:00.006-05:00

Standing on West 89th Street last night in Cleveland, I really struggled to find the right words to describe it. To describe the emotion of the moment while wrapping the facts so that viewers understood the bottom line -- a manhunt was underway for a killer.

Journalists, especially broadcast journalists, use words like "tragic", "brutal", and "horrific" so often that when a story with six people shot, including murdered children, words like those don't seem to strong enough.

What I saw and felt were two extremes. Complete silence in some parts of the neighborhood where residents, relatives, and first responders all seemed to be coping with the initial shock of a family disaster. Meanwhile, other pockets of the street were painful as a new relative or close friends showed up every few minutes .. and then began to wail .. all of it right in front of the mob of media.

What's O.K. to record? What's not? What's legally O.K. to record but ethically a no-non? Is it ever O.K. to hit the red button on someone's devastation?

I had several flashbacks while I was out there last night .. both to my time in the war ... and to my own brother's murder in 1984. The feeling of a warm night, mass tension, helicopters circling, and the constant presence of heavily-armed warriors -- in this case police officers -- who were focused on a mission took me right back to the desert. Meanwhile, the pain and shock that relatives and friends were enduring standing in a dark street .. while surrounded by on-lookers, neighbors, and reporters ... certainly had me contrasting this night with the relatives, friends, and neighbors who stood outside a North Akron house in 1984 as the police and coroner handled the shooting that claimed my brother.

As the scene developed last night, a fellow journalist told me that he "hoped that bastard gets what's coming to him" when talking about Devon Crawford, the suspect who was now on the run. Many of us who were there last night have children, so to cover an event where the loss of life includes kids affects us. It should affect us, shouldn't it?

Just before my 11 p.m. liveshot, a man approached me to ask if I knew the names of the victims. He said that he had just heard about Crawford being on the run and that Crawford had recently married his daughter. He must have thought I was a detective (in my long black coat and tie, I'm often confused for a detective at crime scenes) and he thought I'd have the info. I told him he probably needed to head down the street to the officers to get the info he needed. About 45 minutes later, he came back and told us that his daughter and grandchildren were dead and that he was headed to the hospital for a grandson who survived. He was calm and composed .. still very not believing that this was real.

So .. weighing it all .. my mind raced. How do I find the words for a TV liveshot? How do I find the right way to explain to the viewers what's happened. Do I begin with the death toll? or the manhunt? Do I focus on details about the victims? or the suspect?

A few minutes before ER ended on NBC, I really didn't know what I was going to say when Romona tossed out to me to start the 11 p.m. broadcast. I had a few bullet points of the basic facts, but phrasing it was a whole different challenge. Our two-minute segment went well, but I probably couldn't do it again if I tried -- at least not in the same way.

And when the 11 p.m. news ended ... and I'd done my job .. I wish I could tell you that I felt some level of satisfaction, because I didn't. I just felt numb. I guess the one thing I've learned in this business is that no matter how good or bad of a job I do in telling a one-night story like this, someone else is beginning the lifetime journey of making sense of this overwhelming loss.

Local veteran, wife need help getting jobs .. can you help this Marine or our other new veterans?

2009-03-03T19:47:00.002-05:00

First Energy layoffs top 300 .. 250 others "reassigned" ..

2009-03-03T17:27:00.003-05:00

The official word from First Energy is 335, and about half of those jobs are in Akron.

That hurts. Those are real families with real needs, and it's not like there's jobs waiting here in town for them.

Those who are "safe" aren't necessarily feeling that way. Relieved? Probably. Not safe.

A source tells me that 250+ others have been "reassigned" with no relocation or pay cut. Another 25 were given "offers" that include a pay cut and/or reassignment ... which could lead to severance.

I'm told that FE didn't waste time getting right to the point with each employee so they knew where they stood. By mid-morning, conference calls were in play across the company so everyone knew the score.

As one employee told me, "it was definitely more humane than what happened at the PD."

Question is .. is FE done? What is it that didn't happen in the economy that felt it needed cuts like these? Are people not paying their electric bills? Using less power?

Thoughts?

First Energy Layoffs could top 1,000

2009-03-03T14:47:00.002-05:00

We should know more in the next two hours as to how bloody it's gotten at First Energy.

Today was rumored to be "black Tuesday" with major layoffs coming, and that appears to have happened.

One worker tells me that 156 employees have been let go in the Energy and Delivery sector. Not sure how many of those jobs are local.

Others tell me that the company line seems to be a 10 percent cut across the board, which would mean about 1,400 employees being let go, but none is confirmed yet. Another told me that the layoffs might be capped in the "low hundreds."

Again, nothing announced publicly yet.

Last week, a company spokesman would only confirm that a restructuring was underway and that employees "would be the first to know." That was last week .. leaving employees to have a great many sleepless nights over the weekend.

This morning, a FE spokeswoman told AkronNewsNow that a formal release is due out later today with all of the specifics.

It just hurts so much to even write that another major employer is cutting a significant amount of jobs.

Stay tuned.

First Energy layoffs coming next week ..

2009-02-26T20:07:00.003-05:00

I'm hearing from First Energy employees in Akron that an internal "employee update" memo was distributed today telling staffers that pink slips are coming Tuesday.

I'm told the memo indicates that affected staffers will be told in person and will then be taken to HR for out processing and severance discussions.

Rumors of FE layoffs have been swirling for some time, but no one knows how many will be let go or from which departments.

Ironically, FE's most recent assessment indicates a 24% rise in fourth quarter net income. Read it here.

I talked with a company spokesman at home. He tells me that the company is going through a reorganization and that any changes will be shared with employees first. He also said that the hope is that job reductions can be made through attrition, but he couldn't discuss the memo or any of the job cuts.

I've run out of ways to spin the economy cutbacks these days. So many families are struggling that it's tough just to hear that more layoffs are coming, but they are.

Mayor Plusquellic's State of the City speech low on bombshells, big on accomplishments

2009-02-24T13:55:00.005-05:00

11:45 a.m. The room is packed like an Acme grocery bag. I can't believe the Fire Marshall would approve of this. The Mayor is working the front of the room and seems geared up for this, as he always is.
11:50 a.m. The media is lining the back row of seats in the giant ballroom. There is no room for anyone. Jody Miller just came up to join us and I offered her a chance to share part of my seat. Maybe we could do a ventriloquist routine. Next year they should put the media in a room off the hallway so there's room to write, blog, and cover this event. As it is, with no WI-FI, nothing will reach the net until well after the event.
11:53 a.m.Deputy Mayor Dave Leiberth just handed out copies of the speech. I kidded Beacon Journal reporter Stephanie Warsmith that I hear the Mayor plans to take over the paper this year. Although, after last year's sewer idea, nothing is off the table as to surprises anyway.
12:00 High noon and it still feels more like a Final Four kick-off party than a big political speech. Steve Hoffman just found out that his own name is in the speech. He's getting a good chuckle. I still haven't read that far to see it yet. Pastor Knute Larson from the Chapel is nearby. He and Jody Miller are chatting about an interview for NewsNight Akron before Larson retires in the spring. Jody's probably going to put it together to run on Good Friday.
12:04 p.m.OK .. we're getting started now. Rick Farkas of the Akron Rotary Club is introducing the Mayor.
12:08 pm.Plusquellic has now taken the podium. His speech is 13 pages in length. He just opened with a nice joke that half of the folks who came to hear him "talk about a crazy idea" would be disappointed. He referenced folks watching in the cabaret,which might be a good place for the media to be next year instead of this back row with few places to sit and no place to work.
12:10 p.m.I see on page four that Plusquellic will talk about the city getting $14 million for transportation projects, and $40 million total for local projects. He just talked about how thousands of Akron residents are struggling with the tough economy.
12;11 p.m.His biggest opening theme centers on Akron's "All-America City" Award and the pieces/parts that went into it.
12:12 p.m.At some point, he'll get to $10 million coming to Akron to help secure foreclosed and beat up homes. This will support his announcement late last year of an initiative where the city takes extra steps to help families in crisis.
12:13 p.m.A freebie! DP pointed out a white envelope on each table with special COA pins for everyone to wear. He's wearing one already.
12:15 p.m. As the Mayor recognizes council members in attendance, I see that he'll be taking a direct aim at his critics in a few minutes. He says that downtown employment has doubled to 31,000 over the last 13 years. I've heard that number before and it's an eye opener. I don't think most folks realize that there are that many downtown employees. That growth has led to a 251% increase in income tax downtown, which pays for 137 police officers. Always good to quantify dollars in how they're really spent.
12:18 p.m. Don just mentioned Mellissa Barnhart. Called her "an important person in my life." I didn't expect that. While she is well known as Don's close friend, he mentioned her along with recognizing his family. Now, the family recognition is written into the speech, but Melissa's mention was not. I'm sure talk radio will say that it's a hint that Don and Melissa must be planning a future together. Guess I'll leave it at that.
12:20 p.m. Back on to the written speech now .. and DP just mentioned that "nothing focuses your attention like your 60th birthday" .. which will come later this year. He's using it to springboard to his energy to deal with bigger problems for cities like Akron .. and is discussing his many Washington projects and assignments.
12:22 p.m. While railing on the Homeland Security issues, I see on page five that the Mayor will soon talk about a recent decision to halt overtime unless in emergency situations. He's also canceling the annual City Picnic because of the tough economy. That's probably an excellent idea with the community watching every dime the city spends right now.
12:24 p.m. DP is now on to neighborhood stabilization, community block programs, and transportation dollars .. all good stuff. I see that on page 6 he'll take aim at many in the area who he sees as not wanting to change. He also plans to quote Loretta Lynn saying "everyone wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die." Good quote, but I find it hard to see DP listening to country music, let alone LL. Then again, I don't doubt it either.
12;26 p.m. He's talking about running for public service now and how he never thought he'd be Mayor. That's a thought that he typically weaves into his bigger speeches (as memory serves) and how it took a long time for him to give in to take part in some of these bigger national committees. (Nice applause)
12:27 p.m. That's three swipes as local talk radio so far... but who's counting?
12:29 p.m. Ahhh h.. page 7. He's going to take aim at the folks who shot down Issue 8, Sewers for Scholarships, last fall .. and play off his election night quote by saying there's a "special place in HEAVEN" for those who worked hard on the project. Steve Hoffman's name is in there. Nice to see DP say that a journalist did a good job. You won't hear that very often. He's still quite agitated at the folks whom he believes misled voters to say "no" to the idea, and from what I saw at the polls, he has a valid point. Certainly there were issues with the plan, but voters shouldn't have been given bogus info before casting a ballot.
12:30 p.m. OK .. he's now on the overtime issues that I referenced above. So I guess I'm about three pages ahead of him.
12:32 p.m. DP is talking about community learning centers and ensuring kids have enough college for that. A bit later he'll recognize Craig Gilbride for accepting the opportunity to be interim Police Chief. The Mayor's relationship with APD is always up for discussion around town. Some think it's strained while others say it's a very open, supportive role. It's no secret that DP had issues with the previous police chief and the union leadership, but I've never once heard him bad mouth or criticize an APD officer, even when the issue up for discussion isn't positive. In 17 years of covering his speeches and events ..and hearing him speak candidly when the cameras are off, and he just doesn't rip the community organizations like some might think. He's certainly challenge the leaders and those leaders will challenge him, but just as an aside, those who say DP is anti-cop or anti-this or that .. are misled.
12:34 p.m. DP just did a good rendition on change .. and did some hand gestures of driving a "smart car." That may be the best soundbite for tonight's TV broadcast. Animated and concise. I'll make a mental note to find that one. He said it just before referencing Loretta Lynn.
12:39 p.m. The "Special place in heaven" comment just got a nice laugh.
12:40 p.m. He's in a long stretch of touting positive organizations. Peacemakers and other community groups. I see that on page 10 he'll be talking about his strong relationship with County Executive Russ Pry and getting city and county organizations to work together, something that probably gets criticized more than it should, especially in this economy.
12:42 p.m. On Page 11 .. he'll talk about the junk cars program that he pitched a year ago .. and share numbers when it comes to how many properties have been cleaned up. He'll also be talking about Bridgestone-Firestone's decision to stay in Akron and keep 1,000 jobs in town.
12:43 p.m. DP is now honoring two Akron Police Officers who disarmed a gunman who planned to rob some drug dealers.He's asking for a nice round of applause for them as an example of the strength of the department.
12:44 p.m. Don's now talking about how folks have a misconception of his relationship with APD. He must have read my blog post above .. lol.
12:46 p.m. He just showed a picture of the first motorized police wagon in the country, which was unveiled here in Akron.Nice joke there.
12:47 p.m. Later, DP will talk about the new BioInnovation Institute and the Knight Center for Digital Excellence, which is set to provide wi-fi to most of the city. Wish it were done right now so I could post this blog in real time. lol
12:49 p.m. I just joked with Jody Miller that the last paragraph of the entire speech promises a grocery store for Highland Square in 2009. Although, that promise is followed by "I can't guarantee that." Stay tuned for how that goes over.He mentions that the city is actively seeking the right developer to make the project work.
12:51 p.m. He's now discussing a plan to transfer Akron's drug officers to the operational command of the Summit County Drug Task Force. This would seem to be a good plan as the two organizations already work together on drug operations. DP prefaced this by talking about Sheriff Drew Alexander, whom DP called a "good friend."
12:53 p.m. He's in the middle of page 10 .. and looks like he might actually finish by 1 p.m . I didn't think it was possible, but he's coming in "on time."
12:54 p.m. He's talking now about plans to work with the county and others to help with health care for the poor, at least until some type of "national health care" plan becomes a reality.
12:56 p.m. Oh .. so I don't forget to say it later .. there was a one-man protest out on Market Street. A single person standing in the cold with two signs. Gotta give him credit for his dedication if nothing else on such a cold day. One sign criticized the mayor for the current lawsuit from the EPA that critics (Warner Mendenhall) say puts the COA on the hook for more than $100 million in fines for problems with the sewer system. City hall says the EPA is off base and that the courts will agree down the road.
12:58 p.m. I see the folks running the prompter for today's speech. They're doing well to make sure they stop when he gets off topic .. but without moving too slow for his speaking pace. DP has often kidded me about how easy of a job I must have because all I have to do is read a prompter. Ha. I'd love to see him give it a whirl while a director or producer whispers in his ear .. and while the clock is ticking on each story to finish on-time .. not early or late. Maybe he'd agree to swap jobs with me for a day. Now THAT could be fun. I'm sure he would turn our newsroom upside down .. and I'm sure the vastness of city hall responsibilities would wow me too. Still it would be an entertaining challenge.
1 p.m. DP's still talking .. but almost done. He's running over just a tad for folks who need to get back to work .. but for the most part, he's much closer to finishing "on time" than I anticipated.
1:02 p.m. He's hoping that since the Stimulus Package includes $7 billion for broadband, Akron can be first in line for grants expand the Knight Foundation's city wi-fi plans .. and ad-libbing that "folks in Goodyear Heights and Ellet" won't feel left out.
1:03 p.m. OK .. he's reached the last page of the speech .. and his showing a state map of where patents come from. He says that Akron leads the state in new patents.
1:05 p.m. He's praising the Obama administration now as understanding that "American cities are the engines of growth and commerce for the whole country."
1:06 p.m. OK .. he just rephrased the grocery store comment from the script. Just a bit. Now he's ad libbing that maybe we could build a store with an entrance on Market Street and parking on the roof.
1:07 p.m. Now he's taking aim at Warner Mendenhall and the recall effort. Now .. this isn't in the written script given to the press. But I can see that it IS in the prompter. He's telling the audience a recall election could cost the city up to$175,000 dollars. He says folks consider the recall a joke, but that the city can't accept it as a joke. )I see a handful of folks leaving because it's after 1 p.m.) Now he's going after Mendenhall and referencing the ABJ calling him a man of "puny accomplishments." Now he's saying the he may be in the "fight of his life." He's showing more passion here than in any other part of the speech. He's trying to fire up the crowd with his passion for the city and accomplishments.

1:10 p.m. Standing ovation and thanks .. on to Q&A.

1:15 p.m. I just realized that the speech was being beamed into the Tangier cabaret .. so I could have watched the speech in there and had a lot more room to sit and write. Ugh .. my bad .. guess I should have looked first.

Summit Deputies taser inmate with mental health issues; suspect in ICU

2009-02-23T11:22:00.005-05:00

The broadcast expression "it's happened again" is probably too harsh for this case, but it's probably the best fit that comes to mind.

Summit Deputies tasered an inmate Saturday night less than an hour before the man would have been sent to a mental health facility for more treatment. When the inmate's heart stopped, the deputies resuscitated him using an AED; he's now in ICU at Akron General.

The suspect, 21-year-old Gregory Dillard, had been locked up since Feb. 16 when Akron Police busted him on a drug charge. Dillard has a long rap sheet with 11 previous visits to the jail.

A spokeswoman tells me that Dillard "was naked and jumping on his bed" and that deputies opened his cell door to give him new clothes. That's when Dillard attacked and was tazed, she said. Earlier in this most recent jail stay, Dillard was out of control and had to be placed in a four-point restraints until he agreed to take his medication.

While the incident is under investigation, the whole ordeal brings up a new call for help when it comes to dealing with those with mental health issues. All of the facts still need to come out, but on the surface I think it's fair to ask .. Where are the programs for the folks? What are deputies supposed to do in these cases?

Many will immediately recall the case of Mark McCullough, another man with mental health issues who died in the jail after being beaten and restrained by deputies. The officers were later found not guilty or had their charged dropped in court.

The entire incident screamed for an assessment of how we as a community are taking care of mental health cases and whether the jail is the best place for these folks to continue to be held.

I don't have the answer, but it does seem that something needs to change here.

What News Anchor do during commercials

2009-02-18T15:13:00.003-05:00

I just got this in a forwarded email .. unreal.

I doubt Carole and I could top this .. probably because we spend more time writing and researching than preparing our dance routines .. but you gotta admit, this is pretty darn entertaining.

As for what really happens during our commercial breaks at WKYC, it differs from day to day. Some days, we tell jokes .. and other days we discuss the stories that we just read or are coming up next. Often, in the commercial break between weather and sports, we have some good laughs with Betsy and Jim. Sometimes, I'm laughing so hard that I'm fearful I'll be in tears when we come back live.

Odds and ends as I play catch up

2009-02-18T08:52:00.003-05:00

Going "around the horn" as they say in baseball ..

Looks like a well-known name in college football is coming to the Zips. Walt Harris --former Head Coach at Pitt and Stanford -- is expected to join J.D. Brookhart's staff. Ohio.com and others reported it last night. What's frustrating is that I found out about it on Monday, but the U of A wouldn't confirm it to our sports staff. Maybe it wasn't a done deal yet, but it's still frustrating. Brookhart would have worked with Harris during his stint with the Panthers.

Connie Schultz has a great column in today's paper. It's an area where the journalist and soldier sides of me have clashed, and I think she hits the idea squarely. Our journalists should be able to see the caskets of our fallen troops returning from war zones. I don't think it's an invasion of privacy, and I believe that our media can do cover it tastefully. I've lost soldiers that I knew in the war, and I know this is a touchy subject, but it's time that any ban for our journalists is lifted.

A friend tells me there's been a rash of cars stolen from gas stations and pizza joints because drivers have been leaving their cars idling trying to keep their interiors warm. So be warned.

Today's news that Goodyear is laying off 5,000 more jobs this is hard to even stomach. Wingfoot already let 4,000 go last year. We need more details -- specifically how many jobs will be local ones -- but this is tough to take.

More later ..

Who makes what at Akron City Hall ..

2009-02-13T14:23:00.004-05:00

It's Friday .. and everyone in the newsroom is quite busy as we localize the Buffalo plane crash and prepare other stories as well for tonight's broadcast.

So .. as something completely new on this Friday afternoon ... I offer to you a look at where your money goes at Akron City Hall.

I'm offering no initial insight .. just data. Would love your comments as to whether these salaries are in line for what you thought our civic leaders earned and how you would modify them.

CITY OF AKRON, OHIO
PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 4, 2009
SCHEDULE OF COMPENSATION RATES UNCLASSIFIED
ADMINISTRATION MAXIMUM

Mayor's Office
Mayor
$ 146,432.00

Deputy Mayor/Economic Development
$ 121,056.00

Deputy Mayor for Administration
$ 121,056.00

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety
$ 110,676.80

Deputy Mayor/Labor Relations
$ 100,796.80

Deputy Mayor/Intergovernmental Relations
$ 91,291.20

Assistants to the Mayor
$ 121,056.00

Equal Employment Opportunity Officer
$ 75,358.40

Secretaries to the Mayor
$ 41,849.60

DEPARTMENT OF LAW
Director of Law
$ 121,056.00

Deputy Director of Law
$ 110,676.80

Assistant Directors of Law
$ 106,350.40

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE
Director of Public Service
$ 121,056.00

Deputy Directors of Public Service
$ 100,796.80

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
Director of Finance
$ 121,056.00

Deputy Director of Finance
$ 110,676.80

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Director of Planning & Urban Development
$ 121,056.00

Deputy Director of Planning & Urban Development
$ 110,676.80

COUNCIL
President
$ 41,017.60

Council Members
$ 31,886.40

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Civil Service Commissioners
$ 4,395.60

Akron Police shooting callers should be ashamed

2009-02-11T17:58:00.003-05:00

If you've been following the developments into Tuesday's shooting on Madison Avenue, then you know that an altercation occurred between an Akron Police Officer and a man suspected of tampering with vehicles. In the end, the officer fired a single shot and hit the 25-year-old suspect, who went to surgery and survived.

Those are the basic facts.

So why .. why .. why did people call our newsroom telling us that we "had to hurry because Akron Police just shot and killed a 14-year-old boy" and "there's a body still out there in the street"?

Those calls certainly made us drive faster to the scene as it sounded like the case was much more severe than we first heard.

When I arrived on scene, some of the first people who approached me recited the same story about the dead teen. Others told me that the boy had been the victim of a second shooting .. that something had happened during the canvass after the initial shooting and that police had shot a second person, in this case a teen, and killed him.

Unreal.

After about 30 minutes on scene, a woman came up to a Channel 3 videographer and me .. and began telling us that we needed to shift our camera to get video of the dead teen's body around the corner. When we told her that it wasn't true, that the man who was shot was in his 20's and that he was alive at the hospital, she looked at us like we were withholding information.

I know that rumors can float around a crime scene, and sometimes those folks like to push that info to the reporters on scene.

But in this case, I'm convinced that most of the folks who said these things were hoping that I would run them on the air as breaking news and make a bad situation worse. Some clearly have agendas when it comes to their view of police.

Akron's Police Auditor, Phil Young, was on scene. I didn't get a chance to chat with him, but he was out there doing his job. Plenty of APD supervisors were there too. So why don't we let the investigation tell us what happened without trying to stir up more tension with a bogus story?

Again .. rumors are natural and mistakes with rumors can happen. But for those who knowingly spread false information about something that's this serious, you should be ashamed.

Akron's Superintendent says a high school may close

2009-02-10T18:33:00.002-05:00

Akron Superintendent David James taped an interview with Carole Sullivan and me a short time ago .. and in the end of the interview, I asked him if more buildings could be closed and if a high school could be part of the cuts. He said that yes more building closures and/or consolidations are on the way ... and as for a high school closing, he said it's a "possibility."

See the entire interiew tonight at 7 ..

More later .. Eric

Akron Schools to close five buildings in major shakeup

2009-02-09T20:27:00.004-05:00

I wasn't there, but I'm told there was a very serious tone at Monday night's Akron School Board meeting. When you vote to close five schools, serious is appropriate to say the least.

The casualties:

Goodrich Middle School
Reidinger Middle School
Lincoln Elementary School
Erie Island Elementary School
Stewart Elementary School

While students in the first four schools will be displaced to other buildings, students at Stewart Elementary will move as a unit to the new Crouse Elementary School and share the building. In short, two elementary school communities operating under one roof.

We knew this day was coming as David James said last week at his State-of-the-Schools speech that the district needed to "downsize" as there are only 23,800 students currently enrolled.

I heard rumors late last week that a high school might get the axe, but in the end it was the five schools above.

Clearly the staffs at these schools and the students too will have a lot to say in the next few days. I still need some time to analyze the impact, but on the surface, the middle school cuts make sense as both of those buildings fed some students to Central-Hower, which is now closed.

I sense that the board members themselves have to have taken this very personally as they've had to make a steady stream of cuts for the last few years.

More to come, but what are you initial thoughts?

ANOTHER local teacher caught up having sex with students?

2009-02-09T15:43:00.003-05:00

At some point folks, this has to stop.

This time it's an English teacher in the Rittman Schools. Erin Speicher, 34, resigned Friday after the allegations surfaced involving alleged sexual relationships with Rittman students in Orrville, where she lives.

I spoke to Rittman's Superintendent, Jon Ritchie, about the allegations, and he was obviously just disappointed that it came to this.

While he couldn't talk about the details of the allegations, he told me Rittman High's enrollment is 425, so it's a school that's small enough that everyone knows this teacher. So everyone is talking about it. And every parent has concerns now.

Speicher's not only taught Freshman English, she also served as the Junior Class Advisor. In other words, she was in a position of real influence over so many young minds.

Who doesn't remember your 9th grade English teacher?

Right now, Speicher is facing a single felony count of Sexual Battery .. but more charges could follow as the Orrville Police Press release indicates there were "multiple alleged incidents" and that more than one high school student was involved. She was arraigned today and pleaded not guilty.

Here's a woman who spent 12 years in this school district, and according to the Superintendent, had no blemishes in her past. Now this?

Are we really to believe that no one else had any idea that she might have been engaging in relationships that crossed the line? No students suspected anything? No parents? No fellow teachers? I would hope that if anyone suspected something that they reported it.

Maybe the only thing that went right in this mess is that the school district immediately called police and let them handle the investigation. You don't have to look back very far to see other local districts who tried to handle these types of allegations "in-house" only to have it backfire.

I hate these cases .. not just for the students (the real victims here) but because it gives a black eye to every other teacher out there busting their butts to educate our kids. Teachers who now face additional scrutiny from curious parents who wonder, "I wonder if she/he is behaving correctly around my son/daughter?"

Thoughts?

Beacon Journal taking an early vacation

2009-02-05T17:14:00.003-05:00

Everyone -- reporters included -- looks forward to vacation time, but how would you feel if you were encouraged to take your vacation right away.

That's what's happening at the ABJ where staffers tell me that a mass push is underway to get every employee to take one week's vacation in the next month or so.

The paper's bottom line can apparently benefit from being able to show that vacation time is being paid and not accrued. Represented employees can say "no" but one writer told me that he's planning to go ahead and do it to "be a good sport" and help the company.

Still, for an organization that isn't quite staffed by even 50 percent of what it once was, how can it afford to have larger quantities of folks out on vacation at the same time?

And by the way ... Bob Dyer's comments about the NewsNight Akron set were right on the money. Some viewers hate it that I stand (or used to stand) while others aren't bothered; some folks hate the moving traffic in the background while others seem to like it. I'm just pleased that the show has a large enough audience (#1 on Western Reserve Public Media) that complaints warrant discussion.

By the way .. Friday's show includes both Ed Esposito and Jody Miller on the panel. David Giffels and I might just play cards again .. so we can watch the fight up close.

Webchat Wednesday!

2009-02-04T19:31:00.000-05:00

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