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Lakemore police say man killed his wife in standoff
Suspect in Lakemore standoff expected to recover
Police raid Akron gaming parlor
Storm could bring heavy snow tonight, Saturday; Parking bans in effect
Palin says she's been exploited by Couric and Fey
Suspected meth lab busted in Cuyahoga Falls
Akron bridge closed for emergency
Browns' Mangini brings experience
Blogs:
Akron Law Café:
College Football is Un-American
The Heldenfiles:
Cheryl Holdridge, R.I.P.
Tribe Matters:
Shapiro puts Indians in position to win
Patrick McManamon:
ESPN clears up a key to tonight's game
Browns Bulletin:
Browns may interview ex-Broncos GM
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini takes command
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Celtics
CavsHQ: A Fan's View:
The Countdown Begins - Cavs v. Celtics
Akron Zips:
Five things you should know about Miami
Varsity Letters:
Ignatius’ Kyle has busy offseason
Kent State Sports:
Volleyball players earn All-Academic honors
Car Chase:
January is auction time
See Jane Style:
Chicago Chic?
All Da King's Men:
Obama's Economic News Conference
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Why Israeli Leaders Terrorize Palestinians
HRLite House:
The Psychology Channel, Interesting Videos, Jobs in I-O, and Happy Birthday Elvis
Akron Gamer:
Games in '09: Resident Evil 5
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Does Ohio have an Andy Warhol Museum?
Sound Check:
Axl Rose speaks on Guns & Rose(s)
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 Extended
Published on Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008
Police auditor gives pause
I am a lifelong resident of Summit County and police officer for 27 years in Cuyahoga County, the past 14 years as a supervisor. I have read with interest your articles and editorials detailing the Jeffrey Stephens, officer-involved shooting incident.
I can understand the Akron Police Department's rank and file and their union representatives' concern with the city's police auditor reviewing any type of critical incident they are involved in.
I don't believe police officers in any organization have an issue with an outside independent review of how they conduct their business. All the officers ask is that the review be fair, impartial and follow the facts and that the person conducting the review is competent.
But if I am to believe the reporting by Beacon Journal staff writer Ed Meyer, then the statements made by the city's police auditor, Phillip Young, give me cause for concern. Homicide and officer-involved shooting investigations are anything but routine.
When an individual with the job of reviewing police officer-involved critical incidents states that he has never investigated a homicide, an officer-involved shooting or that a ''crime scene is just another crime scene,'' it reminds me of the old saying, ''He doesn't even know that he doesn't know.''
I liken this to a person being taken into an operating room for open heart surgery to find his child's pediatrician looking down at him and saying that he has nothing to worry about because he is a doctor and open heart surgery is just another surgery.
The men and women of the Akron Police Department deserve better, as do the citizens of Akron and Summit County.
Mike Hutson
Hudson
Holding to hope
I was counseling a young man who was depressed about his inability to find a job so that he could support his son. The great state of Ohio has made this more difficult by taking his driver's license away and convicting him of felony non-support, rather than assisting him in getting an education to become more employable.
During a break in our discussion, I read Ken Horne's letter (''Look for opportunity in the recession,'' Nov. 21). It is good to know that we have not all given up hope in these troubled times, for in adversity does, indeed, lie the seeds of character and strength. Or, to paraphrase Dean Koontz: To give up hope is to virtually murder your soul.
I am glad to say that the young man has not given up hope, or become bitter. In the recent election, he advised me to vote for Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, his convicting judge. He believes she is a fair and honest person.
The Rev. William Cain
Akron
Mayor and newspaper do Akron a disservice
One of my children's favorite holiday movies is the classic A Christmas Story. I was struck by some similarities between the characters in the story and Mayor Don Plusquellic and the editorial board at the Beacon Journal. I was thinking, of course, of Scut Farkas, the bully in the story, and his toadie Grover Dill.
As the mayor of Akron, Plusquellic has demonstrated over and over again what an unlikable character he is, and with his recent comments about who is going to hell, he apparently now thinks he is God, or a god at least. I can see where he would be under that misapprehension, with the editorial board and some in the local media falling all over themselves to praise him constantly.
I hear a lot about the mayor's passion for Akron. Maybe his passion is just for business as usual. There are so many people who love this city and are passionate about the direction in which it is going, and not all of them are in sync with the mayor. It is unforgivable for the Beacon Journal to try to discredit those who do not agree with him. In the end, I think we can all agree nobody likes a bully.
Kelly Mendenhall
Akron
Editor's note: The writer is the wife of Warner Mendenhall, who is pursuing a recall effort against Mayor Plusquellic
Obama revealing his true plans
I find it ironic that Barack Obama is already backing off his plans for change. He and the worst Congress in the history of this country are showing where their bread is buttered.
First came the so-called bank bailout, when the banking industry and Wall Street came begging for $700 billion to get them through the tough times.
Originally, I believe, the plan was to help people out who were being forced into foreclosure. Instead, the banking institutions informed the government that they didn't have to divulge what they intended to do with the money.
Apparently, the money is being used to buy other banks. That doesn't sound like banks in trouble to me. But it does show that the white-collar upper echelon lives by a separate set of rules. It will always have Congress in its pocket.
Now along comes the Big Three auto companies asking for $25 billion. They are told that until they have a plan, they can go down the tubes, as far as the government is concerned.
Incidentally, the vehicles being made are the ones that most senators, members of Congress and high government officials drive — big SUVs, limos and even big pickup trucks such as the one George Bush drives. Every time I see Obama getting in or out of a vehicle, it's a big gas-guzzling SUV. So what kind of plan does he want? Get rid of the big SUVs he loves?
The Big Three are getting criticized for making the vehicles that most people wanted until the gas scare came along. As usual, the only workers who are going to get hurt are the blue-collar and low-level, white-collar workers who are expendable.
Many workers devoted their lives to corporations only to be told they may be on their way out. Not so with the golden-parachute executives who continue to get bonuses for operating in the red. Now we hear that Obama is backing off his plan to tax the super rich. I guess the stark reality is that the election is over, so it's time to shed all of the campaign promises that we had to listen to for the past year.
Obama got what he wanted, but apparently what he promised in his campaigning is exactly what it is, nothing but promises. I guess he felt sorry for his friend Warren Buffett and decided to give him a break.
Joel Beswetherick
Cuyahoga Falls
A comprehensive bill on sex education
In response to more than 12,600 supporters petitioning for a hearing on the Ohio Prevention First Act, the Ohio House Health Committee Chairman Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) has scheduled a hearing on House Bill 251.
This bipartisan bill focuses on the prevention of unintended pregnancies through comprehensive sexuality education for teens, including abstinence and affordable, accessible birth control.
The Ohio Prevention First Act ensures access to family planning services, prescriptions, health-care coverage for contraception and other preventative health services vital to Ohio's women and families.
Knowledge and responsible behavior strengthen our families and our communities. Education, access to contraception and insurance coverage are key components to this goal.
If you are among the over 80 percent of Ohio voters with kids in school who feel that the best approach to sex education is to focus equally on abstinence as well as the value of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS) through the use of contraception, then I urge you to contact your state representative and voice your support for all of Ohio's youth.
Barbara L. Singhaus
Chairman of the board
Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio
Dover
Aid consumers, and save the Big Three
If I was smart, I'd have a job as a high-paying something or other. But I'm not, so maybe someone can explain to me how giving auto companies low-interest loans will do anything other than give them low-interest loans.
So they can build more cars? So they can develop a transportation system that isn't as dependent on oil? Who's going to buy these cars with the economy in its current slump?
Why not give the consumer the money to buy the cars at a very low interest rate, which would create the demand for more cars? The loans could be such that the more fuel-efficient cars get the largest percentage cut and those not meeting a set standard get nothing. These loans would be for all autos built in the United States.
Maybe even manufacturers whose plants are located in other countries would build plants here and employ American workers. This can be a long-term plan so that the money ultimately going to the auto industry will benefit the industry in the long term. Lots of details and controls need to be in place for this to happen, but like the financial bailout, those details should be in place before any money goes anywhere.
Sidney Landskroner
Akron
Who took Christ out of Akron's Chriskindl?
Included in my Nov. 22 Beacon Journal was a very nice color brochure concerning the holiday events in downtown Akron this year. I was disappointed to see that once again the city has chosen to misspell Christkindl Market.
I wonder if they were advised by some ACLU lawyer that if they took Christ out of this event they could trick the people into thinking it was a secular event and avoid the appearance of a government-sponsored religious event.
I seem to recall a certain city official telling us that there is a special place reserved for those who mislead the public.
Dave Webb
Akron
Police auditor gives pause
I am a lifelong resident of Summit County and police officer for 27 years in Cuyahoga County, the past 14 years as a supervisor. I have read with interest your articles and editorials detailing the Jeffrey Stephens, officer-involved shooting incident.
I can understand the Akron Police Department's rank and file and their union representatives' concern with the city's police auditor reviewing any type of critical incident they are involved in.
I don't believe police officers in any organization have an issue with an outside independent review of how they conduct their business. All the officers ask is that the review be fair, impartial and follow the facts and that the person conducting the review is competent.
But if I am to believe the reporting by Beacon Journal staff writer Ed Meyer, then the statements made by the city's police auditor, Phillip Young, give me cause for concern. Homicide and officer-involved shooting investigations are anything but routine.
When an individual with the job of reviewing police officer-involved critical incidents states that he has never investigated a homicide, an officer-involved shooting or that a ''crime scene is just another crime scene,'' it reminds me of the old saying, ''He doesn't even know that he doesn't know.''
I liken this to a person being taken into an operating room for open heart surgery to find his child's pediatrician looking down at him and saying that he has nothing to worry about because he is a doctor and open heart surgery is just another surgery.
The men and women of the Akron Police Department deserve better, as do the citizens of Akron and Summit County.
Mike Hutson
Hudson
Holding to hope
I was counseling a young man who was depressed about his inability to find a job so that he could support his son. The great state of Ohio has made this more difficult by taking his driver's license away and convicting him of felony non-support, rather than assisting him in getting an education to become more employable.
During a break in our discussion, I read Ken Horne's letter (''Look for opportunity in the recession,'' Nov. 21). It is good to know that we have not all given up hope in these troubled times, for in adversity does, indeed, lie the seeds of character and strength. Or, to paraphrase Dean Koontz: To give up hope is to virtually murder your soul.
I am glad to say that the young man has not given up hope, or become bitter. In the recent election, he advised me to vote for Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, his convicting judge. He believes she is a fair and honest person.
The Rev. William Cain
Akron
Mayor and newspaper do Akron a disservice
One of my children's favorite holiday movies is the classic A Christmas Story. I was struck by some similarities between the characters in the story and Mayor Don Plusquellic and the editorial board at the Beacon Journal. I was thinking, of course, of Scut Farkas, the bully in the story, and his toadie Grover Dill.
As the mayor of Akron, Plusquellic has demonstrated over and over again what an unlikable character he is, and with his recent comments about who is going to hell, he apparently now thinks he is God, or a god at least. I can see where he would be under that misapprehension, with the editorial board and some in the local media falling all over themselves to praise him constantly.
I hear a lot about the mayor's passion for Akron. Maybe his passion is just for business as usual. There are so many people who love this city and are passionate about the direction in which it is going, and not all of them are in sync with the mayor. It is unforgivable for the Beacon Journal to try to discredit those who do not agree with him. In the end, I think we can all agree nobody likes a bully.
Kelly Mendenhall
Akron
Editor's note: The writer is the wife of Warner Mendenhall, who is pursuing a recall effort against Mayor Plusquellic
Obama revealing his true plans
I find it ironic that Barack Obama is already backing off his plans for change. He and the worst Congress in the history of this country are showing where their bread is buttered.
First came the so-called bank bailout, when the banking industry and Wall Street came begging for $700 billion to get them through the tough times.
Originally, I believe, the plan was to help people out who were being forced into foreclosure. Instead, the banking institutions informed the government that they didn't have to divulge what they intended to do with the money.
Apparently, the money is being used to buy other banks. That doesn't sound like banks in trouble to me. But it does show that the white-collar upper echelon lives by a separate set of rules. It will always have Congress in its pocket.
Now along comes the Big Three auto companies asking for $25 billion. They are told that until they have a plan, they can go down the tubes, as far as the government is concerned.
Incidentally, the vehicles being made are the ones that most senators, members of Congress and high government officials drive — big SUVs, limos and even big pickup trucks such as the one George Bush drives. Every time I see Obama getting in or out of a vehicle, it's a big gas-guzzling SUV. So what kind of plan does he want? Get rid of the big SUVs he loves?
The Big Three are getting criticized for making the vehicles that most people wanted until the gas scare came along. As usual, the only workers who are going to get hurt are the blue-collar and low-level, white-collar workers who are expendable.
Many workers devoted their lives to corporations only to be told they may be on their way out. Not so with the golden-parachute executives who continue to get bonuses for operating in the red. Now we hear that Obama is backing off his plan to tax the super rich. I guess the stark reality is that the election is over, so it's time to shed all of the campaign promises that we had to listen to for the past year.
Obama got what he wanted, but apparently what he promised in his campaigning is exactly what it is, nothing but promises. I guess he felt sorry for his friend Warren Buffett and decided to give him a break.
Joel Beswetherick
Cuyahoga Falls
A comprehensive bill on sex education
In response to more than 12,600 supporters petitioning for a hearing on the Ohio Prevention First Act, the Ohio House Health Committee Chairman Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) has scheduled a hearing on House Bill 251.
This bipartisan bill focuses on the prevention of unintended pregnancies through comprehensive sexuality education for teens, including abstinence and affordable, accessible birth control.
The Ohio Prevention First Act ensures access to family planning services, prescriptions, health-care coverage for contraception and other preventative health services vital to Ohio's women and families.
Knowledge and responsible behavior strengthen our families and our communities. Education, access to contraception and insurance coverage are key components to this goal.
If you are among the over 80 percent of Ohio voters with kids in school who feel that the best approach to sex education is to focus equally on abstinence as well as the value of preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS) through the use of contraception, then I urge you to contact your state representative and voice your support for all of Ohio's youth.
Barbara L. Singhaus
Chairman of the board
Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio
Dover
Aid consumers, and save the Big Three
If I was smart, I'd have a job as a high-paying something or other. But I'm not, so maybe someone can explain to me how giving auto companies low-interest loans will do anything other than give them low-interest loans.
So they can build more cars? So they can develop a transportation system that isn't as dependent on oil? Who's going to buy these cars with the economy in its current slump?
Why not give the consumer the money to buy the cars at a very low interest rate, which would create the demand for more cars? The loans could be such that the more fuel-efficient cars get the largest percentage cut and those not meeting a set standard get nothing. These loans would be for all autos built in the United States.
Maybe even manufacturers whose plants are located in other countries would build plants here and employ American workers. This can be a long-term plan so that the money ultimately going to the auto industry will benefit the industry in the long term. Lots of details and controls need to be in place for this to happen, but like the financial bailout, those details should be in place before any money goes anywhere.
Sidney Landskroner
Akron
Who took Christ out of Akron's Chriskindl?
Included in my Nov. 22 Beacon Journal was a very nice color brochure concerning the holiday events in downtown Akron this year. I was disappointed to see that once again the city has chosen to misspell Christkindl Market.
I wonder if they were advised by some ACLU lawyer that if they took Christ out of this event they could trick the people into thinking it was a secular event and avoid the appearance of a government-sponsored religious event.
I seem to recall a certain city official telling us that there is a special place reserved for those who mislead the public.
Dave Webb
Akron
