Sommerville: Rolling Acres Revamp Should Bring Jobs
Written by Mike WardOutgoing Akron city planning director Marco Sommerville isn't leaving City Hall next year.
He'll fill a new role as Deputy Mayor for Intergovermental Affairs, and serve as a senior advisor to new mayor Dan Horrigan. He says Horrigan "likes to listen more than he likes to talk".
One issue that'll be on the city's plate is the long-vacated Rolling Acres Mall, no matter if it's finally sold, or goes back to the city.
Whatever happens, Sommerville says the main priority for the former mall is to bring in new jobs.
"We in the city are landlocked as far as land, there's not a lot of land left in the city of Akron," Sommerville tells WAKR's Jasen Sokol. "And if we could have that land to develop it for jobs, that would be priority number one."
Sommerville says he'd like to see light industrial space or office space at the former mall site.
But he says the city will have to work with the owners of space once taken by the mall's former department stores. Those buildings won't be directly involved in any sale or sheriff's sale of the main part of mall itself.
AUDIO: WAKR and Indians Celebrate a Renewed Contract
Written by Aaron Coleman
Tom Hamilton of the Cleveland Indians joins Ray Horner to celebrate a renewed contract between the Indians and WAKR. Horner and Hamilton talk about baseball and additions to the team.
AUDIO: Sherri Bevan Walsh on Take Me Home Program
Written by Aaron Coleman
WAKR's Ray Horner talks to Summit County Prosecutor, Sherri Bevan Walsh, about her decision to run for re-election. Walsh also tells Ray about a program very close to her heart, Take Me Home.
AUDIO Segedy Shares Ideas Before Taking Akron Planning Post
Written by Mike WardJason Segedy is getting ready to make the move from the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) to the cabinet of incoming Akron mayor Dan Horrigan.
Akron's new planning director has put forth a lot of ideas before being hired for Horrigan's cabinet.
Segedy says that those ideas helped him to get hired, but he's practical as well.
"They want someone in the cabinet that can kind of 'dream big', and I like to think that I'm a doer as well," Segedy tells WAKR's Jasen Sokol. "So, I try to do the pragmatic part of it too."
Segedy says he wants to bring people who come back to the area after leaving, back to Akron itself.
"We do get a lot of people who 'bounce back' to the area, that grow up here, move somewhere for a while and come back," Segedy says. "And I'd like to see the city do more to try to get them to maybe choose Akron over another community the region."
Segedy says he wants to help regrow Akron's shrinking population, and says he wants to end the "rust belt" population loss narrative.
In what was considered by many to be among the most substantive debates of the year, the nine highest polling Republican candidates for President squared off in Las Vegas with homeland security and the war on terror as the main focus. John Green from the Bliss Institute for Applied Politics at The University of Akron talks about his winners and losers and whether the race will change in the wake of the debate.
While all nine candidates got in their talking points on how to keep America safe, not all of them were true. Washington Post fact checker Michelle Lee ran down some of the most requested fact checks.
AUDIO: APS's Ryan Pendleton Talks School Consolidation
Written by Aaron ColemanTreasurer of Akron Public Schools, Ryan Pendleton, joins Ray to talk about the plan to consolidate schools. Pendleton tells Ray about how much money the district will save and discusses other ways the district will benefit from the consolidation.
The Mt. Union Purple Raiders are heading back to Salem, VA in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to take on St. John's (Minn) in the Division III national championship.
Coach Vince Kehres joined the Sam Bourquin Show says his team is focused and prepared for the task at hand.
"I think we've had a couple good days of preparation," coach Kehres said. "The game plan is set, the hay is in the barn, so the bulk of the work has been done."
Finals are this week as well, so the players are not only focusing on their opponent, but making sure their classwork is taken care of as well.
The Purple Raiders defeated Wisconsin-Whitewater 36-6 in the national semifinals down in Alliance last week.
Coach says pretty much everyone is healthy heading into the title game, so they feel pretty good about where they're at as a team.
The last Republican presidential debate of 2015 is tonight in Las Vegas with nine candidates set to be on the main stage for a debate that is expected to have a heavy focus on homeland security and fighting terrorism. Baldwin Wallace University political science professor Tom Sutton talks about what to expect from the candidates.
AUDIO: Outgoing Councilman Mike Williams on Leaving Council
Written by Aaron ColemanRay Horner talks to outgoing councilman Mike Williams about the ending of his 28 year career. Williams tells Ray about the outstanding support he has recieved and how he has made it through 28 years as a councilman.
AUDIO: APS Superintendent David James on Consolidation
Written by Aaron Coleman
WAKR's Ray Horner talks to the Superintendent of Akron Public Schools, David James. James explains what plans have been made for the district. He tells Ray what how the consolidation will help save money and help the district in the long run.
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After the University of Akron Zips' tough loss to the Stanford Cardinal in the College Cup, the men's soccer season has come to a close, but their coach says the men have a lot to be proud of.
Jared Embick, the head coach of the Zips joined the Sam Bourquin Show Monday to talk about their matchup with the physical Cardinal team, and his assessment of the 2015 season.
"We didn't play our game," Embick said of his matchup with the Cardinal. "They were more physical, Stanford's pressure and physicality really got to us."
Stanford won on penalty kicks 8-7 in the College Cup out in Kansas City, Kansas.
Embick said that the future will be bright for the program moving forward, and he knows that things will be good for the Zips in the 2016 season.
"We have some kids deciding if they are staying or going, but we have one of the best recruiting classes in the country, so regardless of what happens here, we're going to have a talented team that will play Akron soccer and give us a chance to win."
AUDIO Hoban's Head Football Coach Recaps Championship Season
Written by Daniel NivensSam Bourquin sat down with The Archbishop Hoban Knights' head football coach Tim Tyrrell, and Athletic Director Joe Beyer about the Knights' Championship Season.
The Knights brought home the State Championship on December 3rd after defeating Toledo Central Catholic 33-20.
Sam talked with Coach Tyrrell and Joe Beyer about how the team worked to secure that title and the successes other sports teams within Hoban are having as well.
AUDIO: Jimmie Walker Talks Football, Sitcom Glory Years
Written by Tony MazurAUDIO Coach Fuline Talking Mt. Union Basketball
Written by Aaron ColemanThe Mt. Union Purple Raiders men's basketball team has grinded their way to victories in the first eight games of the season, and coming off a win last night against Ohio Northern, life is pretty good for the boys from Alliance.
Mike Fuline, the head coach of the men's hoop squad joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about his team and their scrappy style of play.
"We try to grind out wins and play as hard as we can," Fuline said.
Coach Fuline says his team doesn't have one superstar, but they have a collection of guys who come in with the right mindset and play the game with heart and hustle.
"This group is always trying to find a way," he said.
They are 6-2 overall and 3-0 in the OAC.