An 23-year-old man was arrested after state troopers found a loaded handgun, drugs and ecstasy pills at an OVI checkpoint in Akron over the weekend.
Troopers with the Canton Patrol Post held the checkpoint on South Main Street in Akron late Friday night (May 17) where they detected the smell of alcohol inside a vehicle driven by Noah Eskridge, 23, of Akron.
Troopers found a loaded 9 mm handgun, eight grams of heroin, a gram of marijuana and 18 ecstasy pills with a street value worth about $1,400.
Eskridge was taken to the Summit County Jail and was charged with possession and trafficking in drugs, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia and OVI.
Troopers say if convicted, he could face up to 11-and-half years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine.
Akron will soon be getting a new hotel on the site of the former Goodyear headquarters site.
Appearing on the 1590 WAKR Ray Horner Morning Show, City Planning Director Marco Sommerville said the highly anticipated project will help the city tremendously.
"We're really excited about the hotel," said Sommerville.
"This will be placed off East Market Street, and that will be able to help Goodyear when they have guests from around the world come in to see that first-class facility."
Sommerville says the new hotel will be a Hilton Garden Inn. Groundbreaking is scheduled for this summer.
Sommerville says the new hotel will be the catalyst for redevelopment in the East Akron area.
"We hope the hotel will be the beginning stages of redevelopment and improving the neighborhood," Sommerville explained.
In addition to the hotel, developers will look to add offices, residential, and retail space to encompass the former Goodyear campus.
Sommerville says the city hasn't lost sight of trying to attract hotel chains to put lodging in downtown Akron, something that has been on the table for some time.
The five-story Hilton Garden Inn is expected to open in the summer of 2014.
Previous Story: New Hotel Slated For Ex-Goodyear Site
It's official - Goodyear has moved. The company held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning for its new headquarters off Innovation Way in Akron.
The new building will serve as the central campus in Akron and as the headquarters for the company’s global operations and its North American tire business. It will connect with Goodyear’s existing Innovation Center.
Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear's chairman and CEO, said the new headquarters represents more than just a building.
"It represents the culmination of what we've been working towards, not only physically in the building, but how we're going to transform our company," said Kramer.
The company spent more than 100 years at its previous location off East Market Street.
Kramer says the new campus will attract innovative workers and ideas.
"What you need to attract those people is to have a work environment that is conducive to collaboration and what it takes to drive that innovation going forward," said Kramer.
In attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony was Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic.
"I was born and raised in Akron. So, when I think about Akron, I think about Goodyear," said Taylor. "When I think about Goodyear, I think about Akron."
Plusquellic spoke about Goodyear's iconic presence in the city.
"This new headquarters is a strong symbol of Goodyear's continuing presence in Northeast Ohio," said Plusquellic. "As if the blimp isn't enough by itself."
Carmilla Robinson, the Akron mother of a 19-year-old who was reported missing over the weekend, is holding on to hope after three missing women were found alive in Cleveland Monday.
Police said Taylor Robinson was last seen Friday night after she was dropped off at a house on Kipling Avenue when she went to work as a home health care aide.
Carmilla said she is hoping someone will call authorities with a tip that will lead to her daughter's whereabouts.
"I'm begging for just any help, any information, whether it's small, little, big, minute," said Carmilla. "Please just call."
Carmilla Robinson Talks To WAKR's Ray Horner by Amani Abraham
"I don't want to get anybody in trouble. I just want my baby. I want her to come home."
Carmilla couldn't locate her daughter when she went to pick her up from her job Saturday morning. She only found her daughter's shoes and coat at the home when she arrived.
The mother said her daughter spent most of her time working or with family.
The FBI is now involved in the case. Carmilla said detectives are still searching for any clues and tips. She said authorities are currently following up on a possible tip in Massachusetts. Detectives have not released any new details in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Akron Police Department, Detective Bureau at (330) 375-2490 or the Missing Person Unit at (330) 375-2530.
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Downtown Akron Partnership has launched a website encouraging residents to submit project ideas that will enhance the downtown area.
Director of business relations Kimberly Beckett says the project ideas have to stay within a budget of $300 to $500.
"Really, the sky's the limit for ideas. We're really looking to tap into the creativity of the community and kind of get them to take ownership of the downtown area which belongs to them," said Beckett.
Residents have until May 17 to submit their ideas online at MyAkron.net. The public will vote for one of the projects at a final pitch meeting on June 25th.
A final pitch of the project ideas will be presented in June where the public can attend and donate to the winning project.
Beckett says it's an opporutinity for residents to buy into the program.
"It's beoming a trend in cities around the country and it's really just a way to get people to feel like they're an important part of the community, which they are," said Beckett.
Authorities say no one was inside of a vehicle that was found in a river in Akron Friday morning.
Akron Fire Captain Al Bragg says the vehicle was found in the upright position in the water near the 1000 block of Cuyahoga Street around 7:30 a.m.
Tow trucks were called to the scene to pull the vehicle out of the water.
Authorities have not identified or located the owner of the vehicle.
The Akron Police Department is investigating the incident.
A plea deal is a possibility in the case of an Akron father accused of manslaughter in the shooting death of his 4-year-old son.
The Beacon Journal reports Summit County Common Pleas Judge Judy Hunter scheduled a trail date for 49-year-old Terrance Allen for July 15. The deadline for reaching a plea deal has been set for July 9.
On January 23, police say Allen's 4-year-old son, Jamarcus Allen, got a hold of a gun and accidentally shot himself inside a car.
Allen is also facing charges including child endangering, tampering with evidence and possessing a weapon under previous felony disability.
Court records show a burglary conviction in 1996 in Cuyahoga County barred him from carrying or owning a gun.
On the web: www.ohio.com
Akron police are looking for a 31-year-old man who is suspected of punching another man in the head with brass knuckles following an argument Monday night.
Police say Charles N. Hunt, 31, of Akron is wanted for allegedly assualting a 44-year-old man multiple times with brass knuckles, which had spikes on the end.
The victim had injuries on the back of his head and on both hands. He was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Anyone with information on Charles Hunt’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Akron Police Department, Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490; the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-4-WANTED; or the Summit County Crimestoppers Inc. at (330) 434-COPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
Akron police say a 24-year-old man was shot while driving in the city's east side Thursday evening.
Police say the victim was shot in the right hand and left shoulder while driving near the intersection of Hammel and Corice streets around 5 p.m.
The victim drove to a nearby store where he called police. He told officers that he was shot following an argument that occurred earlier in the day.
He was taken to Akron City Hospital where his injuries do not appear to be life threatening.
Police have identified the suspect as 23-year-old Cleophus Thompson Jr., of Akron. Detectives have signed a warrant for his arrest for felonious assault. Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on Thompson’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Akron Police Department, Detective Bureau, at (330) 375-2490; the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-4-WANTED; or the Summit County Crimestoppers Inc. at (330) 434-COPS. Callers can remain anonymous.
CNN and Akron native, Martin Savage gives us an update on the Texas Fertilizer Explosion.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown talked to Ray about failed gun control legislation, the Boston Bombings and the budget.
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