Akron Police have arrested a fugitive wanted on murder charges.

22-year old Dontay Antonio Taylor wanted for murder and felonious assault was arrested early Friday morning in DeKalb County, Georgia. Taylor was wanted for the late night shooting at the Embassy Lounge, on Romig Road, on July 23, 2012. He fired several shots through the nightclub windows killing 28-year old Rahsaan M. Price, and injuring 28-year old Lamar R. Fitzgerald, and 25-year old Deanna L. May.

It didn't take Akron Police long to track down a bank robbery suspect Monday morning.

Around 10:00am this morning, the Key Bank, located at 219 South Main Street, was robbed. The employees reported the suspect entered the bank and handed the teller a note demanding money. The suspect fled with an unreported amount of cash and a dye pack. The suspect fled southbound towards the Mayflower Manor where the dye pack exploded on the suspect. The suspect continued southbound to Buchtel Avenue where he boarded a bus. The bus was stopped on South Main Street where the suspect was taken into custody.

Officers arrested Bryan L. Boyer, Sr., 50, with a last known address on Edgerton Street. He was charged with robbery and will be booked into the Summit County Jail.

A second man has been arrested and charged with two robberies in the city last week.

53-year old Ronald Keith Ray of Akron was arrested over the weekend on aggravated robbery charges. Akron police say Ray and Steven D'Augustino allegedly robbed the Gen Fed Credit Union on Wedgewood Avenue and the Huntington Bank on Howe Road in Cuyahoga Falls.

The City of Akron is offering to give away a building for free, with one hitch. you have to be able to move it elsewhere. The building at 405 South High Street is a two story brick building built in 1979 and is better known as the Board of Realtors building. The structure occupies one city block bounded by High, Cedar, Broadway, and Selle Streets. Anyone interested in the building, must move it at their own cost.

The City wants the building moved because it needs to construct a 250 car parking lot to serve the new student housing located on adjacent land.

In the event nobody wants the building, it will be demolished.        

The entire building including any salvageable contents will become the property of the winning proposal.

Interested parties are asked to submit written proposals to the City of Akron, Bureau of Engineering on the 7th Floor of the Municipal Building, on South High Street until 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 13th . It is anticipated an award will be made by March 18, 2013 with full access to the building at that time.

Proposals should address and meet all of the requirements.

A description of the project along with a detailed plan for complete removal of the building from the site must be submitted by interested parties.

Proposals will be evaluated on the quality of the proposal, including experience of the developer, availability of financing to the developer, and a schedule to complete the building removal by April 30th.

In Boys high school basketball sectional play Friday night.

Copley Division 1 Sectional

Nordonia 74 Cuyahoga Falls 69

Brunswick 50 Walsh Jesuit 42

Canton Division 1 Sectional

Canton Timken 47 Copley 44

Barberton 57 Canton McKniley 55

Stow Division 2 Sectional

Buchtel 68 Tallmadge 46

Canton Diivision 2 Sectional

St. Vincent St. Mary 78 Triway 38

Tuslaw 54 Northwest 51

Boardman Division 2 Sectional

Southeast 76 Niles McKinley 67 (2OT)

Salem 70 Ravenna 53

Salem Division 3 Sectional

Canton Central Catholic 70 Colmbiana Crestview 63

Manchester 44 Lisbon David Anderson 41

Wooster Division 3 Sectional

Oberlin 47 Orrville 43

Elyria Catholic 73 Northwestern 63

Struthers Division IV Sectional

Mogadore 78 Sebring McKinley 36

Garfield Heights Division IV Sectional

Cuyahoga Heights 51 Rittman 40

Warren Division IV Sectional

Windham 57 Vienna Mathews 43
 

Ohio's new texting while driving law goes into effect on Friday and Lieutenant William Wiertz, commander of the Canton State Highway Patrol post, says troopers and law enforcement officers have been told how to use their discretion to enforce it.

Wiertz says texting and driving will be a primary offense for juveniles under the age of 18 who can be pulled over for that violation alone. But for adults its a secondary offense meaning officers will have to cite the motorist for another traffic violation before a texting and driving violation can be added.

Wiertz tells AkronNewsNow " We get calls all the time about people about what appears to be drunk driving with marked lane violations or speeding. A lot of times they're using a mobile device either texting or talking."

Wiertz says in the case of adults, they'll basically have to admit to texting and driving before they can be charged if they're pulled over for another traffic offense.

The offense is a minor misdemeanor punishable only by a fine set by the court of jurisdiction when the driver is cited.

On the one-year anniversary of their child's death, the parents of three students fatally shot at Chardon High School filed suit today against the gunman, T.J. Lane, and his family.

WKYC Channel 3 News reports In a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Lake County Common Pleas Court, the parents accused Lane's parents, maternal grandparents and an uncle of negligently failing to supervise and control Lane, which "facilitated, encouraged or allowed" the shooting to occur.

They "knew or should have known that their negligent actions and omissions would result in severe physical and emotional injuries" to Daniel Parmertor, Russell King, Jr. and Demetrius Hewlin, the lawsuit alleged.

Last December, T.J. Lane's family testified in a pretrial hearing that they couldn't believe he would have done such a thing.

T.J. Lane pleaded guilty yesterday to the three murders as well as two counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of felonious assault as part of a plea deal that may result in him being locked up for the rest of his life.

On the Web:  www.wkyc.com
 

The city of Akron announced plans today to purchase the old Mayflower Manor in downtown Akron and help a private developer rehabilitate the 100-year old building. City officials say the high rise former hotel which is now used to house the elderly and disabled is not in good condition and needs a complete make over . The purchase however is contingent on the city receiving a federal housing and urban development loan, and finalization of an agreement with the present owner.   

The former Mayflower Hotel has a strong role in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous; according to the group's website, "When Bill W., sober only a few months, was in Akron for a business deal in 1935, he stayed in the Mayflower Hotel. The business deal fell through and on Mothers Day weekend Bill, down to his last ten dollars, was pacing the lobby, listening to the sounds of merriment from the hotel's bar. Remembering that working with other alcoholics had helped him to stay sober, he went to the pay phone in the lobby and called a local clergyman, Reverend Tunks, to try to find a local alcoholic he could talk with. This phone call led to his meeting with Dr. Bob and the beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous." (photo above from Alcoholics Anonymous online archive)

A replica of the hotel phone still exists at the Mayflower, according to the archives of the group.

News Release From The City Of Akron

Akron, Ohio (February 26, 2013) – Today, Mayor Plusquellic announced that he is making arrangements with the owners of three new developments and the owner of the Mayflower Manor to provide new, safe and secure housing for the occupants of the building, a HUD funded housing high-rise that is in need of a complete renovation. The 100 year old structure, located in downtown Akron, is a 233 unit high-rise currently housing low income individuals, who are also either disabled and/or elderly.

“There is no question that the building needs to be completely redeveloped for it to continue to be useful. And, for any renovations to occur, the residents, for their own health and safety, should be relocated. The noise, dust, and other health and safety concerns that arise with any major renovation make it necessary, I believe, to find safe new facilities for the current residents,” said Mayor Don Plusquellic. “Fortunately, the present owner has been willing to work with us over the last couple of years, rather than just signing an agreement with the Federal Government to continue subsidies, when we all know that rehabilitation of the building is in the best interests of all involved.”

The City has found enough safe and secure units in three housing developments, which are currently planned or under construction or renovation to provide housing, for these residents. The apartments are located within three different new or remodeled facilities, Valor Home (30 units dedicated to veterans, and located in Firestone Park), Spring Hill Apartments (209 one and two bedroom units, and located on Lane/Wooster), and The Commons at Madaline Park, Phases I and II (100 one bedroom units, and located off Tallmadge Avenue). The Mayflower’s owner has also indicated he is willing to move tenants into his other buildings, so as to assure all of the tenants are accommodated.

The City’s intent is to purchase and help a private developer to rehabilitate the building. However, these plans are contingent upon approval of the City’s HUD 108 Loan request and finalization of an agreement with the present owner. An ordinance to approve the loan request will be introduced to City Council soon.

Also, the City is working with the staff at the building and Community Support Services to schedule a meeting as soon as possible with the residents, who will receive relocation benefits and assistance with moving. It will be at least 18 months before residents would be required to relocate.
 

The Ohio State Parole Board has denied parole for convicted Akron murderer Tony Smith. By a majority vote the Parole Board also  decided that Smith's sentence would continue for the next 10 years. Smith will not be eligible for parole again until February 2023.

Over 3500 people from around the world signed the online petition requesting that parole be denied. Countless others wrote letters to the parole board objecting to his release; including Summit County Prosecutor Sherry Bevin Walsh.

On April 3rd 1998, Smith pleaded guilty to murdering Lilius Landrum in Akron . He decapitated her and placed her head in a bucket in his basement and her body behind a furnace.
 

Another joint economic development district has been created by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. This one is with the Village of Mogadore. The city and village will share income taxes and Akron will provide water to Mogadore as part of a 99-year agreement.

Mogadore Mayor Mike Rick says this water agreement replaces an older agreement that cost the village more.

Under the new agreement Mogadore residents would pay Akron residents rate for the water plus 22 %. Under the old agreement village residents had to pay plus 45%.

Rick says the joint economic development agreement would split the Mogadore income tax, with the village collecting 50%.

The agreement would also have Akron extend water lines for new future development in Mogadore.

News Release From The City Of Akron

Akron, Ohio (February 22, 2013) - Today, Akron Mayor Plusquellic and Village of Mogadore Mayor Rick announced that Akron and Mogadore have agreed to enter into a long term water supply agreement and to share income taxes.

Under the long term water agreement and contract for the creation of a Joint Economic Development Zone, Mogadore will purchase its retail water exclusively from Akron for 99 years. Water service will be provided to residential and commercial/industrial parcels in the Village of Mogadore and those customers will pay Akron rates plus 22 1/2%.

Akron will also extend water lines to service and supply water to OMEGA Laboratories located in Mogadore, and Mogadore will pay to Akron 33 1/3% of the income tax revenue it collects from OMEGA Laboratories.

“It is nice to be able to supply water service to OMEGA Laboratories who desperately needed it for their new expansion,” said Mogadore Mayor Mike Rick. “More importantly, the agreement also saves money for the residents of Mogadore, as they were previously paying the Akron rates plus 45% for their water.”

The Agreement also specifies that in the event Mogadore annexes property, merges with another political subdivision, or enters into a JEDD Agreement, Mogadore will pay Akron 50% of the income tax revenue it collects from non-residential property within the annexed, merged, or new JEDD boundaries if Akron extends water to those new properties.

"I’m glad to see this come together after a number of years in negotiations," said Plusquellic. “We have been servicing Mogadore with water for quite some time now, and it is good to finally have a long term agreement.” The Mayor added that “this agreement is consistent with the agreements with other cities and townships served by Akron water. These agreements are designed to improving the long term economic stability of our region and are working well.”

On Wednesday night, the Village of Magadore passed legislation that would authorize these agreements. Mayor Plusquellic will submit similar legislation to Akron City Council for its consideration at its next meeting, Monday, February 25, 2013.