The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 9

3iJ Jewell Cardwell The Beacon Journal Northeast Ohio Wednesday, December 15, 1993 3 Uniontown landfill Report on closed Industrial Excess Landfill in Uniontown due in January. Page D2. Norton winners Norton couple claim $4 million lottery prize; they plan to split it with their children. Page D5. Tuesday's Buckeye 5 numbers: 3, 13, 26, 32, 36 Sales: $564,912 Tuesday's Pick 3 numbers: 178 Pick 3 wagers: $1,356,521 Pick 3 payout: $526,944 Tuesday's Pick 4 numbers: 6385 Pick 4 wagers: $291,024 Pick 4 payout: $121,700 Monday's Buckeye 5 numbers: 4, 13, 17, 24, 25; one $100,000 winner.

Tonight's Super Lotto jackpot: $4 million Jewell CardwelTs column does not appear today. The Region Page 3 Deaths Pages 6, 7 TV Page 13 Comics Pages 14, 15 OCAL turn Saving the local news on WAKC Station's new buyers pledge that they won't abolish local reporting as long as they control the station. Current employees' jobs called safe By Bob Dyer Channel 23 "will be as different from the Home Shopping Network as night is from day. That's a good quote. You should use that." newscasts once the sale closes.

The company's $6 million deal with the Berk family of Akron was announced last month. Until Tuesday, neither ValueVision nor the Berks would field questions from reporters. Based on ValueVision's track record, its stock prospectus and legal papers filed for the sale with the Federal Communications Commission, the newspaper and other observers have been skeptical about the company's one-sentence assertion in a news release that it planned to continue local newscasts. For largely that reason, the city councils of Akron and Barberton voted to oppose the sale. Enter Mike Jones, a Washington lawyer who is the company's vice president of TV broadcasting, and Steve Cunningham, a Denver lawyer who is senior vice president of program distribution.

They insist that WAKC's new programming will include the same news commitment, expanded sports and significant amounts of public affairs. ValueVision wants "to use this station as a model" for its proposed acquisitions in other markets, said Jones. The company currently has purchase agreements with three other stations, in Manassas, Baytown, Texas; and New London, Conn. Two of those stations program no news, while the third does only a limited amount, they said. But when ValueVision takes over here, said Jones, Channel 23 "will be as different from the Home Shopping Network as night See WAKC, Page D4 The buyers of Akron's WAKC (Channel 23) have surfaced to deny widespread speculation that they would phase out local newscasts.

After three weeks of silence, officers of ValueVision, the Minnesota home-shopping company, visited the Beacon Journal to pledge to continue to mount regular MIKE JONES VahteVisum official Memorial To Tragedy lift I' fk Sewer rate hike sought for Kent k. Urn J' Lawmakers to consider request for 15 increase. Last boost in '85. If OK'd, hike in effect on March 1 Five candles, a small Christmas tree and toys sit In the lawn at theVanBuren Homes in Barberton, where four children and their grandmother died in a fire Saturday. Killed were 1-year-old twins Jamal and Jameesha Williams; Devon Williams, Darius Williams, and their grandmother, Jessie Williams, 64.

The children's father, Eddie Williams, 38, was injured and is in satisfactory condition at Barberton Citizens Hospital. The children's mother, Tracy Bennet, was not at home at the time of the fire. h'fMj Mir f'i increase the sewer rates. Council-men Jerry Lewis and John Nemec were absent. Councilman Bill Schultz voted against the increase.

He said the council should hold off on the rate increase until it is clear whether the $75 million mall on the outskirts of Kent is to be built. Under the terms of an agreement, the mall's developer, Edward J. DeBartolo has to give the city a notice of intent to proceed in March. The city has already granted the developer two extentions on the original starting date of the project Schultz said the council has set aside $600,000 to pay for improvements to the mall site at state Routes 43 and 261. That money should be diverted to the sewer fund before the rates are increased, he said.

But city engineer Al Brubaker said the $600,000 was incentive money set aside to build oversize sewer and water systems at the mall area. That incentive was offered to DeBartolo to get the mall built, he said. "If the mall isn't built, there See KENT, Page D4 By tiirjty Umrigar Beacon Journal strfl writer KENT: Kent City Council tonight will consider a request from the administration for a 15 percent increase in sewer rates. The increase would cost the average homeowner $3 more a month. The sewer portion of the average monthly utility bill is currently about $20.

The last increase in sewer rates was in 1985. The proposal is to go through three readings by the council. If the council approves the increase, it will go into effect March 1. Finance director Barb Rissland said the 15 percent increase would raise $400,000 a year. The money would be used for capital improvements, operating costs and replacing sewers, she said.

The council's Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities and Finance Committee voted 6-1 on Dec. 8 to SUSAN KIRKMANBeacon Journal Public meetings at City Hall in limbo Meetings may have to move elsewhere because building isn't accessible to handicapped, according to ruling in settlement tative Thomas Eshbrook if the city can use the old building until a new Hanna quires local governments to provide people with disabilities full access to programs and services or have a plan to do so by 1995. It helped spur officials to consider replacing the old building with a $3.1 million facility. Hanna said the city wants to comply fully with the law but has asked equal opportunity represen- Mayor John Hanna said he was told by a Washington, D.C., equal opportunity representative that an investigation into the case has been completed, and the conciliatory measures include no public meetings in the building. Cayton's complaint was filed under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which re the equal employment opportunity division of the Justice Department about a year ago, saying he was unable to get into the Municipal Court.

The court is on the second level of 60-year-old City Hall at 145 High which also houses the police department. It has one wheelchair ramp and no elevators. By Leon a Allen Beacon Journal stqff writer Wadsworth: Public meetings could be barred from City Hall if the Justice Department sticks to its ruling in a settlement of a handicap accessibility case. Wadsworth resident Jerry Cay-ton, who uses a wheelchair and crutches, filed a complaint with Stark options: tax or cut County cornmissioners divided on whether to tax or wait for voter approval By George W. Davis Beacon Journal stqff 'writer CANTON: Stark County Commissioner Donald R.

Watkins is convinced the most viable way out of the county's financial crisis is a 1 percent piggyback sales and use tax for five years. Within the next week, he hopes to present colleagues Gayle Jack facility is completed. The City Council has not approved the construction for the See WADSWORTH, Page D4 1 kX r-OI, Stf i i l.t, Ml 1 Man's best friend was his helper, too Quadriplegic's trained dog missing since Monday i7 son and Mary Cirelli with the facts and figures that will lead them to the same conclusion. But the other commissioners weren't budging Tues- JawvMA iUM 9 si By George W.Davis Beacon Animal stqff writer Canal Fulton: A man who has been quadriplegic since a 1982 fall in the old Canton city jail has lost his closest friend and hopes someone will come to his aid. Millon Blackshear, 35, has lived in his bed and his wheelchair since that day when police found him on the floor of his cell unable to move after what they said was a fall from the top bunk.

Blackshear, who sued the city over the incident but lost, still blames police and jail conditions for his injuries. But all he cares about now is his missing 14-month-old Labrador retriever, which was given to him Nov. 6 by the Guide Dog Association of Ohio after $6,000 of specialized training through a grant. "I don't know what happened, but apparently someone left him off his chain Monday morning," he said. Blackshear was convicted in September 1984 of three counts each of rape, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

His four- to 25-year sentence has been delayed until he can go to prison. That probably won't happen. Blackshear said he doesn't want sympathy; he just wants his dog back. The dog, named Hampton, was chained behind his apartment at the Echoing Ridge Residential Center on Beverly Avenue by an orderly who assists Blackshear See SEARCH, Page D4 Watkins stance that because residents have refused to vote for the tax, commissioners shouldn't impose it. "I'm working on some figures now various proposals to show the financial effect of what would occur if a 0.5 percent or 1 percent tax is imposed in January, as opposed to those proposals if approved on the ballot in May," said Watkins.

"I think this will give both of Photo courtesy of Millon Blackshear Millon Blackshear, a quadriplegic for about 11 years, with his dog and assistant, Hampton. The canine disappeared Monday, six weeks after he came to live with his new master. See TAX, Page D4.