The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 13

src. Hie Beacon Journal Tuesday December 7, 1999 reginaV Brett v. Ex-coach charged with taking funds Police say pair stole $7,347 Buchtel wrestling team supporters earned at University of Akron. B6 Ohio Lottery MONDAY Buckeye 5: 12,18,25, 28, 30 Pick 3: 013 (midday); 556 (evening) Pick 4: 0509 (midday); 0440 (evening) WEDNESDAY Super Lotto jackpot: $8 million Complete lottery results: Page B2. City appros Passon tower Channel 23 owner won't offer local news program, but donates $300,000 for Akron-run news initiatives a nightly televised local newscast the city did get a $300,000 commitment from Paxson for "local news and public affairs programming initiatives." Mayor Don Plusquellic said after the zoning commission vote last night that the $300,000 donation was "the least they could do." The city also got one other concession from Paxson: an agree By Gregory Korte beacon Journal staff writer Paxson Communications, the owner of WVPX (Channel 23), got what it wanted last night city approval for a new 963-foot tower near Rolling Acres Mall to carry its high-definition signal across Northeast Ohio.

And while the city of Akron didn't get exactly what it wanted Angels tell A Story Memories of loss decorate a tree 4 SummitPortage 2'l has been remiss in recent years in not requiring broadcasters to produce those programs in return for rights to use the public's airwaves. "I'm not happy that they pulled out of town, and I made that clear from the beginning," the mayor said last night. "It's hard for me to be happy about giving up local news, and this is all we get in return;" But he said the deal hammered out yesterday was the best that See TV, Page B2 Motorist will begin alcohol program Man sentenced in crash that injured boy. Youth faces surgery on skull By John Higgins Beacon Journal staff writer Next month, an 11-year-old Akron boy will undergo a second skull surgery, and the North Canton man responsible for the boy's injuries will begin court-ordered alcohol treatment. Gordon M.

Wheatley, 35, pleaded no contest yesterday in Akron Municipal Court to driving with a suspended driver's license and driving the wrong way on a oneway street. Judge Carta Moore found him guilty on both counts and sentenced him to 180 days in jail, but suspended half the jail time on several conditions. On Oct 19, Wheatley caused a head-on collision on a narrow on-ramp to Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway near Euclid Avenue. Neither Wheatley nor the driver of the other vehicle, Angelette Hendon, were injured, but Hen-don's son, Arthur Clark, 11, suffered a skull fracture and required emergency surgery at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron.

Her 7-year-old daughter, Ashley Clark, was also hospitalized and released a few days later. Arthur, a sixth-grader at Perkins Middle School, spent more than a week in the hospital recovering. "It's too risky for him to go back to school," Hendon said. "He See Crash, Page B6 Barberton may help out with school City considers letting foundation spend portion of proceeds from hospital By Oren Dorell Beacon Journal staff writer BARBERTON: City officials may allow the Barberton Community Foundation to spend some of the $86 million received in the sale of Barberton Citizens Hospital -money once considered untouchable. A commitment to pay for the new high school has become difficult to meet under current spending guidelines, which only allow foundation managers to spend income made from investing the money.

Foundation managers found themselves in an awkward position in October, when the yearly $2.1 million high school payment was coming due. Foundation assets had slumped to about $90 million after three months of poor performance on the stock market The $32 million high school is under construction at Barber Road and Norton Avenue. It is scheduled to open next spring. The current policy is too restrictive, in part because the stock market's been "a roller coaster," said Don Luscher, the founda- See FUND, PageB4 Can't beat real world for shopping WTT he true meaning of 1 II 1 shopping isn't finding the II right gift at the cheapest Jim price with the least amount of hassle. Shopping, like Christmas, means more than just getting gifts.

To shop is to enter the sea of humanity and trust the flow will carry you someplace better than you would have ended up on your own. It will lead you to gifts you can't buy online or in line. It will lead to gifts that can't be purchased, only experienced. Like Spying on children playing hide 'n' seek in a rack of overcoats in women's apparel and laughing themselves silly when one gets stuck in the fold of a down coat Watching a child step onto an escalator for the first time in his life, eyes big as snowman's coal, mittened hands clinging to Dad's in case the steps decide to swallow a toe. Being present to see the look on a child's face after she's touched Santa's whiskers, that look of amazement, terror, wonder and hope, all wrapped up in an almost smile.

The loud whispers of a girl in line trying to get Santa's attention before it's her turn, and then when it is, seeing her run up the path, throw her arms around the big guy and hold up four fingers to prove her age. Overhearing the children in line questioning, "Mommy, is he the REAL Santa?" "Where are his reindeer?" "Is Christmas tomorrow?" Everywhere, the soprano voices of children 2, 3, 4 and 5 years old squealing over every animated elf and "Frosty the No Man" in sight Witnessing a big sister barely 3 reach into a stroller to squeeze her new baby brother in a hug. Being there the moment a 4-year- old discovers a surprise in the toy plastic purse she picked out for being good: a bright red comb barely big enough for a doll. "A comb! A comb!" she cries out to anyone who will listen. Getting annoyed by a musical country Santa in a black Stetson and red cowboy shirt until a girl at the border of puberty discovers it and yells, "Hey, Mom!" and starts dancing in the aisles of housewares to Alan Jackson singing Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.

Seeing a hurried man in a business suit smile when he catches sight of a dancing cactus in sunglasses singing and shaking to Feliz Navidad. Hearing oohs and ahhs from a row of tiny noses pressed up against the store glass as a train chugs through a miniature village. The sound of bells. Everywhere. Jingle bells.

Salvation Army bells. Tree ornament bells. Angels all over creation getting their wings. Endlessly getting wished a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or, "Have a good one," which covers all holidays or none at all, depending upon your preference. Walking along to a chorus made up of the squeaks of stroller wheels, the rustle of shopping bags, the shuffle of tired feet the swoosh, swoosh of corduroy pants, the giggles of teen-agers, the gossip of old people, the beeps from security devices and the machine-gun fire of cash registers.

Feeling a rush of emotion when you walk in a bookstore and Auden, Byron and Whitman welcome you in to run your hands across the pages to feel the very presence of the dead poets. Holding a never-fumbled football in your outstretched hand. The warmth that hits when you run your fingers across a pair of warm, furry slippers, a soft fleece jacket a cashmere sweater or a pair of flannel PJs. Inhaling perfumes that remind you of people you need to buy gifts for or that make you remember people who aren't around any longer to buy gifts for. The hint of Chanel No.

5 that lingers long enough for you to remember when you bought it for your mother every Christmas. The scent of your father in a whiff of Old Spice, his Sunday morning church smell. Taking in the aroma of candles and potpourri vanilla, clove and cinnamon that smell just like the drawer your grandmother kept her doilies in so long ago. For saving time, shipping and money, there's online shopping. For everything else, there's the real thing.

And it's priceless. Rcgina Brett's column runs Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. She can be reached at 3304964716. -J, Vv--;" w.c i If I J. 1.

Hs 4 '11 i ment that the company would allow a competing television station to use the tower at the city's say-so. The mayor has estimated that it costs at least $1 million a year to run even a shoestring daily news operation, so the money itself is no guarantee that Akron will get the local news programming it has lacked for three years. Paxson moved the station's offices out of Akron when it bought the station in 1996, cutting a local news show and leaving Akron with tPJcJL' 1 i MICHAEL CHR1TTUN Akron a. a- M-r in City abandons plan to tear down Opportunity Park parking deck, will renovate it. Page B2.

nothing but a transmitter and 24 hours a day of infomercials, reruns and religious programming. Plusquellic said he still believes that Paxson has a moral responsibility to provide community affairs programming, and that the Federal Communications Commission GARY W. GREEN Akron Beacon Journal the memorial Christmas tree in an arson fire in 1995. SHARING The Light Of Their Faith Tradition dictates that the newest member of the community lights the menorah to begin Hanukkah; Alex Volokh, a Russian immigrant who has lived in Akron one year, does the honors last night at Summit Mall in Fairlawn. Beacon Journal Victims of homicide and other violent deaths are recalled by those who cared about them By Stephanie warsmith Bmcim Journal staff writer The grief was still fresh last night when Nathalie Rodriquez of Akron placed an angel on the Christmas tree in honor of her mother.

Rodriquez broke down in tears. Her aunt, obviously shaken herself, put her arm around the young girl's shoulders in support. Yvonne Oplinger, 38, was murdered over the weekend in New Castle, Pa She hasn't yet been laid to rest, but her family sought comfort last night at the Summit County Victim Assistance Program's annual Angel Tree Ceremony. About 180 people attended the hour-long ceremony, which is held every December to honor and remember vic-The event took Akron native Yvonne Oplinger, who had been living in New Castle, was found slain on Friday. tims of homicide.

place in the atrium of the Ocasek Government Office Building in downtown Akron. Oplinger, an Akron native, was found murdered about 2 am Friday outside a church in New Castle the city she had called home for a little more than a year. Most of her family still lives in Akron, and her death came as a shock, said Renee Oplinger, her sister-in-law. "It was all just so quick," she said. Oplinger's death has been ruled a homicide, but police have not yet made an arrest, her family said.

Victim Assistance advocates told Oplinger's family about last night's program, and they decided to attend, knowing it would be difficult They stood together at the back of the atrium, hugging each other and whispering softly. See ANGEL, Page B4 Irene Artrip of Akron holds back tears as she waits to place her angel on downtown Akron in memory of her daughter, Kay Ann Westfall, who died Walsh students, fans champions ing yards to help lead his team to its first-ever state championship. The revelry continued yesterday afternoon, when the Catholic school's 840 students gathered in the gymnasium to celebrate their team's 19-18 victory over Sylvania Southview. Newspaper and TV reporters were on hand to capture the moment So were several proud parents, including Dan's mom. "I've taped everything, so when they're couch potatoes, they can watch it and have something to remember," she said.

Not that there's much chance of the players ever forgetting this season. Before yesterday after-See RALLY, Page B6 cheer state Celebration continues after football team's win over Sylvania Southview By Cheryl Powell Beacon Journal staff writer Cuyahoga Falls: Amid the tele vision cameras at waisn Jesuit High School yesterday, Denise Basch quietly focused her small camcorder on the star of her show: her son Dan. Of course, it could be said that the 17-year-old Walton Hills resident was one of everyone's stars yesterday at least at Walsh. After all, the senior tailback set a Division ll state title-game record Friday night with 250 rush.