The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 13

'Page C2, Monday, August 3, 1992 .7 The Beacon Journal -pr Court Good Morning Centenarians celebrate City Hospital's big 100-candle birthday cake matched by a goodly number of local residents Community service coordinator will answer to service director, not judges, clerk or probation department; officials hope sentences gain impact Fran Murphey "People said they didn't think it did any good to hire more police because there's no room for more criminals in the jail." JOHN OTTERMAN Akron councilman University student who went sky-diving says the experience left him sky-high. "It was great," said Jon Markowitz. "Unbelievable." Markowitz, 22, was paralyzed in an eighth-grade gym accident. His jump Saturday at the Lawrence County Airpark was supervised by Tri-State Skydivers. The co-owner of the company, Bruce Henderson, used a special harness to strap himself to Markowitz for the jump, which went without incident, although Markowitz's knees did hit the ground on the landing.

"This is 10 times more difficult than a regular jump but 100 times more rewarding," Henderson said. BELLEFONTAINE Family's deaths ruled murder-suicide A family of four died of carbon monoxide poisoning in an apparent triple-murder-suicide after a car was left running in the garage below their house. The bodies of the Kawaguchi family were found at 11:30 a.m.: Saturday after a co-worker of the father, Hiroyuki Kawaguchi, 36, a staff engineer with Honda Engineering North America, asked police to check on the home. Also found were the bodies of Kawaguchi's wife, Mamiko, 32, and the couple's sons, Yuta, 6, and Kenta, 4, police said. Officers found one of two cars parked in the garage running with an interior door to the house open.

All exterior doors and windows of the house were closed and locked except for a kitchen window. The victims were found in two bedrooms on the second Door of the house over the garage. Logan County Coroner J.B. -McGriff ruled the death of the father as a suicide and the other, deaths as homicides, police said. The family had lived in Bellefontaine since February 1991.

Continued from Page CI service doesn't work in Akron. That's because four out of 10 people sentenced to community, service don't bother to show up to work. They get away with it because the four probation officers who monitor these criminals are swamped by the doubling of felonies since 1986 and the 45 percent increase in misdemeanors. Police Chief Larry Givens said this creates a new problem. He said sentencing a criminal to community service is harmful when it's so easy to skip the work.

"It only points out that the system is broken," Givens said. "I learned a valuable political lesson," Otterman said. After he began talking about the merits of community service, he found himself facing city officials with questions about the problems that prevent the system from working. "People had serious questions, which I couldn't answer," he said. That changed only after Otter-man spent months going back and forth between the various judges, police, probation officials and politicians involved.

He also got advice from other cities that had tackled the same problem, and he settled on a plan modeled after a program in Elkhart, Ind. There were at least two problems that undermined the program's chances. One involved money; the other involved politics. Otterman suggested creating a new city job community service coordinator to be responsible solely for making sure people get caught if they skip court-ordered work. But the city's payroll has been shrinking steadily for the last decade, and there's little support for creating new positions while others are being eliminated.

One thing that gave Otterman's plan an edge was the idea that if the program succeeds, the city might win a state criminal justice grant to keep it running. Politically, Otterman was making his pitch at the worst possible time. The same election that carried Otterman into office saw the election of Judy Hunter as Akron Municipal Court clerk. Hunter, a Republican, vowed to reorganize the clerk's office and end the system of job patronage long controlled by Akron's Democrats, and the political war started as soon as she took office. It was politically Incorrect to create a new job for the turf warriors to fight over.

But Otterman lobbied Mayor Don Plusquellic, council President David Bryant and Kapper for support, and they came up with an answer to his political problem. They had Otterman write his program so that the new worker reported to Kapper not the judges, the clerk or the probation department. That may not make sense on any city organization chart, but it pushed the plan be- yond the political nightmare of the moment. Otterman said he expects that by this time next year, anyone who doesn't live up to his or her sentence will face the real possibility of arrest and jail. Kapper is working now to develop hiring guidelines for the position, and Otterman hopes that enough work will get done in August to allow someone to be hired in September.

The ideal candidate would have training or experience in criminal justice, social work or corrections. No one has applied for the job, which is to pay about $22,000 to $24,000. Several nonprofit community organizations such as Keep Akron Beautiful (which cleans up litter and plants flowers) and Brush Up Akron (which paints the homes of low-income residents) use community service workers now, and say they need the extra workers. Probation department officials estimate that at least 100 local nonprofit organizations would accept the workers, and Otterman predicts that criminals with special skills could tutor pupils with learning problems, work in literacy programs or volunteer for church work. Last year, 959 criminals were ordered to do community service, with fewer than 600 complying.

Otterman believes the number can be doubled, with higher compliance. This is the third major initiative won by the rookie councilman. He also campaigned on a pledge to get a community center to serve EM residents, a plan that has won support in City Hall because it came at exactly the same time that the mayor and the council were gearing up to provide more community centers across the city. Otterman also revived a proposal for a pact of cooperation between City Hall and the Akron school board. He said residents should be able to use classrooms as a place for community organizations to meet.

He made the proposal at exactly the time that Bryant and others were making overtures to new Superintendent Terry Grier to forge a closer alliance with the city. That new alliance which goes far beyond Otterman's original proposal was passed by the school board on Monday. Otterman's initial burst of success on council has been a surprise for veterans in City Hall. JOCELYN WHUAMSBeacon Journal pbotoi of 1962 graduated, but Its Akron 28,000 homes lose power for 45 minutes About 28,000 customers in southern Summit County were without electrical service for about 45 minutes Sunday night after an insulator malfunctioned on a transmission line, an Ohio Edison spokesman said. Areas affected included Springfield and Franklin townships, Green, Norton, Clinton and parts of Barberton.

The power went out at 8:52 p.m. The spokesman said the problem was in the transmission line between Wadsworth and Barberton. Sandusky Cleveland man hurt on roller coaster A 20-year-old man was injured on a roller coaster at Cedar Point amusement park when his hand apparently caught between the coaster and the loading platform. Preston Heaggans of Cleveland was riding the Mean Streak roller coaster at 12 18 p.m. Saturday when he put his hand outside the car just as the ride was ending, said park spokesman Robin Innes.

Heaggans was in stable condition Saturday at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland after undergoing surgery for lacerations to his right wrist. The 161-foot Mean Streak, one of the world's tallest and fastest roller coasters, was shut down immediately after the accident. It was reopened at 11:20 a.m. Sunday after a state inspector ruled that the ride was operating properly, Innes said. Cleveland Medina utility told to clean up its act Regulators held up a $1.2 million loan until an electric cooperative serving parts of Medina, Wayne, Lorain, Ashland and Huron counties tightened its travel spending and cut other expenses, a report said Sunday.

The Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative had been spending nearly $50,000 a year on travel for its executives and their families, according to a story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The nonprofit co-op also paid the bill for full health insurance for the cooperative's nine elected trustees and its part-time lawyer, a rarity among Ohio's 27 rural electric cooperatives, according to the newspaper. The cooperative's practices were criticized in a recent review by the Rural Electrification Administration, the federal agency that had refused to release money from an already-approved $1.2 million loan until co-op officials straightened out finances. REA officials said the co-op is improving operations and, as a result, the agency has started releasing loan funds. Co-op officials, who will hold their annual meeting Monday in Wellington, said the problems were resolved with the March 9 resignation of Thomas Gray as general manager.

Akron Real estate office destroyed by fire A fire believed set by an arsonist destroyed the Russell Realty Co. office at 147 N. Howard St. on Sunday morning, the Akron Fire Department said. Damage was estimated at $95,000 to the building and $5,000 to contents.

There were no injuries. The fire broke out in a back stairwell and spread to the rest of the building. It was reported to the fire department at 2 58 a.m. (inn mm I Columbus AmeriFlora sets attendance record AmeriFlora '92 set a record for one-day attendance over the weekend, officials said. About 20,000 people attended the International floral exhibition on Saturday, AmeriFlora estimates snowed.

Marketing director Steve Zonars credited local media for the success. A dozen radio stations and three television stations had live shows from the exhibition. AmeriFlora, which ends Oct. 12, has suffered from lower-than-expected attendance. Chesapeake Quadriplegic makes jump from plane A quadriplegic Marshall Ever think about the changes you have seen in your own lifetime? Then imagine what someone has experienced in 100 years.

These days more and more people are living longer. Not that a 100th birthday is exactly commonplace for people or businesses. Akron City Hospital had a grand celebration for its first century this summer. A mammoth birthday cake was put up on the hospital grounds at East Market and Arch streets. That allowed those of us who drove by to have a part in the anniversary.

A poster standing near the flower-festooned cake had a drawing of a cake bursting with City Hospital's birthday cake flaming candles. That brought back memories of the 99th birthday party for the late William Frew Long, longtime mayor of Macedonia. In lighting 99 small birthday candles around the edge of a sheet cake, one learns to buy bigger candles for such occasions. Fifty friends and relatives had a birthday cake for Dora Iilley over the weekend at the Doylestown Health Care Center, where she has lived four years. She achieves 100 today.

She worked as a glove fitter at Polsky's, first on North Main Street and then at the firm's South Main location. She was DoraWilley Is 100 today School Classmates gather after 30 years, remember the smiles they left behind Continued from Page CI who made it back, about a third of the class and their spouses, seemed stunned just being in each other's presence. Jim Cole, in from Topeka, huddled with Fred Robinson, who lives in Maine. "You remember things," Cole said. "Remember how Jim Osborne could put his arms around himself and hug himself?" And Cole demonstrated.

"No. I don't remember that," said Robinson. "A lot of times," he added, addressing everyone around, "you remember people doing things they didn't do." Bill Hagaman remembered that Jim Cukr was 5 feet 3 inches when he left high school. "In fact, there he is," said Hagaman, pointing to Cukr, a 26-year Air Force veteran who stands 6 feet 1 inch. Cukr was asked how tall he was when he left high school.

"Five feet 2y2 inches," Cukr said. Lynda Scheatzle, who lives in Texas, told how her husband, after more than 20 years with a car company, was let go. "That is tough," she said. "They make money off you and then one day, it's goodbye." Then she brightened. "All the women look great," she said, glancing around the, room.

"The men look, well, "Bald," said Pat Petrovich. This was her first reunion and she came out of curiosity. Petrovich manages a tire store in South Carolina, a job once given only to men. She fought to get accepted. "I still have to fight," she said.

But the women who follow her will have it easier. Scheatzle was right about the women. Younger women fit themselves into prevailing styles. The women here fit various styles to Si MM 11 long active in Kenmore's Park United Methodist Church. At the care center, she cuts stamps for church missionary work.

Born Aug. 3, 1892, in Lewisburg, Mrs. Lilley was the oldest of the seven children of Albert and Anna White. Her only sister, Martha (Mrs. John) Pittenger, lives in Akron.

Their five brothers are deceased. Mrs. Lilley was married twice, first to Herbert Hansen and then to William Lilley. Both are deceased. She had two daughters, Marguerite Williams of Doylestown and Myrtle Hansen, who died as a teen-ager.

There are two grandchildren, Darlene Honaker of Creston and Robert E. Williams of Akron, and three great-grandchildren. In February she became a great-great-grandmother when Crystal Renee Williams was born in Aurora, Colo. Cora Elsie Gaul will mark her 100th birthday anniversary Sunday at a family picnic. She was born into the Winkelman family in Coventry Cora Elsie Gaul with Fuzzy Township and married Roy Gaul in 1918.

Relatives remember they both liked to fish. They were married 30 years before his death. Mrs. Gaul worked at Ohio Match Co. in Wadsworth and did domestic work.

She still lives in her own home in Wadsworth. A great-great-niece, Cora Lee Walker, resides with her. Earlier this summer a man called me to talk "about a lady who is 107 years old." Never found him at the number he left and he did not call back. An awful lot of water has gone over members did their best to catch up "A lot of times you remember people doing things they didn't do." Fred Robinson back from Maine themselves. They looked sharp.

The men came in wide versions and bald versions and pot-bellied versions. But others were trim, men who huffed and puffed and blew the cholesterol away. By the end of the two nights, old rivalries would surface. witch always was after my husband" and "That bunch never Yet even that was part of the joy of their togetherness. Here is their secret.

They can see the boy and the girl in each other. It was not that they had recaptured their youth. They came to peek at their youth where it still lay, hidden and pristine. It is held, as though in safe-deposit boxes, in the hearts and memories of their once-and-always classmates. iff WELCOME i FALLS CLASS OF i i Canton Bloodmobiie sites for early August The Community Blood Program in Canton will have bloodmobiles in the following locations the first part of August: The North Canton Elks, 801 Pittsburgh Road, North Canton, Monday from 3:30 to 7p.m.; Aultman Hospital auditorium, 2600 Sixth St.

S.W., Canton, Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Greenwood Christian Church, 4425 Frazier N.W., Canton, Thursday from 3 to 6 30 p.m. and Christ Presbyterian Church, 530 Tuscarawas St. Canton, Aug. 13 from 2 to 6 45 p.m.

Medina Title office to open at new location The Medina County title office is closing Aug. 6-11 and will reopen Aug. 12 in its new location, 1158B N. Court St. in the Center Pointe Plaza.

The office will be next to the state license bureau. The title office currently is located at 144 N. Broadway St. Summit County After delay caused by rain, repaying work is scheduled to begin today on state Route 82 from Sagamore Hills to Northfield Center. Traffic will be maintained.

In Akron, reconstruction of steam manholes along the north side of West Market Street between Main Street and Dart Avenue will begin this evening. Westbound traffic will be restricted to two lanes for about -six weeks. Wayne County Beginning today, Heyl Road (County Road 139) will be closed to through traffic between Fry and Smyser work that will take about five Stark County Traffic will be slightly hindered again this ween as woi continues aiong 1.1 miles of Whipple Avenue from 11th Street to Crestwood, but 12th Street west of Whipple is rlnspd. Work is expected to be completed by Sept. 11 on replacement of a bridge on state -Route 173 over Beech Creek, just east of U.S.

62. Detours are posted. The paving of Everhard Road from Fulton Road in Canton to the North Canton city limit is srhpdn11 tn rvwiHnnp thrnnch Wednesday. Work will begin at -10 p.m., after Belden Village Mall closes. the dam since Cuyahoga Falls' class at the Sheraton Suites this weekend.

IJ' 1 ULJi I i 1 Pat Petrovich didn't attend any earlier reunions, but curiosity brought her to the 30-year edition..