The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 25

The Beacon Journal C3 REGION AND STATE Thursday, June 25. 1987 REGION MID STATE QR3 BRD Muse confident law school plan will quash accreditation review credited by the ABA and that there are no pending procedures regarding that accreditation. "I think it is unfortunate that reports in the press have led some to believe that the law school is in danger of losing its accreditation," Muse said. He outlined a two-year plan to renovate West Hall and connect it to the law school building. Now that the plan has trustee approval, it is to be submitted to the Ohio Board of Regents by July 7.

White could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Top Akron administrators who attended the closed-door ABA meeting in Sacramento said the ABA did not tell them whether the updated law school expansion plan would meet ABA standards. "They were one of the most tight-lipped groups I had seen," said Roger Ryan, Akron U's director of physical facilities, who appeared before the committee. Akron officials say most of the law school's problems cited in an ABA accreditation review in 1979 have been corrected except for the shortage of physical facilities. The law school accreditation difficulties surfaced last month, when the ABA told Muse and law school dean Donald M.

Jenkins that a $3.2 million plan to expand the law school facilities would not meet ABA standards and could threaten the school's accreditation. The university was asked to outline a plan to remedy the deficiencies. Ryan said university officials, including provost Frank Marini, Jenkins and incoming dean Isaac C. Hunt, met with the ABA for two hours. Marini said Wednesday the ABA simply reviewed the expansion plan.

"This was not an investigatory hearing, it was not a preliminary step to having our accreditation removed," he said. If the law school were to lose accreditation, its graduates then would be ineligible to take the Ohio Bar examination required to practice law in Ohio. By Patrick E. Cole Beacon Journal education writer University of Akron president William V. Muse said he's confident a plan approved Wednesday by the Akron trustees to expand the law school will satisfy the American Bar Association.

Five university officials outlined a $1.86 million expansion plan for the law school Friday to the ABA accreditation committee in Sacramento, Calif. Based upon Akron U's report, the committee said it will consider whether to proceed with hearings a step that is a prelude to a decision on whether to revoke the law school's accreditation. Although the ABA did not tell Akron officials on Friday whether the plan is adequate, Muse told the university trustees Wednesday that Akron is not in danger of losing its accreditation. Muse said he was told Tuesday by James P. White, the ABA's consultant on legal education, that the law school is fully ac Mi H4, -MeJi fc-' k-w warn ras ii.t Man who killed father may be out in 90 days David Ferrell, 18, of Perry Township was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter Wednesday by Stark County Common Pleas Judge William A.

Morris. Ferrell was sentenced to five to 25 years in prison in the Jan. 18 strangulation death of his 66-year-old father, Joseph, during a fight at their home on Erie Avenue Northwest. Ferrell could be eligible for shock parole after serving 90 days. HIT-SKIP FATALITY: A 23-year-old Akron man died at Akron General Medical Center early today, nearly an hour after he was struck by a hit-skip driver in the 700 block of Edgewood Avenue.

Police said Brent Mitchell of Bacon Street was struck by a pickup truck about 1:30 a.m. as he stepped from the curb. He died at 2:19 a.m. Police said the driver did not stop. Police are looking for a metallic blue pickup that possibly has a white strip on its sides.

WOODRIDGE SCHOOL CONTRACTS: The Wood-ridge school board on Wednesday approved 33 one-year contracts to teachers who will guide extracurricular activities. Among the contracts were Dean Barker, athletic director and boys basketball head coach at Woodridge Middle School; Michael Coburn, varsity golf coach; Lisa Coleman, assistant varsity volleyball coach; Don Whitmer, assistant boys basketball coach and head girls basketball coach at the middle school; and Connie Alden, assistant girls basketball coach, head volleyball coach and head track coach at the middle school. EDISON RATE REDUCTION: Customers of Ohio Edison Co. will see a slight reduction in their monthly electric bill effective July 1, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio said. The reduction comes as a result of the PUCO'S semiannual review of the company's electric-fuel component rate.

That rate, which is approved by the PUCO, allows the cost of all purchased fuel to be passed on to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis with no profit margin. Based on an average usage of 750 kilowatt hours of electricity a month, the average Ohio Edison customer will save about 58 cents monthly. EXTRA JURORS REQUESTED: Attorneys for William Gillard, accused in the Jan. 1, 1985, slaying of a man and woman in Canton, have asked that an additional pool of 50 jurors be available for his trial. Jury selection in Stark County Common Pleas Court is expected to last through the week.

Gillard is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of complicity to commit aggravated murder and one count of burglary. Gillard's brother, John, was sentenced in 1985 in the murders of Denise Maxwell and Leroy Ensign and the wounding of Ronnie Postlethwait at a Canton home. The conviction was later overturned by the 5th District Court of Appeals and will be heard by the Ohio Supreme Court. AIDS AMONG ISSUES BEFORE CHURCH: A variety of social issues, including AIDS, sexual harassment and divestment, will be discussed by the 700 delegates of the United Church of Christ who open their 16th biennial synod today in Cleveland. The United Church of Christ was formed 30 years ago today in Cleveland, the result of a merger of the British-derived Congregational Christians and the German-derived Evangelical and Reformed Church.

The church today has 1.7 million members. During the six-day synod, delegates also will consider whether to relocate their New York City headquarters; whether to encourage the advertising of condoms as one way of confronting the problem of AIDS; more stringent policies on South Africa, including divestment from corporations doing business there; and plans for dealing with a "spiritual crisis" and evangelism. NORTHFIELD NAMES BOARD MEMBER: The Northfield Village Council on Wednesday appointed Earl Stright of North Plaza Drive to the recreation board to a term expiring December 31, 1991. Stright fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Jack Caldwell to the Village Council. In other business, Victor G.

Basil was appointed as a part-time police officer. He will serve a probationary period of one year. -'188? iS5f Beacon Journal photo 8un Klrknwt Macedonia's City Hall has half a white paint job and it has become the subject of a controversy in council White paint job has some seeing red Macedonia mayor's decision upsets council, residents By Yalinda Rhoden Beacon Journal staff writer There's a big white elephant in Macedonia that, at least, is what some residents are calling the new City Hall, which Mayor Stuart Feils is having painted white. Feils' decision to have the red brick building painted was attacked by residents and City Council members Wednesday during a three-hour emergency meeting called by council members, which the mayor did not attend. Neither residents nor council members knew anything about the painting until earlier that day, when the painters started.

Council members said they are upset because for three months, they have been debating whether to paint the building or have the bricks stained to match the adjacent City Safety Building. They said they are opposed to Feils' decision because he did not consult them beforehand. However, city law director Or- val Hoover said Feils has the administrative authority to make such decisions without the council's approval. Hoover said the city's contract with Blunden-Barklay Architects of Cleveland calls for the structure to be painted and for the architect to have aesthetic control. Feils said Wednesday that the architects asked for a decision so they could keep work progressing on the building and he made one.

He said he will not change his mind about the painting, which is to continue today. The City Hall was completed in May. It cost about $1 million. The building's top, rear and the south sides already had been painted by the 5:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday.

Feils, who said the painting should be completed by next week, mailed letters to each of the council members Tuesday informing them of his decision. But only two council members said they had received their letters by Wednesday. Council members and residents complained that Feils showed disrespect for the legislative body's working relationship. "The real issue here is that the mayor made a decision without informing anyone," said Council President Joseph Migliorini, who called Wednesday's meeting. Councilwoman Rosalie Koren said that although she prefers having the building painted white, she was "disturbed to learn that it was being painted and we (council members) didn't know about it." Councilman Nick Molnar said he didn't care if the building was painted or stained.

But he said, "I thought the mayor's action was in very poor taste." The council and Feils had decided at a June 4 meeting that they would postpone a decision on painting the building until they could meet with a manufacturer to see whether staining would be feasible. The council is to meet at 7:30 tonight at the City Hall, 9699 Valley View Road. Mortgage rate cut on Akron condos WORTH NOTING CHAMBERS SPONSOR BLOOD DRIVES: Media celebrities and members of area chambers of commerce will participate in the first Chamber Blood Challenge Friday at 2 p.m. at the Children's Hospital-Medical Center, 281 Locust Akron. In cooperation with the American Red Cross, the Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce has challenged neighboring chambers to sponsor a summer bloodmobile.

Dates and sites for the bloodmobile appearances are: Monday, First Christian Church, Stow; Tuesday, St. Barnabas Church, Northfield; July 6, Our Lady of Victory Church, Tallmadge; July 9, Quirk Cultural Center, Cuyahoga Falls; July 10, Summit Mall, Fair lawn; and July 14, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hudson. UNITED WAY NAMES PRESIDENT: Frances McGov-ern, an attorney at Ohio Edison, has been named president of the board of trustees of the United Way of Summit County. She replaces Karl S.

Hay, an attorney with Brouse McDowell, who has been president of the trustees since 1982. The United Way also has awarded its 1987 Distinguished Service Awards to attorney Lisle M. Buckingham and Susan B. Kru-der. Buckingham is a partner in the Akron law firm of Buckingham, Doolittle Burroughs.

Ms. Kruder is active on civic boards and committees. By Cristal Williams Beacon Journal staff writer Lock II condominium officials are offering a new, 5.5 percent, adjustable-rate mortgage on their units in an attempt to boost sales at the downtown development. Fliers, which encourage home buyers to "run don't walk to Lock II condos," have been mailed to professionals who work in or near downtown, said Howard Flood, chairman of the Lock TJ Development Corp. "It's attracting a great deal of attention," Flood said.

Also, Repetti Realty Inc. of Akron has been retained as agent for Lock n. Building homes in a downtown area is a new concept, so the marketing has to be done differently, Flood said. The downtown $14,000, from $79,000 to $65,000, after selling only one of the 18 units. Flood said that situation has begun to change, pointing out that seven of the 18 units now have been sold.

"We've been encouraged recently," he said. Under the program, participating banks will offer 5.5 percent, adjustable, first-mortgage loans up to a 30-year term. The 5.5 percent rate will be fixed for the first three years, after which it will be subject to adjustment of no more than 2 percentage points higher. Thereafter, the rate can be adjusted no more than 2 percentage points at the end of each three-year increment. The rate could never exceed 10.5 percent over the life of "still is not traditionally the place you look to buy a house," he said.

Price and financing are what attract buyers, he said. The 5.5 percent mortgage, which became available about three weeks ago, represents a "focus on a new attempt at bringing downtown houses onto the market," Flood said. Lock II Development a non-profit agency, was established in 1983 as part of the city's downtown redevelopment plan. The corporation contracted with developer Irving Botnick to build the condominiums at West Bowery Street and Buchtel Avenue next to the Ohio Canal and Lock Park. In October, Lock TJ officials dropped the price of the units by the loan, or drop below 5.5 percent.

According to the flier, a buyer who makes a 10 percent down payment of $6,500 would have monthly mortgage payments of' $322. A 6 percent fixed mortgage is available for a portion of the loan. The financing, offered by National City, First National Bank of Ohio, Society National and Bank One, will be available through July 31. When the project first was built in 1986, the corporation said mortgage payments would be kept low because the city received a $1.5 million Urban Development Action Grant. The federal money allowed buyers to finance their homes at about 8.5 percent interest.

PD editor defends bedroom coverage CRIME WATCH Stark County SHERIFF LARCENY A radar detector and a citizens band radio valued at a total of $302 were taken from a truck in the 3900 block of Convenience Circle Northwest in Plain Township. A $425 radio was taken from a boat In the 6100 block of Whipple Avenue Northwest in Plain Township. BURGLARY Clothing valued at 1 25 was taken from a home in the 3900 block of Swamp Road in Lake Township. JACKSON TOWNSHIP LARCENY A man lost his wallet in the 3400 block of Everhard Road and later found it in a dumpster. Three $100 bills were missing, the man said.

A purse valued at $50 and a $75 camera were taken from a building in the 5600 block of Dressier Road Norhwest. A license plate was taken from a car in the 4800 block of Everhard Road. CANTON LARCENY A $120 radio was taken from a car In the 900 block of 17th Street A truck battery valued at $170 was taken from the 1700 block of 1 1th Street Northeast. BURGLARY Two mobile telephones with an undisclosed value were taken from a building In the 1900 block of Fulton Road Northwest. A $70 watch was taken from a home in the 1200 block of Colonial Boulevard Northeast.

NORTH CANTON VANDALISM Someone poured paint remover on a vehicle in the 1200 block of North Main Street. No damage estimate was given. DISTURBANCE A police officer stopped a car after he saw a passenger in the auto throw a firecracker in the 200 block of Schneider Road Southeast. The officer searched the car but found no more fireworks. By Randy Wynn OhioWashington News Service WASHINGTON The Plain Dealer's editor and publisher said Wednesday that his newspaper erred in an editorial criticizing the Miami Herald's reporting of former Sen.

Gary Hart's weekend with a part-time model. Thomas Vail, who used an appearance before a National Press Club audience to defend the Plain Dealer's subsequent story on Ohio Gov. Richard F. Celeste's extramarital affairs, also suggested the paper had evidence of five Celeste liaisons in addition to the three it described. Asked to reconcile the newspaper's June 4 story on Celeste with its May 7 condemnation of the Hart story, Vail said he disagreed with the Plain Dealer editorial accusing the Herald of poor judgment and declaring that Hart's version of the disputed event should be believed.

"I think the Plain Dealer editorial on the Miami Herald was wrong," the publisher said. "I made my points very clear. I was away unfortunately at a publishers' meeting at the time it was written, and it did not get passed up to me as it usually does. I think the Miami Herald did an excellent job on that story, and I think we made a mistake." The Plain Dealer's coverage of Celeste's "philandering," Vail ar "Whether the methods of the press were perfect in each of those stories or not, the end re-: suit is that the facts are coming out," he said. The key to protecting press freedom, Vail told an audience including listeners to 300 public radio stations, is maintaining "integrity of purpose." "We might not always write a fair story, we may not always talk to everyone, observe everything or have our story absolutely accurate, but as long as we are trying to do these things, as long as people think our motives are of the highest order, I believe we will be accepted, perhaps never liked, but respected," Vail said.

gued, was "fully documented and checked" and "was not written in a flamboyant or eyebrow-raising way." He said he was told by his paper's Columbus bureau that not only were three Celeste liaisons mentioned in the story fully documented, but "if you want five more, we've got them too." Vail said he thinks reporters will increasingly look into the personal lives of candidates for various offices, not just the presidency. Vail cited the Celeste and Hart stories, along with coverage of the Iranian arms deal and fund diversions, as examples of the virtues of a free press..