The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • B1

Akron Beacon Journal Ohio.com INFORMING. ENGAGING. ESSENTIAL. Monday, April 15, 2019 B1 COMMUNITY 6 WITAN SPENDS AT Art Fleming, then known as Art Fazzin, was disc jockey at WAKR By Mark J. Price Beacon A nswer: The original host of the TV game show Question: Who was Art Fleming? Cue the music: Long before Alex Trebek urged contestants to phrase their responses in the form of a ques- tion, Fleming was the man with all the answers.

And long before he became a national celebrity, Fleming was an Akron radio star. The New York City native used his real name, Art Fazzin, when he joined WAKR (1590 AM) as morning host in 1949. The 24-year-old broadcaster came to Akron from a station in Durham, North Carolina. Fazzin was a World War II veteran who had served as a bomber pilot in the Navy. Before enlisting in the mili- tary, he had been captain of football team.

Handsome and charm- ing, Fazzin looked like a movie star, all 6-4 and 230 pounds of him. He spoke with a smooth, authori- tative voice, and Akron audiences loved him. is Art Fazzin, telling you that things are really bounc- ing around the WAKR microphones on the each week- day from 6 to 9 a.m.,” he gushed. a little cheer in your soul and a smile on your face, join me while I play your favorite tunes and keep you up to the minute on the time and the The disc jockey filled the airwaves with such popu- lar artists as Dinah Shore, Nat King Cole, Patti Page, Vaughn Monroe and the Andrews Sisters. I AC I I A I host was Akron radio star NBC-TV production assistant Nancy Penry and host Art Fleming celebrate the first anniversary of the game show in March 1965.

COM FILE Beacon Impact Ohio will hold a regional conference April 23 in Akron with government, community and business leaders discussing policy and politics. The event, set for 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Quaker Station at University of Akron, will feature talks by Ohio Lt. Gov.

Jon Husted and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose also will participate in a panel discussion on civility. expect to have an engaging dialogue on a variety of topics, and we look forward to having Akron-area business and community leaders gather at the conference to network and gain new insight into policy issues facing the Impact Ohio CEO Jennifer Flatter said in a prepared statement. The panel discussions will focus on economic i i i and childhood initiatives: i i Development and Elevating the Regional a Culture of Civility in a Divided and Childhood Experiences to Improve Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro, state Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, Sen.

Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, and University of Akron interim President John Green are among the panelists. The conference is a partnership of The Success Group, Greater Akron Chamber, Akron Beacon and University of Akron. The event is co-sponsored by the Ohio Democratic and Republican parties. Tickets are $80. For more details or to register, go to: https://impactohio.org/ State leaders at regional conference By Kaitlyn McGarvey Record-Courier GateHouse Media Ohio crowd erupted in applause and chants of as Sen.

Bernie Sanders entered the Lordstown High School auditorium Sunday to dis- cuss campaign promises and to criticize the closing of the General Motors plant last month. The Democratic presidential hopeful opened his remarks before a crowd of about 100 by saying the situation in Lordstown should be part of a national conversation because plants have shut down across the country. He told those in attendance they must decide if they will allow companies to close down profitable plants, ask for tax breaks and dictate trade policies. He also mockingly called President Donald Trump a for shutting down the government which denied federal workers paychecks. Along with challenging Trump to no longer give federal con- tracts to GM, Sanders added he and others would make it illegal to do stock buybacks unless a company respects and protects the jobs of its workers.

him I say, to Donald Trump, really a tough guy to shut down the federal Sanders said. really a tough guy to deny tens and tens, hundreds and thousands of workers a paycheck. see how tough you are. Tell General Motors today more federal con- Opponents of Sanders, however, questioned the truthfulness of his promises. In a news conference outside the high school before appearance, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken called the senator from Vermont out of touch.

State Rep. Don Manning, R-New Middletown, said plans would harm millions of workers. Sanders challenges Trump over GM Sen. Bernie Sanders waves to the crowd as he, Randi Weingarten and Melissa Cropper leave the auditorium after a union town hall at Lordstown High School on Sunday. BY JEFF Sen.

Bernie Sanders speaks as American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten looks on during a union town hall at Lordstown High School on Sunday. Senator visits Lordstown, says president should tell automaker no more federal contracts See HISTORY, B3 See SANDERS, B2.