Wednesday, 13 July 2016 16:00

VIDEO Former Fugitive Bartoli Pleads Guilty

A one-time Uniontown financial guru, who went on the lam after prosecutors discovered a Ponzi scheme that snared millions from a $65 million dollars fund from investors, has plead guilty to eight counts of fraud, conspiracy and attempted income tax evasion.

Eric Bartoli was first indicted in 2003 but fled his Doylestown, Ohio Cyprus Funds offices after he blew off a hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He remained at large for a decade, but was finally discovered in Peru and extradited back to the United States. His fraud impacted 800 investors spread across Latin America and the United States in a scheme to sell certificates of deposit and mutual funds.

The case attracted worldwide attention and was even featured on the popular CNBC program "American Greed." Bartoli will be sentenced November 9th in U.S. District Court.

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(U.S. Attorney) Eric V. Bartoli, who was indicted in 2003 and was a fugitive for more than a decade, pleaded guilty to defrauding hundreds of investors out of millions of dollars in the 1990s, law enforcement officials said.

Bartoli is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 9 after pleading guilty to eight counts, including conspiracy, securities fraud, sale of unregistered securities, wire fraud, mail fraud and attempted income tax evasion.

The guilty plea was announced by Carole S. Rendon, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the FBI, and Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.

Bartoli operated a large-scale Ponzi scheme from 1995 through 1999. He created and operated a company by the name of Cyprus Funds, Inc., which was based in Doylestown, Ohio and incorporated in Central America. Bartoli and his co-conspirators operated Cyprus to sell certificates of deposit and unregistered mutual funds. Cyprus raised approximately $65 million from an estimated 800 investors in Latin America and the United States. Some of Cyprus's victims included retirees, according to court records.

Bartoli was sued in 1999 by the Securities and Exchange Commission on charges involving the Cyprus Funds, Inc. Bartoli did not appear at a scheduled hearing regarding the SEC charges. He was subsequently found in contempt of court and a civil arrest warrant was issued. Bartoli had fled Ohio and was arrested in New Hampshire. Bartoli was not detained at that time and became a fugitive.

An indictment was filed against Bartoli in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in October 2003.

Bartoli was taken into custody by the Peruvian National Police in Lima, Peru, in 2013. The operation was a joint effort between the FBI, Diplomatic Security Service, and the Peruvian National Police. He was returned to the United States last year.

"Mr. Bartoli is finally being held accountable for his crimes, more than two decades after he started stealing millions of dollars," Rendon said. "The fact that he will finally be sentenced for his actions is a tribute to all who have worked on this case, who never stopped pursuing justice for the victims."

"After years of living on the run, Mr. Bartoli is accepting responsibility for swindling individuals out of large sums of money - some their entire life savings," Anthony said. "The FBI will continue to investigate fraudsters, like Eric Bartoli, and will hold them accountable for their criminal behavior, no matter how long it takes."

"The investigation of Mr. Bartoli uncovered a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme laced with a web of financial lies that left 800 investors in financial peril," Entstrom said. "When you knowingly mix deceit and trickery into the financial well-being of individuals, you create a recipe for devastation that could last a lifetime. Combining the financial investigative expertise of the IRS with the skills and resources of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office makes a formidable team for combating major, greed-driven crimes."

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antoinette T. Bacon and Christos M. Georgalis following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Monday, 11 July 2016 20:00

UA Names Wilson Interim President

The University of Akron wasted little time finding an interim President to fill the vacuum left by the remnants of the Scarborough Administration, tapping the Dean of the University of Akron School of Law for the post.

Matthew Wilson has been on the faculty of the school in 2014 and during his tenure is credited with helping boost enrollment at the school when other law schools have recorded declines. Student enrollment has suffered at the University of Akron and is a high priority for improvement, says Board of Trustees Chairman Roland Bauer.

Wilson's appointment is for 18 months. Interim leadership was also announced for the College of Engneering and College of Law.

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(University of Akron) Following weeks of conversations within the campus and the community at large, the University’s Trustees tonight named School of Law Dean Matthew J. Wilson as interim president.
 
Wilson, whose 18-month appointment begins at once, has increased enrollment and employment rates at the School of Law in a challenging environment for legal education.
 
“We are convinced (Wilson) will help the entire University achieve the same kind of successes that have been realized within the School of Law,” said Board Chairman Roland H. Bauer.
 
Wilson said he was humbled by the appointment.
 
“My commitment to serve as interim president stems from my firm belief in the greatness of this institution, my faith in the University and local communities, as well as my genuine desire to see The University of Akron excel,” Wilson said. “We have exceptional students, faculty, staff, programs, and opportunities here at The University of Akron.  We also have an alumni base and community that truly care.”
 
Areas of focus
 
In announcing Wilson’s appointment, Chairman Bauer described areas of focus for Wilson to address that include:
 
·         developing a sustainable budget;
 
·         increasing enrollment;
 
·         accelerating our progress in increasing student retention;
 
·         rebuilding and strengthening relationships with our various constituencies; and,
 
·         significantly growing our development efforts.
 
 
“Achieving those goals will require a strong and capable leader,” Bauer said, “and we believe we have found that person.”
 
Wilson called for the campus and community to unite to solve the challenges.
 
“I am confident that things will be much better tomorrow so long as everyone can quickly come together, collectively seek sustainable solutions to budgetary challenges, exercise patience and understanding in the process, and work as a team going forward,” Wilson said. “Dwelling on recent events will only serve to compound existing challenges. It is my intent to work collaboratively with our outstanding faculty and staff.  My door will always be open.  I invite everyone to join with me in not only working to conquer existing challenges and rebuilding relationships, but also to innovate and explore new opportunities.”
 
Accomplishments at Akron Law
 
Bauer said Wilson’s accomplishments at the School of Law prepare him well for the interim position. Wilson and the faculty and staff at Akron Law have:
 
·         increased the school’s enrollment as other law schools recorded declines;
 
·         developed innovative program offerings, including a unique dual country, tri-city study abroad program;
 
·         helped students excel in both bar passage rates and national competitions for client counseling and trial advocacy; and,
 
·         provided practical experience for students through a new, intensive course in which leading trial attorneys and judges from around the region participate and help students learn how to conduct a trial from beginning to end.
 
 
“Employment preparation and placement are important priorities for the School of Law,” Bauer said, “and success has been seen there as well. The employment rate (within nine months of graduation) for the 142 Akron Law graduates in the Class of 2015 – excluding four students who were pursuing additional graduate degrees and four students whose status was unknown – was 92.5 percent.”
 
Wilson, who also is a tenured faculty member, came to UA in 2014 after serving as professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Dean of Student Affairs at The University of Wyoming College of Law. He is a graduate of the University of Utah with a B.S. in Political Science and a B.A. in Asian Studies and holds a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
 
Discussions and consultations
 
Throughout June and this month, the Trustees met with representatives from campus groups to hear about their desires in an interim president. Groups consulted included faculty, staff, students, deans, department chairs and school directors, the leadership of the University Council, the Faculty Senate and the AAUP. Several members of the community at large also provided priorities.
 
“These discussions were very constructive, productive and positive,” Bauer said. “Uniformly, we heard a key message – that we must all work hard together to move The University of Akron forward. Indeed, that phrase – ‘move forward’ – was heard time and time again.”
 
Separately, the Board also approved interim leadership for the College of Engineering and the School of Law. Dr. Donald Visco will lead the College of Engineering, and Sarah Cravens and Ryan Vacca will jointly lead the School of Law.
 
Interim leadership named for engineering, law
 
The Board of Trustees announced Monday interim leadership appointments for two colleges:
 
·         Dr. Donald J. Visco was named interim dean of the College of Engineering.
 
·         Sarah M.R. Cravens and Ryan G. Vacca were named interim co-deans of the School of Law.
 
·         Visco, who joined UA in 2010, is associate dean of undergraduate studies in the College of Engineering. Before that, he was professor of chemical engineering at Tennesee Technology University for 11 years.
 
Visco earned a bachlor’s degree and Ph.D. in chemical engineering, both from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
 
Cravens is associate dean and an associate professor of law at the School of Law. She joined the school in 2005.
 
She earned her bachelor’s or A.B. from Princeton University, her master’s in philosophy from Cambridge University, and her Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee University.
 
Prior to joining the faculty, Cravens was a law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and an associate at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, D.C., where she specialized in products liability litigation.
 
Vacca is a professor of law and director of the school’s Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science/law, jurisprudence and social thought from Amherst College, his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his LL.M in intellectual property and trade regulation from the New York University School of Law.
 
He joined Akron Law in 2010. Prior to that, he taught at the University of Oregon’s School of Law and the University of Denver’s College of Law.
Thursday, 07 July 2016 09:48

Cavs Top Team NBA Sales

The title wasn't the only top spot the Cavaliers scored iin the NBA this year -- Cavaliers gear topped all teams on the NBA's merchandise shopping list for the first time since January of 2015.
 
Akron's other NBA native son still leads in total jersey sales; LeBron came in second and Kyrie Irving was fourth.
 
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(NBA) Unprecedented demand for Cleveland Cavaliers merchandise following the team’s NBA Finals 2016 win helped land them atop the most popular team merchandise list for the first time since January 2015. Reigning back-to-back Kia NBA MVP Stephen Curry once again tops the league’s list of most popular jerseys, a position he’s held since the end of the 2014-15 NBA season. Rankings are based on overall sales on NBAStore.com from April through June.
 
Rounding out the top five players are three-time NBA Champion LeBron James (No. 2), five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant (No. 3), 2016 NBA Champion Kyrie Irving (No. 4) and 2015 NBA Champion Klay Thompson (No. 5).
 
The Cavaliers are followed by the Golden State Warriors at No. 2, Los Angeles Lakers at No. 3, Chicago Bulls at No. 4 and Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 5 on the team merchandise list.
 
Additional highlights:
 
· The Warriors’ Andre Iguodala (No. 14) makes his debut on the jerseys list while teammate Draymond Green (No. 7) earns his highest ranking ever.
 
· The San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (No. 11) and Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard (No. 13) place for the first time since June 2015 and April 2015, respectively.
 
Top 15 Most Popular NBA Jerseys: 
 
1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
 
2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
 
3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers*
 
4. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
 
5. Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
 
6. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
 
7. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
 
8. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
 
9. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
 
10. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls*
 
11. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
 
12. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
 
13. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
 
14. Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
 
15. Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
 
*Denotes players who retired or changed teams after the 2015-16 season.
 
Top 10 Most Popular Team Merchandise:
 
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
 
2. Golden State Warriors
 
3. Los Angeles Lakers
 
4. Chicago Bulls
 
5. Oklahoma City Thunder
 
6. San Antonio Spurs
 
7. Miami Heat
 
8. Toronto Raptors
 
9. New York Knicks
 
10. Boston Celtics
Tuesday, 05 July 2016 18:09

Mother, Daughter Rescued In Suicide Bid

Akron police say it was the timing of a pair of Good Samaritans who saved a mother and her two year old, after the mother drove her vehicle into Summit Lake in a failed murder-suicide bid.

DeeAndra McGhee, 24, of Weathervane Lane had her two-year old daughter in the car when she drove her 2007 Chevy Cobalt into the lake just after 6:00 p.m. on Independence Day. The two onlookers were able to pull McGhee and the toddler from the waterlogged car to safety.

Both mother and daughter were treated at a local hospital. McGhee is in the Summit County Jail facing charges including attempted murder and child endangering. 

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(Akron Police Department) Shortly after 6:00pm yesterday evening (Monday, July 4), officers and paramedics responded to the 1500 block of Manchester Road for a vehicle that drove into Summit Lake.

The driver, Dee­Andra C. McGhee, 24, of Weathervane Lane in Akron, took a 2007 Chevy Cobalt, placed her two year old daughter inside the car, and drove the vehicle into Summit Lake in attempt to kill herself and her daughter. Two good
Samaritans jumped into the water and rescued the mother and daughter.

They were both transported to local hospitals for non­life threatening injuries. Dee­Andra McGhee was released from the hospital and charged with attempted murder, child endangering and criminal damaging.

She was booked into the Summit County Jail.

Tuesday, 05 July 2016 08:24

Former APD Chief Passes Away

The first African-American to head the police department in Akron passed away over the weekend.

Few details are available but sources in the Akron police department confirmed the death of Edward J. Irvine.

Irvine joined the force in 1963 and was one of only seven black police officers on the force; he rose through the ranks to become chief. During his tenure, detectives investigating the murder of Dr. Margo Prade centered on her ex-husband, police Captain Doug Prade, as her killer. That case has moved in and out of the courts ever since. Irvine also had a contentious relationship with the Akron Beacon Journal, highlighted by a lawsuit after he'd retired charging the newspaper's unmanned telemarketing was harassment when the robo-calls pounded his home phone number during the "quiet hours" imposed by the Federal Trade Commission.

Funeral arrangements have not been released.

UPDATE National Park Service officials now say the woman found assaulted in park property near Peninsula was shot multiple times and is still "unable to communicate" with investigators.

She was found Sunday morning after 9:00 in the morning. She's described as an 18-year old African-American woman, 110-120 pounds and around five feet, four or five inches tall. 

The NPS included an illustration of the type of clothing the victim of the assault was wearing. It's displayed on this page, above.

Anyone with information should contact the Rangers on the Cuyahoga Valley National Park tip line 440-546-5945. The Park Service, FBI and Peninsula police are investigating.

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(National Park Service) The National Park Service continues to seek assistance identifying an assault victim found in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. An illustration of clothing similar to what she was wearing is included with this release. People with information should call the Cuyahoga Valley National Park tip line at 440-546-5945.

Rangers received the report of the assault victim found within park boundaries in Peninsula at 9:21 a.m. on Sunday, July 3. She suffered multiple gun-shot wounds. She is being treated at a local hospital and is unable to communicate with investigators.

The victim is an African American female. She is estimated to be about 18 years old, 110-120 pounds in weight, and 5'4" – 5'5" in height.

Clothing included:

Light blue jean shorts. The shorts were cut offs made from a pair of men's 32x30 Hollister skinny jeans
Plain khaki belt
Plain pink tank top
White Nike tennis shoes

The National Park Service is leading the on-going investigation with assistance from multiple agencies, including the FBI and Peninsula police department. At this time, it appears to be an isolated incident.

Previous coverage:

A woman clings to life, without a name, after she was discovered unconscious over the weekend in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Peninsula.

The Park Service says the woman was apparently the victim of an assault; she is described as African-American, about 18 years old, around 115 pounts and about 5'5". She was wearing light blue jeans shorts, a pink tank top and white Nike tennis shoes.

The National Park Service reports she was in critical condition at a local hospital, and the FBI is assisting with the investigation.

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(CVNP) The National Park Service is seeking assistance identifying an assault victim found in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Rangers received the report of the assault victim found within park boundaries in Peninsula at 9:21 a.m. on Sunday, July 3.

The victim is an African American female. She is estimated to be about 18 years old, 110-120 pounds in weight, and 5'4" – 5'5" in height. She was wearing light blue jean shorts, a pink tank top, and white Nike tennis shoes. She is in critical condition at a local hospital.

The National Park Service is leading the on-going investigation with assistance from the FBI. People with information about the description should call the Cuyahoga Valley National Park tip line at 440-546-5945.

CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural activities in one setting.

Monday, 04 July 2016 08:24

VIDEO DJ Takes WGC From Day

There's an old saying it's not how you start, it's how you finish. South Carolina's Dustin Johnson showed the steady, consistent play of a winner provides one of the most satisfying finishes of all for his third WGC championship.

Johnson stayed the course and took the 2016 WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club's fabled South Course when the world's top golfer faulted on the late holes, including a double bogey on "The Monster," Firestone's massive 16th hole. Day was leading when his tee shot went errant into the trees, and his second shot also bounded across the fairway into another grove of trees on the opposite side. By the time he was done on 16 the double bogey, along with a bogey on 15 and then a bogey on the final hole, sealed his fate and sent him back into the back with a tie for third place.

WATCH Johnson's post-match news conference below

Scott Piercy, who played the final round with Day, took sole ownership of second place. For the first time, both the first and second place finishers took home more than a million dollars in prize money. Johnson won $1.6 million, Piercy a more than $1 million dollar payday.

This year's tournament was held over the July 4th weekend due to conflicts with golf's standing in the Rio Summer Olympics as a medal sport; the weekend classic in Akron also competed for players from the European Tour, many of whom declined the invitations to play here and opt instead for the 100th French Open and the opportunity to earn Ryder Cup points. The event will return to Firestone County Club with a more familiar time next year starting August 2, 2017.

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(PGA Tour) Final-Round Notes – Sunday, July 03, 2016

Weather: Skies were mostly cloudy in the morning with light S/SE winds at 4-8 mph, intensifying in the afternoon to 10-15 mph, gusting near 20 mph. Temperature reached a high of 77 with low humidity.

Final Leaderboard
Dustin Johnson 69-73-66-66—274 (-6)
Scott Piercy 69-69-67-70—275 (-5)
Jordan Spieth 68-71-71-67—277 (-3)
Matt Kuchar 69-72-70-66—277 (-3)
Kevin Chappell 71-70-69-67—277 (-3)
Jason Day 67-69-69-72—277 (-3)
William McGirt 64-74-70-70—278 (-2)
Charl Schwartzel 72-69-67-70—278 (-2)
David Lingmerth 70-67-69-72—278 (-2)

Third-Round Lead Notes
Third-round leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win 14 of 32 PGA TOUR events this season, including four winners of the last six events. Shane Lowry led through 54 holes when Dustin Johnson won the U.S. Open. Scott Piercy and Jason Day shared the 54-hole lead this week before Johnson's win today. The most recent player to covert a 54-hole lead into victory was Billy Hurley III at last week's Quicken Loans National.

Dustin Johnson, 1st (-6)
U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson shot consecutive rounds of 66-66 on the weekend at the Bridgestone Invitational to rally from three strokes behind to start the fourth round for his third career World Golf Championships victory joining Tiger Woods (18) and Geoff Ogilvy (3) as the only players with three or more wins in World Golf Championships events.

Johnson earns 550 points and is projected to overtake Jason Day at No. 1 in the FedExCup standings, the first time he has been ranked No. 1 in the standings since winning the 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Johnson wins his 11th PGA TOUR title in his 194th start at the age of 32 years, 11 days.

The victory is Johnson's 10th top-10 finish of the season, which leads the PGA TOUR. The most top-10s that Johnson has ever had in a season is 11 in the 2014-15. He has finished in the top 5 in 8 of his last 11 events.

Dustin Johnson joined Geoff Ogilvy with three World Golf Championships titles. No player has won all four World Golf Championships events. Johnson joins only Tiger Woods as players to win three different World Golf Championships events.

Johnson's Strokes Gained stats:
Stat R1 Rank R2 Rank R3 Rank R4 Rank Cumulative
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee 2 4 3 6 1
Strokes Gained: Tee To Green 9 22 3 12 3
Strokes Gained: Approach The Green 25 28 4 36 16
Strokes Gained: Around The Green 19 43 40 13 27
Strokes Gained: Putting 27 52 6 3 8

With his win at the U.S. Open, Johnson continued his streak of winning at least one tournament in each of his first nine seasons on the PGA TOUR (the TOUR"s current best streak). By comparison, Tiger Woods won in his first 14 seasons (1996-2009).

Dustin Johnson's PGA TOUR wins (11):
2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship
2009 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
2010 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
2010 BMW Championship
2011 The Barclays
2012 FedEx St. Jude Classic
2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions
2013 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions (2013-14 Season)
2015 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship (2014-15 Season)
2016 U.S. Open (2015-16 Season)
2016 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational (2015-2016 Season)

Johnson becomes the first player since Jordan Spieth to win his next PGA TOUR start after winning the U.S. Open. Last year, Spieth won the John Deere Classic in his next start after winning the U.S. Open.

Scott Piercy, 2nd (-5)
Scott Piercy, who finished runner-up at the U.S. Open, birdied the final hole to finish solo second, one shot behind Dustin Johnson. With the runner-up finishes to Dustin Johnson in back-to-back starts, Piercy moves to No. 22 in the FedExCup standings.

Piercy's runner-up finish at the Bridgestone Invitational is his third top-10 finish of the season. Piercy has made 16 of 18 cuts. The most cuts he has ever made in one PGA TOUR season is 19 in 2012.

A three-time winner on the PGA TOUR, Piercy's previous best World Golf Championships finish was a T2 at the 2012 HSBC Champions.

In 2016, Piercy has top-30 finishes in each of the first two major championships, THE PLAYERS Championship and all three World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play and Cadillac Championship. He is one of four players (Piercy, Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day), to finish in the top 30 in each of these events this year.

Piercy's Strokes Gained stats:
Stat R1 Rank R2 Rank R3 Rank R4 Rank Cumulative
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee 13 3 5 34 7
Strokes Gained: Tee To Green 8 7 1 T41 1
Strokes Gained: Approach The Green 8 6 29 T40 6
Strokes Gained: Around The Green 26 50 1 34 14
Strokes Gained: Putting 35 23 32 11 20

Jason Day, T3 (-3)
Jason Day, who entered the final round with a share of the lead, reached the 15th green at 7-under-par. A bogey on No. 15, double bogey on No. 17 and a bogey on the final hole meant a T3 finish for the top-ranked player in the world. Previous to this event, Day had converted five consecutive third-round leads into victory on the PGA TOUR. Overall, Day has now converted 6 of 13 54-hole leads into victories.

Jason Day's 54-hole leads
Date Tournament Finish
7/3/2016 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational T3
5/15/2016 THE PLAYERS Championship 1
3/20/2016 Arnold Palmer Invitational 1
9/20/2015 BMW Championship 1
8/30/2015 The Barclays 1
8/16/2015 PGA Championship 1
7/19/2015 The Open Championship T4
6/21/2015 U.S. Open T9
4/26/2015 Zurich Classic of New Orleans T4
8/24/2014 The Barclays T2
9/6/2010 Deutsche Bank Championship T2
5/23/2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship 1
3/15/2009 Puerto Rico Open T2

Day, a three-time winner this season (Arnold Palmer Invitational, World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play, THE PLAYERS Championship), dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 in the FedExCup standings to Bridgestone Invitational winner, Dustin Johnson. Day had held the No. 1 spot for seven consecutive weeks.

Day owns 10 PGA TOUR victories, including the 2014 and 2016 World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play.

Day's Strokes Gained stats:
Stat R1 Rank R2 Rank R3 Rank R4 Rank Cum.
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee 15 14 50 42 26
Strokes Gained: Tee To Green 2 13 38 37 11
Strokes Gained: Approach The Green 2 18 47 58 36
Strokes Gained: Around The Green 12 31 7 1 1
Strokes Gained: Putting 31 8 2 44 9

Kevin Chappell, T3 (-3)
Kevin Chappell remains in search of his first PGA TOUR win. Chappell owns five runner-up finishes on the PGA TOUR, including three in the 2015-16 PGA TOUR Season. In his last two runner-up performances, he has finished second behind Jason Day: 2016 Arnold Palmer Invitational, 2016 PLAYERS Championship.

At No. 6 in the FedExCup standings, Kevin Chappell is the highest-ranked player without a win this season.

Chappell required just nine putts in his front-nine 5-under 30 and 24 total putts in his round of 67.

This was Chappell's first appearance in a World Golf Championships event. He was the highest finisher among those players making their first World golf Championships appearance.
Kevin Chappell (T3), Billy Hurley III (T36), Andrew Johnston (T42), Michio Matsumura (T49), William McGirt (T7), Younghan Song (T21), Brian Stuard (T16) and Yosuke Tsukada (57) made their first-ever World Golf Championships appearance.

Jordan Spieth, T3 (-3)
Last season's FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth posted his best result in his third appearance at the Bridgestone Invitational (49/2014, T10/2015, T3/2016). This week's performance also marks Spieth's best result in any World Golf Championships event. His best result in 11 previous World Golf Championships appearances was T5 at the 2014 Dell Match Play, losing in the Quarterfinals to Ernie Els (4 and 2). He also finished T7 at the HSBC Champions earlier this season.

Spieth entered his 98th career PGA TOUR start just $611,000 shy of $25 million in career earnings. With $449,250 in earnings this week, he is now $161,750 short of the $25 million figure.

Matt Kuchar, T3 (-3)
Matt Kuchar's T3 is his fifth top-6 finish in his last six starts on TOUR (T3/THE PLAYERS Championship, 3/AT&T Byron Nelson, T6/DEAN & DELUCA Invitational, T4/the Memorial Tournament, T46/U.S. Open, T3/Bridgestone Invitational).

Kuchar now owns 10 top-10 finishes in 22 World Golf Championships appearances, including a victory at the 2013 World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play.

Miscellaneous notes
If either Jason Day or Scott Piercy had won at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational after holding a share of the 54-hole lead, it would mean either player would have won a new TEMPUR-Breeze bed, courtesy of Tempur-Pedic, the Official Mattress of the PGA TOUR. Either player would have also won a bed for one lucky fan who entered the Sleeping on the Lead Sweepstakes at TempurPedicGolf.com and a Birdies for the Brave® military member from the Akron/Canton area. With Dustin Johnson victorious, a lucky fan who entered the sweepstakes will still receive a pair of TEMPUR-Cloud® pillows. This program will run from the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational until the TOUR Championship.

First-round leader William McGirt posted a final-round 70 to finish T7 in his first ever World Golf Championships appearance. McGirt claimed his first PGA TOUR win last month in Columbus, Ohio at the Memorial Tournament.

Zach Johnson closed with 5-under 65 to record his lowest round on TOUR since the first-round of the Sony Open in Hawaii in January (64). The T10 finish, along with T8 at the U.S. Open in his last start, marked top 10s in consecutive starts for the second time this season (5th/Arnold Palmer Invitational, T9/WGC-Dell Match Play).

Phil Mickelson closed with a bogey-free 2-under 68 to finish T27. It's the first bogey-free round for Mickelson since the third-round 66 he posted at this year's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he finished 2nd to Vaughn Taylor, and one of five bogey-free rounds for Mickelson this season (R3/CareerBuilder Challenge, R4/CareerBuilder Challenge, R3/Waste Management Phoenix Open, R3/AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, R4/WGC-Bridgestone Invitational).

Jimmy Walker used a 9-iron to hole out from 164 yards for an eagle (2) at the ninth hole during a final-round 71. It marked the first eagle at the 504-yard, par-4 hole in Bridgestone Invitational history at Firestone Country Club.

Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott climbed the list of players with the most World Golf Championships appearances (Dell Match Play, Cadillac Championship, Bridgestone Invitational and HSBC Champions since it become a World Golf Championships event in 2009) and now share third place on the list with Ernie Els with 48 appearances. Jim Furyk is now sixth on the list with 47 appearances. Lee Westwood has the most events with 54.
Westwood, Lee 54
Garcia, Sergio 49
Els, Ernie 48
Mickelson, Phil 48
Scott, Adam 48
Furyk, Jim 47
Woods, Tiger 44
Poulter, Ian 44

Two former Florida State University golfers withdrew during the first round. Daniel Berger withdrew with a shoulder injury after hitting his opening tee shot. Berger receives $50,500 but the money is unofficial and he will not receive FedExCup points. Earlier this year, Berger also pulled out of the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play after hurting his hand on a rock during a swing. Brooks Koepka also withdrew during the first round with an ankle injury.

Davis Love III, who received the Ambassador of Golf Award at a ceremony on Wednesday, withdrew after the first round with a hip injury.

Bogey-free rounds:
R1 – William McGirt
R2 – None
R3 – None
R4 – Phil Mickelson (68), Matt Kuchar (66).

Scoring average:
Front nine Back nine Total
R1 35.831 36.000 71.831
R2 36.017 36.207 72.224
R3 35.379 35.810 71.190
R4 34.983 35.431 70.414
Cumulative 35.554 35.863 71.416

Monday, 04 July 2016 11:13

Red Cross Volunteers Hit West Virginia

Independence Day weekend may have been relaxing for you -- but for thousands in West Virginia, it was just another three days of cleaning up and trying to rebuild after the massive flooding two weeks ago.

The American Red Cross' communications director Mary Williams among the more than 600 volunteers who went to the Mountain State, including a contingent from here in Northeast Ohio. Along with Williams the regional CEO for the Red Cross, Mike Parks, also volunteered his holiday weekend.

Williams say there were many sights and stories that hit hard; in one case, a woman told her she and her children were stranded above the rising waters on the roof of their home. Her husband was able to get to her and rescue them; Williams say the woman told her she never loved her husband more than at that moment. In Richwood, the home of the annual Cherry River Festival and well-known for it's springtime Ramp Festival, the river literally ran through the middle of the quain town and left it looking "...like a movie western: empty storefronts with nothing but all of the dust from the dried mud left behind," Williams said.

The spirit not only of the West Virginians without homes or jobs is one of resilience and courage, Williams said, adding many of the volunteers this weekend came as far away as California.

The need now is for financial assistance -- you can give on-line to the Red Cross at RedCross.O-R-G, and choosing West Virginia flooding on the dropdown menu. You can also give by texting "WVfloods" to 9-0-999 or you can all 1-800-RED-CROSS to donate by phone.

The City of Akron isn't very happy with those urban explorations inside the ruined Rolling Acres Mall. The city now owns the hulking old shopping center after numerous sheriff's sales for back taxes came up empty; Rolling Acres has been a magnet for photographers and thrill-seekers skateboarding and biking inside the mall. Mayor Dan Horrigan issuing a "public safety" message warning people to stay out and says violators will be fully prosecuted.

It hasn't gotten much better since this authorized RCExplorer drone video shot in the winter of 2015.

 

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(City of Akron) The City of Akron has taken ownership of Rolling Acres Mall and has secured the building. While the City understands there is public interest in the space, there are no plans to give any future tours.

“For everyone’s safety, I request that citizens stay clear of the area. Police will have an increased presence,” stated Mayor Dan Horrigan.

Any trespassers may be prosecuted.

Wednesday, 29 June 2016 05:50

VIDEO Selfie Chase Suspect Arrested

A man being chased by Akron police decided to make his own video while being chased. APD says 27 year-old Jessie Smith was in his girlfriend's car when she says they started arguing, and he took off. Officers saw him drive by while they were talking to his girlfriend, and after he didn't pull over, the chase was on...from Firestone Park, to North Hill and into west Akron. 

The chase started with a 9-1-1 call of shots fired and Smith's girlfriend telling police early Tuesday morning he took her car then left her by the road at Sunset and Clinton. Smith's phone was on...and he knew what could happen. Akron police Captain Dan Zampelli says while recording video, the driver treated it like it was a game. Zampelli says the car almost got into a crash with an ambulance, going through a red light. Smith was taken into custody. Police say he had a parole violation warrant out from California, and a warrant from Summit County for violating a protection order.

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(APD) At 2:00 am this morning officers responded to Sunset and Clinton reference a shots fired call. Upon arriving, they were met by a twenty-seven year old female who was very upset.

The female states that her boyfriend, Jessie M. Smith, B/M/27, was riding with her in her 1995 Honda Civic when they began arguing. She exited the car and Smith took off in the car with her keys and cell phone. She was fearful of her safety, as he had threatened her.

As the officers were interviewing the victim, the vehicle drove past the officers. They began following the suspect and gave chase after he refused to pull over. The pursuit began in Firestone Park, entered the expressway to North Hill, back on the expressway to west Akron where he stopped on Euclid Avenue.

Jessie Smith was taken into custody without incident. It was determined that he had a parole violation warrant on him from California for weapons offenses and a warrant from the Summit County Sheriff's Office for a violation of a protection order. He has also been charged with felony willful fleeing and obstructing official business.

Officers also found that the suspect had video recorded the entire pursuit on his girlfriend's cell phone. The video shows him narrating the pursuit stating that he is going to celebrate because he is "going to do at least ten years" in prison. He also mentions that he has been stealing cars and "doing this stuff since he was thirteen or fourteen years old".

It is apparent by the video that Jessie Smith had a total lack of concern for the safety of those in the neighborhoods he was being pursued. At one point he went through a red light, almost striking an ambulance that was going through a green light. The evasive actions of the ambulance driver prevented a crash.

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