Administrator
WAKR Programming Schedule
1/6--Monday--7p-8p--Chris Holtman Show
Ray Horner
Ray has been the WAKR Morning host for since 2000 after a successful career in the Erie , Pennsylvania market as a Host and Operation Manager for WAKR/WZPR/ WMDE radio in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Ray won the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Sportscaster of the year two times and is currently the play-by-play voice of Hiram College Athletics. Ray has been involved in Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Akron Children's Concert Society, Akron Public Schools, and The Embrace Care Clinic. Ray loves baseball, outdoor activities and spending time with his four children, Elizabeth (26), Rocco (17), Ava and Gia (10). Ray, his wife, Melissa and the children live in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Jasen Sokol
Jasen came to WAKR in 2013 after graduating from Kent State University and Baldwin Wallace University. He has been the midday host on WAKR since 2014. Away from the station, Jasen is the PA announcer for Cleveland Monsters Hockey, the Akron Marathon, Lake County Captains Baseball, and the All-American Soap Box Derby.
Twitter: @JasenSokol
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Ben Thomas
Ben Thomas is the host of “Stats and Facts with Ben Thomas” from six to eight weeknights on WAKR. He also co-hosts “Paper Champs” with Brad Russell. When he isn’t on the mic, Ben enjoys watching sports, working out, music, and reading. He is also a graduate of The University of Akron.
Twitter: @BThomas62
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Jeanne Destro
Jeanne Destro is a creative and multi-talented journalist, with experience in a number of different fields as well, including music, marketing, and public relations.
Jeanne is originally from Akron, but lived and worked in several other markets around the country, before returning to Akron in 2012.
Her background includes work in Washington DC, as a national newscaster for NPR, and as tech-related book reviewer for USA Today. She also worked as a DJ, News Reporter, and Music Programmer in Dayton, and Seattle.
In addition, Jeanne has extensive experience in Marketing and Public Relations, including work for Kent State University, and The Lippman School, in Akron.
Jeanne lives in Akron, and is morning News Anchor on WAKR as well as the host and producer of "This Week in Tech with Jeanne Destro".
Ryan Lang
Native of the Cleveland area, Ryan is a graduate of St. Ignatius High School, Class of 2000. He attended THE Ohio University, Cuyahoga Community College, and eventually the Ohio Center for Broadcasting which launched the start of his news radio broadcasting career. After working in the Cleveland market (on two different occasions) and for a few years in Tampa, Florida, Ryan was hired by the Rubber City Radio Group as the morning news anchor for the Ray Horner Morning Show. After a few months, Ryan joined Scott and Sarah in the Morning on 94.9 WQMX and the Jeff and Sandra on Kinzbach and Company on 97.5 WONE, where he provides news updates throughout the morning. He's host of This and That with Ryan Lang, weekends on 1590 WAKR. Ryan's a Board Member for the American Red Cross of Summit, Medina, and Portage Counties and also on the Advisory Board for the Ohio Media School.
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Twitter: @ryanlangradio
Spring Training 2019
Meal Deals
Cold Weather Resources
As the National Weather Service warns that Wednesday, January 30, 2019 could be one of the coldest days on record, Akron area organizations charged with aiding the homeless are working to ensure that everyone will have access to shelter.
Community Support Services, Inc. operates the Homeless Outreach and Intake Center at 111 E. Voris Street, Akron; bringing supportive services for persons experiencing homelessness under one roof. Individuals who are homeless or at risk for homelessness, have symptoms suggestive of severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance abuse disorder, and who is not already active in mental health and/or addiction treatment is eligible to utilize all the services at the Center. If a homeless individual does not meet program criteria, outreach workers will attempt to connect the individual with other community agencies and services. The Homeless Outreach office can be reached at 330-762-4663.
Haven of Rest Ministries, 175 E. Market Street, Akron, is accepting admissions at all hours in preparation for the cold.
The City of Akron has opened warming centers at the following locations:
- Mason Park Community Center, 700 E. Exchange Street
- Patterson Park Community Center, 800 Patterson Ave (North Hill)
- Summit Lake Community Center, 380 W. Crosier Street
- Lawton Street Community Center, 1225 Lawton Street (near West Side)
All these warming centers will be open from 8:30 am to 10:00 pm.
According to Bob Stokes, President and CEO of Community Support Services, “Recent studies have shown that approximately 700 homeless individuals die each year due to hypothermia. With this dangerous polar vortex forecast this week, we are reaching out to the homeless men and women throughout our community in as many ways as we can to give them this potentially life-saving information.”
Community Support Services, Inc. is a leader in behavioral healthcare for Summit County and the surrounding region. The agency provides comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective treatment, rehabilitation, advocacy, and support for recovery, primarily to persons most in need, to enhance the quality of their lives.
Meanwhile, the Salvation Army of Summit County is responding as well:
(Salvation Army) Local offices of The Salvation Army in Akron and Barberton will be open as warming centers as temperatures are expected to drop to what could be record lows in the area this week.
· Both Summit County Salvation Army locations will serve as drop in center/warming sites Tuesday through Thursday, January 29 through January 31, 2019.
· Hours for the downtown Akron location, 190 S. Maple Street, south of St. Vincent de Paul Church on West Market Street, will be from 9:00AM to 4:00PM.
· The Barberton location, 560 Wooster Road West, will be open from 9:30AM to 4:00PM.
· Donations of new or clean, gently used winter hats, scarves and gloves in all sizes will be appreciated and accepted at both locations.
In Stow, City officials have designated one warming center:
A Warming Center has been designated at the Community Room at Stow Safety Building. The facility is located on the Stow City Center Campus at the corner of Graham and Darrow Roads in Stow. (3800 Darrow Road.) This opportunity will be available Wednesday and Thursday, January 30 & 31, 2019, at which time weather conditions should return to the normal range.
Contact the City of Stow at 330.689.2700 for more information.
In Massillon the Salvation Army has opened a warming center:
Salvation Army is located at 437 S. Market St. in Wooster.
For questions call the Salvation Army at 330-264-4704.