Monday, January 31, 2011
Dick Latshaw takes a trip down memory lane
Retired printer Dick Latshaw, who lives on Pauleys Island, South Carolina near BJ business department retiree Harold McElroy, provides memories, music and photos of the 1940s. Click on the headline if you're interested.
Gannet revenue is up 30% – BUT
Gannett Co., the owner of 82 newspapers as well as television stations, reported fourth- quarter profit that increased 30 percent on cost cutting and rising TV advertising revenue. BUT newsaper revenue, including advertising and circulation, declined 4.7 percent
Net income advanced to $174.1 million, or 72 cents a share, from $133.6 million, or 56 cents, a year earlier, the McLean, Virginia-based company said today in a statement. Earnings, excluding some items, rose to 83 cents a share. Analysts projected 81 cents on average, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
Gannett, the first large newspaper publisher to report its results for the quarter, is watched by investors as an indicator of how the industry is faring. The company’s publishing revenue, including advertising and circulation, declined 4.7 percent in the fourth quarter to $1.06 billion. The print decline was offset by a 27 percent gain in broadcast-TV revenue and 5.2 percent increase in digital revenue.
Read the full story.
Net income advanced to $174.1 million, or 72 cents a share, from $133.6 million, or 56 cents, a year earlier, the McLean, Virginia-based company said today in a statement. Earnings, excluding some items, rose to 83 cents a share. Analysts projected 81 cents on average, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
Gannett, the first large newspaper publisher to report its results for the quarter, is watched by investors as an indicator of how the industry is faring. The company’s publishing revenue, including advertising and circulation, declined 4.7 percent in the fourth quarter to $1.06 billion. The print decline was offset by a 27 percent gain in broadcast-TV revenue and 5.2 percent increase in digital revenue.
Read the full story.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Arthur Becks celebrate 60th anniversary
Arthur Beck and Eleanor Sirota were marred January 27, 1951. They have five children and 11 grandchildren.
Art retired from the Beacon Journal in 1991 with almost 39 years service. He now works in the Autism unit at Schnee Learning Center and at Leisure Time Recreation in the summer. Eleanor dedicates her time and love to her family and loves to crochet. They both lke to travel and fish.
They celebrated by having dinner at Erie Station Grille.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Sunday, January 30, 2011, page E5, col. 3]
Note: Beck was office manager of circulation department.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Carrie speaks about her needs
Email from John Brack, the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who is recovering from meningitis.
The fun may be beginning.
 |
| John and Carrie |
Her family and I met with Sue, her case manager, who briefed us on how they operate, answered a bunch of questions, and traded expectations with us. Basically, they provide specialized nursing care as needed, and Physical, Occupational, and Speech therapies until the patient can tolerate 3 hours total of combined therapy per day. The average length of stay is 22-30 days. They have care team meetings on Wednesdays to review patient status, and will brief us on their findings and plans on Thursdays.
Her next stop depends on her progress, and could run the gamut from skilled nursing to acute rehab to outpatient rehab to home (nothing further needed). I’m hoping for outpatient or home, but we’ll see. They encourage family/friend support, and will suggest things we can do with her in between their therapy sessions. We’ve started a logbook where we (and the therapists) can note what we’ve observed and done.
Hopefully, we can synergize our efforts and improve the outcome. Her family and I will try to dovetail our visits to spread out her face time and not overwhelm anyone. At some point we'll welcome limited phone calls from friends, but we're not there yet.
She was more awake today, and much more interactive than the last several days. They downsized her trach tube this morning, and she tolerated it well. As she can tolerate it, they’ll continue to install smaller tubes, allowing more use of the upper airway and letting the stoma gradually close, until they finally pull the last tube altogether and let the stoma heal.
She was able to speak a little in a guttural voice as there’s apparently enough space around the trach cuff that air can get past into the upper airway. The first thing she said was “I can’t stand this!” She then said that she needed her bottom cleaned, and that she wanted to be positioned on her side. Both needs were taken care of.
It’s encouraging that she can articulate her needs, which will help to make her more comfortable. I expect this to get better as the speech therapist works with her in the coming days. Another step.
Her sister Kathy stopped in this afternoon and did her nails, and her parents were in, reporting that she was awake the whole time they were there, and was much more aware and interactive than in the past. She said she wanted ice cream, and water. (Pretty soon it’ll be Diet Coke and chocolate!) The Physical Therapist was in and had her sitting up.
This evening she was sleeping when I got there, but was awakened when they came in to clean out her mouth. After that, she was kind of back to yesterday, half-awake and not too cooperative. She still wanted me to kiss her, though, which was nice She hasn’t lost that skill!.
John
Carrie has been transferred to Select Speciality Hospital, 200 E. Market, Room 107.
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie's health situation.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Help Norma Hill get bathroom rehab
With your help, North Canton resident Norma Hill might finally get electrical outlets in her bathroom. Hill is one of 89 finalists in CSN Stores' $10,000 Green and Clean Bathroom Bailout, a contest that will award a bathroom renovation to the person determined by voters to have the worst case of the bathroom blues. She's one of two finalists from Ohio.
Hill, a librarian at the Beacon Journal, was chosen on the basis of her photos and essay about her bathroom, with its chipped and cracked tiles, constantly clogging sink drain, leaking shower and lack of outlets and storage. Her do-it-yourselfer husband usually tackles those kinds of repairs, she wrote, but he often injures himself in the process.
‘‘We have a bathroom on its last legs but I have a husband that I would like to preserve,’’ she wrote.
You can vote for Hill's entry on CSN Stores' Facebook page,
http://www.facebook.com/csnstores. Click on the ‘‘Contest Voting’’ tab and look for Norma H. from Ohio. Voting ends March 15.
Hill, a librarian at the Beacon Journal, was chosen on the basis of her photos and essay about her bathroom, with its chipped and cracked tiles, constantly clogging sink drain, leaking shower and lack of outlets and storage. Her do-it-yourselfer husband usually tackles those kinds of repairs, she wrote, but he often injures himself in the process.
‘‘We have a bathroom on its last legs but I have a husband that I would like to preserve,’’ she wrote.
You can vote for Hill's entry on CSN Stores' Facebook page,
http://www.facebook.com/csnstores. Click on the ‘‘Contest Voting’’ tab and look for Norma H. from Ohio. Voting ends March 15.
Pat Hawk, widow of Don, at Rockynol
This is Pat Hawk, widow of the late Beacon Journal copy editor Donald Hawk. She is now in assisted living at Rockynol. She and Don were active in the Beacon Journal credit union. Don died in September 1984. BJ photographer Paul Tople shot this photo of her at Rockynol.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
1-26-11 report on Carrie, Tom Moore's daughter
Email from the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who has meningitis.
The fun hasn't really begun yet. Her mental status hasn't changed much from Monday. She is spending a fair amount of time dozing, and keeps squirming around and moving her arms
and legs, repositioning her body to uncomfortable positions in the bed. She tries to pull on the tubes and wires, so her hands have to be restrained to keep her from pulling them out.She wakes up occasionally and continues to show positive signs, but she's not consistently following enough simple commands yet to get her started on therapy. The speech therapist has been by several times, but Carrie hasn't been very cooperative. She mouths words from time to time, so I expect she might be able to at least whisper when they deflate the trach tube cuff and install a speaking valve, allowing exhaled air to go up through the mouth/nose. She still recognizes people, and wanted a kiss yesterday, which I happily obliged. So we wait, try to keep her comfortable, and tell her positive things. I guess this is all kind of par for the course, but it's hard to see her in this condition.
The nurse did, however, make an encouraging comment today when she said that these patients often go on like this for awhile, then suddenly turn around and want to know where they are, what's going on, etc. This facility deals with lots of patients like this, so I have to trust that they know what they are doing. We'll find out more when we meet with the staff tomorrow to discuss their evaluation and treatment plan.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie's condition.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Update on Geigers' health & location
Hiya, John,
Much more importantly, Sandy has another cardiac catheterization this morning. The last time this happened, she was kept in the hospital for her bypass surgery.
My leg veinous ablation went fine, it seems. Follow up sonogram is tomorrow.
Penney For Your Thoughts is our community monthly newsletter. Meanwhile, I'm reporting on Penney Farms government and Clay County stuff for Clay Today, a weekly owned by (Milwaukee) Journal Community Publications.
I know you've got us situated in St. Augustine, bro, but we're 38 miles west of there. We're midway between Jacksonville and Gainesville; kind of in the sticks. However, this makes it legitimate for us to be fans of both the Jaguars and the Gators.
Slim Whitman lives up the road, but we cannot hear him warbling "Indian Love Call." Having him nearby might keep us safe should Mars attack.
My best to you.
Pete
Penney Farms, Florida -- on Rt. 16 west of the St. John's River; St. Augustine is east of the river -- is the site of the Penney Farms Christian retirement community.
After Sandy's checkup, Pete emailed this update:
John,
Sandy passed with almost flying colors. One of the five cardiac artery bypasses she received in July, 2007 in Elyria is now blocked. Her cardiologist said 30 percent of bypasses block within five years; we didn't know that. He says Sandy's heart is healthy, however, and fully seerved despite the blockage. He did no angioplasty and installed no stent. Her medication is sufficient, he said.
Yeah, we're west of the St. Johns. I think of this territory as more typical of Old Florida. The Black Creek and woods near our place were the setting for old Tarzan movies with Johnny Weismuller. Slim Whitman has a neighbor who earned fame in prohibition days by distilling rum from sugar cane growing on his farm. The neighbor and the cane are still there; the still isn't. The neighbor throws a community pot-luck every Christmas with country music and demonstrationss of making blackstrap molasses. Slim, however, no longer sings in public.
Y'all come see us, y'heah?
Pete
Click on the headline for an earlier report on the Geigers in Florida.
Thursday calling hours for Jack Patterson
Calling hours for former BJ sports columnist Jack Patterson will be Thursday, January 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with a memorial service Friday at 1 p.m. at Northampton United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Private burial will be at Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow.
(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)
Click on the headline to read Jack's obituary.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Pete Geiger has leg procedure
Former BJ staff Pete Geiger for the third time had some veins in his legs collapsed so that the remaining veins can provide better circulation. Geiger, once the BJ religion writer, has been 
doing a Penny for Your Thoughts column for folks in his St. Augustine, Florida neighborhood. He also did another column for the St. Augustine paper, which lost its columnist.
Pete and wife Sandy moved to St. Augustine in 2007. They had round trip tickets to return to Mongolia, where they were for 13 years doing church and English teaching work, but Sandy's quintuple bypass open-heart surgery scubbed the return plans.
They have a daughter-in-law who is from Mongolia.
Pete and Sandy have their 50th wedding anniversary coming up this summer. For their 49th anniversary in June 2010 they visited Ireland, looking up the native environs of Pete's maternal grandmother, Florence McCullough, who emigrated from Armagh to Philadelphia at age 12 with her parents in 1898.
They're still discussing how to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
Click on the headline to see photos of the Geigers in Ireland and Mongolia.
doing a Penny for Your Thoughts column for folks in his St. Augustine, Florida neighborhood. He also did another column for the St. Augustine paper, which lost its columnist.Pete and wife Sandy moved to St. Augustine in 2007. They had round trip tickets to return to Mongolia, where they were for 13 years doing church and English teaching work, but Sandy's quintuple bypass open-heart surgery scubbed the return plans.
They have a daughter-in-law who is from Mongolia.
Pete and Sandy have their 50th wedding anniversary coming up this summer. For their 49th anniversary in June 2010 they visited Ireland, looking up the native environs of Pete's maternal grandmother, Florence McCullough, who emigrated from Armagh to Philadelphia at age 12 with her parents in 1898.
They're still discussing how to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
Click on the headline to see photos of the Geigers in Ireland and Mongolia.
Jack Patterson's obituary
Jack Patterson, 81, of Munroe Falls, longtime sportswriter for the Akron Beacon Journal, died peacefully Saturday, January 22, 2011.
Jack, the son of John and Kathlyn Patterson, grew up in Warren, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Germany with
the 28th Division. He started his journalism career at the Warren Tribune, where he was assistant sports editor.
Jack married Barbara Lyntz, his classmate at Warren G. Harding High School, in 1954. The Pattersons moved to Akron and later Munroe Falls, where they raised five children.
Jack joined the Beacon Journal in 1955 and served as a sports reporter, columnist, and editor. Over his 38 years at the Beacon he covered the Ohio State Buckeyes and wrote about countless other sports, including professional football, baseball, golf and bowling. But his real love was horse racing--he wrote the handicapping feature Patterson's Picks and covered numerous Triple Crown races. He and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derby events over the years.
Jack was preceded in death by Barbara, whom he still referred to as his bride after 55 years of marriage. He will be dearly missed by sons, Mike (Michelle) of Boca Raton, Florida, and John (Amy) of Cuyahoga Falls; daughters, Kathy of North Canton, Valerie of Tallmadge and Patricia (Scott) of San Jose, California; and grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kassidy; Zane, Jessa and Joy; Mike, Molly and Nick; Amber; and Andrew and Dan.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, January 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with a memorial service Friday at 1 p.m. at Northampton United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Private burial will be at Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow.
(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, January 25, 2011, page B5, col. 4]
Click on the headline for an earlier BJ Alums article on Jack's passing.
Jack, the son of John and Kathlyn Patterson, grew up in Warren, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was stationed in Germany with
the 28th Division. He started his journalism career at the Warren Tribune, where he was assistant sports editor.Jack married Barbara Lyntz, his classmate at Warren G. Harding High School, in 1954. The Pattersons moved to Akron and later Munroe Falls, where they raised five children.
Jack joined the Beacon Journal in 1955 and served as a sports reporter, columnist, and editor. Over his 38 years at the Beacon he covered the Ohio State Buckeyes and wrote about countless other sports, including professional football, baseball, golf and bowling. But his real love was horse racing--he wrote the handicapping feature Patterson's Picks and covered numerous Triple Crown races. He and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derby events over the years.
Jack was preceded in death by Barbara, whom he still referred to as his bride after 55 years of marriage. He will be dearly missed by sons, Mike (Michelle) of Boca Raton, Florida, and John (Amy) of Cuyahoga Falls; daughters, Kathy of North Canton, Valerie of Tallmadge and Patricia (Scott) of San Jose, California; and grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kassidy; Zane, Jessa and Joy; Mike, Molly and Nick; Amber; and Andrew and Dan.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, January 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Redmon Funeral Home in Stow, with a memorial service Friday at 1 p.m. at Northampton United Methodist Church in Cuyahoga Falls. Private burial will be at Silver Springs Cemetery in Stow.
(REDMON, STOW, 330-688-6631)
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Tuesday, January 25, 2011, page B5, col. 4]
Click on the headline for an earlier BJ Alums article on Jack's passing.
Carrie moved from ICU to rehab
Email from the husband of Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who has been in Akron City Hospital with meningitis.
Just a quick note tonight.
They discharged her from the ICU and moved her to the rehab hospital this evening.
Mental status is about the same.
Now the fun begins!
John
Monday, January 24, 2011
"Things looking much better" for Carrie
Jan. 23 status report on Carrie Brack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter who is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis, by Caroline/Carrie's husband, John:
She’s showing more signs of waking up. Yesterday she gave me a couple of “thumbs up” signs, and when I asked her if she was mad at me, she mouthed “NO” and exhaled, trying to
speak. The exhalation, of course, went out through the trach tube and not up through her vocal chords. When I asked if she knew who I was, she nodded, and when I pointed to her dad and asked the same question, she vigorously shook her head “no,” and grinned. I think she has a sense of humor.
This morning she was the most lucid I’ve seen her yet. She seemed to know what was going on around her, and was mouthing words trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t understand. She was motioning with her arms, so I undid one of the wrist restraints and she tried to scratch her nose and mouth area. I asked her if it itched, and she nodded, so I scratched it for her and cleaned off some of the dead skin in that area. I put her glasses on, and she seemed to be able to focus on things. I briefly explained to her what had happened, but I’m not sure how much sank in. Her dad brought in a musical Valentine's card and two kissing stuffed bears, which she seemed to enjoy. She’s definitely moving in the right direction, and I’m anxious for them to try diverting her exhalations out through her larynx and mouth, to see if she can speak.
She’s been breathing quite well on her own for several days, with a 30% O2 flow into her trach mask. This isn’t being done so much for the extra oxygen as it is for the humidity, since she can’t humidify her inhaled air through her mucous membranes in the upper airway. She still has some lung congestion, but she has a strong cough, and is able to expel phlegm through the trach tube. I’ve noticed that she no longer has much of a problem with secretions in her mouth. I’m sure that this is largely due to the removal of the old endotracheal tube, but I asked her today if she could swallow, and she nodded her head “yes.”
Her mother and I stopped in late this afternoon today and she was sleeping. The nurse said she'd been up since 7:30, most of the time in a chair, and went back to her bed around 4. She'd had a full day, so we let her sleep, and she hopefully will sleep well tonight.
I’ll probably find out tomorrow when they’re likely to release her from the ICU and move her to the rehab hospital. She’s really starting to get antsy, and I think it’s important to get her started on rehab as soon as the docs give the OK.
Bottom line: Things are definitely looking much better. Thanks again for your tremendous support, positive energy, cards, prayers, etc.
I’ve added a number of people to the distribution along the way, so I’ll repeat the mailing address, should you like to send a card:
Carrie Krack
c/o Tom Moore
669 Davis St.
Akron, OH 44310
Thanks Again,
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie/Caroline's situation.
She’s showing more signs of waking up. Yesterday she gave me a couple of “thumbs up” signs, and when I asked her if she was mad at me, she mouthed “NO” and exhaled, trying to
speak. The exhalation, of course, went out through the trach tube and not up through her vocal chords. When I asked if she knew who I was, she nodded, and when I pointed to her dad and asked the same question, she vigorously shook her head “no,” and grinned. I think she has a sense of humor.This morning she was the most lucid I’ve seen her yet. She seemed to know what was going on around her, and was mouthing words trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t understand. She was motioning with her arms, so I undid one of the wrist restraints and she tried to scratch her nose and mouth area. I asked her if it itched, and she nodded, so I scratched it for her and cleaned off some of the dead skin in that area. I put her glasses on, and she seemed to be able to focus on things. I briefly explained to her what had happened, but I’m not sure how much sank in. Her dad brought in a musical Valentine's card and two kissing stuffed bears, which she seemed to enjoy. She’s definitely moving in the right direction, and I’m anxious for them to try diverting her exhalations out through her larynx and mouth, to see if she can speak.
She’s been breathing quite well on her own for several days, with a 30% O2 flow into her trach mask. This isn’t being done so much for the extra oxygen as it is for the humidity, since she can’t humidify her inhaled air through her mucous membranes in the upper airway. She still has some lung congestion, but she has a strong cough, and is able to expel phlegm through the trach tube. I’ve noticed that she no longer has much of a problem with secretions in her mouth. I’m sure that this is largely due to the removal of the old endotracheal tube, but I asked her today if she could swallow, and she nodded her head “yes.”
Her mother and I stopped in late this afternoon today and she was sleeping. The nurse said she'd been up since 7:30, most of the time in a chair, and went back to her bed around 4. She'd had a full day, so we let her sleep, and she hopefully will sleep well tonight.
I’ll probably find out tomorrow when they’re likely to release her from the ICU and move her to the rehab hospital. She’s really starting to get antsy, and I think it’s important to get her started on rehab as soon as the docs give the OK.
Bottom line: Things are definitely looking much better. Thanks again for your tremendous support, positive energy, cards, prayers, etc.
I’ve added a number of people to the distribution along the way, so I’ll repeat the mailing address, should you like to send a card:
Carrie Krack
c/o Tom Moore
669 Davis St.
Akron, OH 44310
Thanks Again,
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie/Caroline's situation.
It is bitter cold: Counting the homeless
It is bitter cold out there for the homeless. Volunteers and social service workers will fan out in the city of Akron tomolrrow with a mission to count the homeless population. The counting begins at midnight and ends at 11:59 p.m.
There were 214 last year in Akron and 163 the year before. The total for Ohio was 12,700 or eleven for every 10,000 persons.
The Point-in-Time Count is a national effort to count the number of people who are without homes, according to Sue Pierson, chair of the Akron/Summit County Continuum of Care for the Homeless.
“We don’t even ask people’s names,” Pierson said. “We ask them for their first and last initials and birth date, so if someone is encountered two times, we can take them out.”
Surveyors gather information on individuals’ sex, race and whether they have a long-term disability.
“We want to find out what are the things that are causing people to become homeless,” Pierson said.
This year, there also will be more of an effort to determine the veteran status of the homeless and to determine how many young people are on the streets.
“We know there are lots of kids out there living on the streets, so we want to make sure we can get the training and programs they need,” Pierson said
Don Roese, a retired Beacon Journal photographer, could give us a better idea. He goes out each week among the 214 people living outdoors — in tents, under tarps at camps, under bridges, in doorways or inside abandoned buildings and vehicles.
Roese is among at the Peter Maurin Center volunteers who go out one evenig each week to bring food, clothing and blankets to them. The center at 1096 S. Main St. is a gathering place were the homeless can go to find food, clothing, friendship and respite from the bitter cold. A number of church groups provide food and clothing on a regular basis.
If you have a blanket or clothing in a closet somewhere that you are not using, drop it off.
There were 214 last year in Akron and 163 the year before. The total for Ohio was 12,700 or eleven for every 10,000 persons.
The Point-in-Time Count is a national effort to count the number of people who are without homes, according to Sue Pierson, chair of the Akron/Summit County Continuum of Care for the Homeless.
“We don’t even ask people’s names,” Pierson said. “We ask them for their first and last initials and birth date, so if someone is encountered two times, we can take them out.”
Surveyors gather information on individuals’ sex, race and whether they have a long-term disability.
“We want to find out what are the things that are causing people to become homeless,” Pierson said.
This year, there also will be more of an effort to determine the veteran status of the homeless and to determine how many young people are on the streets.
“We know there are lots of kids out there living on the streets, so we want to make sure we can get the training and programs they need,” Pierson said
Don Roese, a retired Beacon Journal photographer, could give us a better idea. He goes out each week among the 214 people living outdoors — in tents, under tarps at camps, under bridges, in doorways or inside abandoned buildings and vehicles.
Roese is among at the Peter Maurin Center volunteers who go out one evenig each week to bring food, clothing and blankets to them. The center at 1096 S. Main St. is a gathering place were the homeless can go to find food, clothing, friendship and respite from the bitter cold. A number of church groups provide food and clothing on a regular basis.
If you have a blanket or clothing in a closet somewhere that you are not using, drop it off.
Jack Patterson dies at 81
Jack Patterson, 81, on the Beacon Journal sports staff for 38 years and renown for his knowledge, particularly when it came to horse racing, died Saturday of respiratory failure. He lived in Munroe Falls.
The bespectacled Jack was the quiet type who let his intelligence speak for itself.
His wife, Barbara Ann Patterson, 78, who died March 17, 2009, and Jack were classmates at Warren G. Harding High School and dated after Jack returned from military service in 1951. They
were married in 1954 and raised five children -- sons John of Cuyahoga Falls and Mike of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughters Patricia of San Jose, California, Kathy of North Canton and Valerie of Tallmadge -- and had 11 grandchildren.
Barbara and Jack moved to the Akron area in 1955.
After retirement, Jack often would be in Chapel Hill Mall, doing his daily walking. He loved to play golf.
Jack wrote “Inside Bowling” with pro bowler Don Johnson and also co-authored "Sign 'Em Up, Bucky," about sports agent and Akron native Bucky Woy.
Jack and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derbys and, once a year, went to Las Vegas to bet on the horses in the casinos.
In Marilyn Miller's BJ story on Jack's passing, former colleagues Ray Yanucci, Sheldon Ocker, Ralph Paulk and Tom Gaffney paid tribute.
Click on the headline to read Marilyn's article about Jack.
The bespectacled Jack was the quiet type who let his intelligence speak for itself.
His wife, Barbara Ann Patterson, 78, who died March 17, 2009, and Jack were classmates at Warren G. Harding High School and dated after Jack returned from military service in 1951. They
were married in 1954 and raised five children -- sons John of Cuyahoga Falls and Mike of Boca Raton, Fla.; daughters Patricia of San Jose, California, Kathy of North Canton and Valerie of Tallmadge -- and had 11 grandchildren.Barbara and Jack moved to the Akron area in 1955.
After retirement, Jack often would be in Chapel Hill Mall, doing his daily walking. He loved to play golf.
Jack wrote “Inside Bowling” with pro bowler Don Johnson and also co-authored "Sign 'Em Up, Bucky," about sports agent and Akron native Bucky Woy.
Jack and Barbara attended 31 Kentucky Derbys and, once a year, went to Las Vegas to bet on the horses in the casinos.
In Marilyn Miller's BJ story on Jack's passing, former colleagues Ray Yanucci, Sheldon Ocker, Ralph Paulk and Tom Gaffney paid tribute.
Click on the headline to read Marilyn's article about Jack.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Sometimes "bad" is good
By John Olesky (BJ 1969-96)
You don't always know whether what is happening to you is good or bad in the long run.
For example, I was fired in 1969 by the Dayton Daily News for union activities (Cox Newspapers hates unions). That seemed bad to me, and it was, with a wife and three children to support and being blackballed by Dayton management when I submitted my resume elsewhere.
After five weeks, I showed up at the Akron Beacon Journal for an interview, and ran into publisher Ben Maidenburg. I told him why I was fired and he said someone who was a good employee for 13 years didn't become a "bad" employee because of union activities. Ben had sympathy for unions since he helped create the Newspaper Guild chapter at the BJ. So he told me: "Pick a side, and stick with it" and had Dan Warner negotiate my pay, which was a $25 weekly increase over the applicable Guild pay level.
So the firing became a great thing. I had greater financial stability than I ever would have had in Dayton, including wages, Knight stock and 401(k), and State Desk, newsroom electronics coordinator and TV Editor roles that I loved so much I ran to work every day. It has enabled me to travel to 34 countries and 45 states since my 1996 retirement, with a 15-day Caribbean cruise coming up in February.
This is a long preamble to an item on former BJ staffer J. Curtis Brown's blog. Curt felt he had it made when a "bad" thing happened to him. Let Curt explain it:
"I had been on fairly pleasant duty at Fort Knox, working for an entertaining and supportive Major who in a sense adopted me and I was a welcomed guest in his home. I even gave his wife and five of
his six children piano lessons and was also organist at the post chapel, playing for two Protestant and two Catholic services in a row each Sunday as an unofficial duty, unrelated to my assignment as a personnel officer at post headquarters."Then came what seemed like a "bad" thing:
"(The Major) took a week of leave in the summer of '68 and, while he was gone, his boss, a curmudgeon of a lieutenant colonel, spotted the need for a lieutenant at the Advisor Group to the W. Va. National Guard and cut the orders to transfer me. My Major was unhappy and most likely would have kept me at Fort Knox for my remaining year of active duty."
But it turned out to be a good thing for Curt.
In Charleston for his West Virginia National Guard assignment, Curt attended a Unitarian Fellowship and was greeted by a woman named Nancy. This meeting led to her husband, Jim, a Charleston Gazette editor who became Curt's mentor. The Gazette job qualified Curt for Akron Beacon Journal employment in 1971, which led to the contacts that Curt made to land a United Rubber Workers public relations job in 1974 (when the URW merged with the Steelworkers union in 1995, Curt kept his PR duties).
Concludes Curt:
"Being 'shipped' to Charleston paved the way for a long and fulfilling career . . . seeming misfortune (leaving the apparent comfort of my situation at Fort Knox) turned into a lifetime of interesting work and relative financial security."
Been there, done that, Curt.
Click on the headline to the full article on Curt Brown's blog.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Carrie's tubes switched from throat to stomach
Husband John Krack emailed this Jan. 19 report on wife Caroline "Carrie" Moore Krack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter, who has been in Akron City Hospital with meningitis all of January:
They did the tracheostomy today and installed a feeding tube through her abdominal wall
into the stomach. The tubes are all out of her mouth and throat, giving her upper airway and vocal chords a chance to heal. This setup should be more comfortable for her.
They had her on ventilator support this evening, but she was initiating her respirations. Given that she has recently done quite well off the ventilator, I expect that once she’s stabilized with the trach tube, they’ll disconnect the ventilator again and have her on a low concentration O2 feed.
The surgeon told me yesterday that the stomach tube (called a PEG) will be in for 6 weeks minimum, even if she doesn’t need it that long. When I asked why, he said “statistics.” Apparently, experience shows that it takes about 6 weeks for things to heal to the point where they can pull it with no complications. The body just heals the wound with no issues. If she can eat regularly before then, they’ll just cap it off, coil it up, and tape it to the belly until the 6 weeks are up.
I was quite concerned yesterday morning because her mental status had regressed to about where she was the middle of last week – wouldn’t respond to commands, wasn’t moving around, fixed stare when she opened her eyes. I think this is why they decided not to do the trach/stomach tubes yesterday. When I visited in late afternoon, the nurse said she woke up about 12:30, and when I got there she was nearly back to her peak at the end of last week. Today she was about the same. I’m hoping that, with the tubes out of her throat, she’ll be more comfortable and will be able to resume improving neurologically.
The physical therapist stopped by when I was there this morning and helped the nurse move Carrie from a chair to her bed in preparation for taking her to surgery. The PT had Carrie stand up, pivot, and sit down on the bed. She was a bit unsteady, but the PT said she stood up and supported most of her weight by herself, and was quite pleased that she was able to do that.
I’m not sure what comes next in terms of tests and evaluation, but it appears that the next major steps are to get her stable with the new airway (shouldn’t take long), make sure other systems are OK so she doesn’t come back to ICU, and send her either to the main hospital for a short time to ensure everything’s OK and get a little stronger, or directly to a rehab hospital to work on regaining mental and physical function. That’ll be up to the doctors, based on her condition. Getting her out of ICU will be a big step. By the way, a doctor told me the other day that their rule of thumb is 3 days of rehab for every 1 day in the ICU. If that holds true, we're looking at around 2 months of rehab.
I’ll keep you posted as things develop. Thanks again to all of you for your continued concern and support.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie.
They did the tracheostomy today and installed a feeding tube through her abdominal wall
into the stomach. The tubes are all out of her mouth and throat, giving her upper airway and vocal chords a chance to heal. This setup should be more comfortable for her.They had her on ventilator support this evening, but she was initiating her respirations. Given that she has recently done quite well off the ventilator, I expect that once she’s stabilized with the trach tube, they’ll disconnect the ventilator again and have her on a low concentration O2 feed.
The surgeon told me yesterday that the stomach tube (called a PEG) will be in for 6 weeks minimum, even if she doesn’t need it that long. When I asked why, he said “statistics.” Apparently, experience shows that it takes about 6 weeks for things to heal to the point where they can pull it with no complications. The body just heals the wound with no issues. If she can eat regularly before then, they’ll just cap it off, coil it up, and tape it to the belly until the 6 weeks are up.
I was quite concerned yesterday morning because her mental status had regressed to about where she was the middle of last week – wouldn’t respond to commands, wasn’t moving around, fixed stare when she opened her eyes. I think this is why they decided not to do the trach/stomach tubes yesterday. When I visited in late afternoon, the nurse said she woke up about 12:30, and when I got there she was nearly back to her peak at the end of last week. Today she was about the same. I’m hoping that, with the tubes out of her throat, she’ll be more comfortable and will be able to resume improving neurologically.
The physical therapist stopped by when I was there this morning and helped the nurse move Carrie from a chair to her bed in preparation for taking her to surgery. The PT had Carrie stand up, pivot, and sit down on the bed. She was a bit unsteady, but the PT said she stood up and supported most of her weight by herself, and was quite pleased that she was able to do that.
I’m not sure what comes next in terms of tests and evaluation, but it appears that the next major steps are to get her stable with the new airway (shouldn’t take long), make sure other systems are OK so she doesn’t come back to ICU, and send her either to the main hospital for a short time to ensure everything’s OK and get a little stronger, or directly to a rehab hospital to work on regaining mental and physical function. That’ll be up to the doctors, based on her condition. Getting her out of ICU will be a big step. By the way, a doctor told me the other day that their rule of thumb is 3 days of rehab for every 1 day in the ICU. If that holds true, we're looking at around 2 months of rehab.
I’ll keep you posted as things develop. Thanks again to all of you for your continued concern and support.
John
Click on the headline for an earlier report on Carrie.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Some headlines for you to read
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
Is that possible?
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Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
No , really? Ya think?
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Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Now that's taking things a bit far!
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Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
What a guy!
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Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
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Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works any better than a fair trial!
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War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
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If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Ya think?!
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Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Who would have thought!
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Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something!
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Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
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Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
He probably IS the battery charge!
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New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough?!
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Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating those beans!
---------------- ---------------------------------
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken? ----------------------------------------------------------------
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!
***************************************************
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!
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And the winner is....
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Did I read that right?
Fladung named managing editor of Plain Dealer
Thomas J. Fladung, who was managing editor of the Beacon Journal from July 2000 to November 2002, has been named managing editor of The Plain Dealer.
A native of Canton and graduate of the University of Dayton, Fladung has spent the past five years as editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He became editor there
in September 2005. Fladung, 51, had a variety of editing positions at the Detroit Free Press before coming to Akron. He also spent nine years at The State in Columbia, SC and also worked at the Canton Repository, the Columbia Record and The Beavercreek Daily News.
"Thom's depth of experience, passion for excellent journalism and knowledge of Northeast Ohio will serve The Plain Dealer well," Editor Debra Adams Simmons said. Simmons became managing editor of The Plain Dealer in October when former Editor Susan Goldberg left to join Bloomberg News.
Adams Simmons, 45, came to the Plain Dealer in September 2007. She had previously been editor of the Akron Beacon Journal for four years.
"I can't wait for the opportunity to do journalism at The Plain Dealer and try to add to the newspaper's recent run of high-impact breaking news and enterprise," Fladung said. "We're also thrilled to be coming home."
Fladung is married to Jeannette Meyer-Fladung. They have one son, Jimmy, 14, a high school freshman, and a daughter, Kayleigh, 19, a freshman at the University of Dayton.
See an article on Ohio.com
A native of Canton and graduate of the University of Dayton, Fladung has spent the past five years as editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He became editor there
in September 2005. Fladung, 51, had a variety of editing positions at the Detroit Free Press before coming to Akron. He also spent nine years at The State in Columbia, SC and also worked at the Canton Repository, the Columbia Record and The Beavercreek Daily News."Thom's depth of experience, passion for excellent journalism and knowledge of Northeast Ohio will serve The Plain Dealer well," Editor Debra Adams Simmons said. Simmons became managing editor of The Plain Dealer in October when former Editor Susan Goldberg left to join Bloomberg News.
Adams Simmons, 45, came to the Plain Dealer in September 2007. She had previously been editor of the Akron Beacon Journal for four years.
"I can't wait for the opportunity to do journalism at The Plain Dealer and try to add to the newspaper's recent run of high-impact breaking news and enterprise," Fladung said. "We're also thrilled to be coming home."
Fladung is married to Jeannette Meyer-Fladung. They have one son, Jimmy, 14, a high school freshman, and a daughter, Kayleigh, 19, a freshman at the University of Dayton.
See an article on Ohio.com
Scrambling for the scraps
There's a major battle going on for local digital marketing dollars. An outfit called Patch is in the middle of it. BJ Alums reported earlier on a local version in Bath-Fairlawn involving former BJ folks Kymberli Hagelberg, its editor, Dave Wilson, Sarah Vradenburg and David Lee Morgan, Jr.
The problem is pulling in more money than you're spending. AOL acquired Patch for $7 million. Last year AOL said it put $50 million into Patch.
Most newspapers in these days of cutbacks and plummeting revenue can't afford to put reporters in every town in its circulation area. That's where Patch, and others like it, come in. It tries to get a newspaper veteran to run the show, such as Kymberli in Bath-Fairlawn, then line up relative amateurs to scour their town for news tidbits (although the BJ trio with Kymberli certainly are not amateurs). A New York Times story says Patch pays its local editor $38,000 to $45,000 a year. Patch has been concentrating on affluent areas, such as Bath-Fairlawn.
Maybe 100 people see some items, compared to thousands who read newspapers. But these add up. In December, Patch sites combined for more than three million visitors. And sometimes Patch articles are picked up by mainstream media.
The target, of course, is advertisers. Tiny businesses, maybe one-person operations, can afford to advertise in Patch, but not in the BJ. The key, of course, is how many customers they get for each dollar they spend in either. And outfits that have been trying to plumb these tiny, specific markets have been collapsing all over the country as they climb over each other for the crumbs.
Click on the headline to read the New York Times story on this phenonemon.
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