Ray Horner Show

Terry Pluto talk Browns playoff run, Indians name change, and the Cavs season tipping off.

Nancy Holland, local labor attorney, discussing some companies that are mandating their employees get the COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have lived in the Akron area at some point these last six decades, chances are you’ve attended a concert, banquet, wedding, or some type of event at The Tangier. Soon, a new generation of kids will have their opportunity to make memories there, as well.

Ed George is the owner of the Tangier, at least for now, and he joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to talk about the sale of his business and facility to the LeBron James Family Foundation. Rather than just a concert and banquet hall with a restaurant, the complex will also house an athletic area, a bank, a new restaurant, and other amenities.

After 65 years, George says it was a “tough decision” to sell, but it “had to be done.” According to George, the plan to sell dated back before the pandemic, but he is happy to see the LJFF take it over, as both the Tangier and LeBron James have invested heavily in the Akron community.

For his final visit in 2020, Akron mayor Dan Horrigan, who has called into the Ray Horner Morning Show almost weekly during the pandemic, talks about what is on his plate heading into 2021.

From the economic aspect, Horrigan says they are hopeful a next round of stimulus can boost matters for businesses and residents, but the struggle will continue as they may face cutting services in 2021. As for those businesses, the CARES Act helped for the time being, but Horrigan believes many doors may close unless they get another round of assistance.

While there is a vaccine on the horizon, the mayor still urges the residents to continue on staying the course as hospitals adjust for both new COVID-19 patients and preparing for vaccine inoculations.

The Pfizer has been approved, and is being shipped out to medical facilities across the country, and Moderna is awaiting their official approval.

Donna Skoda is the commissioner of the Summit County Health Department, and she joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to share her expertise on the rollout of the vaccine. Skoda says that while the local health departments have not arrived yet, the medical facilities are slowly receiving the supply and training the staff in order to safely execute the inoculations. While some polls showed close to half of Americans were skeptical about taking a vaccine, Skoda says trust has increased as the virus rages on.

While there is hope with vaccines, Skoda urges the residents of Summit County to stay the course and avoid gatherings during the holidays.

That “light at the end of the tunnel” is slowly growing closer and brighter, as the COVID-19 vaccine has been distributed to major metropolises at the previously promised mid-December time frame. Hospitals and other medical facilities such as Summa Health are awaiting the vaccine supply, but are preparing for the rollout when it does arrive.

Dr. Cliff Deveny is the president and CEO of Summa Health, and he joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to talk about the rollout and distribution of this vaccine, and the time frame in which the individuals can get their shots. As reported, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will require two shots, according to medical professionals. Dr. Deveny believes there will be an “adequate supply” of vaccines by the end of the summer.

Summa has their staff prepared for the vaccine arrival, from storage and equipment to do so, to the healthcare workers inoculating.

WAKR is celebrating 80 years of broadcasting in Akron, and for 71 of them, Share-A-Christmas with the Salvation Army has been a constant every December.

However, during those seven decades, the United States has not seen a pandemic of this magnitude until 2020, and many residents of Summit County need help in various ways, from food to finances. Major Stephen Stoops is with the Salvation Army of Summit County, and he spoke of the importance of their organization’s mission, now more than ever. From the services inside the Salvation Army building to how and where to donate in the red kettles, Major Stoops discussed it all with Ray Horner.

The online auction, as well as the live auction, are up from now until December 18th, and listeners can make their bid on our website or calling Joyce Lagios at 330-697-1591.

COVID-19 has claimed almost 300,000 Americans and counting, but the good news is the rollout of a vaccine. While some cannot wait to get their vaccine and hope for a sense of normalcy, many Americans are skeptical, from the rapid rollout to its effectiveness, to anti-vaccine sentiments.

Dr. Donald Dumford is an infectious disease expert at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and he joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to talk about the vaccine rollout. Dr. Dumford believes 70 to 80% of the population would have to be immune to beat down the virus and stop transmission. Medical experts like Dr, Dumford are not sure at this time if this will be a one-time shot or patients will have to return each year, ala the flu shot.

Will this vaccine completely wipe out the virus? Not necessarily, says Dr. Dumford, in that due to its spread and possible mutations, we may still see the virus in some capacity like other coronaviruses like the cold.

With Summit County in the critical “purple” level during the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have had to get creative with teaching, whether it be in person, virtual, or a mix of both. But that creativity does not stop at the academic level.

David James is the soon-to-be-retiring superintendent of Akron Public Schools, and he joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to talk about a variety of topics revolving around education and the pandemic, which included pausing winter sports through December. James says he has worked with the APS athletic department and the county health department to come up with a timetable on when to restart winter sports, if indeed Summit County comes out of the purple level.

As for the students in the classroom, Akron Public Schools, along with countless other districts, are balancing safety with learning. James is concerned with some students falling behind with their grades due to virtual learning, and there is the possibility seniors could spend their final high school year out of the classroom.

Pandemic stress and fatigue is weighing on individuals from small communities to large municipalities, from tiny countries to world superpowers. But nowhere is that stress any higher than in the world of healthcare.

Sheila Miller is the chief nursing officer at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and she joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to talk about how her staff is managing during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now raged on about nine months and counting. Sheila talked about how to keep the frontline workers safe and fresh during a time where they are needed the most. She also mentioned how they are doing better with the supply of PPE compared to the spring, where many hospitals ran short and had to maneuver on the fly.