The Portage County Board of Elections announced the hours it will be open to the public following the May 3 election to resolve any problems with absentee and provisional ballots.
Because of muddy conditions, a Sunday evening field fire near 184 State Route 44 in Randolph spread to about 23 acres before firefighters could extinguish it.
A massive Sunday morning power outage in Kent was caused by a squirrel.
Two Sunday afternoon water line failures shut down a Kent water tower, sent 150,000 gallons of water cascading down Fairchild Avenue and caused brown water to flow from hundreds of city faucets.
- Staff Report.
Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County
- Tom Hardesty.
Friday, April 22, was unlike any day Marty Hill had in the last 47 years. “I told my wife when I woke up, ‘I feel weird,'” he said.
- Ben Wolford.
On Friday, I announced we are considering starting newsletters in nearby cities and asked for your input on which ones. A portion of our readers live just outside of Portage County, and we received useful feedback from them.
- Jeff Gambone.
On Tuesday, head to 1947 W. Market St. in Akron for the open mic night at the Mercedes Tavern hosted by John Markovich. This event begins at 7 p.m. with signups at 6:30 p.m. Great atmosphere with good music and friends to meet or make.
The Kent City Council voted unanimously this week to once again close Franklin Avenue to car traffic to provide more outside seating and give a boost to nearby businesses.
- Staff Report.
Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County
Tucked inside a plastic bag that itself was weighed down with a baggie of rice was a flyer with antisemitic propaganda. The front of the page contained images of a dozen high-ranking members of President Biden’s administration, falsely alleging they are all Jewish. The back falsely claims that six “Jewish corporations” own 96% of the media.
I was glad that Wendy gave my great-great-grandfather, Samuel Olin a mention in her Streetsboro’s 200th Birthday article as he donated the land for the Evergreen Cemetery.
Across Portage County, taxpayers are financing perhaps dozens of take-home vehicles for city, village, and township officials, according to interviews with a sampling of local governments. It’s a perk their bosses say is necessary to do their jobs properly, even if it would be cheaper just to pay mileage. Often the vehicles are for emergency services personnel.
- Tom Hardesty.
The weather is warming. The flowers are blooming. The birds are chirping.
Spring, at long last, has finally emerged in Northeast Ohio. And in the spirit of the long-awaited transition to the season of rebirth and happiness, now would be a good time for a lighter Round 2 and to give readers another peek behind the curtain of life as a journalist. Enjoy!
- Staff Report.
Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County
With Ohio’s new “permitless carry” law set to take effect June 12, Portage County law enforcement agencies say the new rules increase the risks of their already stressful jobs, prompting them to update their training.
- Submitted.
Deerfield Ag Services named the winners of $4,700 in Fair Funding Starter Scholarships for the 2022 fair season. The program is designed to support individual youth exhibitors at the start of their projects and offset some of the initial investments associated with fair livestock projects.
- Staff Report.
Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County
- Staff Report.
As part of our May 3 election coverage, we asked candidates in the county’s two contested races — those for commissioner and auditor — a series of questions to help you cast an informed vote.
- Mason Lawlor.
The Palmyra Center Hotel was once a luxurious stopover for stagecoach travelers and illustrious 19th century heroes, from Abraham Lincoln to Buffalo Bill. Today, it’s the crumbling structure that haunts the intersection of Tallmadge Road and state Route 225.