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Brimfield / Business / People

Brimfield Bread Oven will still serve Thanksgiving delights despite losing part of its roof

- Michael Indriolo.

Back house employees Taylor Talley and Andrew Lyon form dough into loaves while Ryleigh Butler wraps dough in plastic and Christina Mariola prepares apple pie crusts at Brimfield Bread Oven. Michael Indriolo/The Portager Brimfield Bread Oven will still serve Thanksgiving delights despite losing part of its roof The bakery has taken on a social mission to feed Portage County. Brimfield Bread Oven’s wood-fired oven is still burning despite the pandemic shuttering small businesses across the country — and despite the roof literally coming off. […]

Politics / Schools

Portage County voters denied much-needed funding to schools. What now?

- Michael Indriolo.

Waterloo needed to pass its levy to fix buses and upgrade educational materials. But voters rejected every school levy on the Nov. 3 ballot. Carter Eugene Adams/The Portager Portage County voters denied much-needed funding to schools. What now? Some schools will cut jobs. Windham needs a boiler. ‘It’s discouraging,’ said one district treasurer. ‘Something needs to change with school funding.’ Portage County voters sent a resounding message to four school districts last week: Don’t expect any more money from us. District […]

Politics
Republicans take a County Commission majority, leaving Democrats’ future uncertain

Republicans take a County Commission majority, leaving Democrats’ future uncertain

- Michael Indriolo.

Portage County Commission incumbent Sabrina Christian-Bennett talks with friends during a Portage County Republicans watch party at the Kent American Legion on Tuesday. Michael Indriolo/The Portager Republicans take a County Commission majority, leaving Democrats’ future uncertain Christian-Bennett and Badalamenti pledge to focus on the economy. Kennedy calls for reconciliation. Republicans swept the Portage County elections this year, winning all but one partisan contest and flipping the County Commission’s Democratic majority. Vicki Kline will remain the Commission’s lone Democrat in 2021. […]

Politics

Portage County voters look forward to the end of political season

- Michael Indriolo.

Ravenna voters cast ballots at the polling station in Maplewood Christian Church on Tuesday. Michael Indriolo/The Portager. Portage County voters look forward to the end of political season At polling locations across the county, residents said their votes were crucial. But they also couldn’t wait for the campaign season to end. Ravenna voters cast ballots at the polling station in Maplewood Christian Church on Tuesday. Michael Indriolo/The Portager. Kim Borucki, of Garrettsville, brought her son Noah Hoffmann out to vote for […]

Rootstown / Schools
Citing ‘no real commitment to change,’ NAACP backs away from Rootstown schools partnership

Citing ‘no real commitment to change,’ NAACP backs away from Rootstown schools partnership

- Michael Indriolo.

Portage County NAACP President Geraldine Hayes-Nelson (right) and Rootstown Board of Education President Amanda Waesch speak to Rootstown residents during their first community forum about racism on Oct. 11. Michael Indriolo/The Portager Citing ‘no real commitment to change,’ NAACP backs away from Rootstown schools partnership The board passed over three women with master’s degrees in education to select two men with ties to youth football The Portage County NAACP condemned the Rootstown Board of Education’s decision to appoint two white men […]

Rootstown / Schools
Rootstown investigation left a ‘sense of helplessness,’ critics say

Rootstown investigation left a ‘sense of helplessness,’ critics say

- Michael Indriolo.

Rootstown Board of Education President Amanda Waesch speaks to Rootstown residents during a community forum at Northeast Ohio Medical University on Oct. 11. The forum, called Critical Conversations, aims to heal the community after the handling of reported racism on the high school football team compelled residents to questions the school district’s values. Michael Indriolo/The Portager Racism Rootstown investigation left a ‘sense of helplessness,’ critics say The Board of Education hired a private investigator to review a football controversy. Community members […]

One for the Books
In Kent State, an epic rendering of the massacre and its prologue

In Kent State, an epic rendering of the massacre and its prologue

- Mary Louise Ruehr.

Reading Derf Backderf’s latest “nonfiction graphic novel” is an immersive experience. Once I started Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio, about the shootings at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, I forgot I was reading, following along as tensions became hostilities and erupted in increasing violence. I found myself lost in the book’s power to recreate the conditions of the event, recreate the animosity of government leadership, recreate the feelings of the students.

Rootstown / Schools

Rootstown begins conversations about racism, with second forum set for Sunday

- Michael Indriolo.

Portage County NAACP President Geraldine Hayes-Nelson and Rootstown Board of Education President Amanda Waesch speak to Rootstown residents during a community forum at Northeast Ohio Medical University on Sunday. Michael Indriolo/The Portager Rootstown begins conversations about racism, with second forum set for Sunday Residents discussed ways to build a more tolerant community, but some feared attendance was too low The Rootstown Board of Education is committed to making Rootstown more inclusive, Board President Amanda Waesch said during the first community forum after […]

Politics
Portage County shipped 30,000 absentee ballots this week. We spoke with some who voted in person.

Portage County shipped 30,000 absentee ballots this week. We spoke with some who voted in person.

- Michael Indriolo.

Lorene McMahon and Rodney Fleshman prepare to vote after confirming their identities to a polling station worker inside the Portage County Board of Elections on Tuesday. Michael Indriolo/The Portager Portage County shipped 30,000 absentee ballots this week. We spoke with some who voted in person. A local addition recovery group has helped register voters, and local organizers of both parties convened on election headquarters in Ravenna The Portage County Democrats and Republicans took up posts near the polls Tuesday for Ohio’s first […]

Kent / People
Kent’s newest firefighter has dedicated his life to serving his country and his hometown

Kent’s newest firefighter has dedicated his life to serving his country and his hometown

- Carter Eugene Adams.

Jordan Bedell, 28, of Kent, is a U.S. Marine, the founder of a community nonprofit and the first full-time Black firefighter in the history of the Kent Fire Department. Carter Eugene Adams/The Portager Marine, volunteer, firefighter — Jordan Bedell is breaking barriers and has just one wish for Kent children: that they have the same opportunities he did. On one of the first cold mornings of fall, Jordan Bedell performed morning chores and started his shift at Station 1 in the Kent Fire […]

Windham
Windham police look inward to address officer wellness and racial policing

Windham police look inward to address officer wellness and racial policing

- Carter Eugene Adams.

Patrolman Chuck Kulig (left) and Patrolman J.D. Novak participate in a Racial Intelligent Training and Education (RITE) training, held by and for the Windham Police Department at the Windham Board of Education building Saturday. Carter Eugene Adams/The Portager Racial justice Windham police look inward to address officer wellness and racial policing Chief hopes to bring Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement to more public agencies throughout Portage County. Windham Police Chief Eric Brieding, addressing a classroom full of patrolmen, put it simply: “It’s […]

Events / Sports
Deer archery season is fast approaching for Ohio hunters

Deer archery season is fast approaching for Ohio hunters

- amg-development.

Photo by TravelKS, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deer archery season is fast approaching for Ohio hunters Here’s what you need to know Hunting is a staple of Portage County going back thousands of years. As temperatures begin to drop and leaves begin to change, residents prepare to head to the woods in an attempt to fill the freezer and, if all goes well, get a new mount for the mantelpiece. With archery season a little over a week away here are some […]

Rootstown / Schools
Rootstown board member pressured the superintendent to reinstate football player

Rootstown board member pressured the superintendent to reinstate football player

- Michael Indriolo.

Community members gather in Rootstown High School’s cafeteria for a special Board of Education meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (Michael Indriolo/The Portager) Rootstown board member pressured the superintendent to reinstate football player High school principal: ‘I felt in a position of, this person controls my livelihood’ At the urging of at least one school board member, Rootstown Superintendent Andrew Hawkins prevented disciplinary action against a football player who hurled racial slurs against teammates in violation of team rules, leading two […]

Colleges

Kent State will put cameras, lights around Rock, but can’t take disciplinary action

- Michael Indriolo.

Kent State President Todd Diacon rests his hand on a railing while former Black United Students president Patrick Ferguson speaks to students and faculty gathered in Risman Plaza on Monday. (Michael Indriolo/The Portager) Racism Kent State will put cameras, lights around Rock, but can’t take disciplinary action President Todd Diacon joined students in an afternoon march responding to racist messages painted on the Rock on campus. After pressure from protesters last week, Kent State President Todd Diacon joined a march against […]

Garrettsville
Garrettsville supports rural development grant application, electric car charger installation

Garrettsville supports rural development grant application, electric car charger installation

- Michael Indriolo.

Carter Eugene Adams/The Portager Garrettsville supports rural development grant application, electric car charger installation Notes from the Garrettsville Village Council meeting of Sept. 9, 2020 Garrettsville will be among the Portage County communities applying for a USDA economic development grant, designed to support infrastructure and workforce development in rural areas. Garrettsville Village Council agreed to support the Portage County Regional Planning Commission in the application process at their meeting Wednesday. The USDA has allotted $1 million in grants to fund initiatives […]

County commission / Health
Portage County commissioners are preparing to declare racism a public health emergency

Portage County commissioners are preparing to declare racism a public health emergency

- Carter Eugene Adams.

A Black Lives Matter protester in Garrettsville raises a sign on Thursday. Michael Indriolo/The Portager Interview Portage County commissioners are preparing to declare racism a public health emergency A conversation with County Commission President Kathleen Clyde on what the board is doing to address racial inequality in Portage Throughout the summer, The Portager has been reaching out to local community leaders to hear their thoughts on addressing racism in Portage County, on the Black Lives Matter movement and on police reform. […]

Garrettsville
Water shutoffs, road repairs and skateboard shenanigans

Water shutoffs, road repairs and skateboard shenanigans

- Carter Eugene Adams.

Carter Eugene Adams/The Portager Garrettsville Water shutoffs, road repairs and skateboard shenanigans Highlights from the Aug. 12 Garrettsville Village Council meeting Garrettsville Village Council discussed Covid-19 funds for schools, progress on street maintenance, water shutoffs, skateboarding and trees during their meeting Wednesday. Here’s a roundup of what they talked about. Public utilities and public shutoffs Council member Larry Beatty questioned the morality of shutting off people’s water in light of continually high unemployment numbers caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re still in […]

Events
The Portage County Fair is closed to the public, leaving Confederate flag question hanging

The Portage County Fair is closed to the public, leaving Confederate flag question hanging

- Carter Eugene Adams.

Stock image by Annie Spratt Randolph Fair The Portage County Fair is closed to the public, leaving Confederate flag question hanging ‘Nothing is the same and this has been like planning for an event for the first time ever.’ The Portage County Fair Board recently announced the fair will be closed to the public this year, taking a more cautious approach than neighboring Summit County and putting off a decision on whether Confederate flags should be allowed for sale on the grounds. […]

Colleges / Crime
KSU criminal justice prof: Cops use force because that’s what they’re trained to do

KSU criminal justice prof: Cops use force because that’s what they’re trained to do

- Carter Eugene Adams.

Solomon Interview KSU criminal justice prof: Cops use force because that’s what they’re trained to do Starr Solomon: ‘Total, we’re looking at roughly 150 hours of use of force training versus 24 hours of something like crisis intervention’ After the murder of George Floyd and calls for police reform went mainstream, we wanted to learn more about how modern American policing came to be and why it is the way it is. To do that, we reached out to Kent State […]

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