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Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

After an all-night search that began March 9, Portage County sheriff’s deputies detained a 33-year-old woman they claimed is in the country illegally and will turn her over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.

Bigfoot sightings in Portage County? The Bigfoot Society (yes, there is one) claims it’s true, and points to multiple recent sightings in Garrettsville, Windham, Mantua, Mantua Center and Streetsboro.

Community Development Director Bridget Susel discussed the Community Development Block Grant program’s 2026 projects. 

Brimfield’s Chamber of Commerce shuttered years ago, but township business owners may find a new home with the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce.

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

The solution to many plant problems begins in the soil. The soil your plants grow in is a living system made up of organic matter, minerals, water, air, and billions of microbes. Understanding soil and promoting soil health is one of the most effective ways to keep plants healthy and maximize your harvest.

Loneliness does not always announce itself. It can be quiet. It can look like a retired man eating dinner alone every night. A student at Kent State scrolling through contacts but not wanting to bother anyone. A young parent sitting in the driveway for a few extra minutes before going inside. A remote worker who realizes the only voice they heard all afternoon came from a podcast. In a small community, that kind of loneliness can feel especially strange. After all, small towns are supposed to be connected. People wave from cars. They recognize each other at the grocery store. They know whose kid plays baseball, whose roof was damaged in the storm, whose dog got loose last week. But being known is not always the same as feeling understood. That is where a new kind of technology has entered the conversation: AI companions. Not as a cure for loneliness. Not as a replacement for neighbors, friends, family or counselors. But as one more tool people are beginning to use when they need to talk, practice what to say, or simply feel less alone for a little while.

A corrections officer employed at the Portage County Jail found himself indicted for a second time March 9, this time in Portage County Common Pleas Court.

In the first two months of 2026, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) has been active in speaking up for her constituents, as well as Americans nationally.

The Easter Bunny will be making an appearance at the Charlestown Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday March 28 at the township park. The egg hunt will begin at 1 p.m.

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

The Portage County Sheriff’s Office was named as a defendant in five federal court cases in 2025, the highest number in a single year during Bruce Zuchowski’s tenure, according to a Portager examination of court records.

The Portage County Board of Commissioners will hold a Special Public Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 concerning recent township board of trustees resolutions that request the board of commissioners prohibit economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar farms within the townships.

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

Much of our discourse today is about the Epstein Files and the abuse of minors. I turned to several memoirs to learn the facts from actual victims. Caution: There’s no fiction here.

Aurora Park at Geauga Lake took center stage at Aurora’s 2026 State of the City event, held Feb. 25 at Aurora Meadows.

In his first year as head of the Aurora City School District, Superintendent Paul Milcetich spoke about “The Green Standard,” the district’s commitment to ensuring that its youth thrive not only academically, but also athletically, artistically and socially, as leaders and as human beings.

When I heard the news earlier this week that Lou Holtz had passed away at the age of 89, my mind immediately drifted back to a spring evening 32 years ago.

Planting seeds, indoors or outdoors, creates the right environment for dormancy to break and new life to begin.  Watching a seed sprout feels like magic. Starting seeds indoors is a rewarding, inexpensive way to grow hundreds of healthy transplants and get a head start on the gardening season.