Hike-and-bike trail connection faces opposition in Mantua
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Continued opposition to a hike-and-bike trail connection in Mantua Township may mean no connection at all. In short, residents and elected officials aren’t on board.
County roundup: Hiram offers police management to Mantua, plus Freedom, Garrettsville and Windham news
- Roger Gordon. Village council has authorized Mayor Anne Haynam to offer a management contract to the Village of Mantua that would allow the Hiram Police Department to manage the Mantua Village Police Department on a temporary basis.
Around Edinburg: Township says goodbye to Evelyn Shewell, Edinburg's oldest resident
- Cathy Klein. Many of you may have already heard, but we recently lost our oldest community member with the passing of Evelyn Shewell. Evelyn turned 100 years old this past August and was awarded with a proclamation from the Edinburg Ohio Historical Society.
Portage County obituaries for Dec. 12-14
- Staff Report. Remembering those we've lost in Portage County
Commissioners considering banning large wind and solar in county’s townships
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Portage County’s commissioners have the authority to designate all 18 townships off-limits to large wind and solar installations, but they’ve decided not to act alone.
Ravenna looks for other ways to improve Emerald Lake Preservation
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Ravenna did not win a state grant to acquire what would be additional park property, but the city’s not giving up yet.
Ohio Outdoors: Deck the halls with...
- Julie Watson. I bet you finished that line. During a Portage County winter, most of our trees and herbaceous plant life slumber until the arrival of spring.
Portage County obituaries for Dec. 10-11
- Staff Report. Remembering those we've lost in Portage County
Portage Park District conserves 550 acres in Shalersville
- Staff Report. The Portage Park District recently partnered with Western Reserve Land Conservancy to purchase and conserve a 550 acre property in Shalersville.
Last-minute events and sales around Portage County
- Lauren Cohen. All around Portage County, small businesses are hosting events and sales for the holiday season. Check out the list below for information on what’s going on locally that you may have missed.
Captain Brady Day will return in July 2026
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Captain Brady Day is back. Last held in 2007, it was a small neighborhood festival: local residents selling homemade crafts from card tables, a grainy slideshow of the village’s heyday as a tourist destination and other low-key attractions.
Around Garrettsville: Holiday events and a new children's book set in Garrettsville
- Jackie Loreta-Rinearson. The Garrettsville Branch of the Portage County District Library is sponsoring a performance of “Butternut Hill” to celebrate the holiday season.
Portage County obituaries for Dec. 8-9
- Staff Report. Remembering those we've lost in Portage County
LayerZero expanding in Streetsboro, adding hundreds of jobs
- Amanda Smith. Outside LayerZero Power Systems, LLC in Streetsboro, graders, excavators, dump trucks and other heavy equipment are hard at work preparing for a major expansion. The work underway will nearly double the workforce and production capacity of the business.
Documenters: Kent City Council committee meeting for Dec. 3, 2025
- Margaret Lennox. Hall presented the 2026 operating budget, which was approved by the council. Kent is not in a deficit and has been able to put several million dollars into a rainy day fund for emergencies. The 2026 operating budget was approved by council.
Portage County obituaries for Dec. 5-7
- Staff Report. Remembering those we've lost in Portage County
County roundup: Santa visits and news from Atwater, Brimfield, Mogadore, Randolph and Suffield
- Roger Gordon. Seth Dowler was promoted to fire chief of the Village of Mogadore after three years as assistant fire chief. His first day in his new capacity will be Dec. 27. Dowler is replacing John Cain, who is retiring after 12 years as fire chief and an astounding 44 years as a fireman in the department.
Legislative update: Redistricting, government shutdown, property tax
- Lauren Cohen. The Ohio Redistricting Commission unanimously passed a congressional map on Oct. 31. It gave Republicans the advantage in Ohio, 12-3.
Rooted Ramblings: Great gifts for the gardener in your life
- Master Gardener Volunteers. One of the best parts of the holiday season is finding a gift that brings lasting joy to the recipient. If you have a gardener in your life, there are a number of great options to consider, from tools to plants to garden décor. But how do you find the right gift for that special person? Here are a few tips that might help narrow down the choices.
Documenters: Ravenna City Council meeting for Dec. 1, 2025
- Noell Wolfgram Evans. Calfee asked Smallfield for an update on the Flock system and if it has been “worth it.” Smallfield enthusiastically shared his positive opinion on the system and said that it has helped to solve about 100 crimes already.