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The recently fired chief of Mantua police, Joe Urso, has appealed his dismissal in Portage County Common Pleas Court, arguing that the village council hearing against him was unfair and that he was denied due process.

After a failed attempt earlier in the spring, the Streetsboro City Schools is aiming to pass a continuing operating levy for regular expenses during the Nov. 4 election.

While the leaves have not been as brilliant as in some past years, there is still plenty of beauty in Brimfield, and, for the most part, the weather has been pleasant. Nothing says fall like a 4-year-old picking out pumpkins at Dussel Farm on a perfect autumn day. My husband and I enjoyed watching Dylan McSweeney as he was laser-focused on filling his wagon with his treasured pumpkins.

U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, who represent Portage County residents, voted against each other on H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, on Sept. 19. The bill was created to fund the government short-term to prevent a government shutdown.

The Franklin Township trustees held a regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 28, 2025, at Township Hall. In attendance were Chairperson Kellie Kapusta and trustee Scott Swan. Also attending were Zoning Inspector Joe Ciccozzi, Deputy Fire Prevention Officer Richard Smith and Road Superintendent David Akerley.

Streetsboro City Schools has a levy on the ballot and I hope people will vote to support the levy. I completely understand that the additional tax can be quite a burden on some folks, so I want to make sure people understand some important points regarding the levy and school funding. 

Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County

Development is a major concern for candidates running for trustee in Brimfield Township, while communication is a hot topic in Hiram Village. 

Six-hour bread lines. A person digs through the garbage. A 75-year-old Army veteran wonders aloud: “What the hell am I going to eat?”

Although we typically think of winter as a hibernation period for agriculture, this is actually the perfect time to take part in the time-honored tradition of maple syrup production unique to the northeastern United States, including Ohio!

Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County

I am writing in support of Issue 24, the proposed Streetsboro City Schools’ levy, in the upcoming election.

In development news, O’Malia said that 717 Credit Union had taken over the vacant Walgreens. He also announced that O’Hooligan’s barber and tattoo shop was planning a soft opening in November.

Phase Two of Kent’s Historic South End Tree Project is set to start soon with the addition of over a dozen trees.

This summer started out like every other — high hopes for good weather on the weekends for time spent at our camper. Well, so much for that. By the end of June, I was demanding a refund because of the weather: cold and rainy every single weekend. Little did I know that within a month’s time, the weather would be the least of our worries.

Paris Township’s Trick-or-Treat will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. Trunk-or-Treat will be at the same time at the Shearer Community Center at 9355 Newton Falls Rd.

Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County

In a marathon 12-hour hearing that stretched from 6 p.m. Oct. 21 to just short of 6 a.m. Oct. 22, Mantua Village Council ousted Police Chief Joe Urso, citing a smorgasbord of charges.

In addition to a long hearing that led to the firing of Police Chief Joe Urso, Mantua Village Council also approved Mantua’s first Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in a meeting that began on Oct. 21.

As autumn temperatures begin to decline, it is essential to prepare for the transition of houseplants that have been kept outdoors during the summer months in Ohio, back indoors. While many houseplants benefit from outdoor conditions, exposure to low temperatures — particularly below 45-50°F — can lead to damage or loss.