Streetsboro’s new City Hall will serve as a community hub
- Jeremy Brown. The once-little farming community that has grown to become one of the largest industrial and retail centers in Portage County officially has its first city center.
Local government
Kent City Council appoints new Ward 2 council member
- Margaret Lennox. Eric Dreger is the newest member of Kent City Council. Dreger was selected by council to serve Kent’s Ward 2, which was left vacant when Jack Amrhein ran for — and was elected to serve as — mayor in November of 2025.
Documenters: Streetsboro City Council meeting for Jan. 26, 2026
- Noell Wolfgram Evans. Following the acceptance of the Jan. 12 meeting minutes, members of the public were invited to address the council. Ted Hurd spoke with great pride about the new City Hall, which he said “was always my dream to see.”
County roundup: Streetsboro opens city hall, plus news from Aurora, Ravenna and Shalersville
- Roger Gordon. Ravenna City Council voted to extend its moratorium on storage facilities six months before it considers allowing any more to go in.
Ravenna looking to hire more firefighters, EMTs
- Adriana Gasiewski. Ravenna City Council is poised to add additional new firefighter/EMT positions, but how many remains up for debate. In draft legislation council considered last month, the number of new hires was not specified.
East Main Street project remains on track for 2028 completion
- Adriana Gasiewski. Construction crews continue to make progress on Kent’s East Main Street project, expanding sidewalks, completing underground work and creating a temporary roundabout, helping the project remain on track for its 2028 completion.
Mantua will temporarily oversee dispatch services for Hiram
- Wendy DiAlesandro. A month after Mantua signed an agreement handing control of its police department to Hiram, Hiram found itself in need of Mantua’s help.
County roundup: Rootstown prepares for America's 250th, plus news from Franklin and Paris
- Roger Gordon. The Rootstown Historical Society, in conjunction with Rootstown Township, is planning a festive celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 4 at Rootstown Park.
Brimfield acquires rest of Lake Mildred from Tallmadge
- Adriana Gasiewski. Brimfield now owns the entirety of Lake Mildred in McGuire Park, after Tallmadge gifted the remaining portion of it to the township on Jan. 5.
County roundup: Windham holds off on housing question, plus Mantua and Garrettsville news
- Roger Gordon. The Windham Township Trustees held a special meeting recently regarding the amendment that the people brought about having a second dwelling on one parcel. The trustees voted to accept the zoning commission’s recommendation to deny that activity.
Brimfield fire chief faced firing in 2025, but landed a raise instead
- Wendy DiAlesandro. In May 2025, the Brimfield fire chief was on the verge of losing his job over complaints of shouting, threatening employees and dishonesty on the job. Instead of terminating him, township trustees in October suspended him for 10 days and offered him a three-year contract extension and a raise.
Around Windham: Congratulations and welcome to Mayor Terrie Altiere
- Nicole Sweet. Terrie Altiere was formally sworn in as mayor by village Solicitor Charles Gasior on Dec. 16. Mayor Altiere was appointed to fill the vacant mayoral seat and will serve in this capacity through Dec. 31, 2027.
End-of-year legislative updates: Votes on Venezuela military action, Epstein files and more
- Lauren Cohen. In December, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes voted yes and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) voted no on two bills that regarded military actions involving Venezuela.
Documenters: Village of Sugar Bush Knolls Council meeting for Jan. 6, 2026
- Noell Wolfgram Evans. According to the banking statements shared, the village ended December with $173,273.10 in the bank and with $119,845.60 in investments with STAR Ohio.
County roundup: Mogadore seeks grants for sewer project, plus news from Atwater, Brimfield and Suffield
- Roger Gordon. Mogadore Village Council, partnering with Summit County and the City of Akron, passed legislation to authorize the village engineer to prepare and submit an application for grants from the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Documenters: Kent City Council committee meeting for Jan. 7, 2026
- Margaret Lennox. Nick Cecil informed the council that there would be a cybersecurity meeting in order to go over updates made to comply with new Ohio law. Jones also went over an update to the civil service rules.
Plans to clean up Hometown Bank's South End land are underway
- Wendy DiAlesandro. After Kent leaders in October decided not to rezone almost 12 acres near the center of the city, the proposed buyer backed out, but the land is still in play.