The Portager

Chinn Allotment sewer project kicks off, but residents still worry about costs

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:46:00 GMT

County officials were told last month Congressman Dave Joyce’s office had scored $2 million in U.S. EPA grant money to help property owners in Ravenna Township’s Chinn Allotment, but who will get how much remains a mystery.

At issue is the county’s 2019 decision to install new sewer lines in the Chinn allotment, where residents relied on what the Portage County Combined General Health District concluded in 2018 were non-functional or sometimes non-existent septic systems.

Tying into the soon-to-be-constructed sewer main is not optional, even for property owners who can prove their septic systems are fully functional.

Big projects equal big price tags. Thanks to redesigns that delayed the project for years, the county’s original $18 million-plus estimate was eventually dialed in at $9.72 million. Even $8,925,000 in state and federal grants doesn’t cover the full amount, leaving many property owners reaching into their savings.

Calculating distributions

A necessary definition: Portage County Water Resources Director Dan Blakely explained that each single-family home or parcel that can hold a single-family home equals one benefit unit. The Chinn allotment has 255 of them, scattered along part of Red Brush Road/Brady Lake Road, Genevieve Road, Plainview Road, Lois Road, Marchinn Road, Woodlawn Avenue, Roselawn Avenue, Rose Street, Wall Street, Mabel Avenue and San Mar Street.

Since some of the allotment’s approximately 177 property owners hold multiple parcels that can or do hold benefit units or single parcels that can or do hold multiple benefit units, their financial liability rises accordingly.

If the current project estimate holds — which won’t be known until the final bill is paid — each of Chinn’s benefit unit owners will be assessed for $3,117, likely payable over a decade with their property taxes, Blakely said.

That’s just for the construction costs of the sewer project.

Blakely says the sewer project will safeguard the Chinn residents’ health and safety, but they’re looking at dollar signs. Each benefit unit owner also faces private costs associated with disconnecting current septic systems, crushing and filling septic tanks, installing necessary internal plumbing, inspection fees, running lateral pipes from their homes to the county sewer line and mandatory tie-in fees.

Residents whose restrooms are below the sewer mains, or not at a pitch that allows waste to flow where it needs to go, also have to buy and install external lift stations. Those grind what leaves the house into liquid and sends it onto and into the sewer mains.

That’s where the $2 million Ohio EPA grant comes in. It’s meant to help with the property owners’ private costs, but Portage County Regional Planning Commission Director Todd Peetz knows it won’t even cover everyone’s tie-in costs.

Should the $2 million grant be evenly divided, each benefit unit owner would receive almost $7,800. Peetz said he favors that formula, but acknowledges there may be others. The EPA has the final word, but it hasn’t forwarded the actual grant agreement to county officials yet, so the actual distribution criteria remains unknown.

No matter: the money won’t go far. Louis Muñoz, owner of Portage Pumps of Ohio in Ravenna, told The Portager he charges $8,000-$10,000 per lift station. Tariffs, he said, are sending that price nowhere but up.

Residents expect extra costs

Chinn resident Krystel Tossone has been holding monthly neighborhood meetings about the project for years. Uneasy about bills she and her neighbors are facing, she said a project redesign that decreased the depth of the sewer mains means more people need lift stations.

Blakely counters that the deeper design would have seen the project cost skyrocket.

“Instead of $8.9 million covering a $9.7 million project, it could easily have been $8.9 million covering an $18 million project,” he said. “The redesign was to cut the overall cost of the project and make it more palatable for everybody across the board, particularly the benefit unit holders, because they're the ones that are going to pay the lion's share of this.”

The tap-in fees cover costs associated with the financial impact the additional flow of wastewater will have on the sewers, pump stations and wastewater treatment plant, he said.

“It’s not an arbitrary fee. We're not just doing a cash grab. Maintaining these systems is a very expensive proposition, especially over the course of a lifetime,” he said.

Tossone’s goal is what it has been for years: to get the Chinn property owners' costs down to zero.

“We’re not there yet, even for the cost of constructing the sewer,” she said.

Officials look for more money

Peetz understands. He’s working with state Rep. Heidi Workman, hoping another $1.3 million for the project will be included in Ohio’s 2027-28 capital budget.

Whatever the ultimate assessments and out-of-pocket costs are, Blakely calls the money ultimately well spent. Since the Ohio EPA has mandated a sewer system instead of septic tanks, he said the project ensures that each buildable lot is potentially useful to its owners.

“There’s a reason they call them benefit units,” he said. “Once those sewer mains get put in there, that drives the value of the property up tremendously, because now you can tie into a utility and you can build a house.”

“Without sewer utility, and without the ability to install septic, you just have a piece of land you can't build on,” he continued.

The first shovels hit the ground earlier this month near the Brady Lake Road/state Route 59 intersection. Peetz said he expects the sewer project to be complete within a year, and then the property owners have another year to tie into them.

Around Ravenna: Spring Fling returns to Immaculate Conception Parish

Angie Reedy — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:43:00 GMT

Immaculate Conception Parish is hosting Spring Fling Music Bingo from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 25 for all the southern Portage County parishes. The event will be held at the I-C Hall at 251 W. Spruce Ave. in Ravenna. Tickets are $25.

There will be appetizers, beer, soft drinks, wine and desserts. There will also be prizes for the bingo winners, baskets and a 50/50 raffle.

Tickets will be available at the parish office during business hours or after all Masses through April 19. Tickets are presale only. Tables of eight will be available. Those attending should come dressed in their spring outfits. Open to those 21 and older.

Holy Cannoli! A Raven Packs fundraiser will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 15 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Hall. Cost is $40 per person. Entry includes dinner and one drink ticket. The event will include raffle baskets, a 50/50 raffle, side boards and a silent auction.

Tickets are available online; cash/check only accepted at the door. All event proceeds benefit Raven Packs, a non-profit community-wide initiative feeding kids in the Ravenna School District and community. For more information, email k5ravenpacks@gmail.com.

The Thrive Together Farmers’ Market will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, June through September, at the Portage County Health District at 999 E. Main St. in Ravenna.

Market highlights include food demonstrations and taste-testing, blood pressure screenings, locally grown fruits and vegetables, healthy foods and cottage goods, and yoga on the lawn. WIC, Senior FMNP coupons and SNAP accepted.

The events are open to the public. For more information, call 330-296-9919 or visit www.portagehealth.net.

A pop-up food pantry will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. the first Thursday of every month during the summer, featuring fresh foods, at the Portage County Health District. The events are open to the public. For more information, visit the website at www.portagehealth.net.

Save the date: The 33rd annual Auxiliary Craft Fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 at the University Hospitals Portage Medical Center at 6847 N. Chestnut St. in Ravenna.

Vendors who have participated before will receive their vendor applications in the mail the week of June 1. For more information, call 330-297-7971 or 330-296-4568.

Contact Angie Reedy at 330-297-7228 with your Ravenna news.

Rooted Ramblings: The Homegrown National Park

Master Gardener Volunteers — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:42:00 GMT

By Debbie Barber, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers

We all know about how important it is to protect habitat for our native species. Edwin Teale writes, “We cannot make the world uninhabitable for other forms of life and have it habitable for ourselves.”

The Homegrown National Park concept, co-founded by Dr. Doug Tallamy and Michelle Alfandari, seeks to create connected habitats that protect and expand our native flora and fauna to preserve biodiversity on our planet. Why is this important?

Biodiversity means variety of life, and it is important because it sustains life on Earth. We have food, medicine, clean water, and clean air because of biodiversity. How does this happen?

E.O. Wilson writes that “insects are the little things that run the world.” They are the foundation for our food web. Over 90% of flowering plants need insects for pollination. They provide food for birds, fish, and mammals. They help decompose organic matter which puts nutrients back into the soil that we use to grow our food. If we were to lose our insects, the ecosystem would collapse. It is important to think about this when we apply insecticides to lawns and fields, and when we spray for mosquitoes (which kills other flying insects and is minimally effective). Mosquito dunks are much safer and effective Native bees are in steep decline, and we have lost 90% of our monarchs.

So, what exactly is the Homegrown National Park (HNP) project and why should we all care?

HNP is an initiative to organize neighbors and anyone who owns land to help rebuild habitat on their property, then help connect them with others to create a corridor that supports our ecosystem. There are several components to this, and each is vital. What one owner does impacts others so we need to think not only in terms of our ecology, but also in ways neighbors can join to keep our environment healthy.

Let’s look at some specifics. (1) Native plants play an important role. These feed our fauna which are a vital part of the food web. Ornamental plantings alongside natives can add color and enjoyment throughout the summer while the native plants help sustain wildlife. (2) Remove invasive plants such as burning bush, garlic mustard, Russian olive, barberry, honeysuckle, and Callery Pear. These form monocultures that choke out our needed natives. (3) Reduce your lawn. Claudia West recommends thinking of lawn as an area rug, not wall-to-wall carpet. (4) Control storm water runoff by planting native trees and shrubs along waterways (a riparian border) to slow overflow.

We all have a role to play in conservation and protecting our delicate ecosystems. In the lower 48 states, 78% of our land is privately owned. Residential landscapes make up 135 million acres and of those, 44 million acres nationwide are lawn! Lawn is the worst plant for sequestering carbon. Just think what we can do if we join together and create our own Homegrown National Parks.

For information about being registered as a HNP site, go to Homegrown National Park - Get on the Map. Get your name on the map and join thousands of others to make a difference!

References:

Bringing Nature Home, Douglas W. Tallamy
(Video) https://homegrownnationalpark.org/doug-tallamy/
Home Grown National Park
Land Trust Alliance Why Land Matters
Royalsociety.org
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Native Plants Lists

Ohio State University Extension Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer program. As OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, our articles will never endorse specific products or companies. Questions/comments/suggestions/want to find out more/become a PCMGV: 330-296-6432 • OSU PCMGV web • portco.mgv.oh@gmail.com • FB PCMGV • PCMGV Speaker’s Bureau

Portage County obituaries for April 1-2, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:41:00 GMT

Carmella P. D'Agostino

Carmella (Dolly) D’Agostino, 99, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2026, at Stuart Rehabilitation and Health Care in Stuart, Florida.

William "Bill" Dirrig

William “Bill” Dirrig, age 71, of Freedom Township, OH, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Population changes mean Ravenna must redraw ward map

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:13:00 GMT

For the first time in more than 50 years, Ravenna’s ward and precinct boundaries are set be redrawn.

City Council on March 23 agreed to form a committee to review the redistricting process and to ultimately pass a resolution approving new ward maps.

Since 1953, Ohio law has required city councils to redraw ward boundaries every decade, with the boundaries based on the most recent Census counts. The wards “shall be as nearly equal in population as possible and composed of contiguous and compact territory, bounded by natural boundaries or street lines,” the law states.

Ravenna Council At Large Member Carmen Laudato, who is also a member of the League of Women Voters of Kent, raised the issue in early March, and Trevor Martin, League of Women Voters of Ohio program coordinator, provided hard numbers.

Ravenna’s average ward population should be around 2,831 residents, he said. But with ward 1’s population at 2,203, ward 2 at 3,214, ward 3 at 3,827 and ward 4 at 2,079, Ravenna’s population deviancy is closer to 62% than it is to the generally accepted 10% threshold, he said.

Ward boundaries are more than lines on a map. Ward residents vote for a specific person to represent them on city council, ostensibly someone who is familiar with the issues that particularly affect those residents.

(There are also at-large council members who are voted on by the entire city electorate, and who represent the entire city.)

The law also states that if an elected ward representative finds themselves outside the ward they were elected to represent, their office is forfeited and council must fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.

How council failed to redraw its ward boundaries for over a half-century is anyone’s guess. Council At Large Member Amy Michael said she and her colleagues depend on the administration to keep them updated about Ohio laws and changes.

“We didn't know we were not in compliance,” she said. “We were dumbfounded. It's one of those things you don't think about. Luckily, it's not earthshaking, and we're not going to get in trouble for it, but we’re all in agreement that this has to be addressed.”

The Portager reached out to Ravenna Law Director Frank Cimino but did not receive a reply.

The process

To create the new ward maps, Laudato, Michael and Ward 1 Council Member Paul Moskun will work with Jennifer Mapes, a Kent State University assistant geography professor, who teaches a variety of classes including Mapping, Space & Power and Urban Sustainability.

Mapes told The Portager she will provide computerized (GIS) mapping to draw more equally populated districts that adhere to state redistricting guidelines. She identifies Census blocks: the smallest unit that the Census supplies in terms of population. They’re usually about the size of a city block, and Ravenna has 263 of them, she said.

The median population of each block is 27, but some tally in at zero (industrial areas), while others claim 520 (blocks that include apartment buildings), she said.

“GIS makes it very simple to add together Census blocks into wards to ensure they have similar populations and follow other state guidelines,” she said.

The LWV will also be involved, providing the committee with assistance, Michael said.

Once council has settled on a new ward map, it goes to the Portage County Board of Elections, which draws new precinct boundaries, board Deputy Director Theresa Nielsen explained. Those lines affect who votes where, and who votes for what local liquor options, such as Sunday sales, she added.

The BOE’s other job is to notify voters of their new polling location.

Council President Rob Kairis noted that new ward maps must be adopted by ordinance at least 150 days before the next municipal primary, giving the city a December 2026 deadline.

Around Edinburg: Edinburg United Church welcomes new pastor

Cathy Klein — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:08:00 GMT

Edinburg United Church would like to welcome its new pastor, Danny DeMarco. He and his wife, Rene, will live in the parsonage as he begins this new chapter of ministry with the church. They look forward to leadership, care and spiritual guidance that Pastor Danny will bring to the congregation and the community. The church invites everyone to worship at 9 a.m. each Sunday.

Edinburg United Church is located at 4081 Rock Spring Rd.

Edinburg Dumpster Clean-up Days will be held Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2. Clean-up is for households and not commercial or large agricultural use. The township has the right to refuse unacceptable materials that include but are not limited to televisions, paint, round bail bags and tires. Dumpster Days are for Edinburg residents only. Hours are as follows: 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 6 p.m. May 1, and 8 a.m. to noon May 2. Dumpsters will be located behind Edinburg Town Hall at 6856 Tallmadge Rd.

Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year has begun at Southeast Local Schools. Contact Kim Marsh with any questions at 330-654-5841. Registration forms can be found online at www.sepirates.org.

Southeast Cooperative Nursery School is registering students for its Tuesday/Thursday class for the 2026-27 school year. This class is for children ages 3 and 4 who will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2028. This class focuses on socialization and basic academic skills. Registration is $50, and the cost of tuition per month is $180. The program runs from September 2026 through May 2027. For more information, contact the school at 330-325-9545 or secooperative@aol.com. The preschool is located on the third floor of Edinburg United Church at 4081 Rock Spring Rd.

If you’re interested in learning how to crochet, come to a Beginner Crochet Workshop at Books a Go Go at 6 p.m. Friday, April 24. Cost of the class is $30 and includes instruction on basic stitches and a starter kit to take home. To register, go to www.booksagogostore.com under the events tab. For questions, call the shop at 330-442-4226. Books a Go Go is located at 220 W. Main St. in Ravenna.

Please send information to my email at CM101495@aol.com by the second Wednesday of the month to be included in the column, and thank you.

Senior Life: Say thanks or join your local volunteers during National Volunteer Month

Sally Kelly — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:03:00 GMT

April is National Volunteer Month. This is a chance for us to take a look around and “give our thanks” to all of our neighbors who give of their time and energy to help improve the community in which we live. These are folks who work for free, who only get paid by the good feelings which come from helping someone else live a better life.

The food pantries are the first group of volunteers who come to my mind. They sort the food, box it, and many of them put it in your car for you. Ever think how all of that free bread gets to our senior centers or food pantries? Volunteers!

Who are those folks at the University Hospitals Portage Medical Center in Ravenna who help show you around, or offer a warm blanket when you are waiting in the ER? Yep. Volunteers.

Ever think about who decides how our United Way donations, or the funds from the Portage Foundations are divided up? Volunteer boards.

Did you get your Girl Scout Cookies at a table in a local parking lot? Those mothers helping the girls are all volunteers.

Have you been to a theatrical performance at the Kent State University theater, the Akron Civic Theater or at Cleveland Playhouse and had someone show you to your seats? Yep, all volunteers.

Have you been to a local pancake breakfast this year? Once again, all volunteers.

The month of May will soon be here, and those folks who fill the planters and care for those flowers in Ravenna and Kent are… you guessed it— volunteers.

Everywhere we turn, there are folks who are willing to give of their time and energy to help make our lives better. If you are a volunteer … thank you. If you are not already a volunteer, think about it in the next few months. We still have many needs in our county that you may be able to help with.

If you are over the age of 55 and have decided that you want to become a volunteer, give Shannon Lehn a call at 330-677-3939. She is the new RSVP/FGP Coordinator, she is replacing Chrystal Shanley. Shannon's programs are still part of Axess Family Services Inc., though all of her funding comes from Americore (a federal program).

Shannon is from Youngstown and brings with her an abundant wealth of knowledge about senior citizens, also a strong desire to “reach out and help solve some of our community's problems.”

RSVP currently has nine volunteer sites in Portage County and they all need additional volunteers. The biggest need right now is for volunteers to help with food distribution at a pop-up food pantry or participating in a program to help get food donations, or helping to serve food at one of the lunch program sites.

Shannon believes that there are also three other primary needs in our county: transportation, mentoring at-risk children and companionship programs.

Are you one of those seniors who was cut from the new SNAP program, and were told you would have to work up to 80 hours a month to qualify for food stamps?

Keep in mind that volunteering can meet this work requirement. The Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs not only provide you with a small stipend ($4 an hour), they also meet the requirements for the SNAP program.

There are a variety of sites where you could become a stipend-paid mentor for an “at-risk” child in our county. There are also a multitude of senior citizens who would like some companionship and assistance with their activities of daily living (a run to a post office or grocery, help with fixing dinner, or just an afternoon of playing cards, and “talking about how things used to be.”

These programs ask for at least a five hour a week commitment, but many of the Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents in this program work many more.

If interested, give Shannon a call (330-677-3939).

April is a beautiful month, with the flowers coming out of the ground and the leaves beginning to add color to our landscape. Why not take this month to get out of your home and bring your love and energy to add color to someone else’s life!

Contact Sally Kelly with your senior news at 330-687-9501 or sentrip65@yahoo.com.

Portage County obituaries for March 30-31, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Earl L. "The Duke" Lovejoy

Earl L. Lovejoy “The Duke”, 78, of Ravenna, was surrounded by his family when he went home to be with the Lord on Saturday March 28, 2026 at the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Harold C. Gepper

Harold C. Gepper, 97, of Garrettsville, OH, went home to his Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 26, 2026. He was born in Braceville Twp., OH on September 2, 1928, to the late Carl and Mildred (Bloomer) Gepper.

Timothy Paul Chaplin

Timothy “Tim” Paul Chaplin, 68, passed away on March 25, 2026. He was born on January 24, 1958, to the late Maynard and Jean Chaplin.

Vivienne Irene Lux (Schafer)

Vivienne Irene Lux, 92, passed away peacefully March 28, 2026. Born in Akron, May 28, 1933, she lived most of her life in Brimfield.

Residents say 'No' to commissioners' ban on large wind and solar

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:12:00 GMT

Don’t ban large solar and wind facilities in Portage County, said about a dozen speakers at a March 26 public hearing the county commissioners hosted at the Portage County Emergency Management Agency headquarters.

About 60 people attended the hearing, and, among those who spoke, not one of them supported a draft zoning resolution that would restrict large and economically significant wind and solar farms in eight townships.

Atwater, Freedom, Hiram, Mantua, Nelson, Paris, Randolph and Rootstown townships have already passed their own zoning resolutions giving county commissioners authority to prohibit the construction of large wind or solar facilities.

The hearing was a required step before county leaders can consider a zoning resolution.

The draft of the resolution states that the commissioners have considered the “numerous potential impacts on users and property owners in the vicinity of such developments,” as well as the interests of property owners who wish to make their land available for them.

Mantua Township farmer Chuck Sayre, one of few speakers from a township named in the commissioners’ resolution, said he’d been approached by a company wanting to install a large solar facility on his land. Not signing on was his own choice, and that’s how it should stay, he said.

“I don't want the county to be able to say that we can't do that. I don't want to be regulated that way. I want to be good to my neighbors. My dad wanted me to be good to my neighbors. I think it should be a community decision as far as what we do with our farm,” Sayre said. “This just feels like big government stepping in and saying, ‘No, no, no, no, no.’”

A Paris Township resident said banning solar and wind farms is not the answer.

“We need to look forward to the future and think instead about projects such as community solar energy projects, agrivoltaics,” she said. “If you really want to help us, I urge you to support the development of wind and solar to ease the heavy financial burden that we are all subject to now, with no end in sight.”

Deerfield resident Logan Harrah said people should have the freedom to do what they want with their land as long as they are not harming anyone. (Deerfield is the only township in Portage County that does not regulate zoning, so the county commissioners couldn’t ban or restrict large wind or solar installations there even if they wanted to.)

Kent Environmental Council member Bill Wilen wondered if the commissioners were basing the proposed ban on science.

“Let me summarize some science for reality for a minute. We are living at a turning point in human history. The way we produce energy today will determine the health, stability and prosperity of our world for generations,” he said.

Former Kent City Council Member John Kuhar told the commissioners about a Cincinnati farmer who put a big array on his farm, and the cows use it for shade. With younger people choosing not to farm, though, large parcels of land are going fallow. Instead of selling the family farm, they could section off a part of it for solar panels to generate electricity, he said.

“I think before we regulate off all the good things that we have, we need to start thinking out of the box and see what we can do with the things and make it work so everybody wins,” he said.

Todd Ambrose, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 573, said banning wind and solar would be a step backward. Thoughtfully, locally managed dollar projects can provide farmers with supplemental income, create local union jobs and generate long-term revenue for schools and emergency services, he said.

“To pass a blanket ban on any form of energy at a time when our energy future is not secure is unreasonable,” Ambrose said.

Phillip Ralston, Portage County field rep for Laborers Local Union 894, said solar farms represent an opportunity for communities to take a stronger role in the future of energy instead of relying entirely on outside sources or unpredictable fuel markets.

“At the end of the day, private property breaks matter. Land owners should have the freedom to decide their own land issues, how their land is used,” he said.

Solar power is the cheapest source of energy and the fastest to build, and wind is number two, Bainbridge Township resident and Kent State University alumnus David Fuhry told the commissioners.

“A discriminatory ban against some forms of energy and not others is heavy-handed government intervention and signals Portage County is not open for business. Renewable energy can be managed properly as an opportunity for our communities and kids,” he said.

When county Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett said the commissioners will consider the proposed ban during their April 2 meeting, Diamond residents Leslie and Jeff Wood accused them of ignoring the will of the people. Any potential ban should be put on the ballot, the residents said.

Commissioner Jill Crawford noted that of the dozen or so speakers, only a few of them actually live in the townships covered by the proposed ban. The commissioners are proceeding in the belief that the trustees there are representing their constituents, she said.

Should the commissioners adopt the resolution, it will take effect in 30 days, unless a proper referendum petition is submitted.

Christian-Bennett said Charlestown Township has forwarded a like resolution, and Suffield is considering one, so the commissioners will soon hold a second public hearing to consider them.

The commissioners have already approved Shalersville Township’s 2025 resolution codifying its anti-installation stance.

County roundup: Streetsboro radio station hub for emergency alerts; Aurora, Ravenna and Shalersville news

Roger Gordon — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:27:00 GMT

Streetsboro

The Streetsboro City School District and the City of Streetsboro entered into a memorandum of understanding to be able to utilize WSTB 88.9 FM, Streetsboro High School’s radio station, as the city’s go-to emergency radio broadcasting center.

“That way,” Mayor Glenn Broska said, “if something weather-related or hazardous materials or something else we need to know, we can tell people, ‘Tune to 88.9, and you’ll get up-to-the-minute stuff.’ What’s really cool is that Streetsboro alum Corey Teuton, the station manager, can actually go live on the air from his cell phone.”

The Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ninth Annual RAT Memorial Golf Outing will be Friday, May 15 at Windmill Lakes Golf Club at 6544 State Route 14 in Ravenna. A shotgun start is scheduled for 9 a.m. The event supports Chamber scholarships and initiatives. Cost is $135 per individual, $675 per foursome (team sign-up) and $60 for RAT Packs. Register online at bit.ly/RATGolf26. For more information, contact the Chamber at 330-626-4769 or SACC@StreetsboroChamber.org.

The Student Recognition Breakfast will be at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, April 2 at the Streetsboro Community Center at 8970 Kirby Ln. The event recognizes students who have earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or above; recipients of scholarships will be announced. These scholarships have been made possible through the contributions of Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce members. Cost to attend is $25, which includes breakfast and the program. To purchase tickets and for sponsorship opportunities, contact the Chamber at 330-626-4769 or sacc@streetsborochamber.org.

Streetsboro City Council approved going forward on building the new playground on the property that houses City Hall. It will be another step toward the completion of Gateway Park.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chick-fil-A on state Route 14 was held March 25.

Aurora

“A Taste of the Western Reserve” will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at the Aurora Meadows Event Center at 50 Trails End. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Aurora and the Rotary Club of Aurora Foundation. Attendees can sample food from area restaurants, bid on items in the silent auction, take part in the wine pull and enter the raffle for a chance to win money; 50/50 raffle tickets are $20 each or six for $100. Tickets to the event are $60. Reserve a table of eight for $480 or a table of 10 for $600. To order tickets online or to make a donation, go to aurorarotaryclub.org or contact your local Rotarian. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales and donations will benefit the Aurora Schools Foundation’s renovation of the Leighton Elementary School amphitheater and the Hands of Gratitude prosthetics project.

The City of Aurora is hoping to receive approval of a contract with Ronyak for paving this year in the amount of $879,841. Streets that will be paved are Old Mill Road, Deep Woods Drive and Maple Lane. Also to be paved are fire stations 1 and 2 and the service department. In addition, state Route 82 East and state Route 306 North will be paved by the Ohio Department of Transportation this summer.

“We’ll be contributing to that as well,” Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said.

Aurora’s Summer Concert Series is just around the corner. It brings hundreds of residents to Veterans Memorial Park for free live music on the second and fourth Thursdays from June through August. Local businesses and organizations are invited to sponsor a concert for great visibility and a chance to get involved in the Aurora community. For more information, go to auroraoh.com.

The City of Aurora will celebrate the country’s 250th birthday with a series of parties around the city. The first is a tree planting at the Tree Museum from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 2. There will also be family activities. Learn more.

Shred Day will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 11 at the Aurora Service Department at 158 W. Pioneer Trl. Residents only. Limit of six boxes per household.

Aurora’s regular brush collection will begin Monday, April 20. Residents should have their brush at the curb by 7 a.m. that day. The brush collection is monthly; the schedule is posted at auroraoh.com.

Two dates are left on The Church in Aurora’s Lent to Easter worship calendar:

Maundy Thursday, April 2, 7 p.m. – Pastor Derek: Jesus’ last words from the cross.
Easter Sunday, April 5, 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. – Pastor Katie: The empty tomb; Jesus appears to Mary.

The church is located at 146 S. Chillicothe Rd.

On March 9, Aurora City Council authorized a variety of parks & recreation community education classes. These classes, which are offered throughout the year, include driver’s training.

City council approved Hejduk-Cox & Associates to design new sidewalks on state Route 43 up to Iris Place for $59,858.

The City of Aurora is proposing the purchase of internet equipment and security cameras for Aurora Park.

The city is requesting that authorities hire a new Tech 2 position for parks & recreation due to the growing responsibilities at Aurora Park.

The city is requesting the purchase of two backup generators for its two sanitary lift stations in case the power goes out.

Save the date: July 10 … Dueling Piano Night at the Aurora Inn Hotel & Event Center that will benefit Aurora Chamber Foundation scholarships.

City of Ravenna

Ravenna’s “State of the City” was held March 23. Based on 2025, there was continued growth in revenues and there was a change in carryover, which is in the neighborhood of $8 million.

“The general state of the condition of the city,” Mayor Frank Seman said, “has been in good shape in terms of being fiscally responsible throughout my time as mayor, and that’s been a goal we’ve had. We keep track of the finances so we don’t end up where we can’t handle the projects we do.”

Ravenna City Council has been working to try to get a fixed amount for electricity for the city, which it offers to residents who want to be part of it. Council voted – in the form of an ordinance – to set an upper limit that it would not go beyond, and that was 9.8 cents per kilowatt hour.

“This thing changes every day,” Seman said. “That’s why they put a level that they would not exceed. As it turned out, what we actually have is 9.74 cents per kilowatt hour.”

Trevor Martin of the League of Women Voters has determined that the City of Ravenna does not have balanced conditions. A 10% margin is what is allowed. Ravenna is at 67%.

“This is not unique to us. It’s happened throughout the whole state,” Seman said. “We’re moving to redistrict the town so it is balanced within that 10%. Trevor is supposed to help us determine where to draw some of the lines with that.”

Ravenna’s annual Easter Eggstravaganza will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 4, the day before Easter, at John Tontimonia City Park at 165 Oakwood St. Easter Egg hunts will be broken down by age:

Ages 4 and under at 11 a.m.
Ages 5-7 at 11:15 a.m.
Ages 8-10 at 11:30 a.m.
Ages 1-18 at 11:45 a.m. (tennis courts)

Also, there will be Meet the Easter Bunny, games and prizes, crafts and touch-a-truck in which kids can climb aboard some of the city’s fire trucks and police cars.

The City of Ravenna is looking for businesses, schools, individuals, and faith and community organizations to participate in America’s 250th Anniversary Community Picnic on Saturday, July 11.

Join in at a meeting regarding the celebration from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 at Ravenna City Hall at 210 Park Way. For more information, call 330-297-2155 or email chelsea.gregor@ravennaoh.gov.

The next Coffee Talk with the Ravenna Chamber of Commerce will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 8 at the Horseshoe Diner at 250 W. Main St. To register, email ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.

Save the date: The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Raven Awards will take place June 3. Nominations are being accepted; the deadline is May 1.

Ravenna Township

Ravenna Township’s annual Spring Clean-Up will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25 behind the township offices at 6115 S. Spring St. Dumpsters will be available, with help provided by township employees. Items not accepted include batteries, chemicals, medicines and oils. Tires – automotive and smaller – will be accepted, but there is a limit of 10 per vehicle. Truck tires and agricultural tires are not accepted. There will be no satellite drop-off locations this year. For more information, call the township offices at 330-297-1998.

Shalersville

Shalersville Township has been awarded a $5,000 Placemaking Grant from the Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors. Only one project in each of Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga counties received funding, and Shalersville was selected for Portage County. The grant will support the creation of Veterans Point, featuring a U.S. flag installation, benches and landscaping enhancements.

The township ordered and received its standard 400 tons of salt at $47.65 per ton. It was also able to secure an additional quantity with a 15% surcharge, bringing the total to nearly 500 tons.

Piping Rock, a health and wellness manufacturer specializing in vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and essential oils, has moved into the new Geis Building, occupying approximately 40% of the facility.

The township’s new legal representative, James Armstrong, attended the recent trustees meeting and formally introduced himself to the board.

The competitive bidding threshold in the Ohio Revised Code has been increased to $79,568.

The March 17 trustees meeting saw a full house, with many residents attending to express concerns about potential data center development. Key concerns included noise impacts, excessive water consumption, and potential effects on private wells and wastewater discharge along with fire department safety considerations. While no data center proposals are currently pending, the trustees are proactively reviewing standards to ensure strong protections for residents.

The Veterans Grave Marker Project will hold a fundraiser Saturday, May 2 at the American Legion Hall at 1945 Mogadore Rd. in Kent. The organization operates entirely on donations. Chris Untrauer explained that veterans buried before Nov. 30, 1990, in private cemeteries are not eligible for federally funded Veterans Administration markers. To ensure no veteran lies in an unmarked grave, new granite markers – weighing 130 pounds and having no scrap value – are purchased using private donations. Brass markers have increasingly been stolen and sold for scrap, making granite a secure alternative.

The Shalersville Historical Society will host a car show Saturday, May 30, with a rain date of Sunday, May 31. Entry is $10 per vehicle, and food will be provided by the Lions Club.

Shalersville’s Spring Clean‑Up will be held at the township garage from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 7; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 8; and 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Dumpsters will be available at the usual location. The township garage is located at 4383 State Route 303.

The township has hired a new board of zoning appeals secretary and a new Maintenance Worker Class II, filling vacancies created by two recent resignations.

Jason Carlton’s bid of $167.87 per acre was approved for farming the unused land adjacent to Hillside Cemetery.

A building permit has been issued for a new home on Centennial Trail.

Portage County obituaries for March 27-29, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:25:00 GMT

Eleanor Irene Sears

Eleanor Irene Sears, age 82 of Ravenna, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2026. She was born May 27, 1943, in Buffalo, New York, to parents Edward Carl and Cecilia Ann (Schwartz) Johnson.

Connie S. Edens

Connie S. Edens, age 78 of Ravenna, passed away tragically at her home on March 25, 2026. She was born October 12, 1947, in Calhoun County, West Virginia, to parents Delbert and Dorothy (Arnold) McCumbers.

Marcia J. McKibben

Marcia J. McKibben, 87, of Rootstown, Ohio, passed away on March 24, 2026. She was born in Homestead, PA. on October 7, 1938, to parents Floyd and Sophia (Geary) Bell.

Donald Ray Goodhart

Donald Ray Goodhart, 79, of Kent, peacefully passed away on March 24, 2026 surrounded by the love of his family.

John B. Burkey

John B. Burkey, 91, of Streetsboro, passed away Tuesday March 24, 2026 at the Arbors of Streetsboro. He was born April 15, 1934 in Lloydell, PA to the late John C. and Agnes (Tokarcik) Burkey.

Henry M. Reedy

Henry M. Reedy, 88, of Streetsboro, passed away Monday March 23, 2026 at his daughter's home with his family by his side. On October 9, 1937, Mr. Reedy was born in Washington, PA to the late Arleigh and Viola (Chadwick) Reedy.

Woman arrested by deputies in March reportedly has been deported

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:56:58 GMT

A woman arrested by Portage County deputies March 10 following an all-night manhunt has been deported, according to a jail official in Mahoning County, where she was being held.

Jorge Gonzalez Alvarado, 31, and Ana Maria Contreras Jimenez, 33, did not possess a valid drivers license when Portage County deputies pulled over their vehicle on Interstate 76 on March 9 for having expired tags, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. The pair fled on foot, prompting deputies to chase them through the night, with the help of an Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter.

The Portage County Sheriff's Office arrested Contreras Jimenez on March 10, and booked her into the Portage County jail on a second-degree misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business. Deputies held her on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, suspecting her to be in the country illegally.

ICE officials arrived on March 13 and transported Contreras Jimenez to the Mahoning County jail, a designated ICE detention facility, where she was held without bond or court date until March 24. After that she was deported, according to a Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office jail administration employee.

“We don't know where they go. ICE transports them,” said the employee, who identified herself only as Deputy Greene and declined to give her first name. The only Mahoning County sheriff’s employee named Greene listed in the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy online records is Mary Jane Greene.

The Portager did not receive any response from an ICE media relations email address asking where Contreras Jimenez was taken, if she had been provided with an attorney and what her next legal options might be.

Gonzalez Alvarado, the driver of the vehicle, remains at large. He faces a second-degree misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business, an unclassified misdemeanor charge of no operator’s license and a minor misdemeanor charge of failure to register a vehicle. Warrants have been issued for his arrest.

Immigration detainers and holds have always been a tool available to ICE and state law enforcement, but before January 2025, they were typically reserved for rare cases such as repeat offenders and violent criminals, said Cleveland immigration attorney Kwasi Bediako, who works at Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC.

Now, his best advice for immigrants who find themselves in places where local law enforcement and ICE have signed cooperative agreements is to avoid unnecessary interactions with the law.

“Maintain a simple routine such as going to work and then places of worship. Avoid engaging in activities and going to places that are likely to result in an interaction with law enforcement,” he said.

The cooperative agreement Bediako referenced is a Memorandum of Agreement under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. When Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski signed one in March 2025, the PCSO gained the authority to:

Interrogate "any person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States"
Arrest a person without a warrant if the officer witnesses them entering the U.S. unlawfully or “has reason to believe” the person is in the U.S. illegally “and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained”
Arrest a person without a warrant for felonies if "the officer has reason to believe the alien to be arrested is in the United States in violation of the law and is likely to escape before a warrant is obtained"
Maintain custody of people on behalf of ICE

The MOA requires the sheriff’s office to charge people with local or state offenses and then hold them in detention until their sentences have been served. Afterward, the sheriff’s office is to notify ICE for same-day removal to a “relevant ICE detention office or facility.”

The MOA provided the PCSO with the authority to apprehend Contreras Jimenez and a roadmap as to how to proceed once she was incarcerated.

The PCSO’s Facebook post also stated that, “locations believed to be employing and housing individuals who are in the county illegally have been identified,” and that the information has been forwarded to ICE.

The Portager asked why the PCSO, which has the authority to do so, has not actively investigated these locations itself, what specific information the agency is using as a basis for this information, where the locations are and what information the agency has shared with ICE.

The sheriff’s office did not respond to the Portager’s questions.

Rooted Ramblings: Starting over in your home gardens

Master Gardener Volunteers — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:48:00 GMT

Written by Judy Sewell, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer

Our first backyard contained one Bradford Pear (later destroyed in a storm) and a topped white pine. Over 25 years we added trees, shrubs, perennials, a pergola, and two water features. Leaving the now shaded, full yard made my heart stop for a moment. After digging a few perennials to share at the PCMGV plant sale and telling the new owners to call with any questions, we moved on from our first home.

So how do you start over in gardening? When we moved to our new home our plan was to take a year to see what established items we inherited; of course, I failed to wait a year. First, we removed the willow that was too close to the house; then we pulled out eleven burning bushes. While beautiful, burning bushes (Euonymus alatus) are aggressive in northeast Ohio. We dug in the remaining mulch and uncovered a few plants: the clematis Diamanti (Clematis evipo039) is gorgeous! I added our clematis (Clematis Madame Edouard Andre) to share the trellis; both were doing well on the east side of the house. We trimmed the lovely hydrangeas and the overgrown viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). We had a professional arborist trim the trees. We planned for a mostly native plant yard.

And oh! We dug and trimmed and stomped on the thistle that loves to grow near the pond, but it reigned triumphant. Next, we dug deeply, disposed of the thistle roots, and established a new bed near the pond. We planted some wonderful Ohio natives purchased from the Portage County Soil and Water Conservation District PCSWCD:). Once the snow clears, we’ll see how they overwintered under the mulch. We should have sweet shrubs (Calycanthus floridus), Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier spicata), and a nanny viburnum (Viburnum lentago). And there’s plenty of space for what I ordered this year: buttonbushes (Cephalanthus occidentalis), summer sweets (Clethra alnifolia), and red osier dogwoods (Cornus sericea). One day our natives may replace all those prickly weeds. Invasive Plants: Plant These Instead

And the front yard? It may gain a few northern red oaks (Quercus rubra) from PCSWCD. According to Doug Tallamy in Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard (Timber Press, 2019), native red oaks are fabulous hosts for caterpillars. They also are significant in soil and water purification. Now we won’t be around once these oaks reach their beautiful maturity, some 50 to 75 years from now, but we will be happy to see birds in the branches. And knowing we are doing what we can to keep this environment beautiful and sustainable for future generations warms our aging hearts.

Letter to the editor: Ban on large wind or solar operations exacerbates electricity bill struggles

Letter to the editor — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:46:00 GMT

Editor’s note: The Portager publishes letters to the editor from the community. The opinions expressed are published not because they necessarily reflect those of the publication but because we feel they contribute meaningfully to the local discourse on matters of public interest.

The citizens of Portage County are struggling with their energy utility bills. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Banning solar and wind farms is not the answer. A ban will only increase our energy costs, pollute our environment and continue to harm public health by promoting the use of antiquated fossil fuels that are known to be toxic. Instead, think about instituting community solar energy projects. This would be an incredibly safe, sustainable, cost-effective solution for citizens.

Opportunities for Agrivoltaics could also be a financial boon for Portage County farmers by increasing the efficiency of their land, providing income diversification, and increasing the availability of locally grown food. Many crops thrive when grown this way. Solar leases provide a steady supplemental income to allow farmers to preserve their family legacy. A ban would deny this option.

Concerns about loss of land for agriculture must be put into perspective. The Great Plains Institute 2021 report states “Accounting for existing solar, and presuming that all prospective solar is developed, the distribution of land use across continental US counties is on average 0.23 percent of a county’s land footprint.” That is an inconsequential footprint.

The Ohio Dept of Health’s 2022 “Solar Farm and Photovoltaics Summary and Assessment” shows that solar farms do not pose a public health burden, despite false fears of “radiation.”

The benefits of using renewable energies such as wind and solar include fostering energy independence and resilience, job creation, and a boost to local economies which benefit everyone. For example, Harrison County, Ohio has a large solar installation held by Knottingham Solar. Knottingham has paid $700,000 to $900,000 per year to the county for its schools, library, Athens Township and the county general fund. https://www.heraldstaronline.com/news/local-news/2023/01/proposed-solar-plant-could-bring-900k-annually-for-harrison-county/

Wouldn’t it wonderful if Portage County could benefit from a similar renewable energy project? Imagine the possibilities.

The U.S. Dept of Energy lists the advantages of wind power as:

Wind power creates good-paying jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the fastest growing occupations are Wind Turbine Service Technicians and Solar Photovoltaic Installers.
Wind power is a domestic resource that enables U.S. economic growth. In 2022, wind turbines operating in all 50 states generated more than 10% of the net total of the country’s energy. That same year, funding in new wind projects added $20 billion to the U.S. economy.
Wind is a renewable source of energy. Not only is wind an abundant and inexhaustible resource, but it also provides electricity without burning any fuel or polluting the air.
Wind power benefits local communities. Wind projects deliver an estimated $2 billion in state and local tax payments and land-lease payments each year. Communities that develop wind energy can use the extra revenue to put towards school budgets, reduce the tax burden on homeowners, and address local infrastructure projects.
Wind power is cost-effective. Land-based, utility-scale wind turbines provide one of the lowest-priced energy sources available today. Furthermore, wind energy’s cost competitiveness continues to improve with advances in the science and technology of wind energy.
Wind turbines work in different settings. Wind energy generation fits well in agricultural and multi-use working landscapes. Wind energy is easily integrated in rural or remote areas, such as farms and ranches or coastal and island communities, where high-quality wind resources are often found.

I am aware that since the passage of SB 52, some counties are pre-emptively vetoing utility-scale renewable projects. The anonymously funded groups spreading misinformation about rural solar projects are impacting decisions that will impact OUR lives, not theirs (unless they’re from the fossil fuel industry). The public health and economic benefits that these renewable energy projects would bring to Portage County are lost among the lies.

I strongly urge you not to ban large-scale solar or wind projects in Portage County. If you want to help Portage Countians, I urge you to support the development of solar or wind projects to ease the heavy energy financial burden we are all subject to right now, with no end in sight.

—Lori Babbey, Paris Township

Letter to the editor: Data centers spark pollution concerns for local farmers

Letter to the editor — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:45:00 GMT

I wish to express my deep concern regarding the increased possibility of building a “data center” on the Geiss development property (Turnpike Commerce Center). I verbally expressed my concern at a meeting last year and I now wish to express formally.

What the community and I are currently not aware of is any proposed specificity of size and type of data center; how the center will be powered, cooled, supplied for water, and emergency power back up choices. Each design type brings a varying degree of concern.

Abstract: The main grievance is that data centers are simply resource hogs. A typical center can use over half a million gallons of water a day and enough electrical energy to supply more than 700,000 homes (source Bloomberg). Even if these initial concerns could be addressed or mitigated the remaining concern is various forms of pollution.

Water Footprint: If the data center plans on using cooling/make-up water from a local water main line or from drilling wells remains a question. I read in a meeting report that a legal representative of the Geiss Company reserves the right to drill wells, which I assume is their right, but I would argue it is not their right to take all the water from the table.

Cooling: The center may be cooled in many ways, but each method brings a set of environmental problems. Open towers bring high water usage, fan/pump noise and biohazards (tower mist drift). Closed tower loops have similar but less deleterious issues.

Power: I assume the data center will “tie” into the existing First Energy-Bruce Mansfield- Glenwillow 345 kV transmission line that transits the north edge of the property. Would the data center pay for the required stepdown substation cost…or would the cost be passed on to First Energy customers? Generation/transmission costs and power limits are already under severe stress in our regulated grid area (PJM Interconnection Grid). First Energy will soon be required to add generation and transmission infrastructure, and the cost will enviably be carried by the consumer through PUCO decisions.

Noise Pollution: Should the data center decide to generate their own power, whether for day-to-day main source or occasional backup emergency power, the choices are typically large diesels or gas turbines. Either choice brings both noise and air pollution. The diesels will emit low frequency noise and vibration that may meet the assumed 60-dB noise level guidelines but because the scale is not specified the noise will still travel long distances. The gas turbines will pollute at the other end of the spectrum with high frequency noise and vibrations. The First Energy substation transformer(s) will emit the quintessential 60 cycle hum and fan noise.

Air Pollution: Both diesel engines and gas turbines emit air pollution in the form of particulate, volatile compounds and gases. Northeast Ohio already has air quality issues and Shalersville has the adjacent Ohio Turnpike and route 44 to add to the toxic mix.

The Ohio Turnpike reports that over 12 million commercial vehicles transit per year. The traffic contributes to local NOx and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, which create ozone and particle pollution. I believe a data center will contribute to the aggregate of the already high levels of local pollution. Note the recent retraction and relaxation of federal EPA standards for air pollution.

Ground Pollution: In the choice of gas turbine or diesel generators there remains the risk of fuel and oil spills or chemicals from ancillary units during operations and maintenance evolutions.

More: Perhaps a minor concern is that a data center doesn’t really bring any long-term or relevant revenue to the area in proportion to the energy-resource usage footprint.

The data center will also bring light pollution to our night sky.

Does the presence of a data center expose our community to increased risk from domestic and foreign terrorists? Perhaps our local FBI office could advise on that concern.

Finally, please be good stewards and look out for the welfare, health and safety of the township residents. I believe that no one invested in living in the local area wants a data center in our community.

—Jim Elsey, Shalersville

Op-ed: Herbicide Resistant Waterhemp found in Portage County

Op-Ed Contributor — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:44:00 GMT

By Seth Kannberg, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator, Portage County

Back in the fall I was conducting my annual harvest survey in which I drive down as many backroads as possible throughout Portage County and scout soybean fields for current weed pressure before the beans are harvested. It’s always my favorite time of the year and gets me out of the office for a few days which is never a bad thing!

For the last three years I’ve generally seen the same weeds over and over; giant ragweed, foxtail, marestail, the usual. This time however, while driving southeast of Edinburg not far from Route 14, I spotted a group of weeds in a field that made me slam on my brakes. Each plant had these distinct seed head clumps, some red, some purple, heavily packed along the branches as soon as the weed broke above the soybean canopy.

Upon closer inspection I found the stems to be hairless and noted oar-shaped oval leaves scattered throughout. That’s when I knew: waterhemp was here in Portage. I long suspected and assumed it had to be but this was the first time I could actually confirm it with my own eyes.

Why is this weed so troublesome? For starters, waterhemp is dioecious meaning it has completely separate male and female plants coexisting which allows for extreme genetic diversity within field populations during cross pollination. In the particular field I was standing in I saw waterhemp stems that were red, purple, yellow, and khaki brown. The seed heads as well were red, purple, green, and every shade in between. This genetic variability coupled with the fact that one plant can produce up to one million seeds in a season means just a few weed escapes can quickly pass down their herbicide resistant traits to all their offspring. The next season, your preferred herbicides for weed control may be entirely ineffective.

What kind of herbicide resistance are we actually seeing? At the moment, Ohio doesn’t have it quite as bad as many of our sister states in the western half of the Midwest, though that isn’t much reason to celebrate. Missouri by all accounts has it the worst with some waterhemp populations there resistant to seven different herbicide modes of action. Here in Ohio, we’re operating under the assumption that all waterhemp has resistance to Group 2 herbicides (our ALS inhibitors) and Group 9 (glyphosate) but it’s likely some populations additionally have Group 5 (the photosystem II inhibitors, namely atrazine) and Group 14 (PPO inhibitors) resistance.

The best way to control waterhemp is by starting with a clean field. If we start clean, we can stay clean. Waterhemp is tricky because of how long it can emerge for. Although initial emergence typically occurs later than other summer annuals such as giant ragweed, waterhemp will continue to emerge all season long. This makes utilizing residual herbicides crucial since their long-lasting nature provides weeks or even months of weed suppression. Current trials have shown the pre-emergence herbicide pyroxasulfone as being very effective for long-term residual control of waterhemp. In order to stay clean a post-emergence spray mix with glufosinate and/or 2,4-D and an effective Group 15 residual should provide adequate season long management. These herbicide recommendations are by no means a silver bullet, however, and resistance cannot be prevented by herbicides alone. Any individual plants that survive our herbicide treatments must be removed by hand before they can produce more seed. A significant amount of research is currently examining the effects of controlling pigweed like waterhemp when planting soybean green into a living cereal rye cover crop. Studies are also analyzing cover crop termination timing to allow enough biomass to accumulate without impeding the growth and ultimate yield of the soybean crop.

The good news is that there’s one chink in waterhemp’s armor: its seeds only last for about three to five years in the soil. This means diligent weed control can eradicate the seed from the cropping system in just a few seasons. Contrast this with a weed like common lambsquarters which can survive in the soil seedbank for decades. When it comes to waterhemp, I’ll take a win where I can get one! If you have any questions or suspect you may have waterhemp in your fields later this spring, give the Portage County Extension Office and myself a call at (330) 235-7649 or email me at kannberg.1@osu.edu, I’m always happy to come and investigate further.

Portage County obituaries for March 25-26, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:43:00 GMT

Donald Ray Goodhart

Donald Ray Goodhart, 79, of Kent, peacefully passed away on March 24, 2026 surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Ravenna and raised in Kent, Don was a proud graduate of Kent Roosevelt High School class of 1965.

John B. Burkey

John B. Burkey, 91, of Streetsboro, passed away Tuesday March 24, 2026 at the Arbors of Streetsboro. He was born April 15, 1934 in Lloydell, PA to the late John C. and Agnes (Tokarcik) Burkey.

Henry M. Reedy

Vondell Donnie Nelson

Vondell Donnie Nelson, age 62, of Aurora, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Born on October 25, 1963, in Cleveland, Ohio, Vondell was the cherished son of the late Vondell and Dixie (Richards) Nelson.

Dale Clayton Little

Dale Clayton Little, age 81, of Aurora, OH, passed away Monday, March 23, 2026.

Election preview: A look at the races, issues on the ballot in May 2026

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:05:00 GMT

May primaries are just around the corner, and Portage County voters will see a number of familiar names in dozens of uncontested races, as well as a few contested ones. On the ballot are candidates for state representative of Ohio’s 72nd district, Portage County commissioner, Portage County Common Pleas Court judges and Portage County auditor.

Residents who are affiliated with a political party will only receive ballots listing the names of that party’s candidates. Unaffiliated voters receive an issues-only ballot. On the line are two school levies, three fire and EMS levies, a county-wide Job and Family Services of Portage County levy, a library levy, an income tax increase and a local liquor option.

The voter registration deadline for the May 5 primary is April 6. Early in-office voting begins April 7 at the Board of Elections and continues through May 3. And for those who wish to vote absentee, absentee ballot requests are due April 28. Those ballots can begin being mailed in on April 7.

Statehouse

Running for state representative of Ohio’s 72nd district are Democrat Jeff Clapper, Republican Heidi Workman and Libertarian Michael Fricke. They will all officially face one another in the November general election.

Clapper currently serves the city of Kent as a Ward 6 council member. Describing himself as an owner/operator truck driver who hits the road at 4:30 a.m. every day, he said he feels the financial struggles people face.

Clapper said Kent will remain his home even if he prevails in the November general election. As District 72’s state representative, he said he would “want Ohioans to feel like their tax dollars are being spent wisely and they are getting noticeable, direct benefits from them.”

“As state rep, I want to ensure that all Ohioans are paid a fair living wage, have access to affordable, quality healthcare and childcare, a good education and that the cost of living is not being inflated by corporate greed,” he said.

Clapper started his term as Kent’s Ward 6 council representative Jan. 1, 2024, and is slated to serve until Dec. 31, 2027. Declining to name names, he said “a group of like-minded Democrats that are also seeking office” asked him to run for the statehouse seat.

“It is very important to serve my community in the best way I can and, after much consideration, I decided to give it a go,” he said.

Noting his involvement in the campaign for statewide marijuana reform, Fricke said his party represents “a sensible center option for those tired of the intractable left and right.”

He said his campaign is focused on highlighting what he characterized as corruption in the Republican party.

“The Republican majority attained through gerrymandering and ignoring the will of the voters is precisely the problem,” he said.

Incumbent Workman did not respond to The Portager’s request for comment. She directed all inquiries to her official website.

County commissioner

On the county level, voters choosing a Democratic party ballot will see candidate Jenny D. Adams’ name, while those affiliated with the Republican party will see the name of incumbent county Commissioner Mike Tinlin.

Adams is a Kent resident originally from Shalersville and owner of Looking Glass Learning Center, which has locations in Kent and Brimfield. The entrepreneurial skillset that includes leadership, accountability and strategic thinking directly translates into public service, she said.

Should voters choose her to represent them, Adams said she will work to see that county departments are funded and staffed properly.

“I pledge to be responsible with the county’s budget, confront the current mismanagement and address people’s concerns over property taxes,” she said. She added that “our farmland is a huge resource and benefit to us, and I plan to offer a means to preserve it and our rural heritage.”

Despite county coffers experiencing a $4.1 million shortfall this year, Adams said that since 2022, county commissioners have increased some departmental budgets by 27% to 54%. County commissioners have not yet ratified the 2026 budget because department requests are coming in higher than expected, she said.

“Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, we need leadership that will work together to fix the crisis that these commissioners have created. That is not a partisan issue. Where’s our fiscal responsibility? she asked.

Portage County Finance Director Jaclyn Petty confirmed that Petty’s numbers are accurate, but stated that the commissioners expect to adopt a budget by April 1. She attributed year-over-year budget increases for some of the county’s 29 departments to capital improvements for aging buildings, IT cybersecurity improvements, more expensive service contracts and equipment replacements and added that Ohio law, not the county commissioners, dictate some departmental budgets.

Incumbent Tinlin told The Portager he has been in public service since he was 14 years old. Citing experience in the funeral service, EMS, fire and law enforcement, he said “serving others isn’t just something I do; it’s who I am and I absolutely love what I do.”

Looking forward, Tinlin said he would focus on bringing industry to Portage County. That, he said, helps homeowners.

“The more work, the more people spend money in our area and purchase a home. Bringing in business assets our economy,” he said.

He stated that his Republican party affiliation doesn’t dictate his decisions or his personal interactions.

“I talk to the residents, hear their concerns and let their experiences assist me in making my decisions. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I represent everyone because public service isn’t about me. It’s about the people I serve,” he said.

Other (non-) races

Voters affiliated with the Republican party will also see the names of incumbent county Auditor Matt Kelly and incumbent Portage County Court of Common Pleas Judge Becky Doherty. No candidates are running in opposition.

Voters affiliated with the Democratic party will see the name of incumbent Portage County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile/Probate Division Judge Patricia J. Smith. No candidates affiliated with any other party are running in opposition.

Issues

Voters in two school districts will decide school levies that would result in tax increases.

Kent City School District: 9.8-mill additional tax levy to fund current expenses. If approved, the levy would cost property owners $343 per $100,000 of valuation, while providing Kent schools with $8,522,335 annually for a continuing period of time.

Streetsboro City School District: 7-mill additional tax levy to fund current expenses. If approved, the levy would cost property owners $245 per $100,000 valuation while providing Streetsboro schools with $5,454,878 annually for five years, starting in 2026.

Countywide, voters will determine if they want to lend a hand to those in need.

Job & Family Services of Portage County: 0.4-mill additional tax levy to fund public assistance. If approved, the levy would cost property owners countywide $14 per $100,000 of valuation while providing JFS with $2,451,896 annually for five years commencing in 2026.

Ravenna voters will face two measures, one of which would affect local pocketbooks for three decades.

City of Ravenna: 0.25% income tax increase to fund construction of a new fire and police station and city hall construction. If approved, the tax increase would be in effect for 30 years commencing July 1, 2026.

Reed Memorial Library: 1.5-mill renewal tax levy to fund current expenses. If approved, the levy would cost property owners $28 per $100,000 of valuation while providing the library with $489,542 annually for five years, beginning in 2026. Renewal tax levies do not raise taxes.

Voters in Garrettsville and Freedom and Nelson townships will decide if they want to continue funding EMS service.

Community Emergency Medical Services: 1.5-mill additional tax levy to fund EMS services. If approved, the levy would cost property owners $53 per $100,000 while providing CEMS with $416,309 annually for five years, commencing in 2026. CEMS serves Garrettsville and Nelson and Freedom townships.

Emergency services are also on the ballot for two townships.

Palmyra Township: 2-mill renewal tax levy to fund fire and EMS services. If approved, the levy would cost property owners $36 per $100,000 of valuation while providing the fire department with $117,649 annually for five years commencing in 2026. Renewal tax levies do not raise taxes.

Randolph Township: 5-mill renewal tax levy to fund fire and EMS services. If approved, the levy would cost property owners $111 per $100,000 of valuation while providing the fire department with $662,410 annually for five years commencing in 2026. Renewal tax levies do not raise taxes.

Some Deerfield voters will decide whether a local drive-thru will get the green light to let the good times roll.

Deerfield Township, Precinct A: Local Liquor Option. If approved, MJEJ Enterprises, LLC would be authorized to engage in Sunday sales of wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquor at the drive-thru located at 1594 state Route 14.

Correction: This article was updated to reflect that Adams is from Shalersville and currently resides in Kent. An earlier version reported that she lives in Shalersville.

Deerfield Ag Services becomes employee-owned company

Amanda Smith — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:03:00 GMT

Deerfield Ag Services has transitioned to employee ownership, a move company leaders said will preserve its independence and keep the business rooted in the local community.

The Deerfield-based agricultural supplier became an employee-owned company Feb. 1 through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP.

In a letter to customers, the Wallbrowns, the family who founded the company, said the decision was driven by long-term planning and a desire to remain independent.

“At a time when consolidation is common in our industry, we felt led to remain independent, locally focused, and rooted in the communities we serve,” the letter stated.

At the beginning of the process, the company worked with the Ohio Employee Ownership Center at Kent State University to understand the process and how it would work for employees.

“We had to jump through a lot of hoops,” said Bill Wallbrown, second-generation owner.

Wallbrown said the company hired an outside firm to guide it through the process. The new structure allows employees who work at least 1,000 hours per year to participate. Those employees become beneficial owners through shares held in a trust.

Under the Deerfield plan, the company was sold to a sub-trust, which holds the shares on behalf of employees. Over time, the company repays the Wallbrown family, who hold the note for the purchase. The ESOP functions as a qualified retirement plan, similar to a 401(k), but employees do not have to contribute their own money.

“They become beneficial owners in shares of the company,” Wallbrown said. “If our people stay in this, by the time they retire, they will have a good nest egg at their disposal.”
Shares are awarded each year as part of the company’s annual compensation plan and are apportioned based on salary. Employees accumulate shares over their careers and become vested over time.

Michael Palmieri, associate director of Kent’s Ohio Employee Ownership Center, said ESOPs are structured as retirement plans that invest in the company itself.

He said employees do not purchase shares with their own income.

“The workers technically own the company now,” Palmieri said, “but they didn't pay for the company out of their own pockets.”

As the loan to finance the deal is repaid, shares are released to employees and placed into their accounts.

“As that loan is paid back, the shares that were purchased in the original transaction … will be released and given to the employees,” he said.

Palmieri said employees receive shares over time through a set allocation formula applied across the organization.

“The formula that's used to figure out how much stock each person gets each year is the same for everyone in the company,” Palmieri said.

He said the structure can serve as a long-term wealth-building tool for employees.

“For that reason, you have a very, very powerful wealth-generating tool,” Palmieri said.

Palmieri said employee-owned companies also tend to show different patterns during economic downturns.

“They tend to, on average, have better company performance … higher sales, stronger job growth,” he said.

He added that employee-owned companies also tend to be less likely to reduce their workforce.

Founded in 1959 by Boyd and Joan Wallbrown, Deerfield Ag Services has served farmers in Portage County and surrounding communities by providing agronomy, grain, feed and energy services.

In the letter to customers, company leaders said the decision followed several years of succession planning and due diligence.

The goal, the letter stated, was to ensure the long-term strength, independence and stability of the company.

“From the beginning, our priorities were clear,” the Wallbrowns wrote to customers. “First, to honor God in our decisions; second, to do what was best for our families, our employees, and our customers.”

The company said pricing, contracts and services will not change as a result of the transition.

Bill Wallbrown said reaction from customers and the community has been positive.

“We’ve had very positive reactions from the community and our customers. They’re very happy with the decision,” he said.

Wallbrown said he and John Wallbrown will remain actively involved during a transition period and continue to support the company’s future.

Letter to the Portage County commissioners before renewable energy hearing

Letter to the editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:02:00 GMT

Dear Portage County Commissioners,

My name is Stephen Howe, and I am a Portage County resident of four years, living in both Aurora and now in Franklin Township. I moved to North East Ohio for school and lived in Cuyahoga Falls starting in 2015. I met and married my wife here, we go to church in Kent, we bought a house here, and I learned to fish in these rivers. I care about this place.

You are meeting on March 26, 2026 to discuss and take comments on wider bans on commercial scale renewable projects, namely wind and solar. Understandably, people throughout the county have strong opinions on if and where these projects should be allowed. From what I have seen through talking with neighbors and reading our local paper, the discussion has collapsed into a binary decision. Either we are going to ban commercial scale renewable projects in much of Portage County, or not. I would urge the county commissioners to take a more measured approach. Do not ban these projects out of hand, take the time and effort to investigate the possibilities and develop a plan.

Withholding a ban does not mean commercial scale projects automatically have a free pass to set up wherever and however they want within our communities. And we do need to approach this at the community level. So much of the conversation has been set around whether individual property owners have the right to sell or lease land to these projects. At the end of the day, a large solar or wind project will affect its neighbors and that needs to be properly accounted for. These projects can be designed to maximize benefits to the local community, and minimize its harms.

I was recently on the island of Ærø in Denmark that has a small wind farm of six medium size turbines. While driving around the island I noticed a few yard signs opposing the turbines. I asked a born and raised islander named Carston about the history and controversy of the turbines. He said that there was some push back initially, but as part of the installation a profit sharing agreement was set up where locals could buy shares in the turbine and receive dividends from the power they produced, Carston is himself a shareholder. The local energy authority also maintains a fund that reinvests a portion of the energy profits into local community projects. Imagine if the residents of Shalersville received a dividend from the power generated in their township, on top of reduced electricity costs. We can be active participants in and receive real benefits from these projects, they don’t have to be something that is forced on us.

Banning projects is the easy way out of this conflict. It is also shortsighted and reactionary. In doing so, we would be depriving ourselves of so many tangible benefits that the people of Portage County need. We need a resilient diversified energy system, we need energy independence, we need local control of energy. We should be discussing the merits of commercial renewable energy projects. But those conversations become all the more difficult if we ban these projects before they can be properly discussed. If action is needed now, enact a moratorium with a limited timeframe. Whatever the case, the conversation needs to continue, we need a commission to investigate the costs and benefits of potential renewable energy project and establish a development plan for renewable energy. Now is the time for these conversations.

Sincerely,
Stephen Howe

Been There, Done That: Enjoying the golden doggy years

Laura Nethken — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:01:00 GMT

At 13 1/2, our Beagle Boy Cletus is starting to show some signs of slowing down. He's still got a voracious appetite and a high demand for a constant supply of chewsticks and fancy treats. But we're better off to just hand the treats to him. Tossing mini biscuits to him now offers too good of a chance to just hit him in the head. If he's getting a treat, it's because he was a good boy, I don't want to pelt his nugget with food.

His eyesight may not quite be what it used to. Dave thinks I'm wrong on this one. Cletus spends a lot of time looking out the windows waiting for something to go by to bark at. Then just lets fly with a flurry of barks and howls. I look to see what he's carrying on about and see nary a thing— not a squirrel or a chippie or a ferry-diddle in sight. Dave says he's got eyes like a hawk. He can see things we can't. I think they're both making things up. Cletus is fibbing and Dave is swearing to it.

Cletus and I still practice his howling about every day. I howl right along with him, as long as it's still howling. No barking. That's just noise. He can still string together quite a few syllables in his howls, although he gets a little raspy sometimes. I get him to stop, but if it's before he's quite ready, he grumbles and talks a little smack.

Cletus still likes to be by my side, although a lot of times, he's not quite matching me step for step. He's just coming into the utility room while I'm on my way back out and vice versa. He's usually right beside me on the steps, though, which will most likely just end up with us in a wad at the bottom one day.

Lately, he's been stopping for a breather on the way up one step down from the top landing. Just a second though, and then he finishes the trip. His jumping skills are also down a notch or two these days. Propelling himself from the floor to the couch or chair isn't so much a given anymore. I watched as he contemplated being up there and then walked on by and just resigned himself to lay on the floor instead.

I can't pick him up without hurting him so I taught him how to get a run at it. I convinced him to come with me over by the window and then moved quickly toward the couch and up he went.

Yay! But the real trick happened a few days later. He walked toward the chair, then turned around and went back toward the kitchen, before turning again and running up onto the chair. He remembered the trick and did it by himself. You go boy!

I know his hearing skills have diminished because he sleeps hard now. He doesn't hear me come home at lunchtime - not the car on the gravel driveway, not me coming in the back door. Dave puts his finger to his lips telling me to be quiet as I tiptoe into the living room. Poor Cletus is on the couch, out cold. Apparently, his nose still works fine because as I stand there, he starts to rouse from his slumber, awakened by his sense of smell. Face all smushed up on one side, all groggy and fuzzy-headed. And then he lets out one big howl, because Mommy's home. Or he's yelling at me for being gone in the first place, it could go either way.

At night, Cletus abandons his post of forever at my side and goes upstairs to bed with Daddy around 9 p.m. But he's still totally at the mercy of his nose. Nine o'clock is when I start cooking for the next day. I recently made a big pot of vegetable beef soup that drug poor Cletus straight out of bed by his nose. He came into the kitchen, trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes and clearly irritated to have been awakened at such a god-awful hour.

He howled at me until I gave him some soup, although he could have handled it with a little more class. He dumped out the bowl on the kitchen floor and then licked up every drop. Cleanest spot on the whole floor.

Cletus may be an old guy in most respects, but the big snowstorm we had recently really brought out the little kid in him. He shoved his nose through the snow as he walked along looking for the perfect spot, coming in with a little pile of snow on top. He took bites of snow while he stood and tinkled and sometimes just rubbed his face in the snow, back and forth. I have no idea what that was about, but it looks like he's enjoying his golden years.

Portage County obituaries for March 23-24, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:46:00 GMT

Wilburn D. Mathis

Wilburn D. Mathis, age 77 of Ravenna, passed away March 22, 2026, at his home. He was born January 24, 1949, in Grandview, Tennessee, to parents Claude D. and Ellen L. (Dye) Mathis.

Carolyn June Peppeard

Carolyn June Peppeard (née Cornett), born May 17, 1947, in Welch, West Virginia, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family.

Franklin D. Morehead

Franklin D Morehead, 92, passed away on March 22, 2026. Born in Spencer, WV he lived most of his life in Randolph, OH.

Jerome B. Keller

Jerome B. Keller, 69, passed away March 20, 2026. Born in Akron, he lived most of his life in Tallmadge.

Public hearing on wind, solar installations March 26 ahead of potential commissioners vote

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:42:00 GMT

The Portage County Commissioners will host a public hearing regarding certain wind and solar installations at 6:30 p.m. March 26 at the county Emergency Management Agency headquarters.

The hearing is a required step before the commissioners can consider any zoning resolution. If the feedback provided at the public hearing prompts them to do so, the commissioners will on April 2 consider enacting a zoning resolution restricting large and economically significant wind and solar farms from all or part of the eight townships that have passed their own zoning resolutions giving the commissioners authority to do so.

They’ve already approved one for Shalersville, which in 2025 passed a resolution codifying its anti-installation stance. After that, the commissioners expressed their desire to poll all the townships instead of holding multiple public hearings.

Large wind farms and large solar facilities are defined under state law as those that connect to the electrical grid and are designed to operate at 50 or more megawatts. Economically significant wind farms are designed to operate five to 50 megawatts.

The law defines large solar facilities as an electric generating plant that consists of solar panels and associated facilities with a single interconnection to the electric grid that is a major utility facility, meaning designed for or capable of operating at 50 megawatts or more.

To compare, a typical homeowner’s solar installation produces one to 10 kilowatts.
Since 2023, nine townships — Mantua, Shalersville, Charlestown, Hiram, Freedom, Randolph, Rootstown, Paris and Atwater — have passed resolutions authorizing the commissioners to restrict or prohibit such installations.

A draft resolution the commissioners circulated to township officials throughout the county last September cites health, safety and welfare concerns associated with such facilities. Large wind and solar farms pose “numerous potential impacts on users and property owners in the vicinity” and could impact property owners who wish to develop their land, the draft states.

Former Ravenna Trustee Jim DiPaola emailed the commissioners in September 2025 that the township was updating its zoning code to include solar and wind farms. He informed the commissioners that township officials were “interested in participating in hearings pertaining to restrictions and updating our zoning code if needed.”

Nelson Township trustees had passed a temporary moratorium on all zoning permits for windmill and solar projects in 2022, extended it to Aug. 31, 2023, and stated in a June 21, 2023, letter to the commissioners their intent to restrict such installations “until there is enough information available on the solar and wind energy programs to safely navigate the benefits or drawbacks.”

Not everyone is actively against large or economically significant installations. Franklin Township trustees support them, Windham trustees declined to consider a resolution and, without a zoning code, Deerfield can’t regulate any wind or solar farms, large or small.

Farmers should have the right to use their own land as they wish, says the Kent Environmental Council, which is rallying people to attend the public hearing to oppose the measure. They also say Ohio Edison is the only entity that benefits from a ban on locally sourced energy.

County Commissioner Mike Tinlin wondered what is done with wind turbines that have exceeded their life span.

“If you replace them, what do you do with the big turbines? Is that a problem for our soil if they bury them? Does it generate a problem?” he asked.

Tinlin said he is encouraged that state officials have looked into recycling wind turbines, but said there’s “bad mojo” coming off solar panels.

“It radiates energy from it,” he said. “Does that affect ground and soil that they're buried in?”

In a previous interview with The Portager, Todd Peetz, director of the Portage County Regional Planning Commission, said most concerns about solar and wind farms are not based on evidence.

“If there were really big health and safety concerns with wind farms and/or solar, we would hear all about it and we’d know about it,” he said.

Tinlin also said he’s aware of “a lot of southern counties” that have allowed people to erect wind turbines on land that’s not being farmed anymore.

“People love it, and they want to put them up,” he said. “And I guess I'm asking myself, what gives me the right to tell them they can't? Unless it's a public safety or health issue, I'm not really one to stand in the way of someone doing what they want to their own property. That's how I feel about it.”

County Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett is proceeding with caution.

“It could bring an economic advantage to the county, but I want to make sure farmland is preserved and property rights and quality of life. It’s a careful balance,” she said.

The EMA office is located at 2978 state Route 59 in Ravenna.

County roundup: Shalersville to create veterans memorial, plus news from Edinburg and Rootstown

Roger Gordon — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:40:00 GMT

Shalersville

Shalersville Township has been awarded a $5,000 Placemaking Grant from the Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors (ACAR). Only one project in each of Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga counties received funding, and Shalersville was selected for Portage County. The grant will support the creation of Veteran’s Point, featuring a U.S. flag installation, benches and landscaping enhancements.

The township ordered and received its standard 400 tons of salt at $47.65 per ton. The township was also able to secure an additional quantity with a 15% surcharge, bringing the total to nearly 500 tons.

The township’s new legal representative, James Armstrong, attended a recent trustees meeting and formally introduced himself to the board.

The competitive bidding threshold in the Ohio Revised Code has been increased to $79,568.

The March 17 township trustees meeting saw a full house, with many residents attending to express concerns about potential data center development. Key concerns included noise impacts, excessive water consumption and potential effects on private wells, wastewater discharge and fire department safety considerations. While no data center proposals are currently pending, the trustees are proactively reviewing standards to ensure strong protections for residents.

The Veterans Grave Marker Project will hold a fundraiser Saturday, May 2 at the American Legion Hall in Kent. The organization operates entirely on donations. Chris Untrauer explained that veterans buried before Nov. 30, 1990, in private cemeteries are not eligible for federally funded Veterans Administration markers. To ensure no veteran lies in an unmarked grave, new granite markers — weighing 130 pounds and having no scrap value — are purchased using private donations. Brass markers have increasingly been stolen and sold for scrap, making granite a secure alternative.

The Shalersville Historical Society will host a car show Saturday, May 30, with a rain date of Sunday, May 31. Entry fee is $10 per vehicle, and food will be provided by the Lions Club.

Shalersville’s Spring Clean‑up will be held at the Town Hall garage from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 7; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 8; and 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Dumpsters will be available at the usual location.

The township has hired a new board of zoning appeals secretary and a new maintenance worker Class II, filling vacancies created by two recent resignations.

A bid was accepted for farming the unused land adjacent to Hillside Cemetery. Jason Carlton’s bid of $167.87 per acre was approved.

A building permit has been issued for a new home on Centennial Trail.

Rootstown

The Fifth Annual Rootstown Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt, partnered with the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28. The event will be held at Rootstown Community Park near the playgrounds and adjacent to Gracie Fields and pavilion, located at 4104 Case Ave. This event is geared toward community children, frequently featuring the Easter Bunny.

Edinburg

Edinburg Township is hiring for the position of a full-time road department team member. The selected candidate will operate medium and heavy-duty dump trucks as well as a variety of light and medium motorized equipment and will assist with the maintenance, construction and repair of township roads, cemeteries and parks. Qualified applicants must possess a valid State of Ohio Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or have the ability to obtain a Class A CDL. Candidates must be available to work overtime as needed during snow events and as needed throughout the year. The successful applicant will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screening. Interested candidates should submit completed resumes by April 1 to P.O. Box 485, Rootstown, OH 44272 or email edinburgfobill@gmail.com. For more information and to complete a township employment application no later than April 1, visit edinburgtownship.com.

Ohio Outdoors: ‘Blue’ skies herald spring

Julie Watson — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:39:00 GMT

There are many indications that spring is almost here in Portage County. Not only have we had wonderfully warm weather lately, but crocuses, harbinger of spring, and skunk cabbage are blooming. Animals are shedding their heavy winter coats. Winged travelers are returning from southern climes and building or repairing nests. Spring is definitely close.

One feathered friend that signifies the arrival of spring in Portage County is the Great Blue Heron. ‘Great’ is an accurate descriptor as they are the largest and most common herons in North America. They stand over four feet tall with a wingspan of around six feet. A full grown adult weighs five to six pounds.

Great blue herons are monomorphic, meaning that males and females have the same coloration and markings. Despite their name, they are mostly gray. The reason they are referred to as ‘blue’ has to do with the way light interacts with the pigment in their feathers. Their pigmentation is actually diluted black. When light hits the pigment it causes a shimmering effect leading to a blueish undertone earning them the moniker of ‘blue’. There is a subspecies of great blue heron that lives in Florida that is completely white.

These large birds can be found in just about any Portage County body of water. They stand in the shallows of slow moving or still waters waiting for their next meal to come along. To the fish, frogs, snakes, salamanders, and snails in the water, the herons’ thin legs resemble cattails or grasses. If they look up, the white and gray-blue feathers of the bird’s underside resemble the sky above. As long as the heron is still, the prey is unaware the bird is even there. With good timing and a lightning-fast strike, the prey is speared by a six-inch-long beak and swallowed whole, head first.

Although herons hunt alone, they nest together in large rookeries or heronries. Northeast Ohio is blessed with several rookeries where people can observe these magnificent birds. The males carry sticks to the female who constructs the nest in a tall tree usually in or near the water. The same nests are used year after year and grow over time as each spring the parents repair and add on. A first-year nest is usually about two feet wide, but after several seasons they can grow to four feet across.

Once the nest is ready, the female will lay an average of three to five eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the blue-green eggs for about a month. Once the eggs hatch, the parents tag team feeding their offspring until they fledge, (become proficient flyers), at around 2 months.

After the nest is empty, Great Blue Herons stick around until well into autumn. As colder temperatures threaten to freeze the shallow waters where they do most of their hunting, the birds will head south. They will winter somewhere in the southern US, Mexico, Central America, or even the Caribbean. When northern waters thaw and skunk cabbages bloom again, these majestic birds will head north, gracing us once again with their presence.

If you wish to observe a Heronry please observe proper etiquette including:

Be respectful of the birds and other observers.
Be sure to pull completely off the road.
Be careful not to leave litter or debris that may harm the birds or the ecosystem.
Be diligent not to get too close or make loud noises which may disturb the birds. Keep dogs away.

Portage County area heronries include the Bath Road Heronry in nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park located on Bath Road between Riverview and Akron-Peninsula. There is a wide pull-off for parking.

There is another heronry on West Waterloo Road in Akron between Main Street and Ley Drive close to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath. There is no good parking for this one although it can be seen while driving past on Interstates 224/277.

Portage County obituaries for March 20-22, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:37:00 GMT

Steven A. Browning

Steven A. Browning, age 69 of Shalersville, passed away March 18, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Gary Lee Zuravel

Gary Lee Zuravel, age 73, of Tallmadge, Ohio, passed away March 16, 2026. He was born in Akron and lived most of his life in the Tallmadge area.

Angie Reedy’s dedication to Ravenna runs far and wide

Jeremy Brown — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:43:00 GMT

After her retirement over 35 years ago, Angie Reedy decided to dedicate her life to volunteer service in the Ravenna area, and the community is stronger for it. When she’s not organizing fundraisers for the Auxiliary of University Hospitals Portage Medical Center or lending her assistance to the hospital gift shop, where she logs over 500 hours a year, she’s working with numerous other groups, committees and organizations.

And even with her busy schedule, she still has time to write a column for The Portager, help plan her class reunion, go out with her friends on Friday and Saturday nights and spend time with her nieces and nephews. She’s also been seen taking in scary movies at the local theater from time to time.

Angie Nagella [Reedy] was the president of the Ravenna High School Y-teen club. She was also a member of the Future Business Leaders of America club. Jeremy Brown/The Portager

Reedy, 92, began working at the Kent State University book store after graduating from Ravenna High School in 1953. She started out as a clerk typist, later becoming the office manager. When she retired in 1990, her brother, Ravenna Police Officer Tony Nagella, tried to convince her to volunteer for the auxiliary of the then-Robinson Memorial Hospital to keep busy. Nagella worked as the hospital’s on-site officer at the time.

“I always said that I would never volunteer. If I did anything, I'd want to be paid for it,” Reedy said. “Well, my husband had health issues and I changed my whole way of thinking, because everybody at Robinson was so nice to me, I just thought I would do it for nothing.”

After over 35 years, Reedy is still volunteering for the hospital auxiliary and has totalled over 17,000 hours during her time with the organization.

She’s currently in charge of the auxiliary fundraising events.

Angie Reedy [far left] was the president of the hospital Auxiliary for several years, alongside Vice President Jeanne Tondiglia [2nd from the right]. The two of them also ran the Auxiliary Celebration of Lights for most of its inception. They're still good friends.

The UH Portage Medical Center Auxiliary provides several volunteer services, including assisting in the emergency room, greeting at the reception desk, staffing the gift shop and transporting patients. It raises funds through several events, including nut and candy sales, purse sales, salsa sales, a books-are-fun sale and a style show. Reedy said her favorite fundraiser, and the largest one of the year, is the annual Celebration of Lights during the holiday season. The event includes festive decorations and lights inside and outside the hospital, as well as a candle procession walk in commemoration of community members who have passed away.

“The biggest thing that we do, and it's very dear to my heart, is a Celebration of Lights,” Reedy said. “I just love that. It's just so wonderful, because people have a way of remembering their people who have passed away. We start working on it in August, and we usually have it in the first week of December, and it takes that long; we have a lot of meetings. A lot of organization goes into that.”

The auxiliary has hosted the event since 1987.

The money raised by the auxiliary has funded a variety of programs and services, including emergency department and surgical waiting room renovations; the purchasing of digital mammography, echocardiogram and cardiology equipment; women’s health and wellness events; farmers markets and scholarships for high school students pursuing nursing degrees.

Reedy also volunteers at the hospital’s gift shop, The Chestnut Tree. When the shop gets a shipment of jewelry, she gets tasked with unboxing it by the shop's manager, Jenny Turner.

“We just got new jewelry in, and I always know who to save the unboxing for,” Turner said. “She loves her jewelry. She's not going to stick with the same thing she wore back in the ’70s and ’80s. Just the other day when I had her unboxing the jewelry, she went ahead and bought two new bracelets, because she just loves jewelry, earrings, bracelets, necklaces.”

Turner met Reedy 43 years ago, when Turner was 12 years old; the two sang together in the Ravenna Community Choir. Reedy was an alto and so was Turner. At that time, Reedy was good friends with Turner’s mother, Karen McKay, and her sister, Juli Nagel, both of whom were members of the choir. Years later, after they worked together at the gift shop, Reedy and Turner became better acquainted. Reedy was in the choir for 24 years, until she gave it up to make room for volunteer work.

Reedy said she comes from a large, talkative family — three brothers and five sisters, including herself — a situation that she said led to her outgoing gumption and her ability to communicate with others.

She was born in 1934 at her home, right across the street from Robinson Memorial Hospital on Meridian Street. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Italy and chose Ravenna as homebase, because her mother was a woolen mill worker and Ravenna had opportunities for such workers at the Cleveland Worsted Mills facility.

A 6th-grade class picture of a headstrong Angie Nagella [Reedy]. The picture was taken at Chestnut High School, which was located where the old hospital's parking lot was on Chestnut Street. She said she often wore a hair band because her hair was poker-straight. Jeremy Brown/The Portager

When Reedy was a child, her mother worked nights. She remembers playing under street lights with her siblings until her father beckoned them to come inside and eating chicken salad sandwiches and French fries on Saturday nights at Isalys. She remembers hanging around and watching people go by outside of the nickel and dime store, where she was later employed at the age of 16, and going to the theater across from the courthouse to watch a movie.

“We went to the movies every weekend, because it only cost a nickel. My parents would give us a nickel for popcorn or candy,” Reedy said. “I love spooky movies, Frankenstein, especially, and I loved mummies, and I still do.”

She favors Abbott and Costello to Laurel and Hardy, simply because there were more monsters in the former.

After Ravenna 7 Movies opened in 2018, the auxiliary held some of their banquets for its volunteers at the theater, where volunteers could choose a movie they wanted to see and watch it for free. Turner remembers Reedy usually having to watch her choice of movies by herself, because no one would watch what she picked.

“It was hilarious, because only Angie was into scary movies. Not gory so much as jump scares. We all laughed because nobody wanted to go see it with her, because they didn’t want to see the scary movie,” Turner said. “I think one time she got someone to sit in with her, but everybody else was like, no thank you. She does like her scary movies.”

A picture of Dave Younkman, Angie Reedy and Diana Kane taken years ago.

The list of achievements that Reedy has acquired after her retirement is remarkable. Outside of her work at the hospital, which earned her the distinguished service award in 2014, she currently writes a column for The Portager and wrote a column for the Record-Courier for 20 years. She took on a job helping with tag sales for 14 years and still helps out when the occasion arises. She founded a volunteer program to provide non-perishable food for Ravenna school children in need. And she’s involved with the Portage County Historical Society, The Center of Hope, The Salvation Army, The Friends of the Reed Memorial Library, the Clothing Center and the Ravenna Design Review Commission, the latter alongside her friend from high school, Diana Kane.

Reedy and Kane kept in touch throughout the years, but it wasn’t until Reedy started volunteering at the Design Review Commission about 15 years ago that the two became even better friends. Kane had been volunteering for the commission since the 1970s, when it was called the Heritage Group. They’re both still volunteering with the commission, they’re both members of the Beta Sorosis Philanthropic Club and they often go out to dinner on Friday nights.

“She’s very dedicated to whatever she’s in,” Kane said of Reedy. “She believes that you should work if you're on a board, not just have your name on it. A lot of people just get on a board to get their names on it, but they don’t do anything. She believes you should help the agency. She's very structured, she gets things done, and is in charge of a number of different things. She always has everything done orderly and keeps abreast of everything that she's in. Very dedicated. I think her whole family was, actually, which is unusual.”

Reedy said she’ll never retire from volunteer work, because her doctor advises against it.

Around Windham: Get involved with WHS athletic boosters

Nicole Sweet — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:42:00 GMT

Happy March, Bomber Country! The time has changed, and longer days are on the horizon. Seeing the sun up past 7 p.m. has done wonders for my Bomber spirit. I love driving through town and seeing people walking their dogs and kids riding their bikes. Spring is finally in the air, and here are some exciting events coming up in our little town:

Free lunch for kids

The New Hope Baptist Church will be providing free hot lunches for Windham students during spring break. Kids and teens 18 and under are invited to stop in and have lunch.

On Thursday, April 2, we will be serving up chicken tenders, mac and cheese, broccoli and chocolate chip blondie sundaes.

On Friday, April 3, we will have toasted cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, fresh fruit cups with dip, and dirt dessert.

On Monday, April 6, we will serve cheeseburgers, waffle fries, fresh veggie cups with ranch dip, fresh fruit and root beer floats.

New WHS athletic boosters

Join the new WHS Athletic Boosters community. We’re building something great for our student-athletes at Windham High School, and we need you to be part of it. Like our new Facebook page and share with friends and family. Stay active by commenting, supporting and spreading the word about upcoming events, fundraisers and team achievements.
Every like, share and interaction helps us grow our support system for Windham athletes. Together we can create more opportunities, better equipment and stronger programs for our students. Help us build the best support team our athletes could ask for. Facebook group – WHS Athletic Boosters.

Free pool at Stoney's Pizza

Every Wednesday until next winter, free pool is back for all high school students with any purchase from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

Community clean-up days

Join the Village of Windham and Windham Township for a joint community cleanup weekend from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25. Clear your clutter and put it in the dumpsters located at the wastewater plant at 9958 E. Center St. (next to the American Legion).

They will close when all the dumpsters are full. Items not accepted: Flammable items, paint and construction materials; only four tires per household will be allowed. Must show proof of residency (photo ID or mail).

Attention youth softball players

This is how Bombers are built. The Windham Bombers High School Softball Fundraiser Clinic is back — packed with fundamentals, skill work and real game situations led by our high school players and coaches. This clinic is open to any youth looking to sharpen their skills. Participants do not have to be a Windham student. Indoor clinic at Windham High School will be held from 10 a.m. to noon March 21, March 28 and April 4; all attendees will receive a discount and a clinic T-shirt. Train. Learn. Get better. This clinic gives youth players the chance to train with our high school athletes and sharpen their skills in a competitive, supportive environment. All proceeds support the Windham High School softball program.

Windham students traveling to Costa Rica

Windham students are planning to travel to Costa Rica in 2027. A tasty way to help us get there is to order some gourmet delights through Stoller Fundraising. Prefer to order online? Click and select your seller’s name for online ordering and payment (convenience fee applies) at bit.ly/windhamtravel. You may also place an order in the high school office and pay by cash or check made out to Windham High School.

Windham High School prom

WHS Junior/Senior Prom will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24 at Di’Viestes in Warren. Tickets are on sale now through April 1 before school or during lunch in the high school art room. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased by a junior or senior. All visitor forms must be filled out and signed before a ticket can be purchased for a non-Windham student. Any other questions, please email or see Ms. Gintert. lgintert@windham-schools.org.

Windham Village in the sun

Mark your calendars for Sept. 12 starting at 2 p.m. for the annual Fun in the Sun extravaganza. We’re looking for vendors and live entertainment to be part of this fun community event as we say goodbye to summer and welcome the fall vibes. If you’re interested in participating, contact us at windhamvillageohvents@gmail.com or dmiller@windhamvillageoh.gov. Let’s make this a great day for the community with shopping, music, food and fun for everyone.

I look forward to keeping the Windham community up to date with all the information I receive. Please contact me with anything you may like featured. The Around Windham column runs the third week of each month, and I will need all the information the week prior. You may contact me via text/call at 330-283-2711 or via email at nks1024@icloud.com.

Thank you, Nicole Sweet.

Around Garrettsville: Get ready to sip and shop til you drop

Jackie Loreta-Rinearson — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:41:00 GMT

The Sip n Shop on Main Street committee was very busy this past month. The artisans are about half full, so get your application in soon. This year’s Sip n Shop will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25. Artisans/crafters are encouraged to register with Jackie Rinearson at rinearson05@frontier.com, and wineries are to contact Sherri Collins at sherricollins57@gmail.com.

Speaking of wineries, they have four confirmed so far.

Again, there will be demos, music and great food. Crafters and artisans will speckle the sidewalks, with wineries lining the center of Main Street. This year, there will be dog training, book signings, soaps, watercolor, more honey, bird houses, stained glass, multiple jewelry types, house décor, candles, wood creations, greeting cards and much, much more. Back by popular demand will be the demos on the hour, featuring five of our local artisans/crafters.

Here are some event dates to circle on your calendar:

Garage sale weekend is scheduled for May 15 through 17. Registration is open now with a fee of $20. Once again, maps will be provided to guide visitors to the garage sales. To register, contact Michelle at The Villager at 330-527-2411.
Chamber car cruises are set for the following dates and locations: May 23 on Main Street, June 20 at the SkyLane Bowling parking lot, July 17 on Main Street again, and the fan favorite, the Peach Social and Car Cruise, will be Aug. 15 at the Garrettsville fire station.
The Garrettsville Summerfest is set for June 26 through 28. The schedule of events is coming soon.

Main Street is now bustling with business with the new restaurant, Podboys Uptown. Stop in for breakfast or brunch and enjoy their Belgian waffles, eggs Benedict, salads and smash burgers. Podboys’ roots go back to 1940, so they are not a new venture, just a new location. The new and refreshing breakfast and brunch destination is waiting for you

Local author Misty McDowell Obreza’s debut novel, “Broken,” is out, and her second novel is in production. Find a copy of her novel at The Village Bookstore in Garrettsville. “Broken” can be found on Fable also.

The Addams Family is coming to Garrettsville (no, not like Bigfoot hype). Truly, the James A. Garfield Theater Department is presenting “The Addams Family” from 7 to 9 p.m. March 19, 20 and 21, as well as a matinee from 2 to 4 p.m. March 21, at James A. Garfield High School’s Iva Walker Auditorium. Go to jagschools.org or https://cur8.com/2361/project/137268 to buy tickets.

The James A. Garfield Soccer Club will hold its annual Soccer Skills Camp on April 19, April 26 and May 3 for students in grades one through eight. Participants will learn soccer skills and play small games.

Contact Coach Cebulla at tcebulla@jagschools.org for more information or questions.

For your information to appear in this article, contact rinearson05@frontier.com.

Baker: Have a good day!

Kathy Baker — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:40:00 GMT

Our country — as well as the rest of the world — is in great disarray these days. It can be difficult for us to breathe, to stay focused, to find peace in our hearts. So, I am determined to give you a brief vacation from all that. When I say brief: this mini-vacation may last only as long as it takes you to read this. Or maybe you can make it last a bit longer.

A few years ago, a nonprofit organization based in New York City unexpectedly received ten thousand dollars in a legal settlement. Activist Shane Claiborne tells the story of what happened next.

“We thought this money rightly belonged to those in need–the folks on the street, the people we served every day–because we got the money as a result of our efforts on behalf of homeless people. So, we decided to give the money directly to those in need. No paperwork, no strings attached.”

The group came up with a plan to distribute the money... on Wall Street. Wall Street— a place where the power of money is worshiped and celebrated. The organizers spread the word among other area nonprofit groups, who invited those in need to show up on a specific day, at a specific time, in front of the New York Stock Exchange building.

When the day came, the organizers stationed dozens of people on the street–many of whom were their clients–who would help to distribute the money when the signal was given.

Dozens of people arrived. And then, dozens more. A number of police officers were there. When people in the crowd asked when the money would be distributed, the police said it was a hoax — because they thought it was — and told them to go home. But the people remained, standing quietly together— totally unaware that among them were those who would soon become their benefactors.

Every day, Monday through Friday, at precisely 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, a bell rings to symbolize the opening of the New York Stock Exchange— a tradition that began in the 1870s as both a ceremony and a way to generate media attention. It is a privilege to ring the bell, a privilege extended to wealthy executives, celebrities or other VIPs. And worldwide media outlets record that moment each day.

Just before the bell rang this time, with the attention of the world on Wall Street, a voice on a loudspeaker within the crowd announced: “We believe another world is possible, a world where everybody has what they need and there’s no longer this deep inequity.”

And then, as the New York Stock Exchange bell rang out, the distribution of money began. The folks planted in the crowd began to pull money out of their pockets, in both large and small bills, and handed it to everyone near them. People on bikes rode by, tossing handfuls of bills to the crowd. Others handed out coffee mugs overflowing with hundreds of dollars. People on nearby balconies sent cash drifting down to the street like confetti. A street sweeper soon found his dustpan filled with money. He said, “It’s a good day at work! Hallelujah!”

A few Wall Street employees came outside to see what was going on. Once they understood, some ran to the nearest delis, bought bagels and gave them out to the people. Several others emptied their purses and wallets into the hands of the crowd. A crowd, it should be noted, that remained peaceful and respectful throughout the event. There was no fighting over the money; some people even gave part of what they received to others standing alongside them. Meanwhile, the police officers stood on the sidelines, scratching their heads in amazement.

Claiborne noted, “Our goal was to proclaim a vision of God that is so big that everyone is part of it. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, we want those who have been oppressed to be free from oppression, and those who have been oppressors to be freed from that role. We want everyone to be set free.”

To me, this story speaks of seeing others as our neighbors. It speaks of empathy. It speaks of experiencing that we are all one— made of the same fabric, woven into the very same garment.

Here is a little gift for you: Make an effort today, in any small way you can, to bring some good into someone else’s day. How is that a gift to you? I think you know the answer: doing so will give YOU a transfusion of peace and joy. And in this crazy world we live in, we all need that.

Portage County obituaries for March 18-19, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:39:00 GMT

Tracie J. Lane

Tracie J. Lane, 62, of Atwater, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2026 following an extended illness. She was born in Ravenna on August 20, 1963 and was a 1981 graduate of Field High School. Tracie was employed at Industrial Molded Plastics prior to starting her family.

Michaeline A. Buffington

Michaeline A. Buffington 82 of Ravenna passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at Kensington Care Center in Aurora. She was born July 18, 1943 in Barberton, Ohio to Michael and Mary (Mahalko) Machek.

Geraldine F. Michael

Geraldine F. Michael 95 of Rootstown passed away Monday, March 16, 2026 at Danbury of Tallmadge. She was born June 25, 1930 in Kent, Ohio to Norman and Ruth (Carl) Weiss.

Person found dead in cell at Portage County jail two days after booking

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:45:00 GMT

The Portage County Sheriff’s Office announced March 16 that a person who had been incarcerated at the county jail had died the previous day.

Pauline L. Ferrell, 42, of Cleveland, had been booked into the Portage County jail at 3:19 p.m. March 13, having been picked up on a warrant issued Jan. 2, 2026.

Court records indicated that Ferrell was originally indicted Jan. 2, 2026, by a Portage County grand jury for an incident that occurred “on or about Aug. 26, 2025.” A warrant for her arrest was issued the same day, but, citing "unavailability of the accused,” Portage County Common Pleas Court Judge Laurie Pittman closed the case on Jan. 21, 2026.

A second warrant was served March 13, the day Ferrell was booked into the jail.

According to both warrants, Ferrell faced a fifth-degree felony count of possession of fentanyl, a fifth-degree felony count of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony count of possession of cocaine, a first-degree misdemeanor charge of driving under suspension and a second-degree misdemeanor charge of possession of drug abuse instruments.

The PCSO’s March 16 news release states that at about 8:30 p.m. March 15, corrections staff who were conducting a security check discovered “an unresponsive inmate” (Ferrell) inside her cell. They administered “immediate basic aid and advanced life-saving measures” and summoned EMT personnel.

Despite their efforts, Ferrell was pronounced dead, the release states. Jail Administrator Bryan D. Morgenstern stated that few details can be released at this time, but the PCSO will provide updates as information becomes available.

“A thorough and transparent investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding this death,” he wrote in a second press release issued March 17. “We are cooperating fully with all appropriate authorities and oversight bodies.”

The PCSO remains dedicated to maintaining a safe and humane environment and recognizes its responsibility to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of every person in its care, Morgenstern stated.

Around Randolph: Spring Into Health event promotes farmers' health and safety

Sandy Engle — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:42:00 GMT

Visionary people face the same problems everyone else faces; but rather than get paralyzed by their problems, visionaries immediately commit themselves to finding a solution. – Bill Hybels

On March 21, five visionary farmers will be presenting at the “Spring Into Health” event at the Randolph Community Center, located at 1657 State Route 44. This event is dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of farmers and gardeners, and the intention is to instill hope and provide workable solutions.

Here is the schedule for Spring Into Health:

11 a.m. – Protecting Pollinators & Farmers - Bill Pleucker, farmer & Maine state representative.
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Lunch - Share your concerns/suggestions with State Representative Heidi Workman; Portage County Commissioner Jill Crawford; River Kale, aide for Congressman Dave Joyce; and other elected officials. Portage County Auditor Matt Kelly will be available to register farmers for CAUV. Judy Nelson will explain services offered by the Portage County Solid Waste District.
1:30 p.m. – Regenerating Farms, Families & Communities - Scott Myers, farmer.
3 to 4 p.m. – Growing with Joy and Humor - With local farmers Megan and Mike Massoli and Jared Phillip.
Food for purchase is available thanks to Wagler’s Food Truck and the Portage County Master Gardeners. Sponsored by Heron Hill Farm, Portage County Beekeepers, Dirt Road Organizing, Schumann Rentals, and Knight Graphics. Numerous local businesses have donated door prizes.

Danielle and T.J. offer delicious honey, maple syrup, sourdough bread, bagels and baked goods at their farm stand at 4100 Laubert Rd. Payment is via Venmo or exact cash. Check out their weekly offerings at https://www.facebook.com/thefarmsteadohio. I highly recommend their brownies.

Since the Lions Club does much for our community and Waterloo schools, please consider attending their “A Night at the Races” fundraiser April 11 at St. Joe’s KC at 2697 Waterloo Rd. Dinner and a horse are $45. For tickets, contact Mary Rodenbucher at 330-221-4019.

Randolph Library events

Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon – Spring Family Storytime
March 26, 4-5 p.m. – Blackout Poetry for Teens
March 28, 11 a.m.-noon – Flower Pot Painting. For adults. Limit of 15. Please register
March 28, 1-2 p.m. – Exploring the Roman Empire
April 2, 4-5 p.m. – Spring Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny
April 4, 1-2 p.m. – Akron Mobile Zoo. Limited to 50 participants
April 5, 4-5 p.m. – Grow with Us. Gardening program for children
April 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Randolph True Crime Club
April 8, 4-5 p.m. – Spring Flower Power. Learn about wildflowers. Presented by Portage Parks District for children & tweens.
April 9, 4-5 p.m. – Lego Free Build. For children age 6 and older
April 10, 3-4 p.m. – Celebrating Beverly Cleary
April 11, 1-2 p.m. – Fascinating World of Frogs. For adults
April 13, noon-1 p.m. – Flower Pot Painting. For teens
April 14, 5:30-7 p.m. – Randolph Book Club. Pick up a copy of “All the Colors of the Dark” at the circulation desk
April 18, 2-3 p.m. – Frogs & Toads
April 21, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Computer Class-Basic Computer Skills. For adults
April 22, 4-5 p.m. – Earth Day Celebration. For children

Once again, the residents of Randolph have met the challenge to help those in need. At the fundraiser for Joe & Kate Wise on Sunday, more than 400 people donated diapers, toiletries, toys, clothing and other goods. 100% of all proceeds from the Dumas Food Truck that was on site went toward helping the Wise family. This beloved family recently suffered a house fire. Also, a Randolph farmer who was gored by a steer is extremely grateful for all of the help, support and prayers from his neighbors and community.

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. – Coretta Scott King

Please contact Sandy Engle at 330-569-4801 or sandyengle83@gmail.com with news, events and local stories. Thanks!

Documenters: Field Board of Education meeting for March 9, 2026

Noell Wolfgram Evans — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:42:00 GMT

The Field Board of Education met in the high school cafeteria at 7 p.m. on March 9 for the regularly scheduled March meeting. In attendance were Superintendent David Heflinger, Treasurer Todd Carpenter, Board President Randy Porter, Board Vice President William Evans and board members Steve Calcei, Larry Stewart and Matt Slaven. They were joined by student representative Haley Allshouse.

After calling the meeting to order, Porter led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silent contemplation. Carpenter next called the roll.

The first item on the agenda was the requested approval of the minutes from the regular meeting on Feb. 9. All board members voted affirmatively to approve except for Porter. He abstained from the vote due to his absence from that meeting. All members next voted to approve the agenda for the meeting that had just started.

With that, Allshouse provided an update. She said that the NHS was planning a blood drive on April 14 and that there would be the annual Easter egg hunt on March 14. The theme for the 2026 prom was announced. It will be masquerade. Allshouse also said that Career Day will take place on April 1. She shared a brief sports round-up, as well, punctuated by the first ever scrimmage of the all-new girls flag football team. They played Streetsboro but no scores were shared.

Heflinger focused his report on the fate of the central building. He told the board that no action was needed, but he invited them to “ponder the possibilities.” According to Heflinger, two architectural firms provided quotes on what it would cost to renovate the building. One estimate was $8.5 million, while the other was $7.7 million. He also got an estimate for what it would cost to build a new building at the same size. That was $8.8 million to $8.9 million.

“We’re in an interesting place in terms of enrollment,” Heflinger said.

He said that the district doesn’t have room in Brimfield to grow, adding that “if kindergarten enrollment goes up, we will be scrambling.”

In addition to enrollment needs, the other factor driving this discussion was the gift of $500,000 last fall for building tennis courts. Heflinger wants to figure out a general direction for the buildings, so they know where to build the courts.

There was discussion on build versus remodel, re-populating buildings with different grades and even purchasing a vacant Cleveland Clinic building that is adjacent to the central building.

Slaven offered a brief legislative report next. The only bills of note currently in Columbus he said were HB 661, which dealt with NIL rules, and HB 114, which would affect kindergarten timing.

The board then took up a lengthy consent agenda from the superintendent. It covered a number of personnel matters, contracts, agreements for purchasing electricity, the 2027-2028 school calendar and board policies. Policy 6.61 regarding Artificial Intelligence was the only one that garnered any discussion. Slaven questioned what it meant for the classroom and asked what AI tools were currently being used. Heflinger said that students could use Gemini as part of the district's Google package.

“Good. I just want to make sure that we’re not burying our head in the sand when it comes to AI,” Slaven said.

With no further discussion, the agenda was passed unanimously.

Attention was then given to the treasurer’s consent agenda. It consisted of financial reports, rate approvals and the issuance of three complaints. Carpenter said three real estate sales in the district were for more than the auditor had appraised them for. These complaints were for the district to collect taxes on the sale price, not the auditor’s listing amount. With no questions, the board accepted the items on the agenda unanimously.

And then with no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:37 p.m.

Portage County obituaries for March 16-17, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:41:00 GMT

Geneva A. Meloy

Geneva Meloy of Brimfield passed away peacefully on March 14, 2026 at Altercare Nursing Home after living a full life of 90 years.

Dwayne Franklin Sanders

Dwayne Franklin Sanders, 56, of Streetsboro passed away Saturday March 14, 2026 at his home. He was born July 13, 1969 in Cleveland, Ohio to Ezra F. and Alma L. (Baker) Sanders.

Ron Falzini

Ron Falzini, age 67, passed away on March 8, 2026.
Ron was the loving husband of Lisa Falzini and a proud father to Ronnie (Adrianna) and Danny.

Around Ravenna: New boutique event space opens in historic building

Angie Reedy — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:23:00 GMT

Introducing The Yellow House in Ravenna, a boutique event space! The new owners, Regina and Matthew Heon, saw this old beauty and fell in love … soaring ceilings; French doors; long, sunny, wavy glass windows; big molding; marble hearths; and an original wood floor.

In 2025, this repurposed 1840s mansion received a top-to-bottom, inside-and-out refresh. The event space is composed of the entire first floor, featuring a welcoming lobby, new catering kitchen, dining hall, drawing room, sun parlor and front porch.

It is the perfect place for all types of gatherings: intimate wedding, family dinner party, baby or bridal shower, business presentation, off-site meeting, instructional class, open mic nite, art exhibit, pop-up market, celebration of life, quiet workspace, music recital, the options are endless.

Here is what people are saying:

“We recently celebrated my grandfather’s birthday at The Yellow House in Ravenna, and it could not have been more perfect. From start to finish, it was such a special experience that our whole family will remember. If you’re looking for a place that combines a unique setting with genuine hospitality, The Yellow House is an absolute gem!” Eventective user - Stow, OH.

“Absolutely one of the most beautiful, historic, warm and charming-beyond-words locations we’ve seen. Regina and Matthew are truly one of a kind, an inspiring couple whose attention to the details is exquisite. Truly, we cannot wait to come back.” Eventective user - Upper Black Eddy, PA.

The Yellow House in Ravenna is located at 160 N. Chestnut St. in Ravenna, right next to the post office. It is yellow, so you can’t miss it. The event space is available for rent from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Space is generally rented by the hour. A staff member is always present during events to ensure all goes well.
The Yellow House provides event setup/breakdown, Wi-Fi and private parking, and offers these services upon request: in-house coffee/tea, locally sourced baked goods, rental of tableware, cloth linens and servers.

To schedule a tour, call 330-403-5970. Additional venue and rental information can be found at Eventective.com, on the web at theyellowhouseinravenna.weebly.com and on Instagram at theyellowhouseinravenna.

The Yellow House works with a preferred caterer, Marigold Catering + Events. Not only do they make delicious, beautiful food, but with their partnership, The Yellow House is able to offer full-service catering. As an alternative, you are most welcome to select your own caterer or bring in your own food. The catering kitchen is ready for your next gathering

The Yellow House is proud to be hosting a tea party fundraiser for the Portage County Historical Society on Saturday, May 9. Seating is limited; contact the historical society for tickets.

It’s a new chapter at The Yellow House in Ravenna! Stay tuned to The Portager, Portage County’s local newspaper, where we will be pleased to announce upcoming happenings. And we'll see you at the Ravenna On Display Business Expo on Saturday, March 21. Stop by to say hello and pick up a sweet treat.

The Ravenna Eagles fish fries continue from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays at the club, located at 812 Cleveland Rd. Dinners include fish, shrimp, chicken or combos as well as pork chop dinners, with side dishes, at $15 each.

Dinners are dine-in or carry-out and are open to the public. To order ahead, call 330-296-9463.

The Immaculate Conception Parish monthly spaghetti dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at the parish hall at 251 W. Spruce Ave. in Ravenna. All dinners include spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, drink and dessert. Price for adult dinners is $14. Carry-out meals will be available, and the dinners are open to the public.

Contact Angie Reedy at 330-297-7228 with your Ravenna news.

Brimfield reduces pay for zoning board members

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:22:33 GMT

Brimfield Township trustees on March 2 reduced the stipend certain board members receive and reduced how often they get it.

The township’s Board of Zoning Appeals and Zoning Commission both consist of five members and two alternates. The Board of Zoning Appeals meets once a month to consider applications for zoning variances and conditional uses of properties. Since 2022, each member’s compensation has been set at $125 per meeting, with an additional $125 for legal training and other work sessions.

Should those sessions be held on the same night as the boards’ regular meetings, they had been counted as separate meetings and were paid accordingly. Now Board of Zoning Appeals and Zoning Commission members will be paid $100 no matter how many matters are addressed in a single evening.

Board of Zoning Appeals

The Board of Zoning Appeals’ January 2026 meeting was canceled, but convened on Feb. 11, 2026, for its regular meeting and one legal training session. Assuming all seven members attended both meetings, Brimfield’s maximum payout for that evening would have been $1,750, said township Economic Development and Zoning Inspector Mike Hlad.

Had the new rules been in effect then, the max payout would have been $700, Hlad said.

However, if the February training session would have fallen on a separate day, that would have meant another $700, meaning a potential maximum savings of $350, Hlad said. There is no way to ensure that attorneys will be able to coordinate their schedules with the Board of Zoning Appeals’ usual meeting nights.

Either way, it’s cheaper to bring attorneys to the township than it is to send all the members to the Columbus-area Ohio Township Association for three-day conferences every year, Hlad said.

With the new rules in place, Board of Zoning Appeals members will each receive $100 for their March 11 meeting. The maximum payout? $700, hard stop.

Zoning Commission

Brimfield’s seven Zoning Commission members are likewise getting a pay cut. They had also been receiving $125 each for their monthly meetings, but are now being paid $100. Another change: When public hearings, work sessions or legal trainings were scheduled for the same night as regular Zoning Commission meetings, that translated to increased payouts. Now, no matter what else is scheduled on the same night, the pay will be $100 per person, Hlad said.

Some context: Feb. 12’s Zoning Commission meeting included four public hearings, its regular meeting and a training session, meaning a maximum $5,250 payout for the township. Had the new rules been in effect, that meeting would have cost Brimfield $700, Hlad said.

Public hearings are typically scheduled on different evenings than the zoning commission’s regular meetings, but Hlad said the Portage County Regional Planning Commission happened to return four proposals to Brimfield at the same time. Legally proscribed timelines kicked in, forcing the Zoning Commission into high gear.

Who can do what, and when, also factors into scheduling decisions. By law, Hlad said, the time, date and location of public meetings must be set and published ahead of time. Some public hearings about zoning matters attract a great number of people and extensive discussion, but township leaders cannot permit any hearing to overtake the advertised starting time of the commission’s regular meeting.

“If we know it's something people will be upset about, we have to schedule it on a separate night to allow for three or four hours of people expressing concerns,” Hlad said.

That means more pay for Zoning Commission members, but everyone gets their say and the township trustees are able to make more informed decisions, he said.

Small savings

Hlad said the permit fees applicants pay are not a revenue stream for the township; Brimfield Fiscal Officer Jasmine Golden said the money adds up to less than 2% of Brimfield’s budget. What comes in soon goes out in the form of the boards’ compensation; legal, administrative and engineering fees; and the township’s Regional Planning Commission dues, Hlad said.

Hlad’s accounting shows that permit fees totaled $111,426 in 2023, $161,510 in 2024 and $79,288 in 2025. According to Golden, the county paid Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals members $23,300 in 2023, $28,725 in 2024 and $28,500 in 2025.

Explaining the discrepancy between the amounts received and paid out each year, Golden said legal expenses add up quickly, especially when township leaders are pursuing public infrastructure initiatives such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreements with private companies. Also, Planning Commission dues alone are roughly $10,000 a year, she said.

Trustee Kevin Scott, though, alleged that the township may have been raking money in, at least at one point. He noted that the township raised its permit fees to current levels in March 2022 but didn’t raise its Board of Zoning Appeals and Zoning Commission stipends until November of that year.

“So it's OK to make money from March until November, but you can't make any money after that?” he asked.

It took that long for township leaders and legal counsel to complete a statewide study to determine how much the rates should be increased, Hlad said.

The income and expenses must more or less match, even when permit applications decline, which Hlad said has recently been the case. That, he said, is why he cautioned township leaders on March 2 that the per diems had to be dialed back.

“I worked all of the numbers so that the permit fees match what we’re paying out,” Hlad said. “We can't overcharge people. My main concern is to make sure that the veterans and seniors still continue to not pay for certain permits.”

County roundup: Garrettsville considers JEDD; Freedom, Hiram, Mantua, Nelson and Windham news

Roger Gordon — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:19:00 GMT

Garrettsville

Brad Ehrhart, president of the Portage Development Board, spoke recently to Garrettsville Village Council about the village’s interest in perhaps at some point becoming part of a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) with other communities.

A JEDD is an agreement in Ohio between a municipality (city or village) and a township to jointly develop land for commercial or industrial use, typically to share income tax revenue. It allows for economic development, such as building infrastructure like water and sewer lines, without requiring the municipality to annex the township land.

“A JEDD would help financially and also give us more land for businesses like big factories to build on the land,” Mayor Rick Patrick said. “We still have a little bit of vacant land in our industrial park but not much, so if we’d get someone who would want to come and build a building or factory, we’re real limited with that right now. It doesn’t have to be contiguous land now, so that gives us more options.”

The Community EMS District will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at the district office at 10804 Forest St. in Garrettsville. This is a free event.

Podboys Uptown, a mid-day café at 8126 Main St., held its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony last month. The new eatery is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. six days a week for breakfast and lunch. It is closed Tuesdays.

Patrick did a proclamation for Anthony Augaitis, a water department employee. Augaitis was working on a job at a resident’s home recently, left when he was done but returned when he got off work.

Why did he go back?

Augaitis returned to shovel the resident’s sidewalk and porch because he could see the resident was not able to do it himself.

Said Patrick, “The resident really appreciated it.”

Village of Mantua

Want to help improve the Mantua community? Then you have two options to do so, both at the Restoration 44 Coffee Company’s event space at 10675 Main St.:

The Rotary Club sponsors Safety Town for the Crestwood School District, among other philanthropic activities. The meetings, which are open to everyone, are held the first three Thursdays of each month at the R44 Coffee event space at 10675 Main St. in the village of Mantua. The next meetings will be at 6:30 p.m. March 19, April 2 and April 9.
A Community Visioning Session hosted by the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation and Heritage Ohio will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24. This is your community – you should have a say in how it looks going forward.

The Chamber Momentum Series begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at Advanced Rehab at 4707 Mill St. Juli Robine, a life coach and Chamber board member, will be leading a short, high-impact group coaching program designed to help Chamber members set clear goals, stay accountable and build momentum in your business and/or life.

Join in at Jake’s Eats (in the upper room) at 7:30 a.m. Friday, April 3 and find out what exciting projects the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation will be tackling next. The DMRC needs your input. All are welcome. Jake’s Eats is located at 4680 E. Prospect St.

The monthly fundraising dinner for the Mantua Restoration Society will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 10 at the Mantua Center School gym at 11741 Mantua Center Rd. No charge, but donations accepted. Consider giving what you’d pay for a comparable meal at a restaurant plus tip. A variety of entrées provided – including one supplied each month from Main Street on the River. Several salads and a variety of desserts, including homemade pies. All food is home-cooked and donated by the MaRSI members – soups to casseroles to cornbread to salads and desserts. Light piano music consistently provided by Steve Stork.

Note: this is not a free community meal but rather a fundraiser for the society which helps provide funds for the restoration and upkeep of Mantua Center’s historic buildings and sites. For more information, contact Susan Pollard at 330-586-8337.

The Portage County District Library Bookmobile will be at Buchert Park from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. the following Wednesdays: March 18, March 25 and April 1. The bookmobile offers a wide selection of books and can order your favorites! The park is located at 4810 E. High St.

Upcoming events at Buchert Park’s Martin S. Hura Lodge at 4810 E. High St. in the village of Mantua:

Stay Active in Life (SAIL) - 11 a.m. Wednesdays, March 18, March 25, April 1 and April 8 – A gentle exercise class to get your blood flowing.

Free lunch in the Crestwood Community Center - 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 18. Provided by Rich Piekarski from Gardens of Western Reserve. Audry Riley from Jobs and Family Services will talk about available programs at 1 p.m.

Free lunch/candy making in the Crestwood Community Center - 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 – Rebecca Moore from Boulder Crossing will provide lunch, or you can bring a brown-bag lunch to enjoy with friends before making some candy. You can eat the candy there or take some home for later! $4 donation for materials. You can also show up at 1 p.m. if you just want to do the craft.

Mantua Township

Mantua Township’s Spring Fling Easter Egg Hunt will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at Corners Catering & Event Center at 11845 State Route 44. There will be Easter Egg Hunts for different age categories: Toddler-4 yrs., 5-9 yrs. and 10-12 yrs. Also included will be brunch, an obstacle course, face painting, a coloring contest and photo ops. Activities are free! Brunch costs $13 for ages 9 and up, $5 for kids 6-8 yrs. and free for kids under 5 yrs. Sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoQEGMVnGVT3C3KcIIf7bNLIFBa9gPhta1kCHiSiv7GLKC1w/viewform.

Village of Hiram

The Village of Hiram’s “Trifecta” community event will be Saturday, March 21 at the Kennedy Center on the Hiram College campus at 11730 Garfield Rd. Included will be:

The annual Hiram Police Department All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast to benefit “Shop with a Cop” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted to help families within the Crestwood School District.

A community activities fair called “Join Something” from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in which representatives from local clubs and organizations will be on site. If you’re interested in having a booth, contact the Hiram Police Department at 330-569-3236.

The Hiram Historical Society’s Dr. David Anderson and Christie Edwards Borkin will speak about Colonel Daniel Tilden, the original owner of all of Hiram Township.

After the resignation of Bill Byers, the village is advertising for a full-time fire chief. Visit hiramohio.org for more details.

Freedom

The Freedom Township Spring Clean-up will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 7; noon to 6 p.m. Friday, May 8; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the township garage at 9302 State Route 700. If you have questions about what items will be accepted, contact the garage at 330-527-7414 or 330-620-3555.

The township is seeking applicants for a full-time road worker (minimum of a Class B CDL) and for summer seasonal help (minimum age of 17 years old). Any interested candidates need to submit a resume to freedomtwpfiscal@gmail.com or mail their resume to P.O. Box 287, Garrettsville, OH 44231. Deadline to apply is Friday, April 3.

Nelson

The Nelson Township Clean-up will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 at the Township Community House at 11642 Windham Parkman Rd. More info to come.

Village of Windham

Windham Village Council hired Dan Spaur as the village’s new wastewater superintendent. Spaur’s first day on the job is Monday, March 16.

Op-ed: Is radon something to worry about?

Op-Ed Contributor — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:15:00 GMT

Following is a brief study on the concerns of radon in your home. This piece was written by Robert T. Heath, PhD and is being presented by The Kent Environmental Council. KEC is looking forward to offering, in cooperation with The Portager, information on current environmental topics on a periodic basis. This is the first.

Please note that the Kent Environmental Council’s SEEK group will be offering more information to the public during a presentation taking place at the Kent Free Library on March 19th at 6:30 pm.

The short answer to the title question is: It depends. If that doesn’t satisfy your curiosity, please read on.

Radon is a radioactive element that is an odorless, colorless gas, which may (or may not) be in your home. “Radioactive” means that an element disintegrates to another element, giving off “ionizing radiations” in the process. It’s those radiations that cause health problems. For a deeper dive into the science behind this please read the final paragraphs of this article. For purposes relative to your health let’s stick to the occurrence of radon and its potential health hazards.

Health hazards of radon in your home: Radon is an inert gas that naturally occurs in the air. Because it is inert, it doesn’t react with other components in the air such as oxygen; it just remains radon gas that you breathe. Because it’s inert, radon can move throughout the body where it primarily takes residence in the lungs. There, it can dissolve in the mucosa linings of the lungs, which can then lead to lung cancer. In fact, radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancers in the US, smoking being the primary cause.

Radon ultimately comes from uranium, which is a fairly common element in shallow subsoils – more common in some soils than others. In regions with uranium-rich soils, radon would likely be more prevalent. Radon burps up through the soils and into homes where the soils are loosened by ground disturbances, as ordinary as construction projects or as dramatic as earthquakes. The buildup of radon in a home is greatest when the house is not ventilated – for example in the winter when the house is closed. When the windows are open and fans are actively exchanging the air in the summer, radon buildup is lessened.

Meanwhile, back to the original question: is radon something to worry about? You can only be certain by testing, and NOW is the best time to test, in the winter, when our houses are closed to external ventilation and radon buildup is likely at its annual maximum. Testing is free and easy (get your free kit here: https://ohio.radon.com/). The test depends on radon adhering to the activated charcoal inside the test envelope. Follow the directions included with the kit carefully, then go online to get your results.

Should you be concerned about radon in your environment? If you are or have been a smoker you are more likely to have health problems from radon exposure than a non-smoker. Finally, living in Northeastern Ohio are you likely to have a radon problem? No. Northeastern Ohio shallow subsoils are very low in uranium deposits that lead to radon release, but test anyway, just to be assured of your radon safety.

Now, for the deeper dive into the science promised earlier:

The main hazard of radon is the damage that can be caused by its ionizing radiation: alpha particles. Uranium disintegrates to radium by giving off an alpha particle; then radium disintegrates to radon by giving off an alpha particle. In turn, radon disintegrates through a series of steps, eventually to a stable form of lead. Each disintegration involves the emission of ionizing radiations, including alpha particles. Alpha particles are Helium nuclei (2 protons and 2 neutrons) with an electrostatic charge of +2. Because of its heavy mass (about four atomic mass units) an alpha particle doesn’t travel very far, despite its high energy of emission. It may travel less than a millimeter in human tissue. Because of large electrostatic charge, alpha particles ionize many atoms along their very short path. These ionizations can result in damage to DNA, leading to mutations that can result in lung cancers.

Robert T. (Bob) Heath, PhD (Biophysics) was licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to handle any radionuclide. He served as Radiation Safety Officer for Kent State University and the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.

Reference:

Harrell, J. A., McKenna, J.P., and Kumar, A. 1993. Geologic controls on indoor radon in Ohio; Report of Investigations No. 144, 36p.

Portage County obituaries for March 13-15, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:13:00 GMT

Steven Daniel Livengood

Steven Daniel Livengood, age 49 of Mentor, passed away March 11, 2026, with his family by his side. He was born September 9, 1976, in Ravenna, Ohio, to parents Gary and Kathy (Madonio) Livengood. Steve graduated from Ravenna High School in 1995 and later from ITT Technical Institute with a bachelor's degree.

Deborah Linnea Daly

Deborah Linnea Daly, age 75, of Kent, OH, died on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

Jeffrey B. Spelman

Jeffrey Blair Spelman, 78, of Stow, passed away on Thursday, March 11, 2026 at University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center, surrounded by his loved ones.

Kenny M. Stemple, Jr.

Kenny M. Stemple, Jr., 42 of Ravenna, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at the UH Portage Medical Center.

Robert John Lemmon Jr.

Robert John Lemmon Jr., age 38, passed away March 6, 2026 surrounded by the love of family.

Portage County deputies hold woman for ICE after traffic stop

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:21:00 GMT

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.

According to the post, deputies stopped a vehicle on Interstate 76 in Edinburg Township on March 9 because the vehicle had expired registration tags on its plates. A deputy determined that neither of the vehicle’s occupants, identified as Jorge Gonzalez Alvarado, 31, and Ana Maria Contreras Jimenez, 33, possessed a valid driver’s license, the sheriff’s post stated.

“Further investigation revealed that both individuals were out of Mexico and in the United States illegally,” the post stated. “Fearing deportation, both individuals exited the vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby wooded area.”

The post did not indicate that either person had any criminal history. But the flight of the vehicle’s occupants set off a multi-agency overnight manhunt that involved the Ohio State Highway Patrol and its Aviation Unit, according to the sheriff’s office.

Contreras Jimenez appears to have hid in the woods all night before officers arrested her March 10.

“Due to minor cuts sustained while running through the woods and spending the night outside, she was evaluated by paramedics before being transported to the Portage County Justice Center,” the sheriff’s office said.

Contreras Jimenez was charged with obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor. She pleaded not guilty in Portage County Common Pleas Court, which filed a request for an interpreter on March 11. During a March 12 bond hearing, Acting Judge James Eskridge set a personal recognizance bond, but Contreras Jimenez remains in custody on an immigration hold. ICE agents have 48 hours to come for her, a booking officer said.

The sheriff’s office post had stated that she would be turned over to ICE, “our federal partners.”

Officers couldn’t find Gonzalez Alvarado. He is wanted on a second-degree misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business, an unclassified misdemeanor charge of no operator’s license and a minor misdemeanor charge of failure to register a vehicle. Warrants were filed with Portage County Common Pleas Court on March 10.

Administrative Specialist Susan Schlarb of the sheriff’s office stated that the pair provided passports from Mexico, but had no identification from any U.S. state. Warrants issued later for Gonzalez Alvarado and court documents for Contreras Jimenez both list a Dorset, Ohio address.

“An inquiry through law enforcement databases, which includes ICE revealed that Jorge was in the U.S. illegally. ICE had no record of Ana being present in the U.S.,” Schlarb wrote in an email to The Portager.

State Highway Patrol Dispatcher Jarrod Vrabel confirmed that the Ravenna post provided “perimeter support,” but could not specify what kind, as the call did not originate with that agency. He referred all detailed questions to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office Facebook post also stated that “locations believed to be employing and housing individuals who are in the county illegally have been identified,” and that the information had been forwarded to ICE for further investigation.

It’s not clear what businesses the sheriff’s office identified or how deputies determined the immigration status of employees and residents. In other parts of the country, ICE investigations have resulted in armed federal raids on homes and businesses.

In March 2025, the Portage County Sheriff’s Office signed a Memorandum of Agreement with ICE, which authorized the local agency to:

Interrogate "any person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States"
Arrest a person without a warrant if the officer witnesses them entering the U.S. unlawfully or “has reason to believe” the person is in the U.S. illegally “and is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained”
Arrest a person without a warrant for felonies if "the officer has reason to believe the alien to be arrested is in the United States in violation of the law and is likely to escape before a warrant is obtained"
Maintain custody of people on behalf of ICE

If there are no local or state charges, the MOA allows the sheriff’s office to “process” people and have ICE determine, on a case-by-case basis, how to handle them. “Special interests or other circumstances” may apply.

Though the sheriff’s office was within its rights to hunt for and detain Contreras Jimenez, the incident raises multiple concerns, Cleveland immigration attorney Ayla Blumenthal told the Portager.

The Portage County Sheriff’s Office said when it signed the ICE MOA that its officers would undergo training, but Blumenthal said implementing immigration law is quite complicated. Having nominally trained sheriff’s officers enforcing immigration law creates a situation that is ripe for mistakes, she said.

Deportation can upend a person’s life by separating them from their children or other family members, and causing them to suddenly disappear from work with no notice to employers or friends.

“People are getting desperate. When you have the threat of that looming over someone’s head, yes, sometimes someone’s going to take off running when you’re trying to arrest them,” Blumenthal said.

Like the Portage County jail, many of the Ohio facilities that house ICE detainees are under local and state jurisdiction, she said. In practice, that translates to people who are in the country without legal status — and sometimes even U.S. citizens or people with legal status — who face minor charges being housed with inmates with serious felony convictions.

“When we look at criminal law in the United States, there are constitutional protections in place,” she said. “But when we look at immigration law, many of those protections are stripped, and the excuse is something to the effect of, ‘Well, it was a civil enforcement, not criminal enforcement. It doesn't have the same level of constitutional protection.’”

As a result, someone accused of violating a civil regulation could be subjected to greater loss of freedom and lower protections of their civil liberties than someone who is being charged with a serious crime, she said.

Bigfoot sightings take over Portage County

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:47:00 GMT

Bigfoot sightings in Portage County? The Bigfoot Society podcast says it's received a flood of reports, pointing to multiple recent sightings in Garrettsville, Windham, Mantua, Mantua Center and Streetsboro.

View the Bigfoot Society's report.

The reports have caused a flurry of interest around Northeast Ohio, with businesses and even the sheriff's office posting AI-generated images riffing on the trend.

The Bigfoot Society published a map that reflects two sightings in Mantua Center, one on March 6 and another the next day. According to a March 9 Facebook post, an unidentified local researcher reported a 9-foot brown male figure about 120 yards from state Route 44 at 12:23 p.m. March 6.

“The creature displayed high situational awareness, and retreated at high speed once it realized it was being watched,” the post stated.

A second sighting recorded at 10:52 p.m. March 7 details an 8-foot tall figure with a “deep, vibrating grunt” and oversized muddy prints in the Mantua area.

“A second witness, Dylan Obney, reported seeing an 8-foot figure with long arms and dark brown hair,” the post stated. “He heard heavy rhythmic footsteps and a deep, vibrating grunt that preceded a ‘forest hush’ (total silence). Physical evidence in the form of oversized muddy footprints was located at the scene.”

Obney told The Portager that he did not know what he was seeing until the next day, when he happened to be scrolling TikTok and saw a video pop up. Knowing what he had seen the previous night, he said he had to reach out to The Bigfoot Society.

“I am not a fan or a believer, per se. I just knew I saw something bigger than a person that was very hairy and Sasquatch-looking in the woods that night,” he said.

Jeremiah Byron, whom Obney said operates The Bigfoot Society’s social media presence, lost no time in posting Obney’s story.

“The next day, many people came forward, saying they had seen similar things to what I have seen, making a pattern and a trail or movements across this region of Ohio,” Obney said.

The Bigfoot Society reports four sightings on March 9. The first, at 10:20 a.m., placed Bigfoot, or at least a Bigfoot, about eight miles east, in Garrettsville. There, a hiker reportedly "encountered an 8-ft. Sasquatch in black fur. No additional details are available as the startled witness immediately left the area,” the post stated.

A little over an hour later, The Bigfoot Society recorded an 11:47 a.m. sighting on Headwaters Trail near Hankee Road.

The Bigfoot Society’s Facebook page identifies one of the Headwaters Trail witnesses as Jacob Taylor.

According to Byron’s reel and a March 9 Bigfoot Society post, the pair were hiking on the trail when they had their 15-second, face-to-face Bigfoot encounter.

“Only 30 feet away, a massive 10-foot tall creature stepped out of the treeline. It was covered in jet black hair with broad shoulders, and the witnesses said the ground shook as it walked,” Byron said on the March 9 reel.

The witnesses reported that the creature did not turn its neck, but rotated “its entire shoulders in order to look,” Byron said. They also reported the creature’s “weird, stilt-like gait,” he said, adding that the witnesses reported noticing “a heavy musky smell that hit them right before the creature let out a heavy grunt and disappeared into the brush.”

Then, another sighting: this one at about 6 p.m. near the end of a dead-end Windham road. The witness, described as a “longtime skeptic,” reportedly saw a 6-foot brown figure “running with an impossibly long stride,” the Bigfoot Society Facebook post states.

Stunned, the witness told the Bigfoot Society, “I know what I saw, but I don’t know what I saw,” the March 9 post states.

The Bigfoot Society’s post records the final March 9 sighting in detail: At about 8 p.m. March 9, a mother and her daughter were reportedly traveling west on state Route 303 between Streetsboro and Hudson. Near Tinker’s Creek, a swampy, low-lying area, the pair reportedly found themselves within three feet of the creature, which they described as “a lean, 6’5” tall brown figure.” The passenger noted that she could have hit it as it was walking into oncoming traffic.

According to a March 10 Bigfoot Society Facebook post, the witnesses described the creature’s face as “blurred,” with lighter hair around its facial features and no visible eyes. They described the creature’s gait as “stilt-like” and “walking in a weird fashion” as it headed toward Streetsboro.

The post advises motorists driving on state Route 303 or near Tinker’s Creek Nature Preserve to slow down.

“The creatures are moving along lanes of traffic and are not displaying their usual level of forest-stealth,” it cautions.

The Bigfoot Society concludes that the subjects appear to be using the Headwaters Trail greenbelt as a primary travel corridor. The variation in the subjects’ height descriptions, ranging from six to 10 feet, suggests that “we are not tracking a single individual, but potentially a family group or multiple subjects migrating eastward.”

Portage Park District Executive Director Chris Craycroft could not confirm or deny the existence of Bigfoot, but said she’s open to proof.

“We’d love to see any evidence anyone has if they want to share it with us,” she said. “We always want to learn more about our natural history.”

Craycroft cautioned people to remain on the trails and not stray onto adjacent private properties. All PPD trails are open dawn to dusk.

As for The Bigfoot Society, anyone seeing a Sasquatch is encouraged to report any sightings immediately. Emails may be directed to bigfootsociety@gmail.com.

“We prioritize witness privacy and can keep your identity anonymous upon request,” a post stated.

The Portager has reached out to The Bigfoot Society, but has not yet received a response.

Local businesses and organizations have been having fun on social media in recent days, with posts showing Bigfoot posing outside the Garrettsville Cinema and strolling through Garrettsville’s Solid Rock Auto Group car lot. Another features a shadowy figure walking the grounds of Duke’s K9 Dash N’ Splash in Freedom Township.

“We’re not saying this is Bigfoot…but we’re also not NOT saying it’s Bigfoot,” Duke’s owner Michelle Filler stated.

The Portage County Sheriff’s Office also chimed in, posting an AI image on its official Facebook page March 11 depicting Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski posing with a handcuffed Bigfoot. The post jokes that he will help "deport this creature back to Canada."

And The Portage Foundation on March 11 posted pictures of an objectively fake Bigfoot stopping by the philanthropic organization’s offices.

“Apparently, after feeling so warmly welcomed by the Portage County community, he decided it was time to give something back. So…he set up a fund with us to support the very community that embraced him,” the post stated. “If you spot him around town, don’t worry — he’s just checking on his investment in the community.”

Documenters: Kent City Council committee meeting for March 4, 2026

Margaret Lennox — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:36:00 GMT

Kent City Council committee meeting
March 4, 2026
7 p.m.
319 S. Water St.
Kent, OH 44240

Attendance
In attendance were Mayor and President of Council Jack Amrhein, Ward 2 Council Member Eric Dreger, Ward 3 Council Member Robin Turner, Ward 4 Council Member Chris Hook, Ward 5 Council Member Heidi Shaffer Bish, Ward 6 Council Member Jeff Clapper, Council Member At-Large Tracy Wallach, Council Member At-Large Sarah Wesley and Council Member At-Large Benjamin Tipton. Also in attendance were Clerk of Council Kathy Coleman and City Manager Dave Ruller.

Committees and legislation

Committee of the Whole
Council conducted interviews for the Planning Commission and Civil Service Commission. Adam Stephens was interviewed for the Planning Commission. Mariah Taylor, Darlene Rocco and Robert Hamer all interviewed for the Civil Service Commission. Council’s decisions will be made at the regular council meeting on March 18.

Council received updates on Kent State University from an administrator and student, as well as on the former Kent Church of Christ building that council bought in November.

Nick Cecil, who oversees technology, went over the process of updating the city’s networks.

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

Susel then went over the renewal of the sublease agreement between Kent and the Haymaker Farmers’ Market.

Susel also provided updates on state legislation that affects how Kent interacts with flood plains.

Finance Committee
Service Director Melanie Baker went over the 2026 NOPEC Community Event Sponsorship grants. Grants were provided to businesses for their involvement in the community.

Baker then discussed the 2026 Energized Community Grant.

Finance Director Rhonda Hall provided a list of budget amendments and increases that were approved with emergency.

Health & Public Safety Committee
No business.

Land Use Committee
No business.

Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities Committee
Baker presented a change of language required for Nathan and Phillip drives, as the no parking signs currently on the street need to be moved to the other side of the street to comply with city ordinances.

Executive Session
Council went into executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official.

Regular Session
Council made a motion to approve position allocation for vote at the regular meeting, which passed.

Kent Area Chamber of Commerce expands into Brimfield

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:31:00 GMT

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

KACC Executive Director Dennis Campbell said he reached out to Brimfield trustees last year to discuss extending chamber support. Receiving a positive response, KACC has committed to at least four events in the township, he said.

Already more than 20 Brimfield businesses are KACC members, and Campbell is ready to welcome more. In return for membership fees that correlate to business size, local entrepreneurs can receive a variety of benefits.

KACC’s 370+ members can do more than just help newbies sell products.

“Our chamber is very supportive of helping each other succeed and giving coaching. Even if they're very similar businesses, they help each other and talk to each other and give guidance to each other,” Campbell said.

Since Brimfield also borders the city of Tallmadge, Campbell said he is working hand-in-hand with that city’s chamber. Brimfield businesses can determine which chamber suits them best, and affiliate accordingly, he said.

Why choose Kent?

“Our programming is very education-focused and very business development-focused, not as much social focus. So if someone's looking to grow their business or learn some nuts and bolts, we do that very, very well,” he said.

Chambers offer time- and money-saving benefits, including health insurance, energy savings opportunities and workman’s comp insurance, he said.

Brimfield business owners interested in learning about KACC may visit the chamber website’s at www.kentbiz.com, contact Campbell at 330-673-9855 and/or attend a March 17 coffee hour, set for 8 a.m. at All Pro Sports and Creations in Brimfield Plaza.

Rooted Ramblings: Healthy plants begin with healthy soil

Master Gardener Volunteers — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Written by Jeff Cumberlidge, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers

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.

A good place to begin improving soil health is with a soil test. A soil test provides information that helps guide you in correcting nutrient deficiencies and other soil issues. A visit to your local Ohio State University Extension Office will give you the opportunity to purchase a soil test kit. The Portage County Extension Office is located at 705 Oakwood Street, Suite 103, in Ravenna, and can be reached at (330) 296-6432. Soil test kits cost $15, and collecting a sample is straightforward. Ohio State University provides detailed soil-sampling instructions in fact sheet HYG-1132, available online at: Soil Testing for Horticultural Needs.

It is important to resist the urge to add materials to your soil simply because they worked for someone else. You may have heard suggestions to plant with eggshells, Epsom salts, or bone meal. These amendments can be helpful if your soil is deficient in calcium, magnesium, or phosphorus. However, adding them without knowing your soil’s condition can do more harm than good. Rather than guessing—test.

If your soil test reveals deficiencies, the next step is to correct them by adding soil amendments. There are many options available. Given the typical soils found in Portage County, gardens often need additional potassium, magnesium, or phosphorus, while organic matter levels are usually low. Soil pH can also be outside the ideal range for certain crops.

At first, correcting this may sound like a daunting task. However, soil improvement is most successful when done gradually. Instead of making large corrections all at once, think in terms of small adjustments over time. By steadily adding the nutrients your soil lacks and incorporating organic materials such as compost, shredded leaves (leaf mold), and well-aged manure, you may be surprised at how quickly your plants respond.

While improving soil composition, it is also helpful to increase microbial activity. Microbes and plants have an essential partnership. Microorganisms living near plant roots help supply nutrients and can protect plants from certain diseases. Although microbes occur naturally in soil, gardeners can create conditions that encourage their growth.

Soil microbes are tiny living organisms that include fungi, protozoa, bacteria, archaea, and nematodes. Together, they form the foundation of healthy soil. These organisms cycle nutrients into forms plants can use, decompose organic matter, sequester carbon in the soil, and perform many other essential functions.

Gardeners can encourage microbial activity by adding organic matter, maintaining consistent soil moisture, reducing chemical inputs, and correcting soil pH. Some gardeners also use amendments such as worm castings, humic acid, compost tea, biochar, seaweed extracts, and fish emulsion to support soil biology.

Finally, it is important to develop a soil structure that allows plants, microbes, and amendments to work effectively together. The goal is loose, crumbly soil often described as “loam.” Microbes require oxygen to survive, and plant roots need loose soil in order to grow and spread.

Avoiding soil compaction is critical to soil structure. Compaction can undo much of the work you put into improving your soil. Healthy soil is roughly 45 percent mineral particles (sand, silt, and clay), about 5 percent organic matter, and about 50 percent pore space filled with air and water. When soil becomes compacted, the amount of air and water can drop to about 25 percent, limiting root growth and microbial activity.

To reduce compaction, avoid walking on wet soil whenever possible. Wet soil compresses easily and is especially vulnerable to damage. Stay out of planting rows, reduce tillage when practical, and consider planting cover crops to improve soil structure.

Certain cover crops are particularly effective at breaking up compacted soil. Radishes, turnips, and winter rye are good options. These crops are typically planted in the fall and left in place over winter. As they grow, their roots penetrate dense soil layers, and when they decompose they leave channels that improve air and water movement in the spring.

Gardeners can also use tools such as a broadfork to loosen soil without turning it over completely. This method helps preserve natural soil layers while creating pathways for air and water to move deeper into the ground and supporting earthworm activity.

If you have questions about soil health, consider contacting your local university extension office. Extension educators can provide reliable resources and guidance to help you better understand your soil and get the most from your garden.

If you would like to read further about soil and soil health, consider these sources for a good read:

What Is Soil and Why Is It Important?

Soils and Soil Health

Soil health

Portage County obituaries for March 11-12, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Robert E. Collins

Robert E. Collins passed away on March 11, 2026, at the age of 56. He was born on June 23, 1969, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Jimmy D. Stacy

Jimmy D. Stacy, 76, of Ravenna, passed away Saturday March 7, 2026 at University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. On July 9, 1949, he was born in Dwarf, Kentucky to the late Robert Lee and Louvernia (Noble) Stacy.

A. Carroll Prater

A. Carroll Prater, 80, of Paris, passed away Wednesday March 11, 2026 at her daughters home surrounded by her family. She was born July 12, 1945 in Wise, Virginia to the late Curtis and Myrtle (Robinson) Sorah.

Jail officer in sexual extortion case now faces felonies in county court

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:39:00 GMT

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.

Austin Paul Wilson, 29, was originally arraigned Feb. 25 in Portage County Municipal Court on a third-degree felony count of sexual extortion and a fifth-degree felony count of dissemination of an image of another person.

However, municipal courts have no jurisdiction over felony cases. Portage County Municipal Court Judge Melissa R. Roubic granted the county prosecutor’s request to have the case dismissed on March 5, noting that Wilson had been indicted by a Portage County grand jury.

That ensured that the case will be handled in Portage County Common Pleas Court, which does have jurisdiction to hear felony cases.

In a complaint PCSO Captain Robert James filed Feb. 25 with the municipal court, he stated that “Wilson threatened to release the private images of another in order to compel this other person to send additional private images.”

James alleged that the incident took place Feb. 23 at the Portage County Justice Center. Court records associated with Wilson’s case do not indicate if the victim was a jail inmate or a co-worker.

Wilson remains free after posting 10% of a $10,000 bond. Common Pleas Judge Laurie Pittman also ordered a temporary restraining order to protect the unnamed victim(s), set a status conference and pretrial for March 27, a criminal pretrial for May 18 and a criminal jury trial for May 27.

He is being represented by Ravenna attorney James Eskridge.

Legislative update: Income tax revisions, Roe v Wade and ICE activity

Savana Capp — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:19:00 GMT

In the first two months of 2026, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) has been active in speaking out on a wide variety of issues, from reproductive rights to ICE activity.

On the anniversary of Roe V. Wade, she released a statement reaffirming the fight for reproductive freedom.

“Roe v. Wade protected generations of women's right to make personal medical decisions for nearly 50 years,” she said in a press release. “When it was overturned in 2022, fundamental rights were stripped away, and nearly four years later, women in Ohio and across the country are still under attack.”

Sykes said she will continue to stand up for reproductive rights.

She also voted against two Republican-backed bills that would undermine reproductive freedoms further and divert public resources from families and students who need them.

One would increase the use of federal anti-poverty funds for crisis pregnancy centers, which are not required to provide comprehensive or medically accurate reproductive health care. The second bill targets college campuses with pregnancy-related requirements, despite federal protections against pregnancy discrimination.

In January, Sykes also spoke out against multiple ICE actions. On Jan. 8, she released a statement urging for a full investigation, demanding accountability after the death of Renee Good.

“The video of the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good is devastating to watch and raises questions about the use of deadly force,” said Sykes in a press release. "This event must be treated professionally and with a full investigation and complete transparency. As ICE agents have been deployed across the country, the administration must ensure they are adequately trained to de-escalate tense situations and maintain the safety of the American people. I will work with my colleagues to ensure accountability and safety.”

After another fatal shooting, Sykes released another statement on Jan. 24, saying the event was a result of dangerous tactics ordered by President Donald Trump, enabled by Kristi Noem.

“Their approach is escalating chaos, putting innocent lives at risk, and shredding public trust. Communities deserve protection, not lawlessness,” she said in a press release.

Bills brought forth from Jan. 1 - Feb. 15

State Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) introduced one new bill so far in 2026, H.B. 642. Introduced on Jan. 12, the bill would revise Ohio’s income tax laws. Ohio’s current law has a standardized five-year limit for municipal income taxes. This requires all municipalities to allow a five-year carryforward period for net operating losses in the tax year. If passed, the bill would remove the state-imposed time limit, allowing the Ohio municipal income tax policy to align more closely with the federal tax treatment of business losses.

“Ohio’s current five-year limit on municipal net operating loss carryforwards can penalize businesses that experience economic downturns or uneven revenue cycles,” said Demetriou in a press release. “This is a commonsense update that reflects how businesses actually operate. Aligning municipal income tax law with federal standards helps ensure Ohio remains competitive, predictable, and fair for job creators across the state.”

As of Feb. 4, the bill was referred to the Ways and Means Committee.

So far in 2026, State Rep. Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) introduced one new bill, H.B. 650 to establish the Frontier Technologies and Quantum Computing Commission. Introduced to the House Jan. 20, the bill looks to prepare Ohio for technology advancements bringing together technical experts appointed by the governor and members of the House and Senate, ensuring a balanced perspective.

The commission would study frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity and more.

“As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, Ohio has a responsibility to be proactive, informed, and forward-looking,” said Workman in a press release. “This commission will allow policymakers to better understand both the opportunities and challenges these technologies present, so we can position Ohio as a leader in innovation while protecting the public interest.”

As co-chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, Congressman Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Twp.) reintroduced bipartisan resolution H.Res.1019 with Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) recognizing National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Week in January.

“As the husband of a nurse, I see firsthand the hard work and long hours healthcare professionals put into their jobs every day. CRNAs are vital to our healthcare system, and they deserve to be recognized,” said Joyce in a press release.

In addition, Joyce, along with Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14), introduced H.B. 7279 Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act Jan 30. This bill would address the nursing faculty shortage by providing financial assistance to new and early-career faculty, as well as recruiting and retaining qualified educators. Specifically, it would create a grant program to close the gap between clinical nursing and nurse faculty roles.

Joyce also introduced a bicameral resolution on Feb. 12, H.J.Res.149, which honors and celebrates the 125 Anniversary of the United States Army Nurse Corps. The resolution marks the entry of the first nurses and first women into the U.S. military, as it commemorates the anniversary of the creation of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901.

“For 125 years, the Army Nurse Corps has provided invaluable care to our men and women in uniform. Whether it was the beaches of Normandy or the jungles of Vietnam, Army Nurses answered the call to serve and have since saved countless lives in the process,” Joyce said in a press release.

Sykes was one of a number of cosponsors of the reintroduced End Prison Gerrymandering Act Feb. 4. H.R. 7375 would require the U.S. Census Bureau to count individuals who are incarcerated from their last place of residence, not the prison they are held at the time of the Census.

People who are incarcerated are currently counted as residents of correctional facilities, often located in rural areas, instead of the communities they lived and worked in. This practice is known as prison gerrymandering and gives political power to some districts at the expense of communities of color and urban communities.

“All Americans have a constitutional right to equal representation in their government,” Sykes said in a press release. “This legislation will allow fair and accurate representation for all communities — rural, urban, and suburban — to create a stronger, more representative democracy.”

The bill was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) was not the primary sponsor of any bills.

How they’ve voted

Sykes and Joyce voted yes on H.R. 980, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act, which would remove the requirement that academic and vocational counseling services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs on campus at higher learning institutions be given by VA counselors.

The bill was passed by the House Feb. 2, 402-2.

They both also voted yes on H.R. 3123, the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act, which would establish procedures for the VA to issue a pension that was due but unpaid at the time of a veteran’s death. The pension must be paid to first available recipient on the list:

The veteran’s living spouse;
The veteran’s living children;
The veteran’s living dependent parents; or
The estate of the veteran, unless the estate will escheat (i.e., transfer to the state).

The bill passed the House Feb. 2, 405-1.

Sykes voted in support of two more veteran-related legislations: H.R. 658, which would set qualifications for marriage and family therapists in the Veterans Health Administration and H.R. 1458, the VETS Opportunity Act of 2025.

“These bills reflect a simple promise that when our veterans serve our country, our country must serve them back,” Sykes said in a press release.

Joyce also voted yes on H.R. 6644, Housing for the 21st Century Act, to increase the supply of housing in America by amending federal housing programs and expanding financing for affordable housing.

The bill passed the House Feb. 9, 390-9.

Social media and other community activities

In collaboration with the New Democrat Coalition, Sykes on Feb. 11 released the Affordability Agenda, a roadmap to making life more affordable. The policies focus on lowering five core costs: health care, housing, energy, family care and household essentials, such as groceries.

“Every day I hear from my constituents that the cost of living is too high and only getting worse. Our economy is unaffordable for working people, and it's putting the American dream out of reach. I know folks in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District are looking for real solutions, not lip service from politicians in Washington,” Sykes said in a press release.

Sykes posted against the SAVE America Act, saying it’s “not about election integrity. It’s about voter suppression.”

The act would require voters to have an ID and proof of citizenship with matching names, so married women who have taken their spouse's last name would have to jump through “additional, burdensome hoops” to vote, she said.

As vice chair of the The Democratic Women’s Caucus, Sykes posted about fighting for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein to get justice.

“A system that protects perpetrators and exposes victims is not a just one,” Sykes said in a post.

Roegner posted about her sponsor testimony in Columbus Feb. 10 and 11 for S.B. 300, as well as for S.B. 320.

Joyce posted about Trump’s endorsement for his reelection. On Truth Social, Trump posted, “Congressman Dave Joyce is doing an incredible job of representing the wonderful people of Ohio’s 14th Congressional District! … Dave Joyce has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

He also posted a thank you to Trump for taking action for the people in East Palestine, Ohio.

“Since the derailment, I have stood by the people of East Palestine, delivering accountability and prioritizing their health and wellness. I am proud to continue this work in tandem with President Trump to make certain East Palestine is not forgotten,” Joyce said in the post.

Around Charlestown: The Easter Bunny's comin' to town

Ruth Ann Bartholomew — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:17:00 GMT

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. There will be a photo op with the bunny and prizes will be given. Please bring a basket or container to collect the eggs in. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the fire station.

You're invited to Easter worship services at Charlestown United Methodist Church, when Pastor Jim and Pastor Karol will launch a new series exploring how Jesus calls people with different personalities into lives of meaning and hope. Whether you are full of faith, full of questions or somewhere in between, Easter is the perfect time to come and experience 'the good news' together. Join us to find renewed hope. All are welcome to attend.

Easter Sunday, April 5, will begin with a Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. It will be held in the church Community Room in a flower free environment in consideration for those with allergies. A complimentary breakfast will be served following the service. Our pastors, Jim and Karol Lewis, are charged with leading three area United Methodist churches, Charlestown, Ravenna Frist and Twin Falls. This service will be a combined service of the churches. The traditional Easter service at Charlestown will begin at 9:30 AM led by Pastor Karol. Ravenna First's traditional will begin at 10:45 AM. Twin Falls service will begin at 11:00 AM led by Pastor Jim. Please join us at Charlestown UMC, at 6408 Rock Spring Rd., at either service or both, to renew or find your hope!

L- R: Marissa Burrows, 1st Place, Karen Knoll, 2nd Place and Joe Ruggles, 3rd Place. Ruth Ann Bartholomew/The Portager

The winners of the 2026 Charlestown Chili Cook Off were chosen recently by popular vote. Held between February's winter storms in the Community Room at Charlestown United Methodist Church, the winners are: 1st Place - Marissa Burrows; 2nd Place - Karen Knoll; 3rd Place - Joe Ruggles; 4th Place - Jane Moser; 5th Place - Darlene Sams; and 6th Place - Ruth Ann Bartholomew. The competition was tough for the 10 entries but the more than 50 voters enjoyed the fun of tasting and choosing the winners.

Do you have a question about township regulations, zoning permits or an upcoming township event? Listed below are important phone numbers, email addresses and Facebook pages that you need to know about.

Trustee - Adam Eskridge 330-371-5782, Adam.Eskridge@CharlestownTownship.com
Trustee - Bruce Lange 330-297-9380, Bruce.Lange@CharlestownTownship.com
Trustee - Katie Pahls 330-221-1327, Katie.Pahls@CharlestownTownship.com
Fiscal Officer - Susie Forgacs 330-607-7824
Fire Chief - Randy Porter 330-607-4301
Zoning Inspector - Paul Jalbert 330-298-8104
Cemetery Sexton - Kerri Fotheringham 330-221-5881
Townhall/Park Rental - Elizabeth Taylor 330-575-3669
Activity Committee - Ruth Ann Bartholomew 330-281-3723
Charlestown Historical Society - Dick Pahls 330-221-2928

Facebook pages

Charlestown Township
Charlestown Volunteer Fire Department Ohio
Charlestown Historical Society
Charlestown United Methodist Church

Around Charlestown - found monthly in The Portager.com
Charlestown Happenings - email newsletter list - contact ruthannbartholomew@yahoo.com

Trustee Meetings are held every second and fourth Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the town hall.

To share your news contact me at ruthannbartholomew@yahoo.com or text to 330-281-3723

Portage County obituaries for March 9-10, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:16:00 GMT

Walter Allen Swesky

Walter Allen Swesky, 84, passed away surrounded by family after a long and valiant battle with cancer.

Dorothy B. Ingold

Dorothy B. Ingold, 86, of Ravenna, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Ravenna. She was born March 19, 1939, in Chester, West Virginia, to Chester and Violet (Kennedy) Boswell.

Sheriff faced five federal lawsuits in 2025, most in recent history

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:45:00 GMT

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.

In Portage County Common Pleas Court, the sheriff’s office was named as a defendant once a year in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and twice in 2023 and 2025.

When the sheriff’s office is named in a lawsuit, the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office provides legal representation at the expense of county taxpayers. With so many lawsuits working their way through the courts, The Portager has examined the status of several high profile cases to understand the county’s current legal liabilities.

As of March 5, 2026, some of these cases are closed, having been dismissed or settled, while others are ongoing. Because of the nature of the job, it’s common for county sheriffs to face multiple lawsuits from former employees, residents or even other law enforcement agencies, as happened when Kent, Ravenna and Streetsboro sued the county.

One high-profile closed case pitted the sheriff’s office against two Portage County men who were initially accused of trafficking in cocaine and possession of cocaine, both first-degree felonies.

Deputies had stopped Zephaniah Robinson and his passenger, Jack Metcalf, on Aug. 29, 2023, and charged them with the crimes.

However, the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office abandoned the case when the alleged cocaine in the back of the 2018 Buick Encore turned out to be carpet cleaner that Robinson’s sister, who owned the car, had sprinkled in the back of the vehicle to combat a previous water problem, according to a filing in Portage County Common Pleas Court.

Robinson and Metcalf turned to federal court on Aug. 29, 2024, suing Zuchowski and the three deputies involved in the traffic stop for violation of their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable search and seizures by use of force, among other allegations.

The case was dismissed on March 28, 2025. Metcalf told The Portager they had to give up only because neither he nor Robinson had the money to pay their attorney to continue court proceedings.

The sheriff’s office did not respond to The Portager’s multiple requests for comment on any of the cases. Communicating via email, Administrative Specialist Susan Schlarb stated on Jan. 29 that The Portager’s request for comment had been distributed “to multiple individuals who are more versed in the matter of these referenced matters,” and she was awaiting responses as to whether a comment can or will be made.

Portage County Prosecutor Connie Lewandowski stated it would be inappropriate for her to comment because she represents all of the county’s elected officials.

The five federal complaints in 2025 is also a high mark when compared with any single year under the previous sheriff, David Doak, whose office was named as a defendant in three federal cases each in 2019 and 2020.

At the county level, Doak’s office saw itself named as defendant in Portage County Common Pleas Court once a year from 2010 through 2016, and three times in both 2018 and 2019.

Miranda Brothers v. sheriff’s deputies

The Portage County Sheriff’s Office made headlines across Northeast Ohio when deputies stopped a Mantua police officer and took her young son into foster care.

In that case, first filed Dec. 31, 2024, in Portage County Common Pleas Court, Miranda Brothers, a Village of Mantua resident and Mantua police officer, alleged that sheriff’s deputies stopped her car on Jan. 1, 2024, as she was exiting the Ohio Turnpike onto state Route 44.

The complaint states that the deputies removed her young son from her custody without probable cause, disseminated private digital images of her that they’d obtained from her cell phone, and interfered with and endangered her continued employment with the Mantua Police Department.

She alleged that the sheriff’s office, Zuchowski, then-Detective Kenneth Romo and another unidentified detective were guilty of malicious prosecution, violation of her constitutional right to parent her child, intentional infliction of emotional distress, prosecuting her without probable cause, and tortious interference with a business contract.

Brothers alleged that the traffic stop was rooted in the sheriff’s office’s Dec. 7, 2023, investigation of her for allegedly permitting her son to be in unsupervised care of a registered sex offender. The on-site investigators allegedly concluded the child was not in danger and did not take her son from her custody at that time.

The sheriff's attorneys had the case moved to federal court on Feb, 4, 2025. But the case was dismissed Aug. 27, 2025, after Brothers and her attorney, Eric Fink, who is also Kent's assistant law director, failed to make a court-ordered appearance to explain why they had missed an Aug. 18, 2025, filing deadline.

Brothers exchanged her full-time status with the police department for part-time employment on Nov. 30, 2025. She gained full-time employment with Akron Children’s Hospital police on Jan. 26, 2026.

In a second lawsuit, this one filed Jan. 2, 2025, in Portage County Common Pleas Court, Brothers sued the sheriff’s office over time sheets and payroll records she’d requested for four employees but had not received. Such documents are considered public record, and no reason must be given for requesting them.

The four employees were all involved in the Dec. 7, 2023, investigation of Brothers.

In its Jan. 14, 2025, response to Brothers’ second legal action, the sheriff’s office denied it was at fault. The case remains open in Portage County Common Pleas Court. A status hearing was set for Nov. 25, 2025, but no court records are available.

Deputies v. boss

On Sept. 15, 2025, Portage County Deputy Eric Centa filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleging that the sheriff’s office “failed and refused to pay him a significant amount of overtime and continues to refuse to pay him earned overtime.”

Centa’s lawsuit alleges that Zuchowski, through his subordinates in his chain of command, retaliated against him. Centa alleges that he was:

Removed from his assigned office
Not provided with alternative office space
Removed from work-related text and email chains
Not notified when county radios were reprogrammed in 2024
Forced to return a weapon and a drone he needed to perform his duties
Denied a sheriff’s office-issued pistol
Excluded from firearms training and qualification even though he is a certified firearms trainer
Forbidden to attend outside training
Not informed of court dates he was required to attend

Also, “prior to being ordered to leave his assigned office, on two occasions someone left imitation pieces of excrement on [his] desk, and at the time he was ordered to remove his belongings from the office, someone erected a flag above his desk with the message ‘F**K AROUND AND FIND OUT’ emblazoned on the flag,” the lawsuit states.

An undisclosed settlement has been reached.

Another settled case between a deputy and the sheriff’s office was that of Dragan Poledica, who filed Oct. 23, 2023, to sue his former employer and the Portage County Board of Commissioners in Portage County Common Pleas Court.

Poledica was employed at the sheriff’s office from August 2021 to Aug. 4, 2023. Prior to that, he had worked for the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years. According to his lawsuit, the Portage County Sheriff’s Office agreed to accept his accrued sick time from Trumbull County, but ended up not doing so.

The case was dismissed Dec. 1, 2025, after Poledica and the county commissioners reached an undisclosed agreement.

Also making its way through federal court is a case filed Oct. 10, 2025, by former Deputy Jasmine Villanueva. The lawsuit alleges that in 2023, when she was assigned to the county courthouse, she was denied requested accommodations for her pregnancy.

Those requested accommodations included breaks after three hours of work, being able to snack and hydrate as needed and that she not be required to lift more than 20 pounds.

Her request denied, the lawsuit states that Villanueva took family and medical leave in early August 2023. In late August, she allegedly presented the sheriff’s office with a revised list of proposed accommodations, but her complaint states that her employer refused to reinstate her.

Villanueva’s lawsuit cites discrimination against her on the basis of pregnancy and gender and that she suffered financial harm due to that discrimination.

The sheriff’s office denied culpability in its Dec. 22, 2025, answer to her complaint. The case remains open: U.S. District Judge John Adams on Feb. 19 set a March 11 deadline for either side to amend their pleadings or add parties, ordered all formal requests to resolve the lawsuit or any part of it to be filed by noon Sept. 16 and stipulated that case management conferences will be held every 45 days until the case is resolved.

Villanueva left her full-time position with the sheriff’s office on April 17, 2024. She accepted a full-time position with the Mantua Police Department on Nov. 11, 2025.

Mantua Village Council authorized her to serve as a school resource officer on Dec. 16, 2025, but, citing concerns about her disciplinary record while at the sheriff’s office, Crestwood Local Schools have not accepted her as an SRO. The Portager was unable to determine Villanueva’s current assignment as Mantua officials did not respond to phone or email queries.

Residents v. the sheriff

The sheriff’s office also found itself named in multiple lawsuits filed by Portage County residents.

William Lane, a Palmyra Township resident who has been vocal about his opposition to Zuchowski, had two active cases involving the sheriff’s office in 2025.

On July 14, 2025, The Portager reported on Lane’s May 6, 2025, federal lawsuit pitting him against Zuchowski, Captain Robert James and then-Captain Michael Davis. Davis is now a major, second in command under Zuchowski.

Lane alleged that Zuchowski, James and Davis retaliated against him for creating “The Bad Bruce Exhibit,” a social media page critical of the sheriff’s office. Besides suing for violation of his First Amendment rights, Lane’s lawsuit alleges that the county created a culture of corruption in the sheriff’s office and permitted it to grow to the point that it became official policy.

On Aug. 6, 2025, Lane supplemented his complaint to include additional First Amendment violations, alleging that when he and Zuchowski chanced to meet on Aug. 1, 2025, in an area gas station convenience store, the sheriff stated that he would see Lane behind bars. Lane’s request to file the supplemental complaint states that “a threat of possible arrest and incarceration made by a senior law enforcement officer would chill the ardor of a reasonable person to exercise his or her First Amendment rights.” He is also suing for liability, slander and defamation.

The court has not addressed the request.

Depositions are ongoing. The court has granted the sheriff’s office’s request for more time to produce necessary documents, effectively pushing the case forward to October 2026. A mediation conference is set for March 30, 2026, before Magistrate Judge Jonathan D. Greenberg.

A second federal case Lane filed Oct 31, 2023, was dismissed April 3, 2025. In that case, Lane alleged that three deputies who stopped and searched his vehicle on April 24, 2023, violated his Fourth and 14th Amendment rights, causing him economic losses and physical and psychological pain and suffering.

His lawsuit also cited municipal liability, alleging that the county created a culture and custom in the sheriff’s office “of deliberate indifference toward rights of individuals … to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and deprivations of due process of law.”

The court ruled that the search was reasonable, so Lane’s constitutional rights were not violated. It also ruled that he failed to allege an underlying constitutional violation. The court also removed the county as a defendant because Lane could not identify a deliberate and ongoing failure to train sheriff’s office employees.

Another Portage County resident and his partner are acting as their own attorneys in separate filings in Portage County Common Pleas Court.

Windham resident Christopher Grace filed charges on Dec. 9, 2025, in Portage County Common Pleas Court against Shalersville resident John Helmling, Coventry resident Scott Woodall and four Portage County deputies (Simon Irwin, Robert Clouden, Michael Hawsman and Cody Wittensoldner) in connection with a July 13, 2025, incident on South Prospect Street in Ravenna.

In an Aug. 14, 2025, criminal affidavit Grace filed with the court, he stated that “we” had called 911 to report a break-in at the Prospect Street building he, as trustee, owns at 4283 Prospect St. in Ravenna.

The “we” refers to Tara Colley, Grace’s long-time significant other. The two share an address in Windham, and Colley leases the building where the incident took place, using it for storage.

In criminal affidavits he filed with the court Dec. 9, 2025, Grace charged Helmling and Woodall with breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools. He named the responding PCSO deputies Clouden, Hawsman and Wittensoldner with dereliction of duty and deputy Irwin with criminal trespass.

Citing no probable cause, the court dismissed the charges against Woodall, Helmling, Clouden, Hawsman and Wittensoldner on Jan. 8, 2026, but took the case against Irwin under advisement. The next day, Jan. 9, 2026, Colley filed similar charges against Woodall, Helmling, Clouden, Hawsman and Wittensoldner.

Also on Jan, 9, 2026, Grace sought to have the case against him dismissed. He’d been charged with two first-degree misdemeanor charges of assault in connection with the July 13 incident. According to court filings, sheriff’s deputies alleged that Grace shoved [redacted], “making him fall into shelving,” grabbed [redacted] “by his neck” and punched him “in his body.”

Citing a conflict of interest with all three municipal court judges (Judge Mark Fankhauser, who has since died; Melissa Roubic; and himself), presiding Judge Kevin Poland on Feb. 3 ordered the recusal of all three.

The Supreme Court of Ohio has appointed retired Rocky River Municipal Court Judge Donna Fitzsimmons to preside over a second set of hearings, including the criminal case against Grace, set for March 16.

The fifth federal case naming the Portage County Sheriff’s Office in 2025 pitted Portage County resident Christopher Wilcox against multiple defendants, including the sheriff’s office, regarding ownership of a property in Ravenna Township.

The Portage County auditor’s office shows that Wilcox and co-borrower Virginia A. Edwards bought the home from her parents on June 22, 2018. The auditor’s office shows that she took sole ownership of the home on July 24, 2023.

Acting as his own attorney, Wilcox is suing to have what he regards as his real estate and personal property restored to him, punitive and compensatory damages, back rent/equity and legal fees.

His complaint states that deputies improperly retained his personal firearm and other property they allegedly seized when they escorted him to the property on Sept. 4, 2020. The case remains open.

Correction: An earlier version of this article reported that Brothers moved her case to federal court, when in fact it was the sheriff's office that petitioned to have the case moved.

County roundup: Atwater requests solar and wind farm ban; Mogadore, Randolph and Suffield news

Roger Gordon — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:44:00 GMT

Atwater

The Atwater Fire Department participated in ice rescue training Feb. 21. Chief Jason Brock said the training was very beneficial.

Meanwhile, the township hired five new dual-certified members, welcoming Kyle Mathes, Caleb Quinn, Phillip Hornig, Shawney Hamilton and Bailey Fumich to the fire department.

Brock reported that 2025 saw a total of 406 incidents, 356 of which were EMS related. This was an increase of 9% over 2024.

Atwater Township Clean-up Days will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 1 and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 2. This event is open to Atwater residents only.

The township trustees approved the 2026 chip-and-seal projects using Melway Paving.

Brock, along with Atwater Township Trustees Thora Green and Dale Wiley plus Fiscal Officer Emily Lashley, recently attended the Ohio Township Association’s Winter Conference in Columbus.

This conference offered more than 90 educational workshops along with required training for elected officials. Governor Mike DeWine spoke during the general session along with a panel discussion on the issue of property taxes.

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.

Atwater Township is part of this request along with Freedom, Hiram, Nelson, Mantua, Paris, Rootstown and Randolph townships. The meeting will be held at the Portage County Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center at 2978 State Route 59 in Ravenna. The public is welcome to attend.

Other upcoming meetings (held at Atwater Town Hall at 1219 State Route 183):

Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m. – Atwater Trustees
Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. – Quarterly Fiscal Review (followed by the Atwater Trustees meeting)

Upcoming community events:

Sunday, April 26, noon to 3 p.m. – Walk to End Alzheimer’s Spaghetti Dinner, Randolph Community Center. For more information, contact Gayle Ganoe at 330-603-6653.
Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17 – Waterloo Community Helping Hands Atwater & Randolph Community Yard Sale. Sign up now by calling 330-808-3199 or email waterloocommunityhelpinghands@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to noon – Atwater Township Plant Exchange at the Atwater Old School Park pavilion. Bring a plant, take a plant – no money is exchanged.

Visit atwatertwp.net under “Latest News” for further details on these events.

Mogadore

Mogadore Village Council passed a resolution to advertise for bids for work on Lincoln Avenue and Etter Road that will feature the installation of cement streets, sidewalks, sanitary sewer lines and water lines. The village received a $1 million grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission, which will pay for half of the project, which is scheduled to begin in the fall.

The Mogadore Historical Society will have a soup and sandwich lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 at the Russell M. Pry Community Center at 3857 Mogadore Rd. You can get a soup and sandwich meal for around $10.

Randolph

The 44th annual Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Randolph Fire Department will take place Sunday, March 29 inside the fire department rain or shine. Fire truck rides will start at 1 p.m., followed by the egg hunts at 2 p.m. Bring your own basket, and meet the Easter Bunny! Prizes, popcorn, punch and coffee will be provided. There will be a bicycle and helmet raffle for one boy and one girl in each age group. For details, call 330-325-1904.

The former Circle K convenience store that was located at 3966 Waterloo Rd. will soon reopen as a new convenience store called the Pit Stop Market.

Suffield

The Suffield League’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at Wingfoot Lake State Park on the field next to Pine Tree Shelter. Park in the main parking lot by the swings and be at the park by approximately 12:45 p.m. This event is free of charge, but canned goods will be accepted for the Portage County Food Shelf. There will be prizes in three age groups: 0-3, 4-6 and 7-10.

The Suffield League’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1 at Suffield Town Hall at 1256 Waterloo Rd.

One for the Books: Documented cases of abuse

Mary Louise Ruehr — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:43:00 GMT

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. There are triggers of drugs, brutality, and suicidal thoughts. These books are not easy to read. There are no prurient details, but it can be distressing to visualize the threats, beatings, torture, and the mental and emotional trauma. I could only stand to read a few chapters at a time and then turn to something happier to clear my head.

The book in the news because of the Epstein Files is “Nobody’s Girl” by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who was age 37 at the time of writing and who has since taken her own life. The book is very well written but the details are often cringeworthy. Although she’s now known globally, I’m sure she wished she’d never been famous.

Giuffre says she was sexually abused as a child by her father and a friend of his. She writes, “My dad said if I ever told a soul, he would kill my little brother and bury his body in the woods, where no one would find him.” HER FATHER said this. “From the start, I was groomed to be complicit in my own devastation.”

At age 16, while working at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, she was noticed by Ghislaine Maxwell, who offered her a job with better pay. Maxwell presented her to Jeffrey Epstein, who basically laid claim to her. It was the year 2000. He was 47, “nearly three times older than me,” she tells us. Not only did those two abuse her, they trafficked her to other men, including Prince Andrew. “In my years with them, they lent me out to scores of wealthy, powerful people. I was habitually used and humiliated — and in some instances, choked, beaten, and bloodied. I believed that I might die a sex slave.” The problem wasn’t just Epstein. Maxwell, writes Giuffre, “was an apex predator — as greedy and demanding on the inside as she appeared to be beautiful, poised, and self-assured on the outside.”

Giuffre explains, “But the worst things Epstein and Maxwell did to me weren’t physical, but psychological. From the start, they manipulated me into participating in behaviors that ate away at me, eroding my ability to comprehend reality and preventing me from defending myself.” She spent more than two years in their “orbit.” She writes, “There were no bars on the windows or locks on the doors. But I was a prisoner trapped in an invisible cage.” She tries to explain why she stayed. “We were girls who no one cared about, and Epstein pretended to care. ... A master manipulator who excelled at divining the desires of others, he threw what looked like a lifeline to girls who were drowning, girls who had nothing. ... And then, he did his worst to them.”

“I’ll Never Call Him Dad Again” was written by Caroline Darian. In 2020 in France, the author was told by police that her father had been arrested. He’d been drugging his wife, her mother, Gisèle Pelicot, and trafficking her body to be raped by multiple men, for almost ten years, without her mother’s knowledge. She supported her courageous mother through the legal battles that followed.

What happened to her mother is a true nightmare. Darian’s father, Dominique Pelicot, “solicited men through an online hook up forum ... He asked for no money in return. His only condition was that he could film it all.” Indeed, the police found 20,000 pictures and videos taken by him. “The list of charges alone demonstrates the unimaginable nature of the crimes committed” by her father and more than fifty men.

Darian has since gone on the warpath against those who use drugs against unsuspecting victims. “Chemical submission is far more widespread in the familial and social sphere than anyone thought,” she writes. “Chemical submission causes falls, comas, memory lapses, insomnia, unexplained weight loss, addiction, unwanted pregnancies, traffic accidents, and post-traumatic stress disorders.” She adds, “It is important to note that the victims themselves are often unaware of the abuse; just as in my mother’s case, they have no idea when is being done to them.”

Gisèle Pelicot’s own story, “A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides,” has just been published. It repeats the basics of the crimes and reveals how she found out, how she dealt with it, and how she moved on.

It was shortly before the Pelicots’ fiftieth wedding anniversary when the police contacted her. “I had lived with this man for fifty years and he had never let me down,” she thought just before the police told her the worst. Minutes later, “My brain shut down.” For years, she had been suffering memory loss, infections, lethargy and weakness. She had thought she had a brain tumor, or Alzheimer’s, or maybe she was dying. Her husband let her think that.

But Pelicot insists she’s not just a victim. She recalls the happy years she had with Dominique, even though he’d later become a monster.

The trial was held in 2024. Rape trials in France are usually held in private to protect the identity of the victim. But she said no: Open it to the public. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Thus, the tables were turned: the 50+ men were shamed. As a result, she has become a heroine in France and beyond.

In “This Happened to Me,” Kate Price recalls her childhood in a small town in northern Appalachia. As she grew up, she began having vague flashbacks to a violent past. As an adult, with help from a trauma specialist, she was able to bring out her past in detail. Eventually, she went back “home” and found the evidence that it was all true.

She writes, “Where I grew up, no one talks about family secrets or sexual abuse or rape or being hit or beaten within an inch of your life.” She had been beaten and sexually abused by her own father, who would also drug her and traffic her to other men. “My father controlled me in order to keep his secrets locked away. ... He threatened my life ... I was his property.”
Price went on to become an advocate for traumatized and trafficked children.

One of the most famous books on child abuse is from 1995: “A Child Called ‘It’: One Child’s Courage to Survive” by Dave Pelzer, in which he recounts his life from ages 4 to 12. The little boy was literally tortured, starved, and beaten by his obviously deranged and often drunken mother, as his father stood by and did nothing. She completely dehumanized him, even taking away his name. He writes that the school nurse recorded “my various marks and bruises, ... my teeth that are chipped from having been slammed against the kitchen tile counter top.” Quite frankly, I don’t know how he survived some of this gruesome assault.

It’s a powerful and deeply disturbing memoir. Absolutely heartbreaking.

Portage County obituaries for March 6-8, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:43:00 GMT

Larry Frank Yunger

Larry Frank Yunger, 78, of Ravenna, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center. He was born in Cleveland on July 31, 1947 to the late Jerry and Helen Yunger and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cleveland State University.

Marlene Ann Ury

Marlene Ann Ury, 80, of Ravenna, passed away Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Anna Maria of Aurora Nursing Home. On June 15, 1945, she was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Joseph Baltenback and Eileen (Barbarotta) Kay.

Ruth Ann Ackerman

Ruth Ann Ackerman, 86, of Ravenna, passed away Thursday march 5, 2026 at the UH Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, Ohio. She was born October 14, 1939 in New Philadelphia, Ohio to the late Walter Nedved and Evelyn (Brower) Williams.

Plans for Aurora Park at Geauga Lake main focus of this year’s state of the city address

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:37:00 GMT

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

Aurora purchased the former SeaWorld property and Geauga Lake in 2024, planning to redevelop it into a public park.

“Not just any park, but a park that will eventually use every acre of the 47 to showcase the beauty of the area, provide recreational opportunities for everyone, open up the lake again to public enjoyment and remind us that redevelopment does not have to be industrial, commercial, residential and/or ugly,” Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said.

Groundbreaking on phase 1 of Aurora Park at Geauga Lake was Oct. 23, 2025. Initial plans include renovating two gatehouse pavilions from the SeaWorld era, as well as a dock, lakeside lawn areas and pavilions. The new park will feature boat rentals and restrooms, as well as a roadway, paths and other infrastructure, she said. Aurora has issued a bond to finance it all, and expects to repay the debt with existing city revenue.

“These early phases carry high startup costs, and financing them up front allows us to preserve our cash reserves for future phases we intend to complete primarily on a pay-as-we-go basis with no new taxes on residents,” she said.

Masterminding the project is MKSK Studios, a design and planning firm with offices in Ohio, as well as across the country.

MKSK Studios Associate Principal Cullen Meves characterized the rehabilitated dock pavilion as the most simple yet grounding element of Aurora Park’s first phase. Once a quiet remnant of the park’s past, the structure will be a picnic and event space with sweeping, 360-degree views of the lake, she said.

“At the heart of the vision is the goal to fully unlock the site’s 1,700 feet of shoreline, bringing people closer to the water through renewed access, variety and moments of simple delight along Geauga Lake,” Meves said.

Future phases of Aurora Park at Geuga Lake are anticipated to include a beach, a welcome center, recreational courts and courses and an outdoor pool. The features will be added “in stages as revenue and time permits,” Womer Benjamin said.

Lauding the city she has led for a dozen years as “endearing, memorable, welcoming and warm,” Womer Benjamin said Aurora’s leaders have worked hard to maintain their home’s charm and rural character, “regardless of the pounding of the outside world and sometimes demanding developers.”

Also in the coming year, Aurora will share in the cost of two major Ohio Department of Transportation paving projects: East Garfield Road and state Route 306 north. A $6 million new south water tower will be built, $453,000 is slated to design a waterline for the Weston Woods neighborhood and $500,000 will be spent on a new culvert on Eldridge Road.

Some $7.5 million will be spent on wastewater upgrades for Aurora Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Another $300,000 is earmarked to install a sidewalk on state Route 43 from Bissell Road to Hawthorn of Aurora and to design an extension to Iris Place.

Other improvements are on deck at parks throughout the city, and Aurora’s senior program is getting a bus ($150,000, already ordered). Aurora police will add a new lieutenant to its ranks, making a total of three. APD also expects to gain two new patrol vehicles.

The city will replace two of its tornado sirens ($80,000), will acquire a water rescue boat and fire rescue ATV and will pay off its loan for a rescue squad vehicle expected to arrive later this year. Aurora also plans to acquire a mobile incident command trailer, “which can set up communications and operations anywhere the need arises,” Womer Benjamin said.

It all takes money: lots of it, she acknowledged. No problem: Aurora’s income tax revenue increased from under $10 million in 2010 to almost $25 million in 2025.

Business is the driving force behind the city’s solid financial position, providing 87.1% of Aurora’s income tax revenue, Womer Benjamin said.

New businesses that chose Aurora in 2025 include Home Instead, Goddard School, Good Nature Therapy and Old Navy. The city’s iconic Aurora Inn “reimagined” its restaurant and opened its 56 Tavern, she said, and Heinen’s remodeled its existing facility.

Aurora Industrial Park saw Rotek expanding and adding 60 new jobs, Avantor growing from 59 to 82 jobs, Pyrotek adding 32 high-paying jobs and rpGatta adding 25,000 square feet to its facility and eight new engineering jobs, she said.

Piping Rock is investing $19 million to expand its facility and plans to add 100 new high-paying jobs. Salon Patrick opened a full-service salon and spa, retail boutique and coffee and wine bar on state Route 43 near the Hawthorn entrance.

The city is also about to welcome Tulum Mexican restaurant and additional retail development on 21 acres at state Route 43 and Treat Road.

It’s not all about the present or near future. Womer Benjamin also highlighted achievements of the past dozen years, including replacing the final four century-old water lines, building upwards of three miles of sidewalks, installing a modern traffic signal system, opening three new parks and purchasing about 300 acres of greenspace to protect it from development. That’s on top of another 98 acres developer PulteGroup donated.

“Aurora is in a great place, with dedicated staff, well-funded and managed coffers, and no end of opportunities in sight,” Womer Benjamin concluded.

Aurora’s superintendent praises district successes while looking to the future

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:33:00 GMT

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.

“Success today demands more than content knowledge alone,” he said to the audience at the 2026 State of the City event on Feb. 25. “It requires the root competencies of collaboration, empathy, innovation, resilience, balance and critical thinking. These are not skills taught from a textbook. They are cultivated through experiences, relationships and environments intentionally designed to help students grow in line with our strategic vision and our mantra of ensuring Aurora learners are future ready.”

That being said, Aurora schools have and continue to perform at an exceptional academic level, he said. For the fourth consecutive year, the district earned an overall five-star rating on the state’s report card. The recognition affirms that Aurora students are exceeding state expectations across academics, progress or growth, and readiness.

U.S. News & World Report has once again ranked Aurora High School as one of the top high schools in Ohio and in the nation, Milcetich said. To develop its ranking, the publication evaluates 903 Ohio high schools and more than 24,000 nationwide.

College Board, a nonprofit organization that helps students navigate the path from high school to college, ranked AHS as an AP School Honor Roll Platinum school for the first time. This, Milcetich said, reflects the district’s efforts to enroll more students in advanced placement courses while supporting them as they head to college.

AHS is more than academics. Milcetich noted that AHS’s boys and girls cross country, girls volleyball and boys soccer teams were among the best in the state in their respective divisions. The boys soccer team made sports headlines when it showed up as the state runner-up.

Then, a well-deserved shout-out: “During this year’s Super Bowl LX, proud Aurora alumni AJ Barner chose to recognize his Greenmen roots in his introduction and represented the 44202 as he had an excellent performance, including the first touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter to lead his Seattle Seahawks to the coveted Super Bowl championship!” Milcetich said amid resounding applause.

Student musicians also scored honors this past year. Some competed individually and as groups at regional Ohio Music Education Association competitions, earning the highest possible ratings for their performances. The full AHS orchestra earned the top rating of “Outstanding” at a recent OMEA Adjudicated State event.

AHS artists earned gold and silver awards at the regional Scholastic Art Awards show, with the gold medal winners receiving an automatic invitation to enter the national adjudication this spring in New York City.

“Truly impressive, but I want to be clear: these results are not the goal. They are the outcome. They are the byproduct of a district that focuses first on strong learning environments, meaningful relationships and opportunities for students to grow in authentic ways. That growth extends well beyond the classroom,” Milcetich said.

Changing tone, he said the schools must evolve along with the city.

“Over time, we have reached a point where incremental fixes are no longer enough. Aging infrastructure, limited space and temporary solutions, such as classroom trailers, signal that we need to think more comprehensively about how we serve students now and into the future,” Milcetich said.

“The Essential Plan,” so named and outlined on the district’s website, is a long-term strategy to design growth and sustainability. Its three-fold goals are to create viable space in which students can learn and grow, improve the safety and functionality of district facilities and maintain fiscal responsibility.

Plans include building a new grade 1-3 elementary school on the existing Craddock property, building an addition onto Miller Elementary and reconfiguring Leighton Elementary to serve grades 4 and 5. The goal is to eliminate the classroom trailers while creating room for slow, steady enrollment growth, he said.

Also on The Essential Plan’s radar are projects that include repaving parking lots and Greenman Way, replacing roofs, updating HVAC systems, modernizing kitchen equipment, constructing a school board office and building a new transportation facility.

“These are not simply cosmetic or aesthetic upgrades: they are necessary investments to ensure our schools remain safe, efficient and functional for decades to come,” he said.

The Essential Plan is not written in stone, he said. Starting in April, the district will hold in-person meetings to share concepts, gather community feedback and ensure transparency.

To pay for it all, Milcetich said Aurora schools anticipate asking voters to approve a levy next fall. City schools are only 18% state-funded, meaning local property owners shoulder the lion’s share, he said. More to the point for The Essential Plan, the state is only holding itself responsible for 14% of the total project cost.

Then, echoing sentiments his predecessor Mike Roberto expressed in his final 2025 State of the Schools address, Milcetich expressed concern at Ohio’s universal school vouchers program. Vouchers are public funds that help parents pay for private school tuition.

Originally meant to allow children in low-performing schools to enroll in participating private schools, the universal voucher system allows all students, regardless of their parents’ income and their home school’s performance, to obtain a publicly funded voucher.

Each dollar directed to a private school is one less for public schools.

“Billions of tax dollars are being redirected away from public schools statewide through universal vouchers,” Milcetich said. “Regardless of where one stands philosophically, the reality is that these decisions have fiscal implications for predominantly locally funded school districts like ours.”

Knowing that every dollar the district does get carries great responsibility, Milcetich underscored his commitment to accountability, transparency and stewardship.

Round Two: The time I interviewed the legendary Lou Holtz

Tom Hardesty — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:31:00 GMT

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.

I had been working at the Record-Courier a little over a month when I was assigned to cover a speech to be given by Holtz – at that time the head football coach at Notre Dame – at the Kent State University Student Center Ballroom. And, if possible, I was to get a one-on-one interview with him as well.

It was April 1994. I had just turned 26, and my closest brush with celebrity up to that point had been a telephone interview with Hal Naragon, a backup catcher on the Cleveland Indians’ 1954 World Series team, during my days as sports editor of the Barberton Herald weekly newspaper. I had also covered a speech by then-Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Mark Price at Barberton High School’s Greynolds Gymnasium, but I didn’t get the chance to speak with him.

But Lou Holtz was going to be a different story in more ways than one.

First of all, it was, well, Lou Holtz. By 1994, the man was a living legend. In just his third year as Notre Dame’s head coach, Holtz had led the Fighting Irish to a perfect season and the 1988 national championship. From there, Holtz’ Irish steamrolled their way to three one-loss seasons in five years, a threat to win it all in any given season. Holtz had woken up the echoes and turned Notre Dame into a national power once again.

Secondly, Holtz was going to be on his home turf. He had played college football at Kent State as a 165-pound walk-on linebacker in 1956 and 1957, earning a varsity letter in the latter campaign. By 1994, Lou Holtz was one of the most famous names associated with Kent State University.

And finally, Holtz was going to be in his element: standing at the head of a room full of people, microphone in front of him, holding court. He was a naturally gifted speaker, able to captivate an audience with his aw-shucks, down-home delivery that was direct, inspiring and, most of all, entertaining.

And he was in rare form that night at the student center ballroom.

As I sat in the balcony of the ballroom watching the early parts of the night’s program prior to Holtz stepping to the podium, it occurred to me that getting an interview with him may not happen— mainly because, short of storming the stage at the conclusion of his speech, I had no idea how I was going to get anywhere near him. Nothing had been set up between the Record-Courier and Kent State prior to the event as far as arranging an interview, so I was working without a net that night.

Gauging the time, I decided to step outside the ballroom for a quick break before Holtz started his speech. As I returned, I saw a guy standing by himself just outside the door to the ballroom.

It was Holtz. It caught me by surprise — the fact that Holtz was actually alone and not surrounded by a throng of people, and the fact that he happened to be directly in my path — more accurately, blocking my path because he was standing right in front of the door.

He watched me approach, probably expecting me to simply exchange a quick hello on my way inside the ballroom. Instead, I stopped when I reached him, introduced myself — hoping that, as a former Kent State student, he had at least heard of the Record-Courier — and asked if he might have a few minutes for an interview after his speech.

I had never seen eyes so intense. He was taller than I expected — he was always listed at 5-foot-10, but he seemed taller than that in person — and his eyes bore into me as I spoke like I was the senior correspondent at Sports Illustrated.

“Yes,” he answered. “I have to go over to the arena to shoot a promo when I’m done here, but I’ll have a few minutes on the walk over if you want to talk then.”

I couldn’t believe my good fortune. The gods of sports journalism had placed Lou Holtz directly between me and the ballroom door AND carved out time for an interview with him.

“Sure, that would be fine, Mr. Holtz, thank you,” I responded.

“Just meet me here at this door right after I’m done,” he said.

I told him I would be there, then proceeded back up to the balcony and settled in to watch a master at his craft. And sure enough, Holtz had the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment he stepped to the podium. The man had presence.

His speech stressed the importance of hard work and education, but not in a way that makes your eyeballs glaze over. Far from it. Holtz delivered the speech in his vintage poor-mouth style, making each point by weaving quips and one-liners into his real-life experiences— a potent mix of conviction and wit, equal parts George Patton and George Carlin. All that was missing was a ponytail and a giant American flag.

For example, when telling the story of how he ended up at Kent State from East Liverpool High School, Holtz told the crowd he had no desire to continue his education at the next level. “I told my parents I wasn’t going to college, and they said yes you are, you’re going to college,” he said. “So we compromised, and I went to college.”

The audience erupted.

It was that way all throughout his speech. The phrase “never a dull moment” perfectly encapsulated that evening in the KSU ballroom. Let’s be honest: With some speeches, maybe even a lot of them, a point is reached when the audience has had enough and can’t wait for it to end. With Lou Holtz, the audience couldn’t wait to hear what he would say next.

And I couldn’t wait to interview him after the program. As soon as he finished his speech, I started making my way out of the ballroom. We met at the door as planned, and almost immediately he said, “OK, let’s go. I have from here to the arena to talk. Ask me whatever you want and I’ll do the best I can.”

He was firm and direct, but polite and accommodating. He was also in a rush, walking fast to the point I almost had to jog to keep up with him. I also noticed something else: It was just the two of us heading from the ballroom to the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. I had just assumed he would have an entourage of Kent State representatives escorting him between buildings — it was Lou Holtz, after all — or at least a handler of some type, but there was no one.

I went right to it with the questions as we walked, although he had given such great material in his speech that additional questions almost weren’t necessary for the type of story I planned to write. In other words, the pressure was off. I could just enjoy a private walk (jog) with Lou Holtz on a crisp spring night in Kent, Ohio.

There were a couple things I wanted to get his thoughts on based on two hot topics in major college football at that time: whether to institute overtime to decide tie games, and whether some kind of playoff system was needed to determine a national champion.

He especially jumped on the playoff question, and for good reason. He was coming off a 1993 season that saw his Notre Dame team finish No. 2 behind Florida State in both the AP and Coaches polls, even though the Fighting Irish had defeated the Seminoles in a battle of unbeatens late in the season. The next week, however, Notre Dame was upset at home by Boston College, and the Irish and Seminoles went on to finish the season with one loss apiece.

In most years back then, the poll voters in that situation would award the national title to the team that won the head-to-head meeting – in this case, Notre Dame. But 1993 wasn’t most years, and Florida State was voted national champion.

Holtz was still steaming about it in April 1994. “A few years ago (1989), we finished with one defeat and Miami finished with one defeat, but they beat us late in the season and Miami got the national championship. We were told we couldn’t jump Miami in the polls because they beat us,” Holtz told me as we walked, anger rising in his voice. “Then last season we finished with one defeat and Florida State finished with one defeat, and we beat Florida State late in the season. But the voters gave Florida State the national championship. It’s a double standard. They completely changed the rules on us.”

Needless to say, Holtz was in favor of a playoff.

We were almost to the M.A.C. Center by this time, but I had a follow-up question: So, coach, what other changes would you like to see in college football?

Holtz never broke tone— or stride: “I would like to see touchdowns count 10 points for Notre Dame and two points for everyone else,” he said.

And with that, we reached the M.A.C. Center and stepped inside. The interview was over.

But I’ll never forget it. Those memories will go with me to my own grave.

Rest in peace, Coach.

Rooted Ramblings: Sowing seeds indoors and in the garden

Master Gardener Volunteers — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:31:00 GMT

Written by Sambooranam (Sam) Kumar, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers

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.

Many long-season vegetables and herbs must be started indoors in early spring. Annual flowers also benefit from an indoor start to ensure summer blooms. Check your seed package for this information, then decide whether to start seeds indoors or sow them outdoors directly in the soil.

Season extension options

Cold frames
A cold frame is a raised, bottomless box with a clear cover that acts like a small greenhouse. Tunnels, hot caps, tents, and floating row covers also protect plants from cold and wind, allowing gardeners to start earlier and harvest later.

Winter sowing
Winter sowing involves planting seeds outdoors in covered containers during winter. Clear milk jugs or similar containers act as mini greenhouses. This method works well for gardeners without indoor space for trays, lights, or heat mats.

Seed starting basics

Seed Starting Mix
Use a lightweight germination mix rather than garden soil. It is finer, improves seed-to-soil contact, and drains well, helping roots stay healthy.

Choosing Seeds
Seeds can come from saved crops, neighbors, swaps, stores, or seed companies. Check germination rates on commercial packets. Germination refers to a seed’s ability to sprout, while viability describes its ability to grow into a strong seedling. Older seeds may sprout but produce weak plants.

Sowing depth

Plant seeds about twice as deep as their diameter. Very small seeds should be pressed gently onto the soil surface and lightly covered, if at all. Seeds may be started in their final container or transplanted later.

Temperature, Light & Water

Temperature
Most seeds germinate best between 70–80°F. Warm soil encourages faster germination and healthier roots. Use heating mats or place trays in warm areas during germination, then move seedlings to bright light. After sprouting, lower temperatures to about 65°F to prevent weak growth.

Light
Some seeds require light to germinate, others need darkness, and some have no preference. Once sprouted, seedlings need 12–16 hours of light daily. Grow lights (fluorescent or LED) provide better results than relying solely on windows.

Water
Moisture is critical. Too much water causes root rot, too little kills embryos. Keep soil evenly moist using a mist bottle or gentle watering. Young seedlings can die quickly if allowed to dry out.

Hardening off

Indoor-grown seedlings must adjust gradually to outdoor conditions before transplanting.

Days 1–3: 2 hours of direct sunlight
Days 4–7: 5 hours of direct sunlight
Days 8–10: Full-day sun

Place plants in sheltered areas such as a porch, carport, or under a tree. Monitor moisture closely, as outdoor sun dries soil quickly.

Direct sowing in the garden

Some crops grow best when planted directly outdoors.

Cool-season crops (late March–early April): radish, lettuce, spinach, peas, broccoli
Warm-season crops (May): cucumbers, beans, pumpkins, squash

For pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers, create soil mounds 12–24 inches wide and 4–6 inches high. Plant 3–5 seeds per mound and thin as needed.

With proper care and attention to temperature, light, and moisture, your seeds will grow into strong, productive plants. Enjoy the results of your labor and happy gardening!

Sources

Portage County obituaries for March 4-5, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Pauline Yohe

Pauline Yohe, age 96, of Kent, OH, passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at KentRidge Senior Living.

Patricia Steiner

Patricia L. Steiner of Ravenna Ohio passed away on March 4, 2026. She was born on June 11, 1940 to Harry and Anna (Bush) Stull of Alliance Ohio. Pat attended Alliance High School and graduated from Bohecker’s Business College. She retired from Giant Eagle.

Ralph D. Bates

Ralph Bates, Sr., 82, of Garrettsville, Ohio, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 28, 2026. He was born on November 25, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Thomas H. Bates and Gwendolyn A. (Stickland) Robertson.

Income tax increase on the ballot in Ravenna

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:01:00 GMT

Ravenna voters will decide in May whether to hike their income tax a quarter percent, from 2.5% to 2.75%.

City officials say they need the money to build a new fire station, police station and City Hall.

The current police/fire station complex, comprising much of the block bordered by West Maple Lane, South Meridian Street, West Spruce Avenue and Park Way, was built in 1922 and remodeled in 1979. It originally housed Ravenna’s police, fire and all city offices, including City Hall.

City officials say both buildings have outlived their shelf life, racking up such frequent and expensive repairs that new builds are necessary.

Ravenna City Hall, located on Park Way, was built in 1938 to house an A&P supermarket. City Hall moved into the building in 1972.

If voters green light the proposed tax increase in May, the new complex will be built at the former Ravenna High School site at Clinton and Main streets. The new City Hall would be in the center, with the fire and police station on either side.

Council determined in November of 2025 that the project could cost $20-$25 million. To pay for it, the city would issue a 30-year bond and use the tax increase proceeds—estimated at $1.2 to $1.3 million annually—to service its debt. The tax increase would “fall off” when the bond is retired, Council President Rob Kairis said.

Ravenna Council Member Amy Michael sought to address rumors she had heard that the city would have sufficient money to finance the new buildings if it had not raided its general fund to purchase Sunbeau Valley Farm. The rumors are untrue, she said.

While the city did spend about $1.1 million last year to buy the 43+-acre Sunbeau Valley Farm, she said the bulk of the funds came out of Ravenna’s parks and recreation department capital improvement fund, which can only be used to improve city parks. About $375,833 did come out of Ravenna’s general fund, but Michael said the city has already repaid that money with sales tax revenue from the city’s marijuana dispensary.

Local governments have a responsibility to provide quality of life for their residents, she added. Instead of a trailer park or housing development going into Sunbeau Valley, being able to dedicate it for public use seemed preferable.

City officials are exploring uses for Sunbeau Valley, including building a revenue-producing amphitheater, bringing in other attractions and hosting park activities.
Council Member Tyler Marovich likened the need for an income tax hike to a vehicle’s “check engine light,” only in this case, it's the city’s infrastructure that needs attention.

For example, the city's fire station has frequent plumbing problems with sewage backup, and it's too small to house its current vehicles, much less a new fire engine that is expected to arrive in the next year or so, said Fire Chief Mark Chapple. It also lacks separate locker rooms and dorm areas for female firefighters.

His private office is outfitted with a fold-out Murphy bed, and RFD’s administrative assistant and fire prevention officer work in a common hallway between his office and the dorm room—which itself is only big enough to handle six people, when a fully-staffed shift is seven.

Ravenna’s police department has a men’s locker room too small to supply all officers with a private locker, and female officers who need shower or locker facilities are out of luck. They need to use the city’s former street department building, which has two unisex restrooms, one of which has shower facilities.

The police station lacks training rooms and storage space for evidence, and police begin and end their day at city-owned space on West Spruce Street, the only place available to park their cruisers, RPD Sgt. Dustin Svab said.

City Hall is not as critical, but council members determined that spending some $5 million to replace it now would be less expensive than building a new, separate structure in the future, Kairis said.

The final decision is up to city voters, he acknowledged.

Portage County Recycling to open Reuse Center

Adriana Gasiewski — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Portage County Recycling anticipates opening a Reuse Center at its Center for Hard to Recycle Materials in April, with hopes of eliminating landfill waste and hazards.

After the CHaRM Center at 3588 Mogadore Rd. in Kent became available for residents in September of 2023, the center began to notice that some items it was receiving could be reused, said Dawn Collins, director of Portage County Recycling. The CHaRM Center opened its doors for once-a-month household hazardous waste collection in December of 2023.

“The Reuse Center is an extension of the CHaRM facility, but the CHaRM facility originally was for materials that are hard to recycle,” she said. “And once we established the program, and it’s in our third year now, we were getting a lot of items that we felt could be reused.”

These reusable items include paint (spray paint, latex paint and oil-based paint) and household hazardous waste (antifreeze, cleaners, aerosol products and wood stains or finishes). Other items include pool chemicals, motor oils, autonomic fluids, adhesives and sealants.
Although the new center is meant to direct reusable items away from the CHaRM facility, Portage County Recycling also anticipates it preventing these items from going into landfills.

“Cylinders, however, or batteries or items like that should not be going in your trash,” Collins said. “So, finally, Portage County has been able to create a way for diversion and give a program that was much needed.”

The new center will also be beneficial for residents, providing them with these opportunities to purchase items like spray paint at inexpensive prices.

“There’s a lot of materials that are usable, that are expensive and we are paying to landfill them, and the thought was, ‘Why not give it out to Portage County residents,’” Collins said.

When the center opens, it will not charge for donations, and it will have limited hours for residents to shop on Mondays or Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Currently, residents can bring household hazardous wastes to the CHaRM facility on the first Monday of the month from 2 to 5 p.m.

Been There, Done That: My 'solid' plan for weight loss

Laura Nethken — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:59:00 GMT

I always have a plan, no matter what we're talking about: yard sale shopping, grocery shopping, paying bills, even losing weight. I want to get into better shape. I'm going to try to do in my 60s what I haven't been able to do my entire life— get rid of these "thunder thighs" as my brothers so aptly named them.

I was a chubby child. My great-grandmother called me "solid." Harsh term for a young girl. She meant well. "You're not fat, you're solid." Not helping me.

I slimmed down eventually, but even at 104 pounds in high school, my thighs were an issue, at least for me. I distinctly remember my weight because of a blood drive at school. I had talked a bunch of strapping young football players into donating on the promise that I would, too. You know, if this little slip of a girl can do it ... but you have to weigh at least 105 pounds in order to donate blood. Oops, sorry boys.

I ballooned up to a stout 125 pounds after I got married. During pregnancy, I really packed it on, but waitressing brought me back down.
In the 30 years since then, sit-down jobs have got me in a bad place. Sort of. It may be a chunky body, but it's a healthy body. Ask my doctor, my numbers are great. Except my weight. I need to either gain about 6 inches in height or drop about 25 pounds.

My little elliptical died and was replaced with a Schwinn Airdyne (25 bucks at the thrift shop). I tried a treadmill (5 bucks at a yard sale) but never could make it move. I went back to my squat machine. Fifty of those and five miles on my bike every day. But I'm not getting anywhere. That scale doesn't budge. And these thighs are still not at their summer weight.

I decided it must be the can of diet pop I drink every day at work. If I stop that, the weight will just fall off. Well, it didn't. It must be the fake licorice bits. I pack five of them in my lunchbox every day. I can't be trusted with any more than that or I'll polish off the whole bag. It's been a hot minute since no candy and no change in that stupid scale.

OK, new plan. I'll only use the upstairs bathroom. That'll give me roughly 15 trips a day up and down the steps. That made my right knee a little sketchy and unreliable, but brought me zero results with the scale or my thighs. Time for a new plan. Of course I have one.

What if I was to dial down on my alcohol consumption? Just cut back by 1 1/2 beers per weekday. How do you cut out a half a beer, you ask? Easy, substitute a 12-ouncer for a tall boy and cut out one altogether = 1 1/2 less per day, 7 1/2 less per week, 30 per month. That's got to do something for me. If nothing else, it'll save me $20 a month.

Plus, I have another plan. Walking. A great way to get in shape. I'd like to walk during my lunch break, but I get too creeped out walking uptown. Too many cars with too many people in a big hurry. Besides, I like going home at lunch. Fine. I'll walk around my back yard and bring our Beagle Boy Cletus with me. He could stand to lose a pound or two, too. We just have to wait for winter and mud season to be over. A "solid" plan for those thighs of thunder.

Portage County obituaries for March 2-3, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:57:00 GMT

Rita Mae Kuhar

Rita Mae Kuhar, 8/17/1943-2/27/26

AKA "Cooking Grandma," 83, passed away at her home in Kent surrounded by her family after a long illness. Rita was a successful realtor for over 50 years, being one of Portage County's multi-million-dollar agents. She finished her career with Wittensoldner Realty.

Rita volunteered as a Guardian Ad Litem, helping to be a voice for young children in the court system. She loved caring for feral cats in the neighborhood and helping with spaying and neutering.

If you knew Rita, there was always a meal being prepared and an open door to enjoy love of family and lots of laughter. Her favorite place was her cabin in Canada where she shared her love of fishing with her grandchildren.

Rita is survived by her spouse John, who she married in Key West 49 years ago. There, they have their second home due to mom's love of deep sea fishing. She leaves behind her loving children, grandchildren, and all others that were fortunate to call her "mama." A special thanks to Ava, Rita & John's guardian angel, for her loving care she provided during this difficult time. We are blessed to have her and call her one of our own.

Graveside services will be held on Friday March 6, 2026, 11:00am at Standing Rock Cemetery 1361 N Mantua St, Kent, OH 44240.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Rita's memory may be made to St. Jude Children Research Hospital, or St. Patrick's Church in Kent.

Arrangements entrusted to Adams Mason Funeral Home (330) 535-9186

Jinene M. Studzinski

Jinene M. Studzinski, age 52, of Mantua Township, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Jinene was born on June 3, 1973, to Shelene (née Bence) and the late James Studzinski. She grew up in Aurora, attended St. Rita Catholic School, and graduated in 1991 from Aurora High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Kent State University.

Jinene had a lifelong love of horses and turned that passion into a meaningful career as a NARHA Instructor. She dedicated 27 years to serving as the facility and equine director at Fieldstone Farm before founding her own business, Heart Horse Farm. She cared for each horse with dedication and gentleness. As a compassionate and devoted instructor, Jinene inspired countless students, patiently guiding them to discover strength, independence, and self-confidence that would carry them far beyond the barn.

In addition to her mother, Jinene is survived by her sister, Jolene Hackett; her many beloved animal companions; and her close friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made in her memory to the Portage County Dog Warden's Office, 8120 Infirmary Road, Ravenna, OH 44266, or to the Portage County Humane Society (portageapl.org/donate).

A celebration of Jinene's life will be held Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 1pm - 4 pm at Townline Trails Farm, 2666 State Rt. 82, Aurora, OH 44202.

Arrangements are entrusted to Busch-Romito Funeral Home, Twinsburg (330-425-2244). www.buschcares.com

Jack G. Cooper

Jack G. Cooper, born 2/26/1960 and left this world unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of 2/28/2026.

Dr. Karl W. Martin

Karl William Martin (1951-2025) passed away peacefully on December 28, 2025, surrounded by family, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Debra L. Starcher

Debra L. Starcher of Freedom Township, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2026 with her family by her side. She was born June 6, 1955 in Ravenna, Ohio to Robert and Dorothy (Riedel) Campbell. Debra worked at K-Mart in Streetsboro, many knew her from the garden shop.

Melvin Ward

Melvin H Ward passed away peacefully at home on February 27th, 2026, surrounded by family.

Documenters: Rootstown Township Trustees meeting for Feb. 24, 2026

Marissa Devantier — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:40:00 GMT

The Rootstown Township Council convened its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24, 2026, at the township building, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance before moving into departmental reports and new business.

Those in attendance were Trustees Joe Paulus, Brett Housley and David McIntyre, Fiscal Officer Linda Hankins, Fire Chief Charles Palmer, Service Director Bill Hahn, Zoning Administrative Assistant Jordan Michael and Trustees Administrative Assistant Julie Gonzales.

Fire department staffing and operations

Palmer requested approval to transition two part-time firefighters to full-time status, effective April 1. While the fiscal officer noted that the midyear budget did not initially account for the additional salaries, approximately $500,000 in carryover funds made the hires feasible.

Trustees approved the motion to hire the two full-time firefighters beginning April 1.

The chief also reported that 2025 ambulance billing totaled over $250,000. He shared that he will meet this week with an ambulance manufacturer to confirm options for future equipment improvements.

Repairs to the fire station related to recent ice damming have dried out, with a contractor scheduled to complete restoration work. The damage is covered by insurance. Additionally, Spectrum installed new modems at the station at approximately half the cost of the previous service provider.

Palmer thanked the road crew for assisting when a fire truck became stuck on an icy back road. No damage occurred during the incident.

Service department updates

Hahn confirmed that 150 tons of road salt have been ordered to restock supplies for the remainder of 2026. Trustees also inquired about the township’s tire drop-off program; the service director confirmed that the program is currently running for the next week and remains free to residents.

The service department requested an executive session later in the meeting.

Public hearing on nuisance properties

Trustees voted to enter a public hearing regarding two properties deemed uninhabitable: 3914 Homestead Rd. and 4434 Sandy Lake Rd.

Regarding the Sandy Lake Road, property owner Randy Dean of Kent was present. He has invested approximately $50,000 into renovations and expressed his intent to remediate the home. Trustees directed him to coordinate with the building, fire and health departments to establish a clear remediation plan and timeline.

McIntyre indicated willingness to allow renovations to continue through August 2026, provided measurable progress is made. Housley requested that Dean return on March 24 with a formal remediation plan. Trustees also sought clarification on several vehicles on the property; Dean confirmed they would be sent to a scrap yard. June 1 was discussed as a proposed deadline for exterior cleanup and zoning compliance.

After discussion, trustees tabled the matter until March 24, setting expectations that Dean contact relevant departments for reinspection and demonstrate positive steps toward making the home habitable. The extension for exterior cleanup would remain contingent upon progress.

The property is zoned agricultural. Zoning officials confirmed that certified letters had been sent to the owner.

In a related discussion, Michael and the trustees established the need to obtain a certified agreement related to the Homestead Road property with the owner, intent in pursuing a resolution for potential removal of structures at the March 24 meeting.

Trustees voted to close the public hearing.

Health department and solid waste concerns

Paulus introduced representatives from the Portage County Health District to address complaints concerning properties on Tallmadge Road and Sandy Lake Road.

According to the health department, complaints about dumping on Tallmadge Road date back four years. Following a site visit in April 2025, officials determined that the material consisted of clean hard-fill grindings permitted under Ohio Revised Code as clean fill, and no enforcement action was recommended. Trustees expressed concern about the continued piling of materials and inquired about potential civil remedies.

The Sandy Lake Road property will be submitted to the health department for further review to clarify compliance standards and determine whether additional action is warranted.

2026 budget and administrative matters

Hankins reviewed first-quarter appropriations, carryover balances and projections for 2026. Trustees approved a motion to adopt the 2026 budget appropriations and forward them to the county auditor.

The fiscal officer also informed trustees that the Portage County Board of Commissioners will host a meeting to discuss designating additional restricted areas for potential wind farm or solar facility development. Additionally, the county recently appointed a new prosecutor, James Armstrong, and introductory meetings with township leaders are planned.

The fiscal officer raised concerns about records storage, noting that some files exceed the five-year retention requirement. She requested guidance on submitting documentation to the historical society before disposing of non-permanent records and asked for improved shelving or storage space prior to any records purge. Departmental budget meetings are expected to be scheduled during the week of March 9 with public works and fire officials.

Citizen comments

During the public comment portion, residents were allotted three minutes each.

Rob Nevling of Tallmadge Road reported progress on making the township website compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, stating that approximately half the site has been updated.

Another resident, identified as Rodger of state Route 44, requested public records related to legal counsel fees over the past five years and clarification regarding services provided by outside counsel.

The meeting concluded following agenda review and discussion of old business.

Portage County corrections officer charged with sexual extortion

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:38:00 GMT

A Portage County corrections officer faces two felony charges of sexual extortion after a colleague filed a complaint alleging he tried to extract "private images" from someone.

The sheriff's office didn't name the suspect, but Portage County Municipal Court records indicate that Austin P. Wilson, 29, was arraigned at 1:15 p.m. Feb. 25 and released after posting 10% of a $10,000 bond. He was charged with a third-degree felony count of sexual extortion and a fifth-degree felony count of dissemination of an image of another person.

Portage County Human Resources records indicate that an Austin P. Wilson bearing the same address and birth date as the individual in the relevant Trumbull and Portage County court and jail records has been a Portage County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer since 2017.

The sheriff's office did not respond to The Portager’s request for information, but did issue a news release on Feb. 26 in which the suspect was not named.

In a complaint Sheriff's Office Captain Robert James filed with the court, he stated that “Wilson threatened to release the private images of another in order to compel this other person to send additional private images.”

James alleged that the incident took place Feb. 23 at the Portage County Justice Center. The PCSO indicated in the news release that it learned of the matter on Feb. 24.

Court records associated with Wilson’s case do not indicate who the alleged victim is, whether a person incarcerated at the jail or a co-worker.

Citing “safety concerns and to prevent any potential contact between the suspect and the victim,” the PCSO press release states that the suspect was transported to the Trumbull County jail.

The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Austin P. Wilson was booked into the Trumbull County jail at 8 p.m. Feb. 24 and released “to another agency” at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 25.

The PCSO press release states that Wilson has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the court proceedings. He is due back in court for a March 6 hearing.

Around Brimfield: Many ways to help feed your neighbors

Shirley Mars — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:26:00 GMT

“Every meal served, every hand extended, is a message: You matter, even when the world forgets. The united strength of a society is mirrored through the vulnerable community it feeds.” - Wayne Chirisa, Author

For over 45 years, the spirit of neighborliness has been alive and well in our community, as residents wholeheartedly lent support to the Brimfield Community Cupboard and created a legacy of caring for our own. The cupboard has an all-volunteer staff and is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Key to its success has been the generosity of the Brimfield Methodist Church, located at 1235 Tallmadge Rd., that donates dedicated space in the basement without charging for rent or utilities. Since 2019, pantry use has increased over 80% during its normal Tuesday, Thursday and once-a-month evening operating hours.

Much of the food comes from the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. In 2025, the cupboard received 239,290 pounds of food and 66,990 pounds of produce from the food bank and served 4,868 people. The cupboard paid a total of $30,588 for food valued at $332,575. The average cost per pound equals 13 cents.

One of the hardest items to source is meat, but the cupboard has been able to fill this gap as a beneficiary of a generous “Meijer Simply Give Double Match Day” program. Donations made on Double Match Days effectively are tripled. Those donations are then used to purchase meat for pantry families. There are two “Meijer Simply Give Double Match Day” events coming up on Saturday, March 7 and Saturday, March 21. Donations are made by purchasing Brimfield Community Cupboard donation cards located near the checkouts or at the service desk. Every dollar donated is doubled and added to the original donation. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at Brimfield Hometown Bank, and a volunteer from the food cupboard will buy donation cards with the money on a Double Match Saturday.

Enough good cannot be said about the dedicated all-volunteer staff, supportive township organizations and the numerous community members who donate time, money, food and other goods throughout the year. We can all take pride in our Brimfield Community Cupboard because we show that every Brimfield resident matters. We do not forget our own! Anyone interested in volunteering or donating can contact the cupboard at 330-510-1084.

TODAY, March 2, 2-5 p.m. – The Portage Recycling Center at 3588 Mogadore Rd. in Brimfield will hold its Household Hazardous Waste collection, held the first Monday of each month.

Acceptable materials include acids, adhesives, aerosol cans, fluorescent lights, fuel, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, household cleaners, mercury (in a jar, then double-bagged), oil-based paint, stains, thinners, pool chemicals and solvents. For questions, call the center at 330-678-8808.

Brimfield Township

Items of interest from February’s trustee meetings included:

Approving $18,000 for the purchase, training and boarding of a new canine officer and approving the use of the township gazebo at no cost for Hometown Bank to sponsor a concert July 23 in the town square.
The fire department is in the process of interviewing seven entry-level personnel applicants.
Trustee Kevin Scott proposed applying for property tax exemptions on township-owned property that has been overlooked in the past, a savings of approximately $28,000. He also proposed reevaluation of contracts for trash disposal, mowing, cleaning services, propane delivery and Information Technology. His proposals are sure to save the township thousands of dollars.
Trustee Nic Coia led a discussion regarding summer concerts, the community center, parks and rec programming, and sports field rentals and maintenance. A member of the Young at Heart Club urged the trustees not to consider selling the community center.
Brimfield’s Touch-A-Truck event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 20.
The trustees accepted a NOPEC Energized Community Grant for 2026 in the amount of $23,650.
Trustee Sue Fields announced the May 9 annual Clean-Up Day event. Hot dogs and bottled water will be available free to attendees.

Trustee meetings will be held at Brimfield Town Hall at 1333 Tallmadge Rd. beginning at 7 p.m. the following dates: March 2 (TODAY), March 16, April 6 and April 20.

The trustees will be holding four public hearings TODAY, March 2, starting at 6:20 p.m.:

6:20 p.m. – to discuss amendments to Chapter 10, Definitions, to clarify the definition of building height and to create a new definition for eave.
6:30 p.m. – to discuss the creation of Appendix F, Lighting Standards.
6:40 p.m. – to discuss an amendment to Section 304.02(B) to remove #8, Planned Residential Developments, and to make the necessary updates to Appendices C and E to reflect the removal.
6:50 p.m. – to discuss an amendment to Section 400.10(B) to remove #51, Institutions for Human Medical Care, including, but not limited to, Hospitals, Clinics, Mental Health Care Facilities, and Nursing Homes.

A zoning commission meeting will be held at Brimfield Town Hall beginning at 7 p.m. March 12.

Brimfield Historical Society

Upcoming events:

March 15, 1-4 p.m. – Kelso House Museum open.
April 4, 12, 18 & 26, 1-4 p.m. – Special exhibit - America 250 transportation theme in the Saxe House (green house on state Route 43). There will be photos and information on Thorndike Station and Boosinger Coal and Supply Store, along with a model train display
April 21, 4-5 p.m. – BHS special exhibit open. There will also be an exhibit and presentation titled “Steel Rails, Small Town” at the Brimfield Library.

Young at Heart Club

Upcoming events:

March 6, 1-5 p.m. – Fraud Prevention presented by Hometown Bank at Ravenna Elks Lodge, 776 N. Freedom St., Ravenna. Registration required at ht.bank/fraudscout.
March 9, 10 a.m. – Breakfast at Mike’s Plac
March 13, noon – Bag lunch at Brimfield Community Center, 4538 Edson Rd. Bring your lunch and a drink. Friends are welcome.
March 23, 10 a.m. – Breakfast at Mike’s Place

German Family Society - 3871 Ranfield Rd., Brimfield

Upcoming events:

March 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Fish Fry Fundraiser – adult dinners - $16.50, children 12 and under - $7, adult mac & cheese dinner - $8, child mac & cheese dinner - $5, pastries - $3.March 28, 5:30 p.m. – Country Western Dinner and Dance – reservations required. Call or text Diane at 330-309-9486.

Brimfield Branch Library

Sensory kits are available at the Brimfield Branch Library and are designed to assist children with sensory processing disorders. Each kit aids a different facet of sensory processing and includes a handout that explains the function of each item in the kit, as well as recommended reads. Funding for the sensory kits was provided by The Portage Foundation. These kits are available to check out at Aurora, Brimfield, Garrettsville & Streetsboro library branches, but are available to place a hold and return at all six library branches and the bookmobile. Due to small parts and pieces, it is recommended that the sensory kits are used for ages 3+. To check for the availability and/or place a hold on a sensory kit, visit their catalog page at https://events.portagelibrary.org/sensory17432.

Upcoming programs:

March 3, 5:30-6:45 p.m. – Yoga with Judith - Beginner's Yoga for adults. Bring a mat, water and comfortable clothing. Limited to 15 participants.
March 4, 1-3 p.m. – Ohio Means Jobs – Need help with your job search? Schedule a free appointment with an Ohio Means Jobs career counselor! Get support with resumes, cover letters, interview tips and building an effective search strategy. Adults.
March 4, 1-3 p.m. – Homeschool Group Board Games – For families with children of all ages. Limited to 30 participants.
March 7, 10:30-11 a.m. – Spring Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts. Ages 5 and under.
March 9, 12:30-1:30 p.m. – Lego Free-build (STEAM) - Whether you’re a master builder or just starting out, there’s room for everyone to have fun and show off their creativity! Limited to 10 participants. For children/tweens.
March 9, 5-6 p.m. – Lego Free-build (STEAM) - Whether you’re a master builder or just starting out, there’s room for everyone to have fun and show off their creativity! Limited to 10 participants. For children/tweens.
March 10, 5:30-6:45 p.m. – Brimfield Book Club – “Circe” by Madeline Miller. Book discussion for adults.
March 11, 10:30-11 a.m. – Baby & Me Storytime – Discover new books together. Sing, laugh and have fun!
March 11, 1-3 p.m. – Ohio Means Jobs – Need help with your job search? Schedule a free appointment with an Ohio Means Jobs career counselor! Get support with resumes, cover letters, interview tips and building an effective search strategy. Adults.
March 13, 10:30-11 a.m. – Spring Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts. Ages 5 and under.
March 14, noon-2 p.m. – Learn to Paint Miniatures - Learn the tricks of model making and painting miniature figures. Adults.
March 17, 5:30-6:45 p.m. – Genealogy with Roger Marble - Get ready to start your journey of tracing your family’s roots efficiently. Adults.
March 18, 1-3 p.m. – Ohio Means Jobs – Need help with your job search? Schedule a free appointment with an Ohio Means Jobs career counselor! Get support with resumes, cover letters, interview tips and building an effective search strategy. Adults.
March 20, 4:45-5:45 p.m. – Bingo! – Friendly competition and prizes. Adults.
March 21, 10:30-11 a.m. – Spring Storytime – Stories, songs, crafts. Ages 5 and under.
March 23, 12:30-2 p.m. – Learn to Crochet an Amigurumi Cat – Step-by-step tutorial. Limited to six participants. Ages 8+. Be sure to attend every class.
March 24, 12:30-2 p.m. – Learn to Crochet an Amigurumi Cat – Step-by-step tutorial. Limited to six participants. Ages 8+. Be sure to attend every class.
March 25, 12:30-2 p.m. – Learn to Crochet an Amigurumi Cat – Step-by-step tutorial. Limited to six participants. Ages 8+. Be sure to attend every class.
March 25, 1-3 p.m. – Ohio Means Jobs – Need help with your job search? Schedule a free appointment with an Ohio Means Jobs career counselor! Get support with resumes, cover letters, interview tips and building an effective search strategy. Adults.
March 26, 12:30-2 p.m. – Learn to Crochet an Amigurumi Cat – Step-by-step tutorial. Limited to six participants. Ages 8+. Be sure to attend every class.
March 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Timeless Memories Scrapbooking - All-day scrapbooking event. Limited to eight participants.
March 31, 4-6:45 p.m. – Dungeons and Dragons with Dave - Learn D&D. Explore dungeons, fight monsters, solve puzzles and complete quests! Limited to eight participants.

Final thought: “You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. That’s how prayer works.” — Pope Francis

Until next time! Got news? Share it by contacting Shirley Mars at 330-673-0241 or at mars@ohiomars.com.

County roundup: Aurora firefighters honored; Ravenna and Streetsboro news

Roger Gordon — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:25:00 GMT

Join nine local chambers of commerce for “First Friday Networking on the Go” from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday, March 6 at Great Lakes Honda at 43 Pruitt Blvd. in Akron. Join other business leaders and professionals and make great connections. Chambers from Portage County participating are Kent, Ravenna and Streetsboro.

Aurora

Aurora City Council had resolutions of appreciation for firefighter/paramedics Michael Upholz and Michael Gelardi. They recently saved the life of a woman who was in the passenger seat of a car that had just arrived at the Hillcrest Hospital emergency room parking lot. Upholz and Gelardi were there, having just transported somebody to the ER.

“The firefighter/paramedics were about to leave when this woman who drove up was hysterical and had a woman who needed to be saved in the car. The person was not breathing,” Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said. “They jumped on it immediately. The person was not breathing, and they took measures that saved her life.”

Upholz and Gelardi were also recognized by the hospital.

The 22nd annual “A Taste of the Western Reserve” will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at Aurora Meadows at 50 Trails End. This year’s “A Taste of the Western Reserve” promises to be one of the best ever. Join the Rotary Club of Aurora as it brings you this highly anticipated event, which includes:

Sample menu item
Vote for your favorite area restaurants
Bid on auction items
50/50 raffle
Wine pull
Entertainment by local youth musician

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit aurorarotaryclub.org.

Sip, Savor, & Support, the Aurora Schools Foundation’s annual fundraising event, will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at Club Walden at 585 Country Club Ln. There will be an Aruba trip raffle and an online silent auction. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit auroraschoolsfoundation.org.

Aurora’s annual spring Eggstravaganza will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 28 in the Aurora High School gymnasium at 109 W. Pioneer Trl. This event is for kids 12 and under. To register, visit the Aurora Parks and Recreation Department.

Beginning March 8 in the community garden, plots that haven’t been renewed will be made available to all gardeners interested in having a plot. For questions, call the Aurora Parks and Recreation Department at 330-562-4333.

The City of Aurora extended its electric aggregation program for another 12 months.

“It’s at a higher rate, but we had no choice,” Womer Benjamin said.

Aurora City Council recently:

Approved its contract with Infinity Construction, which will be doing Phase 1A at Aurora Park.
Approved the city’s proposal for July 4 fireworks.
Authorized the city’s purchase of two police vehicles and fitting them with equipment.
Approved a tax abatement of 75% over 15 years for Tulum Mexican Restaurant, which is under construction at a $2 million cost.
Approved the city’s contract with Northeast Ohio Trenching, which is installing a new main at the intersection of state Route 82 and state Route 43 and then south on state Route 43.

City of Ravenna

The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ravenna on Display Business Expo will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at Ravenna High School at 6589 N. Chestnut St. Meet local business owners face to face. Discover services you may not even realize are right in Ravenna. Whether you’re looking for a new restaurant to try, a trusted home-service provider, healthcare options, a specialty store or ways to get involved in the community, you’ll find it all under one roof. Enjoy raffles and giveaways, participate in the community scavenger hunt and support the local economy. Sponsorship opportunities are available to help with the costs associated in presenting the show. This event is free and open to the public. Deadline for registration is March 16.

To register or to be a sponsor, contact the Chamber at 330-296-3886 or ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.

A Memorandum of Understanding was created between the City of Ravenna and the City of Kent that says, in case of an emergency such as a drought, Ravenna can draw on Kent’s water supply and vice versa.

“This is a safety feature for both entities,” Ravenna Mayor Frank Seman said.

A fuel purchase agreement between the City of Ravenna, the Ravenna City School District and the Portage Park District has been finalized.

“We have the fuel, and the schools and park district use it, and accordingly, they pay for it,” Seman said. “It’s a cooperation to make things easy.”

Ravenna City Council approved the city’s annual paving program for 2026, which is estimated by the engineer’s office to cost more than $1 million, including sidewalks.

A transition fair for graduating students with disabilities will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at Reed Memorial Library at 167 E. Main St. This event connects students with disabilities and their families to community agencies, service providers and employers to help plan for life after high school. For more information, contact Laura at lauraf@portagedd.org, Matthew at matthew.mino@hattielarlham.org or Jennie at jennifer.smith@fieldlocalschools.org.

“Coffee Talk with the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce” is from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the Horseshoe Diner at 250 W. Main St. The next “Coffee Talk” will be March 11. To register, contact the Chamber at ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.

The Chamber’s Marlene Watt Poker Run/Walk will be at 9 a.m. Monday, March 16. Join this fun, family-friendly event supporting the Marlene Watt Scholarship. The scholarship helps provide discounted Parks & Rec program fees for youth in the community. Best poker hand wins $500 (pick up a card at each of the five stops). Chances to win additional prizes: Shamrock Scavenger Hunt, Solve the Leprechaun’s Riddle, gift basket raffles and more! Registration fees: single, $40 each; teams of 5+, $35 each (each registrant receives a swag bag, T-shirt and race medal).

The event will start and finish at the English Pub & Bistro at 320 E. Main St., Ste. 108. To register, for sponsorship opportunities and for more information, contact the parks & recreation office at 330-296-2864.

Streetsboro

The Portage Foundation canceled its pickleball tournament fundraiser originally scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Find more ways to help at portagefoundation.org/pickleball.

Portage County obituaries for Feb. 27-March 1, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:23:00 GMT

Edward C. Krimmer

Edward C. Krimmer was born December 31, 1933, to the late Lamont Charles and Virginia Mae (Thomas) Krimmer in Youngstown, Ohio.

Chloe Marie Quickle

Chloe “Marie” Quickle, 87, of Windham, OH, went home to her Lord and Savior Thursday, February 26, 2026. She was born January 15, 1939, in Elkins, WV, to the late Glenn and Martha (nee Nelson) Mullenax.

Karen Butler

Karen Darlene Butler, 82, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2026. She was born on February 17, 1944, to Robert and Helen Kraushaar.

How the closure of West Main Elementary will affect Ravenna students

Savana Capp — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:21:00 GMT

Ravenna City Schools announced the plan for housing the district's students next school year following the closure of West Main Elementary.

Ravenna City Schools will have its K-12 students in three buildings next year: K-2 at Willyard Elementary, 3-6 at Brown Middle School and 7-12 at Ravenna High School.

Ben Ribelin, superintendent of Ravenna City Schools, said there has been a steady decline in the district’s enrollment numbers over the last five to 10 years.

In May 2024, the district was placed in fiscal oversight and began analyzing staffing, enrollment, revenue and expenditures. (The district was released from fiscal oversight in August 2025, after the passage of Issue 12 that May, the first operating levy passed in over 20 years.)

Kristen Plageman, treasurer of Ravenna City Schools, said the district was looking to increase revenue while reducing expenditures. The main way to reduce costs: closing buildings.

The first closure under the plan was West Park, an all-kindergarten building. It closed at the end of the 2024-25 school year as it was not at full enrollment. Ribelin said it didn’t make sense to keep the building open, considering they were only using about 60% of it at certain points.

Plageman said it can cost around $40,000 in utilities per building, on top of more frequent maintenance for older buildings.

“If you’re minimizing your buildings, you're minimizing all those operational costs, too,” she said.

This year, the kindergarteners joined the first- and second-graders at Willyard Elementary. Third and fourth grade are at West Main, grades 5-8 are at Brown Middle School and grades 9-12 are at Ravenna High School.

The next phase of the plan is to close West Main, and those students will attend Brown Middle School. The Ravenna City Schools Board of Education approved the closure of West Main Elementary for the 2026-27 school year at its Nov. 24 meeting.

Ravenna City Schools announced the changes on their Facebook page Jan. 22, receiving close to 200 comments, some in support of the move and some who were concerned. The most common sentiment among commenters was worry about the combination of seventh-graders and high school seniors in the same building. Ribelin did not respond to a request for a follow-up comment about that concern.

Although a lot of parents loved the environment of West Park, Ribelin said, the transition was relatively smooth as they kept the teachers and staff, and the plan is the same for the West Main move.

Plageman said there will be minimal staff cuts because student needs will stay the same.

Before merging, Ribelin said there were lots of adjustments for students to and from each new building. Now, the structure will be more ideal for not only students and parents, but for administrators and curriculum directors, as they waste less time traveling to multiple different schools.

“I’m really excited that as we consolidate, it’s going to reduce some of these transitions to kids that are moving along,” he said. “We’ll make sure that we do plenty of open houses at the beginning of the year to have everyone prepared.”

Local manufacturing business to acquire parcel on former Davey Drill site

Margaret Lennox — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:16:00 GMT

Copen Machine, a manufacturing company in Kent, is planning to acquire three parcels of land located on 200 W. Williams St.

The parcels, which border the Erie Railroad tracks along Mogadore Road, were the subject of a zoning debate a few months ago.

Extensive remediation is required due to the amount of environmental contaminants on the site, including lead and other hazardous materials.

The Portage County Land Reutilization Corp (Land Bank) received a Brownfield grant award of $1,753,964.00 to remediate the former Davey Drill site. The State of Ohio is contributing $438,591 (25% of the grant amount). And the City of Kent and Hometown Bank, which owns the land, are splitting their own 25% contribution, each paying $219,245.50.

At the Feb. 4 regular council committee meeting, Kent City Council approved a $450,000 loan request from Copen Machine in order to purchase the property from the current owner, Hometown Bank.

The loan would be paid back in seven to nine years, and remediation to industrial standards would take at least three years, according to Community Development Director Bridget Susel.

The purchase of the parcels would allow Copen Machine to expand, employing more people in one of the few remaining industrial sectors in downtown Kent.

“With the acquisition of the railyard, we will be able to satisfy not only our long-term business growth needs, but also many of the needs that the neighbors expressed concerns of in the South End. I know many of the neighbors and we care greatly about it,” CEO Travis Copen said at the meeting.

Copen Machine currently employs around four dozen employees, several of which are Kent Roosevelt graduates. Copen’s long-term goal is to develop the site into a state-of-the-art manufacturing campus.

Some council members expressed concern about increased traffic in the area once the building is up and running, but Copen said increased traffic would likely not be a problem.

Correction: An earlier version of this article provided incorrect figures for the cost of the land restoration.

Baker: Cages and keys

Kathy Baker — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:15:00 GMT

My words to you this month were inspired by the following quote, written in the fourteenth century by the great Persian poet and mystic, Hafez: “The small man builds cages for everyone he knows. While the sage, who has to duck her head when the moon is low, keeps dropping keys all night long for the beautiful, rowdy prisoners.”

These two simple sentences remind me of a certain man who had great power, but also a very fragile ego. Under his direction, terrible injustices were perpetrated upon innocent people. A man small in intellect, a very fearful man, he saw threats to his power on all sides. What he feared most was a realization of his own insignificance.

I’m referring to Herod, the king of biblical notoriety who, we are told, ordered the murder of all male babies under the age of two in the vicinity of Bethlehem, because he felt so very threatened by an infant recently born there. Luckily, that child and his family had already fled to Egypt, where they lived in safety for several years, though it must be said that they were probably illegal immigrants.

Applying Hafez’s words to Herod, it’s easy to see that the king himself was a prisoner. He lived in a cage; the one within his own heart. He was tortured day and night, fearing threats to his power. He dealt with this by imprisoning or killing many innocent people during his reign— all to prove to himself that he was in control, that he was the most powerful.

I’m sad to say that none of Herod’s efforts made him feel any better. That’s because no amount of praise from the court of public opinion will compensate for how we see ourselves. Our own views of ourselves are the only true validation. Poor Herod never realized this. He didn’t understand that seeking to control other people only makes one feel small.

I see this in myself, when I’m tempted to divide people, issues and circumstances into “good” or “bad.” When what I want matters more than what others may need or want. When I feel threatened by people whose beliefs don’t match mine. When I see the world through a lens of scarcity or fear.

And what about the sage, who “drops keys all night long for the beautiful, rowdy prisoners.” Perhaps she did this at night because there are fewer distractions at night. Perhaps we are softer, more open to inner messages at such times. I know I am.

And why, I wonder, did the sage (whom I call “Wisdom”) drop the keys all around, rather than simply unlocking the cages herself? Perhaps she wanted to make the point that we have a choice: to stay in a cage of our own making, or to unlock that door. If you’re like me, there may be times when you can see only darkness within yourself, and in the world around you. Somehow, we allow the darkness to hide the light, which makes us, in the immortal words of that old Eagles song, “prisoners of our own device.” Wisdom points the way to freedom, which is hidden within our hearts and minds.

Why does Hafez refer to the occupants of the cages as “rowdy” prisoners? I think we are rowdy when we spend so much time reaching out between the bars, loud and unruly, demanding freedom, demanding peace, yet failing to search for it within ourselves, which is where it resides. We want someone outside ourselves to free us, but it doesn’t work that way. The answers are already within us, if we align ourselves with Wisdom.

Hafez also refers to the prisoners as “beautiful.” Why? I think it’s because each of us is beautiful, in the eyes of Wisdom, and in the eyes of those who love us.

I invite you to pick up the key, unlock the cage and step out into the sunshine. Accept your birthright, which is to love and be loved. You’ll feel a lot bigger. And the world will be better for that.

Portage County obituaries for Feb. 25-26, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:10:00 GMT

Andrew William Casciato, Jr.

Andrew William Casciato Jr., age 54 of Akron, passed away February 23, 2026.

Angeline Geneviene Rocco

Angeline Geneviene Rocco, age 87, of Kent, passed away February 21, 2026. She was born July 4, 1938, in Akron, Ohio, to parents John and Eula Mae (Dolbaugh) Rocco.

David Alan Brokaw II

David Alan Brokaw II, age 62, of Austintown, passed away on February 20, 2026, following a courageous battle with a series of illnesses related to CLL—a diagnosis he had remarkably triumphed over since 2015.

Dorothy J. Smith

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dorothy J. Smith, age 80 a beloved wife and cherished member of the Ravenna, community, passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. She was born March 19, 1945 in Mckeesport, PA.

Peter Michael Stanton

Peter “Pete” M. Stanton, Jr., 59, of Garrettsville, OH, passed away Saturday, February 21, 2026, at his home. He was born on August 1, 1966, in Painesville OH, to the late Peter Stanton, Sr. and Patricia Lingafelter.

From the publisher: Fraud is a real problem

Ben Wolford — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:21:08 GMT

At least once a week and sometimes more often than that I receive an email or a call from a reader telling me they need to update their credit card because it was stolen or hacked.

In 2024, the FBI received 859,532 reports from people who said they were victims of cybercrime. The real number of victims is certainly much larger.

And probably everyone reading this column has received a suspicious phone call or opened a phishing email, in which criminals impersonate someone trustworthy to try to get you to open a computer virus or divulge sensitive information.

So fraud is something that affects us all, but people don’t often talk about it, perhaps because victims feel stigma about having been scammed.

The lack of public awareness is something I hadn’t really thought about until Hometown Bank launched its first “Scouting for Fraud” community workshop last year. The goal of the event is to help people learn to recognize cyberattacks and avoid them. It makes sense that a bank would host this sort of event since many attacks are aimed at getting into your bank account and separating you from your money.

Hometown Bank is hosting this year’s fraud workshop from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at the Ravenna Elks Club. Attendance is limited, so you need to register at https://www.ht.bank/fraudscout.

“Fraud education doesn’t need to be scary or technical to be effective,” said M. Scott Mikula, the bank’s chief operating officer. “This workshop focuses on real-world examples, practical tips, and giving people confidence. Our goal is to help attendees feel prepared — not overwhelmed.”

This event is interesting to me for another reason. Not many people know this about me, but I actually have another job. Back before I started The Portager, I began working on the marketing team of a Switzerland-based tech startup called Proton that offers secure email, calendar, cloud storage, password manager, AI assistant and other common apps. Proton Mail and its companion products like the Lumo AI assistant are designed to be more secure than Gmail or ChatGPT, mainly because they use stronger kinds of encryption.

If you don’t know much about tech, don’t worry. I won’t get into the details. But I mention this because it’s not often my two worlds — local news and online security — intersect. So when Hometown Bank let me know about this event, I decided to write a column to raise awareness about it and to share some resources from my other job.

On the marketing team at Proton, almost all we talk about to our community is how to stay safe online. On our blog you’ll see articles about how to prevent phishing attacks and how to shop online safely. We have a YouTube channel that posted a video this week about crazy scams. And in fact, just yesterday my team and I published original research about how one in four small businesses fell victim to a cyberattack last year.

I’m very invested in this topic and I’ve been deeply involved in the global movement for better online privacy for nearly eight years. So if you have any questions about the subject, I’m always happy to help. You know where to reach me. As long as you don’t ask for my Social Security number, I’ll reply.

Downtown Kent to turn into student art gallery in March

Adriana Gasiewski — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:15:00 GMT

While attending the 2025 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference, Lesley Sickle, marketing coordinator of Main Street Kent, learned how in Delaware, Ohio, they displayed students’ artwork at local businesses for an entire month and started thinking about how Kent could pull off something similar.

“I was an art major, so I instinctively love to have art around town and public art,” she said. “So, I thought this would be a great way to partner with our schools, and a great way for students and kids and families to maybe explore some spots downtown.”

During March for Art, Main Street Kent, a non-profit organization that looks to revitalize downtown Kent, will work with Davey Elementary School, Walls Elementary School, Stanton Middle School’s Art Club, Theodore Roosevelt High School and 16 local businesses to showcase students’ art during the month of March.

Sickle anticipates between 800 and 850 K-12th graders’ masterpieces greeting customers at Tiger Rae Boutique, Off the Wagon, McKay Bricker Framing, Alley Mac and Bell Tower Brewing Co.

The collaboration between Main Street Kent, the schools and the businesses will ensure that people have easy access to viewing students’ works, while also motivating people to visit businesses new to them.

“Then really it just feels special for the kids to be able to see their work on display, outside of their classroom or outside of their home on their refrigerator or their grandma’s,” Sickle said.

She hopes March for Art furthers Foodie February’s mission of encouraging people to patronize local businesses as the weather causes months like February to be slower sales months.

“But they’re also free to kind of just go in and appreciate the artwork without necessarily the pressure to buy something,” said Bridget Tipton, board member and former design committee chair of Main Street Kent.

The students’ work will not be for sale, as all of the students have expressed a desire to have them back, she said.

Tipton and Oliver Wuensch, design committee and board of directors’ member of Main Street Kent, have helped Sickle prepare, measuring spaces to display the art.

After finishing her term as design chair in December, Tipton discovered she had more time to help Sickle with this undertaking, which includes determining how to mount the artworks on different surfaces like plaster, wood and tiles.

To celebrate the unveiling of March for Art, families of the artists will be invited to the March for Art Celebration at City Hall. There, they will receive information about where their child’s art will be on display, and artists will be given a button. During the celebration, students will have an opportunity to meet local artist Danny Likar, whose work will be installed in the City Hall lobby, and talk to him about his career and work.

Other than promoting local businesses, Tipton said March for Art will help foster students’ art abilities by instilling a sense of pride in their works.

Because the works will be on display throughout the entire month of March, Sickle hopes residents will take advantage of that, seeing all of the students’ pieces even if they aren’t their children.

“Expose the younger kids to some older kids' artwork and sort what’s ahead in their schoolings, as far as the different artworks, different materials and mediums that they get to maybe work with as they age,” she said.

As Main Street Kent prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, Sickle also advises residents to be on the lookout for future celebrations that are currently in the planning stages.

Brimfield may have spent thousands in unnecessary property tax payments

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:14:00 GMT

Brimfield’s newest trustee has a sharp eye for dollar signs. During the township’s Feb. 2 trustee meeting, Kevin Scott mentioned that the township is needlessly paying tens of thousands of dollars in annual property taxes.

Shortly before he took office in January, Scott said he examined a township budget and saw an entry directing almost $40,000 to the county auditor’s office. Knowing that government entities are largely exempt from paying property taxes, “I put two and two together and I came up with an unnecessary expense,” he said.

Then, as a newly fledged trustee, Scott asked Brimfield Fiscal Officer Jasmine Golden to check with the Portage County Auditor’s Office. Her research confirmed Scott’s suspicions: The township owns 30 properties, but 17 are not receiving tax exemptions for which they may be eligible.

The exemptions aren’t automatic.The person in charge of any local government’s finances — in this case, Brimfield’s fiscal officer — has to file a property tax exemption application with the county.

Former Fiscal Officer John Dalziel handled Brimfield’s finances from 2006 until he resigned Aug. 1, 2025. Fifteen of the properties eligible for property tax exemptions were acquired while he held that office.

Of the 13 that are already categorized as tax exempt, only one of them was acquired during his tenure, and it is listed as having been exempted as far back as electronic records go at the auditor’s office: 1994. Brimfield acquired the rest of the properties from 1990 through 1998.

Dalziel did not return The Portager’s multiple requests for comment.

Matt Adelman, the county auditor’s office real estate appraisal supervisor, said the state may reimburse Brimfield for taxes, penalties and interest, but “anything earlier than tax year 2020, they might be out of luck.”

The state may or may not return a 10% penalty the township incurred when it failed to pay its second-half 2024 tax bill on time, he added.

Golden calculated potential savings of almost $28,000 per year. Should the state reimburse Brimfield for payments made since 2020, the township could find itself holding a check for $100,000 to $130,000, she said.

Golden’s next step is to file exemption applications with the Portage County Auditor’s Office, which will forward them to the Ohio Department of Taxation. That office will grant, deny or partially grant each request, typically taking five to seven months to issue its ruling, Adelman said.

Luck plays a part: Adelman said he’s seen determinations come through in as little as two months or take longer than a year.

“Sooner would be better, but at least we’re not still continuously spending unnecessary taxes,” Scott said. “It’s a substantial savings, and it continues for the rest of the life of the township.”

Though dismayed that the township was bleeding property tax money for 20 years, Scott said correcting the error now will help Brimfield get back on its feet. The township’s general fund and police and fire budget balances remain low, thanks in part to Brimfield’s late December 2025 reimbursement of the Brimfield-Tallmadge Joint Economic Development District for erroneous debits made in 2024.

“It's certainly not going to correct everything, but it sure is going to help. It would put the general fund back in a good position,” Scott said.

Another possibility is to replenish funds the police and fire funds lost when Brimfield had to reimburse the JEDD. Since both emergency departments have vehicles on order, Scott said he and his fellow trustees will certainly have that conversation.

More good news: Since the township is filing for exemptions, the county auditor’s office is not requiring it to pay its first-half 2026 property taxes, Golden said.

Other savings Scott has identified include:

The township website’s annual fee, which host CivicPlus proposed to raise from $11,958 to $12,741. Township IT Director Joseph Jamison started working the phones, and has so far gotten the company to agree to an annual contract cost of $9,177.

The trustees, though, want a price ceiling of $5,000. If CivicPlus won’t agree to that limit, Jamison said he’s got another host who will. But should Brimfield have to switch, the township will still have to reach a temporary agreement with CivicPlus until the transition is completed.

Not having a website is not an option, he said.

Total potential annual savings? $7,741.

Brimfield’s annual cemetery mowing contract. ABC Landscaping’s 2024-2025 contract for mowing Restland Cemetery had the township paying $37,000 a year, but the company raised its rates to $48,000 for 2026 and 2027.

Spurred by Scott’s concerns, the township started collecting quotes and landed on Suncrest Gardens. That company will provide the same service for $31,125. Total annual savings: $16,875.

The township’s trash hauler. Unhappy with Kimble’s $750 price tag for picking up trash at township-owned properties every month, Scott called the company, renegotiated and scored a price reduction of $180 a month.Total annual savings: $2,160, which translates to savings of $6,480 for the three-year contract.
The township’s propane bill. Seeing a check to AmeriGas Propane, Scott determined that the township is paying $5.79 per gallon for propane. He did a bit of digging, and learned that as of Feb. 17, the open market price was $2.29 a gallon.

“We’ll be switching,” Scott predicted. “We’ll be doing our homework and getting that straightened out this spring or summer.”

All told, Scott estimated the township stands to save about $60,000 a year.

Golden confirmed all of Scott’s calculations and conclusions. Longtime Brimfield Trustees Nic Coia and Sue Fields did not return The Portager’s repeated requests for comment.

Op-ed: Poverty in plain sight

Op-Ed Contributor — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:11:00 GMT

By John Kennedy, Director, Community Action Council, former Portage County Treasurer

Talking about poverty is not easy. Not because it is unimportant — not when tens of millions of Americans live in poverty’s vice grip. Talking about it makes us uncomfortable because it forces us to confront hard questions about fairness, responsibility, and whether the systems we have built are working.

One of my favorite national leaders is Rev. William J. Barber because of the moral clarity he brings to the topic of poverty. As he often reminds us, one of this nation’s great moral failures is our refusal to tell the truth about poverty — who it affects and why.

So let’s tell the truth.

One of the most damaging myths in America is that poverty belongs to a single race, or a certain group of people, living in certain urban areas. We have been conditioned to imagine it as something that happens somewhere else — in other neighborhoods, to other families. Not in my township. Not in my community.

But the reality is very different.

Poverty crosses race, geography, and political identity. It exists in rural communities and urban neighborhoods. It affects children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and millions of adults who work full-time but still cannot make ends meet.

Another myth is that poverty results primarily from bad choices or lack of effort. Yet overwhelming evidence shows structural factors — wages, housing costs, health care expenses, child care, transportation — play a far greater role.

When wages stagnate and costs rise, poverty grows. When rent outpaces income, poverty grows. When health care becomes unaffordable, poverty grows.

The truth is that poverty is not random. It is the predictable outcome of policy decisions.

Poverty is not inevitable

If poverty were inevitable, we would not be able to reduce it quickly. But in 2021, the United States did just that.

Under the American Rescue Plan Act, Congress expanded the Child Tax Credit. The credit increased. It was made fully refundable. And for the first time, families received monthly payments instead of waiting for tax season.

And the results were historic.

Child poverty fell from 9.7 percent in 2020 to 5.2 percent in 2021 — a 46 percent reduction in a single year. More than 5 million people were lifted out of poverty, including nearly 3 million children.

That did not happen because parents suddenly worked harder. It happened because policy met reality.

Families used those monthly payments for groceries, rent, utilities, transportation, and child care. For one year, the United States made a deliberate choice to reduce child poverty — and it worked.

Then the policy expired. Payments stopped. And child poverty rose again. Poverty did not return because families failed – it returned because policy changed.

Poverty responds to policy.

Geography determines access

Poverty is not only about income. It is about access.

Across Ohio, most counties contain areas classified as food deserts or pharmacy deserts — places where residents lack reasonable access to affordable groceries or essential medications. Here in Portage County, we have several large food deserts – Windham, Charlestown, Ravenna and Kent.

That is not about personal responsibility – it is about infrastructure. Disinvestment, transportation gaps, zoning decisions, and market forces shape opportunity and access long before individuals make choices.

When families must travel miles without reliable transportation just to buy groceries, healthy food becomes expensive and harder to get. Health outcomes suffer and household costs rise.

Access and geography determines opportunity and health. And both play a key role in determining poverty.

Poverty is poorly measured

The way we measure poverty is out of date and flawed.

The federal poverty line was developed decades ago based largely on food costs. It does not adequately reflect modern expenses like housing, health care, child care, or regional cost differences.

Today, a family of four at 100 percent of the federal poverty level earns roughly $26,000 per year. But can anyone seriously argue an annual income of $26,000 is enough to provide for a family of four?

That is why many researchers and community organizations (like Community Action Council) use 200 percent of the federal poverty level as a more accurate benchmark for economic insecurity.

Using that measure does not exaggerate poverty; It reveals it.

Portage County

Here in Portage County, poverty often hides in plain sight.

Nearly 30 percent of residents live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Forty-four percent of school-age children are classified as low income. In Ravenna and Windham, every student qualifies as low income. But even in Aurora – the wealthiest community in Portage County – the number of children qualifying for the free lunch program has risen in recent years.

And here is a fact that challenges common assumptions: approximately 88 percent of people living in poverty in Portage County are white. They look like me.

Poverty here does not fit stereotypes. It looks like working families. It looks like seniors on fixed incomes, struggling to pay their property taxes, medical bills and groceries. It looks like parents doing everything they can to hold things together.

I witnessed this reality firsthand at a local food pantry.

Car after car pulled into the parking lot. Volunteers loaded boxes of food into trunks. Families quietly thanked them.

Then one car stopped me cold.

Inside was an entire family — parents and children — living out of that vehicle. Everything they owned was packed around them. The back seat wasn’t just transportation; it was a makeshift bedroom.

The parents were polite. The children were quiet, but smiled when I acknowledged them.

And that moment changed how I understand poverty. It did not look like laziness or failure. It looked like people surviving the best way they knew how.

Poverty is not a number. Poverty is people in need.

Budgets reveal our values

As Reverend Barber often says, budgets are moral documents.

Each year, federal spending choices reveal what we prioritize. The question is not whether we have the resources to reduce poverty. The question is whether we are willing to make it a priority.

Poverty is not inevitable. It is not invisible. And it is not someone else’s problem.

And if poverty is in plain sight, then so is our responsibility.

A responsibility to demand wages that reflect the cost of living.
A responsibility to invest in children, families and public schools.
A responsibility to ensure access to food, housing, and health care.

As Robert F. Kennedy said in 1966, each of us can create a small ripple of hope that becomes a current of change.

Thousands of families like the one I met at that food pantry are still out there. The question is not whether poverty exists.

The question is what we are willing to do about it.

Portage County obituaries for Feb. 23-24, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:07:00 GMT

Marlene Carol Davis

Marlene Carol Davis, age 85, formerly of Cleveland, passed away Friday, February 20, 2026, while residing at the Woodlands Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ravenna.

Vera Gillis

Vera Gillis, age 82, of Freedom, Ohio, went to be with the lord on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Born on January 2, 1944, in Portage County, Ohio, Vera was the beloved daughter of Lester and Moneta (Loomis) Etling.

Letter to the editor: Don't create a government file on our schoolchildren

Letter to the editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:06:00 GMT

Kent’s board of education is considering an issue that should alarm district residents as well as good people across Ohio. Board members are studying whether to oppose a benign-sounding but actually pernicious piece of legislation in Columbus: Ohio House Bill 42.

HB 42, co-sponsored by Rep. Heidi Workman, R-Rootstown, would require the state education department, among many governmental agencies, to collect the citizenship or immigration status of those they serve. For school districts, it means reporting annually the number of students who are citizens by birth or naturalization, the number in the U.S. legally along with their documented immigration status, and the number “who are not lawfully” here. Sounds reasonable, right?

Trouble is, it likely won’t stop there. We all are witnessing the overreaching (even murderous) anti-immigration campaign being coordinated by the Trump administration. HB 42’s provisions could easily be warped to disclose private data currently protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). More than that, the bill underscores the rising toxicity of intimidating all immigrants — whether documented or not, whether law-abiding or not, and whether newly arrived on our shores or having lived peacefully here for years. The indiscriminate demonizing of “others” by self-righteous “Americans” flies in the face of the best of this nation’s founding principles.

There are plenty of tools to enforce sensible immigration laws if used effectively. Sweeping actions, such as dragnets and “surges” by ICE and CBP, and as possibly aided by HB 42, are not among them. Schoolchildren should not become weapons in a fear-mongering crusade against anyone not born here — and, for the most part, not of Western European white heritage.

Finally, despite Rep. Workman’s self-professed advocacy for less government regulation, HB 42 would add yet another bureaucratic burden to an already overworked reporting regimen for Ohio’s school.

— Robert Springer, Kent

Best Cities to Live in Ohio in 2026

Submitted — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:06:05 GMT

Submitted by a content partner

Ohio is a state that offers a perfect blend of urban amenities and natural beauty, making it a great place to call home.

With a wide range of vibrant cities, each with its unique charm, Ohio continues to attract people from all walks of life.

Whether you're looking for affordable housing, top-tier schools, or a thriving job market, Ohio is a good state to live in.

As we look ahead to 2026, here’s a list of the best cities to live in Ohio, based on affordability, quality of life, and economic opportunities.

1. Columbus

Columbus, the state capital, remains one of Ohio’s top destinations for young professionals, families, and retirees alike. The city is known for its strong economy, low unemployment rate, and diverse job market.

As of early 2026, Columbus boasts a rapidly growing tech scene, particularly in fintech and software development, making it a hub for innovation. Affordable housing is another major draw, with the median home price around $275,000, lower than many other major U.S. cities. The city also offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, plenty of green spaces, and a high quality of life.

2. Cleveland

Cleveland has undergone a major renaissance in the last decade, with significant investments in its downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods. Cleveland is well-known for its low cost of living compared to other major cities, with the median home price around $180,000.

This makes it a great choice for first-time homebuyers and those looking to make the most of their budget. Cleveland also excels in healthcare, with the Cleveland Clinic being one of the leading hospitals in the world. The city’s sports culture, with teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Browns, adds to its appeal for sports enthusiasts.

3. Cincinnati

Situated on the Ohio River, Cincinnati is renowned for its historical architecture, vibrant neighborhoods, and thriving job market.

The city’s economy is booming in sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and education, making it one of the best places for job opportunities in Ohio.

In 2026, Cincinnati’s median home price is around $250,000, making it more affordable than many larger cities in the Midwest. The city also has great parks, excellent public schools, and a burgeoning food scene, offering residents a mix of both urban and suburban benefits.

4. Akron

Akron, known as the "Rubber Capital of the World," is an up-and-coming city with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. The city has become a magnet for young professionals and families due to its affordable cost of living.

In 2026, Akron's median home price hovers around $160,000, making it one of the most affordable cities in Ohio. Akron is also home to numerous parks, hiking trails, and recreational areas, offering a perfect blend of nature and city life.

5. Dayton

Dayton is gaining recognition for its quality of life and growing job market. With a strong manufacturing sector and a growing presence of tech startups, Dayton continues to attract a diverse workforce. The city’s cost of living is lower than the national average, with a median home price of around $180,000.

Dayton’s parks, schools, and family-friendly atmosphere make it one of the top places to live in Ohio for those looking to settle down. The city is also known for its rich aviation history and is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

6. Cleveland Heights

For those looking to live near Cleveland without being in the hustle and bustle of the city center, Cleveland Heights offers the best of both worlds. This suburb features tree-lined streets, historic homes, and a tight-knit community.

In 2026, Cleveland Heights remains affordable, with a median home price of around $225,000. Residents enjoy access to Cleveland’s cultural attractions while benefiting from a quieter, more suburban lifestyle. The area is also known for its excellent schools and growing local businesses.

7. Worthington

A family-friendly suburb of Columbus, Worthington offers top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods, and plenty of green space.

The median home price here is around $350,000, making it one of the more expensive areas in the state but still affordable compared to other parts of the country.

Worthington is known for its strong sense of community, with numerous events and activities throughout the year. It is an ideal place for families who want to be close to Columbus without the downtown hustle and bustle.

Conclusion

Ohio continues to be one of the most affordable and diverse states to live in, with cities that offer a great balance of job opportunities, cultural attractions, and a low cost of living.

Whether you’re moving for work, education, or family, Ohio’s best cities have a lot to offer.

As we move further into 2026, cities like Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati will continue to be at the top of the list for those seeking a high quality of life in the Buckeye State.

Judge Mark Fankhauser remembered for ‘service,’ ‘integrity,’ ‘enduring love’

Adriana Gasiewski — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:48:00 GMT

In 2009, an attorney who was going to run for the Portage County Municipal Court judgeship backed out, leaving an opening.

With just a few days to find a candidate, Bob Fankhauser, former chief of the Adult Probation Department of Portage County, approached Laurie Pittman, Portage County common pleas judge, and suggested his son, Mark Fankhauser.

“Mark had four days to get his petitions filled out and, well, he did it,” Pittman said.

After he unexpectedly died on Feb. 15, Judge Mark Fankhauser, who served on the bench for 16 years, is remembered for his ambition, passion and commitment, not only to his community but also to his family.

The Ohio Supreme Court will temporarily appoint a visiting judge to fill in. Pittman thinks that will be a retired judge, until Gov. Mike DeWine appoints a new judge from candidates recommended by the Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee. This past week, Judge Melissa Roubic and Judge Kevin Poland handled Fankhauser’s caseload.

The last time a judge died during their term was when municipal court Judge Don Martell died in 2004. Barbara Oswick filled Martell’s vacancy for eight months after his death.

Fankhauser was born Feb. 4, 1970 to Linda and Bob Fankhauser. Between Linda Fankhauser’s role as Portage County clerk of courts and Bob Fankhauser’s legal and law enforcement career, it was a natural fit for Mark Fankhauser to become an attorney and eventually a judge, said Sabrina Christian-Bennett, Portage County commissioner.

“He was generous not only to his family and friends, but also to the people who came before him in his courtroom,” she said. “His compassion often extended beyond his judicial duties into everyday life.”

After graduating from Ravenna High School in 1988 and earning a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University in 1992, Mark Fankhauser received a law degree from the University of Akron in 1998.

In January 2010, Fankhauser was sworn in as a municipal court judge.

“Judge Fankhauser served this community with an unwavering commitment to fairness. In every case, he treated people with respect and dignity, listening carefully before issuing decisions rooted in law and common sense,” Christian-Bennett said.

When Mark Fankhauser was 23 years old, Mike Lewis, president and CEO of Hometown Bank in Kent, introduced him to his wife, Jill; ever since, they were inseparable.

“For 33 years, his commitment to his wife, Jill Fankhauser, reflected the same steady character he demonstrated in his legal career,” Christian-Bennett said.

The couple enjoyed visiting friends’ homes after eating out, bringing them dishes that they thought they would appreciate, as well as always welcoming friends into their home.

“On the way back, he might unexpectedly stop by a friend’s house, drop it off at the door and simply say he enjoyed it so much that he wanted them to have the opportunity to enjoy it, too,” Christian-Bennett said.

Mark Fankhauser is survived by his wife, Jill Fankhauser; three children, Molly, Jake and Noah Fankhauser; and sisters, Beth Russell and Marla Boltz.

Because the Fankhausers were community oriented, Pittman said Mark Fankhauser will be remembered for his charity, donating to scholarship funds and contributing to boosters.

The day before he died, he and Pittman called each other three times to discuss making probation officers’ salaries more in line with other counties. For the past several years, she has worked to increase their salaries and wanted Mark Fankhauser on board with her efforts.

Calling hours for Mark Fankhauser were held on Friday, Feb. 20 at Shorts-Spicer-Crislip Funeral Home in Ravenna. A celebration of life will be held on a later day.

To honor Mark Fankhauser, the county lowered the Ohio flags at both the Kent and Ravenna Municipal Courthouses on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

“His legacy is one of service, integrity and enduring love,” Christian-Bennett said.

Marijuana revenue adds unexpected funds to three cities in county

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:36:00 GMT

Three Portage County cities are seeing green, but it has nothing to do with the approach of St. Patrick’s Day.

Ohio voters passed Issue 2 in November 2023, allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in the state. Besides imposing a 10% tax on marijuana sales, the law stipulates that 64% of tax revenue from marijuana sales goes to the state’s general fund. It also directs 36% of tax revenue back to the cities, villages and townships that host at least one licensed dispensary to use as they wish.

But state lawmakers still needed to pass additional legislation to release the funds from state coffers. They took their time, passing Senate Bill 56 on Dec. 9, 2025. Gov. Mike DeWine signed it into law 10 days later.

Issue 2 stipulated that payments were to be made to local governments on a quarterly basis, but Senate Bill 56 established monthly payments. Distributions are to be made on the last day of each month.

Portage County is home to three licensed dispensaries: one in Kent, one in Ravenna and one in Streetsboro.

Kent

The Ohio Department of Taxation released the following figures for Kent, where Bliss is located on East Main Street, next to Kent Municipal Court:

FY 25 Q1 July 1, 2024-Sept. 30, 2024: $9,158.08
FY 25 Q2 Oct. 1, 2024-Dec. 31, 2024: $31,795.11
FY 25 Q3 Jan. 1, 2025-March 31, 2025: $35,306.16
FY 25 Q4 April 1, 2025-June 30, 2025: $43,738.13
FY 26 Q1 July 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2025: $38,610.63
FY 26 Oct. 2025: $13,007.78
FY 26 Nov. 2025: $15,259.52
FY 26 Dec. 2025: $13,475.75
TOTAL: $200,351.16

But, since Kent had not yet received its December 2025 revenue as of Feb. 16, the city’s true take as of that date was $186,875.41, Kent Mayor Jack Amrhein said.

The sum does not appear in the city’s annual budget because it is approved a year in advance and is based on the prior year’s actual income, he said.

“Any marijuana tax revenue received this year is being deposited into the general fund revenue account along with other general revenues. Collectively, those revenues form the basis for developing next year’s budget,” he said.

General fund revenue is largely dedicated to supporting Kent’s police, fire and streets, Amrhein said.

Moving forward, the city will continue its practice of intentionally underestimating revenue so that if collections are lower than anticipated, services are not affected, he said.

“For context, the city’s total 2026 budget is just under $60 million. If marijuana revenue averaged about $14,000 per month (similar to December), that would total roughly $168,000 annually, which is less than 0.3% of the overall budget. At that level, fluctuations up or down would not have a disruptive impact on city finances or services,” he said.

Ravenna

Ravenna’s dispensary, Supergood, opened in September 2024 on North Chestnut Street.

According to the state department of taxation, Ravenna’s unexpected revenue totals $470,707.72:

FY 25 Q1 July 1, 2024-Sept. 30, 2024: $21,834.18
FY 25 Q2 Oct. 1, 2024-Dec. 31, 2024: $74,439.93
FY 25 Q3 Jan. 1, 2025-March 31, 2025: $91,571.97
FY 25 Q4 April 1, 2025-June 30, 2025: $92,224.57
FY 26 Q1 July 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2025: $64,960.22
FY 26 Oct. 2025: $65,169.85
FY 26 Nov. 2025: $31,078.81
FY 26 Dec. 2025: $29,428.19

Characterizing the funds as new and unexpected, Council President Rob Kairis said city lawmakers do not have a specific plan as to how the money may be used.

“Many of us in city government did not expect any money, and we sure did not have a clue it could be so much. As a result, no one planned for this. Whatever plans are established will be discussed in open meetings, so there will be no surprises with how the money ends up getting spent,” he said.

Simple math coupled with future uncertainty means Ravenna residents should support the city’s upcoming ask for a 0.25% income tax hike, Kairis said.

“With an anticipated average tax revenue from marijuana between $27,000 and $28,000 per month, that adds up to about $330,000 annually. The annual debt service on the loan is expected to be between $1.2-$1.3 million. That is a little over a quarter of the amount needed to pay the loan. We would still need to come up with nearly a million dollars each year,” he said.

But that is only half the picture, he said. The city’s ability to sell bonds — which translates to the interest rate Ravenna can get — is determined by the reliability of the revenue stream earmarked to pay the 30-year debt.

“If the dispensary goes out of business, how does the city replace that funding source?” Kairis asked. “It creates greater risk, resulting in a higher interest rate. The higher rate could minimize the benefit of even using dispensary taxes to pay the loan.”

It’s too late to change ballot language now, but should Ravenna’s bid for a 0.25% income tax rate increase fail in the May primary election, city council may consider reducing the percentage rate next time around.

Complicating matters are state lawmakers, who continue to float proposals that would tweak how — or even if — municipalities continue to receive marijuana sales tax revenue, Kairis said.

Ravenna’s Planning Committee, which includes three city council members, on Feb. 17 forwarded a recommendation to city council to renew Ravanna’s temporary moratorium on new dispensaries for six months.

Ravenna’s previous year-long temporary moratorium expired May 5, 2025. The matter will appear on city council’s agenda March 2 as the planning committee continues to explore zoning issues related to marijuana dispensaries.

Streetsboro

Streetsboro’s retail establishment, Ayr Dispensary, opened in March 2025 on state Route 14 near the Ohio Turnpike interchange.

Since then, the Ohio Department of Taxation reports the city’s take as $97,281.39:

FY 25 Q4 April 1, 2025-June 30, 2025: $3,858.26
FY 26 Q1 July 1, 2025-Sept. 30, 2025: $13,253.82
FY 26 Oct. 2025: $52,399.50
FY 26 Nov. 2025: $14,721.13
FY 26 Dec. 2025: $13,048.68

Echoing Kairis, Streetsboro Mayor Glenn Broska said the uncertainty of actual revenue presents a planning challenge.

“We don’t know or can plan for X amount of funding,” he said. “That is the reason why we just put it into the general fund. We did not want earmark to a specific fund and then not receive an expected amount.”

Money in the general fund can be moved where it is needed, he said.

Village of Mantua, Crestwood Local Schools clash over school resource officer hire

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:36:00 GMT

The Village of Mantua has been saying for months that it has hired a full-time school resource officer for Crestwood Local Schools, but school officials aren’t on board.

Crestwood’s Board of Education has not approved Jasmine Villanueva, the village’s pick for an SRO, and does not anticipate doing so, district Superintendent Aireane Curtis said.

In the past, Curtis said the police department has presented her with the names of interested candidates. Her team conducted interviews, chose the candidate they felt most matched their needs and informed the MPD, which conducted background, reference and other qualifications checks. The village shared its information with the school district, which evaluated the data and either hired or rejected the candidate.

That, she said, did not happen this year. Curtis did not respond to The Portager’s question as to how and when the school district was notified that Mantua had hired Villanueva as a full-time SRO.

What is on record is that Villanueva’s application to the MPD is dated Sept. 12, 2025. She listed her position of interest as school resource officer. She interviewed with MPD Sgt. Alfred Gilbert, who on Oct. 1, 2025 recommended that she be hired.

Curtis acknowledged she penned a Nov. 3, 2025, email to the mayor, indicating she and her team had interviewed Villanueva for the SRO position.

“We would like for you to offer Jasmine Villanueva the position of SRO if all of her references and requirements for the village check out,” Curtis wrote. “We did not offer her anything as I know this must go through the village.”

However, when the village failed to share any additional information with the school district, Curtis said she and her team did their own checking. And what they found in Villanueva’s Portage County Sheriff’s Office personnel file concerned them.

Acting MPD Police Chief James Clemens confirmed Villanueva's employment in a Nov. 6 fingerprinting request to the PCSO. According to the state attorney general’s office, Villanueva joined the MPD on Nov. 19, 2025. Clemens authorized her as a full-time SRO Nov. 25, 2025, and village council unanimously approved that appointment during its Dec. 16 session. She was to start her duties the following week.

Neither Clemens nor Mantua Mayor Tammy Meyer responded to The Portager’s question as to whether the information in Villanueva’s PCSO file was cause for concern. Though The Portager attempted to reach Villanueva through the Mantua PD, the mayor’s office and her attorneys, all efforts to reach her were unsuccessful.

What the district found

During her less than four-year tenure with the PCSO, Villanueva amassed a number of disciplinary write-ups, including for reportedly mishandling her service revolver, breaching confidentiality, lying and not fulfilling her duties. Specifically, the file includes:

A Jan 25, 2022, Notice of Disciplinary Action related to her having violated three PCSO policies: completing official reports, report writing and property and evidence security.
A related letter of reprimand rooted in her having “established a pattern of conduct of not completing reports in a timely manner, conducting proper floor up investigations, maintaining accurate records and filing criminal complaints when warranted.”
A January to April 2022 performance review that takes her to task for her social media posts, continued inability to get her reports done independently or in a timely manner, “constant interruptions in the office,” and disinclination to help her colleagues.

The review also notes that Villanueva “still has to be asked by Captain [Mike] Davis to leave the office, do follow-ups and start to conduct some investigations.” It stated that she was disruptive, and that she wasn’t holding her weight or being “a team player.”

Specifically noted in the review is a note that on April 20, 2022, while conducting a field operation in Ravenna, Villanueva unholstered her service revolver and left it within reach of a confidential source who was in the squad car.

The report indicates that Villanueva had been spoken to “on different occasions in reference to the handling and placement of her duty weapon” and this time had, as she had done previously, “attempted to lie several times.”

As of May 2022, Villanueva’s work ethics, work habits and unit performance had not improved, the report notes.

Villanueva was subsequently removed from the PCSO’s Drug and Violent Crime Unit and reassigned to road patrol duty effective May 17, 2022. Her disciplinary record also contains
a June 26, 2022 “Letter of Counseling” citing violation of the PCSO’s sexual harassment policy.

“There have been complaints from some coworkers about you trying to hug them,” the letter stated. "I have been told that you get into their personal space which makes them feel uncomfortable.”

The letter notes that sexual harassment does not need to be sexual in nature, “but unwanted touching could be perceived as such.” Villanueva was informed that if her behavior did not change, disciplinary action would follow.

She was ordered to take training in regard to the PCSO’s sexual harassment policy and to have no similar incidents for 90 days.

Her file also includes references to her having improperly handled evidence found in a victim’s vehicle and having breached confidentiality when she discussed and named informants during a hallway conversation at the county courthouse.

Curtis did not respond to a request about what specifically concerned the district in Villanueva’s background.

“There are some things that don’t line up with what we think would be best for this school,” Curtis said, adding that village leaders are trying to paint the school district in a bad light. “I would say that the school is doing everything in its power to make sure anyone we bring into this district is the right person to put in this district. So we have not made any decisions to hire.”

Sandy Hershberger, mother of two Crestwood grads and grandparent of another, reached out to The Portager to express her concern about the lack of a district SRO. She said she wishes Curtis and the board would choose an acceptable SRO soon.

“There’s no police presence or anything at the school,” she said. “Chardon was a small school, and look what happened in Chardon. It can happen here. It can happen anywhere. There’s crazy people, and I’m just scared for the community and for the children.”

Until an SRO is in place, Hershberger said she worries about response time until first responders arrive on scene.

Villanueva’s complaint against the PCSO

Villanueva left the PCSO in 2024, but was not done with the agency. On Oct. 10, 2025, she filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, alleging that in 2023, when she was assigned to the county courthouse, she was denied requested accommodations for her pregnancy.

A July 10, 2023, document in Villanueva’s personnel file indicates that she was reassigned to second-shift duty at the county jail, effective Aug. 1, 2023, until such time as her medical leave for her pregnancy kicked in.

Her lawsuit, though, states that the PCSO denied her request for accommodations, forcing her to take FMLA leave in early August 2023. Her lawsuit cites discrimination against her on the basis of pregnancy and gender, and that she suffered financial harm due to that discrimination. The PCSO denied culpability in its Dec. 22, 2025, answer to her complaint, and the case remains open.

County roundup: Paris plans to streamline community alerts, plus news from Rootstown

Roger Gordon — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:35:13 GMT

Paris

The Paris Township Trustees approved the use of Savvy Citizen, a free, PA-based, one-way communication app and service that allows local governments, including various townships and boroughs, to send alerts about community events, road closures and important news directly to residents via smartphone notifications, text messages or email.

“We’re in the early stages, but it’s in the works,” township Co-Chair Dave Kemble said. “The app will allow us to share zoning and other important information with our residents. It’s like what you would get when you get a notification on your phone.”

The cost to the township will be a $300 setup fee plus $129 per month.

The township’s annual Spring Cleanup will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 9. Dumpsters will be set up at the Shearer Community Center at 9355 Newton Falls Rd. Residents can bring garbage. There will be some items that will not be accepted. More information to come.

Rootstown

Water Resources will soon be working on a project on Rosalind Drive in Rootstown that will tie a couple of lots into a sewer.

“This is not through the township, but they just wanted to make us aware of it,” township Trustee Dave McIntyre said.

Rootstown Lions Club Chili Cook-off a hit in its fifth year

Abigail Kress — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:34:00 GMT

Community members and businesses across Rootstown Township came together for the Rootstown Township Lions Club 5th Annual Chili Cook Off. The Cook Off is the first fundraising event to start off the Lions Club 2026 efforts. Lions Club is the world’s largest service club with 1.4 million members in over 200 countries. With the mission to serve, to give back to the community, and help those with eyesight issues.

The Lions Club members came up with the Chili Cook Off after trying to revamp the Spaghetti Diner events that most of them grew up on. Abigail Kress/The Portager

Tricia Ligotti, the organizer of the cook off, joined the Lions Club in 2014. “We used
to do spaghetti dinners. Those were kind of antiquated, you know, kind of out of style if you
will. So we were kind of looking for something different,” Ligotti said.

Doug Mathews joined as a contestant with his chili, pictured here, in support of Boy Scout Troop 253. Abigail Kress/The Portager

This year's event saw some new faces, like the Horseshoe Diner, and returning members, like the Rootstown Township High School teachers, who have competed all 5 years, or Boy Scout Troop 253 whose leader, Doug Mathews, is a member of the Lions Club. Mathews has been a contestant for the last 4 years.

The eight contestants this year were: The New Center at NEOMED, The Rootstown Township High School Teachers, Kent State’s Student Dietetic Association, Scout Troop 253, Horseshoe Diner, Arin Morgan, Tantrum Hygenics and Fairhaven Church of Rootstown.

Horseshoe Diner owners Woodie Goodnight and Sue Goodnight, and employee Kasey Taubler, pose with their booth and the White Turkey Chili, a recipe in honor of a deceased family member. Abigail Kress/The Portager

Contestants served up a wide variety of chili, from mild to spicy to different kinds of meats, and even a white turkey chili by Horseshoe Diner. The Owner of Horseshoe Diner, Woodie Goodnight, dedicated the chili in honor of Sue Christian, his daughter-in-law’s mother, who has passed. The recipe came from Christian's cookbook.

Tantrum Hygienics won the People’s Choice and first place at the Chili Cook-Off. Posing with their booth are Jessie Staeger, Erik Staeger, and Trentan Staeger. Abigail Kress/The Portager

The winners of this year’s cook off are Arin Morgan in third place, Kent State’s Student Dietetic Association in second, and Tantrum Hygenics in first Pplace. Tantrum Hygenics came as visitors at last year’s cook-off and had so much fun they decided they had to become contestants.

The funds raised by this event will help fund the Lions Club's Annual Easter Egg hunt for families in the area.

One for the Books: Retelling Greek legends

Mary Louise Ruehr — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:29:00 GMT

Myths are among the world’s oldest stories, and the Greeks had some fantastic tales. These were usually based on the deeds of the gods, who were often mean and sometimes downright horrible. There are plenty of modern retellings of the stories, and I found these three particularly fun.

“I, Medusa” by Ayana Gray is based on one of the first tales of horror. There are several versions of the myth of this monster with snakes instead of hair who, with one look, could turn a person to stone. But here, instead of being a villain, she becomes more sympathetic as the victim of the heartless gods.

As the story begins, “Meddy” is 17, described as having “dark, sun-blazed skin” with curly locks of hair. She lives on a Mediterranean island with her two older sisters and her parents, who are minor sea gods. Her sisters are immortal, but for some reason she’s mortal. “Her father is a god, and if she knows anything about gods, it is that they care little for mortals and less for mortal plights.” All three girls, who are bored with the island and can’t wait to leave it, are now old enough for marriage, and their parents throw a big party to invite prospective suitors. Unfortunately, one of the major Olympian gods shows an unhealthy interest in Meddy, and she’s too naive to understand what he’s up to.

The goddess Athena takes teenage Meddy under her wing as a priestess-in-training at her temple in Athens, where the girl finds friends in her fellow trainees, but where she also makes stupid decisions because of her innocence.

I really enjoyed this book, with its solid adventure and characters to love and hate. It was interesting to see how the author chose to explain Medusa’s snake “hair.” There’s also a short glossary of Greek names. Quote to remember: “That’s the curious thing about monsters. The worst ones don’t bother hiding in the dark.”

“The Women of Artemis” by Hannah Lynn tells the legend of the rise of the Amazons — women warriors — and how one woman became their queen. A warning: There’s one really heroic male character, but most men do not come off well!

Otrera was given in marriage at only age 12 to a brute who beat and abused her. “As his wife, I was also his property,” she says, and every day she wonders “how close he would come to breaking my bones this time.” She’s 18 now, married six years and sort of used to his abuse. But one day he comes home and orders her to pack: He has gambled away all their money and belongings and their home, forcing a move to what’s basically a slum for people who have nothing. And get this: He blames her!

There’s nowhere for her husband to work in the new village, so he tells her she’s the one who must find money, if only by selling her body. “You are mine to do with as I choose. You serve no purpose as a wife. ... Perhaps you can be of use to me this way.” She is saved by the woman who owns the tannery, who employs only women. It seems all the village’s married women are bruised or limping from being beaten. “And these were not small wounds either,” we’re told. “The husbands here do nothing but drink away the money their wives earn. There is not a good soul among them.”

Otrera learns to use weapons to hunt for food and to defend herself, eventually teaching the other women, and the women make plans to eliminate the threat of their husbands.

This is a wonderful read, with strong female characters. I think men will enjoy the adventure and see themselves in the one good guy, not in the bad husbands. Oh, and there’s a sweet subplot about taming wild horses. Warning: There’s violence. And the abuse of the women is hard to read, but keep going. They have their comeuppance!

“Circe” by Madeline Miller has been around awhile, but it’s still a favorite with book clubs. I just got around to reading it myself. A good friend of mind found it dull, but I thought it was great, probably because of my longtime love of legends and folklore.

Circe is a goddess, the witch of Homer’s “The Odyssey.” She is the immortal daughter of the sun god, Helios. One day when she’s a child, he lets her ride the chariot with him, she says, “on his daily path over the earth. I leaned over the chariot’s jeweled side, watching in wonder at the earth passing beneath: the rich green of forests, the jagged mountains, and the wide out-flung blue of the ocean.”

When she gets older and dares to use her magic, she’s banished to a deserted island forever — which, for an immortal, is literally forever — and this story spans thousands of years in her life. On her island, she raises animals and practices her magic. For a long time, she’s alone, but eventually others arrive (including Odysseus), with mixed outcomes.

Circe herself is a well-rounded character, and Miller brings many of the others to life, as well. This is a good read for men and women both, with adventure, magic, power struggles, and so many intertwined myths. But let me suggest you have access to a search engine or a Kindle, where you can instantly find references to the Greek names. It can really make a difference.

Happy reading!

Portage County obituaries for Feb. 20-22, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:28:00 GMT

Leslie H. Nering

Leslie H. Nering, age 84, passed away peacefully, on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Living Legacy in Fairlawn, Ohio. He was born on February 8, 1942 to the late Edith and Henry Nering of Cleveland, Ohio and was a lifelong resident of Kent and Brimfield, Ohio.

In addition to his parents, Leslie was preceded in death by his brother Russel Nering, and his beloved wife, Barbara Nering.

He is survived by his son, Michael L. Nering (and his partner Luz Bay), and their children Lucas and Lina; his daughter, Michelle Culley, and her children Maya, Aliayh, and Liam; as well as his sister-in-law, DeVonna Howell of Florida.

Les was an auto mechanic by trade. He owned and operated Nering's Auto Repair for many years, specializing in repairs of the popular Volkswagen cars. If you had a Volkswagen in Kent in the 70s, or 80s chances are Les kept it on the road for you. He also operated many gas stations in town during a bygone time when the attendant would not only pump your gas and clean your windshield but would also offer to check the air pressure in your tires.

In his retirement, Les enjoyed making model airplanes. He would design the planes, craft them out of balsa wood, hand paint the details and then fly them from the end of control lines. His attention to detail and love of the hobby gained him some notoriety in the field. He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.

In honoring his wishes, Les will be cremated and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

To Share a Memory, Send Flowers, or Light a Candle, please visit the Tribute Wall at www.bisslerandsons.com.

Douglas Alexander Dix

Douglas A. Dix, 64, passed away unexpectedly on February 8, 2026.

Doug was born at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron on April 10, 1961 to the late Dr. Harlan & Janet Dix and was a 1979 graduate of Cuyahoga Falls High School. He graduated from Kent State University with a degree in accounting, earned his CPA in 1993, and operated his own accounting practice, Dix and Associates. He was a longtime faithful member of the Victory Baptist Church in Brimfield.

Doug was an outstanding wrestler at Cuyahoga Falls High School placing 5th in the state as junior and 3rd his senior year. He went on to study and wrestle at William and Mary College and became a Captain of the wrestling team. His goal of becoming an All-American was forfeited in the spring of his junior year after a freak accident playing volleyball left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He felt helpless for some time and he wrestled with the idea of just calling it quits, but God had other plans for Doug. With the help of caretakers and well placed advisors, Doug was able to finish college at Kent State with an Accounting degree, and was the first quadriplegic in the State to pass the CPA exam. During that time Doug surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, and for more than forty years continued to witness from his wheel chair and inspire others to rise and seek a relationship with our Lord and Savior. "Well done, good and faithful servant....Enter into the joy of your master." Mathew 25:21

In addition to his parents, Doug was preceded in death by his sister-in-law Cathy Dix. He is survived by his siblings Bondie (Reid) Hankin, Emmett Clinton (Janet) Dix, Lesley Ann (John) Glase, John Dix, Amy (Tom) Haught & Katy (Gary) Brahler, along with a host of nieces & nephews. He is also survived by many caregivers, including Brian Berry, Barry Whitaker, Pat Jones, Kay Stump, Heather and Dave Brown, Melanie Lambert & Rob Gundlach.

A Celebration of Doug's life will be held on February 21, 2026, at 12 pm, at Redemption Chapel, 3900 Kent Rd. Stow, OH 44224.

Linda L. Dotson

Linda L. Dotson, 88, of Ravenna, with her loving family by her side, passed away at her home on February 17, 2026.

April Dawn Smith

April Dawn Smith (Wynn) 57 of Ravenna, Ohio Born March 23, 1968 in Warren Ohio to George H. Wynn Jr. and Carol Jean Wynn (Guthrie) both deceased.

David Michael Brode

David Michael Brode went to be with Jesus on February 13, 2026. He died peacefully in his sleep at his "happy place," at home in Venice, Florida.

Grazers Restaurant in Kent to hold farewell open house before closing for good

Jeremy Brown — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:49:00 GMT

Grazers Restaurant in Kent will permanently close on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The one-of-a-kind eatery at 123 N. Water St. was established by Carl Bauer and Stacey Lasher in the summer of 2015. The restaurant catered to those looking for a healthy meal and worked directly with customers who had specific food allergies or orders from their doctor to make them something that fit their needs.

Grazers will be open on Feb. 22, the two-year anniversary of Bauer’s passing, for a farewell open house and a celebration of Bauer’s life.

Bauer and Lasher were elementary school teachers at the Edge Academy in Akron when they got to know each other and discovered that they both put themselves through college working in restaurants. He had been a cook, and she had worked the front end. Upon further discussion, they learned that they both had food allergies. Bauer was allergic to poultry, which could cause an anaphylactic reaction, and Lasher is allergic to monosodium glutamate.

Grazers offered several vegetables and toppings for their customers to choose from. Jeremy Brown/The Portager

“I’d go to a restaurant and say, ‘Does this have MSG,’ and people would be like, ‘No, no,’ and then I’d end up getting sick,” Lasher said. “So, we commiserated about how difficult it was to eat out. At the end of the year we said, we should open a restaurant where everyone could eat: people who were vegan, people who were vegetarian, people who have gluten intolerances, celiac disease, people who can’t have food preservatives, like me. It would be somewhere where people could come and be, I feel comfortable saying I have this food issue; can you accommodate me? And we would say, yes, that’s what we’re here for.”

With Lasher's skill of running the front end of a restaurant and Bauer's love of cooking, they knew they would make a great team, so they took a school year to talk about and plan the opening of their restaurant. In 2014, Bauer and Lasher were at the Kent Farmers’ Market when they noticed a for-lease sign in the window at 425 Franklin St., so they inquired. That became their first location.

They quit their teaching jobs and spent about a year remodeling the space and creating recipes for the menu. Grazers opened for business on Aug. 15, 2015, the exact day they would have returned to their teaching jobs. While they never did return to their school as teachers, that year, they catered the teachers meeting before school started, which Lasher said was a sign that they were doing the right thing by opening a restaurant.

Grazers served tailored bowls, wraps, salads, baked potatoes and pitas, which customers could top with their choice of several healthy toppings, including a broad array of vegetables, meats, tofu, falafel, vegan bean chili and more.

Carl Bauer and Stacey Lasher accepting their award for Kent Area Chamber of Commerce small business persons of the year at the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce in 2023. Submitted photo.

The restaurant quickly became a hit with customers and won awards every year since its opening. In 2023, Bauer and Lasher were elected small business persons of the year and were honored at a Kent Area Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony.

Kevin Dreslinski was one of their first customers. He was working in downtown Kent when, on a lunch break, he decided to scout around for a place to eat. He discovered Grazers and quickly became friends with Bauer and Lasher.

“I was working for a small start-up software company that was located above the Pufferbelly,” Dreslinski said. “I was exploring different restaurants, and I came into their restaurant. They were really good people; I could tell right off the bat. I just wanted to help them out and build them a new website, just to kind of help them get their business established. I believed in them; I always did. I was thrilled that they took a good amount of their retirement savings to start up that company, and they had the drive for it.”

Carl Bauer and Stacey Lasher at their food wagon at Oktoberfest in 2023. Submitted photo.

In 2016, Bauer and Lasher began negotiations with Aramark to establish a Grazers at the Kent State University Student Center. Dreslinski continued to help them by offering his assistance with managerial expertise, and he also designed computer menus for the new Kent State location and helped set up that location, as well as the Water Street location. The location at the university opened on Aug. 28, 2017.

Eventually, Bauer and Lasher decided they couldn’t lose Dreslinski, so they hired him in a managerial position.

“I helped train over 70 or 80 employees on how to do food service handling, the specific food allergies, mostly college students. It was an enormously awesome time,” Dreslinski said. “I learned so much about teamwork and believing in people. The big thing with Stacey and Carl and I, we would always have this idea that we are here to make the restaurant successful, but we are also here to be mentors to our staff, and we really believed very strongly in that, so we took that to heart. I even ran into one of our former employees and she said, ‘You know, you guys were actually mentoring me for life.’ And that was always our mission.”

Dreslinski parted ways with Grazers in 2019 and took a job as a dog trainer, but he remained good friends with Bauer and Lasher.

Greg Wood, who has been dining at Grazers since its Franklin Street location, also became good friends with Bauer and Lasher. Wood had a heart attack five years ago.

“They cook in a manner that was positive for me, because I had some health issues, and I found a doctor that gave me a food program, and they pretty much accommodated it,” Wood said. “I’m a pain to go to a restaurant with because I ask a million questions, and then I end up not being able to eat; I’d have to take my own salad dressing, because I don’t eat any oil. Oil’s bad for me. I’m a strict vegan, and Grazers is one of the few restaurants I can eat in. You can have a baked potato with chili on top, and you can have carrots, red, yellow and orange peppers and red onions. There’s always been a variety of things, and if I wanted to experiment I always could. I’m going to be sad to see Grazers leaving.”

Carl Bauer in the hospital in 2024. Submitted photo

Bauer had opened his own restaurant when he was 22, but complications from a heart attack led him to close the business. About nine years ago, he was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that causes abnormal antibodies to attack blood cells and vessel linings, which causes blood clots. On his birthday on Dec. 27, 2019, he received a pacemaker. Bauer’s health took a turn for the worse in February of 2024. He died that month, at 5:55 am on Feb. 22.

It was then that Lasher realized that it would be difficult to run Grazers without Bauer. He had put his heart into the eatery and, without him, Lasher was overwhelmed. Her philosophy is to never make a decision after a traumatic experience, so she waited over a year until she decided she’d have to close the restaurant.

Lasher said Bauer loved angel numbers, which are numbers that repeat, are sequential or are patterned.

“I said to him before he died, what angel numbers are you going to send, so that I know that you’re with me,” Lasher said. “After he died, I was crying and driving to the Restaurant Depot, and I said, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to do this,’ and I pulled up behind a car and the license plate said 555. And I said, ‘He's with me.’”

Lasher has decided to spend the next year writing a book about Grazers and the people that surrounded her and Bauer in their endeavor to bring healthy food to the Kent community. She will post updates about her book on the Grazers Restaurant Legacy Facebook page, and she wants friends and customers to comment on the page about their favorite meals, memories and stories about Grazers, so she can share those details in her book.

Stacey Lasher interacts with customers on Feb. 17, 2026. One of Lashers favorite jobs at Grazers was making friends with the customers. Jeremy Brown/The Portager

“This is not another sad story about a local restaurant going out of business,” Lasher said. “We’ve been a valued part of the Kent community for 10 and a half years, and we have plenty of loyal customers. Closing is a choice I’m making because running Grazers after Carl's passing has been difficult, both emotionally and physically. That’s what I want people to know about Grazers.”

County judge says commissioners aren’t giving the court enough space

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:47:00 GMT

Portage County Domestic Relations Court Judge Paula Giulitto on Feb. 17 filed a judgement entry against the county commissioners, alleging they have failed to provide the DR Court with sufficient space to do its job.

Giulitto has set an April 30 deadline for the county commissioners to either identify an existing facility to house the county’s DR Court or locate a site where a suitable facility can be built. Judgement entries carry the weight of a court order.

The commissioners have until May 29 to solicit architecture bids for the project. If an existing building can be found, the DR Court must be in it by May 29, 2027, her order states. If not, a new facility must be constructed by Dec. 1, 2027.

Citing the Ohio Supreme Court, the judgement entry states that as early as 1842, county commissioners have legally been required to provide “a suitable place for the holding of the courts” and “all things coupled with the administration of justice” within the county.

The DR Court is currently housed in the county courthouse at 203 West Main St., Ravenna. It handles annulments, dissolutions, divorces, legal separation, domestic violence, dating violence, custody disputes, enforcement actions, parenting time and child and spousal support cases, any or all of which might involve civil domestic violence protection orders.

It also handles visitation cases, which involve visitation for someone other than parents; parentage actions, which involve unmarried litigants who have a child; and Uniform Interstate Family Support Act cases, which involve cases where an out-of-state litigant is seeking child support or enforcement of a child support order.

Giulitto and three magistrates share the DR Court’s three small courtrooms. Lawyers, witnesses and clients crowd into three small meeting rooms, and sometimes utilize two more multifunction rooms.

“There’s four hearing officers and there’s two parties and many times more to each case, which means there could be up to eight or more parties being present at any time, not including parties showing up for the next scheduled hearing," she said.

Size is important when one considers the emotionally charged nature of the DR Court’s cases.

“It's our paramount concern to keep everyone safe, first of all, and sometimes that can be challenging, given the space constraints and lack of rooms,” she said. “There's not enough space insofar as the courtrooms, and there's not enough meeting rooms to safely put litigants, to be able to place litigants while they're waiting to go into the courtroom and have private conversations with counsel.”

Leaning on a “space needs assessment” the National Center for State Courts issued to the county commissioners in April 2024, Giulitto said the DR Court needs four courtrooms, all of them large enough for safety.

Now, “it's logistically very difficult for the parties to safely be able to be present in the courtroom and move about the courtroom, if necessary, to get to the witness stand,” she said.

The report also identified the need for 14 meeting/multifunction rooms and additional office space.

“Right now, we have 13 individuals. We need at least one or two more staff members, but quite frankly, we have no space to even give them an office,” Giulitto said.

Any new structure would have to take into account the county’s potential growth and needs, she said.

The commissioners did take her through two prospective buildings, but one was about the same size as the DR Court’s current space, and the commissioners elected not to proceed with the second one, she said.

Giulitto said she feels filing the court order was necessary given the lack of progress the commissioners have made in resolving the court’s need for “necessary and reasonable space.”

Citing ongoing litigation, Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett declined comment. Commissioners Mike Tinlin and Jill Crawford did not respond to requests for comment.

Multiple informal and formal requests

Giulitto’s judgement entry cites her multiple requests, two requisitioned studies and details five years of her efforts to secure sufficient space.

“After informal requests over many months, in 2021, the DR Court formally requested that the Portage County Commissioners provide suitable space for the operation of the DR Court as the allotted space was not suitable, safe, or sufficient," Giullitto wrote.

The commissioners failed to fund renovations and expansions for the DR Court’s space, even after a 2021 feasibility, she stated.

On April 21, 2022, the commissioners stated in writing that they had prioritized finding “adequate, sufficient, and appropriate” space for the DR Court.

In June 2023, the DR Court asked the Ohio Supreme Court to assess the “suitability and security of the DR Court’s current space.” The OSC on Sept. 20, 2023 issued a report identifying “multiple significant defects and safety and security issues related to the insufficient space allocated to the DR Court, confirming that the space was not suitable for the Court’s needs,” Giullitto wrote.

The commissioners responded by asking the National Center for State Courts to approve a “space needs assessment” in October of 2023. Its final report, issued April 24, 2024, also identified “multiple significant defects and concerns,” confirming what the commissioners already knew, the judgement entry states.

Continuing to assert that the DR Court needs additional space to operate, Giulitto had repeatedly met with the commissioners for the past five years, her judgment entry states. She also wrote that during a November 2024 meeting, the commissioners acknowledged that their only option was to build a new structure to house the DR Court because they had not been able to find a suitable facility available for purchase.

The DR Court on Nov. 21, 2024, presented the commissioners with a proposal to build a facility on county-owned land near the courthouse, noting that it would be “readily accessible to the public.”

As of Feb. 17, the commissioners have not responded to the proposal, identified an alternate suitable facility, advised the DR Court of its intention to resolve the matter, “or advised the DR Court of its intentions generally,” the judgement entry states.

And that, Giulitto concluded, equates to the commissioners’ “ongoing breach of legal duty to provide the DR Court with a reasonably necessary and suitable place to conduct the business of the Court.”

Documenters: Ravenna Township Trustees meeting for Feb. 17, 2026

Noell Wolfgram Evans — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:46:00 GMT

There was a brief delay to the start of the Ravenna Township Trustee regular meeting on Feb. 17 as some technical items in the trustee’s meeting room were worked through. After monitors were reconfigured, Trustee Hank Gibson-Lampley called the meeting to order.

In attendance were Gibson-Lampley, Trustee Vince Coia, Trustee Kristi Blazek-Hack, Fiscal Officer Gail Pittman, Assistant Fiscal Officer Jon Summers, Fire Chief Abbie Buday, Zoning Inspector Lori Rotondo and Road Superintendent Ray Taylor.

After welcoming guests, Gibson-Lampley asked for an approval of the minutes from the special meeting held on Feb. 11. Coia and Blazek-Hack voted to approve the minutes, while Gibson-Lampley abstained.

Next, a motion was made to approve payroll warrants in the amount of $58,946.44 and additional payments totalling $43,904.57. Both payment needs were approved under unanimous consent.

Moving into the reports from trustees, Gibson-Lampley said he had been in contact with Allen Drain to look at the grease trap. He also wanted them to look into the backflow issue, but decided that they should wait to hear from the city first.

He also stated that he spoke with the attorney regarding the Westwood Village property. The attorney believes there is a possibility that the township will be able to be at least partly reimbursed for their work at that location.

Coia shared an update on a $2 million neighborhood grant. The hope is that it will pay for about two-thirds of the hookups to the sewer lines in the allotted area. He also said he has been working on the township dinner, which will be held in August. Space has been reserved at the Elks and a caterer has been procured.

Coia stated he is still working on the needs for the flagpole. He is reaching out to another company regarding the work that needs to be done and hopes they can use the initial report for their estimate.

Gibson-Lampley next invited firefighter Jimmy Crevar to speak. He was there to show the trustees the intubation device that the department currently uses. Crevar said it’s a good device, but the manufacturer has discontinued it and replacement parts could no longer be acquired. Buday shared that she would be asking for funding for a replacement later in the meeting.

Buday next said that the department recently received a refund check in the amount of $2,745.60 for payroll software that was not used. She also reported that the department was not awarded a grant from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

“I asked, and apparently we were just good enough to not qualify for it,” Buday said.

Resident Chris Untrauer then addressed those in attendance. She was representing the Veteran’s Grave Marker Project and wanted to provide an update on their efforts. They have covered 16 cemeteries in Portage County, as well as one in Geauga and Summit. To date, they have identified 130 markers that need to be or have been placed. She offered special thanks to Taylor for his help and announced a fundraiser being planned for May 2.

“We applaud your effort and we’ll do whatever we can to support you,” Gibson-Lampley said.

Taylor next provided his report. He recently attended a county-wide meeting on stormwater, which he found educational. He came out of it with some resources that he would like to put on the township website for residents to access. He also asked for a resolution to maintain the agreement with the Portage County engineering office for issuing right-of-way work permits. The resolution was read and approved without comment.

Eagle Eye Roofing will be out on the 26th to look at the roof of the township building, which has holes, cracks and pilling, all leading to leaks, Taylor said. He also obtained a quote of $4,630.60 for repairs for their excavator. Nearly $1,000 of that comes from transportation costs, because the township does not have a trailer capable of hauling the equipment to the shop. Taylor had spoken with other townships to see if something could be borrowed, but no one had a trailer of the needed size. After some discussion, Taylor is going to look at rental options and see what the city might have.

In the past two weeks, he reported, there have been two burials and one cremation interment at Grandview Cemetery. Looking ahead, in the next two weeks, the garage door will be repaired and the trimming of trees will begin.

To start her zoning report, Rotondo said she recently found out that there are 104 businesses in the township and 4,380 housing units. She then announced she had sent a letter to the township building’s neighbor regarding their connection to the storm drain.

Rotondo shared that she issued permits for two new Ryan Homes being built, sent a violation letter to 6220 Wall St. for an unlicensed vehicle, and that an appeal was filed by the owner of 6766 Peck concerning the fence variance request.

The next zoning commission meeting will be held on March 4.

Pittman took a moment to express concerns over court costs that the township was paying in zoning cases. She believes that the costs should have been paid by the defendants and that attorney action/inaction was the root cause. Rotondo did not disagree. After some discussion, Coia agreed to raise the issue with the prosecutor’s office.

Buday then asked for permission to attend two training events. The first is a free L105 event in Trumbull County and the second is an officer development series training in Worthington at a cost of $125. Both requests were approved. She also let the trustees know that she was asked by the Head Start school on Chestnut to read to students as part of the “Read Across America” program.

The fire department was approved unanimously to purchase new intubation scopes from King Video Scopes at a cost of $4,007.50. The trustees also provided approval to have their turnout washer serviced.

The next agenda item was for new business. Coia said he would be attending the Portage County Township Association dinner on the 21st and the prosecutor's dinner at the Kent State University Hotel on the 25th.

Blazek-Hack and Coia both attended a conference in Columbus where the governor spoke. The big question coming out of the conference was around property tax changes and how much that will end up leading to increased sales and income taxes.

Coia asked Taylor how many headstones had been run over by mowers. Three and one bench, Taylor remarked, and some discussion was then had as to how to avoid those issues this year. Coia also asked Taylor if the standing water outside of the mausoleum might be contributing to the water coming up inside of the structure. Taylor said he would take a look.

Pittman then requested an executive session to discuss employment matters.

At 8:27 p.m., the regular meeting was suspended.

Around Randolph: Imagining futures

Sandy Engle — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:45:00 GMT

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” Aristotle Balken Young

After having lost three loved ones, Chastity Baldwin felt like a shell of herself. A heavy fog filled her which made daily living and parenting joyless. All she wanted was to feel joy. After a challenging day she asked God to help and said she would do anything he asked of her. The response that came forth was not what she expected. However, she followed through and started Waterloo Community Helping Hands (WCHH) along with Jodi and Colleen to support the residents of Randolph and Atwater. Her first project was stocking a supply closet at Waterloo schools to provide free school supplies. Next, she linked local youth with seniors who needed help with raking leaves, weeding, or snow shoveling. Last spring WCHH organized an arts and crafts show and the profits went towards purchasing comfortable chairs for the senior center and paying for a senior luncheon.

Last fall, a tragic incident at Waterloo High School left Chastity grief-stricken. She contacted Representative Heidi Workman, who calmly listened to Chastity’s concerns. Now, Heidi and Chastity frequently converse regarding ways to help teens be more resilient and by engaging in service work Chastity has rediscovered joy!

To learn how WCHH is expanding, please attend the public meeting on March 3, at 6 p.m. at Atwater Community Church.

Waterloo seniors can pick up an application for a WCHH Community Service scholarship in the High School Guidance Counselor’s Office.

Local happenings

Proceeds from a soup fundraiser https://fundraising.happyvalleysoupcompany.com/?fund=704 will help pay for an uplifting Waterloo mural that is designed by University of Akron art students.

The Community Yard Sale will be May 15-17. Call or text WCHH at 330-808-3199 to have your sale listed with the community map

Spring into Health is on March 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Randolph Community Center. This free event is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of farmers and gardeners. With support from Heron Hill Farm, Portage County Beekeepers Association, and Dirt-road Organizing there will be five speakers. At 11 a.m. Bill Pleucker, farmer and Maine State Representative, will be sharing what the state of Maine is doing to Protect Pollinators and Farmers. From 12:30-1:30 p.m. share your concerns and suggestions with Representative Heidi Workman, County Auditor-Matt Kelly and other elected officials. At 1:30 p.m. Scott Myers, who has a degree in Agriculture Finance and farms 2500 acres, will speak on Regenerating Farms, Families and Communities. From 3-4 p.m., Megan & Mike Massoli and Jared Phillip will speak on growing and marketing with humor and joy. Food for purchase will be available thanks to Wagler’s Food Truck and Portage County Master Gardeners.

Randolph Easter Egg Hunt— March 29th, 1 p.m. at the Randolph Fire Department.

Randolph and Marlboro Historical Societies will meet on March 19, 6 p.m. at the Randolph Townhall

Randolph Ladies Cemetery Association— March 4, Noon at the Randolph Senior Center. New members are welcome.

Randolph Garden Club— March 16 at 6 p.m. at the Randolph Senior Center. Kara Bond will be presenting “Growing Mushrooms.”

Township Trustee Meetings at 6 p.m. at the Randolph Senior Center on 2/26,3/12, 3/26

Randolph Library events

Winter Family Storytime-Tuesdays 11-noon
Winter Baby & Toddler Storytime-Weds 11-noon
How to do research, 2/21, 11-noon
Gardening for kids, 2/24,4-5 p.m.
Kitemaking for kids/tweens, 2/26, 4-5 p.m.
Teen Art Jam, 2/28, 1-2 p.m.
True Crime Club, 3/3, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Wonder Women Trivia for kids/tween, 3/7, 1-2 p.m.
Book Bingo Bonanza, 3/9, 11-noon
Randolph Book Club for adults, 3/10, 5:30-7 p.m.
Acrylic Paint Party for tweens/kids, 3/12, 2-3 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Party for kids, 3/17, 4-5 p.m.
Computer class for adults, 3/17, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Spring Slime Time for kids, 3/18, 4-5 p.m.
Watercolor Workshop for teens, 3/19, 4-5 p.m.

What if we can elicit change? Rob Hopkins, author of From What Is to What If asks us to ponder questions such as: What if we followed nature’s lead? What if schools nurtured imagining healthy vibrant futures? What if our community could grow the majority of its food? In 2014 Leige, a small town in Belgium asked this last question and within 4 years 14 food cooperatives, a mushroom farm, a seed saving coop, a brewery and 2 vineyards were established!

On March 21st from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Randolph Community Center you have the opportunity to share your concerns, suggestions and 'What If' questions with your elected officials. You may be amazed at how much can be accomplished with imagination and working with those who represent us. Personally, I’m talking with my township trustees about “What if we could help our youth eat healthier by installing an edible food forest at one of our playgrounds?” What If….

“It is easy to pretend that nobody can change anything, that we are in a world in which society is huge and the individual is less than nothing. But the truth is, individuals change their world over and over, individuals make the future, and they do it by imagining things can be different.” Neil Gaiman

For news, events, stories you want to share call or text 330 -569-4801. Thanks!

Rooted Ramblings: To prune or not to prune? That is... not the question!

Master Gardener Volunteers — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:44:00 GMT

Story and photos by Al Barber, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer

Many homeowners do not know when or how to prune— so they don’t. Not pruning is a big mistake. We may think it is wrong to remove healthy growth, but just the opposite is true. If you want to minimize disease and insect pressure during the growing season without pesticides, then proper pruning is a must. But what is proper pruning? Let’s explore the when, why, and how of pruning.

When to Prune: Physiological Considerations

The best time to prune is in late winter and early spring, while plants are dormant and before buds start to swell and open. This is when plants have plenty of stored energy, are ready to grow, and the possibility of freeze damage is lowest.

Avoid pruning in late summer and early fall because new growth is encouraged that cannot mature enough to withstand winter freezes or early fall frost. Pruning in late fall or early winter will keep wounds open until spring, inviting desiccation.

Why prune?

Proper pruning helps keep plants attractive and vigorous and will add years to the plant’s usefulness.

Prune to maintain plant health. Remove dead, damaged or diseased plant tissue to maintain plant health and vigor. Pruning fruit-bearing plants improves airflow reducing disease damage. Proper pruning also reduces fruit load and improves fruit quality and size.
Prune to remove misshapen, crowded and rubbing branches and branches with narrow crotch angles
Prune to increase flowering and fruiting. More lower buds will be formed for the following season if old flowers are removed when they lose their attractiveness, a practice called deadheading.
Prune to train plants to a particular size or shape, including hedge and espalier forms.
Prune to rejuvenate old, overgrown shrubs and restore plant density, shape and vigor.

The How: Proper pruning techniques

First, remove all broken, dead and diseased limbs. Next, remove vertical water sprouts and crossover branches or branches that rub together. Cuts should be made just outside the swollen branch collar, which is where wound healing begins. Take care not to damage the bark around the pruning cut. Don’t wiggle pruning tools to cut into a branch too large for the tools. Wrong-sized, incorrect or dull tools will either leave jagged cuts or ruin pruning tools. Never leave a stub. Stubs produce weak stem suckers and provide a place for pests and diseases to attack. Do not paint or tar pruning cuts. Painting is an ineﬀective practice that does not provide any plant health benefit, interferes with the plant’s own wound defense system, and does not deter insects or diseases.

For more information see the links below:

PB1619-Pruning Landscape Trees, Shrubs and Groundcovers: The University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Picture Perfect Pruning: Tools, Timing and Cuts

Portage County obituaries for Feb. 18-19, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:44:00 GMT

George Roger Pricher

George Roger Pricher, age 84 of Atwater, Ohio, passed peacefully on February 6, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Alice Pricher and his sister Faith Landaker.

John A. Nicolino

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of John Anthony Nicolino, who went home peacefully on February 1, 2026, at the age of 82.

Janah L. Littler

Janah L. Littler, 37, of Parkman Township passed away at home on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and was welcomed into the loving arms of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Janet Bondick

Janet Bondick 83 of Streetsboro passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2026 surrounded by her loving family.

Michael Charles Leymon

Michael “Mike” Charles Leymon, age 68 of Mogadore went home to be with the Lord on February 15, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born on March 18, 1957 to the late Jack and Wavelene Leymon.

Crestwood schools stop livestreams in light of AI

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:57:00 GMT

Citing concerns about artificial intelligence, Crestwood’s Board of Education has pulled the plug on its livestreams.

Crestwood Local Schools Superintendent Aireane Curtis said she and district Treasurer Katie Hoffmeister attended a June 2025 meeting of area administrators where an attendee said their voice had been cloned to send out a fake message to staff.

“The superintendent that was scammed was in the room,” Curtis said. “He was tipped off by, luckily, a very smart staff member who called him and said, ‘Why are you asking me for this personal information?’”

Concerned that district superintendents and treasurers are being targeted, Curtis said she discussed her concerns with Crestwood board members last summer.

The board’s minutes — which Ohio law stipulates are the only official record of its proceedings — reflect no mention of such a conversation in June, July or August of 2026. (Audio recordings are considered transitory, or unofficial, documents.)

The Portager reached out to Curtis to ask if future board minutes will be more complete, but received no reply.

The board in October of 2025 agreed to end meeting livestreams as of January of 2026. The board will revisit its decision in April, taking community feedback into account, she said.

With years of livestreams already published and the policy not prohibiting meeting attendees from making their own audio/visual recordings, the board’s attempt to thwart AI may have limited effectiveness.

“I don’t think you can prevent it,” county IT Director Cameron Singer said. “Realistically, a 30-second conversation is enough to pick up a voice tone to understand how somebody speaks. It just takes somebody willing to do it.”

Also, any board member or school official who has a social media account, or who shows up on someone else’s social media account, is unwittingly creating visual and perhaps audio fodder for deep fakes, he said.

“Depending on what the bad actor would want to do, realistically if those social media profiles are public, all you’d need is to find out the board members’ names, and then you can go search Facebook or social media profiles, and then from there, you have all the imagery you’d want. If they have videos out there, it's easy to build their voices,” he said.

It is possible to delete YouTube videos, but they can still be found via cached pages, archived copy or saved reference searches.

Curtis did not respond to The Portager’s request for a response to Singer’s comments.

Documenters: Streetsboro City Schools Board of Education meeting for Feb. 12, 2026

Julie Erickson — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:56:00 GMT

Streetsboro City Schools Board of Education meeting
Feb. 12, 2026

Board member attendees: Tracy Campbell, Tonia Epple, Kristina Mattmuller, Kelly Rich, Sara Scott

The meeting commenced at 5:45 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comments
No comments made.

Approval of Minutes
Minutes were approved from Jan. 13, 2026, and Feb. 3, 2026, organizational and regular meetings.

Superintendent’s Report
Brett McCann provided a district report card update. In two years, 2022 and 2023, the district closed the gap of -9% to state average math scores.
The district continued to climb in performance with a significant jump in years 2024 and 2025 with a 6.2% jump in performance index that ranks the district 10th in the state of Ohio for most improved performance index.

The Streetsboro school district is one of two districts in the state where every eligible school in the district received a five-star rating.

Patrick Griffis, principal of Streetsboro High School, along with student peer tutors Avery Hunt, Ali Gigax and Hazel Schoenherr, presented the Student Peer Program, in which 18 tutors provided tutoring to 41 students. Students can be recommended by a teacher to the program or by the parent of a student. The program has been very successful in providing one-on-one tutoring or small-group tutoring.

Graduation 2026 update: plans are under way for a back-up in case of inclement weather that would prevent an outdoor ceremony in the stadium. Currently, the graduation ceremony will be held on May 19 in the stadium, with May 20 as a potential reschedule date for an indoor or outdoor ceremony.

Treasurer’s Report
A general fund review was provided along with a forecast for the future and a complaint against valuation. The general fund in January is low, which trends with previous years. By year 2028, a negative $900,000 cash balance is projected, but the plan is to have this change to basically a positive by cost reductions and other measures.

A complaint against valuation is under consideration, as in 2025, seven businesses sold at a higher valuation than their appraised valuation. By filing a complaint, it would allow the district to argue that the value be increased to the board of revision. The total increase over appraised value for the seven properties is $242,783.

Chief Business Officer’s Report
C.J. Scarcipino, working with the Streetsboro Fire Department, was able to get the required school door inspections to be, going forward, no charge.

Food Services provided a Sushi Day that was appreciated by the high school students.

It was shared that agenda agreements with Cintas, various rental agreements, fertilization agreements and approval to secure bids for purchase of buses would be voted on as part of the consent agenda.

Board reports
Rich shared that she had visited Maplewood and was impressed with the facility and the courses being offered there. Scott said now is the time to get senior applications in for review for scholarships available. Mattmuller shared the many recent successes of the boys and girls sports teams. Campbell advised of scheduled contact with both the mayor’s office and the PTO.

Consent Agenda Items
Items approved were the financial reports as submitted for January, the 2026-2027 curriculum guide, a College Credit Plus agreement, designated employee leave of absence, designated employee FMLA, the retirement of two employees, hiring of stated new employees, the treasurer’s recommendation of complaint against valuation of real property, the spring 2026 financial forecast, approval to solicit and submit bus bids, facility agreement between the board and OhioQuest Wrestling, Turfscape fertilization contracts for maintenance of sports fields and a Cintas agreement.

New Business
None.

Old Business
None.

The meeting was adjourned for executive session.

Fatal crashes increased in 2025 in Portage County, report shows

Tom Hardesty — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:51:00 GMT

After a sharp decline in traffic fatalities in 2024, Portage County experienced a grim 2025 on its roadways: 17 fatal crashes resulting in 18 total deaths. And it was the usual culprits of impaired and distracted driving that claimed most of the lives.

According to the Portage County Fatal Crash Review Board’s annual report that was released Feb. 12, 10 of Portage County’s 17 fatal crashes in 2025 involved alcohol or drugs. “These are not accidents. They are choices that forever change families and communities,” Portage County Prosecutor Connie Lewandowski said.

The numbers are way up from 2024, when Portage County recorded a total of 11 fatal crashes resulting in 12 deaths.

The spike in fatal crashes and deaths in 2025 is particularly frustrating for Lewandowski considering the lower numbers in 2024 came on the heels of 2023’s carnage of 19 fatal crashes and 19 related deaths. It now seems that 2024 was the exception, not the rule.

“As we review our year-end traffic fatality numbers, it is clear that many of these tragedies were preventable,” Lewandowski stated in the press release. “Distracted driving and driving under the influence continue to be leading factors in fatal crashes. … We remind the public that one moment of inattention or impairment can have irreversible consequences.”

The Portage County Fatal Crash Review Board, a function of the Portage County Health District and Portage County Safe Communities, also found that:

The leading contributing factors in fatal crashes in 2025 were unsafe speed and failure to yield.
Geographically, 13 fatal crashes occurred in rural areas, while four occurred in urban areas, “highlighting the increased risks often present on rural roadways,” the release states.
Motorcycle safety remains a critical concern in Portage County. Five fatal crashes involved motorcycles, with only two of those riders wearing helmets.

Crash timing data also shows higher risk during overnight hours:

10 fatal crashes occurred between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Two fatal crashes occurred between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Five fatal crashes occurred between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.

“We urge every driver to slow down, stay focused, and make responsible decisions behind the wheel,” Lewandowski said. “Safe driving is a responsibility we all share.”

The Portage County Fatal Crash Review Board, a mandate of the Safe Communities grant, is responsible for reviewing fatal crashes to identify trends and recommend evidence-based countermeasures aimed at preventing future tragedies.

For more information, residents can contact the Portage County Health District at 330-296-9919.

Letter to the editor: Remembering Jerry Lewis

Letter to the editor — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:50:17 GMT

Thank you to The Portager (and Kent State Today) for the sad news of Jerry Lewis’s passing. Many in the Kent community knew Jerry as a colleague as well as for his tireless work documenting and preserving a record of the shooting by members of the Ohio National Guard on May 4th, 1970. I also knew him as a friend.

When I first came to Kent, I joined a combined “Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Corrections.” The department was located in Lowry Hall, and Jerry’s office was a few doors down the corridor from mine. We often spoke about May 4th and other social issues, and we served as “faculty observers” at potentially volatile events on campus. We sometimes also played softball and handball together. After our departments split, and sociology moved to a neighboring building, I saw less of Jerry; but we continued to connect from time to time at university events. Some years ago, he developed Parkinson’s Disease and in-person participation became difficult. Still, he contributed to the extent that his health permitted. In 2022, KSU’s “Jerry M. Lewis Lecture Series and Luncheon” was initiated in his honor.

With Jerry’s passing, we have lost a pillar of the Kent State University community—a friend and colleague who dedicated his life to understanding social movements and preserving our historical record. He’ll be missed!

— Rick Feinberg, Professor Emeritus, Kent State University

Around Windham: Daylight Saving Time coming soon, and spring events with it

Nicole Sweet — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:50:00 GMT

Hello Windham Family!

Happy February Bomber Country! February is for the season of love. Sharing kindness with others, loving yourself, spending time with your loved ones who add joy and laughter. I especially love that February means we get to enjoy longer days and more daylight around our little town. Don’t forget Daylight Saving Time will begin on Sunday, March 8, when clocks spring forward one hour at 2 a.m. Here are some upcoming events and information to look forward to at the end of February and beginning of March.

Windham Farmers' Market

The Village of Windham is looking for vendors for the farmers' market at the Windham Community Building, from 5 to 7 p.m. every third Thursday, February through April. Local food and craft vendors wanted. Call 330-646-9361 for more information.

Attention youth softball players

This is how Bombers are built. The Windham Bombers High School Softball Fundraiser Clinic is back — packed with fundamentals, skill work, and real game situations, led by our high school players and coaches. This clinic is open to any youth looking to sharpen their skills. Participants do not have to be a Windham student. This will be an indoor clinic at Windham High School from 10 a.m. to noon March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4 and those who attend will receive a discount and a clinic T-shirt. Train. Learn. Get better. This clinic gives youth players the chance to train with our high school athletes and sharpen their skills in a competitive, supportive environment. All proceeds support the program. Register here and get more details on the flyer: https://form.jotform.com/.../windham-youth-softball-clinic.

Windham students traveling to Costa Rica

Windham students are planning to travel to Costa Rica in 2027. A tasty way to help us get there is to order some gourmet delights through Stoller Fundraising. Prefer to order online? Click and select your seller's name for online ordering and payment (convenience fee applies): bit.ly/windhamtravel You may also place an order in the high school office and pay by cash or check made out to Windham High School.

Congratulations All-Star Teaching Team

Congratulations to Windham's 2025-26 All-Star Teaching Team Awards from Windham Schools:

Teacher of the Year: Amy Hoover
Rookie of the Year: Lance Batton
Lifetime Achievement: Sherri Harrah

We appreciate your dedication and commitment to the students at Windham Schools. Go Bombers!

Windham Village Easter Egg Hunt

The Village of Windham will be accepting monetary donations and unopened bags of candy until March 26 to help fill the eggs with plenty of goodies. Donations can be dropped off to the Windham Police Department, 9015 Maple Grove Road. Register by March 13 at acarter@windhamvillageoh.gov. The Windham Easter Egg Hunt will be hosted at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at the Windham High School Football Field, 9530 Bauer Ave. The Easter Bunny will be there to take photos with the children.

Lions Club & Windham HS Marching Band tag up for Pancake Breakfast

Members of the Windham High School Marching Band will be serving at the Windham Lions Club Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 1. We have 200 pre-sale tickets to sell - we will only make a proceed from pre-sale tickets, not door tickets. Presales are $1 cheaper. Please let us know through our Facebook page or any Band member if you’d like to purchase a pre-sale and support both organizations and our schools.

Windham High School Prom

WHS Junior/Senior Prom will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24 at Di’Viestes in Warren. Ticket sales will be March 2 to April 1, before school or during lunch, in the high school art room. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased by a junior or senior. All visitor forms must be filled out and signed before a ticket can purchased for a non-Windham student. Any other questions, see Ms. Gintert or email lgintert@windham-schools.org.

I look forward to keeping the Windham community up to date with all the information I receive. Please contact me with anything you may like featured. The Around Windham column runs on the third week of each month, and I will need all the information the week prior. You may contact me via text/call at 330-283-2711 or via email at nks1024@icloud.com.

Thank you, Nicole Sweet

Portage County obituaries for Feb. 16-17, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:47:00 GMT

Mark Fankhauser

Our beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, Mark Fankhauser, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday morning, February 15th, 2026. He will be remembered for his loyalty, generosity, and true compassion to everyone. Above all else, Mark’s greatest devotion was always to his family.

He is survived by his loving wife, Jill Fankhauser, his steadfast partner in every chapter of life. Mark was the proud and devoted father of Molly, Jake, and Noah, each of whom brought him immeasurable joy. He celebrated their accomplishments, supported their dreams, and carried immense pride in the people that they have become. Mark is also survived by his two sisters, Beth Russell and Marla Boltz, who shared lifelong bonds of love, laughter, and connection with their brother. Their presence in his life was a source of strength, support, and warmth.

While family was the most important thing in Mark’s life, many will remember him by his legacy that lives on in the fairness that he practiced, the hope he fostered, and the county he helped shape. Mark inspired others around him to be the best version of themselves. He believed deeply in justice and devoted himself to lifting up those in need. These qualities were evident to everyone whom he counseled and those that appeared in his court. Throughout his 16 years of serving the community as a judge, he presided over thousands of matters and was known for treating every person with courtesy, dignity, and respect. Mark served on numerous boards in Portage County, was a member of the Portage County Bar Association, and a member of the Ravenna Elks Lodge.

Although Mark might have appeared always serious and down to business, he enjoyed playing cards, excelled in “table talk”, having a good drink with great friends, hanging out with his family, traveling to large cities and to the beach, and telling bad jokes and reminiscing about good memories. Mark loved watching his children play sports. After he was lovingly overruled, he became the most enthusiastic dog lover.

Mark has been preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Linda (Liston) Fankhauser. In addition to his wife, children, and sisters, Mark is survived by his in-laws, Keith and Joyce Siegfried, his sister-in-law Beth Siegfried (Tim Nightengale), brother-in-law Jason (Beth) Russell, nephew Michael (Ellie) Boltz, and many other nieces and nephews.

Mark will be truly missed by so many, but his passion was to make his little corner of the world a better place, and he did just that. Mark was a firm believer in kidney donation. If it wasn't for the selfless organ donations from his father and cousin, Chris Fankhauser, Mark would never have been able to make such a positive impact in our lives.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bob and Linda Fankhauser Memorial Fund, Attn: Mark Frisone, 705 Oakwood St. Suite 221, Ravenna, Ohio, 44266, or the National Kidney Foundation. Calling hours will be held this Friday, February 20th from 4:00 PM-8:00 PM at Shorts-Spicer-Crislip Funeral Home in Ravenna. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Please visit www.sscfuneralhomes.com to offer a condolence, share a memory or light a candle.

Vera Wendel

Vera Wendel, 87, passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2026. She was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on March 17, 1938 and relocated to Sweden after WWII.

Caroline Lawler

Caroline Lawler, age 77, of Kent, OH, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, a month short of her 78th birthday. Caroline was born March 13, 1948 in Oakland, CA to the late R. Palmer and Karla (Stanek) Lawler Sr.

Joan Sue Reed

Joan Sue Reed, 85 of Brimfield, passed away Sunday February 15, 2026 at her home. She was born November 20, 1940 in Akron, Ohio to the late Arthur and Dovie (Bailey) McBroom.

Kathleen Towles

Kathleen Mary Towles passed away in the evening of Wednesday, February 11, 2026. She was born in Cleveland, OH, on July 24, 1942, to the late William Williams and Elizabeth (Rankin) Williams.

Brimfield opened the year in the red, but 'financial hiccup' has a solution

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:52:00 GMT

Brimfield Township budget hit a new low this year, when Fiscal Officer Jasmine Golden noted in early January that the general fund was $53,020 in the hole and the fire department only had $50,000.

In the state auditor’s annual review of Brimfield’s 2024 finances, they found problems with certain withdrawals from the Brimfield-Tallmadge Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) and advised the township to repay the money.

The auditor found that the bulk of the money — almost $150,000 — had been used to purchase vehicles, township Trustee Nic Coia said, adding that he had been told “multiple times” by former Fiscal Officer John Dalziel that such purchases were allowable. Police Chief Roy Mosley stated that he had built his budget on the same understanding.

“Essentially what happened is money was spent out of the JEDD. We were told not to spend it that way. The [previous] fiscal officer spent it out of those funds instead of the department funds. Those departments have now had to pay that money back into the JEDD M&I fund,” Coia said during the trustees’ Jan. 2 meeting.

Brimfield’s financial records as of Dec. 28, 2025, showed the township’s general fund at $94,771.19, the special levy fire fund at $90,845, and the special levy police fund at $1,451,262.78. The Brimfield-Tallmadge JEDD Maintenance & Improvement (M&I) fund held $121,801.67.

On Dec. 29, 2025, township records show a $146,091 withdrawal from the general fund, a $50,459 withdrawal from the special levy fire fund, and a $229,748 withdrawal from the special levy police fund. All the withdrawals are marked “audit adjustment.”

Also on Dec. 29, and also noting “audit adjustment,” Golden — who was not at the helm when the problematic withdrawals were made — transferred the same totals into the JEDD M&I Fund, which showed a $426,298 increase.

That’s when the red ink appeared.

As of Dec. 31, 2025, Brimfield’s general fund showed a negative $53,661 balance. The special levy fire fund held $39,661.75, and the special levy police fund totaled $1,221,475.02. The replenished Brimfield-Tallmadge JEDD M&I fund held $548,099.67.

As of Feb. 9, Brimfield’s ledger reflected the general fund holding $41,624.66, the fire fund totaling $190,113.18 and the police fund solid at $1,100736.20.

Golden told The Portager back in January that the state was aware the township was opening in the red and could remain so until Brimfield receives its first property tax disbursement in March. She could not say what that amount will be, but the Portage County auditor’s office estimates it will be about $3 million, most of which flows directly into approved levy and bond funds.

Brimfield will be able to meet its administrative personnel payroll and other operating bills, all of which comes from the general fund, Golden said.

Dalziel's take

Speaking during the trustees’ Jan. 2 meeting, Coia said Dalziel had been told twice not to do so, but “he still went ahead and made the payments that way.”

Dalziel stated in an email to The Portager that the trustees approved all the expenditures. He said the JEDD agreement contained “gray areas” that allowed him to spend as he did.

“I do not recall any letters, emails or conversations regarding this subject from them,” he wrote, referencing Brimfield’s board of trustees. “All of these conversations about JEDD M&I expenditures were done in open board meetings with department heads and the board.”

What's next

Eying what’s left in the fire department’s ledger, Fire Chief Craig Mullaly asked the trustees if he would still have funds to purchase items the trustees had promised.

“The ambulance that is coming was promised out of the M&I fund. If that is now not allowable … I got to cancel an ambulance. I don’t have the money,” he said, adding that he’d anticipated purchasing a fire engine, which is “a significant cost.”

“I hope we’re on the same path. I know we are. I just want to say it out loud. I have to have those funds,” he said.

That “same path” means asking the JEDD’s board of directors to retroactively, back to Jan. 1, 2024, allow M&I funds to be used to purchase vehicles and equipment. If the board would agree, the township could retrieve its money and return it to the general, police and fire department funds.

In short, the rule change would mean that M&I money can and could be used for vehicles and equipment, so the money that Brimfield had to repay in 2025 could be funneled back to the township funds that were diminished.

“That would allow us retroactively to put that money back into those accounts,” Coia said, characterizing the matter as a “financial hiccup.”

That request is still pending.

What's a JEDD

Brimfield and Tallmadge are partners in a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD), formed Jan. 1, 2004. Brimfield provides police, fire, EMS and street services, as well as planning for the district. If needed, Tallmadge provides water and sewer services and economic development assistance. In return, both communities gain increased revenue through income tax.

JEDD M&I funds are reserved for public infrastructure, site enhancements and economic development within the JEDD.

The JEDD comprises 70% of Brimfield Township, mostly in the commercial/industrial areas south of I-76, but also includes the area north of 76 west of Mogadore Road and south of Howe Road. Industrial and commercially zoned areas of Brimfield are also included in the JEDD.

The JEDD allows Brimfield to have a say in the area’s development and prohibits Tallmadge from annexing the area and developing it for its own benefit, Coia said.

JEDD income tax rates were set at 1.5% from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2021, rose to 1.75% from Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2024, then rose again to 2% on Jan. 1, 2025. Additional scheduled increases will see the rate increase again until it reaches 2.25% by 2028.
According to the city of Tallmadge’s website, income tax revenue generated in the JEDD for 2024 exceeded $3.3 million.

Tallmadge and Brimfield split income tax revenue the JEDD produces, with Tallmadge reserving its 55% share for general operations and directing 5% to the M&I fund. Brimfield earmarks 10% of its 45% share to the M&I fund.

Ravenna works to better notify residents of boil, other alerts

Jeremy Brown — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:51:00 GMT

Extremely cold weather and sustained sub-zero temperatures were the likely cause of a water main break on King Street in Ravenna on Feb. 4. A boil alert was issued and notification placards were delivered to homes in the affected area, but some residents said on social media that they didn’t get the alert in time.

As per EPA regulations, the city is required to issue a Tier 1 public notification within 24 hours of discovering an issue that poses a risk to public health. City of Ravenna Service Director Tim Contant said the city follows all EPA regulations. It even goes beyond those regulations by offering the downloadable CivicReady app to send alerts straight to residents’ phones, but he said it’s difficult to get everyone to sign up for it.

CivicReady is a mass notification system for government use.

“At this point in time, we’re in between notifying systems. Initially, we had CivicReady as our notification system, and that system basically has our residents sign up to be alerted for any boil alerts, weather alerts, road construction alerts, road closed alerts, stuff like that, but the problem we were having with that system is that we had quite low turnout for people that actually signed up for it,” Contant said. “At that point, I think it was 700 people that signed up in the city. That’s really a low turnout.”

The city of Ravenna is currently in the process of transitioning from CivicReady to the GOGov alert system in an effort to provide better service to a broader spectrum of residents. City of Ravenna IT Director Jonathan Bender said the city is working on building a new website that will include a QR code that users can scan to enroll in, and download, the new alert system. He hopes the QR code scanning feature will make it easier for residents to enroll, and easier for city officials to use, as well.

“It offers us a bunch of cool features,” Bender said. “We'll be able to give them some maps and get the wards all mapped out, so we can send out ward alerts. We’ll be able to specify an area; you’ll be able to draw it. These are all things that we could do with CivicReady, but I don’t think they were as mature in their process as it is right now, that GOGov is. So, we’ll be able to give those kinds of enhanced things to the public. We’re working on integrations. We’re trying to make it as seamless as possible for people.”

The GOGov alert system is planned to be rolled out by this summer.

Although city officials did everything they could to notify the public about the boil alert stemming from the water main break on Feb. 4, some residents didn’t get the alert and fed their animals untreated water.

On Feb. 5, Stefanie Lyn shared a Facebook post from Amber Manes of Amber’s Ark Lost and Found Pets to the Portage County and Neighbors Facebook page. In the post, Manes wrote that she did not get the boil alert and subsequently gave unboiled tap water to her pet sugar gliders, Alvin and Quinn, which, she thinks, is what caused their death three hours later.

“Within three hours of changing their water they were both dead; they were hanging from the top of the cage, and they were dead,” Manes told The Portager. “I was like, why are they at the top of their cage, so I did research, and when sugar gliders are struggling to breathe from toxins, they climb up. I thought that was very strange. The only thing that was different was the water. So I called the water department just to see if there's been issues with the water around here, and the lady tells me, well, there was a social media post that there’s a boil alert. I will never use the sink water ever again. It never even crossed my mind that they would be dead from drinking the water from the sink that they’ve always had.”

Amber Manes' sugar gliders, Alvin and Quinn. [submitted photo].

A few replies on the Facebook post expressed concern about not getting the boil alert, while another said there were sick dogs from drinking contaminated water after the water main break. At least one reply said sugar gliders are sensitive animals and should only be fed filtered water.

Winter water main breaks are a common occurrence in northeast Ohio. Following the incident in Ravenna on Feb. 4, a water main broke at Cleveland Clinic Akron General on Feb. 7 that left the emergency room flooded and temporarily closed the hospital to general visitation.

Contant said inclement weather not only puts excess strain on city infrastructure, but it’s also challenging for workers who have to fix problems in sub-zero temperatures.

“We’re trying like heck to keep ahead of these water breaks with this weather,” Contant said. “It's really been a tough deal for our crew. They’ve been out for 36, 44 hours straight here, and the weather has really put a damper on our crews, and they’ve been really trying to keep up with them, and they’ve done a good job. I just hope it slows down. I hope this weather breaks; we really need it.”