It is spring, HOOray! It is now time we can begin to make some plans to get out of our homes and get involved in our communities, with our neighbors, and especially with fresh air.
Archive
Portage County obituaries for March 31-April 1
Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County
County roundup: NOPEC grants available for Brimfield event, plus news from Atwater and Mogadore
The Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council’s (NOPEC) Community Event Sponsorship Program provides financial support to organizations within the Brimfield community.
Watson: Staying safe in unpredictable weather
Portage County weather. Everyone jokes about it: Wait five minutes and the weather will change; you can experience all four seasons in the span of a few hours; Mother Nature can’t seem to make up her mind.
Latest depressant in recreational drug supply dangerous, but no sign of it in Portage County yet
Medetomidine, a central nervous system depressant that national experts have seen being used with fentanyl, has led to overdose outbreaks in major U.S. cities. Local law enforcement has not seen signs of it in Portage County just yet, but anticipate usage since the drug has reached the Cincinnati area. The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education released a public alert in May 2024 stating the use of medetomidine is rapidly increasing in use as an adulterant in the recreational […]
Op-ed: Some lessons from my Polynesian family
By Rick Feinberg, professor emeritus of anthropology at Kent State University Few topics stir more controversy — either in our local neighborhoods or around the country — than the existence of human diversity and the question of how we should engage with people who are different from ourselves. My perspective on the issue is atypical, as I was vividly reminded last month, when I got to see my Polynesian family for the first time in a dozen years. My connection […]
Portage County Domestic Violence Task Force aims to improve communication, resources
UH Portage Medical Center and the county prosecutor’s office have joined forces to launch the Portage County Domestic Violence Task Force, which held its inaugural meeting in January.
Been There, Done That: Adjustment period with a new used car
Dave and I are still getting used to our “new” car. We traded in our paid-off 2010 Ford Escape with 188,000 miles on it for a 2019 Jeep with 84,000 miles. A great deal, but it came with one big downfall – a payment book. I guess I had my head in the sand to think a 15-year-old vehicle with that many miles was going to be my forever car. The biggest adjustment has been the remote start. It’s awesome […]
Letter to the editor: Are you worried about the future of our climate?
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. As I watched Trump’s address to Congress several weeks ago, his often repeated “drill baby drill” took on a much more serious meaning. Since I have been an active supporter of transitioning to non-fossil fuels and encouraging Kent’s […]
County land bank receives millions in funding
The Portage County Land Bank, also called the Portage County Land Reutilization Corporation, recently received nearly $2 million in funds to aid in its mission of rehabilitating homes and buildings and returning them to viability.
County roundup: Streetsboro to upgrade traffic lights, plus news from Aurora and Ravenna
Streetsboro The City of Streetsboro is upgrading its camera system on its traffic lights. When the original cameras were installed a few years ago, they were not as high quality as the ones that are currently being installed at every traffic light in the city. “We had some issues with the old cameras transmitting images back to dispatch,” Mayor Glenn Broska said. “So we decided to upgrade the cameras and upgrade the ability for them to transmit pictures back to […]
Baker: Springtime starts in our hearts
Although I wrote this on the official first day of spring, in our neck of the woods we never quite know when to trust that winter is truly over. It might be today, tomorrow, or April (or May?) before all chances of snow are past. I think of spring as a lovely young woman, winking at us from over her shoulder, as she sashays in and out of Northeast Ohio. Unpredictability, I believe, is just part of her very considerable […]
Kent passes new parking restriction to limit the number of vehicles outside an address
Kent City Council on March 19 approved an ordinance prohibiting more than three vehicles registered to a given address being parked in the right of way at any given time.
Aurora City School District welcomes new leadership
Superintendent Mike Roberto will retire this summer after 25 years with the district and will be replaced by Dr. Paul Milcetich, who currently serves as Aurora’s assistant superintendent of curriculum & instruction.
Documenters: Shalersville Township Trustees special and regular meetings for March 18, 2025
The trustees updated zoning regulation to require non-residential projects to have plans for emergency response and clean-up incidents. They are also required to provide the fire department a copy of the plans every year.
Documenters: Randolph Township Trustees meeting for Mach 12, 2025
Zoning official Tori Walker presented sample resolutions that could allow the township to have an actionable solution for properties with junk vehicles, tall grass and trash and debris issues. Upon recommendation from zoning, a resolution for each property would be required with a deadline for compliance. A lien could be placed on the property if non-compliant. Hardship cases would be handled on a case by case basis.