Stacy Turner
Mantua Village News
Mantua - At the last Council meeting, residents Brian Perkins and Kim Ule requested that Council consider allowing an abbreviated Potato Festival this year, in light of Covid-19 event cancellations. In anticipation of eased State restrictions, Perkins and Ule proposed that an event would take place on one day...
Hiram Police Continually Working to Better our Community
Hiram - Racial unrest has erupted in cities large and small across the country, and even rural Ohio is feeling the pressure. Good police officers of every race have been called into question due to the terrible actions of a few individuals. “2020 has been a rough year for...
R44 Expands In Mantua
Mantua - Back in 2018, three couples shared the idea that coffee could connect a community. That shared vision was realized in the Restoration 44 Coffee Company (R44), where friends and families routinely gather. R44 is a partnership between three couples: locals Jamie and Carrie Leister and Dan and...
Hiram Township Trustee News
Hiram Twp. - At a recent meeting, Trustee Steve Pancost shared an article from the Farm & Dairy with Portage County Regional Planning regarding Internet service in our area. Trustees agreed that the Covid-19 shelter-at-home mandate has highlighted the need for better Internet service in rural areas. Pancost noted...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At the last board meeting, Superintendent David Toth asked the board to consider approving placing a request for new revenue on the November 3rd ballot. He reiterated that such a measure was necessary in order to provide the same services and programs to students in light of...
Mantua Village News
Mantua - At their last Council meeting, which was live-streamed due to Covid-19, Village Council voted unanimously to cancel the Soap Box Derby, Art on the Hill, and the Headwaters Adventure Race special events. The Village Park lodge, pavilion, and playgrounds will remain closed until Governor DeWine mandates they...
Drastic Times Call for Drastic Measures at the Dentist’s Office
Garrettsville - As you have certainly noticed by now, Responsible RestartOhio — The state’s plan to restart Ohio’s economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — looks much different than returning to ‘normal.’ Our concept of standard operations is being reshaped according to the demands of an infectious disease. Instead...
New Mural Adds Hope in Mantua
Mantua - Holly Michelson saw the work that Broc Benner was doing to transform what some referred to as “the hole” in the heart of Mantua. As he shared his vision of transforming the spot into a green space to connect community in the village, Michelson commented that the...
Hiram Village News
Hiram - At the last village council meeting which was held virtually, Ed Frato-Sweeney, Director of Residential & Citizenship Education at Hiram College, shared that the college would be open for the Fall 2020 semester, providing single rooms for all residential students at no additional charge.
In his Police Report,...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - As this unusual school year draws to a close, Crestwood Schools commemorated their graduates in an unusual manner. Driving by Crestwood High School, you’ll notice school buses parked in the front parking lot. From ground level, you may not notice, but seen from above, thanks to aerial...
Bibury & Company Opens in Mantua
Mantua - As the state loosens restrictions and businesses begin to open their doors, Bibury & Company, a new gift shop has joined the merchants in Mantua Village. Although Ann Ellis lives in Aurora, Mantua’s historic downtown drew her to the village. She noted that many towns try to...
Local Pastor Gifted With Parade
Mantua - Pastor Chad Delaney from the Mantua Center Christian Church last held services in person on March 7th. But his work leading the small Disciples of Christ community of believers has been busier than ever, even during while many have been sheltering in place at home. During this...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At their last meeting, Crestwood Superintendent David Toth shared that at the start of that week, the district’s nutrition team had distributed 35,172 meals to local families. While the school year has progressed virtually, Toth noted that no new instruction will take place after May 22nd. He...
Mantua Village News
Mantua - At their last meeting, Village Council approved legislation authorizing an increase of $30 for sewer rates (Ordinance 2020-15) and an increase of $20 for water rates (Ordinance 2020-16). According to Mayor Linda Clark, the increases will generate roughly $192,000 per year, and will give the village a...
Hiram Village News
Hiram - In an effort to protect citizens and prevent the spread of Covid-19, the April 14th meeting of the Village of Hiram Council was conducted as a remote meeting. While designated Department heads were permitted in Council’s Chambers, Council members and citizens were invited to access the meeting...
Local Seamstress Uses Gift to Help Others
When Covid-19 became big news, local seamstress Debbie Chanson became aware that hospitals needed masks by a request made on Facebook. She reached out and was provided with a pattern and began making masks at no charge for EMS, Firefighters, Doctors, and Medical staff. Since that time, Debbie Chanson...
Crestwood To Honor Graduates at Midway Drive-In
Mantua - Recently Dave McMahon, Principal of Crestwood High School, shared details on the graduation plans for the class of 2020. He noted that based on guidelines released on April 29th by Governor DeWine and the Ohio Board of Health, schools are not permitted to conduct face-to-face graduations at...
County Officials Provide Covid-19 Update
Last Thursday, local media were invited to attend a conference call led by Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Clyde. The call included Portage County Health Commissioner Joseph Diorio and other County stakeholders and provided insight about the status of the County’s response to Covid-19.
According to Diorio, County his staff has...
Vacant Building Gets New Life in Mantua
Mantua - If you’ve been in the Village of Mantua recently, you’ve noticed that a variety of projects have been steadily progressing in spite of Covid-19. Those who were saddened at the closure of the Chase Bank branch last May will be pleased that the old space is being...
Local Families Support Area First Responders
Mike Zamecnik shared that he heard about a shortage of gloves in Portage County from the Ravenna Township Fire Chief and thought, “Let’s see if we can get some for our family.” He and his wife, June, have family members working at fire departments in Ravenna Township, Hiram, Mantua,...
Mantua Gains Green Space
Mantua - Several months ago, Mantua native Broc Benner was having a drink with a friend in Garrettsville, and the topic of conversation turned to the green space that Garrettsville had created in the heart of downtown, in the spot made vacant by the fire of 2014.
That conversation planted...
GlueTread Innovates In the Midst of Covid-19
While people shelter at home and many businesses have shifted their workforce to their homes, local business GlueTread is quietly and efficiently shipping orders across the country. “GlueTread is a family-owned business that was quite literally started in our garage,” local entrepreneur Dave Auble shared. He explained that he...
Covid-19 Relief Options for Small Businesses
Across the country, life has been disrupted by the coronavirus, as schools and those businesses deemed non-essential have been closed and countless individuals have been required to shelter in place. No matter who you are, you’ve no doubt felt the impact of Covid-19.
In addition to taking measures to safeguard...
Hiram’s CopperHawk Farm Delivers
Hiram - During this time of unprecedented uncertainty, many businesses have had to change the way they operate. Covid-19 has turned dining out into ordering in, and grocery stores are processing huge amounts or online orders for delivery or quick pick-up. But long before Covid-19 burst onto the scene,...
Primary Election Day Extended
Portage County - According to the Portage County Board of Elections, the Primary Election, which was originally scheduled for March 17th, will be concluded on April 28, 2020. The March election day was blocked by the State in an attempt to restrict public gatherings and limit the spread of...
First Responders Share PSA
The Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS, in partnership with the Mentor Fire Department, has created “Be Part of the Solution”, a public service announcement (PSA) that the Division of EMS is providing as a resource for EMS systems to provide education and empowerment to their community...
Local Crafters Use Skills to Make Masks For Healthcare Workers
As hospitals and health care facilities across the country are running dangerously low on essential supplies, the CDC has declared that handmade masks are acceptable and can provide healthcare workers with an additional layer of protection. If you’ve got some time and some basic sewing skills, you can make...
Local Experts Share Their Gifts Online
As people are encouraged to stay home and schools and local business close their doors, many people are finding new, safer alternatives to continue doing what they love. For example, while local zoos and other family-friendly locations have closed their doors to in-person visits, experts have moved online to...
Pochedly Greenhouse Offers Online Orders
Mantua - In this time of uncertainty, families may struggle to find a sense of normalcy. Adjusting to sheltering at home, usual springtime activities like yard work and garden planning may help pass the time and remind us of our typical springtime activities. Some may begin thinking of planting...
Haylett’s Corner Store Expansion Planned
Mantua - In these uncertain times, good news is always welcome. And for those of you who frequent Haylett’s Corner store, you’ll be happy to know that the local business has plans to expand in the near future. The store is already offering grab and go items at Restoration...