Check Out GCPL’s Free Online Programs
The wintery weather may keep you stuck at home, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be bored. The grey skies, short days, and cold temperatures don’t have to get you down. Not when the Geauga County Public Library has so many online programs to help chase away the winter doldrums. If one of your new year’s resolutions is to become craftier,...
Rockets wrestling goes 2-3 at Twinsburg duals
Streetsboro Rockets’ wrestling Coach Mark Skonieczny acknowledged that being snake-bitten at the midway point of the season is not ideal. The Rockets competed hard in the Twinsburg duals but finished with a 2-3 record last Saturday afternoon at Twinsburg High School. “We battled in the losses,” said the first-year coach. “My lower weights all wrestled well and went on to...
Portage County ends 2023 with 19 fatal crashes and 19 related deaths
Portage County Fatal Crash Review Board held a quarterly meeting on January 12th. There were no fatal crashes that occurred during the months of October through December, 2023. In 2022, one fatal crash occurred during the same three-month period. In 2023, there were 19 fatal crashes and 19 related deaths in Portage County. The fatal crashes occurred between January...
SHINE symposium to take place at NEOMED
Turning the unconventional into the conventional has always been a goal for SHINE, an education and retreat center that inspires and empowers people. SHINE will share its philosophies with the community when it hosts its first-ever symposium on Saturday afternoon at the Northeast Ohio Medical Center in Rootstown beginning at 9 a.m. “The SHINE symposium merges the two things that...
Hiram brings Griffith aboard as new men’s lacrosse coach
When some coaches step down, they usually take at least a year off or coach at a lower level. According to Jason Griffith, he knew he wanted to coach again but was willing to wait for the right opportunity and that opportunity has come earlier than expected when he was announced as Hiram College’s new men’s lacrosse coach on...
Randall W. Starkey
Randall W. “Randy” Starkey, 60, of Garrettsville, formerly of Warren, passed away at his home on Monday, January 15, 2024. He was born June 15, 1963, in Parkersburg, WV, to the late Stanley D. “Red” Starkey, Sr., and Carolyn Lorraine. He attended Warren Western Reserve High School. Randy enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing bingo, bowling, and attending carnivals. He was a...
Calvin J. Grant
Calvin J. Grant, 68, of Leavittsburg, Ohio passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2023 at Hospice House. He was born the son of Herman and Ines (Belknap) on February 12, 1955 in Ravenna, Ohio. After receiving his formal education, he worked a variety of jobs including Camp Hi. In his spare time, he enjoyed being outside, waterskiing, collecting knives and spending time...
Join Portage Park District for a Groundhog Hike in Mantua
February 3rd is the halfway point through winter, but the 2nd is when we ask these furry friends for their own forecast. Let’s learn more about groundhogs and what may (or may not) qualify them to be meteorological prognosticators. February 2, 2024 11:00am to 12:00pm Headwaters Trail 4501 Mill Street Mantua, OH 44255
We’re All Invited
Community Calendar Aspire Programs Mondays & Wednesdays The Portage County Maplewood Aspire Program will begin offering GED, Adult Diploma and ESOL classes at the Kent Free Library on Wednesday, January 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays during this time. Prospective students are required to first attend an orientation session prior to entering class...
Backyard Critters 4H installs “blessing box” at Freedom Township Hall
The Backyard Critters 4-H group has built a blessing box to install at the Freedom Town Hall where we have our monthly meetings. It was thought of by club mom Crystal Lee and between dads Matt Hickman and Terry Jordan the kids were able to be guided to getting this completed. It was installed on December 28th and we...
Greenmen girls basketball rallies but falls to Tallmadge’s Blue Devils
Falling into an early hole was a recipe for disaster for the Aurora Greenmen girls’ basketball team. The Greenmen lost 58-45 against Suburban League American Conference rival Tallmadge, spoiling senior night last Saturday afternoon at The Greenhouse. “We just dug ourselves too big of a hole,” said Coach Erika Greenberg. “I told them in the locker room that they did...
Letters to the Editor
Thank you from the Garrettsville People Tree Your 2023 donations provided toys and food for 195 Families We would like to THANK everyone in our amazing community for coming together to help provide over 275 children something to open Christmas morning. We had so much help to make this season so successful. A BIG THANK YOU TO IGA and Save A Lot...
20th Century Club learns about Kecoat, LLC
Maureen See, assisted by Jan Boehm and Carol Torda, entertained the Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville at their January 19, 2024 meeting. Upending the usual order of things, the program opened the event, as Tracy Macek gave a panoramic and informative presentation on KECOAT, LLC, a family-owned and operated business in the community, and its moving spirit, Darrin Macek (who...
Patricia Jean Paxton
Patricia Jean Paxton 79 of Garrettsville passed away Tuesday January 16, 2024, at Burton Health Care Center. She was born January 23, 1944, in Garrettsville to the late Marshal N., and Mary R. (Bezek) Mattews. She graduated from Middlefield High School. Patricia worked for Briar Hill Nursing Home as an aid and in the laundry. She was a member...
JAG Historical Society News
As of January 15, 2024, the position of secretary for the James A. Garfield Historical Society is open; volunteers should contact president Debbie Smith or attend the next meeting on February 15–that’s Presidents' Day–or both. Denise Ellerhorst, of the Time Capsule Event committee reported that one grant applied for was not received , but members suggested applying for a Hiram...
Grant applications for critical needs focused programs in Portage County are being accepted
United Way of Portage County is accepting grant applications for critical needs-focused programs serving Portage County. The deadline to apply is Feb. 16. United Way of Portage County invests funds raised during its annual campaign through a volunteer-led review and recommendation process. Grant review volunteers engage in a process that matches community needs with evidence-based best practices and program interventions....
Ravenna School superintendent Laura Hebert inducted into National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
Ravenna School District Superintendent Laura Hebert’s only regret over the course of her 30-year career as an official, member and chairwoman of USA Lacrosse was that she never played the game when she was in high school. She did just about everything else and her work was recognized when she was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame...
Handsome Clyde
Clyde had to have a dental done and a lot of teeth pulled. He is feeling much better now. He also got neutered. Clyde is vaccinated and tested negative for leukemia/FIV. Clyde co-exists with my other cats. He is a stunning, long hair, gray and white cat. I adore him, and only the best home will do for him. To...
Huskies basketball holds on to beat Wildcats, snap losing streak
The Cardinal Huskies boys’ basketball team’s losing streak is no more. The Huskies ended a five-game slide when they prevailed 49-47 against Chalker last Saturday evening in Middlefield. “It is good to say the least,” said Coach Kyle Deckerd. “It is always good to win. We had a losing streak there but winning one at home is definitely good. Hopefully,...
Garfield G-Men girls basketball show flashes but still lose against LaBrae
Unlike previous seasons, the Garfield G-Men girls’ basketball team is still searching to find that winning edge. The G-Men’s slide continued, losing 63-39 against Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier foe LaBrae last Thursday evening at the JAG Fieldhouse. “We struggled to score and when we are giving up points on defense it just compounds the problem,” said Coach Aaron...
Garfield Drive, Village Drive and Davis Streets to see repairs
Present at the Village Council Meeting were Council President Tom Hardesty, Councilpersons John Chambers, Sheri Johnson, Richard Beatty, Mark Brady, Solicitor Michele Stuck, Fiscal Officer Donna Love, and Mayor Rick Patrick. Sheri Johnson was sworn in for her term on the council. Benjamin Coll was sworn in for his term on the Board of Public Affairs. Deb Wordell was appointed...
Former Drakesburg school building undergoes exterior construction
The Freedom Township Historical Society is continuing its efforts to restore the former Drakesburg one-room school building on State Route 303. The historical society is moving forward with construction of exterior renovations. “Obviously, it is worth a lot to us, and it is just worth a lot to the township residents and anybody that is interested in history,” the society’s...
Leave a Legacy! Preserving Geauga County Farmland for Generations to Come
The Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) provides funding to assist landowners in preserving farmland. The program purchases agricultural easements from landowners who volunteer to keep their land in agricultural production in perpetuity. For the seventh year, the Geauga County Board of County Commissioners, with assistance from Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District, is a Certified Local...
St. Joseph, Mantua to Hold 300 Club Fundraiser
St. Joseph Parish in Mantua is holding a 300 Club Fundraiser in 2024. Three hundred tickets will be sold at $100.00 each, starting in January and running until November 1, 2024. There will be a fantastic dinner at St. Nicholas Banquet Center, 755 S. Cleveland Ave., Mogadore, Ohio 44260, on Saturday, November 9, where participants will have a one in...
Rockets sputter offensively in loss against Comets
Despite a poor first half of offense, the Streetsboro Rockets boys’ basketball team only trailed Metro Athletic Conference rival Akron Coventry by three points at the half. But Streetsboro could not solve its offensive struggles and lost 56-41 to the Comets last Friday evening in Coventry Township. “We were down three points going into the half and in that third...
Mantua Scouts celebrate successful adventure in New Mexico
Last summer, two Scout Troops from Mantua took on the challenge of Philmont High Adventure at Philmont Scout Ranch in the rugged northern New Mexico wilderness. One well-known motto of scouting is to ‘Be Prepared,’ and the Mantua Scouts really took this sentiment to heart. A trip of this magnitude required over two years of planning, training, and fundraising before...
Haidyn Bunker to compete at Winter Youth Olympic Games
When Chardon Hilltoppers’ sophomore Haidyn Bunker saw a luge commercial during the 2018 Winter Olympics, she thought it looked interesting. Six years later, Bunker is preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime as she will compete in double luge for Team USA at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea beginning on Saturday. “This is a one-time kind...
Greenmen hockey leans on defense and prevails against Knights
After scoring six goals in the first two periods, the Aurora Greenmen’s hockey team relied on its defense to fend off Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League Blue Division rival Nordonia in the final period. Aurora’s defense stiffened up and defeated its neighborhood foe 6-5 in a GCHSHL Blue Division crossover game last Sunday afternoon at The Pond in...
Auctions In Middlefield
Monday Afternoon/Evening Auction. Middlefield, OH –The Heritage Marketplace Consignment Auction held in the event center is open year round at 15848 Nauvoo Road Market and opens at noon on Monday. The Consignment Auction begins at 5:30 p.m.; Consignment Check-in: 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Bid on a Broad Array of Auction Items and purchase at the Flea Market; Dinner begins:4:30 p.m....
TIME FOR A W-A-L-K?
Enjoy a park with other dogs, dog-walkers and Naturalist Karie Dogs and your humans, take a winter walk with Naturalist Karie Wheaton and other park-going pooches during an upcoming Hound Hike – no registration required! Hound Hikes this season are slated for Wednesday, January 24, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Park (two easy trails); Saturday, February 17,...
