Rising from the Ashes: The Buckeye Block 10-Years Later
On March 22, 2014, a devastating fire engulfed the historic Buckeye Block in Garrettsville, Ohio, marking a day etched into the collective memory of its residents. The blaze, which razed 33% of the town’s historic downtown district, threatened lives and livelihoods. Fast-forward to the 10-year anniversary, and the narrative is one of adaptation, reemergence, and community strength. The conflagration razed...
Greenmen wrestling advance four to Division I state meet
In only the second year since rejoining Division I, the Aurora Greenmen wrestling team has already improved. Aurora qualified four wrestlers to compete in the Ohio High School Division I State Tournament from the Division I North Canton Hoover District meet last weekend in Canton. “We are excited about the four guys who qualified,” Coach Jeremy Johnson said. “They obviously...
Rockets basketball pulls away from Dukes to advance
The Streetsboro Rockets’ basketball team has been living on the edge all season. It once again came down to the final minutes but the Rockets prevailed against Marlington, winning 55-47 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II Northeast 1 sectional championship game last Friday night at Streetsboro High School. It marked the first time since the 2019-2020 season...
Hiram Village Council Highlights: Nominations, Reports, and Key Announcements
In a recent Council meeting, Councilman Chris Szell accepted the nomination to serve as Council President. Police Chief Brian Gregory presented the Department’s monthly and year-end reports. In his report, Fire Chief Bill Byers provided the Fire Department report as well. In addition, Mayor Anne Haynam conducted her first swearing in of 2024 when she welcomed new firefighter Abigail...
Coleman Health Services break ground on new Portage Crisis Center
For the Coleman Health Services’ mental health clinic, adding eight new beds to their 11-bed crisis and stabilization unit may not seem significant but it has the potential of making a huge impact. Coleman Health Services broke ground on their new Portage Crisis Center building last Friday morning outside the Sue Hetrick Building in Ravenna. “It is a whole new...
Hiram softball ready to raise the bar amid lofty goals
Being voted as the 25th seed in the Division III National Softball Coaches Association Division and as the second ranked team in the North Coast Athletic Conference preseason poll is not a bad way for the Hiram Terriers softball team to begin their season. According to Coach Shannon Schaub, the Terriers are aspiring for more after appearing in the...
Rocket girls basketball top Panthers for first district banner
he Streetsboro Rockets girls’ basketball team and is one they do not want to end any time soon. The Rockets’ historic season continued when they outlasted Metro Athletic Conference rival Norton 40-36 to win the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II Northeast 5 district title last Saturday evening at Normandy High School. “It means everything,” said senior forward Ella...
We’re All Invited
Overeaters Anonymous Meetings Mondays Overeaters Anonymous (a community of people who support each other in order to recover from compulsive eating and food behaviors) meets in person every Monday, except legal holidays, at 10:00AM in the parlor of the First Presbyterian Church of Warren, 256 Mahoning Av NW, Warren, OH 44483. Please enter through the “Fellowship Hall” entrance on driveway. We...
Crestwood wrestling comes in third at Division III sectional
Red Devils field three champions, advance five district qualifiers Wrestling at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III Rootstown sectional meet, the Crestwood Red Devils felt right at home competing in a meet just down the road. The Red Devils placed third as a team, scoring 141.5 points, crowned three champions and had five become district qualifiers and one...
Mayor Benjamin and Superintendent Roberto deliver keynote speeches
Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin and School District Superintendent Mike Roberto each gave a keynote speech to address the City’s and School District’s recent accomplishments and future at the annual State of the City Luncheon last Wednesday afternoon at The Bertram Inn Hotel & Conference Center. Aurora Chamber of Commerce Board President Kyle Hersh introduced them and said that the...
Ravenna awaits emergency operating levy vote in March
For 19 years the Ravenna school district has not needed to pass an operating levy. Times have changed and the school district is now seeking an emergency operating levy of $6.9 million on the March 19 ballot to maintain funding for school operations. “We need this levy to pass to keep operating and keep these programs for our children because...
Rotary Club Supports Mantua Through the Winter Months & Beyond
Although the Rotary Club of Mantua was founded in 1946, the organization continues to be an active force for good in the community almost 80 years later. For example, during the first week in December, the Rotary hosted their first Merry Christmas Tree fundraising event during a busy holiday shopping week in the Village of Mantua. The club purchased...
Beyond the Mats: Garfield High School Wrestling Seniors Share Their Future Plans
The 2023-24 wrestling team stands out as the sole squad in recent memory to boast a full roster at the onset of the season. In addition to this accomplishment, the team takes pride in having five seniors who dedicated four years to high school wrestling. The longevity of their tenure naturally positions these seniors as leaders among their peers....
JAG Historical Society News
The James A. Garfield Historical Society is looking for a secretary. Interested volunteers should come to the next regular meeting on March 18, 2024, pencil sharpened, ready to “get historical”, saving the records of the organization–that’s historical from the get-go. C’mon down and get started. The biggest topics at the JAGHS right now are the Time Capsule Opening Event–July 6,...
Crestwood basketball drops regular season finale to Geneva
Despite a season filled with record-setting accomplishments, the Crestwood Red Devils boys’ basketball team’s season ended with them falling short of setting one more milestone. The Red Devils lost 79-62 against Chagrin Valley Conference rival Geneva in a crossover game last Friday evening in Geneva. “We had a great week of practice,” said Coach Josh Jakacki. “In our last couple...
Streetsboro girls basketball ousts Niles McKinley to return to district semifinal
The Streetsboro Rockets girls’ basketball team has already achieved several milestones in a record-breaking season. They checked off a few more boxes when they dominated Niles McKinley 67-22 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II Northeast 5 sectional semifinal last Saturday afternoon at Streetsboro High School. It marked the Rockets’ (20-4, 13-1) 20th victory of the campaign, setting...
Garfield G-Men basketball defuses rival Windham Bombers
Finding a spark at the end of the season is not ideal timing but it is better late than never. The Garfield G-Men boys’ basketball team avenged last season’s loss to neighborhood rival Windham by winning 77-51 in the regular season finale, spoiling the Bombers’ senior night last Friday evening at Marty Hill Court. “It does not matter what time...
We’re All Invited
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 at...
Susie K’s Café Celebrates 30th Anniversary
On the week of January 21st Susie Kohl welcomed the community to mark her 30th anniversary of being open at her namesake business, Susie K’s Café and Tea Room. Menu specials and original recipes from her 30 plus years of experience in the industry were a highlighted part of her Café’s celebration. Kohl said with a little side smile, that...
Streetsboro wrestling qualifies nine for the district meet
Streetsboro Rockets’ Coach Mark Skonieczny said he wanted his team to compete in the toughest Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II sectional meet to prepare them for the district meet. The Rockets rose to the challenge by taking fourth place at the Division II St. Vincent-St. Mary sectional by scoring 188.5 points, crowning four champions and advanced nine...
Garfield G-Men wrestling takes runner-up at Division III sectional
G-Men spring five district qualifiers, crown two champions It may have been one of the biggest Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III sectional meets that the Garfield G-Men wrestling team had competed in a while but that did not stop them from finishing as the runners-up by scoring 161.0 points. In addition to finishing in second place as a...
G-H Rotary News
The February 26, 2024 meeting of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary saw the induction of new member Renee Walker by District 630 Governor Julie Brandle. The new member and all in attendance were charged with upholding Rotary goals and values as well as seeking to invite new members and connect with the district as a whole. New ideas on fund-raising and...
60th Annual International Watch Fob Association Show & Sale Kicks Off
The International Watch Fob Association, Inc. is proud to present the 60th Annual International Watch Fob Association Show & Sale, a spectacular event merging the Watch Fob, Memorabilia, and Toy Show with the Lakeside Sand & Gravel Open House & Antique Equipment Show. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to witness a live demonstration of vintage construction and mining...
G-H Rotary continues planning for memorial trail
On February 19, 2024, Presidents’ Day marked the gathering of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary at Cal’s II in Sky Plaza, Garrettsville. Rutherford B. Hayes would have seamlessly blended into the occasion. Plans are underway to invite the district governor for lunch on February 26, with confirmation pending. Owen Bass, the outgoing exchange student for next year, is set for his...
Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society
The upcoming gathering of the Ohio Genealogical Society’s Portage County Chapter is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2024. The meeting will take place at the Portage County Historical Society, situated at 6549 N. Chestnut St in Ravenna, Ohio, commencing at 10:00 a.m. We are delighted to announce that Claude Custer, a distinguished member of the Atwater Historical Society from Atwater,...
Vivid Vibes Boutique offers free prom dresses
The price of the average prom dress has increased considerably since Sharon Carmichael, owner of Vivid Vibes Boutique, went to prom while attending the James A. Garrettsville school district. Hoping to enable every high school student to have the chance to attend prom, Vivid Vibes Boutique will offer a selection of free prom dresses and accessories beginning on April...
Streetsboro basketball seizes control in second half to dominate Akron Coventry
The Metro Athletic Conference banner may have eluded the Streetsboro Rockets boys’ basketball team this year, but they proved that they will be a contender for the foreseeable future. The Rockets capped off league play and celebrated senior night by storming back in the second half to beat conference rival Akron Coventry 67-43 last Friday evening at Streetsboro High...
20th Century Club explores local history
The Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville convened on February 15, 2024, at the residence of Carol Smith, complete with valet parking. The purpose of the gathering was to delve into the history of inventions and inventors hailing from Garrettsville and its surrounding areas. Pam Montgomery, who initiated her research following the devastating Garrettsville fire, shared insights into the inventions...
Ravenna basketball falls to Norton, losing streak reaches 11
The Ravenna Ravens boys’ basketball team’s wait for another victory may take longer than expected. Ravenna’s skid reached 11 games when they were dominated 80-34 against Metro Athletic Conference rival Norton last Friday night at the James L. Coll Gymnasium. “We are struggling to finish games, win games and be competitive,” said Coach Marlon Jones. “Norton ended up winning the...
Crestwood wrestling comes up short in gritty dual against Hudson
If there was any doubt how much the Crestwood Red Devils’ wrestling team had grown since last year, they erased those concerns with a competitive dual against Hudson. The Red Devils took Hudson down to the wire before losing 42-31 in their regular season finale last Thursday evening at Mantua. “To see us compete and come down to that final...
