The Portager

The Portager Locally owned, local news for Portage County, Ohio

Here’s what we know so far about the incident at the No Kings rally.
22/10/2025

Here’s what we know so far about the incident at the No Kings rally.

A 20-year-old Ravenna man was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed weapon and receiving stolen property at the No Kings rally on Oct. 18 in Kent after a scuffle broke out over the Trump flag he was carrying, police said.

If you live in Mantua, you can share your opinion about the new DORA tonight. 🍻
21/10/2025

If you live in Mantua, you can share your opinion about the new DORA tonight. 🍻

The Mantua Village Council will hold an open meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 and welcome your comments on the DORA proposal. The Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce has requested that the downtown area be designated as a “Designated Outdoor Recreational Area,” which would exempt that...

Here's our coverage of Kent's No Kings Rally this weekend. We're still working to get more information about the alterca...
20/10/2025

Here's our coverage of Kent's No Kings Rally this weekend. We're still working to get more information about the altercation that took place and the man who was arrested.

Protesters flooded the streets of downtown Kent on Saturday during the nation’s second No Kings rally to oppose the Trump administration.

Proud to sponsor the Rainbow Bridge another year! Thanks, Main Street Kent.
20/10/2025

Proud to sponsor the Rainbow Bridge another year! Thanks, Main Street Kent.

Thank you to our Rainbow Bridge sponsors for making this year's decorations possible! Andra Polasky, Bell Tower Brewing Co., Board and Bevy, Crystal Shook, Flourish Plant Mkt., Franklin School of Dance, Hazelmade, Humanistic Counseling Center, Joy & Gregg Pahls, Keleigh & Shawn Zucchero, Ken Ditlevson, Plexus LGBT & Allies Chamber of Commerce, The Portager, The River Merchant. We look forward to celebrating our diverse and inclusive community this weekend!

Kent’s Planning Commission on Aug. 19 unanimously rejected developer Grey Fox Capital’s request to rezone two parcels on...
20/08/2025

Kent’s Planning Commission on Aug. 19 unanimously rejected developer Grey Fox Capital’s request to rezone two parcels on Franklin Avenue from Industrial to R–3 High Density Residential.

Commission members cited concerns about remediating the property’s partially contaminated ground, Kent’s need for affordable housing, traffic concerns and the possible repercussions of rezoning the industrial property for residential use.

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Kent’s Planning Commission on Aug. 19 unanimously rejected developer Grey Fox Capital’s request to rezone two parcels on Franklin Avenue from Industrial to R–3 High Density Residential.

Wendy got LOTS of details about the proposed South End development at their community meeting. What do you think now tha...
15/08/2025

Wendy got LOTS of details about the proposed South End development at their community meeting. What do you think now that we know more about it?

A proposed housing development near downtown Kent will be entirely rental units geared to empty nesters, young professionals and downsizers.

Some nice housing could be coming to Kent's South End.
12/08/2025

Some nice housing could be coming to Kent's South End.

A developer is proposing a 102-unit housing development in Kent, this one bordering Mogadore Road south of West Summit Street. It would alter the city’s historic South End, long known as the mother neighborhood of Kent.

Who should pay for public television? (How should we fund media generally? Asking for a friend.)
07/08/2025

Who should pay for public television? (How should we fund media generally? Asking for a friend.)

Reeling from the federal government’s decision to claw back already-approved funding, public broadcasting stations are left to find money.

Many of you may have been following the latest issues related to the Brimfield Township fiscal office. We decided to get...
06/08/2025

Many of you may have been following the latest issues related to the Brimfield Township fiscal office. We decided to get first-hand information from the trustees and the new fiscal officer. You can read Wendy’s report here. Please let us know if you still have questions so we can try to answer them as we continue to follow this story.

And please consider subscribing to support our local news reporting.

Jasmine Golden, Brimfield Township’s intended fiscal officer, has faced headwinds after township trustees learned she had been found fiscally liable in two related cases filed in Portage County Common Pleas Court.

These plants contain urushiol, a toxic oil that causes allergic reactions in most people, leading to rashes and itching....
03/08/2025

These plants contain urushiol, a toxic oil that causes allergic reactions in most people, leading to rashes and itching. Read more in the latest message from the Portage County Master Gardeners.

The joys of summer, walks in the woods, trips to the park, camping, but wait— what are those plants? And now I have an itchy rash! Poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak: these are three of the common poisonous plants which can cause rashes when we encounter them in the woods and at home.

Hey everyone, we wanted to share this message from a Portager sponsor:🏡 You’re Invited to a Sundown OPEN at Sandy Lake! ...
28/07/2025

Hey everyone, we wanted to share this message from a Portager sponsor:

🏡 You’re Invited to a Sundown OPEN at Sandy Lake! 🌅

Join us Wednesday 7/30 from 5–7 PM to tour this stunning lakefront home with epic sunset views!

📍 2694 Sandy Lake Rd, Ravenna, OH- $699k

✨ Enjoy light bites, drinks, and live music on the lake

🎁 Enter to win gift cards just for stopping by!

🏦 Meet Adam Rubin from Portage Community Bank for expert loan advice

This dreamy home features:

6 🛏️ | 4 🛁 | 3300+ sq ft | 4+ Car Garage | Step out your back door for your private beach 🏝️

Listed by: Daniela Morey-Loftin https://www.facebook.com/SellWithDaniela/

All info & photos: https://2694sandylakeroad.howardhanna.com/

Our local PBS affiliate lost $1.5 million of funding.
25/07/2025

Our local PBS affiliate lost $1.5 million of funding.

Reeling from the federal government’s decision to claw back already-approved funding, public broadcasting stations are left to find money.

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The Portager

We’re the only locally owned news source covering Portage County, Ohio. Our mission is to help our community thrive.

Talking to people in Portage County, we realized there’s a big appetite for local news. You’ve told us you want a news source that’s affordable. But above all, you’re not getting enough coverage of the things that matter to you. A lot of you said you want more news reporting on your neighborhood or township.

With your help, we can fix that.

The Portager is a new, independent news site in Portage County. Our publisher is Ben Wolford, a 2007 Waterloo High School grad, Portage County resident and former Record-Courier reporter whose reporting has appeared in The New York Times and Newsweek. We’re owned by our employees and advised by a board of trusted community leaders.