(This story was updated with new information.) CANAL FULTON – A home built in 1875 was heavily damaged by an early Tuesday morning fire and will likely be a total loss Shawn Yerian, fire chief for the Canal Fulton-Lawrence Township Fire Department and responding firefighters knew immediately it was severe "There was a pretty good glow when our guys were coming down the road noting that the blaze was the first major residential fire this year in Canal Fulton The two-story, wood home at 852 Canal Street S should be deemed a total loss, said Yerian, adding that the cause is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal There were no injuries to the four family members living at the home according to a family member of the residents The family residing at the home has been displaced and is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross Money matters: Canal Fulton worried about promised federal funding for new water tower The fire originated on the home's second floor and took approximately 90 minutes to extinguish Firefighters returned to their station around 8 a.m "There will be a lot of work to repair (the property)," said the chief adding that firefighters will check for hot spots throughout the day Assisting Canal Fulton-Lawrence Township at the fire were departments from Massillon Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE Stark County voters will head to the polls Tuesday to decide on primary contests in Canton Massillon and Alliance and state and local issues Voters can cast ballots at their local precinct. Check the Stark County Board of Elections website to find your polling place Early voting in person at the Board of Elections Office at 3525 Regent Avenue NE in Canton concludes Sunday If you are returning an absentee ballot by mail it must be postmarked by Monday and received by the elections board no later than four days after the election If returning an absentee ballot in person to the drop box at the elections board office, it must be received by 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. A close family member or an assistant to a disabled voter may also drop off your ballot One statewide issue aims to increase funding for public works projects like roads The measure will appear on the ballot as Issue 2 and is a renewal of the state capital improvement program the measure would authorize the state to increase the cap on issuing general obligation bonds from $200 million per year to $250 million per year The money would fund grants to local governments for infrastructure projects More: Issue 2 on May ballot would help pay for roads, bridges - not Cleveland Browns stadium Voters across Stark County will decide on a 1.4-mill replacement levy for Children Services The previous levy for Children Services passed in 2019 and expires this year County officials said the levy is needed to cover care and placement of abused neglected and delinquent children in the county Child placement costs have gone up significantly in recent years The replacement levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $49 per year in taxes and would be billed on new home valuations assigned in the reappraisal last year It would generate $18,733,000 per year for the agency More: Stark County Children Services seeks replacement levy to cover child placement costs Also on the ballot are primary contests in Alliance The Louisville Public Library and Mohawk Valley Joint Fire District also have renewal levies on the ballot To view a sample ballot, visit the Stark County Board of Elections website and click "Show me my ballot" located in the top carousel Primary: 'I wish my successor the best.' Alliance Law Director Caitlyn Weyer drops out of primary Three precincts in Canal Fulton are moving locations due to the elimination of two previous polling locations will now vote at the Northwest Stark Senior Center previously assigned to the Northwest Stark Senior Center and Canal Fulton D previously assigned to Canal Fulton Christian Fellowship will both now vote at the SAM Veterans' Resource Center is moving from Zion Lutheran Church to Canton Baptist Temple Activity Center will move from Crosspoint United Methodist Church to St Three precincts in Lawrence Township have also changed previously assigned to the Northwest Stark Senior Center previously assigned to the Canal Fulton Christian Fellowship will now vote at the SAM Veterans' Resource Center More: Some Stark County polling locations are changing for the May 6 primary. See which ones Ohio law requires in person voters to present an unexpired photo ID An unexpired ID with a former address is acceptable as long as your current address is up-to-date in the pollbook Voters without a valid photo ID can cast a provisional ballot Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCANAL FULTON Ohio (WOIO) - The Canal Fulton Police Department is mourning the passing of retired K-9 Bishop whose four paws enforced the laws for eight years “It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Retired K-9 Bishop a truly dedicated and courageous partner to Sgt and beloved member of our department," CFPD shared on Mar CFPD said K-9 Bishop “faithfully” served the Canal Fulton community from 2013-2021 After assisting in “countless operations and apprehensions” alongside his partner in fighting crime CFPD said K-9 Bishop got to spend his golden years at home with Sgt Barabasch “as a devoted protector of their family and the most loyal best friend.” Barabasch and his family during this difficult time," CFPD stated “Thank you Bishop for your unwavering loyalty CFPD shared a dozen sweet photos of K-9 Bishop’s life when he wasn’t on “paw-trol”: CANAL FULTON, Ohio (TNND) — A World War II veteran extended an invitation to a certain guest he hopes will help him celebrate his 104th birthday: President Donald Trump In video that's circulating on social media saying he would be honored if Trump attends his party Moore goes on to tell Trump the party is set for May 17 from 1 p.m who is wearing a red "MAGA" hat in the video says he was thrilled he got the opportunity to vote for Trump "I hope I can vote for you some more," he says A woman off-camera also urges Trump to attend Moore's celebration "You should come visit him," the woman says "He wants you here for his birthday." The video was first shared on TikTok -- and it has since gone viral with people wishing Moore a happy birthday as well as encouraging the president to make sure he attends the celebration "Make this hero's dream come true!!," one person wrote Others asked if they could send Moore gifts and cards Happy Birthday and Thank you for your service sir!!" another person noted Moore told WEWS he loves America “It’s a wonderful country,” he told the media outlet Moore is now living at Danbury Senior Living Community in Massillon after serving his country and raising his family, according to WEWS His loved ones helped him record the video “If this makes him happy, then great," Moore's son, Rich, told WEWS Moore said he hopes Trump accepts the invitation “It’d be nice if he comes to my party,” Moore told WEWS CANAL FULTON – Work continues on a new city water tower despite the uncertainty of federal funds promised for the project Mayor Joe Shultz said the construction was completed last month He hopes the new tower will provide city water to at least 32 residents and spur additional housing development It is expected to be operational this summer He's hopeful that when the project is complete the city will receive $500,000 in federal funds are under review after President Donald Trump paused funding while his administration works to ensure that spending complies with the numerous executive orders put in place Sykes' communication director Geoffrey Knight said the congresswoman and staff are seeking information from the administration daily but have not received many answers “The status of the Canal Fulton water tower funds and all the community project funding is unknown The current spending bill gives the Trump administration the ability to redirect funds for Ohio's 13th district to go elsewhere," Sykes said in a statement "That means your tax dollars will go elsewhere as funds for our community will be used to pay for tax giveaways for the ultra-wealthy to buy jets and yachts while people in Canal Fulton will pay more for water.” Schultz remains optimistic the water tower project will receive the promised funds and that's what the government should be investing in It's a legitimate project to bring water to people who need it." The city cannot request the federal funding payment until the project is complete "Hopefully things will be resolved by then," Schultz said Roseman Construction began work on the 150,000-gallon tower about a year ago Weather slowed the progress as workers could not continue in temperatures below 20 degrees The next step is painting and installation of the booster pump they told us the bad news that the booster pump was 52 weeks out," Schultz said Prep work will begin with supply lines and a concrete pad poured for the pump Painting cannot begin until temperatures improve About a month after taking office as mayor Schultz heard from a resident who questioned if he could hook into the city water system after he saw a hydrant being installed on Wooster Street Schultz was shocked that some city residents were unable to get water from the city system The existing water tank behind the former fire station on state Route 93 could not create enough pressure to provide water to residents living higher than the tank The new tank is at an elevation of about 1,200 feet The city has another water tower behind the Skipco property on Elm Ridge Avenue Officials are hopeful the addition of city water will help attract developers There is vacant land that could be developed into housing allotments "It's hard to find developers without water and sewage," he said The project cost is expected to be around $4.3 million but Schultz believes it may come in under budget Officials are considering extending the waterline another 1,000 feet to state Route 21 The city received a $2 million grant for the project from the Ohio Public Works Commission and two 30-year loans — $1.3 million from the Ohio Water Development Authority and $900,000 from the commission will be used to pay down the low-interest loans It's been eight years of persistence for Schultz and he hopes the federal funding issue doesn't complicate it purchasing the land and finally it is coming to fruition," he said city of Canton get America 250-Ohio grantsCanton RepositoryThe Canal Fulton Heritage Society and the city of Canton each have been awarded $5,000 America 250-Ohio grants for funding programs and initiatives commemorating Ohio’s contribution to American history America 250-Ohio is the official state commission responsible for spearheading Ohio's celebrations and commemorations around America’s semi-quincentennial in 2026 The $5,000 grant is meant to help awardees plan organize and implement a program or event that aligns with America 250-Ohio initiatives in two broad categories: Storytelling and Education (Next Generation Citizens) Fifty-seven grants were approved providing projects in 47 Ohio counties Here are summaries of the Canal Fulton Heritage Society and the city of Canton projects Canal Fulton police want to know who owns dog found dead at city parkMassillon IndependentCANAL FULTON – Police are seeking the public's assistance in finding the owner of a dead dog found Thursday at a popular city park The German shepherd appeared to be young, very famished and skinny when found at the Canal Fulton Dog Park at 5500 Butterbridge Road NW, police said on Facebook The dog was likely left at the park between 8:15 a.m Anyone with information to help identify the owner is asked to call police at 330-854-2211 A phone message left with Canal Fulton police Friday morning was not immediately returned (This story was updated to fix an inaccuracy.) CANTON ‒ Polling locations in Canal Fulton Jackson Township and Canton have recently changed for the May 6 primary in Stark County Polling locations often are adjusted when the number of voters becomes too big or too small or a location is no longer able to host the precinct The Stark County Board of Elections maintains current voting precincts. Find your polling location by visiting their website Here are the precincts affected by recent changes: Canal Fulton Christian Fellowship can no longer be a polling location The Board of Elections will also stop using St Seven affected precincts in Canal Fulton and Lawrence Township will be assigned to the Northwest Stark Senior Center or SAM Veterans' Resource Center Canal Fulton A will remain at Northwest Stark Senior Center Zion Lutheran Church no longer wants to be a polling location Those voters will now join four other precincts at Canton Baptist Temple Activity Center 23 and 30 will remain at Crosspoint United Methodist Church CANAL FULTON − America was on the cusp of introducing the world to rock 'n' roll in 1954 The big bands and orchestras of the war years were waning in popularity — but not entirely the Canal Fulton Community Band made its debut Members of the 75-person ensemble range from teenagers to three members who are over 80 All of the participants performed in their high school bands and almost half played at the college level and four majored in music studies in college The band performs between five and 10 free concerts Group stops singing: Stark County's Arion Singing Society will say 'auf wiedersehen' after 130 years Conductor: 'There are no prima donnas'Kent State University professor emeritus Patricia Grutzmacher who served as conductor and music director from 2004 to 2017 whose father-in-law and father started the band," she said then he gave me a couple of pieces to conduct Grutzmacher is the teacher you wish you would have had in school But when she picks up her conductor's baton She hears musical missteps the average person would never notice "You have to play the notes musically," she explained Grutzmacher described the band as a "true community." They come here because they like to make music together It's not a kind of organization where people are in and out all the time Some of the members here have played regularly for 40 years." Grutzmacher added that the band is also an important source of social interaction for some members who are widowed or who live alone The band's assistant conductor is Steve Grimo a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who served as commander of the U.S Grimo served as director of music at Nazarene Bible College and director of bands at Malone University until his retirement The nonprofit band was started by Art Ulmer and Robert Reid where Ulmer formed the Galion Booster Band for their high school in the 1930s They reconnected in the 1950s after Ulmer moved to Berea Northwest High School's longtime band director are a married couple who have played in the band since 1954 She plays the French horn and he plays the trombone and tuba the Canal Fulton Community Band is not just a hobby — it's their birthright Jane Ulmer said she has been playing in the band she was in the eighth grade "Art had the music and my dad had the people," she said was the first to call the ensemble the Canal Fulton Community Band Hass incorporated the group as a nonprofit in 2010 it officially became the Canal Fulton Music Makers Concert Band Inc the band has performed numerous concerts throughout the region One the band's newest members is Sharon Short a clarinet player who moved to Canal Fulton from Seattle in 2022 "I found the band before we found our house," she said with a laugh "I played in a community band in Seattle for 12 years I attended my first rehearsal even before our furniture arrived Mark Esber first picked up the saxophone when he was 16 but set it aside for a while for family and job obligations previously performing with the Akron Big Band and DJ's Rock & Roll Big Band Cheryl Vernier of Canton Township said her husband Vernier played trombone with the University of Mount Union Marching Band and in Mount Union's Brass Choir and it's a way for them to stay involved in their community." Sunday's concert will feature two works composed and conducted by John Pasternak "Bend the Iron," was composed in honor of Hass a Massillon City Schools music teacher and bass trombonist with the band "If at the end of the rehearsal they're still smiling the band will perform "Christmas at Frist Church" at First United Methodist Church New members are welcome. Rehearsals for the summer 20205 season began at 7 p.m. March 10 at the Northwest Middle School Band Room. To learn more visit https://www.facebook.com/canalfultoncommunitybandinc/ Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com CANAL FULTON – The Barrel Room on Canal is a cozy welcoming spot frequented by locals and visitors alike I hadn’t been inside the building since it was home to V Li’s Thai Cuisine When the Thai restaurant closed in January 2018 Keri Sullivan purchased the historic building at 129 N She envisioned a second location for The Barrel Room Wine and Beer Bar in Plain Township the Tuscarawas River flooded into the Ohio-Erie Canal bringing 4½ feet of water into the basement and damaging essential utilities The Barrel Room on Canal officially opened Aug even navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic First impressions and ambienceMy friend Audrey Perry and I arrived early one evening to enjoy the spring-like weather and a good meal was immediately drawn to the rustic décor and exposed brick warmly greeted us while efficiently handling the bar creating a perfect setting for an enjoyable evening while I tried the Mexican street corn dip ($8) The street corn dip was well-seasoned with plenty of corn and served with warm tortilla chips − a great start to the meal The menu features dine-in-only daily specials which turned out to be one of the best I’ve had in a long time Generously sized with a crispy yet sturdy crust the Buffalo chicken mixture delivered a flavorful kick Perry ordered a house caesar salad ($12 large/$6 small) and swapped red onion for a hard-boiled egg ($1 upcharge) Havyn checked in on us and noted that gluten-free options including a cauliflower crust for flatbreads The menu also features a variety of small bites like wings ($10) fried pickle chips ($8) and sautéed pierogies ($8) Tuesday is Wing Night − $8 wings with a select domestic beer or fountain drink and Thursday is Burger Night − $10 burger and fries also including a select domestic beer or fountain drink the menu includes an array of creative burgers ($13 to $15) certified Angus beef loin steak ($24) and blackened chicken alfredo pasta ($15) All entrées except the pasta come with a choice of sides Oakwood Square: Bella's Pizzeria has opened The wine list features Barrel Room select options, plus various white and red wines by the glass or bottle. Beer lovers can check the current selection via the Untappd app head upstairs to Sully’s Speakeasy for a handcrafted cocktail Perry ordered a slice of the lemon berry mascarpone cake ($6.50) it had flavors reminiscent of ricotta cheesecake − a perfect sweet ending and the brick-lined outdoor seating area was bustling with people and their pets enjoying the warm evening and good company hospitality and delicious food into one memorable experience Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday Food & Drink reporter for The Canton Repository can be reached at bshaffer@gannett.com or 330-580-8318 (This story was updated with additional information.) MASSILLON ‒ An 81-year-old woman has been charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter in connection with an Oct. 4 collision at Angello's 2 Go that killed a customer O'Donnell of Canal Fulton is scheduled to be arraigned Dec No attorney is listed for O'Donnell in court records A message was left Thursday morning on her home phone offering the opportunity to comment on the case O'Donnell told the investigating officer that she thought she pressed the brake pedal as she entered the parking lot of the Jackson Township restaurant The crash killed 69-year-old customer Andrew Grosschmidt of Plain Township who had been standing inside at the restaurant's counter when the sport utility vehicle went through the front window He was pinned to the restaurant's counter for more than 21 minutes Fatal crash: Angello's 2 Go customer dies after vehicle crashes into Jackson Township restaurant His 10-year-old granddaughter was standing between the car and the coolers The crash report prepared by a Jackson Township officer said the motorist was "extremely emotional" after the collision Vehicular homicide is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine Vehicular manslaughter is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine O'Donnell is also charged with operating without reasonable control a minor misdmeanor punishable by a $150 fine Restaurant rebounds: Angello's 2 Go pizza shop reopens nearly 2 weeks after fatal crash Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com CANAL FULTON ‒ Paulette Daniels and Don Baker founded the Canal Fulton Canoe Livery & Campground in 1999 with a mission to create a place where visitors could connect with nature in a friendly and clean environment And they continue working to keep out litter and maintain the area along the Tuscarawas River and the Ralph Regula Towpath Trail that runs along it have become a blight on the landscape enjoyed by deer Daniels and Baker initiated monthly river cleanup events in May These efforts brought together a diverse group of volunteers the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and others The result: 194 discarded tires were pulled from the Tuscarawas River In May, volunteers pulled 19 tires from the river. By June, that number had risen to 36. The livery paid out of pocket to recycle 55 tires, sending them to the Stark, Tuscarawas & Wayne County Solid Waste District Daniels soon realized the scope of the issue was beyond their means When the tire count surpassed 100, she reached out to the Ohio EPA for assistance The state agency agreed to remove and properly dispose of the tires at no cost to the livery "Any trash, but especially tires, dumped in the river poses a host of problems for our guests and the environment," Daniels said. "They clog up the river, and old tires that have settled on the riverbanks hold standing water where mosquitoes can breed creating the perfect environment for the spread of diseases such as West Nile virus." Daniels emphasized the legality of the issue "It's illegal to dump waste into the rivers and waterways I want to encourage people to report any suspicious activity in the hopes of stopping it." the Canal Fulton Canoe Livery & Campground may host one final clean-up event in September Information will be posted on the business' Facebook page Reach Bev at bshaffer@gannett.com or 330-580-8318 Ohio (WOIO) - Police are looking for the owner of a German Shepherd that was found dead inside the city’s dog park Thursday Police said the young and very emaciated dog was left at the dog park between 8:15 a.m Anyone who has any information is asked to call Sgt Barabasch or Officer Polka at (330) 854-2211 Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application surrounded by his family at his home in Canal Fulton He later moved to Canal Fulton with his wife Gail and retired at 56 from Consolidated Freightways where he dedicated more than 35 years of service Gary had a passion for cars and spent many hours of his life tinkering in the garage building motors and restoring classic cars with longtime friends and his son he was active in competitive drag racing at tracks throughout Ohio and was a regular at Dragway 42 and Norwalk Raceway Park He was also a longtime North Lawrence Fish and Game Club member and an avid gun collector Gary was a generous and loyal man and will be remembered for his gift of gab and his ability to spot a Hardees from a mile away Gary was preceded in death by both of his parents He is survived by his wife of over 33 years and Gary (Bethany) Wilson; grandchildren Malachi (Jordan) Miller and Cameron Wilson; and great-grandchildren Levi and Elsie; his sister Debi Wilson There will be a celebration of life gathering for family and close friends to be announced at a later date If you wish to make a donation in honor of Gary please consider donating to the Tunnel 2 Towers foundation To share a memory of Gary or leave a special message for his family This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInAutoplayCrime Canal Fulton receives $500,000 in federal funds for water tower constructionCanton RepositoryCanal Fulton City CouncilTuesday meeting KEY ACTION: Heard that the city received $500,000 in federal money for construction of the west side water tower council heard that Canal Fulton and Lawrence Township residents who have an access card to the city’s yard waste site may pick up free mulch during open hours road grindings are available to anyone for $10 per ton at the former road garage on Water Street Work sessions and meetings are livestreamed and recorded Videos may be viewed on the city’s Facebook page CANAL FULTON – Echoing Hills Village is close to welcoming people to new independent living facilities in the city as a $7 million construction and renovation project has concluded The facilities will house residents who have physical and intellectual disabilities Ohio-based nonprofit hosted a recent open house inside one of its new city homes at 2031 Locust St "This location (and others in Canal Fulton) will be incredible for incoming residents and a gamechanger for our staff," said Ray Schmidt adding that residents should start moving into the facility in mid-December or early January Echoing Hills now has a handful of housing centers in the city — new or remodeled Each building can accommodate up to six long-term residents People coming into Echoing Hills have conditions such as cerebral palsy or may suffer from a traumatic brain injury prior to age 22 Housing units are primarily funded by Medicaid "We expect close bonds to be developed with just six people (per home)," said Schmidt touting relationships between residents and employees A full-time nursing staff and support professionals who assist with cooking and cleaning are assigned to each housing unit president and chief executive officer of Echoing Hills On Locust Street, two new homes sit on a 1.68-acre lot, which also is the site of an Echoing Hills' regional office for Stark and Summit counties Each housing unit has about 3,800 square feet of living space and has a large kitchen Echoing Hills operates five homes in Canal Fulton — the two new structures along Locust Street and another pair on Waterside Avenue Ground breaking: New Echoing Hills to serve clients with developmental, intellectual disabilities There are little recreational features at the living center as residents are encouraged to engage with the community at public parks The bulk of residents are expected to participate in adult day programs or part-time jobs around Canal Fulton Construction at the Echoing Hills' Locust Street project started in August 2023 and concluded in October of this year The facility is tucked between Canal Fulton Christian Fellowship church and The Armory and Indoor Range "It's great to be here (in western Stark County) and serving people who benefit from our (mission)," Neville said CANAL FULTON – The 56th Olde Canal Days Festival kicked off this week in much of downtown The festival draws a number of food vendors and has a plethora of amusement rides Part of the Canal Days' mission is to showcase the city and many of its businesses and residents "We sometimes call it a reunion for people who haven't seen each other in years," Canal Fulton Mayor Joe Schultz said it's an opportunity to come see our beautiful downtown and enjoy." Music show: Massillon's 2024 Summer Concert Series lineup is now set. Here's who plays The event will have multiple local vendors About two-dozen food vendors are offering everything from funnel cakes and candy apples to gourmet nachos and lemonade Craft vendors are likely to total near 50, said Sara Batko, who serves as Canal Days chairwoman. Bates Brothers Amusements will offer fair rides Funds for the Olde Canal Day Museum and the St. Helena III canal boat are also raised over the three-day event The annual Grand Parade originally planned for Saturday has been canceled as a safety precaution due to the chance of thunderstorms Fireworks have been rescheduled for 10 p.m today due to inclement weather chances on Saturday Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and a blanket for during the fireworks Live music remains on schedule for two days of the event starting at 7 p.m. New Wave Nation is to perform today and Floyd Live on Saturday Music performances have been moved from Canal Street to the amphitheater at St. Helena Heritage Park Batko said the park stage has a better sound system and more space for musicians "We're looking forward to seeing how this change goes," said Batko noting that the city's summer concerts are held at the amphitheater Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X: @sgrazierINDE More details: Visit http://discovercanalfultonevents.com/oldecanaldaysevents.htm