NORTH CANTON – Eric Bornstine has been hired as treasurer of North Canton City Schools The Board of Education approved his appointment during a special meeting on Monday who serves as Hoover High School principal Walker will take over as the district's top leader upon the retirement of Superintendent Jeff Wendorf The hiring was announced in a news release Officials couldn't be reached for comment on Bornstine's contract or salary The board conducted an external and internal search for Walker's replacement with the help of the Stark County Educational Service Center and ESC Superintendent Joe Chaddock and implemented programs that strengthened academic performance and financial efficiency Bornstine also served as principal at Northwest High School and associate principal at Wooster High School "We are thrilled to have Eric transition into the role of treasurer," board President Jessica Stroia said in a prepared statement "Eric has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our students and dedication to educational excellence make him an outstanding choice to steward the district's resources We are excited to work alongside him in this new capacity." Bornstine has a treasurer's license and holds licenses as a superintendent principal and teacher in mathematics and chemistry He has earned several advanced degrees from Ashland University and the University of Akron "I am honored to continue serving the students and community of North Canton City Schools in this new role," Bornstine said in a prepared statement "I look forward to ensuring that our financial operations continue to support the high standards of achievement for which North Canton is known." What: The Cubs of the North Canton Little League's Major League (11 and 12 year olds) up to bat against the Phillies Where: The city-owned Hoover Community Recreation Complex on East Maple Street contains eight baseball diamonds The story: North Canton was the first Little League created west of the Allegheny Mountains when it was chartered in 1948 The league played in the first-ever game in Ohio Casual observers may not realize "Little League" is not a generic term for youth baseball Little League is a specific worldwide organization founded in Williamsport in 1939 — it has 2 million participants around the globe Youth sports have changed through the years the growth of travel ball has contributed to the decline in the number of community Little Leagues the league began a travel ball program so that the two approaches could co-exist Travel players also play on one of the community league teams Giammarco wears a bulky lanyard of keys around his neck on game nights He heaped praise on all those who make the league function especially Tom Meder who "does everything." Giammarco touted the virtues of Little League which he said can be missing in other youth formats the stringent pitch count and rest day rules to protect young arms He pointed to a "Developing Major League People" sign on a fenced backstop "That's what this is all about," Giammarco said Reach Tim at 330-580-8333 or tim.botos@cantonrep.com.On X: @tbotosREP CANTON − A North Canton man is set to serve at least three years in prison for stealing at least $300,000 from a relative with dementia doesn't have to report to state prison until after the 5th District Court of Appeals has ruled on his appeal Visiting Judge James Kimbler ruled during a roughly 20-minute sentencing hearing Friday afternoon in Stark County Common Pleas Court The judge sentenced Owens to three to four and a half years in prison and ordered him to repay his great aunt at least $303,000 in restitution found Owens guilty of two first-degree felony counts of theft from a person in a protected class Owens resigned from his job as the division supervisor overseeing the Stark County Auditor's Weights and Measures Department Related: Former Stark County worker quits after conviction for stealing from elderly relative Arguments over Nick Owens' sentenceCounty prosecutors lobbied for a sentence of at least four years arguing that Owens has shown no remorse after he took advantage of his 96-year-old great aunt They contend Owens took $550,000 from 2020 to 2024 But if they gave every benefit of the doubt to Owens the number Kimbler chose to use in determining restitution Family members became suspicious of how Owens was managing his great aunt's finances under a power of attorney she had given him They filed a criminal complaint with North Canton police Owens' attorneys argued for no prison time They said their client has no criminal record and is not a threat to public safety And the theft had not resulted in his great aunt losing her daily nursing-home care because she still has substantial assets Owens said in a statement to the judge before he was sentenced "I understand the seriousness of this situation And I understand the responsibility I carry not just as a public servant I want the court to know that I will never risk being in this position like this ever again." Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Chelsea Small said she would have preferred sheriff's deputies had immediately taken Owens into custody Friday Three years was the minimum prison sentence Owens faced a maximum prison sentence of more than 20 years Related: Stark County worker accused of stealing $550K, two cars from great aunt The judge agreed to allow Owens to remain free on bond of $100,000 where he has to post at least $10,000 pending his appeal challenging his conviction Kimbler said he normally orders defendants heading to prison to be taken into custody immediately But he expressed concern that incarcerating Owens would complicate the civil suits filed against him by his great aunt's attorney and her trust Owens can continue to work in his new job as an apprentice meat cutter for $18 an hour Owens made a restitution payment of $110,000 Thursday have placed their North Canton home up for sale to pay the rest of the restitution 'Greedy thief'Small read to the judge letters signed by Nicholas Owens' brother Christopher Owens and their sister Jamie Sweeney Both of Nicholas Owen's siblings called for the judge to impose a prison sentence Christopher Owens wrote that Nicholas Owens was charged the two had had only one phone conversation and seen each other during the trial "Both interactions were filled with hate and anger towards me and (he expressed that) everyone had contributed to him being in this situation Nicholas cast blame on everyone else and never once indicated that he could have done something wrong Nor did he suggest that he would do anything to make it right or prove his innocence." "The betrayal of trust and calculated nature of this crime has deeply affected our entire family It is heartbreaking to know that someone would take advantage of a vulnerable elderly woman for personal gain Nicholas not only stole money but also took advantage of her weakened mental state leaving emotional and financial scars that can never be fully repaired a fair and appropriate jail sentence will send us a clear message that exploitation of the elderly will not be tolerated." Small told the judge that "Nicholas Owens is a greedy thief who (has placed) the blame on everyone else except himself He took advantage of one our most vulnerable populations The elderly suffering from cognitive decline Small said Owens tried to conceal his theft by creating a joint bank account for him and his great aunt The great aunt listed other heirs and beneficiaries in her will besides him such as charities Small argued that Owens also stole from those charities And the prosecutor said Owens should have known better because he was a county official Owens' attorneys provided to the judge 60 letters attesting to his character by friends and family members Owens has no record," said his other attorney who argued that Owen's two siblings didn't have extensive contact with their great aunt This was not caused by a substance abuse problem She argued that while her client maintains his innocence he's deeply remorseful about his actions and wants the chance again to speak with his great aunt NORTH CANTON – The North Canton City Schools Board of Education on Wednesday morning named Tim Walker to serve as the district's next superintendent Walker, the district treasurer, replaces Jeff Wendorf, who is set to retire June 30 after nearly a decade in the top role the board approved a three-year contract for Walker The board did not conduct an external search for Wendorf's successor Officials believed they had strong internal candidates Officials declined to provide the names of the candidates "We are thrilled to welcome Tim into his new role as superintendent," board President Jessica Stroia said vision and commitment to education will continue to build on the success of our district I look forward to working together to support our students about 4,300 students and a $56 million annual budget with the remainder of the contract details still being negotiated More: Hoover AD Tim Walker: Four reasons to play high school sports Walker joined the district in 2016 as athletic director after a 15-year stint as a college basketball coach including seven seasons as Malone University's head coach and was an instructor in the College Experience and in the health and human performance department He also spent a year with a medical device manufacturer He started his career in higher education at Trinity Christian College in Chicago where he was the men's basketball coach and held various academic and administrative positions and served as chair of the physical education department He has served in various administrative roles in North Canton including director of development and special projects overseeing the $60 million construction of the district's primary and intermediate schools and athletic facility upgrades In January 2024, he became the district's treasurer when longtime treasurer Todd Tolson retired His children attended North Canton schools a 2021 grad who is set to graduate from Mount Vernon Nazarene University this spring after finishing student teaching; Grant a 2024 grad and freshman at Ohio State University; TJ who will graduate from Hoover this spring; and eighth grader Callan Excited about stepping into the role as the district's top administrator Walker said it was never his goal to become the superintendent in North Canton "I just take each opportunity as it comes," the 48-year-old said "I've been fortunate to be surrounded by really good leaders and I have been given the opportunity to learn and grow This is just another opportunity that presented itself and it is in a place that has a lot of great community support and great people on the leadership team and a great staff His mother was a public school elementary teacher and his dad was a college professor Walker has a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in sports science He has his State of Ohio treasurer license and is pursuing a Master of Business Administration at the University of Akron School board member Robert Roden praised Walker's accomplishments "Tim has excelled in every task assigned at North Canton City Schools but understands that he has achieved nothing alone," Roden said "He believes that our district is fortunate to have high-quality leadership at all levels and looks forward to collaborating with them our parents and the community to ensure the children we serve have what they need to succeed.”  What's next for Tim Walker at North Canton?Walker will spend the next few weeks working with Wendorf and building a strong foundation for next school year including finding his replacement as treasurer "Spring is a time when we solidify our teachers and administrators," he said I will largely be working with Jeff and the rest of the team at the district office to make sure we have everything in place and everyone in the right seat on the bus for next year." "Jeff Wendorf is the best in the business," he said "He has been a phenomenal leader for the last nine years and a mentor to me I've just tried to learn as much as I could over the last nine years There is no vision I am going to be a Jeff Wendorf but I think I can take the things I learned from Jeff and other leaders and continue to move the district forward." There are a lot of exciting things happening in the district as construction of the district's new middle school is set to begin in June and a new welding lab will open in August adding that there will always be challenges in public education Walker is confident that the leadership team they have in place will be able to handle the challenges presented to them "I'm really excited about the opportunity and excited for what's ahead We have a great community and we feel very blessed as a family to be part of this community I'm looking forward to the opportunity to serve and I am humbled to be in the role." This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information when it's available Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com NORTH CANTON − The Sheetz at 1415 Pittsburg Ave NW has been demolished for a complete rebuild "Sheetz is excited to be offering its loyal customers in North Canton a new store that will include an enhanced restaurant-style experience with additional self-service kiosks Made-To-Order points and self-checkout stations," public affairs manager Nick Ruffner said in a prepared statement which will include a drive-thru and car wash is expected to reopen to the public in mid- to late September." The gas station closed on April 13 and the building was torn down Employees at the North Canton store were relocated during the remodel Pennsylvania-based convenience store and gas station chain has more than 760 locations in Ohio Gas prices in Canton, Ohio drop below $3According to GasBuddy April 28 is below $3 at many area locations That includes a low of $2.59 at Costco at 4867 Huckleberry St NW NORTH CANTON ‒ Residents who use the city's electricity aggregation program will experience a near-doubling of electricity supply rates next month The rate will jump from 4.34 cents to 8.14 cents per kilowatt-hour Then the rates will soar higher after that at least through December Related: Electricity rates set to drastically rise in 2025 for thousands of Stark customers Related: 'Strength in numbers.' North Canton joins NOPEC to minimize electricity rate hike City Council in late February approved the city joining NOPEC or Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council a council of governments based in Solon made up then of about 250 cities Massillon and Paris Township also agreed to join After many Stark communities locked in low electricity supply rates in 2021 those rates are expiring this year amid soaring electricity rates fueled in part by more data centers to drive artificial intelligence and perform massive computing tasks "All communities are facing this," said Young The electricity supply rates are different from the rates charged by AEP and Ohio Edison for distribution and transmission Transition to higher electric rates in North CantonThe city's four-year electricity aggregation rate with Dynergy of 4.34 cents per kilowatt-hour expires this month Because NOPEC's term rates don't start until June of each year North Canton electricity aggregation customers will be charged a rate of 8.14 cents per kilowatt-hour by AEP during the one-month gap between contracts Residents will get a letter from AEP informing them of this rate North Canton aggregation customers will receive letters from NOPEC presenting them with a choice They can opt for the standard rate from June until December of 8.929 cents per kilowatt-hour with the hope rates drop after December They can lock in a 12-month rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour starting in June Or they can lock in a 24-month rate of 9 cents per kilowatt-hour spending more in exchange for more certainty "You need to make the choice that's best for you and your household," said Young He said if the city had stuck with Dynergy its rate would have jumped to 9.44 cents per kilowatt-hour City Director of Administration Catherine Farina said She added that she's in talks with NOPEC on scheduling education sessions on the new rates for the public They start running their air conditioner this summer Those now in North Canton's electricity aggregation program who take no action will automatically get the variable AEP rate of 8.14 cents per kilowatt-hour in May and 8.929 cents per kilowatt hour from June to December NOPEC will strike a new rate for the months after that Customers can opt out of North Canton's electricity aggregation program for free and go with AEP's variable rate by default or choose another supplier's offer on the Public Utility Commission of Ohio's Apples-to-Apples Comparison website Many of those suppliers will offer a lower rate coupled with a monthly fee City residents enrolled in another plan will not be switched to the city's electricity aggregation program unless those residents fill out to the paperwork to opt in the proposed permanent half-percent increase in the city's income tax rate on the May 6 ballot City Council members unanimously pledged in a resolution that if voters approve the income-tax hike from 1.5% to 2% council will end three levies on city property owners' tax bills to help offset the cost of the income tax increase It would not seek to renew a 1-mill street levy that ends this year council has promised to repeal a 3.3-mill emergency-medical services levy that funds paramedic and ambulance services and a 1.5-mill fire levy that funds the fire department Collections for the EMS and fire levies are set to end in 2027 The income tax increase would provide an estimated $3.6 million or $3.7 million more a year Most of that would replace the $2.7 million lost from the end of the three levies The remaining $1 million a year would fund repayments of probably 25-year-bonds to finance a new $16 million fire station on Viking Street NW Related: What's new for 2025 in North Canton? Income tax request, new water well and Kraus' Pizza Swapping property taxes for income taxes comes with advantages The income tax hike would be permanent while officials would have to seek voters' approval to renew and replace the fire State law caps revenue from property taxes approved by voters Income tax revenue tends to rise with inflation as people get pay raises and the city attracts new jobs The end or repeal of those three levies would reduce the cost of a North Canton property owner's current tax bill by about $131 per $100,000 in property valuation per year according to the Stark County Auditor's office So retirees who own property in the city and do not work would reap those savings and not have to pay any of the income tax increase The burden of the tax swap would fall on non-city residents who work in North Canton and don't own property While they would have to pay 0.5% of their income The city has posted an online calculator to help residents determine how much the income tax hike would cost them and how much they would save if the three other levies are eliminated the current council or a future council can legally spend the funding from the income tax hike "for the purposes of general municipal operations extension and enlargement of municipal services and facilities and capital improvements," according to the ballot language Once the city has repaid in about 25 years what it borrowed to pay for the fire station a future council can decide to spend the freed-up funds on just about any general municipal purpose the income tax increase would remain in effect in perpetuity after the city repays the bonds City officials have said North Canton is in dire need of a new fire station which might be built and open by 2027 or 2028 New fire vehicles can't fit into the vehicle bay of the current fire station on North Main Street The current fire station does not have a negative pressure environment and decontaminating equipment the new station would have to prevent toxic substances from fire scenes contaminating the entire station and firefighters' homes Officials say there's insufficient space for sleep quarters showers and offices that would provide enough privacy The city would keep on the books two permanent levies to fund the fire department A 1-mill EMS levy and 0.5-mill levy approved by voters in March 2012 that in total cost the owner of a $100,000 home nearly $26 a year Both levies raise a total of about $590,000 a year for every $50,000 in earned income per year city taxpayers would pay an additional $250 City residents who work in other cities and pay income taxes in other cities would not be shielded from the income tax increase They would still enjoy a credit on the 1.5% of their income But they would have to pay to North Canton that 0.5% increase no matter where elsewhere in Ohio they work Social Security income or pension payments would be exempt from the city income tax increase Those who own homes in North Canton and work would have to pay the income tax increase but the property tax savings would partially or entirely offset that cost Those who rent their home in North Canton and those don't own any property in North Canton and work there would have to pay the 0.5% income-tax rate increase Farina-Molnar said she's hoping the city can attract additional jobs and the higher revenue from the income tax would cover that road resurfacing after the funds are exhausted in four years In addition, the Hoover Foundation has pledged to donate $750,000 to help cover the costs of the North Canton fire station This is the latest attempt by council to get voters' approval of tax increases to help fund the fire station Editor's note: The Canton Repository is asking leaders in every Stark County township, village and city to share some highlights of what they have planned in 2025 for their communities We will present these community highlights to you throughout the next few months drilling at the city-owned golf course and new businesses along Main Street this year Here is what’s planned for 2025 in the city of roughly 18,000 residents: City residents will decide on the May 6 election ballot whether to increase the city’s income tax from 1.5% to 2% North Canton City Council has pledged through a resolution to not renew replace or seek an alternative property tax for the city's existing 1-mill street property tax levy 1.5-mill fire levy and 3.3-mill emergency medical services levy Council also has pledged to not seek a separate levy to construct a consolidated fire and emergency medical services facility every North Canton resident who earns income taxable by the city would pay an additional 0.5% of their income to North Canton no matter where they work Nonresidents who work in North Canton would pay 0.5% of their income to North Canton public assistance and certain income earned by a child under age 18 would be exempt The half-percent increase is expected to generate $3.7 million more annually and council has said it would spent as follows: City Administrator Catherine Farina-Molnar said the allocations for the new station and street paving are fixed amounts If the additional income tax would generate more money than expected the extra revenue would go toward fire department operations first council plans to seek renewals or replacements of the 1.5-mill fire levy as well as seek a new 1.5-mill levy to build the fire and EMS station the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $511 a year The first phase of the $2 million project is expected to cost roughly $514,000 and is expected to be completed by March 31 The second phase will include building a pump station and adding waterlines A $1.2 million Ohio Public Works Commission grant, a $300,000 no-interest state public works commission loan and a $500,000 federal grant will help pay for the project Two sections of Main Street will be resurfaced this year: From 50th Street SE to Knoll Street SE and from Rose Lane Street to Seventh Street will include milling and resurfacing the roadway with new asphalt pavement and repairing or replacing catch basins curb ramps and sidewalks along both sides of the street More than 96% of the nearly $1.3 million project will be paid through federal West Maple Street will be repaved between Lindy Lane Avenue and Main Street The 0.52-mile project will include milling and resurfacing the roadway with new asphalt pavement manholes and curb ramps along both sides of the street A federal highway grant will pay roughly 80% of the estimated $330,000 project Eight-inch diameter waterlines are being installed along Woodrow Street NW from Pittsburg Avenue NW to Werstler Avenue NW; along Lois Avenue NW; and for an off-road water main between Janet Avenue NW and Browning Avenue NW The new waterlines replace the 6-inch diameter pipes that were installed more than 55 years ago The $1.3 million project also includes replacing the city’s copper service lines for roughly 57 single-family homes in the area curb ramps and pavement along both sides of Woodrow Street NW between Pittsburg and Werstler avenues NW The city also plans to replace the removed trees with decorative trees along both sides of Woodrow Street NW The city will use roughly $858,000 in grants $272,000 from its allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding and $170,000 of city funds to pay for the project which is expected to be completed by the end of October New businesses coming to North Main StreetMore businesses are set to break ground or open along North Main Street this year Kraus’ Pizza will open later this year in the former Bill and Mary’s Diner & Creative Catering who co-owns Kraus’ Pizza and Loby’s Bar & Grille said he is awaiting final permit approvals before beginning the $1 million in renovations at 1022 N He said construction is expected to take roughly two months Abraham said he and his team considered a few different business ventures for the space but decided Kraus’ Pizza would be the best fit for the 3,134-square-foot building “I know there’s a lot of people in North Canton that would like a Kraus’ Pizza closer to them,” he said Abraham said the restaurant will carry an expanded menu and full bar similar to the Kraus' Pizza on 30th Street NE in Plain Township outdoor seating and an extended patio seating area on the southside of the building He anticipates hiring as many as 30 employees for the location which he estimated would generate about a $1 million payroll Franchisee SPGR Enterprises plans to spend $2.4 million on the construction and new equipment for the restaurant which will offer more food options compared to its current location at 1664 N The new location is expected to open in June with 62 seats and roughly 50 employees Chick-fil-A is expected to begin construction this spring on its new restaurant near North Main Street and Stratavon Drive NW The library also has started a Teen Library Council where teens gather for games activities and to help advise library staff on what materials and programs should be offered for their peers Teens can also earn community service hours through participation Library visitors also can stop by to see the library’s new crested gecko He is roughly 8 months old and lives in the teen section North Canton has changed how it handles building permits and code enforcement this year it has hired former SAFEbuilt employee Martin VanGundy IV as its new chief building official with a salary of $119,000 and has hired a permit technician building inspector and code enforcement officer to handle permitting and licensing City leaders say the move will give North Canton greater oversight over building permits reviews and code compliance while also saving thousands of dollars a year Reach Canton Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com NORTH CANTON – North Canton City Schools Superintendent Jeff Wendorf is retiring The school district announced the news Wednesday morning The North Canton Board of Education is expected to name a replacement at its next meeting at 8 a.m The board has begun a search for the district's next leader with the help of the Stark County Educational Service Center and ESC Superintendent Joe Chaddock The job was not posted externally because the board believed it had strong internal candidates Officials declined to provide the names of the internal candidates Wendorf, who previously served as Lake Local superintendent, became the district's top leader in 2016 4,348 students and a $56 million annual budget I made a career decision to become the superintendent at North Canton City Schools and the last nine years have allowed me to lead and work in an absolutely outstanding organization and community," the 63-year-old said "The accomplishments and highlights are a result of teamwork and an unwavering commitment to our mission Our team has built systems and processes that help us continue to acquire excellent results I have been blessed to work with a fantastic group of people in the staff and leadership team at NCCS." Louisville City and Marlington Local schools He also was an instructor and coach at the University of Mount Union While serving as North Canton's superintendent the district has been ranked as one of the top districts in Stark County and the state The district received a five-star rating on the state Report Card for the 2023-24 school year Hoover High School and North Canton Middle School were named 2025 U.S News & World Report Best Schools and the intermediate school received bronze recognition from the state for its efforts in implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports The preschool also achieved a five-star Step Up to Quality rating Leading plans to improve school facilities Wendorf secured a bond issue to fund two new schools a K-2 primary school and 3-5 grade intermediate school Both schools opened for the 2023-24 school year The bond issue also paid for improvement at the football stadium and a new bus garage The next phase of facilities projects was approved in 2023 and included a new middle school and improvement at the high school Construction on the new middle school is set to begin next month said his retirement plans include spending more time with his grandkids and improving his woodworking and golf skills Board President Jessica Stroia said Wendorf's dedication to the district has extended beyond his administrative duties compassionate and tireless advocate for our students integrity and a genuine passion for student success facilities improved and a culture of excellence was fostered in every corner of our schools we celebrate his professional accomplishments and the spirit he brought to our community We wish Jeff all the best in this next chapter of life NORTH CANTON − City Council on Monday unanimously approved a three-year contract that gives annual raises of 3% and 3.5% to the city's 23 union employees who work in the streets sewer and water distribution and land and buildings departments The union is the North Canton Service Employees, which is also the Utility Workers Union of America Local 605. The contract takes effect Thursday after the prior contract expires Wednesday The workers will get raises of 3% in the first year and 3.5% in the next two years The cost to the city for the raises over three years is nearly $160,000 The pay scale for the first year ranges from $22.99 an hour for a Service Worker 1 with less than two years of service to $31.44 an hour for a Service Worker V with at least 15 years of service Other changes include the contract restoring longevity pay benefits workers each May 1 will earn $75 per year for the total number of years of service up to $2,400 per year The cost to the city of longevity benefits is estimated to total $11,605 over the three years Union employees also now have only one year after being hired to get their commercial driver's license in contrast with two years in the prior contract And they must start taking a commercial driver's license class within six months after hire date Farina-Molnar said she and representatives of the union hammered out the agreement in four negotiation sessions in early April "Is this a good thing to put out to the public before the election?" asked Council member John Orr He referred to Issue 4 on the May 6 ballot when city voters will decide whether to approve an increase in the city's income tax rate from 1.5% to 2% Then if we go past (May 1) we'll have retro pay At-large council member Stephanie Werren said the prior contract was going to expire April 30 and the new contract that starts May 1 is unrelated to the levy The decision comes in light of rising costs, fair officials wrote in a recent statement on Facebook drastic insurance increases and challenges rising security costs and more," Eric Smer we heard loud and clear from our vendors and food concessionaires that their product and logistics costs and challenges continue to rise as well." More: North Canton Jaycees rebrands as Stark County group. Annual fair, other events in doubt "We have a new event concept that the Jaycees are planning we are willing it to be a great new tradition with some familiar faces," Smer said in a prepared statement "Sincere thanks for a great tradition with the Jaycees and we hope you will join us at one of our other community events." many community members voiced their despondency about the fair's retirement "It really sucks that this wonderful tradition will not continue!" one commenter wrote "It was really great being able to take my kids to the local fair every year within walking distance to the house Thank you for so many years of hard work and dedication." "Always a rough decision," another commenter wrote heart alone is not enough to save some of our old favorites." The Jaycee Fair was organized by the North Canton Jaycees when they were also known as the North Canton Junior Chamber of Commerce Last year, the 78-year-old North Canton Jaycees are rebranding to be the Stark Community Jaycees The Jaycee Fair could not be reached or a comment NORTH CANTON ‒ Voters rejected a bond levy to fund a new fire station and a road levy increase 1.97-mill fire station bond levy went down to defeat by 234 votes The preliminary total was 4,862 against or 51.23% and 4,628 in support or 48.77% 1-mill replacement and 1-mill increase road levy went down by a much wider margin of 930 votes Opponents to the tax hike to cover the cost of resurfacing roads prevailed with 5,232 against or nearly 55% and 4,302 in support or 45% road resurfacing and a host of city priorities City Council faces more difficult budget decisions Reaction to North Canton tax request rejectionsCouncil member Stephanie Werren She said she thought proponents had done everything they could such has holding open houses coming up with a detailed plan on building the fire station sharing information on the city's finances and bringing in a consultant to evaluate the city's firefighting and paramedic needs ”All that’s going through my head is what could we have done differently," Werren said "I honestly think when you look at our population they just feel they’re taxed to the max and you look at our average household income and you look at the population I think with the school levies they feel a crunch Werren said the city's voters had been willing to approve higher taxes to fund the North Canton schools but not the city So what's council going to do to fund road resurfacing and the fire department it would have raised $16 million to build a new city fire station at North Main and Viking Street NW It would have generated $1.02 million a year The cost would have been about $69 per year for every $100,000 of your home's valuation If the road levy known as Issue 10 had been approved it would have generated an additional $648,000 a year to $1.037 million a year for road resurfacing and maintenance The cost for the owner of a $100,000 home would have increased by $47.73 a year to $70 a year At the polling location at North Canton Civic Center Tuesday evening said she voted for the fire station bond levy after attending a tour of the fire station during the Main Street Festival in August She felt the sleeping quarters were inadequate "I felt they (the firefighters) work hard and do a job I wouldn't want to do so I felt they deserve to have a (nice) place to stay when they're not at home," Contreras said Contreras said she voted for the road levy because she felt it was important to maintain the good condition of the city's roads said voted for the fire station bond levy because she always votes to support firefighters and paramedics Related: North Canton officials unveil more details about new fire station Related: Voters overwhelmingly reject North Canton's income tax hike Deborah Edmisten is an author with nine books — and counting She went to work right out of high school and then became a mom Writing professionally and publishing would come much later “I didn’t begin seriously writing until around the age of 40 and the friendships and opportunities that writing and publishing have afforded me have come as a wonderful surprise," she said lives in North Canton with her husband Charlie “I probably have a highly non-traditional career path compared to many writers I home-schooled our four children from kindergarten through their completion of high school and only began writing when my children were significantly older," she said “My nontraditional career path led to life experiences that provided many ideas for my books and various plot lines that I may otherwise not have had I am incredibly thankful for my individual path and those interactions have given me a profound sense of joy and gratitude.” Her books include "The Miniature Murder," "Sea of Red," and "A Nose Apart." She has won several Royal and Purple Dragonfly Book Awards for her work Mysteries are my overall favorite genre to read I love the puzzle-solving element that mysteries provide and that element makes mysteries my favorite genre to write as well I enjoy the challenge of writing a mystery that will stump readers and give them an ending that is unexpected and surprising I don’t have a particular writing schedule I tell writers at workshops that there are some writers who say there’s a particular how and when to write but I truly believe there’s no “one right way” or “when” with writing I encourage them to find their own writing rhythm and to have confidence in their individual writing style Some goals for the future are to continue developing my stand-alone mysteries I also hope to pursue voicing audiobooks for my sci-fi suspense novel and several of my mysteries The author blurb on the back cover of my books states that “my aim in writing is to create stories that entertain and prompt readers to think deeply about life."  I’m passionate about tackling subjects like addiction; domestic violence; racial issues; disability; immigration status; abuse; faith; and trauma in the storylines of my novels and children’s books with the hope that addressing these topics in a fictional context will draw out empathy understanding and compassion in the reader We live in a world that can often be insensitive to suffering so my goal with each book is to provide readers with a setting where they are thoroughly entertained but also gain a greater understanding of life experiences they may have never personally encountered is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community If you'd like to recommend someone to participate Real estate transfers: Jackson Township plaza sells for $9.2 millionCanton RepositoryA commercial shopping plaza in Jackson Township has changed hands for $9.2 million, according to the latest real estate transfers filed with the Stark County Auditor's Office North Canton LLC purchased the plaza at 4914 Portage St NW ― which includes At Home Salon Lofts and Pet Supplies Plus ― from Alpine Income Property OP Two other properties also topped $1 million. The former Anheuser-Busch facility at 1611 Marietta Ave SE in Canton Township was purchased by 360 Power Solutions LLC for $3.6 million and an industrial property at 12240 Rockhill Ave NE in Lexington Township was purchased by CPI Capital Holdings LLC for $2.3 million The property transfers cover March 22 to March 28 Coastal Vista Ltd from Progression Zone Homes LLC Path of Patriots NE LLC from U S Bank Trust N A Trustee Posey Matthew R & Kelly Jennifer I from Hetrick-Brown April Lynn WS Capital Group LLC from Jessmer Douglas E & Bradley M Ttees Bear Kaiela & Michael Jr from Mccartney Wilbur & Carmel J&K Rental Management LLC from Sterner Austin JV Mohr Debbie from Brown Karen F & Burson Jana & Gray Diane Shannon Heather from Shaw Jason & Jennifer & Lawrence James & Matako Donna from Rellinger Kevin M &Lindsay J NVR Inc A Virginia Corporation from A R Lockhart Development Co City Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc from Smith Mark L Collins Bryan & Anthony from Trent Debrah A Cooper Jacqueline N from Yoho David D & Lisar Cortenbach Marilou & Eric L from Bausher Roger L Eld Investments LLC from Armstrong Albert D II & Robinson Shawn M Foit Rebecca & Michael E from Scibona Jason Jenkins Damella L from Canton for All People Acquisition & K S Yoak Enterprise LLC from Francis Wayne K S Yoak Enterprises LLC from Dewitt Theodore Wiley III Langman Jordan L & Joseph S R from Cardella James Morales Limon Cruz Alejandro & Morales E from City Capital Real Estate Holdings Inc Musacchia Jacqueline A from Allensworth Cynthiaa Saleh Omran Amin from Langenfeld Mike & David Shamburger Precious from Perrin Kenneth L & Jacqueline E Weadon Steven Daniel & Brooke Allen from Akron Turnkey LLC 360 Power Solutions LLC from A-B PP Holdings for Canton LLC Caster Kate Marie & Mong Blake from Barnett Donald L & Florence M Desiato Jeremy Edward from T M Thomas Investment Properties LLC Bailey Ryan H & Getz Stephanie A from Haythorn Susan B Calloway Erin from Legacy Properties Unlimited LLC Clark Brook Stanton & Holly Marie from Lewis Frances L Coleman & Brothers LLC from Caddell Antoinette Cutting Edge Hodings LLC from Camco Investment Ltd Dudich Michael A & Olivia from Baughman Lawrence Dtrustee Gauthier Christopher & Dama from Darrah Dorothy A Gordon Adam & Amanda from U S Bank Trust N A Trustee Klingshirn Joyce E Family Trust from RG3 LLC North Canton LLC from Alpine Income Property Op LP Rodriguez Ana G & Blakney Jeffrey C from Stuhldreher Stacy J Varley Patrick C from Cresswell Brian L Jr Wallenhorst Kelly E from Hartman Bernice L Carpenter Jordan from Martin Daniel L & Nancy A Casalinuovo John A & Denise D Co Ttees from Wagler Enterprises LLC Pfeiffer Elizabeth & David from Cowman Sandra Jane Prestige Worldwide Re LLC from Kindy Linda K Semrau Sean & Cora from Bolko Lee F III & Karen M D Shaw Joseph Eli & Paula Kay from Cline Jr John R Tatum Julian K & Linda S from Gentlebrook Homes LLC Lawrence TownshipRohr Thomas M & Amanda L from Schultz Paula M Broadwater Ross & Kim from Hurley Joanna J Cpi Capital Holdings LLC from Stuchell Holdings LLC Rogers Lisa M & Charles C & Showalter Ga from Simmons Amy L & Anstine Jill A Alford Lavita Rose & Anthony from K Hovnanian at Orchard Park LLC Huff James T from Vega Paul L & Cheryl Lynn Humphrey David D & Chelsey N from Wizard Property Investments Inc K Hovnanian at Orchard Park LLC from Maxsam Investments LLC Kirkpatrick Zade & Hanna from Esquivel Christian Agustin & Adriana Roberson Brittany Nicole from K Hovnanian at Orchard Park LLC Vega Paul L & Cheryl Lynn from Cugino Gary M & Esway Judith A Terry Nicholas M & Smith Mckinzie S from Allman Nicholas P Willow Springs Properties LLC from Swanson Sarah J A M Properties and Associates LLC from Dye Barbara L Buckeye Capital Holdings LLC from Miller Kevin Deutsche Bank National Trust Company from Young Denise D Kessel Donald N Jr from Scott Martha J Trust Mahaffey William & Erin from Joseph Asset Management Company LLC Martin Kyle A & Jaclyn T from Halco Terry A Moore James E Jr from Shetler Victoria A Aka Victoria A De Los Pittsenberger Jason Keith from K S Yoak Enterprises LLC Principled Property Investors LLC from Parsons Robert & Megan Reighard Damian & Ashley from Legacy Properties Unlimited LLC Whimsy Property Management LLC from K S Yoak Enterprises LLC Bailey Glenn Michael & Ledel Andrew from Bush Danette King Daniel Eugene Patrick from King Robert Trustee of the Robert King T Haught Carla J from Alexander Robin v Trustee Heusser Barbara from Dewitt Richard S Trustee Mcmahon Ryan Thomas from Premier Bank FBO Karen S Knight Kimble Lucas A & Baeli A from Dunn Derek M & Gladys C Dunahoo Elijah A & Blake Lydia L from D M North Shore Rentals LLC 3-4 Gorrell Daniel L from Martin Jennifer & Burdette Robert Keister Wallace F Jr & Joeseph from Needs Kimberly Loader Real Estate Holdings LLC from American Roll & Hold LLC Miller Douglas & Helms Shawn from Breinig Nicholas & Olivia Miller Real Estate II Ltd from Carbenia Cole A Nichols Justin & Isabella from Cowles Laura A Perreault Hayden & Amanda from Webb John R Tailwind Massillon MHP LLC from Spartan Properties LLC White James Fredrick Lee from Harper Shawn O & Megan Elizabeth Cerrone Kathryn L & Arnold Christopher E from Todd Christopher S & Elizabeth S Dean Madison Jae & Yungyuanamornrit Tana from Cape Cod Inc Fawcett Nathanael & Julie N from Sutter Matthew C Succ Ttee of the Fechter Laura from Muntean Theodore G & Jade A Leonti James & Victoria from Walukano Jane Kambura & Limbu Suk M & Furung Bishal from Greer Daniel S & Russell Katy E Loesch Christopher A & Megan L from Picciuto Ernest D & Vicky S Nelson Adam Daniel from Menefee Matthew D & Hope NVR Inc A Virginia Corporation from Mckinley Development Company Ltd NVR Inc A Virginia Corporation from Sparwood Farms LLC Resendez Rene R from Pleasant View Village LLC Yan Vichiry Kuch from Goff Jeffrey M & Julie L Hoover Kenneth & Rhonda from Miller Steven Weaver Merlin & Swartzentruber Wilma from Shetler James L & Sheralyn Harper Shawn O & Megan Elizabeth from Moser Steven B & Lindenberger Heather S Rankl Evan D from Cross Country Mortgage LLC Marsh Daniel L & Ashley from Mumbach Laura M Stoltzfus Anthony J & Andrew J from Garretson Ian A Tupy Marisa from Benchmark Properties of Ohio Ltd Will North Canton squander an increase in city income tax | LetterCanton RepositoryNorth Canton Mayor Stephan Wilder is urging voters to vote affirmative on Issue 4 to enhance critical community services within the city your city council president and other members of council and your administrative staff have had nearly six years to do exactly what you are now asking for once again North Canton city government is showing signs of being one of the weaker city governments in Stark County It is quite transparent there will be unallocated funding available for city hall to squander should this issue pass it is also very transparent during the past few years North Canton government personnel are not to be trusted with government funds We hear and read the tax dollars generated by the income tax increase yearly operating cost for fire personnel and some street repairs Where will the money be spent that will be freed up in the general fund to supplement the current levies a very transparent change in tactic is being used to entice voters to side with the city there is very little comment made of the difficulties being encountered by fire/EMS personnel here we are six months later and not hearing one negative comment of performances of these fine professionals during that period of time remember that any money an increased income tax generates can be spent any way city hall personnel so desire NORTH CANTON ‒ A new Dairy Queen restaurant is expected to open by June on the site of the former post office through its Community Improvement Corporation sold the 1.45-acre property on North Main Street to a company affiliated with a Dairy Queen franchisee in November for $815,000 according to North Canton Deputy Director of Administration Benjamin Young Related: Longtime Canton South Dairy Queen owner steps away; what's next for ice cream fans? “Dairy Queen was an opportunity to retain a local business and help it expand," said Young The city had bought the property in May 2020 for about $690,000 with borrowed funds with the intention of using it as part of the site for a city Safety Center to house the fire and police departments But city officials have abandoned that plan And voters in November rejected a bond levy for the new fire station bought the former post office site from the city through its real-estate company Parfait Properties LLC The business began demolishing the more-than-52-year-old post office building on Jan said his business will invest $2.4 million in the costs of construction and new equipment "Dairy Queens aren't cheap to build," said Warther A backhoe was seen sorting through the debris the last week of January by the Goodwill store Oliveri Construction is overseeing the demolition of the post office building and construction of the stand-alone restaurant City sells propertiesThe city had also owned the nearby building at 1210 N Main Street that once housed the Commercial and Savings Bank branch before it moved in 2021 to 600 South Main St Young said the city sold the property for $725,000 to Graves Development Young said Graves plans to keep the building and rent out two spaces in the building Graves has signed Domino's Pizza to be a tenant It's not clear when Domino's will open there Young said the city is looking for a buyer for its office and storefront property at 1200 N Main Street that was also purchased for the Safety Center project The property now has nine tenants on month-to-month leases who are paying the city a total of $55,000 a month in rent Young said the city once borrowed the funds But the interest rate is well under 2% with repayment of about $220,000 a year through 2034 So the city plans to use the proceeds of the sales to fund the renovation of the police department offices at a cost of more than $1.4 million SPGR has owned the Dairy Queen store 1664 N Main Street in leased space at the plaza with Marc's since fall 2021 But the store had outgrown its cramped space The location is at the end of a shopping plaza so its drive-thru lane is not intuitive for motorists to enter and exit Because of the angle of the drive-thru customers often miss seeing the menu board And the store lacks the space for a grille to cook hamburgers considered to be a staple by many Dairy Queen customers SPGR also owns five other Dairy Queen restaurants − in Cuyahoga Falls Warther said once the location opens in June more than double the current staff of 20 to 25 which means more income-tax revenue for the city The new restaurant will have 62 seats in contrast with 25 seats at the current Dairy Queen location a more accessible drive-thru and parking entirely devoted to the restaurant Warther said he had been in discussions with the city about potential sites and jumped on the opportunity to acquire the 1212 N Main Street property when it went on the market last year It is closer to the residential neighborhoods that the restaurant hopes to serve "This site fit our needs in terms of size and having a drive-thru better than the drive-thru configuration we have now in the (Marc's) plaza," Warther said Postal Service had a post office either on the southeast corner of Main Street and Maple Street or by City Hall on the west side of North Main Street The post office relocated in 1972 to the larger leased space at 1212 North Main St in Washington Square a year later in August 2019 (This story was updated because an earlier version contained inaccuracies NORTH CANTON ‒ City Council is hoping to minimize the price shock in June when electricity supply rates for customers in the city's aggregation program are expected to nearly double Council has unanimously authorized joining the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) an organization made up of about 244 local Ohio governments that manages an electrical aggregation pool with 473,000 customers North Canton is the latest Stark County community to join the group which was founded in 2000 and is based in Solon Massillon has committed to joining in June and Minerva is considering applying for membership Council held two public hearings on the matter at the Civic Center Monday said NOPEC is an advocate for its members at Public Utility Commission of Ohio meetings in Columbus The PUCO decides the rates that determine how much a utility like American Electric Power and FirstEnergy's Ohio Edison can charge in rates and fees for distribution of electricity Council President Matt Stroia said he's impressed with NOPEC noting that it has "stability because there's strength in numbers." Benjamin Young said the city is joining NOPEC in part because Volunteer Energy the natural gas supplier the city contracted with in 2021 (This story has been updated to correct errors Young said under PUCO regulations the new natural gas supplier had to honor the 5.25 cents per mcf rate for the remainder of the fixed four-year term through May 2025 "We don't have a good track record of choosing energy suppliers," Young said "We got hammered by our constituents" when Volunteer Energy went bankrupt Young said with the end of the four-year period for electric aggregation with Energy Harbor at its 4.34 cent per kilowatt/hour rate approaching Eric Burns of Independent Energy Consultants found a supplier that offered 8.755 cents per kilowatt/hour He represents several Stark County communities such as Canton and Plain Township NOPEC forecast that it could obtain a rate of around 8.2 to 8.29 cents per kilowatt/hour for about a year But the rate is not guaranteed until NOPEC locks it in If customers in North Canton's electricity aggregation program don't like that rate they are free to look for a better deal and opt out without a fee NOPEC members' customers are now paying a rate of 6.499 cents per kilowatt/hour from May 2024 to May this year from NextEra Energy chief marketing and communications officer for NOPEC pinned the cause of the higher electricity rates on many factors He cited the return of many workers to offices as the pandemic ended The colder temperatures this winter spurred higher demand in addition to a higher number of electric vehicle owners needing to charge their cars and the proliferation of data centers needed for artificial intelligence told council that because of the volatility of electricity rates many are seeking fixed-term rates of no more than a year "We do not want to be up here and then the rates go down," she said Fargo offered to host public meetings in North Canton to brace residents for the expected hike You're trying to mitigate that by trying to keep them as low as you possibly can." Young said North Canton's natural gas aggregation rate of 5.25 cents per thousand cubic feet through IGS is fixed until October 2026 IGS took over as supplier from Volunteer Energy He said the city next year will decide whether to also join NOPEC's natural gas aggregation program which has about 430,000 customers was North Canton's supplier for natural gas aggregation only The city's electric aggregation supplier is Energy Harbor Information was incorrect when this story first published on Feb Ohio — A new proposal in North Canton has the potential to save families money while accomplishing the long-term goal of improving the Fire and EMS building the city has been trying to fund the construction of a new fire station RELATED: 6th time is the charm? North Canton asking voters to fund new fire station North Canton voters defeated issue 9 on the ballot This was the sixth time funding the Fire and EMS building had been on the ballot The measure would have raised property taxes to complete the project but voters said their taxes were already high RELATED: North Canton voters narrowly defeat bond issue for new fire station North Canton City Council has a new plan to address the issue: It proposes increasing income taxes by 0.5% while eliminating three city property taxes the city's average reappraisal rate increased 33% If the new income tax increase is approved by the city council and the voters it would save the average family in North Canton $200 a year It would also stop the city from asking for a tax increase for years and that means every three years we're asking for a tax increase This would let us stop asking for a tax increase for at least two decades," said Ben Young deputy director of administration for the City of North Canton Young said city council meetings have been packed with folks asking questions "Their biggest concern really is making sure that it will be enough and that council is truly committed to not going back to more levies And our council was very vocal that they are committed to if voters approve this they will not seek levies in addition," said Young The income tax increase would also mean big savings for retirees you pay property taxes but most retirement income is exempt from income tax so retirees will essentially pay nothing and just see entirely savings from this proposal," said Young voters will have the final say on the income tax increase on their ballots on May 6 Young said that if the voters do not pass the income tax increase the city will still need to find funding for the Fire and EMS project the city still needs funding for fire operations and road operations so we would probably return with a property tax ask which would be more expensive and that's what we're trying to get across," said Young Fire inside hazy building temporarily closes two North Canton businessesCanton Repository(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) NORTH CANTON ‒ North Canton TV & Appliance and North Canton Computers closed temporarily following a fire in their building at 414 S Fire Chief Drew Cramer said crews were called by an alarm company at 7:22 a.m No smoke was showing on the outside of the building Firefighters who entered through the dock area noticed haze He said the fire was found in the southeast corner of the building The cause of the fire was under investigation Monday Cramer said the furnace is a possible cause He said smoke spread throughout the building and fire spread to some parts of the interior Cramer said in a press release that while searching for fire in the basement a North Canton firefighter became entangled in wires An officer of that crew signaled distress with a "mayday" call Another member of the same crew freed the stuck firefighter Firefighters from Jackson and Plain townships assisted the North Canton Fire Department A section of South Main was temporarily closed to give fire crews room to work More: North Canton Council ponders asking voters again to approve tax increases Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.On X NORTH CANTON − "Chili" had two meanings at the 29th annual North Canton Rotary Chili Open Saturday It was also for the first annual chili cook-off between local Rotary clubs The Chili Open was held at the Arrowhead Golf Club in North Canton It is the Rotary club's biggest fundraiser of the year and supports scholarships and philanthropy in the community This year was the first to include a chili cook-off came up with the friendly competition between local Rotary clubs as a new annual event Among the competitors were the Canton South Rodak said it was a good opportunity to connect with other nearby clubs There were five chili entries and about 100 votes in the competition The Massillon Rotary Club and member and cook Carolyn Denaro took home the Golden Chili Cup we sort of reciprocate and support each other," Denaro said adding that the winning chili was her mom's 100-year-old recipe Steve Klink of Canton and Evan Bradley of New Franklin were golfing on the snowy green The two said playing in the snow was a unique experience said the group is all about "service above self," the motto of Rotary International "It's such an important part of the community," he said Beinlich has been involved in Rotary clubs for around 40 years He's been in the North Canton Club for 28 of those The entire Chili Open event is a fundraiser to support the club's philanthropic efforts Restaurants donated food and various businesses helped to sponsor the event The Rotary club raised money through admission Those funds will go toward college scholarships and community groups like the YMCA. North Canton Rotary also supports Rotary International efforts like the global initiative to end polio Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16 a daughter of the late James and Ruth (Williams) Rhodes.  Eileen was a 1947 graduate of North Canton High School and was a member of the former Calvary Presbyterian Church.  Eileen enjoyed cats She was an avid sports fan and loved trips to the beach She was an excellent cook but joked that making reservations was her favorite meal.  Most of all They shared 68 years of marriage before his passing in 2016 She spent countless hours playing with her grandchildren and was a dedicated great-grandmother providing them with cherished memories to last a lifetime Christopher Peters.  Survived by two daughters Karen (Ron) Duplain and Nancy (Brent) Bircher; two grandchildren and Jay Poparad; three great-grandchildren Zelda Miller and Betty Thurman; three brothers and Jerry (Barbara) Zook; three sisters-in-law and Janet Zook; and numerous nieces and nephews The family gives special thanks to Eileen’s life-long friend who helped take care of Eileen in her last days at 12pm in the First Christian Church.  Entombment in North Lawn Mausoleum.  Friends may call one hour before the service in the church.  The Formet-Clevenger & Gordon Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers contributions in Eileen’s memory may be made to: First Christian Church 44721.  Condolences may be left at: www.gordonfuneralhomes.com Priyanka Mude of North Canton Podiatry has had her license suspended by the State Medical Board of Ohio and is facing six medical malpractice lawsuits in Stark County Common Pleas Court Mude, whose office abruptly closed in January 2024 and reopened months later admitted to writing fraudulent painkiller prescriptions for her own use and forging a physician's signature on a peer reference form State notice: North Canton Podiatry doctor facing disciplinary action The State Medical Board and Mude entered a consent agreement on Feb 12 that suspended her doctor of podiatric medicine license for 90 days and imposed a $5,000 fine and other probationary requirements for violating state codes governing physicians The North Canton Podiatry office confirmed on Friday that it was open did not immediately return a message seeking comment The consent agreement stems from a state investigation that started in January 2024 in which Mude admitted to creating several fake patient profiles and prescriptions in order to obtain oxycodone ― a federally controlled opioid pain reliever When she applied for a medical staff appointment at a surgical center Mude also forged another physician's signature without their knowledge on a peer reference form Mude's license will automatically be reinstated after the 90-day period chief of communications for the State Medical Board The podiatrist will also be on probation until she pays the fine and completes an ethics and professionalism course within nine months Mude does not comply with the conditions of her probation six medical malpractice lawsuits also were filed against Mude and North Canton Podiatry in Stark County Common Pleas Court The complaints do not provide details but claim the patients sustained "serious permanent personal injuries," loss of income and other negative effects The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Courtney Sutton and Chris Nolan of the Akron-based law firm Perantinides & Nolan Co Sutton declined to comment on the ongoing cases at this time Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.com NORTH CANTON ‒ The Hoover Foundation will give a grant of $750,000 to the city to help build a roughly $16 million fire station if voters in May approve increasing the city income tax rate "To me this is more than just funding," said Mayor Stephan Wilder who added that he could not thank the foundation enough A testament of Hoover's belief in this community And a challenge for us to continue investing in the safety and well being of our families and our neighbors "The Hoover name has always been synonymous with innovation Their continued support for this cause reaffirms that tradition." City Council voted unanimously to adopt an increase in the income tax rate from 1.5% to 2% contingent on voters' approval They then voted 6-0 to place the income tax issue on the May 6 ballot as an emergency measure And by roll call vote they unanimously approved a resolution pledging that if voters approve the increase replace or seek an alternative property tax for the city's current 1-mill street paving property tax levy Nor would council seek a new bond levy to fund the fire station Related: North Canton eyes spending some carryover money on road paving "We're all committing to the fact that we don't intend to pull the wool over anybody's eyes and try to seek another (street EMS or fire station bond) levy," said council member Jamie McCleaster Council members have also verbally pledged to repeal any existing levies so their collections would not be in effect when the income tax would take effect Jan At-large council member Stephanie Werren was not present At least six votes were required to pass the tax issue as an emergency and waive the standard 30-day period before it could go into effect Wednesday for cities and townships to submit tax issues to the Stark County Board of Elections for the May 6 election Helping the community: Private foundations invest millions in Stark County The city's income-tax credit is capped at 1.5% for residents who work and pay taxes in other cities so every resident who earns income taxable by the city would pay an additional 0.5% of that income to the city no matter where they work All non-residents who work in North Canton would also pay an additional 0.5% of their income to North Canton The tax increase would raise about $3.66 million more But that would be offset by the loss of the street fire and EMS levies that now raise $2.67 million City officials would use the extra $1 million on repayments on money to be borrowed to pay for the new fire station Wilder went over the history of the Hoover Co providing land and funding for the city's past and current fire stations Wilder asked the Hoover Foundation for the grant the city's deputy director of administration He said assuming the voters approve the income tax increase the foundation would pay the city $250,000 per year for three years Two representatives of the Northern Ohio Public Energy Council made their pitch for North Canton to join its gas and electrical aggregation pool NOPEC is a not-for-profit council of governments Young said North Canton's electrical aggregation broker locked in a rate of 4.34 cents per kilowatt/hour in June 2021 for four years and Young said with the rates now being quoted on the market the customers in the city's aggregation pool may have to pay seven to nine cents per kilowatt hour Alliance and Paris Township are among the communities in NOPEC whose own four-year contract on electricity supply rates ends this summer The hope is that by joining NOPEC's aggregation pool with about 244 northeast Ohio communities North Canton can minimize the price jolt its residents will experience in June with their electric bills Council advanced legislation approving the city joining NOPEC The bill said hearings on joining NOPEC would take place at 3 p.m Council also discussed legislation that would create an exempt assistant police chief position including six sergeants and one lieutenants Wilder indicated that the city needs another exempt non-union supervisory police employee who can represent the city in collective bargaining with the department's unions NORTH CANTON ‒ Firefighters rescued a deer trapped in frigid water Friday morning The deer, which was in distress, was found in a pond behind homes on Shiloh Run SE and was struggling to free itself from the icy waters but not before the team gave it a fitting name "The team spent some time drying and warming the deer they lovingly named Shiloh," the North Canton Fire Department wrote in Facebook post "We're proud to serve not just the people of our community but also its wildlife." the fire chief at the North Canton Fire Department said the deer had likely stepped onto thin ice that cracked under it and it appeared the deer had walked down possibly to get a drink and fell through," he said "It looked like it had been struggling for a while got closer to the bank with less ice (and) we were able to get a rope around it it took about an hour to warm it and release it safely "It kept seeming like it wanted to head back down that hill to the water (so we) were trying to just get it to a location in some brush (so) it could lay down and try to recover and stay away from that area." Cramer said this was the first time he'd performed a water ice rescue on a deer "It was good to be able to help an animal in need," he said NORTH CANTON − The city will resurface portions of Main Street start building a water well at the Arrowhead golf course install new water lines off Woodrow Street NW and demolish the former Randy's Automotive building this year City Engineer Robert Graham on Monday provided an update on the projects to City Council He said the city is soliciting bids to resurface two stretches of Main Street — south of Seventh Street NW to Rose Lane SW; and from Knoll Street SE to the city's southern boundary with Canton A federally funded Stark County Area Transportation Study grant will cover $1.25 million of the cost The city will open and examine the bids on Feb More North Canton news: Hoover Foundation to give North Canton $750K for fire station if voters approve tax hike City officials plan to build a new $16 million fire station on the site Stressing that he's not assuming voters will approve an income tax increase on May 6 to fund the fire station Graham said demolition will start next week The Ohio Department of Development provided a $42,000 grant and the Stark County Land Bank threw in about $7,000 Ray Bertolini Trucking is performing the demolition Water well at ArrowheadThe city's contractor next week is also set to start drilling a well at the city-owned Arrowhead Golf & Event Center with the price for the entire project estimated at around $2 million Workers are expected to finish the well and the first phase by March 31 Phase 2 will involve building a pumping station and the water lines The well with an expected decades-long supply of water is expected to replace the city's well off Dressler Road which the city's water consultant said has higher levels of salt contaminants An Ohio Public Works Commission grant will cover $1.2 million, a no-interest commission loan will provide $300,000 and a federal grant secured by U.S The Trump administration has ordered the freezing of grant funding as part of a review And Graham said the status of the $500,000 grant is now in limbo and he's seeking clarification on when the funds will be available But it won't be needed until the second phase of the project commence work to install new water lines at Woodrow Street NW and Lois Avenue NW Workers will replace 6-inch water pipes that were installed in the 1960s with 8-inch pipes with an expected life of 75 years that will serve 57 water customers A federal Community Development Block Grant is covering nearly $500,000 of the funding The work is expected to be completed by the end of October council approved legislation creating an assistant police chief position setting the limit of the total number of police lieutenants and sergeants at six and reducing the limit on the number of city patrol officers from 25 to 22 Mayor Stephan Wilder had argued that the city needed to have at least two exempt non-union officials in the police department rather than just the chief in negotiations with the union The legislation also formally removed dispatcher positions from the police department as city council established a separate dispatch department Council also designated certain property owned by the city around the new Charlotte Street and Portage Street NW roundabout as public road right of way That exempts the site from county property taxes The North Canton fire chief and a firefighter rescued a deer stuck in icy waters Friday morning according to the North Canton Fire Department North Canton Fire shared that Chief Cramer and Firefighter Fox found the deer in a pond behind homes on Shiloh Run South East Officials said the deer was stuck in the water when firefighters worked together quickly to help free the animal North Canton Fire says the team spent time drying and warming the deer The department said the deer was released back into its natural habitat "We're proud to serve not just the people of our community but also its wildlife," the fire department said in a Facebook post Real estate transfers: Caliber Collision property sold for $4.77 millionCanton RepositoryThe newly constructed Caliber Collision Center property at 1550 West Maple St. SW in North Canton was purchased for $4.77 million, according to the latest real estate transfers filed with the Stark County Auditor's Office DLWFT 821 Cleveland LLC & Wcol LLC bought the property from Cross Development CC North Canton LLC. The property was advertised by The Mansour Group as having a 15-year absolute net lease meaning that the tenant is responsible for property-related expenses Caliber Collision describes itself as the largest collision repair company in the nation and currently has locations in Perry Township and Hartville The property transfers cover March 29 to April 4 Coastal Vista Ltd from Minos Investing LLC Coastal Vista Ltd from Rickerman Power LLC Cox Robert E III & Paula A from Mathewson Peter S Demastus Penny S & James R from Calderone Michael A Edwards Lawrence L II & Blanca from Newill Thomas Thomas Daniel & Jennifer L from Sands Rentals LLC Casto Quentin & Michelle from Rogers Aaron J & Brittany R Ttees Blue Green Property Holdings LLC from Hofacre David L Trustee Gatto Michael A & White Stephanie L from Nish Vincent M & Kathleen A Blunt Allen Floyd from Sangar Properties LLC Caap Rate Properties LLC from Francis Wayne Colombo Alicia Marie & Ring Derek from Frank Kenneth & Ronda L Edgefield Property LLC from Stone Crossing SNF & Alf Holdings LLC Fuller Kerry L from Regal Properties of Ohio LLC Holly Co and Partner LLC from Gibson Stephanie House Buyers of America Inc from Jones Philip H Jimenez Pascual Steven from Sica Ceferino Baten & Hernandez Hernande Jimenez Valentine & Pascual from Lemus Fredal Enrique Komazec Sarah & Colin from Komazec Bryan Jr & Bobbi J Komazec Sarah & Colin from Komazec Bryan Jr Lacourt Jason & Roma Alexandra from Repasky John W Leo Barker Property Management LLC from DRG Holding LLC Mackey Alphea C from Mackey Alphea C & Jones Tavia E Masalko Joseph D from Equity Trust Company Custodian FBO Relavent Investments LLC & Finao LLC from Relavent Investments LLC Rogers John E from Jones Zachary & Smith Ashley Rogers John E from Smith Ashley L & Jones Zachary Robert Saleh and Saleh Realty Group LLC from Bankier Albert E Yoder Myron R & Patricia from Rice Realty LLC Dybnb LLC from 5 Star Short Terms Rentals LLC Patton Melissa D & Stinchcomb Michael T from Miller Merlin R Ravine Richard R Jr & Deborah S from Tamargo Manuel & Pamela J Arias Alfonso Jose Alberto & Tania C from Vega Enterprises Ltd Benchmark Properties of Ohio Ltd LLC from Wahl Fredrick A Ttee Eco Eclectic Spaces LLC from Halter Rocky J Fendi and Associates LLC from Figurella Nancy A Haasz Kevin & Lori from Albrecht Shawn J & Martha J Iceman Catherine A from Campbell Christen A Julian Charles James & Taylor Rae from NVR Inc A Virginia Corporation Seevers Isaac E & Ginger M from Houchins Rick L & Janice K Serra James Vincent III from Quezada Jesus Aldair Mireles & Simon Says Storage LLC from Lega Kathy L Etal Villa Group Properties LLC from Williams Richard D & Judy M Trustees of Villa Group Properties LLC from Williams Richard D & Judy M Trustees Wilson Nicholas David & Shaina Marie from Sed Medallion LLC Wulff Jennifer Lynne & Ashley Nicole from Harmon Jennifer E Trustee Arbr Properties LLC from CLM Property Group LLC Hartville Thrift Shoppe Inc from Hartville Homes Foundation Inc Marino John & Allyson from Wolfe Amaryllis K Miller Perry A & Betty Marie from Bartley John M Ttee Ray Christopher Stephen & Alison from Richard Hawkins LLC Long Kelli from JMV Investment Properties LLC Gustaitis Patrick R & Christinia M from River Bend Investments LLC Hilliard Steven Jr & Debra from Sinkovich Gerald M Jr & Shirley A K Horvanian at Orchard Park LLC from Maxsam Investments LLC Koehn Verle & Cora from Weisend Dennis W & Gail A August Aaron N from Mannweiler James L & Shirley A E Vantage Properties LLC from Yob Phyllis K JD Real Property Management LLC from Village Reorganization LLC K S Yoak Enterprises LLC from Stopar Gerald A Rossi Gina Lynn & Anthony Joseph from Neira Brenton & Breanna Schuck Karen L from Wissmar Sean D & Stacey L Meadows Shannon from Reinhart Brandon & Micaela DLWFT 821 Cleveland LLC & Wcol LLC from Cross Development CC North Canton LLC Haven Homes Ohio LLC from Chou Carlos Alejandro Oporto Infinity Property Holdings LLC from Lemmon James Walter Lowden Douglas Michael & Douglas G from Render John & Stanley Lisa Pandrea Victoria from K&R Property Solutions LLC B Hicks Real Estate LLC from Kandel Stephen J Crissman Charles & Heather from Fischbach Timothy K & Veronica Leo Barker Property Management LLC from DRG Holdings Ltd Reed Timothy & Julie from Reed Dennis L & Rhonda K Tully Joshua Paul Bryan & Johnson Jennif from Glasscock Martha I Garrett Michelle Lynn & Charles Brandon from Starkey Cody v & Angel H Mclaughlin Erica from American Home Trailers Be MHP Holdings LLC from Stark County Properties of Ohio LLC Gallo Anthony C II & Andreadis Heidi A from Michael R Shreffler Properties LLC Gross Kamrynn Sue from Procario Phillip J Jr Hartman Melissa Ann & James Matthew from Harris Charles L & Linda L Hebert Logan & Gump Emily from Dadisman Peggy J K & R Property Solutions LLC from Stringer Carol A Smith Tony & Alicia from Querry Clinton E & Jennifer A Stillwell Sheryl from Mather John C & Peggy J Trustees Berbelis Emily & Anthony from Leon Linda J Late Summer LLC from Lysikowski Timothy & Corine Schrade Adam M & Amber N from Schrade David J & Scott J Wallace Marcia & Amstutz Daniel from Mary Ellen Slinger Company LLC Wilson Jessica Diane & Cooper Remington from Miller Daniel C & Cheri A Burk William Lawrence & Cheryl Diane from Crown William E Williams Brenda Ann from Brewster Estates LLC Mohney Shannon E & Goodnite Nickolas from Graber Aaron E & Clare NORTH CANTON − Get your slice on and get your taste buds ready Pizza paradise will be coming to Hoover High School for a new event showcasing a plethora of slices from area shops Homemade dough and sauces and pizzas in a variety of styles for those who would like to balance the savory with sweet The North Canton Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the event from noon to 4 p.m Also serving up slices will be Luigi's Restaurant and DeCheco's Pizzeria Expect other pizza specialists to be added to the list Getting noticed Alliance pizza shop slices its way onto New York Times readers’ list of favorites allowing a certain number of pizza and ice cream samples the North Canton Chamber of Commerce said in a news release Pizza Palooza will be in the cafeteria of Hoover High Tickets can be purchased at https://ticketscandy.com/e/2025-pizza-palooza-7254 $10 for a kids passport; $12.50 for an individual adult pass; $15 for a Parent Pizza Palooza Passport (two adults); and $25 for a Family Pizza Palooza Passport (up to four people) Hoover High's gymnasium will serve as a Kids Zone for children up to age 13 On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint Ohio — As a nine-year veteran of the North Canton Police Department and a sniper on the Canton Regional SWAT Team Officer Patrick Lewis understands the risks of the job Asked how often he worries about his safety we do worry about our safety the whole entire time and the safety of others as well." That danger played out in real-time on Nov 18 in Jackson Township outside of the Rodeway Inn on Sunset Strip Avenue NW RELATED: U.S. Marshals: Fugitive fatally shot by police during standoff in Jackson Township fired shots at members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and then barricaded himself inside a motel room The SWAT team was activated and responded to the scene with Lewis operating as a shield operator I was behind a vehicle attempting to search for him through my optic a very high-powered optic on my rifle," Lewis said and Lewis was struck in his right arm— his shooting arm I could not see him and he fired the gunshot and the pain was instantaneous," Lewis recalled The bullet went into the officer's forearm and exited out of his triceps blood covered Lewis's badge and his life was hanging in the balance "I was bleeding bad and I don't know how long I would have been able to sit there," Lewis said applied two tourniquets to Lewis's arm to stop the bleeding Lewis credits those fellow officers for saving his life Canton Police Chief John Gabbard said SWAT teams demonstrate their dedication to training and community service in difficult situations very proud that our officers reacted with selfless courage to aid Officer Lewis I am thankful more officers were not injured and pray for Officer Lewis during his recovery," Gabbard said North Canton Police Chief Frank Kemp remains emotional when he reflects on that day "I think of a phrase that comes to mind right now: But for the Grace of God I go," Kemp said "I do get a little choked up talking about it because the last thing that I would have wanted to see was a different outcome then what I had." Lewis had surgery to reattach the damaged tendons following the shooting he has had two additional surgeries and expects that he will have two more He's working with physical and occupational therapists to get his movement and strength back my road to recovery is just getting my wrist in full motion working on my fingers and stretching out my elbow," Lewis said Lewis expects to be back to light duty in a few months and will be on full duty by next summer His timeline to return to the SWAT team as a sniper is uncertain The emotional end of surviving the shooting is also challenging for the officer "It's definitely something that I think about daily," he said stressing that if the bullet was a few inches to the left Have you ever felt like there was someone in the room and when you look Could it have been a paranormal phenomenon Jeff Eastman, 64, of North Canton owns and operates North Canton Paranormal Detectives After earning a degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University Eastman worked for Diebold Nixdorf before starting his own company “I designed and developed high-speed electromechanical devices used in automated teller machines (ATMs) for Diebold Inc.," he said "I had a mixed bag of employment ranging from engineering to being a substitute schoolteacher I started NCPD LLC to design and develop equipment used to investigate paranormal occurrences My equipment is used worldwide and by TV celebrities such as Josh Gates from 'Expedition X.'” Eastman is married to Susie Eastman who also participates in ghost hunting with him and goes on many assignments and adventures How did you get your start in ghost hunting and manufacturing paranormal equipment?Prior to 2010 my wife and I were very interested in watching ghost-hunting shows on TV such as “Ghost Adventures” and “Ghost Hunters I bought a digital recorder and during father-daughter weekend at Ohio University my daughter Katie and I investigated the haunted Ridges graveyard This is where I captured my very first EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) and I have been hooked ever since I proceeded to purchase different pieces of ghost-hunting equipment from Amazon but wasn't happy with what was available I knew I could create new and better inventions I improved upon the standard dowsing rods by creating neon light-up electric light dowsing rods They were a big hit and our friends told me I should start selling them my wife and I were vendors at a paranormal convention in Gettysburg He really liked my dowsing rods and wanted to sell them on his website We agreed to his offer and since then it's been a fantastic journey My wife and I have never been frightened while on a paranormal investigation We look forward to being secluded in pitch-black darkness and using our equipment and techniques to respectfully connect with the other side We always do our investigations at locations intended for ghost hunting where the grounds and buildings are secure My biggest fear would be to stumble upon a person or trespasser who has ill intent We do have members within our group who have abilities and/or sensitivities that help them see and feel the other side Our one friend with these abilities had a terrible and frightening encounter at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum but since then she has learned how to protect herself and can now enjoy investigating with us once again What important lessons has life taught you over the years working in this field?This is a great question but actually making contact with spirits has further affirmed my beliefs My values and priorities are centered even more on family and helping others I enjoy giving back to the community by volunteering our services as paranormal investigators at different locations One example would be helping to lead ghost hunts at the Canton Palace Theatre where proceeds are used for restoration projects What I like to say about paranormal investigating is that it's all about history typically we are given a tour and we get information about its historical past which has always fascinated me we ask questions about the more mysterious or paranormal activities they have encountered at that location We enjoy camaraderie with our group members while traveling the different types of technology used in paranormal investigations continue to evolve and I really enjoy being a part of it I would like an opportunity to go to Scotland or Ireland and investigate some of the old those locations would check all of the boxes regarding the perfect place to investigate adds new breweries and distilleriesCanton RepositoryNORTH CANTON ‒ The North Canton Chamber of Commerce is changing the name of its annual craft beer and bourbon festival The rebranded North Canton Brews, Bourbon & BBQ Festival will be held June 7 at the MAPS Air Museum in Green.“It’s important for us to not recreate the same experience year after year with the same breweries serving the same beer at the same venue," Santana Lopez director of operations for the North Canton Chamber "It was time for a change and our events committee did a fantastic job recruiting local and national distilleries alongside partnering with our friends at 720 Market who oversees the food and retail side of our operations." The festival — this will be the sixth year at MAPS Air Museum — will feature over 25 local breweries along with 15 local and national distilleries 720 Market will be host a mini-barbecue-themed market featuring barbecue vendors and food trucks Last year's "Best in Beer" winners — Ill Will Brewing and Birdfish Brewing New breweries this year include CLAG in Sandusky Funky Turtle in Toledo and Great Black Swamp in Toledo The "Bourbon Room" will showcase 15 local and national distilleries pouring samples VIP customers will get a special Kenzie sipping glass one-hour early entry and exclusive pours from various breweries and distilleries VIP ticket holders will also have access to a snack area and receive a swag bag upon entry TJ Gamble, also known as Brewzle a popular bourbon personality with more than 730,000 subscribers on YouTube will attend to mingle with guests and take videos The chamber said this is his first appearance in Ohio If you goWhat: North Canton Brews, Bourbon & BBQ Festival Tickets: $60 for general admission; $95 for VIP experience; $15 for designated drivers More info: https://brewsbourbonandbbq.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSTARK COUNTY Ohio (WOIO) - An armed man forced the manager at a North Canton Dollar Tree to empty the cash register North Canton police said the robbery happened just before 9 p.m 13 at the store located in the 1600 block of N After getting an undisclosed amount of cash the suspect fled through the wooded area behind the business Officers and the K9 from the Jackson Township Police Department tried to track the suspect about 250 pounds and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt Anyone with information should call police at 330-499-5911 or 330-966-3633 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCLEVELAND Ohio (WOIO)—Members of the North Canton community have been working for over a week to find Maple Owner Chelsea Szaniszlo told 19 News that it had been 13 days since she got the call from her mother-in-law that 8-month-old Maple had run away Maple was last seen in the area of Whitewood Street NW and Cleveland Avenue Szaniszlo’s security camera caught the realization by her family member on camera Maple can be seen tied up on the porch on the security footage “They had put her out on a lead and something spooked her and she ripped her collar off and took off,” Szaniszlo said with the support of other North Canton residents through a Facebook group Szaniszlo said most of them are total strangers The description of the “Operation Save Maple” Facebook group Maple went missing on 12/31/24 from whitewood st nw and Cleveland ave nw in North Canton She slipped her collar in our backyard and escaped our yard She has the typical golden retriever fan tail She is very friendly but may be in survival mode and resist coming to you The group has hosted multiple searches and continues to pass out flyers to hopefully find Maple soon “This has changed our view on humanity entirely right 3,000 people are saying ‘Hey where’s Maple Ashley Mcconnell saw the posts on Facebook and went out with her sons to drive around and look for Maple I have had people from the Facebook page reach and send me materials to make signs,” Mcconnell said The signs are scattered in businesses across North Canton the thousands of supporters are more motivated than ever she’s doing everything she can to get that dog back so I think it’s partially us loving our animals but Chelsea having that heart and being that driving factor behind everything,” Mcconnell said If you see Maple or think you know where she is Szaniszlo asks that you do not approach her but call 330-284-8090 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNORTH CANTON Ohio (WOIO) - North Canton firefighters rescued a deer stuck in an icy pond Friday morning Fire Chief Cramer and firefighter Fox found the deer in distress in a pond behind homes on Shiloh Run SE Firefighters said the deer was trapped in the icy waters and unable to free itself The team spent time to dry and warm the deer they named Shiloh Shiloh was then released back to his natural habitat NORTH CANTON ‒ An officer who was shot in the line of duty on Nov. 18 has received the Police Purple Heart and returned to light duty Police Chief Frank Kemp Jr. gave the award to Officer Patrick Lewis at Monday's City Council meeting Lewis was shot while working on the Canton Regional SWAT Team with the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task force to catch a violent criminal at a Jackson Township motel Other law enforcement officers then fatally shot the suspect He is on track to receive medical clearance to return to regular duty Ward 1 Councilman Jamie McCleaster wrote in a Facebook post "I’m so very grateful for the men and women on our safety forces and most certainly for Officer Lewis’ return," McCleaster wrote and thanking him for his service to our community!" One resident made this comment on the councilman's post: "Being protected by the likes of Ofc Lewis makes me feel completely safe in North Canton." The Police Purple Heart honors law enforcement officers who have been seriously wounded or killed in the line of duty A badge bloodied: North Canton police officer shot in SWAT standoff details road to recovery Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com NORTH CANTON – On a chilly Ohio spring afternoon I finally made good on a promise to myself to stop in at Variety’s Restaurant for a midday meal I’ve driven by the place more times than I can count A local favorite since the ‘90s Variety’s opened its first location in Perry Township in 1996 at 2843 Lincoln Way E and expanded in 1999 to 1286 S Known for its generous portions and family-style atmosphere the restaurant has built a loyal following The dining room buzzed with regulars and newcomers alike − some were still enjoying breakfast while others mulled over lunch options What immediately stood out were the wallet-friendly breakfast prices come with home fries and toast for just $10.99 to $11.99 Extensive menu that covers it all Lunch presented a challenge − so many choices The menu includes everything from classics like a tuna melt and chicken tender wrap to hearty options like meatloaf Burgers range from a smokehouse burger to a mushroom cheeseburger Club sandwiches and steaks round things out Chocolates: Dubai chocolate bar and more! “There weren’t too many unusual names in the ‘80s,” she joked explaining how she’s come to appreciate hers pausing my entrée order so I could enjoy the salad bar without my meal cooling on the table I went for the Amish-style roast turkey ($14.99) house-made mashed potatoes with gravy and stuffing with tender meat and perfectly imperfect mashed potatoes with lumps that screamed homemade One trip to the salad bar was included with the meal but with its signage touting it as a star attraction It was impressively clean and well-stocked I built a simple but fresh plate − crisp greens beets and a sprinkle of cheese topped off with some dressing Locals share the love Behind me in line at the salad bar were Debra and Lincoln Manchester from Jackson Township both retired assembly workers and weekly regulars “We’re especially fond of the all you can eat soup-and-salad bar ($12.99),” Debra said Lincoln chimed in about his favorite dish: smothered chopped sirloin ($15.99) topped with onions Another Local Gem: The Barrel Room in Canal Fulton His go-to is the German fries ($9.99) − four scrambled eggs “It’s a ton of great food for the money,” he said “And it pairs perfectly with a few hot cups of coffee.” Variety’s Restaurant in North Canton delivers Food & Drink reporter for The Canton Repository can be reached at bshaffer@gannett.com or 330-580-8318 North Canton; 2843 Lincoln Way E in Perry Township Review is based on meal at North Canton site 2025Dylan HefflingerPrep Baseball Ohio Editor in Chief/Advanced Scout Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseballOHFollow on Twitter- @PrepBaseOHScoutFollow on Instagram- @prepbaseballohio Prep Baseball Ohio is eagerly anticipating bringing the Buckeye state the best high school coverage that can be found anywhere in 2025 we began releasing team previews for squads across the state we will have Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings coming your way To view the full list of 2025 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2025 Team Preview, click here Interested in attending a Prep Baseball Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here Team Name: North Canton Hoover VikingsHead Coach: Bryan AshbyDivision: II2024 Record: 23-92024 Tourney Finish: Regional Finals loss to TwinsburgReturning Starters/Pitchers: 5/6 Coach Outlook: "We hope to build on the successes of 2024 and renew our goal for a league title and deep run in post-season  Our keys are throwing strikes as a pitching staff playing solid defense and being aggressive on the base paths." To view the 2024 Team Previews, click here To view the 2024 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup To View the 2024 PBR All-State Teams, click here To view the 2024 Preseason All-State Teams, click here To view the 2024 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click here To view the 2023 Team Previews, click here To view the 2023 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here To View the 2023 PBR All-State Teams click below: To view the 2023 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2023 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click here To view the 2022 Team Previews, click here To view the 2022 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here To View the 2022 PBR All-State Teams click below: To view the 2022 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2022 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click here To view the 2021 Team Previews, click here To view the 2021 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup To View the 2021 PBR All-State Teams click below: To view the 2021 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2021 Ohio Spring Scout Blog To view each of the parts to the No 'Last Dance' Series To view the 2020 Team Previews, click here To view the 2020 Preseason All-State Teams, click here To view the 2020 Virtual Ohio High School State Tournament/Preseason Team Rankings, click here To view the Ohio High School All-Decade Team 2010-2019, click here To view the 2019 Team Previews, click here To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup To view the 2019 All-State Teams To view the 2019 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2018 Team Previews, click here To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup To view the 2018 All-State Teams To view the 2018 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2017 Team Previews, click here To view the 2017 Preseason All-State Teams           NORTH CANTON ‒ Police have released additional information about the armed robbery at the Dollar Tree on Friday night In a media release posted Tuesday on Facebook they said the incident occurred at approximately 8:55 p.m Police originally gave the time as 10:10 p.m Police said they were told that the robber brandished a gun and compelled the manager to empty the contents of the cash register the individual fled through the wooded area behind the business Anyone who recognizes the robber is asked to call the North Canton Police Department at 330-499-5911 Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call the department's tip line at 330-966-3633 Ohio — Almost 9,500 people voted on Issue 9 a proposed property bond to build a $16 million consolidated fire/EMS facility in North Canton "My reaction overall is I'm disappointed," said Mayor Stephan Wilder "But their voices were heard and they had an opportunity to make that choice." The city has pushed to build a new fire station six times over the last two decades two-income taxes on previous ballots were turned down Fire Chief Drew Cramer said the two current fire stations are cramped and outdated One was built in the 50s— the other built in the 70s— and neither was meant for a full-time department which North Canton has been operating for about 20 years there were mixed feelings from residents who spoke to News 5 after they voted "I feel like the fire department deserves it "I also think that they needed to find another way The city took a gamble that the voters would approve the bond levy North Canton purchased properties along North Main Street for $1 million as the home for the fire station Some demolitions have been taking place in recent months the plan was to start construction in 2025 Asked if the purchase could be viewed as a waste of money It's still a prime retail or commercial location there." Wilder said the city could come up with a seventh proposal for a new fire station and go back to the voters or sell the property He added that there would be a discussion with other city administrators and council members about possibly putting another measure on the ballot next May We will strive to find common ground and continue to build a community you want to live in now and for future generations." RELATED: North Canton asking voters to fund new fire station NORTH CANTON ‒ Officials at the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities began discussing the need for another group home for children with special needs in the fall of 2023 bought a vacant 0.74-acre lot at 1435 Milton Street NW for $50,000 in May broke ground in October and built a foundation for a one-story 2,077-square-foot home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms with a planned completion date in April Concerned neighbors say they don't want to see the project move forward Some showed up at North Canton Council's meeting Nov Jaedan Tucker of nearby Pittsburg Avenue NW called it "a group home/transient drop-in center .. Related: North Canton school board OKs agreement with Stark DD for Medicaid School Program services She said she contacted the city's Building and Permits office City officials had granted Hope Homes permission to build a single-family home on Sept They told her they had no idea the new property owner was constructing a group home "We want you to help us save our (Milton Street) neighborhood We do not want a business in our neighborhood We don't want our property values to go down We don't want it to be harder to resell our homes whose home is on the northwest corner of Pittsburg and Milton asked council to block further construction Benjamin Young, deputy director of administration, told council that the city has told Hope Homes it needs a conditional-use permit for construction of a family "Home for Handicapped persons." That is defined as "a residential facility that provides room and board and supervision in a family setting for four to eight handicapped persons." The neighborhood is zoned as R-50, which means single-family homes must be built there on lot sizes of at least 7,200 square feet. Hope Homes has applied for a conditional-use permit, and the city's Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing at 6 p.m Wednesday at the North Canton Civic Center to consider the application Related: Stark County's first Smart Home opens its doors CEO of Hope Homes in a later phone interview said he had explained to Tucker the agency's plan during his visit to the site It's a single-family home for persons with developmental disabilities," Herrera said It's going to be four people who come together Tucker later said she had no such conversation with Herrera And that a man in a van who visited the site told her the house being built would become a rental property She said he didn't say anything about the house becoming a group home Herrera said he was the man driving the van He stuck to his account that he had told Tucker that the house being constructed would be a group home for children with disabilities who's lived on Milton Street for two years "I don't want to be in North Canton with that type of business across the street from me "They're people in the community that need help and what kind of community are we if we don't provide help to the people in need?" The CEO of Hope Homes said the home is for children with developmental disabilities who don't drive so they wouldn't contribute to traffic in the neighborhood Stark DD Superintendent Bill Green said the home to be built on Milton Street is intended for children ages 6 to 17 He said that families often aren't able to care for children with developmental disabilities The children's home environment often isn't safe So the Stark DD system needs group homes to house them “We develop an individual service plan for each person and part of that plan ensures .. we assess the risk for the children and that they are safe (and) the others live with them are safe as well," said Green ”Every single person has an individual service plan that ensures that they are healthy and safe That (the people) they interact with are healthy and safe including neighbors and including the community at large.” Group home safety in Stark CountyGreen said except for when a man in Jackson Township stabbed to death a group home worker in 2020 he does not recall any group home resident committing any act of violence Green said usually two to three staff members are assigned to a group home And they usually make two to three visits per day The Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities in 2018 signed a 30-year agreement with Hope Homes to build group homes which each can house up to four adults or children with developmental disabilities Stark DD would obtain state and federal grants to fund acquiring land and home construction own and maintain the homes with Stark DD holding a security interest for up to 15 years The families of the homes' residents would sign leases and pay rent to Hope Homes Stark DD got a $278,312 grant from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities to pay for acquisition of the Milton land and the construction Stark DD also got an American Rescue Plan grant for tens of thousands of dollars to pay for residents' medical treatment And the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton issued a $12,500 grant for a multi-sensory therapy room to calm children who struggle with being overly stimulated and stressed said it chose the Milton Street site because it is centrally location and in the North Canton City Schools district Green said that about 1,000 Stark DD clients live in 700 group homes across the county but 96% are for adults And the system needs more group homes for children "We want to give the best home-like experience for the children who need it We want to remind everyone these are children and they do have often times complex needs that need to be addressed and that is why this home is so important.” Additional information has been added to this article said when he drove to the site of 1435 Milton St he told a resident who lived by the property that the foundation was building a group home for children at the site A prior version of this article identified the wrong person making the on-site visit Investigators released the name of the police officer injured during Monday's standoff at a Jackson Township motel while they continue searching for the family of the fugitive killed during the exchange of gunfire The North Canton Police Department said the Canton Regional SWAT Team member injured during Monday's firefight at the Rodeway Inn is officer Patrick Lewis The prepared statement from Police Chief Frank Kemp Jr said Lewis is a master operator on the SWAT team serving as a sniper and a precision rifle instructor "Officer Lewis was struck in the right arm and was provided emergency trauma care at the scene before being transported to a local hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery," Kemp wrote North Canton Public Library Director Andrea Legg was among those wishing him well "Officer Lewis is an absolute gem and has always been nothing but kind and professional when helping us with security incidents at the Library," she wrote on the police department's Facebook page "I know I'm not alone in applauding his courage and praying for his complete recovery Marshal Pete Elliott described the man who was fatally shot as having an extensive criminal history dating to the 1970s was sentenced to 15 years in prison on federal charges of armed bank robbery use of a firearm to commit a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon in January 1996 included an order that Vanest pay $5,808 in restitution to United National Bank & Trust Vanest was the subject of a 1991 story in The Canton Repository in which he professed a desire to turn his life around with the help of a couple from Akron who promoted Christianity through a radio show he had spent the previous eight years in state prisons for aggravated robbery "It was the latest in a series of convictions that dates back to his broken family and abuse-filled childhood," the article said The Stark County Coroner's Office is asking the public to help them find a family member of Vanest chief investigator of the Stark County Coroner's Office The coroner's office and law enforcement have been unable to find any family Vanest formerly lived on Kingswood Street NE in Plain Township "Nobody should die without their family being notified Anyone with information about his next-of-kin is asked to call the coroner's officer at 330-451-1366 An autopsy was to have been performed Tuesday by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office Vanest was wanted in West Virginia on a federal weapons violation The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force had tracked him to the Rodeway Inn at 6880 Sunset Strip Ave The Marshals Service said he pointed a gun at members of the task force then barricaded himself inside a motel room Previous incident: Jackson Township motel shooting victim identified, homicide suspect appears in court Elliott said task force members backed off when they saw the gun and called the Canton Regional SWAT Team multiple attempts to have him surrender peacefully," Elliott said during a news conference Monday at the scene through walls and everything at the SWAT officers." Elliott said he is "very glad that all of our law enforcement officers lived It's a very dangerous job that the men and women on the task force have." Authorities said they found two firearms and multiple spent bullet cases in the motel room The task force went to the motel at about 12:15 p.m. "Things started right after that," he said He said multiple gunshots were fired at officers over several minutes "He did not want to go peacefully," Elliott said Jackson Township Police Chief Mark Brink has asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate the shooting "I really do feel like this speaks to law enforcement today and what we face out there," Brink said One of my guys or girls could have easily pulled that vehicle over and that guy obviously wasn't going to go without a fight and had the firearms with him we wouldn't have known he was in that room today." A section of Interstate 77 was closed during the incident and Jackson Township police had urged people to avoid the area Brink said township officers decided to close the freeway when the suspect was shooting in that direction Trapped amid a gun battle; Family at Rodeway Inn sought to stay away from crossfire Staff and patrons of the Cracker Barrel restaurant were moved to the back of the building to shelter until the law enforcement operation ended Law enforcement officers responding to the scene came from the Stark County Sheriff's Office and the Jackson Township and North Canton police departments At Rodeway Inn: Fugitive killed, officer wounded in shooting at Jackson Township motel Repository staff writer Tim Botos contributed to this story NORTH CANTON — North Canton Hoover High School has announced the 2025 class for its athletic hall of fame The inductees will be announced at halftime of the home football game at Memorial Stadium on Sept The induction social hour and program will begin at 5:30 p.m Ticket information will be made available in August