Orrville High School 2025 prom was held Saturday starting with the grand march at the high school This year's prom theme was Down Under the Bayou with the stage decorated to match The dinner and dance was held at White Oak Event Center The rain stopped just in time for Orrville High Students to arrive for the annual grand march at the high school They showed up early and had their official prom photograph taken before the march The school auditorium was filled with family friends and classmates as couples paused for photos during the march A Dallas County man is convicted of assault in a 2018 Orrville shooting A jury found 47 year old Jimmie Powell guilty of the lesser included charge of assault in the first degree on Wednesday Powell was being tried for attempted murder He was accused of shooting Darius Irby of Orrville in the face with a Glock 357 handgun Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway set sentencing for Powell in May An assault-first conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison 8 On Your Side i-Team Saving Selma Pay It Forward What the Tech Mugshots Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInORRVILLE Ohio (WOIO) - Several local fire departments responded to a large barn fully engulfed in flames According to a Facebook post from the Orrville Firefighters Association crews were called to the fire at the intersection of Church Road and Wayne Street just after noon Crews were able to save a smaller attached barn and control the fire multiple fire departments took all afternoon to put out the fire There were no animals in the barn and no injuries from the fire On Monday afternoon, Orrville City Schools announced the hiring of Brent Besancon as its new head football coach “Coach Besancon brings a wealth of experience having previously assisted and led other varsity football programs,” the release said he has been instrumental in shaping competitive teams at the varsity level His dedication to fostering a culture of teamwork and excellence has earned him recognition among players More: More than wins and losses: Orrville staff, students and community show support for football coach More: Zoey Eades, Isabella Adams and Kayla Moroschan earn sectional titles "I am honored to take on this role and look forward to building a strong competitive program,” said Besancon in the press release “My goal is to instill a sense of pride and dedication in our athletes and help them grow as players and individuals.”  Besancon is excited to be leading a program that he has been in awe of from the outside Now he is the frontline leader of one of the area’s premier football programs “I have always appreciated this storied program and the community's support of Orrville football,” said Besancon More: Wooster's Alessandra Gerber swims lights out, and Michael Buchholz earns All-Ohio twice “The first task is to assemble a team and a staff that shares my values That is what one would expect from a Red Rider football player.” from his years as an assistant for the Generals’ he now gets to see the other side of the area's and one of the state’s best rivalries It’s part of the excitement and something that Besancon couldn’t be more excited to be a part of again Ohio (WOIO) - A woman was arrested last week after law enforcement officers said they found 89 pressed fentanyl pills during a traffic stop A toddler and an adult male passenger were also in the car during the traffic stop on Dec according to the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency and Orrville police officers said they were conducting surveillance on a known drug trafficker was transported to the Wayne County Jail and is awaiting on charges Her name has not been released at this time Medway agents said the toddler was placed into custody with Wayne County Children Services If you have information to help us keep dangerous drugs out of your community Type: Medway (then your message) to 847411 Orrville City Schools announced its decision to go in a different direction with its position of head football coach it says that “The Orrville City School District is embarking on a new path with its football program and is initiating the search for a new head football coach to guide our team into the future.” 17 listed an executive session to "for the purpose of discussing the appointment or compensation of an employee and negotiations." During the meeting after a public comment was heard in support of football coach Matt Zuercher The decision to not renew Zuercher as the head football coach was then released Friday I was given the challenge of building a foundation and culture that leads to success on and off the field,” Zuercher said “We are proud of the work that we did to create winning habits and character that will lead to success off the field I am disappointed the board doesn’t agree with the administration’s recommendations and have chosen to move in a different direction “As I shared with our players when I met with them (on Friday) it’s unfortunate that a loud minority makes the decision for the silent majority when strong leaders don’t step up.” More: How Wooster tennis' Ava Mather went from looking up to others to having others look up to her More: Elena Moyer and the Chippewa cycle that keeps the girls soccer program rolling David Toth nor Board of Education President Pat Lorson wanted to add anything more to the following statement that was released by the district via FinalForms:  "We express our heartfelt gratitude to Coach Matthew Zuercher for his commitment hard work and dedication throughout his time with the program We are truly grateful for his contributions to our program and the student-athletes we are eager to discover a leader who will steer our program toward ongoing growth and achievement We will share updates on the coaching search as time permits." Zuercher was the head coach for the past four years He was the offensive coordinator on the 2018 state championship team before taking the reins when Doug Davault retired in 2020 Zuercher saw a program that steadily increased its numbers each year including fielding a roster of 69 players this past fall the focus was made to emphasize the aspect of student-athlete with study days created to foster this growth It benefitted the program this past fall as they finished 23rd in the state for academic All-Ohio and boasted a team-GPA of 3.6 In easily the area’s most tradition-rich program on the gridiron stability has been a key governance over the years the first known football coach in Red Rider history Orrville had only seen five coaches take the helm from Shunkwiler (64-27) It’s a program that boasts more playoff appearances by nearly double of any other area school with 26 and has a playoff record of 35-23 The Red Rider program has been to state ten times 1998) and has sent countless student-athletes into the collegiate ranks "I want to say thank you to the many people who have supportive over the last four years as we have worked hard to build a culture of excellence not only the field but in the classroom and community," Zuercher said and to parents who helped make our program special for our players "My coaching staff has worked hard to build a sustainable culture that leads to more than just wins on the field," he added "They have loved the kids in our program like their own while making sacrifices of their own family and have been Red Riders to their core regardless of where they graduated from." President of the Education Association of Orrville (teacher’s union) and the Association had concerns with the board's decision In a statement released on Friday afternoon the Education Association of Orrville said: “Orrville football coach Matt Zuercher did not choose to resign After a positive evaluation from Orrville High School Principal Andy Brenner Athletic Director Audrey Zuercher and a recommendation from Superintendent Dr the Orrville Board of Education did not support Mr Zuercher moving forward as head football coach "As outlined by the Ohio School Boards Association other than the superintendent and treasurer nor do they typically become involved in employment interviews the decision by the board to not support Dr Toth’s recommendation for Coach Zuercher raises serious concerns about the broader implications for staff retention recruitment and the overall functioning of the district.” The issue the Education Association of Orrville has pertains to procedural steps that were taken and the precedence it sets going forward we still have not been given a reason so to why Matt was non-renewed," Rice said "The bigger issue is the precedence this sets going forward and the impact it has on teacher recruitment and retention." "Young teachers are given a one-year contract each year up through first three years they could have a good evaluation and still be nonrenewed which with the current climate of shortage of teachers A teacher may choose to go elsewhere because of this precedence." that if the Board of Education knew something so egregious that was missed by the professionals they tasked with the hiring decisions why weren't they looking in that direction does the best he can do and has done a great job." Editor's note: Each Monday online The Daily Record features good eats Check back each week to see 🍝 What's Cooking Orrville Sports Pub is building its reputation on the food that's served − pasta "We're a bar that serves really good food," said owner Angel Craddock who is trying to develop a place where people can come to relax socialize and enjoy a good meal and a drink The menu at Orrville Sports Pub starts with Craddock's signature pasta meals rigatoni and bow tie pasta with a choice of sauces and then there's Grandma's handmade quarter-pounderDiners can add meat balls Sandwiches include 1/4-pound coney or kraut dog Italian sausage with grilled onions and peppers Grandma's handmade 1/4-pound burgers are available with a variety of topping choices The pub features an all-day breakfast menu 10 a.m.-10 p.m which is home fries and sausage gravy topped with an egg Craddock said the kitchen before the business had its liquor license so the restaurant was take-out only for a while During that time it was called Angel's Pasta After she received the license the name was changed to Orrville Sports Pub Craddock hopes to create an atmosphere where people can come to have fun I'm planning to make lasagna on Sundays only for football games and we have a spaghetti special on Saturdays ($5 for a traditional sauce order)." Other weekly specials include Monday Meatball Madness offering deep fried meatballs in a special sauce Wednesday's special is five wings and a bucket of beer for $15 Left Center are in the works for the winter months For people who don't want to drink alcohol apple cidar and pink lemonade and a variety of sodas The kitchen at Orrville Sports Pub is 10 a.m-10 p.m Claus made an appearance in Orrville when the city started the Christmas season with its 25th annual Home for the Holidays The jolly couple arrived by firetruck to the Smith Orr Homestead where Santa flipped the switch on the house's holiday lights They visited the live Nativity at Christ United Church of Christ and the Orrville Public Library as well Other activities in the city were ice carving at the American Legion Post a fire and ice demonstration at Gary's Drive-Thru and skating at the iceless rink at Serpentini Chevrolet of Orrville Participants were given clues and tasked with identifying eight movie themes to win prizes The Salvation Army Orrville-Maiwurm Service Center will hold its annual spaghetti supper fundraiser 5-7 p.m with dine-in and take-out options available Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling 330-683-3138 or visiting the office at 401 W A table of eight can be reserved for $75 through presale The event will feature a silent auction in which attendees can bid on baskets and items donated by businesses and community members The Salvation Army is seeking sponsors and silent auction donations Proceeds benefit The Salvation Army Orrville-Maiwurm Service Center’s efforts to assist families in need in Orrville This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/ The Orrville Area United Way celebrated a successful year surpassing its campaign goal and honoring local volunteers It was an opportunity to reflect on the impact made over the past year and to celebrate the people who made it happen The organization supports 15 programs across 12 partner agencies and nine community initiatives It also announced a special grant opportunity which will provide $30,000 to support the evolving needs of the Orrville more than 400 volunteers contributed nearly 2,600 hours to help the organization thrive Two annual awards were presented to exceptional volunteers Sarah Colucy received the Gene & Mickey Workman Lifetime Achievement Award which honors a legacy of lifelong service and community impact on several committees and as a vocal champion for the organization Seo Conrad received the Patti Ayers “Yes!” Award which recognizes those who quietly go above and beyond with a can-do spirit Conrad is known for organizing the COVID Christmas Angels initiative which provided gifts for local families in need and offering support through her food truck joined the celebration to share personal reflections on their families’ legacies of service Guests enjoyed live performances by local musicians Dave Tibbitts with Jazz by Design Ryan Speicher with the Orrville High School Band and students from The Voice Studio festive balloon art by Conrad’s Creations and handcrafted gifts from the Romich Makerspace Foundation added to the atmosphere The Orrville Area United Way expressed gratitude to everyone who joined the celebration and to all who continue to make a difference year after year Orrville Area United Way will once host the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for the 2025 tax season VITA provides free tax preparation services for families with household incomes generally less than $60,000 the elderly and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance filing returns the VITA program offers free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing Orrville Area United Way helped file 154 tax returns resulting in $138,356 in refunds and saving taxpayers about $34,000 in preparation fees VITA services will be available at the Orrville Area United Way office on Wednesdays and Saturdays from March 5-26 Daytime and evening appointments will be offered Appointments can be scheduled beginning Feb eligibility will be confirmed and individuals will receive a checklist of the documents to bring to their appointment For more information contact office@oauw.org or visit www.orrvilleareaunitedway.org Rittman and Wooster may have a new polling location beginning with the primary election May 6 A notice was mailed to voters impacted by the changes precinct boundaries have to be reassessed due to population changes and occurrences like new housing developments and annexations," said Board of Elections Deputy Director Bryon Bell "Ohio law requires us to make these changes Many factors play a role in these decisions Changes to polling locations are made only when necessary When polling sites are conveniently located and accessible leading to higher turnout and a more representative electorate according to a news release from Wayne County Public Communication “We hope these changes will make voting more convenient,” said Director Julie Stahl “In-person voting on Election Day is just one of three easy options for voters in Ohio We also offer early in-person voting at our office during the four weeks leading up to Election Day To find more information about the changes and to search for polling locations, visit the Board of Elections polling place changes page at WayneCountyoh.gov. This story has been updated to correct the day of the fire A barn was destroyed and a nearby home was at risk Saturday afternoon when a fire broke out in Orrville The Orrville Fire Department was called to the area of Church Road and Wayne Street at about noon according to Orrville Fire Chief Chris Bishop prompting an upgrade to a working fire and a second alarm Upon arrival crews found the barn fully engulfed Firefighters were able to save a small attached barn on the east side of the structure A tanker shuttle was used to supply water to the scene because of the rural location "The building was fully engulfed on arrival," Bishop said "There was no injury to our people or the homeowners." which contained hay and lumber in the upper level "The house next to it did sustain a little bit of damage from the heat," he said "We were able to save it and keep it from burning." The cause of the fire remains under investigation While the initial report indicated animals may have been inside Bishop said none were in the barn at the time of the fire Crews from multiple departments worked throughout the afternoon to bring the fire under control and conduct overhaul operations Mutual aid was provided by department from Kidron The Griffins improved to 17-7 and the Red Riders dropped to 13-9 Buchtel advanced to meet Jefferson Area in a district final at 7 p.m Saturday at Triway on Carmichael Court in the Miller Family Arena against Jefferson Area beat Bay Village Bay 57-54 Tuesday night Here's how the game unfolded through our live updates Senior Isaiah McCray finished with 23 points for Buchtel Griffins seniors Stevie Diamond and Ta'Shawn Thomas scored 17 points apiece Diamond also had eight rebounds and four steals Thomas' stat line included six rebounds and four steals Buchtel senior Demetrice Coates contributed 11 points Sophomore Tavione Iverson scored eight points and sophomore Denver Watson scored five points sophomore Kash Brown and senior MaCaleb Jones chipped in four points apiece Orrville junior Kodah Allen totaled 29 points sophomore Malakhi Gray finished with seven points sophomore Case McDaniel and senior Michael Diehl chipped in six points apiece and junior Breylon McDuffie added five points Buchtell leads Orrville 71-47 through three quarters Isaiah McCray and Stevie Diamond have 17 points apiece for Buchtel and Ta'Shawn Thomas has 16 points Buchtell leads Orrville 59-36 midway through the third quarter Isaiah McCray leads Buchtel with 15 points Stevie Diamond has 14 points and Ta'Shawn Thomas has 12 points The Griffins outscored the Red Riders 24-14 in the second quarter Stevie Diamond has 12 points and Ta'Shawn Thomas has nine points Buchtell has extended its lead to 38-22 over Orrville in the second quarter following a Demetrice Coates layup Buchtell rallies and leads Orrville 26-18 at the end of the first quarter Buchtel ended the first quarter on a 23-6 run Stevie Diamond has 12 points for Buchtel and Isaiah McCray has 10 points Orrville jumped out to a 12-3 lead with Kodah Allen scoring 10 of the points Allen made two 3-point shots from about NBA range Here are some notes to read before the game: Buchtel is seeded No 39 seed Conneaut 93-27 in a sectional final on Feb The Griffins are coached by Rayshon Dent and feature players Isaiah McCray Dent said the OHSAA ruled that Chris Powell and Knekose Mack Jr are not eligible to play in the postseason after playing in the regular season Powell and Mack transferred to Buchtel ahead of this school year Buchtel went 10-0 in the City Series to win the league's regular season title and then topped Garfield for the third time this season to win the City Series postseason championship at Firestone Ohio high school basketball scores: Tuesday's Akron-area district tournament scoreboard, live updates 32 seed Hubbard 54-43 in a sectional final on Feb The Red Riders are coached by Sly Slaughter and feature players Kodah Allen Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com Orrville City Schools canceled classes Friday after a 16-year-old student was arrested in connection with a threat made against the high school on Thursday The Orrville Police Department was alerted to a social media post at 9:20 a.m Thursday that referenced potential gun violence directed at students Within an hour officers arrested the high school student for inducing panic According to Orrville Police Chief Cory Seiler the student claimed he had shared the post from someone else and had no intention of causing harm “We’re still trying to let the kids be kids We’re trying to make sure we’re there for these kids and keeping them safe,” Seiler said He said the investigation is ongoing and there will be an increased police presence at the school Seiler urged the community to be mindful of what they share online “It’s important to think before you post and be cautious about what you share," he said Friday morning Orrville City Schools Superintendent David Toth said classes were canceled Friday out of an abundance of caution following “various perceived threats” on social media in recent days “We have and will continue to work with the Orrville City Police Department to investigate these perceived threats,” Toth said Red Rider football game still on; increased police presence plannedDespite the school closure including the home football game Friday night the Orrville Police Department will have an increased presence at the game,” Toth said The student arrested will face disciplinary action in accordance with the school’s code of conduct Toth emphasized the district’s commitment to student safety and encouraged families to talk to their children about the importance to report concerning posts or information they encounter online aware of the threats circulating on social media also sent a letter to families highlighting its focus on student safety and urging the community to report threats A bomb threat made Friday morning to Akron Children's Hospital was deemed to not be credible according to hospital officials in a report in the Akron Beacon Journal This threat comes on the heels of a threat made to Copley High School on Monday evening that was also found not to be credible OHuddle Mentorship will host the OH-Mazing Race in Orrville on April 28 at the downtown pavilion Registration is free and will begin at that time Participants will receive a map to navigate five kiosks around downtown Orrville Youth and their families can engage in activities aimed at developing life skills youth must complete four out of the five stops More than 150 tablets will be available on a first-come Only youth under age 18 are eligible to receive a tablet Mayor Matt Plybon will start the event at 6:15 p.m. and the OH-Mazing Race will conclude at 7:45 p.m Youth under 14 must be accompanied by an adult Pre-registration is encouraged to save time and increase the chances of securing a tablet youth can participate by completing 40 Neighborhood Huddle stops for a prize at any time For more information, visit ohuddle.org/neighborhoodhuddle or contact contact@ohuddle.org ORRVILLE — If there is one definitive thing about Orrville boys basketball this year this team has the ability to do what it wants Combine all that and it made for a tall deck stacked against visiting Waynedale in the nightcap of the Steve Smith Holiday Hoops Classic on Saturday That made it even more impressive as the 1-4 Golden Bears jumped out on the host Red Riders 14-point early in the second quarter Orrville blitzed its way into the lead with a 20-0 run and suddenly led by six The Red Riders never surrendered the advantage from that point on as they improved to 4-2 on the season with a 66-58 win More: Coy Wenger, Brady Hignight spark Dalton past Chippewa in WCAL opener I thought we got back to playing the way we are supposed to play,” Orrville coach Sly Slaughter said they played the right way and we just didn’t come out ready.” Kick-starting that run with 5:59 left in the second quarter was the play at the defensive end Sophomore defensive standouts Trey Mosley and Case McDaniel checked in and put the clamps down and Allen snared a couple steals and turned into a couple quick layups at the other end the Red Riders packed on the points as Allen scored 10 of his game-high 21 in that 20-0 stretch to the 2:41 mark “We started playing harder on the defensive end both started playing the way we wanted to play,” Slaughter said we got a couple easy layups and that’s what we fed off of.” It wasn’t until Evan Yoder knocked down a trifecta with 2:15 to stop the run that the Golden Bears began to swing back Yoder then made another 3 right before the break as he finished with a team-high 19 points we just didn’t step up and make plays when we needed to,” Waynedale coach Dane Held said we were executing our game plan offensively and defensively but we then had a three-to-four-minute stretch where we just weren’t doing what we’re coached to do and what we’re supposed to do Anytime you give up a 17-0 or 20-0 type run Held looked at turnovers and ability to take care of the ball as keys “We just need to mature and play stronger with the basketball,” he said “I think we shied away from the ball and we're looking for other guys to make plays And when you’re not tough with the basketball Both teams battled back-and-forth down the stretch as the host Red Riders stretched out the lead to as large as 10 at 58-48 but saw the Golden Bears cut it to as close as five twice Orrville's Malakhi Gray finished with 16 points while Michael Diehl and McDuffie both added eight points Brayden Cox and Braylon Slaughter both chipped in the second half with three and four points “That’s two games in a row that Malakhi has played really well,” Slaughter said “We got a number of different guys that can contribute Brayden played more like he is capable of in the second half and Braylon played better It’s just everyone contributing a little bit and that’s what we need.” More: Wenger, Hignight lead Dalton past Chippewa in this WCAL clash you have to win basketball games or they will stop believing in you the more they believe in the things we’re telling them but we’re on the right track and moving in the right direction.” Waynedale's standout point guard Matthias Raber had 17 points and Hudson Barkman finished with 10 DOUBLE-TROUBLE BRICKER - In the battle before the Orrville and Waynedale Triway fell 78-65 to Revere in the Steve Smith Holiday Hoops Classic A slow start put the Titans behind the eight ball early Bricker scored early and often around the rim as he helped pull his team to within one at 44-43 with 3:32 left in the third quarter Bricker did whatever was necessary to help his team eventually tie the score with 6:23 left in regulation at 52-all He finished with his second double-double in as many nights with 16 points and 11 rebounds as he had 18 points and 18 rebounds the night before against Fairless “Rob played tremendous,” Triway coach Nathon Loney said “He is adjusting to my style of play really well and is playing exactly how I expect a post player to play good understanding of body position and it’s hard to find post players with his type of consistent energy.” it's a year of adjustment as they learn Loney’s style and pace of play high reward.’ It's a process that is coming along well as the team begins to understand the uptick of possessions with the faster pace of play is good where we would get up and down the floor,” Loney said That third quarter is what Triway basketball could look like Bruin Flinner led the Titans with a team-high 19 points and added three rebounds and five steals Lane Crilow chipped in seven while Jalen Hackett and Brandt Clippinger both finished with six points “I give our kids credit for the way we played in the third quarter and second half,” Loney said “Definitely a positive is our effort and energy in collaboration with the Orrville community and the Wayne County Creating Healthy Communities team will open a farmer’s market in Orrville in May The Orrville Farmer’s Market will take be held 1-3 p.m through the end of October at the Union Depot parking lot The market will move across the street to its new permanent location once renovations are completed in the following year The market is inviting vendors and entertainers to participate Vendor fees for the opening season are being waived in the form of donations in order to foster market growth and community involvement artisans and entertainers are invited to participate “We are excited to bring the Orrville community together through this farmer’s market,” said Elesa D Eaken of the Wayne County Health Department “This market will not only provide residents with access to fresh but it will also support our mission to create healthier community for Wayne County residents.” For more information contact Eaken at 330-264-9590 or eeaken@wayne-health.org The Salvation Army Orrville-Maiwurm Service Center will host its 29th annual Bob "Punch" Maiwurm Memorial Golf Scramble on May 17 The event will take place at Riceland Golf Course Check-in and breakfast will begin at 7 a.m Registration costs $75 per person or $300 for a four-person team The fee includes 18 holes of golf with a cart Participants will compete for prizes including a $400 cash prize for first place a $200 for runners-up and a free round of golf for third place The first-place prize is donated by the Ellis family in honor of the leadership provided by the Maiwurm and Brown families enter a 50/50 raffle sponsored by Brown's Furniture and compete for hole contest prizes A grand prize drawing will offer a $400 gift certificate for Brown's Furniture Registration for the event opened April 7. Sign up online call 330-683-3138 or visit the office at 401 W who founded The Salvation Army in the region in 1939 He began the organization in the basement of his clothing store to assist those in need Maiwurm received The Salvation Army's Others Award in 1984 for his dedication and the organization continues to serve the communities of Orrville As fast as the rainstorm hit Orrville Thursday night the response from emergency services was just as quick From families being evacuated from their homes to a person being rescued from an elevator firefighters in Orrville had their hands full for several hours Thursday night and early Friday morning Fire Chief Chris Bishop said his department responded to 32 calls mostly dealing with the 7 1/2 inches of rain that fell over a three-hour period he saw a cell just stopped over the area and began dumping water "We were on a call and got back to the station before all hell broke loose," Bishop said "We had four basements that actually collapsed The Red Cross got them and brought them all (to the fire station) The Red Cross then got them into places they could go A dozen water rescues in Orrville"We did a dozen water rescues people trapped in cars in high water," he said "Wooster Township Water Rescue came over and assisted us on that A lady was trapped on the fourth floor in the elevator at Smucker's We had a little bit of everything last night." the water started receding and the fire department was caught up on all of its calls along with crews from Kidron and Wooster Township "We went to a lot of calls where water was in people's basement and leaking through their electric outlets," he said "Orrville Power was out with us helping with that kind of stuff." Bishop advises people to check and make sure their electric panels are working properly water was going right into the electric panels," he said where walls had already breached and the water was just running in The water was just coming straight into the hole into these basements until it equaled it was all the way up to the first floor." sat and prayed the water would stop rising He said it rained so hard his basement flooded It was just discouraging to see the water keep coming up and you can't do nothing about it but He didn't do it.' Now we got to deal with it the removed the catch basins from the other two streets and it all runs down in front of my house All the water just comes right down there and overflows," Hall said "There's knee-high water in my basement right now." He had the power shut down to protect against fire and damage to the furnace and water heater step in the water and get electrocuted," he added My son-in-law is pumping out the basement right now." Bishop said the North Street and Pine Street areas were hardest hit "Our first call was from a car on Pine Street," the chief said Bishop said two firefighters had to go up to the fifth floor they opened the door and lowered a ladder down through the escape hatch and got her out through the fifth floor door We don't have a lot of incidents where we need this training Last night we had to do a little bit of everything There were other areas with a lot of standing water just past Orrville Trucking and Grading on Orr Street "There was probably a foot and a half of water completely across the road," Werntz said "It probably went for about 300 feet where there was more than a foot of water across the road." Disaster Program specialist for the American Red Cross Elizabeth Conte said relief was provided for five families Thursday night "We were able to provide immediate financial assistance to families who were impacted by the storms overnight and displaced from their homes," Conte said "The request came directly from the Orrville Fire Department." "We were able to sit down with those residents at the fire department and keep them safe until they were able to get proper care," Conte said noting everyone left the fire station with someplace safe to go "No Red Cross shelters were activated," she said WOOSTER — Orrville's players knew exactly how much time had passed since seeing a victory slip away against their biggest rival They made sure there wouldn't be another countdown after the first Friday night of the 2024 season High School Football Countdown Top Five: West Holmes, Dalton vie for top spot Orrville got out to an early lead and never gave it back during a decisive 41-18 win over Wooster snapping a three-game losing streak against the Generals to start out the year with a bang "It means everything," Orrville senior lineman Shane Troyer said We gave them one last year we should have had After watching Wooster celebrate a come-from-behind victory on a walk-off field goal a year ago Orrville made certain there was no doubt down the stretch this time scoring 17 points in the opening 10 minutes and not relenting as the game went along Orrville made all the right plays — converting three Wooster turnovers into points along with recovering a surprise onside kick — while the Generals saw everything go wrong almost from the start The Red Riders busted two big pass plays early Junior QB Cam Kraft — a first-year starter — found Breylon McDuffie for a 66-yard TD to start the scoring with 5:39 left in the first quarter a play after Troyer came up with one of his two fumble recoveries Kraft found Jax Haley for a 34-yard score with 4:38 left in the first to give Orrville a 14-0 lead to stun the home Generals Kaleb Wayt proved how valuable of a weapon he will be for Orrville this year in the first half as well with the 47-yarder clearing the crossbar by a good 10 yards But the most impressive thing Orrville showed Friday was its strength up front and its ability to finish strong With four three- or four-year starters on the offensive line — tackle Shane Troyer guards Talon Beichler and Brahm Hostetler and center AJ Hills — Orrville moved the ball at will against Wooster's defense piling up 404 total yards and keeping the ball for 30:26 of game time those guys have gone through the wars for three or four years," Zuercher said They really took over as the game progressed But Wooster still had an opportunity to get back in the game with Julian Franklin busting an 80-yard touchdown run — his second TD run of 70-plus yards of the game — on the first play from scrimmage of the second half to make it 20-12 The Orrville team of last year watched multiple second-half leads slip away and the Red Riders could have reverted back to their old ways But it's a new year and a new Orrville team Instead of letting Wooster back in the game Orrville responded with its best drive of the game methodically marching down the field to answer the blow with Parker Hostetler finding his way into the end zone on a 3-yard run Hostetler made one of the biggest plays of the game on the next possession blowing up a Wooster screen pass and nearly returning it for a touchdown Travis Pumneo's 2-yard TD a play later gave Orrville a commanding 34-12 lead with 2:22 left in the third quarter Jax Haley's 49-yard TD catch-and-run from Kraft punctuated Orrville's 21-point run on the final play of the quarter to bury the Generals It was the exact kind of second half performance Zuercher and his staff wanted to see from their team "I truthfully didn't want to sub on that last drive until we were taking victory (formation)," Zuercher said "That was kind of the final statement to ourselves While many things went haywire for Wooster the Generals still moved the ball effectively showing promise for the rest of the season rushing for 281 yards and two scores on just 16 carries Hayden Meese also gained 82 combined rushing and receiving yards Wooster has a lot of work to do as it looks to improve on a three-win season a year ago "I was a little bit disappointed in our ability to play disciplined," Holter said But I thought we had some blown assignments and missed assignments missed execution obviously with the turnovers I've got to do a better job to prepare them to be ready for those situations." The Orrville Public Library commemorated its centennial celebrating growth from a modest collection of 600 books in a high school room to a 25,000-square-foot facility housing over 72,000 items the library's original collection was housed in a vacant room at the high school The current building was dedicated in 1941 with significant expansions in 1977 and 2000 to accommodate the growing needs of the community featured a proclamation from Mayor Matt Plybon who also serves as the library board president He read a proclamation recognizing April 7 “We just can’t thank the community enough for standing behind us through thick and thin,” Plybon said “This library has always been more than just books It’s a reflection of the values we hold as a city.” Meredith Craig presented an Ohio Statehouse resolution honoring the library's milestone “A hundred years deserves a resolution,” Craig said “You have a tremendous impact here in Orrville and beyond I know folks who drive from other communities just to come to this library We thank you and we’ll continue to advocate on your behalf.” The celebration included tours of the facility and stories from those whose lives have been touched by the library over the decades Community reflections of a place that's 'more than just a collection of books'Library Director Daphne Silchuck said the institution has a role as a community cornerstone “This library has been more than just a collection of books,” Silchuck said “It has been a sanctuary for curious minds a gateway to new worlds and a cornerstone of our community.” Retired educators shared memories of the library's influence on students “When I was teaching fourth grade at Oak Street School at the end of the year I would walk all the kids to the library and get them introduced to the summer reading program so they would keep coming and reading books through the summer,” said 89-year-old Virgene Steffen visit the library and get a free ice cream cone afterward It made a very special day for the children and for the teachers Plybon said he remembers walking to the library and joining summer book clubs when he was a child recalled one summer program that brought a real wolf to the library as part of a theme on animals “Kids got to learn about the sanctuary and the wolves and it was just a really neat and exciting thing you don’t expect at a library.” including renovations to the young adult area and outdoor benches donated by local Girl Scouts A mural is also planned for later this year “We’re not just celebrating the past,” Silchuck said The library continues to expand its reach through the Library on the Go”van outreach programs and partnerships with schools and agencies it offers access to more than 12 million items shared across Ohio “Please keep reminding your representatives in Columbus why libraries matter,” he said “Because what we do here makes a difference every day.” has been named a USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA award winner Based on employee feedback results from the Energage Workplace Survey the award showcases companies that take the lead in putting their people first At the heart of Jarrett's success is the company’s commitment to cultivating a people-centric culture fostering an atmosphere of innovation and upholding family-owned values across each of its business verticals Rather than hiring based solely on prior experience emphasis is placed on maintaining a collaborative work environment by offering comprehensive training to individuals who embody the company's values and exhibit a passion for continual growth “We're honored to be recognized as a National Top Workplace for the second year in a row Our success is driven by the incredible people who shape our culture where everyone truly cares for each other and our customers,” said Jarrett Vice President of Human Resources “This achievement reflects our commitment to living out our company core values and our dedication to servant leadership that empowers each individual to grow both personally and professionally.” This win follows seven Cleveland Plain Dealer Northeast Ohio Top Workplace award wins over the past nine years Jarrett has been honored with national Top Workplaces Awards in the categories of Innovation For more information about the Top Workplaces Award, visit topworkplaces.com. To learn more about Jarrett, visit gojarrett.com The Wayne County Spelling Bee will be held at 6:30 p.m There will be 25 area fifth-eighth grade students will compete The pronouncer for the competition is Katie Kirkpatrick Tri-County Computer Services Associates; and Kris Pipes-Perone Edgewood Middle School/Wooster City Schools The Spelling Bee is coordinated by Jennifer Marrah administrative assistant; of the Tri-County Educational Service Center The trophies are sponsored by The Daily Record in Wooster you were proven correct when the Panthers notched a 31-11 win Friday in Principals Athletic Conference play Phil Partin and Evan Kusmits had a pick each and the Panthers (5-0) recovered two fumbles The Panthers also had a blocked punt and four sacks in a solid win over the Red Riders (2-3) The sophomore had 114 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries Yadin Sharp was 6-of-11 passing for 209 yards and threw a 49-yard touchdown to Jake Livingston After Blaise Donatelli's second pick of the quarter Hayden Higgins kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 31-11 Manchester over Orrville with 1:59 remaining Manchester pushes lead back out to 17 against OrrvilleA botched punt attempt put Manchester on Orrville's 12-yard line Cameron Kraft hit Luke Shumney on a 25-yard passing touchdown to start the fourth quarter and Parker Hostetler ran in the two-point conversion It's 21-11 Manchester with 11:52 remaining The Panthers couldn't score from the Orrville 3 and the Red Riders took advantage on the ensuing drive Orrville has the ball second-and-7 on the Manchester 25 Manchester extends its lead over OrrvillePhil Partin made it an even dozen touchdowns on the season when he went in from 22 yards on fourth-and-1 It pushed the lead for the Panthers to 21-3 A pass go Breyton McDuffie on fourth-and-7 fell incomplete and Manchester took over on Orrville's 44 with 7:36 left in the third quarter First downs: Manchester 6-3; Rushing: Manchester 20 carries Yadin Sharp showed poise under pressure on third-and-9 when he hit Jake Livingston on a 49-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds left before intermission Orrville offensive lineman AJ Hills did caught tipped pass The problem was Ian Galloway stripped and Jake Livingston recovered the ball Manchester took over on the Orrville 24 with 4:04 to go before halftime Phil Partin scored his 10th touchdown of the season Orrville 3 with 2:31 left before intermission He showed it with a 49-yard field that went right down the middle He already has three from 49 yards or more this season It's 3-0 Red Riders with 8:28 left in the second quarter Orrville keeps its head, comes up with big playYadin Sharp has the option to run or punt on fourth downs but Tate Howell closed it fast and put Sharp on the ground Orrville has the ball first-and-10 on the Panthers 36 with 9:20 left before intermission The Red Riders face fourth-and-5 from the Manchester to start the second quarter Orville has 46 yards total offense with 44 coming through the air Panthers pick puts Manchester near the 50Trevor Kusmits got a paw on Orville quarterback Cameron Kraft's pass to pop the ball in the air and brother Trevor picked it It's scoreless with 7:31 left in the first quarter Trevor Kusmits got through the line and blocked an Orrville punt The Panthers have it first-and-10 on the Red Riders 45 with 9:45 to play in the first quarter and Orville took over on its own 46 with 8:12 left in the first quarter Orrville sit in respective OHSAA playoff racesAs you would expect Region 17 at 8.000 and are ahead of Canfield South Range (7.625) Cameron Kraft has been solid at quarterback for Orrville with targets in Jax Haley and Braylon McDuffie while Parker Hostetler is the one to watch in the running game Second-team All-Ohio kicker Kaleb Wayt is a difference maker for the Red Riders He already has field goals of 49 and 50 yards this season one receiving TD) has been a breakout performer for the Panthers this season In last week's 29-22 overtime win over Northwest the sophomore scored the game-winning touchdown and ended things with an interception Manchester's QB is Yadin Sharp (11-of-20 passing The Panthers have given up only 22 points and have held opposing teams to 61 with foes gaining only 136.0 yards a game against a vastly improved squad Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival Ohio — Streets were clear and traffic was flowing in Orrville Friday a big difference from what the town looked like Thursday night when flooding started Orrville Fire and Rescue received calls for rescue "We did about 12 rescues of people that were stranded," Orrville Fire Chief Chris Bishop said Basements had collapsed with the amount of water going in." Bishop said about 20 people were displaced The National Weather Service estimates about seven inches fell in the area Bishop said he hasn't seen anything like this since the late 1960s "I don't remember a flood like this since that time period," he said Orrville local Adam Brooks said it was a shock to him A few inches of water in the basement quickly turned into a few feet "The window just broke open and then it was like a literal waterfall into our basement," he said "We've got a line of debris on the wall and we measured 34 inches." News 5 caught up with Brooks as he was cleaning up He was deciding what could stay and what should go while getting pictures for the insurance company "We're guessing a lot of it is going to be thrown out," he said "The biggest thing is going to be the washer and dryer." He realized it could have been a lot different Bishop hopes it will be a long time before something like this happens again and the night will act as a safety reminder Orrville Area United Way has chosen the recipients of its grant awards that were funded by this year's campaign The Board of Directors approved the allocations in January The community's support reflects the campaign theme "CommUnity – YOU Make a Difference." Two-thirds of employee campaigns reported an increase in giving and contributions from community members also grew according to an announcement from United Way The funds will support four impact areas − Nurturing Children & Youth $65,000 is allocated for the seven Percy Programs such as the Weekend Backpack initiative that provides food for children in Dalton and Orrville schools over the weekend The volunteer Citizen Review Committee plays a vital role in ensuring responsible fund allocation Members review and recommend grants based on needs and program impact Grant allocations: Organizations and amountsThis year’s grant allocations are: For more information about the Orrville Area United Way or to get involved, visit orrvilleareaunitedway.org Flying high off their week one win over Wooster the Red Riders were brought crashing down to earth by a hungry and opportunistic West Holmes team eager to erase the memory of last week's opening loss at Triway The Knights took advantage of several Orrville turnovers which led directly to points and denied points for the hosts the first victory for coach Keaton Leppla in his second game leading his alma mater "It feels a whole heck of a lot better than last week," Leppla said with a smile They faced adversity; a lot of people saying negative things about them and tonight they came out and showed they're going to fight." The Knights forced a fumble on Orrville's first offensive play West Holmes converted into a 30-yard touchdown pass from Morgan Smith to Lynn Cline Smith completed nine-of-12 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 149 yards on 21 carries "I can't talk enough about how tough that kid is," Leppla said of Smith "I don't know how many times tonight he told me to give him the ball here When he locks in and has that mentality like he had tonight The senior quarterback of the Knights said he felt like he played scared in week one "That was the hardest week of practice I ever had," Smith said The Knights needed every yard Smith and the offense could muster after seeing their early 21-10 lead erased by the Red Riders who came storming back to take a 22-21 lead at the half Orrville scored on a 3-yard Travis Pumneo plunge late in the first half and added a Parker Hostetler score from two yards out capping off a 98-yard scoring drive in 11 plays in the final seconds of the first half Hostetler paced the Red Riders running game with 94 yards on 12 carries 80-yard drive to open the second half to recapture the lead and Smith ran for the 2-point conversion to put West Holmes ahead 29-22 midway through the third quarter Orrville responded by driving back down the field only to come up empty when the Riders fumbled on second down after having first and goal at the West Holmes one and Cameron Kraft connected with Jax Haley on a 3-yard scoring pass Kaleb Wayt's conversion kick knotted the score at 29-29 less than a minute into the fourth quarter The visitors answered with a 13-yard scoring run by Bowman The junior piled up 52 yards on 11 carries scoring twice on runs and once on a 21-yard pass from Smith that finished off the scoring After the Riders fumbled for the fourth time running 10 plays leading up to the final score with less than five minutes left in the game and Kraft was intercepted on the final desperation drive as time ran out Kraft finished the game completing 32 of 50 passes for 398 yards with Haley leading the way with nine catches for 119 yards and Breylon McDuffie hauled in three for 54 yards Orrville coach Matt Zuercher gave West Holmes a lot of credit for the way his team played "They came out of the gate and struggled last week against Triway," Zuercher said and clearly they worked their tails off this week They've been champions the last three years "Coach Leppla and his staff deserve a lot of credit," Zuercher continued "They came out tonight and they were the hungrier team; they were the more focused team Zuercher noted that Orrville did a lot of good things but added they have to execute and finish drives "Multiple times we left points on the board but West Holmes made plays and they capitalized," he said Orrville gained 514 yards total to 384 for West Holmes The Riders had 30 first downs to 20 for the Knights Leppla said he was proud of the way his team responded after their opening loss "I tried to get through to them that West Holmes is about grit and toughness "We slotted some younger kids in and we've asked them to grow up fast and those kids are buying in," he continued "We have great senior leadership and the younger guys are learning from them and getting the job done They're giving everything they got and doing a great job The coach commended juniors Bowman and Cline who stepped up on the offensive side of the ball tonight and sophomore Braxton Blake Orrville Area United Way's Percy Programs saw significant growth in 2024 named after the organization’s penguin mascot aim to provide resources to families in Dalton While Orrville Area United Way is known as a grant funder it also supports seven community initiatives a 24/7 resource help line and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program The initiatives focus on filling gaps and providing resources which provides students with food for the weekend which offers vouchers for new shoes and socks expanded from 10 beds in 2023 to 34 in 2024 Other community initiatives also saw steady use Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library delivered 9,311 free books to children from birth to age 5 Friendship Meals served 7,542 free hot meals throughout the year which connects individuals to local resources Community support is crucialThe growth has been supported by community generosity Sweet Dreams received additional funding from the Exchange Club’s 100-Year Grant along with donations from community members Weekend Backpack benefited from support from The Children’s Resource Fund at the Wayne County Community Foundation and the Walmart Spark Good Local Grant while Happy Feet received assistance from a local donor Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was supported financially by the Orrville Rotary Club and the Orrville High School Charity Carnival “We are incredibly grateful for the individuals and organizations who have stepped up to make this growth possible,” said James Carpenter executive director of Orrville Area United Way “Their generosity has allowed us to not only meet these growing needs but also expand awareness so that everyone in our community knows about these vital resources while continuing to support our community partner agencies that address a wide range of challenges.” Collaboration has been crucial to the success of the programs Volunteers from Christ United Church of Christ and Trinity United Methodist Church build solid wood beds for Sweet Dreams Schools help identify students in need and distribute Weekend Backpack food bags The Salvation Army Orrville-Maiwurm Service Center administers three Percy Programs Nearly 20 volunteers run a successful VITA program at least nine volunteers each week help serve Friendship Meals For more information about the programs or to learn how to help, contact Orrville Area United Way at 330-683-8181 or visit orrvilleareaunitedway.org A fire broke out early Sunday morning at a downtown Orrville bakery causing it to be close for at least a week by a resident living above Michael's Bakery who called 911 to report smoke alarms going off and the smell of smoke Orrville Police arrived at the scene first and after observing heavy smoke contacted fire dispatch Firefighters arrived to find flames at the rear of the bakery Engine 69's crew forced entry into the building and located a small fire on the floor "The fire started due to a faulty light fixture The damage was minimal and maintained to the corner where the light switch was," said Fire Chief Chris Bishop The chief gave credit to working smoke alarms that alerted the occupants of the apartment and prevented heavier damages The bakery will be closed while damages are being assessed and repaired by the owner according to the post on their Facebook page They are thankful for the Orrville firefighters for their quick response and for keeping things contained in the middle for the night Central Fire District Rapid Intervention Team initially was called in for mutual aid The Wooster/Orville NAACP is accepting applications for its 2025 Scholarship Program The scholarship is available to Wayne County public high school seniors who are accepted or enrolling in an accredited two- or four-year college university or technical education institution Applicants must be of African American descent have financial need (based on FAFSA) and show leadership qualities in their participation in co-curricular and can be used for tuition and fees required for enrollment The deadline for applications is March 15. The scholarship application and instructions for applying can be found on the Wayne County Community Foundation website on the grants/scholarships page Scholarship recipients will be notified by June 1 and funds will be distributed after July 1 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMEDINA COUNTY Ohio (WOIO) - Medina County deputies say an Orrville man died early Friday after a crash involving a semi truck The deceased has been identified as Brent Ogg Deputies say Ogg was driving around 5:30 a.m in the area of Vandemark and Chatham roads Ogg did not stop at a stop sign and crashed into the semi truck Deputies said Ogg died from his injuries at Lodi Hospital While the classes were helpful with the basics of educational administration Andrew Brenner appreciated that Ashland University’s Master’s in Education program went beyond textbooks “It was the interactions with my classmates and people in the field who came to speak to us that provided the ‘practical’ information that I have been able to incorporate into my positions,” Brenner said His latest position is high school principal for Orrville City Schools which he will begin with the start of the 2024-25 school year “Although it has been a while since I finished my program,” said Brenner “the lessons learned and the people I worked with still provide me with the insights I need on an almost daily basis.” Brenner had just started serving as associate principal at Medina High School when he completed AU’s Master’s in Education program which he said took him about 18 months to complete.  Brenner said he’s going to greatly miss Medina City Schools which include his two children as graduates “I’ve made great friends and have had the opportunity to work with some great teachers,” he said He not only will continue to live in Medina but also keeping working as a part-time patrol officer for Montville Township in Medina County “The former chief of police at Montville offered me the opportunity and it allows me additional training in school safety that is generally not available to the public,” said Brenner who graduated from the University of Akron Police Academy in 2018 keeping kids safe is our biggest responsibility.” conducting traffic control are a few of his responsibilities as a Montville police officer “The department has been very flexible in allowing me to work when I can.” Its flexibility was one of the reasons Brenner said he chose AU for a master’s degree It accommodated the needs of a working educator Brenner was a social studies teacher and football coach in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District The reputation Ashland had in preparing educators for the challenges of leading a building was another reason he decided to attend AU where he said he learned a lot about school law and special education law two areas that take up a majority of his time as a school administrator Brenner said he feels prepared to lead a new group of staff and students at Orrville City Schools and is really looking forward to this new career challenge kids and families to shape the educational environment of Orrville High School,” he said “I will have the opportunity to work with parents members of the community and local organizations to continue to build strong relationships.” A private university located in the heart of Ohio Ashland University values and encourages student individuality We provide a personalized educational experience that is as unique as you are An Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Institution This story has been updated to include the date for certification of candidates by the Wayne County Board of Elections and include a liquor option that will be put before voters in Creston A petition from a candidate for Orrville Ward 2 is pending Wooster will have one contested City Council race on the May primary/special election ballot Three candidates have filed to fill two at large seats The filing deadline for the May 6 election was Wednesday Candidates have not yet been certified by the Wayne County Board of Elections Bonita Louise Kaufman of Cher Court and Drew Paul of Summerlin Drive filed to fill two open at large seats according to the Wayne County Board of Elections is running unopposed in May for the Ward 4 seat Orrville City CouncilTwo at large Orrville City Council seats are open and two Republican candidates have filed to fill them Davies of McGill Street filed for the at large seats is pending to run unopposed if certifieds by the board is the lone candidate to file for an open Ward 4 seat village and school district issues on the ballot are: five-year renewal of a 1-mill levy that collects $96,000 annually for capital improvements and fire department maintenance five-year additional 7.3-mill levy that would collect $173,000 annually to fund police salaries four-year renewal of a 2-mill levy that collects $200,000 annually for road and bridge maintenance $67 million bond issue for constructing a new middle school and renovating district facilities to be repaid over 36 years at a rate of 3.4 mills continuing renewal tax levy of 20.1 mills for current expenses five-year renewal levy of 2 mills that generates $120,000 annually for general permanent improvements 10-year renewal levy of 2.7 mills that raise $1.8 million annually for emergency requirements Sunday wine and mixed beverages sales at American Legion Post 407 Sunday Sales of spirituous liquor at LOOM Lodge 1227 An Orrville man is arrested on sex charges involving a juvenile Chief deputy John Hatfield says deputies arrested 64-year-old Alphonso Johnson — early Thursday morning Johnson is charged with rape first-degree — and second-degree sexual abuse He’s accused of having a 3-year sexual relationship with an underage female family member Johnson is free tonight — after a posting $75,000 dollars bond