An Ohio.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the State of Ohio A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website Share sensitive information only on official and personal information are protected by federal and state digital security standards The Portage Lakes Visitor Center will welcome thousands of guests to this boating Focused on the importance of the lakes to the community the 3,914 square foot center will feature an interactive map and modern restroom facilities as well as outdoor spaces for soaking up the sun As it is built into the hillside by the Turkeyfoot Lake beach with restrooms accessible from the beach area Woody’s Place doesn’t need any publicity from us in Green has been a Portage Lakes fixture for 40 years who opened the diner in 1985 with his wife The Coventry natives owned the Sparkle Drive-In before taking over the former PJ’s Gridiron at Main Street and Moore Road Older residents might remember when the building was home to The Freez in the early 1970s but daughters Theresa Dunn and Erin Swain continue to pack in the crowds for breakfast and lunch at the family-owned business You can tell people are enjoying themselves The two dining areas were full when we arrived but our timing was good because a booth opened after a 5-minute wait We studied the menu and checked out daily specials on a dry-erase board as four friendly waitresses worked the diner “The servers greet everyone with a smile,” Susie said The brick-and-wood interior is brown and white with metal ornamental art on the walls the wall is scuffed and a plate is chipped Breakfasts include various combinations of eggs hotcakes and homemade sausage gravy and biscuits Like many restaurants, Woody’s Place has instituted a surcharge on eggs because of national shortages and rising prices Featured waffles were strawberries and cream but I noted that the lunch menu offered sandwiches a creamy porridge that I slathered in butter thick mixture and scraped the bowl with my spoon until every tiny grain was gone topped with mild red salsa and crumbled tortilla chips I knew what my wife was going to select before she announced it she is a self-described “potato connoisseur.”  “It’s definitely one of the biggest omelets I’ve ever had,” she said She carefully cut into it with a knife and fork I waited for the connoisseur to make a pronouncement “The hash browns inside are delicious,” Susie said We spread jelly from the little packs in a caddy on the table We cleaned our plates and felt contentedly full All four servers made their way to our table: Brittany returning often to refill Susie’s coffee cup and see if we needed anything the cost seemed reasonable for all the good food that we ate “I can see why it’s so popular,” Susie said Mark J. Price can be reached at  mprice@thebeaconjournal.com  Ohio — Two prime locations on the water at Portage Lakes are closed for good Pick's at PLX and Smoke on the Water shut down after Labor Day Weekend former employees are cleaning the spaces out and the community is wondering what will happen next ​"It's a great place to come to relax with friends look out on the water," said Lisa Gorris of Massillon Gorris and her girlfriends enjoy paddling on Portage Lakes.​​"It's a beautiful day to paddle to Pick's for lunch Donnie Boyer owned Pick's at PLX for eight years and Smoke on the Water for three former Pick's at PLX employee.​​"All the music It just felt like we were having fun on vacation," said Becky Wilcox former Pick's at PLX and Smoke on the Water employee Boyer said the leases were up at both locations and a wife that I don't really see for four months so as much as I've enjoyed it out here Boyer will transition all his efforts to The Town Tavern in Green and the name was changed to The Town Tavern The majority of his staff at Portage Lakes will transfer to Green ​"We're going to do a little renovation and change the menu out a little bit but it's a great location and a great community goodbyes are never easy.​ ​"Since everyone found out we're closing our customers would come in and not say goodbyes but see you laters Boyer doesn't know what's to come at his former restaurants "I really feel like there's going to be something in here before net season even starts I can't see it sitting empty long," said Boyer dozens of people took advantage of smooth ice and basically no snow to skate on Portage Lake (Anne Raup / ADN archive) Two people had to be rescued from Portage Lake on Monday after a massive piece of the glacier there calved onto the ice the skaters were ultimately able to walk out on their own — but not before two agencies launched rescue helicopters and a third sent first responders by vehicle The incident underscores the risks of the frozen glacial lake where a window of cold and clear weather has drawn hundreds of people to skate Alaska State Troopers received a report that two people were stranded at Portage Lake “after a piece of glacier calved onto the lake,” the agency said in an online dispatch A video shot by Lauren Jobe shows a massive building-sized part of the face of Portage Glacier suddenly collapsing onto the lake sending a shuddering wave under the ice’s surface across the lake and opening water Jobe was skating on the ice when she heard unusual sounds coming from the glacier and started filming with her phone “I thought ‘maybe this is just the sound a glacier makes,’” she said in an interview Monday I had half a thought that it would be cool if a piece fell off thinking that it would be 1/20th of what actually fell off.” Jobe and her skating companion were able to move to safety on their own The two skaters who needed rescue scrambled onto a steep Bystanders at the lake — a cellphone dead zone — used a two-way communication device to call for help It took about a half-hour for Girdwood first responders to get there and close to 90 minutes for helicopters from the state troopers and the Alaska Army National Guard to make it to the lake the stranded skaters had gotten to safety with the help of some nearby ice climbers and were able to meet Girdwood first responders on the lake by foot according to troopers spokesperson Tess Williams It was the first time in recent years a helicopter has been used for a backcountry ice skating rescue Wild ice skating has become an increasingly popular pastime in Southcentral Alaska in recent years stoked by Facebook groups where thousands of members exchange photos videos and advice on where to find the best ice — and this year by low snow conditions ripe for ice skating grew by nearly 1,000 members over the past week with the opportunity to skate to a glacier has been one of the most popular destinations for several years Chugach National Forest officials say “hundreds” of people visited Portage Lake over the weekend “Beautiful ice on Portage Lake is naturally enticing,” spokesperson Brandon Raile said in an email Visitors need to remember that at least 4 inches of clear new ice is needed to support a person; ice does not freeze evenly seeping water or open water; and remember that glaciers can calve in the winter so keep a “safe distance between you and the glacier,” Raile said The glacier calving was a near miss, said Luc Mehl a local adventurer and outdoor educator who teaches classes about wilderness safety and training If the glacier had calved with hundreds of people on the ice it could have been deadly and catastrophic “If that calving event had happened over the weekend Because there were so many people up at the front (by the glacier’s face),” he said “That was really close to being really bad.” Mehl said he knows of three incidents at Portage Lake over the weekend where a person went partly through ice and into the water An area that was open water last week became covered with “anomalously thin ice,” Mehl said A third fell in “right up against the glacier face,” over the weekend But he’s concerned about the calving incident and rescue “It’s not going in a good direction,” he said Portage Lake can be a sublime skating destination, but it’s large and dynamic, Mehl says. From a risk management perspective, it’s also important to remember it’s a known risk — Portage Glacier has been caught on video calving on several occasions over the past five years, he said. “This thing is actually pretty unstable,” he said. Mehl stops short of saying no one should travel close up to the glacier’s face. “We all have our own risk tolerances, risk perceptions and skill sets. I think it’s unrealistic for anybody to come in — especially with Alaskans — to come in and say, don’t do this.” It’s more about knowing the risk, making educated decisions about facing that risk and being prepared to self-rescue with appropriate supplies, especially rescue ice picks, which are inexpensive and are available from major outdoor gear stores; a dry bag with clothing; and other supplies if you go in the water. People are going to continue to want to get out on Portage Lake, Mehl said. For those who make that choice, he advises they give the glacier face a wide berth. “If you give it a wide margin, the rest of the ice is strong, it’s still thick, it’s good ice,” he said. “Maybe it’s managing your expectations and going in and thinking, you know, that picture from a half-mile away from the glacier might be enough instead of getting right up there.” Michelle Theriault Boots is a longtime reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. She focuses on stories about the intersection of public policy and Alaskans' lives. Before joining the ADN in 2012, she worked at daily newspapers on the West Coast and earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon. Opens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTMost read by subscribers1 The local businessman behind New Franklin's biggest development this century said he's hoping to see actual home construction in 2025 owner of several The Basement Sports Bar & Grills and other restaurants in Summit County said approvals for the 100-home project on the Portage Lakes have moved slower than he originally anticipated but he remains optimistic about Water 9's progress in 2025 The project is named for nine holes of the Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links Adkins purchased the 27-hole golf course in January 2023 with the intention of developing nine holes while retaining the rest of the course More: Portage Lakes businessman buys Turkeyfoot Lake golf course, will develop 'water nine' Adkins said that after some modifications to the original plan to accommodate those issues "I worked … through a number of requests," Adkins said "I agreed to lower the number of units and (the Planning & Zoning Commission) approved it 5-0 the Water 9 project will undergo the scrutiny of Summit County The project includes the addition of water and sewer lines and recent tests for both showed more than sufficient capacity for the project He has hired a local civil engineering firm to design the infrastructure improvements Adkins said he's maintaining an ambitious schedule that would see lot sales and home construction begin next year Adkins had originally set a goal of construction in late 2024 but the first-time developer found the approval process slower than he anticipated although interest from potential buyers was intense the project will bring sewer and water to an area of New Franklin that has needed it and provide future tax revenue to support city services The project is being built on nine holes of the Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links which was a 27-hole course straddling New Franklin and Green The remaining 18 holes on the Green side will continue to operate as a golf course for the foreseeable future He said he's developing the project with his family and wider Portage Lakes community in mind this is something our son can be proud of … when he's 30 or 40 years old," Adkins said The novice developer said he intends for the project to be something the city can be proud of it will be the nicest neighborhood in the Portage Lakes," he said Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at www.facebook.com/alan.newsman Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSUMMIT COUNTY Ohio (WOIO) - The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the 6-year-old boy who drowned at Portage Lakes State Park Friday Sebastian Johnson was at Portage Lakes for a swim day with his family Friday, according to a fundraiser put up by Our Mother’s Hands ministry The fundraiser has raised more than $40,000 to help the grieving family 19 News spoke with someone from the ministry briefly on Monday and they said the family is asking for privacy who is seven months pregnant with the family’s 10th child took the kids for one more swim day to end the summer but not long after they got to the beach the 6-year-old went missing The New Franklin Fire Department confirmed in a release Saturday morning that Johnson firefighters were notified of a missing child at the swim beach New Franklin Fire Department said fire personnel and volunteers started a human chain to search the water it was believed the child was not in the water The child was found in about four feet of water First responders attempted to resuscitate the child but the child was later pronounced dead at the hospital confirmed the death as they continue investigating the deadly drowning Ohio — Tressa Speight noticed a lot of Facebook chatter Wednesday evening about a bald eagle near Portage Lakes State Park that seemed to have a broken wing and could not fly The location in a wooded area off Moore Road was not far from her home and I wasn't gonna let a federally-protected bird lay to die in the woods," Speight said who has a background in fostering and rescuing animals responded to the scene with her husband and their son They took extra precautions as they picked up the bird "I just had them throw the blanket and towel over her and then just scoop her up The family took the eagle back to their home Speight said she made nearly 20 calls looking for someone to help care for the bird A wildlife officer with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources picked up the eagle Wednesday night Speight learned that the majestic bird had died The cause of death is being investigated as a suspected case of bird flu so there was nothing we could do and I'm devastated," Speight said ODNR released a statement indicating the eagle was recovered but did not give a specific timeframe for test results "The division is monitoring all reports of dead wild birds in the state and has sent several samples collected in Ohio to confirm Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza." ODNR has received one confirmation from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory for positive HPAI in a Canada goose from Mercer County and is awaiting more test results Wildlife officials said most of the suspected bird flu cases in Summit County have been found in ducks or geese The outbreak has affected millions of birds dozens of commercial or backyard flocks have contracted the virus Ohio leads the nation in poultry flocks impacted by the bird flu an epidemiology professor at Kent State University said the possibility of eagles becoming infected shows how quickly the disease can spread "There were just two baby eagles in Florida that passed away from bird flu in just the last week or so," Smith said Smith believes the outbreak will only get worse before it gets better so I don't see this really getting under control anytime soon," she said Smith said the virus has also spread to dairy cattle She added that poultry bird flu cases may be skyrocketing partly because Ohio has many domestic chickens and turkeys have to be killed to stop the infection from spreading," Smith said That's one of the big reasons why egg prices are so high." Only about 70 bird flu cases in humans have been reported in the U.S. but health experts continue to urge precautions around wild birds "If you see— especially wild birds that are ill Contact wildlife professionals so that we don't get any more human cases," Smith said Speight said she wished the eagle she tried to save had a different outcome She also hopes bird flu cases will slow down "It's an unfortunate thing that's happening right now to our animals." New Franklin Fire Department: Child drowns at Portage Lakes State ParkAkron Beacon JournalA child drowned Friday afternoon in Portage Lakes State Park according to a news release from the New Franklin Fire Department Fire personnel and volunteers initiated a human chain to search the swim water after the child was reported missing about 2:30 p.m Although it initially was believed the missing person wasn't in the water the child ultimately was found in about 4 feet of water Resuscitation efforts were immediately initiated The child was transported to Summa Barberton Hospital but did not survive The child's identity was not immediately released "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time," New Franklin Fire Chief Steve Leslie said in the news release."We would like to thank the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Rangers the New Franklin Police Department and the public who assisted in the search." by Matthew Bourgault PORTAGE LAKE (WGME) -- Maine State Police says it is helping the Aroostook County Sheriff's Office with an incident on Ranger Street in Portage Lake Police are asking the public to avoid the area Ohio (WOIO) - The New Franklin Fire Department confirmed in a release Saturday morning that a child who was reported missing Friday was found in the Portage Lakes State Park Three Akron-area Rite Aid drugstores — one in Firestone Park one in the Portage Lakes area and one in Barberton — are closing The Firestone Park and Portage Lakes Rite Aids are listed in the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in a New Jersey court The closure of the Rite Aid at 1403 Wooster Road West was confirmed by a store employee contacted Wednesday who declined to provide more details The stores were not listed among a round of closings announced last month that included 15 locations in Ohio the chain's Tallmadge store announced it was closing Rite Aid has shuttered more than 500 locations citing a need to "further reduce rent expense and strengthen overall financial performance.”  A sign on the door at the Firestone Park store Wednesday at 325 E Waterloo Road said prescriptions will move to Walgreens starting July 16 The sign said prescription records will be available at all Walgreens That Rite Aid also had a sign on Wednesday that said the store is having an "Everything must go" sale with up to 30% off certain products Signs on the door at the Portage Lakes Rite Aid at 4053 S said: "Your prescriptions are moving to Walgreens effective July 18." Prescriptions records from the Rite Aid will be available at all Walgreens including the closest Walgreens stores at 361 E Waterloo Road in Akron and 900 Wooster Road N An employee of the Barberton Rite Aid did not share where prescriptions and prescription records would be sent or say whether there is any signage with this information at the store Store associates at all three locations referred a reporter to Rite Aid's corporate office which did not immediately respond to the Beacon Journal's request for comment What do I do if my pharmacy is closing?If your pharmacy is closing, the pharmacy must notify you of its closing date and your prescription's new location before it closes, David Burke, executive director of the Ohio Pharmacists Association, told the Canton Repository Find more information about what you can do about your prescriptions and insurance here The closest pharmacies to the East Waterloo Road Rite Aid are in Akron: Walgreens Pharmacy at 361 E Waterloo Road and Giant Eagle Pharmacy at 484 E Rite Aid are CVS Pharmacy at 762 Arlington Ridge in Green and Walmart Pharmacy at 2887 S Other Green pharmacies include these Uniontown addresses: Market District Pharmacy at 1700 Corporate Woods Parkway CVS Pharmacy at 3761 Massillon Road and Acme Pharmacy at 3875 Massillon Road Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X The Portage Lake Pioneers won the Great Lakes Hockey League playoff championship over the weekend by defeating the Fond du Lac Bears in the title game Sunday in Eagle River but that does not mean the Portage Lake Pioneers had it easy en route to their Great Lakes Hockey League playoff title Sunday afternoon in Eagle River The Pioneers had to defeat the Fox Cities Ice Dogs twice Saturday just to get to the Kohlman Cup final against the Fond du Lac Bears Dawson McKay scored the lone goal with 7:20 remaining in the second period Petrulis finished with the shutout in goal stopping all 42 shots sent his way by the Bears the Pioneers scored four goals in the first period and four more in the third in Saturday night’s semifinal matchup against Fox Cities and Dawson McKay in a 9:14 span to jump out to a 4-1 lead Fox Cities responded with two straight goals in the final 4:37 of the opening frame to trail 4-3 heading to the second period Portage Lake struck three times in just under nine minutes to push their lead to 7-3 The Ice Dogs got one back in the late moments of the period with Broetzman scoring twice more surrounding a goal by Brett Hauswirth Fox Cities scored twice more late to cut the lead to five Portage Lake scored four times in the first and four more times in the third to defeat the Ice Dogs and Riley McKay all scored first-period tallies Dawson McKay picked up a pair of assists in the sequence Neither team could get much done in the second period as no goals were scored in the frame Colton Salani struck less than four minutes into the third period to put Portage Lake up 5-1 Broeztman struck 3:01 later and Dawson McKay closed out the offense with two goals in a 3:19 span The Pioneers opened their tournament on Friday with a 22-1 win over the Sun Prairie Killer Bees The Killer Bees had earned their way in the larger tournament by winning the play-in game against the Dane County Dairy Kings The Killer Bees did not win a game during the regular season The Pioneers struck three times in the first period against Sun Prairie Ross Rouleau led Portage Lake offensively with seven points Cale Markham had three goals and three assists Hauswirth chipped in three goals and two assists Salani also scored a hat trick and picked up an assist as well 18 different skaters picked up a point in the game Goaltender Brian Brzezinski made 15 saves to earn the win The Calumet Wolverines earned a win in their first game of the tournament on Friday by defeating the Mosinee Papermakers Calumet jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Matt Yeo and Michael Babcock 5:05 apart Mosinee cut the lead in half before the end of the first period Logan Rastello scored a pair of goals 17:35 apart in the second period to put Calumet up 5-1 going into the final frame The Papermakers scored two goals in less than four minutes to make it 5-3 less than eight minutes into the third Yeo scored his second goal of the game with 8:44 remaining Mosinee got one back with former Calumet goaltender Ian Carroll pulled Goaltender Matthew Ryynanen made 65 saves to earn the win for the Wolverines Ryynanen and Bruce Parisot combined to made 56 saves in the loss the Pioneers and Wolverines are back in action for the final times this season as they battle each other for the Gibson Cup The Pioneers have won the trophy each of the last two seasons and will host both the opening game on Thursday and the third game Saturday The Wolverines will host Game Two on Friday — The Michigan Tech Huskies track and field squads capped the GLIAC Championships weekend .. SOUTH RANGE — The Calumet Copper Kings used multiple hits from Bethany Garrow KINGSFORD — Seniors leadership is something the Hancock Bulldogs softball team will need to have success if they .. several area golf teams made the trek to L’Anse Golf Course for the Baraga Invite Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan by Ariana St Pierre Maine (WGME) — A police K-9 who was injured during a standoff in northern Maine has died A Maine deputy was also shot before the suspect died after being shot by police on Monday Maine State Police and the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office responded to 20 Ranger Street in Portage Lake for a report of a domestic dispute between a woman and 29-year-old Steven Righini The woman reported Righini had been fighting with her and pushed her into the wall police say the woman was out of the home and Righini was inside with their 4-week-old infant Police say troopers and deputies tried to take Righini into custody Righini reportedly pulled a gun from his waistband and shot at the officers as he ran back into his home as the deputies and troopers tried to back out of the driveway Righini then grabbed another firearm and fired at the retreating cruisers hitting Deputy Shane Campbell in the shoulder Deputy Campbell was taken to Northern Light Hospital in Presque Isle for treatment and was later released Maine State Police say they tried to negotiate with Righini for several hours but he refused to surrender and eventually tried to flee from the scene in a vehicle Police say they disabled Righini’s vehicle Reghini then fired a shot at Preacher and he was hit in the abdomen Police say Righini pointed his gun at troopers before Troopers Andrew Hardy and Jonathan Russell shot Righini Preacher was taken to an emergency vet in Presque Isle with serious injuries and underwent surgery police say he succumbed to his injuries early Tuesday morning The infant child was not injured during the standoff at the home and was returned to her mother Trooper Hardy and Trooper Russell have all been placed on administrative leave as is standard protocol while the Maine Office of the Attorney General investigates the use of deadly force in the police shooting Police say Preacher was surrounded by his handler and several members of the tactical team when he passed on Tuesday Russell served the greater Southern Field Troop area and the Maine State Police Tactical Team Russell and Preacher attended the Maine State Police Canine Patrol School in the fall of 2023 Police say the loss of Preacher is a profound reminder of the courage and dedication of our law enforcement officers and their K-9 partners Town Tavern in Green is now owned by Donnie Boyer who previously owned Legends Sports Pub and Grille at the same property who sold Legends to James House seven years ago went on to open the Portage Lakes restaurant Pick's at PLX in 2018 and Smoke on the Water next door in 2022 Last call for the waterfront hot spots was on Labor Day as Boyer closed both Coventry Township restaurants House opened his first Town Tavern at the Green property at 1840 Town Park Blvd Boyer has purchased majority ownership of the Town Tavern in Green from House and is running the business with his new business partner So much so that he hosted a "Welcome Back" party to meet his family "Over seven years ago I made the tough decision to sell Legends and I always said I would love to open something in Green again someday," Boyer wrote he couldn't "wait to work again with such an incredible community." who did not publicize a closing date at either of his Portage Lakes restaurants held a "Clear the Beer" end-of-season "beer-ance" sale with low-priced beers on Labor Day at Pick's "I have truly enjoyed the last seven years and have had the opportunity to meet some really great people," he wrote on Facebook of closing the lakes restaurants "Those of you that know me know that I am extremely hands-on and this will allow me to focus my time and energy on The Town Tavern." Boyer did not return calls for comment about his Portage Lakes restaurant closings or future plans at Town Tavern a 16,000 square-foot property with parts that date back to the 1940s was formerly Nicoletti's Park Place and Hook Its name comes from the former Pick's Boathouse at the property originally built in the 1870s as Mellinger’s Inn was the Portage Lakes mainstay The Olde Harbor Inn for years It also operated under the name of On Tap Bar and Grille from 2013 to 2017 and Harbor Front Grille and Party Center in 2018 who co-owns the former Pick's and Smoke on the Water properties with brothers Bob and Herb said they'll be going through both properties to work on "things that need tightening up." He declined to elaborate on what work needs to be done but said he was confident the waterfront properties won't remain vacant for long "We've not talked to anybody directly" yet "My phone is on silent because there's so many calls "We're totally confident that there'll be a prospective candidate .. who will be well positioned and able to maximize the potential that both those properties or individually have to offer." Hutchison and his brothers grew up in Green and graduated from Green High School Tom Hutchison moved back to the lakes from Kentucky two years ago while Bob lives in Kentucky and Herb in Alabama and we're very committed to what we put in there" at both properties "We want it to be a reward for the community Hutchison is a history buff who stressed that the Mellinger building is a treasure as one of the three oldest buildings on the lakes He and his brothers would like both buildings to continue as restaurants but will meet with all interested parties "We are looking for that person that has a passion for that industry," he said that really brings the potential to life." Boyer said he'll do minor renovations at Town Tavern that aren't expected to affect his hours of operation The restaurateur encouraged customers to check out Town Tavern's new fall menu The Green location also will host a $39.99 clam bake Sept Fans of Legends took to Facebook welcoming Boyer back Some asked him to bring back the old Legends name and menu including Buffalo chicken sourdough bread bowls hot strawberry wings and the Buffalo chicken burger Others asked for the return of bike night and bands Boyer did not comment on their specific requests on Facebook Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors September 26, 2024 Uncategorized As part of Governor Mike DeWine’s ongoing — and popular — H2Ohio initiative the ODNR has completed a new wetland restoration project at Little Portage Wildlife Area in Ottawa County As with the 100-plus H2Ohio efforts already completed the project will improve water quality while benefitting the surrounding communities and revitalizing the area’s ecosystem by replacing subsurface field tile drainage to redirect water from more than 400 acres of farmland to the wildlife area wetlands for filtration before flowing into the Little Portage River “This wetland restoration will continue to protect and preserve both the Little Portage River and the Little Portage Wildlife Area,” said Governor Mike DeWine “Taking these steps is necessary to help ensure that Ohio’s waterways are free from excess nutrient runoff that causes water quality issues and protect our many beautiful natural areas for future generations.” This project will improve the overall water quality of Lake Erie as well as the Little Portage River flows directly into the lake and the wetlands will filter any excess sediments or pollutants that can contribute to harmful algal blooms.  “It is of the utmost importance that we protect our rivers,” said Mary Mertz “If the water quality is improved for the Little Portage River it will only make Lake Erie a safer water source for both Ohioans and the ecosystems surrounding it.” The Little Portage Project is one of more than 100 H2Ohio water quality projects that have been completed in the state and there are approximately 80 additional projects currently underway the restoration project provides more habitat for wetland-dependent wildlife like waterfowl Bald eagles thrive in the area around Little Portage Ottawa County has the most eagle nests in Ohio and this H2Ohio project will enhance their habitat Little Portage Wildlife Area encompasses 357 acres and lies 6 miles west of Port Clinton It is bounded on the west by the Little Portage River and on the north by the Portage River The area boasts a diverse and delicate ecosystem H2Ohio is Governor DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters H2Ohio uses a comprehensive approach guided by science and data to reduce algal blooms and improve access to clean drinking water by supporting best farming practices The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has broken ground at Portage Lakes State Park beginning the construction of a new visitor center The center will be located at the beach area especially with the addition of the ADA switchback sidewalk from the parking lot to the beach the project includes extensive site preparation the nearly 6,000-square-foot building will be designed to offer an engaging and educational experience for all who visit Exhibits within the center will be designed to educate visitors on the vital role these lakes have played in the community over time from their origins to their current use as recreational havens ODNR is dedicated to creating a facility that not only enhances the visitor experience but also promotes the conservation of Ohio’s natural resources The new facility should enhance the visitor experience for all at the popular boating offering interactive and informative displays that highlight the rich history and significance of the park’s eight canal lakes “This new visitor center at Portage Lakes State Park represents our continued commitment to improving the experience for everyone who comes to enjoy the natural beauty of this area,” said Mary Mertz “We are thrilled to create a space where visitors can learn about the historical and ecological importance of these lakes fostering a deeper connection to the park and its resources.” Highlandtown Lake in Columbiana County is being drawn down to allow for dam repairs Combined with the recent drought conditions both of Highlandtown Wildlife Area’s boat ramps may be unusable because of lower water levels which the Division of Wildlife staff will evaluate and close the ramps when water levels are too low to safely launch watercraft The water level reductions are expected to impact lake access from Highlandtown Wildlife Area’s boat ramps and waterfowl hunting and wildlife watching on the lake through the rest of the year The 2,269-acre state wildlife area is located directly north of Highlandtown and the area’s 170-acre lake is popular for fishing and open lands surrounding the lake offer public hunting for white-tailed deer Highlandtown Lake was completed in 1966 and is undergoing necessary maintenance to keep the lake’s dam in safety compliance The water level is drawn down to safe levels while the maintenance is ongoing Questions regarding drawn down water levels on Highlandtown Lake can be directed to 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543) A 2024 graduate of the Wildlife Officer Academy Officer Ehrnfield previously served as an at-large officer in central Ohio graduated from Philo High School and then Zane State College in 2021 with a degree in wildlife conservation and criminal justice Ehrnfield has statewide authority to enforce wildlife regulations and protect state lands He also contributes to public safety both locally in southeast Ohio and in Ohio’s vast outdoors Ohio’s wildlife officers speak to clubs and groups about conservation and wildlife programs; perform fish and wildlife surveys; and provide technical advice and instruction about hunting To report suspicious activity involving wildlife the nation’s wool industry saw the end of an era … You must be logged in to post a comment 2025 — A damp start to the week in Ohio We have had a large area of low pressure get cut off from the steering winds of the Jetstream we are dealing with a very slow moving low tracking gradually eastward across Ohio and into PA to start the week… The developer of a Portage Lakes housing project said he hopes to move forward despite soaring costs to add water and sewer infrastructure who purchased the Turkeyfoot Links golf course in January 2023 originally ranging from $7 million to $9 million have risen to the $13 million to $15 million range "The cost of the infrastructure is becoming astronomical," he said in a recent interview Adkins said he considered scaling back the project to avoid infrastructure costs but decided after a meeting with New Franklin officials to proceed A plan with fewer lots wouldn't require sewer and water infrastructure He went so far as to request a delay in a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting last month to consider his options But Adkins said he believes introducing water and sewer capability to the area would benefit existing residents in addition to those added by the development Adkins owns and runs The Basement Sports Bar & Grill restaurants The first phase of the Water 9 project contains 94 lots — with a total of about 120 once completed A Planning & Zoning Commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 25. Adkins has made changes to the original plan to accommodate issues raised by residents and commission members "I've acquiesced to every request," he said 'It would be a field right now'In a phone interview Friday Adamson said the city hasn't taken a position on the project But the mayor said the availability of sewer and water connections would be a benefit for residents the big plus for all residents is the extension of infrastructure into the city the city received a federal grant for about $960,000 to add lines to a planned visitors center in Portage Lakes State Park Adkins said he receives monthly calls from a national developer who wants to buy the golf course But Adkins said he wants to retain ownership to preserve Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links Adkins said he outbid a national home builder that wanted to develop the entire Turkeyfoot Links golf course HOUGHTON — With wins over the Sun Prairie Killer Bees Friday the Portage Lake Pioneers held on to the top spot in the Great Lakes Hockey League standings with 21 points The Pioneers improved to 10-1-0-1 on the season one point better than the Fond du Lac Bears the Pioneers scored the game’s first two goals scoring five straight before adding one more in the final second to seal the win over the Falcons Alec Broetzman scored three goals in the game mHis second and third tallies came 3:02 apart in the final frame at 8:49 and 11:51 Charlie Turner scored the second Pioneers goal at 10:05 of the first period before the Falcons caught fire scoring three times in the first period and adding one more in the second to take a 4-2 lead into the third Spencer Donnelly pulled the Pioneers back within one at 2:34 and then Broetzman scored twice to put Portage Lake up by one and Jack Fenton then scored with 2:04 left to give Portage Lake a three-goal cushion at 7-4 After Todd Koritzinsky scored his hat trick tally to pull the Falcons back within two Dominick Nettell put one more in for the Pioneers just before time expired The Pioneers dominated from start to finish in a 17-2 victory over the Killer Bees on Friday night and outshooting Sun Prairie 25-5 in the opening frame The Pioneers continued their offensive onslaught in the second adding eight more goals before easing off in the third Brett Hauswirth led the charge with three goals and five assists while Nick Harris also posted an eight-point night with two goals and six assists Sun Prairie’s Trevor Knight and Wyatt Kniper found the back of the net but the Killer Bees were overwhelmed by Portage Lake’s relentless attack Pioneers goaltender Brian Brzezinski stopped 15 of 17 shots for the win while Sun Prairie’s goaltending tandem of Heath Bear and Davis Nunnally faced a barrage of shots throughout the game Ohio (WOIO) - According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources they are investigating a drowning that occurred around 2:30 p.m There is currently no other information available at this time Young anglers wanting to use Portage Lake's youth fishing ponds to catch trout catfish and other fish will have to wait until next summer according to a press release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Renovations are expected to continue through 2025 Visitors are encouraged to instead visit Little Turtle Pond at Firestone Metro Park to fish this summer is less than four miles from the Portage Lakes youth fishing ponds Little Turtle Pond is open for fishing year-round The pond contains a variety of fish including channel catfish Only anglers 15 years old and younger are allowed to fish at this location All young anglers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian adults present aren't required to have a fishing license Adults also aren't allowed to fish in the youth area Each young angler is permitted to keep only five fish per day at the youth fishing ponds Catching and releasing fish throughout the visit is allowed On certain dates this summer, the Division of Wildlife staff is partnering with Summit Metro Parks to host youth fishing events that will also include equipment and instruction. Those interested can visit wildohio.gov or summitmetroparks.org for more information. Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account A newly elected board of directors for the popular Portage Lakes Club Inc says it has found a solution to financial trouble caused by increased liability insurance requirements and intends to open the camps for this season Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to keep reading Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience Don't have an account? Create Account Hickey and Secretary Dianne Northrup said after the resignation of all but two existing executive committee members the club elected new members to fill those places left vacant “Every person that’s on that board is really committed and enthusiastic and passionate about getting the camps up and running,” Northrup said “It’s really neat to see a really big energy in the room when we get together The exodus of board members came following news the club would likely close this year after decades of being a nature destination for those in the Chaleur region because of a new liability insurance requirement for leisure properties on Crown land issued by the province late in 2023 The top 10 stories of the week so you know you’re up to date By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Editor-in-Chief's Top 10 will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. For Portage, that requirement meant an increase to $5 million in liability insurance, up from $2 million the year prior. That meant an insurance premium hike and a requirement to change out a 30-year-old diesel tank on the property at an estimated $15,000 to get insured. “We discovered that you can get a smaller (diesel) tank,” Northrup said of the new committee. “The smaller tank is drastically lower in price for liability and it has different kinds of codes and regulations for environment.” Northrup said the board found a 2,000-litre, double-walled tank for “considerably less” than replacing the current 5,000-litre tank. With the smaller tank, the insurance will also only cost $100 more for the year than the current policy, she said. “It’s a drastic difference needed to start up than what the old board was looking at,” she said. The camps will likely open by the end of June this year, Northrup said, once the diesel tank is replaced and the camps have the extra insurance. The not-for-profit club, which has six cabins available to rent for members, was built by Bathurst Paper and Power in the mid-1950s as a retreat for its employees and their guests. It was sold to the membership for $1 by Stone Consolidated Inc. in the early 1990s, and run by the membership since. The club is located off Route 180, about an hour outside of Bathurst, and close to Mount Carleton Provincial Park. In 2023, the club had 139 members. Northrup said the board “inherited a really well-maintained camp” from the past board, who put a lot of volunteer time and effort into the camps over the years including installing new windows, siding, and decks with covered roofs. She said the board will continue to look at a number of upgrades to make the cabins more cost-effective and viable long-term. A fundraiser to help pay for the work will be announced in the near future through the camp’s Facebook page. With the unexpected upgrades needed this year, Northrup said the board also intends to start a reserve fund so they have money for future emergencies. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Sebastian Johnson is remembered by his family as a boy with "boundless excitement and energy and a pint-sized helping of chaos wherever he went." died on Friday afternoon at Portage Lakes State Park According to the New Franklin Fire Department fire personnel and volunteers initiated a human chain to search the swim water after he was reported missing about 2:30 p.m Sebastian was found in about 4 feet of water He was transported to Summa Barberton Hospital The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the Barberton boy's identity to the Beacon Journal on Monday Tragedy at outing: New Franklin Fire Department: Child drowns at Portage Lakes State Park A page at givesendgo.com has been set up to assist the family Sebastian is immediately survived by his parents Wayne and Maria contributions may be made to the Embrace Clinic and Care Center Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com