News

Grants support energy study

Local News July 22, 2026

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Consortium — led by West Virginia University in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and more than 60 regional partners — will receive up to $160 million over the next decade from the National Science Foundation to develop innovative technologies to address the nation’s energy needs. RETI was selected as one of 12 U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award recipients, the NSF announced recently. The funding is projected to generate 21,000 jobs, ...

NTSB releases preliminary report on Middlefield plane crash

Local News July 22, 2026

A person on the ground saw the moments leading up to the single-engine, four-seat Piper Comanche aircraft that crashed east of Middlefield on June 30, killing the pilot and its two passengers. The person reported that she saw the plane cross above the tree line into her property. Then the right wing dipped, while descending slightly. Then she saw the plane briefly return to level. But it then “made a sharp right turn, followed by a steep, nose down descent into a field.” The plane crashed at 3:35 p.m. into a cow pasture one mile east of its destination, the Geauga County Airport, ...

Champion schools merge positions

Local News July 22, 2026

CHAMPION — The Board of Education has approved merging the assistant principal for grades K-8 and the technology director positions into a new job description that officials said will save more than $120,000. The board on Monday approved Joseph Tredent, who has been serving as technology director, as the new assistant principal/technology director on a 216-day, three-year contract at $109,000 annually. Superintendent John Grabowski said Tredent has an administrative license and can serve in both positions. “He is excited to get started. He already has built a relationship as ...

Dog bites woman at Warren shelter

Local News July 22, 2026

Staff report WARREN — A woman was bitten on her left arm by a dog at a Warren animal shelter earlier this month, according to a Warren police report. The call reporting the serious dog bite came in shortly after 7 p.m. on July 9. Dispatchers on the report noted a second simultaneous call on another line. The initial caller hung up to contact Healthy Hearts and Paws owner Jason Cooke while reporting that the victim had a towel on the injury. No further details on the circumstances or the woman’s condition were released.

Mecca plans day for community fun

Community News July 22, 2026

MECCA COMMUNITY DAY: The sixth annual Mecca Community Day will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the township park, 6100 state Route 46. The free family event will feature music, craft vendors, bounce houses, musical entertainment, backpack giveaway for children in grades K-12 (child must be present) and food trucks. ENROLLMENT SET: Alta Head Start will have a free enrollment event 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at 261 Monroe St. NW, Warren. To register in person, parents or guardians must bring proof of residency and income and child’s proof of birth. To apply online, visit ...