Today is Jan. 18, 2021.
- Back to our regularly scheduled "some sun and clouds" with a high of 34 today and maybe some flurries later on. We should get a bit more sun tomorrow with a high of 33 and some breezes. Nighttime temperatures will drop around the low 20s.
 This look like a legal tackle to you? Of course not. As one reporter wrote, it's yet another hack call "tailor-made for the misery fans have become accustomed to." That said, what a fun season. And at least we put the Steelers away.
- At 2 p.m. Saturday, Reed Memorial Library will be unboxing a librarian's mysterious archive left untouched for 50 years. Learn more about it and how to watch the event on Facebook Live.
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Crime
Two officers and a suspect were injured in a shooting in Kent on Saturday
On Saturday morning, a woman called Kent police, whispering a plea for help. Locked in the bathroom, she listened to a man breaking into the apartment. "He's in. He's in," she told the dispatcher while the police rushed to the scene. "Please, please, please help me."
Officers arrived within minutes, and gunshots can be heard over the phone. The victim was safe, but two officers and the suspect were shot. Miraculously, everyone survived.
Here's Michael Indriolo's story about what we know so far, which isn't much right now. We'll share what we learn this week.
- We published the audio from the 911 call here. Please note that the recording contains audio that's quite tense. We've redacted identifying information, like the victim's name and the address.
- The Kent Police Department provided more information about the ongoing investigation in a video press release. Lt. Mike Lewis (pictured above in a still from the video) stated that two officers were shot, sustaining minor injuries, and the suspect was shot in the abdomen.
More breaking news:
- Police believe a man struck and killed by a train in Ravenna on Thursday committed suicide, reports the Record-Courier. (Paywall.) The victim was not identified, but was described as a man around 60 years old.
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2020 was an unprecedented year, but our supporters demonstrated that community is key to making it through difficult times. Thank you for all of the donations, volunteer hours and general goodwill that you've shown Family & Community Services during such a challenging year. We are committed to continue serving the most vulnerable in our community no matter what 2021 brings.
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Martin Luther King Day
Watch the Portage County NAACP's MLK breakfast
The Portage County NAACP hosted a virtual prayer breakfast on Saturday with the theme "Press On! Building Unity in Our Community." The whole event is available to watch.
Writer and spiritual director Marchaé Grair delivered the keynote speech, "Collective Liberation: What It Means to Get Free Together." You can watch just her portion of the event.
- Kent State will be commemorating the life and work of MLK today, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The "Day of Remembrance" will kick off a series of events continuing through the rest of the month.
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Ravenna
The Oak Rubber building is coming down
 Not with fists. They'll probably use hammers or something. The Ravenna building was once home to the Oak Rubber Company, the world's largest toy balloon maker, and later housed a flea market. It has been sitting empty for years.
Economic Development Director Dennis West told us the building had been "vandalized beyond belief." He added that remnants of the old flea market had been destroyed.
- West said the demolition is court-ordered, since the building currently has no owner.
- A construction company from Indiana will be handling the demolition and the bricks and wood from the building are set to be recycled for construction.
- The future ownership of the property is still uncertain and there are no current plans for development at the site.
If you want to learn more, here's a Record-Courier history column about the Oak Rubber Co. by Roger Di Paolo from 2013.
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News briefs
A Windham alumnus wants to help you retire well
Windham grad Terry Mulhern, class of '85, recently published Retirement: Congratulations, You Have Been Promoted to CEO!
You can read more about the book, buy a copy or schedule a free appointment with Mulhern here.
More news:
- The Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities is appointing two new board members. Tom Grist and Maureen Haska will be replacing John Gargan and Carol Fruscella. (The website may not reflect the new appointments yet.)
- The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce also welcomed new board members Bob Cramer (of Deals to Your Door), Tom Freborg (of Pioneer Insurance Group) and Eric Schlaubach (of State Farm Insurance).
- NEOMED College of Pharmacy student Jacob Sweet was awarded a 2021 national pharmacy scholarship. The award recognizes up to two pharmacy students in the country each year.
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That's all I've got for today. Huge kudos to the Kent officers who responded to that terrifying break-in. Glad you got everyone out alive, including yourselves. It's clear that all could have gone very differently.
See you all on Wednesday. Thanks for reading.
Ben
330-249-1338
ben@theportager.com
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