weeklyvillager.com

Between July 20 and July 27, there were 42 break-ins within Portage County.  Many of these were focused in the area of State Route 305, Streeter Road, Pioneer Trail, and Cooley Road.  One night there were 16 incidents in Nelson Township.

Major Dale Kelly of the Portage County Sheriff’s Department stated, “this is a serious problem and we are doing everything we can to rectify it.”  He suggests that everyone lock all doors to their houses, sheds, and garages.  Car doors should be kept locked and the keys never left in the car.  He also suggests that outside lights be kept on whenever possible.

Sheriff David Doak has increased midnight shift patrol and has added unmarked patrol cars.  Portage County is not alone in combating this crime spree.  According to Major Kelly, Geauga and Trumbull County have also experienced a high number of break-ins.

For now, citizens are reminded to be vigilant, pay close attention to their neighborhoods, and keep everything locked.  Any information about these crimes should be reported to the Portage County Sheriff.

Windham - Windham High Schools Brick by Brick Committee has been busy preparing for their annual scholarship dinner planned for August 14th at the High School. After careful consideration, the committee has chosen Mrs.Frances Davis as this year’s guest speaker. They have also chosen to honor girl’s individual state, regional, and district teams. The committee traditionally honors alumni or friends of Windham who have accomplished notable, remarkable and distinguished success.

Mrs. Davis graduated from Palmyra High School and Youngstown State College. She began her teaching career at Youngstown City Schools. She taught there until she married, because the district had a policy against hiring married women; she moved on to Southeast Schools. She  the staff at Windham in 1962 and remained on staff until 1992.

While at Windham Mrs. Davis taught Health and Physical Education. She also was a cheerleader advisor, senior class advisor, track, volleyball and basketball coach.  Mrs. Davis served as the Girl’s Athletic Director and later filled the position of Boys and Girls Athletic Director as well. To this day, one can find Mrs. Davis filling the role as girl’s basketball and volleyball scorekeeper at their games. Every year the school also hosts a volleyball tournament named in her honor. When not keeping score, Mrs. Davis can be found in the stands cheering for the home team.

Mesopotamia—Approximately two miles east of the Geauga County line and only six miles from the heart of Middlefield is the perfect spot to step back in time.  You can enjoy an ice-cold bottle of soda or an ice cream cone while sitting on the porch listening to the esthetically-pleasing clip-clop of Amish buggies going by.  It is a different world and one worth exploring.

The End of the Commons General Store is the place of which I speak.  They are located at 8719 State Route 534 in Mesopotamia.  The End of the Commons is Ohio’s oldest general store and was established in 1840.  There have been many changes since those days, but some things have stayed the same.  For example, the floors in the hardware section are original and many of the decorations are real antiques.  Some things are new though, such as the 4,500 square foot addition that was added this year.

A Windham resident has won a competition for settings of the new English Mass text soon to be implemented in American parishes. Jeffrey Quick’s Mass in Honor of St. Maximilian Kolbe was awarded First Prize by The Foundation for Sacred Arts of Washington DC in their first International Sacred Music Competition for Composers.

Quick will receive a large monetary reward and a performance on August 14th by the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., directed by Dr. Peter Latona.

Quick, an area resident since 2004, is assistant music librarian at Case Western Reserve University, and directs the Hiram Community Band.