Area News

PHOTOS PROVIDED Barberton students have been interviewing community members as a component of a project made possible thanks to a grant from the Ohio Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts. Kenneth J. Smith “Coach Jo-Jo” is a professional speaker and Dara Harper returns as an artist-in-residence again at BIS. Ryan Struckel, Kave Coffee…

This appeared in the Jan. 8, 2026 edition of The BGNN. JOSH GORDON Barberton Community Foundation executive director Last year at this time I wrote a reflection of the previous year, 2024. To refresh our memories, 2024 was my first full year as Executive Director of the Foundation. I spent a tremendous amount of time…

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA McCUNE | BGNN One of the largest groups of volunteers in the rotation for Friendship Meals offered each Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church is from St. Augustine Catholic Church. Gary Christoff made eight meatloaves from scratch. Karen Eskridge and Chris Christoff Mika Schenkenberger, 15, is working on earning her Eagle Scout rank and…

PHOTOS PROVIDED Mike, a retired clown from Barnum & Bailey Circus, had a circus-themed birthday in March at Barberton Post Acute. BARBERTON  “Happy” was happy. And so were his friends and staff members at Barberton Post Acute Care last month. Mike, a retired clown from Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose clown name was “Happy,” celebrated…

BGNN staff report NORTON  The Norton Music Boosters are once again announcing their “Neighborhood Challenge,”  a part of their annual “Tag Day Fund Drive,” according to a news release. Norton High School band and choir students will be going door to door Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. collecting donations for support…

By Bob Morehead BGNN senior staff writer BARBERTON  Police were working to sort out how a man got shot in a downtown Barberton neighborhood the night of May 5. Dispatch received reports about 10:45 p.m. of multiple gunshots around Third and Van streets and the area was checked. Police found empty shell casings but nothing…

By BOB MOREHEAD BGNN senior staff writer Barberton’s 11-mill school levy was destined for spectacular failure in unofficial primary election results May 5. The bid failed by just short of 65%, 2,527-1387. “From here we go into fiscal emergency,” School Board President Tom Harnden said, referring to the highest level of state school fiscal oversight. Harnden…

By EMILY CANNING-DEAN BGNN staff writer NORTON  A proposed renewal levy that funds the Norton Fire Department has officially been approved while voters defeated a proposed income tax levy for Norton City Schools. According to final but unofficial results from the Summit County Board of Elections Issue 13, a renewal levy for the Norton fire…

Democrat Mike Roberto, of Kent, candidate for the 27th Ohio Senate district; and candidates for the 31st district of the Ohio House of Representatives: Democrat Noah Spinner, of Cuyahoga Falls, and Republicans Stephanie Stock, of Norton, and Mike Kahoe, of Akron, attended a Meet the Candidates event Saturday, April 25 organized by Barberton resident Tiffany…

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA McCUNE | BGNN One of the largest groups of volunteers in the rotation for Friendship Meals offered each Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church is from St. Augustine Catholic Church. Above, Karen Eskridge and Chris Christoff. Mika Schenkenberger, 15, is working on earning her Eagle Scout rank and she regularly volunteers with other…