I'm your editor for North Canton Patch, and I am pumped to live and work in this city! I'm originally from the New Philadelphia area, so coming to Canton/North Canton to eat and shop was always like heading to the big city when I was little. I remember getting the best rooftop seats to watch the Hall of Fame fireworks, begging my mom to drive me and my sister the extra 40 minutes just to watch a movie at Tinseltown and shopping at The Strip till my back and feet ached.
I even stuck around Northeast Ohio for college, having gone to school at Kent State University (and taking a year's worth of classes at the branch campus right here in North Canton). I got my bachelor's degree in journalism from KSU's School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
But for the past two years I've been down in Lancaster, Ohio, covering crime and courts for a small daily newspaper. Before that I was an intern on the City Desk of the Columbus Dispatch, and before that an intern at my hometown newspaper, the Times-Reporter. So, as you can see, I'm a news junkie through and through.
I'm convinced Patch is where it's at in terms of where the news industry is headed. I joined up with Patch because the site focuses on the smaller aspects of a community without forgetting the big picture. Patch wants you to know your neighbor, to know what's going on in your local school system and know what's happening right around the corner.
It aims to connect people, and I'm all for it.
<b>Your Beliefs</b><br>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.<br><br><b>Politics </b><br>I'm a registered Democrat.<br><br><b>Religion</b><br>I am non-religious and respectful of others' beliefs.<br><b><br>Local Hot-Button Issues</b><br>The B word: Budget. Whether it's city or state, budget cuts are affecting everyone from the police and fire departments to the library. Budget shortfalls and how the city is dealing with them will be a big part of what we cover.
The Board of Education set a special meeting for 7 p.m. Jan. 22 to discuss the levy, which would be used to improve the district's buildings and buses
Here's what was shakin' in North Canton this past week
The houses range from $64,900 to $185,000
See how North Canton City School District's award compares to nearby districts such as Massillon, Perry, Plain and Jackson
McKinley Development announced the third tenant to occupy a space in the new Washington Square building with B.A.M. Healthy Cuisine and the Winking Lizard.
Check out some of these North Canton-centric pages on Facebook
North Canton City Council members talked about adding lights to one Little League field as well as moving the outfield fence back
The number of influenza-related cases has been on the rise in recent weeks
North Canton Patch readers casted their votes this past week to determine North Canton's Person of the Year
North Canton City Council members return from their holiday break tonight and will meet at 7 p.m. inside City Council Chambers
Stephen Mears, chief executive of the 2012 Canton Marathon and Hall of Fame City Challenge, says a race that benefits the community is more important than a dispute over finances
North Canton police arrested a 59-year-old Louisville man Saturday for theft
The North Canton Public Library has six book clubs to choose from if you've resolved to read more in the New Year
If you could pick one for the city, what would you choose?
Find out when the new Winking Lizard restaurant is slated to open and more in our week in review update
Send your letters to the editor via email to editor Morgan Day at Morgan.Day@patch.com
North Canton City School District officials invite the community to attend a town hall-style meeting from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 15
McDonald, elected to Stark County sheriff in November 2012, says he is not medically fit to take office as he continues to battle esophageal cancer
This home at 2472 McGinty Road in North Canton is selling for $497,000
A Stark County grand jury will hear evidence in the case of James Clark Haldeman, who's accused of running a meth lab out of his home