North Canton|News|
Middle-Schoolers Prepare For Soap Box Derby Race (With Photos)
Students in Todd Alkire's science class get the chance to race in the Gravity Racing Challenge at Derby Downs Hill in Akron this Saturday

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.
Students in Todd Alkire's science class get the chance to race in the Gravity Racing Challenge at Derby Downs Hill in Akron this Saturday

The forum takes place at 6:30 p.m. May 23 inside the university's Barrette Business & Community Center
The North Canton resident and Hoover High grad will lead the girls basketball team, replacing Tim Vick as head coach
The dinner and silent auction, held Friday at Shady Hollow Country Club, will take place again next year
Athletes from all over Stark County took part Saturday in the annual event, hosted by the North Canton Jaycees
Councilman Mark Cerreta pitched the volunteer program at last week's North Canton City Council meeting. It's up for a first reading at tonight's meeting.
When our readers think about staycation-ing, they think about splish-splashing around in Dogwood Pool, according to this week's Readers' Choice poll
Our top six stories of the week
A team of five Hoover High students competed against four other groups and took home the first-place prize Thursday
The following information was supplied by the North Canton Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
The following information was supplied by the North Canton Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
Chuck Osborne is collecting signatures in an effort to limit health insurance benefits for some city officials and their family members
Mayor David Held gave the State of the City Address Wednesday night and focused on what it will take for the city to bounce back after the loss of the Hoover Company
The deal affects bus drivers, secretaries, aides and others in the North Canton Classified Personnel Association
We've rounded up the nominations for where you guys said you spend your down time here in the city. Now it's time to see which staycation location comes out on top!
Christopher S. McCormick, who'se accused of crashing into a federal building then streaking, was slated to make an initial appearance in court today. According to court records, he's still being treated at a mental health facility.
For every Directory listing claimed in North Canton in the month of May, we'll donate $5 in Patch advertising to the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce
The magazine ranks Hoover High School 47th in the state
Mark Cerreta, North Canton councilman at large, suggested the city organize a volunteer program that would involve schools, churches and civic organizations
Police say Zachary L. McKinney, 21, of Canton, led them on a high-speed chase into Canton, where McKinney crashed his car and was arrested