North Canton|News|
Fire Inspector Laid Off as City Struggles With Budget
City officials say no more definitive layoffs are planned, but they haven't ruled them out

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.
City officials say no more definitive layoffs are planned, but they haven't ruled them out

The 29-year-old Canton man nearly crashed into the North Canton Police Department
The event, now in its second year, takes place April 28 and raises money for North Canton Elementary School PTO and PTA organizations
Gary Giammarco, president of the North Canton Little League, says the league has spent so much time defending itself that it hasn't had time to explain its side of the story regarding overhead lights, parking and registration fees
The following information was supplied by the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
A Strongsville man was arrested Saturday night after crashing into the outdoor brick steps at 2000 Americhem Way
The student newspaper introduces "The Hoover League" — Hoover High teachers cast as super heroes and evil villains, all with their own super powers
The following information was supplied by the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Cuyahoga Falls police arrested Paul B. Gallagher, 32, after a holdup at the State Road Little Caesars Pizza
The Orchard Hill intervention specialist was named "Educator of the Month" for March
No residents were injured in the weekend fire, but one firefighter was taken to a hospital
Get caught up with the biggest news of the week
A recap of the most-read stories in Cuyahoga Falls this week
Police arrested Thomas R. Patton III, 27, whose last known address is North Canton
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 was obtained from Cuyahoga Falls police reports dated March 6. It does not indicate a conviction.
A resident in the 200 block of 7th Street NE reported seeing a "wolf-like animal" Thursday
North Canton Fire Department knocked down the fire; no injuries were reported
North Canton Police are looking for Thomas R. Patton III, 27, whose last known address is North Canton
Nichols said students' extra access to the superintendent is proven to improve connectedness throughout schools