In 2025, Jordan Miller News documented a year marked by tragedy, accountability, resilience and community pride across Stark, Carroll, Tuscarawas and surrounding counties.
Over the course of the year, nearly 700 stories were published — including nearly 100 in August alone — spanning breaking news, court proceedings, public safety, education, politics, sports and human-interest reporting. The coverage focused on the stories shaping small towns and rural communities that often receive little sustained attention.
Below is a month-by-month look at some of the most significant stories covered throughout the year.
January
The year opened with major criminal court coverage. A Tuscarawas County man was sentenced to 28 months in prison after being shot by sheriff’s deputies during a Fourth of July incident in which authorities said he fired a gun while intoxicated and repeatedly pointed it at deputies responding to his home.
In Columbiana County, a St. Clair Township police officer critically injured during a Jan. 22 shootout near a bank that killed a suspect and a 4-year-old child began what police described as a “remarkable” recovery, offering a measure of hope in a case that deeply shook the region.
Minerva also mourned the loss of Frank Monk, a longtime track and cross-country coach whose decades of leadership helped build one of Ohio’s most successful programs and left a lasting impact on generations of student-athletes.
February
Authorities identified a man found dead along Cashmere Road in Carroll County as 30-year-old Douglas Hubler, confirming he died from a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators said the wound was not believed to be self-inflicted, and the case remained under investigation.
The Ohio Parole Board voted 5–3 to release Lincoln Mabry Jr., convicted of murdering Rebecca “Becky” Kerr in 1980 in front of her young daughter — a decision that reignited outrage from Kerr’s family and domestic violence advocates who had long opposed his release.
On the community side, Minerva officials announced a new restaurant coming to Great Trail Golf Course, while Carrollton’s girls basketball team erased a 13-point deficit to reach the program’s first-ever regional final.
March
One of the most disturbing investigations of the year unfolded in Canton, where authorities discovered hundreds of live and deceased animals — including more than 200 rats — inside a home described as being in deplorable conditions. Investigators also removed what were believed to be old human bones. Multiple felony animal cruelty charges were filed.
Human-interest coverage centered on Salem resident Zac Crewson, who turned personal grief into advocacy after losing both his brother and mother to suicide within an 11-month span. Crewson organized “Walk 22,” a fundraiser benefiting veteran suicide prevention efforts.
Cold-case reporting brought long-awaited answers when Stark County John Doe was identified as Anthony Bernard Gulley, more than 23 years after skeletal remains were discovered in Canton. Authorities credited advances in genetic genealogy for solving the case.
April
Public reaction erupted after West Branch Local Schools informed longtime girls basketball coach Walt DeShields he would not be returning. The decision sparked widespread backlash from former players and community members, and DeShields was later reinstated.
In Canton, an 11-year-old boy was taken into custody after making multiple false emergency calls, including bomb threats and reports of a shooting, forcing repeated evacuations of the Stark County District Library.
At the state level, the State Teachers Retirement System board approved a $1.84 billion benefits package, a decision that divided board members and raised questions about long-term pension sustainability.
May
A Carrollton Exempted Village School District treasurer was indicted on felony charges of theft in office and tampering with records. She was later sentenced to 18 months in prison but released after serving approximately two months.
One of the most heartbreaking cases of the year emerged in Canton, where a 3-year-old foster child died of starvation. Investigators said the child had been deprived of food and medical care for months, leading to first-degree felony charges against the foster parents.
Elsewhere, a 13-year-old boy died after falling from a trailer during a Memorial Day parade in Green.
June
Carrollton baseball ended a 31-year drought when the Warriors captured a district championship on a walk-off hit, advancing to the regional tournament for the first time since 1994.
In Canton, a hospital technician was shot during a struggle inside Aultman Hospital after a suspect attempted to gain control of a security officer’s firearm. The victim survived, and the incident prompted renewed discussion about hospital safety.
A truck driver convicted in a fiery Interstate 70 crash that killed six people — including three Tuscarawas Valley students — was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
July
The disappearance of 26-year-old Ryan “JJ” Godbey was officially ruled a homicide, with police charging Godbey’s ex-boyfriend with murder. Partial remains were later found in a rural area, and the suspect died by suicide in jail days before accepting a plea deal.
Other major July stories included the drowning death of a teenage girl in Tuscarawas County, the resignation of North Canton Mayor Stephan Wilder, the official launch of the JMN App, a fire at a Jackson Township Cracker Barrel, and a Tuscarawas County native surviving a deadly active shooter attack at NFL headquarters in New York.
Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Stark County also drew significant attention, prompting both praise and protest.
August
August became one of the busiest months in Jordan Miller News history. National attention came to Canton when ESPN personality Pat McAfee broadcast his show live from the Pro Football Hall of Fame during Hall of Fame Week.
The month was also marked by tragedy, including the deaths of two young adults struck by a train near Zoar and a devastating Atwood Lake incident involving a mental health crisis that left a 4-year-old child and his father dead.
Amid the heavy news, JMN also highlighted small-town resilience, including a Minerva pet shop celebrating 50 years in business.
September
Communities mourned the death of longtime Sandy Valley coach Ed “Lids” Lidderdale, whose influence spanned nearly four decades of track and cross-country success.
In Malvern, a football player took the field less than 24 hours after his mother’s death, a moment that united an entire community in support.
National headlines intersected with local coverage following the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk, while lighter news followed a Jackson Township golden retriever selected to star in the upcoming film Air Bud Returns.
October
Human-interest and breaking news dominated October. A deadly home explosion in Massillon claimed the life of a 19-year-old man, while North Canton police responded to an active shooter incident at an apartment complex, rescuing a woman under gunfire.
At the regional level, Cleveland officials announced a $100 million agreement with the Haslam Sports Group tied to lakefront redevelopment and a new Browns stadium.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol mourned the loss of a trooper killed in the line of duty, and the Lake community rallied around a football player hospitalized with a serious kidney injury who was later released.
November
Sports coverage returned to the spotlight when Jackson graduate and Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler won a Gold Glove Award in his first full Major League Baseball season.
In education news, a first-year elementary teacher in Jackson Local Schools saved a choking student’s life by performing the Heimlich maneuver.
December
The year closed with powerful accountability reporting. A Stark County couple stabbed by their son spoke publicly for the first time after being released from the hospital, describing the terror of the attack and their ongoing recovery.
Canton mourned the death of former Mayor Thomas Bernabei, remembered for his efforts to strengthen neighborhoods and city services.
Police also arrested a Plain Township man accused of attempting to shoot a Canton police officer during a shoplifting investigation at a Walmart.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 came to a close, Jordan Miller News remained focused on one goal: telling the stories that matter — accurately, compassionately and without hesitation — while ensuring small towns and local voices continue to be heard.
