CLEVELAND — Ohio native and current Princeton student Elise Taylor is spending part of her summer helping the Port of Cleveland. 

“Twice a year Lake Erie gets dredged by the Port of Cleveland, and that material gets deposited into the facility,” Taylor said. 

As part of her internship with Baldwin-Wallace University, she’s helping build and deploy turbidity sensors that can be used in that facility.

These sensors will provide staff with real-time data about how many particles are in the water they’re releasing back into Lake Erie. 

It’s allowing her to practice some of what she’s learned as a civil and environmental engineering student. 

“Everyone deserves access to clean water, so it’s really important to me,” Taylor said. 

Taylor is looking to work in water quality when she graduates and is getting her feet wet with this internship that allows her to meet and study with people currently working in the field. 

“Seeing all of these organizations being able to collaborate and make small changes in our area makes me really optimistic about the future,” Taylor said. 

Cuyahoga County’s Fresh Water Institute and the Student Conservation Association help pair students with local organizations that complete work related to Ohio’s waterways. Giving the next generation of environmental scientists hands-on experience. 

“One of my AP research projects in high school was actually about the Cuyahoga River fire in 1969 and how these grassroots movements kind of built up the momentum to get the Clean Water Act of 1970,” said Samantha Holtz. 

Ohio’s history and connection to the Great Lakes is part of what made the Harvard student interested in environmental science.

Back home for the summer, she’s now interning with the Ohio Sea Grant where she helps educate people about our freshwater environment. 

“One parting message that I always leave with my outreach events is: your actions matter. What you do on the land matters, what you do on the waters matter. You have more impact than you think.”

With uncertainty around our environment brought on by development, extraction industries and climate change, Holtz says one of the best lessons she’s learned is that positive change can start out with the conviction of just a few people.

“Interacting with people and finding that spark within them to kind of go into conservation and go into stewardship is really beautiful, because I know that has a domino effect down the line with our communities,” Holtz said. 

The next generation of scientists, learning from their surroundings right here in Ohio.

“If we can make small changes where we’re from and really meet people and share ideas about the environment, we can move in the right direction,” Taylor said.

RUSSELL F. BOJACK

OBITUARY

RUSSELL F. BOJACK age 78, beloved husband for 54 years of Annette (nee Vandetti); loving father of Michelle Hribar (husband Mark) and the late Melanie; devoted grandfather of Mark Jr, Melanie, and Matt; cherished son of the late Kaye (nee Zorich) and the late Frank; dear brother of the late Richard and Allen. Russell was born on January 5, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio, where he lived most of his life before moving to Thompson. Growing up in the Cleveland area, he graduated from Collinwood High School before proudly serving in the United States Navy. Russ dedicated many years serving as a mail carrier for the USPS. He enjoyed being able to deliver his mom’s mail and relax with friends after a long day, whether it was for a few drinks or a round of golf on the weekend. Russ’s ability to tell a good story allowed him to get lost in hours of conversation with both friends and family. He relished the time he was able to spend with his grandchildren around a bonfire or while watching Cleveland sports. On July 9, 2026, Russell passed away. Though his family will no longer hear the humming of the tractor approaching, as Sophie barks in greeting, his stories and memories will leave an endless echo. Please meet for a Mass of Christian Burial Monday, July 20, 2026, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 16550 Rock Creek Rd, Thompson, OH 44086, at 11 AM. Burial following at All Souls Cemetery. Arrangements and cremation entrusted to THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY OF CHARDON (formerly Ritondaro). Online obituary and guestbook at www.DeJohnCares.com

SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – A total of 17 people are now facing charges after a multi-agency drug bust in Summit County. 15 of the people are charged federally and two suspects are facing state charges.

According to Akron police, the Akron Police Department Narcotics Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, Summit County Sheriff deputies, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, and the U.S. Marshals participated in the nearly 15-month long investigation.

Akron Police Lieutenant Michael Murphy said the suspects were running a drug trafficking pipeline between Akron and Pennsylvania.

During the investigation, investigators said they confiscated more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine, 50 grams of fentanyl, and two handguns.

The below suspects are facing federal charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine:

• Clarence Daniels, 44
• Larry Finch, 43
• Nicholas Helfrick, 45
• Ricardo Allison, 44
• Sheldon Bell, 36
• John Townsend, 42
• Bryce Dittman, 27
• Tyler Smith, 28
• Anthony Raunikar, 45
• Marcus Nixon, 45
• John Koza, 45
• Earl Breckenridge, 57
• Jazzmin Thomas, 30
• Samantha Lentz, 31
• Craig Consilio, 62