Three pets perish in Drake Road fire

On Monday, February 22, the North Royalton Fire Department was dispatched to a call at 2:26 a.m. to a fire at 12666 Drake Road. It was reported that the fire was fully engulfing the garage and a portion of the house, which was attached by a breezeway. Mutual aid was also called from Broadview Heights, Brunswick and Strongsville. Since there was a large propane tank on the property, residents were evacuated. The power lines were also on fire. Both Columbia Gas and First Energy were also called to respond. Drake Road, from West 130th Street to Bennett Road was temporarily closed. North Royal ....

Mar 7, 2016

School report cards are in

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released the second part of the district report cards in late February. The first portion was released in January. This portion of the report contained the results for the value-added scores, based on grades 4-8 math and reading, which was taken from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment for the 2014-15 school year. According to Dr. Lonny Rivera, Ohio Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction, “The Ohio School Report Cards for the 2014-2015 academic year give every school and district A-F letter grade ....

Mar 7, 2016

NRSD Sup't. Greg Gurka on State of the Schools: Don’t settle for good when you can strive to be great!

Several dozen people attended the North Royalton School District’s (NRSD) State of the Schools address, given by North Royalton School Superintendent Greg Gurka. The event, held on February 17, was a Chamber of Commerce event, sponsored by Cuyahoga Community College CCC West. Newly-appointed President of the CCC Western Campus, Dr. Donna Imhoff, was introduced and offered a few comments. Gurka began, “2015 was a year of great successes for our district and also a time of great challenges.” He noted that last year, the district concluded its five-year Strategic Plan and developed a new t ....

Feb 23, 2016

Royalton Recorder marks 75 years of documenting life in North Royalton (Years 1968 – 1970)

In 1968, North Royalton was still a farm based community. The January 11 Recorder reported that Royal Ridge Poultry Farm, 14638 Ridge Road, added a Frozen Egg Division. Three trucks from Royal Ridge collected eggs from 20 surrounding farms for preparation and sale. Extra eggs would be pasteurized, frozen, then sold to bakeries, egg nog makers, and other businesses. Agriculture is not even a second thought today. Royalton Farms, an orchard on State Road, produces apples available from late August until sold out. Grace Brothers Nursery, Ridge Road, offers farm produce shares through a Community ....

Feb 23, 2016

Valley Vista students include paper hugs in care packages for troops

Valentine’s Day is past but that hasn’t stopped Valley Vista Students from showing they have a big heart for our men and women in the service. The students, their families and the PTA collected dozens and dozens of items to send to the troops. On February 17, during “Random Act of Kindness Week,” there was a great big packing activity. Helena Johnson, PTA mom, has a friend who has a brother that was serving in Afghanistan so for Christmas 2014, got some classrooms to donate care packages which were sent directly to him. “This year I mentioned it to the PTA, and Principal Jeff Hill; ....

Feb 23, 2016