Portage County Health District

01/13/2026

We are proud to share some exciting news!

William Duck, BA, REHS, Environmental Supervisor for Water Quality at the Portage County Health District, will be a featured speaker at the upcoming WWETT Show Conference this February.

Last year, Will received a scholarship to attend this national conference. This year, he returns as a presenter, which is a wonderful reflection of his expertise, dedication, and leadership in the field.

🗓 Session: Making Every Minute Count: Strategies to Improve Our Time, Relationships, Business, and Success in the Wastewater Industry
📍 Location: Indiana Convention Center
🕐 Date and Time: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

The WWETT Show brings together professionals from across the wastewater industry to share insights on regulations, innovation, and best practices, and we are thrilled to see Portage County represented on this national stage.

If you are planning to attend, you can use promo code INDYSPKR26 for 20% off registration.

Fore more information, please visit: https://www.wwettshow.com/en/home.html?_gl=1*nm50f1*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiA95fLBhBPEiwATXUsxEVjFh1qFg3M9aq8LnyivlHZ6OVYaZOyfjZH8a0RDIeyLZKUG2XPORoCdqcQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADO90pwUrPqYlTq9wIjAZGlwxHIEI

Please join us in congratulating Will on this well deserved achievement and for representing our agency and community at a national conference.

01/12/2026

January is National Radon Action Month, and it is a great time to protect your home and your family.

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas and the second leading cause of lung cancer. Because it cannot be seen or smelled, testing is the only way to know whether radon levels in your home are elevated. The good news is that radon mitigation is highly effective and can significantly reduce risk.

Free radon test kits are available to Ohio residents:
Request a free kit at: https://ohio.radon.com/

The Ohio Department of Health also offers a Radon Education and Licensing Program, including guidance on hiring licensed radon testers and mitigation professionals. You can find licensed professionals using the Contractor Locator Tool here:
https://data.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/data/view/radon-licensure

Taking a simple step like testing your home can make a meaningful difference in protecting your family’s health.

01/09/2026

🌟 Student Art Calendar Contest 🌟

Portage County students in grades K through 12 are invited to create original artwork showing what Environmental Health at Home and Outdoors means to them. This could include themes like clean water, recycling, handwashing, and staying healthy around bugs and animals.

Selected artwork will be featured in our 2027 Portage County Health District calendar.

How to enter:
📅 Submission deadline: July 31, 2026
📧 Email a clear photo or scan of the artwork to: nmenke@portagehealth.net

Guidelines:
• Open to Portage County students in grades K through 12
• Artwork should be 8.5 by 11 inches
• Portrait orientation preferred, taller than it is wide
• Original artwork only. Please no tracing, AI generated images, or copyrighted characters

Questions? Email Natalie at nmenke@portagehealth.net

We cannot wait to see the creativity of our students and the many ways they help tell the story of environmental health in our community.

01/09/2026

Carrying Narcan saves lives.

Narcan is a life saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and help restore breathing. Having Narcan available can mean the difference between life and death.

Through Project DAWN, free Narcan kits and overdose prevention education are available to our community.

You can receive training and a free Narcan kit by contacting the Portage County Health District at 330 296 9919 ext. 118.

Free contactless Narcan kits are also available through our self serve vending machine located in the lobby of the Portage County Health District at 999 E. Main St., Ravenna, Ohio.

Together, we can save lives.

01/08/2026

Our phone system is now working again and we are able to receive calls. Thank you for your patience and understanding while this was resolved.

01/08/2026

On New Year’s Eve, the Safe Communities Coalition was out sharing traffic safety information with travelers heading out to celebrate. Our team focused on promoting proper seat belt use, the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, child passenger safety, obeying speed limits, and recognizing road fatigue, all with the goal of helping everyone arrive safely at their destinations.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and engaged with us as we kicked off the New Year with safety as a priority. A special thank you to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a valued coalition member, for volunteering to host this event on behalf of the Safe Communities Coalition.

01/08/2026

⚠️ Phone System Temporarily Down

Our phone system is currently down and we are unable to receive calls at this time. We are working to fix the issue and apologize for the inconvenience.

Please check back here for updates.

Thank you for your patience.

01/08/2026

📣TODAY Pop-Up Food Pantry!

Drive-Thru Pop-Up Food Pantry
Stay warm and support your community from the comfort of your car. For the winter months, we are using our convenient drive-thru format at PCHD.

📅 New Date: Thursday, January 8
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Portage County Health District
999 East Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266

In partnership with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, PCHD proudly hosts a Pop-Up Food Pantry each month to provide access to fresh, healthy foods for local families.

🥕 Explore Additional Food Resources:
PCHD Food Resource Dashboard
🔗 https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/c92774ced7894f37a7bc069400a237c0

(Also available on our website under: Our Programs → Community Health → Food Resources Dashboard)

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Find Help Tool
🔗 https://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/find-help

Please share this post to help our community stay informed. Thank you for supporting local families!

01/07/2026

01/05/2026

📣 Important Update: January Pop-Up Food Pantry Date Change!

Due to the holiday, our January Drive-Thru Pop-Up Food Pantry will take place on Thursday, January 8 instead of the first Thursday of the month. Please share to help spread the word!

🍎 Drive-Thru Pop-Up Food Pantry
Stay warm and support your community from the comfort of your car. For the winter months, we are using our convenient drive-thru format at PCHD.

📅 New Date: Thursday, January 8
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Portage County Health District
999 East Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266

In partnership with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, PCHD proudly hosts a Pop-Up Food Pantry each month to provide access to fresh, healthy foods for local families.

🥕 Explore Additional Food Resources:
PCHD Food Resource Dashboard
🔗 https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/c92774ced7894f37a7bc069400a237c0

(Also available on our website under: Our Programs → Community Health → Food Resources Dashboard)

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Find Help Tool
🔗 https://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/find-help

Please share this post to help our community stay informed. Thank you for supporting local families!

12/31/2025

Portage County Safe Communities wishes everyone a safe and happy New Year’s Eve.

As we welcome 2026, please remember to celebrate responsibly. Always wear your seatbelt, plan a sober ride, and never drive impaired. Your choices tonight can save lives.

In the United States, about one third of all traffic crash fatalities involve drunk drivers with blood alcohol concentrations of .08 g/dL or higher. Together, we can prevent tragedy and keep our roads safe as we enter the new year.

From all of us at Portage County Safe Communities, have a joyful and safe New Year.