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📢 Local Events from Mentor & the Area: MentorLocalBuzz.com/Events!

📰 Local News: 🚨 Mentor Apartment Fire Leaves Residents Without Heat Amid Deep Freeze

🚨 Man Sought After Fleeing Two Traffic Stops in One Night

🕰️ Mentor Honors First Deputy Marshal Lost in 1927 Line-of-Duty Tragedy

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Travel & Discovery: 🏙️ 3 Easy Weekend City Escapes from Mentor (No Plane Required)

🏒 Sports: 🏒 Mentor Powers Past Rocky River with 7-3 Conference Win

🏀 Benedictine Stays Hot at Home, Hands Lake Catholic Seventh Straight Loss

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An early morning fire at the Park House Apartments in Mentor has left residents without heat during a period of extreme cold. The blaze broke out around 2:48 a.m. Saturday in a first-floor laundry room, prompting a swift response from local fire crews. While all residents were safely evacuated, the incident caused significant damage to the building’s boiler room, cutting off heat for an undetermined amount of time.

With temperatures plunging due to a record-setting cold snap, emergency services, including the Red Cross, quickly stepped in to assist displaced residents. Some residents have been temporarily relocated, while others are sheltering at the Mentor Senior Center, which has been opened as an emergency refuge until long-term accommodations can be arranged.

Officials have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire or the total number of residents impacted. A timeline for restoring heat and allowing residents to return remains uncertain.

Read More at wkyc.com or Watch the Video

Police Blotter: Traffic Stop Escape Tied to Earlier Pursuit

A man who fled from Mayfield Village police during a traffic stop was later linked to a similar incident that occurred just an hour earlier in Mentor. The incident began around 11 p.m. on Jan. 20, when officers attempted to stop a vehicle on Wilson Mills Road due to a headlight violation. The driver did not comply, instead heading west into Highland Heights. Pursuit was terminated for safety concerns.

Police identified the vehicle’s registration as belonging to a Mentor resident. Upon contacting Mentor police, Mayfield officers learned the same vehicle had evaded their counterparts earlier that night. Investigators later determined a family member of the registered owner had been behind the wheel. A warrant has since been issued for the arrest of a 31-year-old man in connection with both incidents.

Source: cleveland.com

Mentor recently paid tribute to Deputy Marshal Lawrence R. Yaxley, the village’s first appointed law enforcement officer, nearly a century after his tragic death in the line of duty.

On July 1, 1926, the Village of Mentor created the position of deputy marshal to focus on traffic enforcement. The only requirement was that the officer be a village resident. At just 21 years old, Lawrence Yaxley was selected. Originally from Willoughby, he moved to Mentor and lived on Center Street with the Dietrick family.

He was sworn in by Mayor and Town Marshal James Locher and wore a blue uniform with gold badges marked “1.” With no official police vehicle, Yaxley used his own—a 1926 Buick coupe and a 1925 Indian motorcycle.

Just six months later, on January 30, 1927, tragedy struck. Yaxley was sent to a streetcar stop on Mentor Avenue to secure a broken sewer cover. While bending down to reposition the debris, his service weapon fell into the sewer. The gun discharged upon impact, striking him in the head.

A witness, Mrs. Wrapby, prevented him from falling into the sewer until help arrived. He was transported to Lake County Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Yaxley was laid to rest in the Village Cemetery.

His name is now inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., a lasting tribute to his brief but honorable service.

Read the Full Story Here at cityofmentor.com

Need a change of scenery but don’t want airport lines, flight delays, or rental car drama? Good news — some of the Midwest’s most fun, food-filled, culture-packed cities are just a few hours from Mentor. You can leave Saturday morning and be back home Sunday night feeling like you took a real vacation.

Here are three easy urban getaways perfect for a quick reset.

Drive time: About 2 hours

Pittsburgh has quietly become one of the coolest weekend cities within reach of Northeast Ohio. The skyline alone — especially from Mount Washington — is worth the trip.

Spend your day exploring the Strip District for international foods and local shops, then walk the river trails near Point State Park where the three rivers meet. Sports fans can catch a game, while museum lovers have world-class options like the Carnegie museums.

Don’t miss: Riding the Duquesne Incline for incredible city views and grabbing dinner in the lively Lawrenceville neighborhood.

Drive time: About 2.5–3 hours

Columbus is perfect if you want a mix of grown-up fun and kid-friendly stops. Start in the Short North Arts District, where galleries, coffee shops, and murals make for a great afternoon stroll.

If you’ve got kids in tow, COSI (Center of Science and Industry) is a hands-on science museum that can easily fill half a day. For shopping and dining, Easton Town Center feels more like an outdoor lifestyle village than a mall.

Bonus: The Scioto Mile riverfront area downtown is great for photos and an evening walk.

Drive time: About 3 hours

Detroit’s comeback story is real — and it makes for a surprisingly fun weekend trip. Downtown is buzzing with new restaurants, parks, and walkable streets.

Music fans should put the Motown Museum at the top of the list, where legends like Stevie Wonder and The Supremes recorded hits. Afterward, explore the Detroit Riverwalk or hang out at Campus Martius Park, which hosts events year-round.

The food scene is another highlight, from classic Detroit-style pizza to upscale dining in beautifully restored historic buildings.

No flights. No baggage claim. No long security lines. Just pack a bag, grab coffee, and hit the road.

A one-night hotel stay, a couple great meals, and some exploring can feel like a full vacation — and you’ll still be back home in time to reset for Monday.

Sometimes the best getaways are the ones hiding just a few hours down the highway.

In a dominant conference performance, the Mentor Cardinals ice hockey team skated past the Rocky River Pirates with a 7-3 victory on Friday night. The Cardinals wasted no time taking control, building a 2-0 lead in the first period and maintaining their offensive momentum through the second and third periods.

Leading the charge was Jake Mackey, who lit up the scoreboard with four goals. Teammates Nathan Andree and Joe Mackey also made major contributions, each tallying a goal and three assists. Mentor’s offensive strength didn’t stop there, as six additional players added a point apiece, showcasing the team’s depth and coordination.

Between the pipes, goaltender Luke Palmer faced 27 shots and turned away 24 to help secure the win. With this victory, the Cardinals evened out their overall record to 13-13-3 and improved to 4-3 in conference play.

Mentor was back in action the following night, though the outcome of that game was not available at the time of this report.

After years of visiting-team dominance, the home crowd finally had something to cheer about in the long-standing rivalry between Benedictine and Lake Catholic. On Friday night, the Bengals broke the streak with a convincing 54-39 win over the Cougars, marking the first time in six meetings that the home team emerged victorious.

Benedictine’s success came from a balanced and determined team effort. Leading the way was Jonathon Spikes, who continued his upward trajectory with 15 points on 46% shooting, while also collecting three steals. Spikes has steadily increased his scoring output over his last five games, showing steady improvement and growing confidence on the court.

Xander Smith was another key contributor for the Bengals, adding 13 points on an efficient 6-for-11 from the floor, along with seven rebounds and three steals, providing energy and versatility on both ends of the court.

With the win, Benedictine extended their home win streak to three and improved their season record to 10-5. Lake Catholic, meanwhile, saw their struggles continue as they dropped their seventh consecutive game, falling to 4-11. No player statistics were available for the Cougars.

Looking ahead, both teams will be on the road for their next matchups. Lake Catholic is scheduled to face Elyria Catholic at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

In honor of Demond Wilson
Demond Wilson, 'Sanford and Son' actor, passed away at 79. The actor was best known for playing Lamont Sanford, opposite Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford in the hit 1970s sitcom.

Great 2 minutes of Sanford and Son Babies