Portage County • September 11, 2025
Good morning, Portage County. The business landscape is shifting beneath our feet as Cleveland's Park Place Technologies merges with a Michigan company to create a global data center powerhouse. With 3,000 employees serving over 25,000 customers worldwide, this merger represents a significant economic win for Northeast Ohio, especially following the company's recent headquarters opening in Highland Heights. Meanwhile, a more troubling financial story has emerged from Brecksville, where a simple $61 check was fraudulently altered to $196 after being intercepted on its way to Missouri.
For generations of Northeast Ohioans who grew up with late-night laughs and campy skits, an era is coming to a close. The beloved Lil' John Rinaldi is hosting "The BIG Adios Muchachos Show" next weekend in Cuyahoga Falls, honoring his late partner "Big Chuck" Schodowski while celebrating decades of local television history. Though the 79-year-old TV personality insists he's not "disappearing into the sunset," his autobiography's Christmas release feels like the perfect bookend to a cherished Cleveland legacy.
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🤝 Two tech giants join forces in major data center merger. Park Place Technologies from Cleveland is merging with a company from Grand Rapids, Michigan, creating a global powerhouse in data center services. The combined entity will employ over 3,000 people and serve more than 25,000 customers worldwide. Park Place Technologies has been one of Cleveland's fastest-growing companies, with the merger representing a significant expansion of its market presence. The announcement comes as the company recently opened its new global headquarters in Highland Heights.
💵 Bank customer's $61 check fraudulently altered to $196. A Fairview Park resident reported the fraud at a Brecksville US Bank branch after discovering their check had been cashed for a higher amount in Missouri. The check, sent in late July, was intercepted and tampered with before being cashed. Police are investigating the incident but currently have no suspects. The case is part of a series of local crime reports published in the Sun Star Courier.
📺 Cleveland's beloved Lil' John bids farewell to generations of fans. The 79-year-old TV personality is hosting "The BIG Adios Muchachos Show" on September 13-14 in Cuyahoga Falls, paying tribute to his late co-host "Big Chuck" Schodowski who died in January. The event will feature over 100 vendors, celebrity guests from Channel 8, panel discussions, and nostalgic celebrations of Northeast Ohio pop culture. While this marks the end of an era for the legendary WJW program that descended from "Shock Theater," Rinaldi promises he's not "disappearing into the sunset" and is finishing his autobiography for Christmas release.
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