CHESTERLAND NEWS VOLUME 49 No. 23
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Judge Issues Rebuke of Grendell Orders BY JOHN KARLOVEC EDITOR@GEAUGAMAPLELEAF.COM
A visiting judge has rebuked Geauga County Probate Court Judge Tim Grendell’s actions against two Chester Township trustees over their refusal to give up control and oversight of township park land. Retired Medina County Probate Court Judge John J. Lohn found Grendell violated the separation of powers doctrine when he issued two judgment entries in September 2016 ordering a civil and criminal investigation into whether trustees Ken Radtke and Mike Petruziello broke the law in voting on Aug. 18, 2016, not to enter into a new agreement with the Chester Township Park District Board of Commissioners for management of Parkside Park. Lohn had been assigned to
Two County Food Inspectors Charged with Falsifying Records, Theft in Office
hear and review Master Commissioner Mary Jane Trapp’s investigative report after Radtke filed an affidavit asking Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Conner to remove Grendell from the case because of perceived bias, prejudice and partiality. Grendell eventually agreed to step down. “The September 2016 entries violate the separation of powers doctrine and are premised upon an improper judicial investiga-
BY JOHN KARLOVEC EDITOR@GEAUGAMAPLELEAF.COM
tion,” Lohn said in a strongly worded 16-page order, filed Feb. 2. “I will not conduct further proceedings.” He set aside Trapp’s 22-page report containing her interim findings — which he heard during a 90-minute hearing on Jan. 6 — and discharged her from her commission. Lohn said Grendell justified his orders on non-binding judicial language — language that Trapp, a
Kim Laurie, the budget/fiscal director and county liaison for the Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court, issued a written statement Feb. 9 criticizing visiting Judge John Lohn’s order, referring to him twice as a “retired” judge. A former Medina County Probate Court judge, Lohn was sitting by assignment at the request of Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Conner.
See Rebuke w Page 4
See Statement w Page 5
Firefighters Rescue Dog in Pond BY CASSANDRA SHOFAR CASSANDRA@GEAUGAMAPLELEAF.COM
Two former longtime county food inspectors have been accused of violating the public trust. Anthony Zoccali, 45, of Cortland, and Mark Janezic, 42, of Concord Township, were indicted Feb. 8 on charges of tampering with government records and theft in office, felonies of the third and fourth degrees, respectively. Janezic pleaded not guilty at his Feb. 17 arraignment. His case was assigned to Geauga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Forrest Burt. Zoccali has not yet been served with the indictment, according to court records. The charges followed a nearly three-month investigation conduct-
While most family pets were warm, dry and eagerly awaiting food to drop on the floor during Super Bowl Sunday preparations Feb. 5, a beloved female dog was fighting for her life in a half frozen pond. The mixed-breed pit bull named Tonka had gotten out of the yard of her owner, Fiona Pausch, on Shiloh Drive early that morning and wandered onto a pond at 12265 Shiloh Dr. “My husband came and told me there was a puppy in our pond,” Judy Meyer said via phone interview Feb. 13. “It was just a small section of the pond that was open because of the windmill (aerator) was keeping it open. We had kept it open year round because we had ducks here.” Both Judy and her husband, Bob, thought maybe the dog belonged to their neighbor, but when they called him, he confirmed his dog was at home. “So then I thought, who do I call?” Judy said. “I did not want my husband to tr y to do this
See Inspectors w Page 9
See Rescue w Page 11
BY JOHN KARLOVEC EDITOR@GEAUGAMAPLELEAF.COM
Top Probate Staff Criticizes Order, Despite Pending Appellate Case
“I use the word ‘negotiate’ broadly here, to include threats to put people in jail if they do not vote for an agreement.” – Judge John Lohn
Grendell Administor Accused of Improper Communication Story on Page 7
Arabica Gets Its Mojo Back After Remodel Story on Page 8
Classifieds Start on Page 13
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Chester Township firefighter and paramedic Ted Shannon crawled out onto the ice of a partially frozen pond on Shiloh Drive Feb. 5 to retrieve a drowning dog named Tonka who had wandered into the yard of Judy and Bob Meyer and fallen in the pond. Lt. Mitch Plunk, the officer in charge, and firefighters Ryan Fowler, Joe Pavilonis and Daniel Lallitto helped drag Shannon and Tonka back to safety.
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