Volume 51, No. 11
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Innovest Global Sets Up in Chester By Ann Wishart ann@geaugamapleleaf.com
ANN WISHART/KMG
Damon Mintz, Innovest Global Inc. president, right, and Dereck McCarthy, vice president of marketing and communications, are pictured at the corporation’s headquarters in Chester Township.
In 10 short months, Innovest Global Inc., of Chester Township, has taken four well-established Geauga County companies under its umbrella and grown its value to $25 million, said Damon Mintz, Innovest president. Now the only publically-traded company in the county, Innovest took over the 30,000-square-foot office building at 8834 Mayfield Road and is gradually moving its acquired businesses under that roof, Mintz said.
The building was occupied by Fairmount-Santrol until it merged with Unimin and formed Covia Corporation, with headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Mintz said the Innovest management team, including CEO Dan Martin, a Geauga County native, wanted to keep the corporation local, so when the commodious building in Chester became available, they leased it very quickly. With plans to continue acquiring local companies, Innovest leaders expect to make good use of the main building and the smaller facility on See Innovest • Page 10
Stephen West Geauga Fumbles Away Decatur Dies Chances at Rival’s Homecoming Accused Embezzler Passes Away Oct. 1
By Brian Lavrich sports@geaugamapleleaf.com
By John Karlovec editor@geaugamapleleaf.com Stephen Decatur, Geauga County’s former chief information officer accused of embezzling public monies from the county auditor’s office, has died, according to multiple sources. “I can confirm that Steve Decatur died on Oct. 1, 2018,” Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said in an Oct. 3 email. Flaiz also told the Geauga County Maple Leaf that Decatur died at University Hospitals in Cleveland. He added Decatur had moved out of a rental home in Munson Township last year and into a home he owned in Shaker Heights in Cuyahoga County. The 59-year-old Decatur and his 36-year-old daughter, Stephanie Stewart, are alleged to have orchestrated a scheme to steal more than $1.8 million in public funds from the county auditor’s office from Feb. 1, 2010, through Oct. 25, 2017. “We’re waiting on a report from the Cuyahoga County medical examiner and the issuance of a death certificate,” Flaiz said Oct. 15. A status conference regarding Stewart’s case is scheduled for Oct. 23, Flaiz said.
KYLE DAVIDSON/KMG
Gino Fornaro led West Geauga with 112 yards rushing during the Wolverines’ 31-0 loss to Chagrin Falls Friday night at C.S. Harris Stadium at Chagrin Falls High School.
Mick Lawrence of Chagrin Falls had one of the best games of his career to help lead the Tigers to a resounding 31-0 victory over rival West Geauga Oct. 12 at C. S. Harris Stadium. Lawrence had more than 200 yards from scrimmage before halftime as he finished with 234 yards rushing on 29 attempts with two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 49 yards. His big day powered Chagrin Falls (3-5, 3-2 Chagrin Valley Conference) to its third straight victory after an 0-5 start. Meanwhile, the Wolverines fell to 2-6, 1-4. Chagrin Falls coach Mark Iammarino talked about the Tigers bouncing back from being 0-5 to win three straight. “Our kids have overcome a lot of adversity,” Iammarino said. “This week, we had a lot of illness. The Chagrin Falls-West G rivalry is a great rivalry. We love to play this game. “I told the kids, this is a life lesson. Not everything is always going to go great. You have to turn it around and believe. We’ve had a See Football • Page 4
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