Thursday, August 22, 2024
Vol. 30 No. 34 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com
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West Geauga Schools
By Allison Wilson Wilson@kArlovecmediA com
Kathryn Burry, of Russell Township, former treasurer for the Westwood Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, has been charged with grand theft, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly embezzling in excess of $25,000.
By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA.com
Geauga County Republican Party Chair Nancy McArthur signaled her intention to resign at 11:59 p.m. Sept. 6 from a post she has held for more than a decade, citing personal reasons.
“Several weeks ago, due to personal reasons, I decided to re sign, soon, as your party chairman and informed our current party of ficers of my intentions,” she said.
Her decision comes less than a week after a group of Geauga County elected officials gave McArthur an ultimatum Aug. 14, telling her to resign or face a spe cial meeting of the central committee convened to remove her. The letter was signed
Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, Treasurer Chris Hitchcock, Recorder Celesta Mullins, Clerk of Courts Sheila Bevington and Engineer Joe Cattell. Several signatories told the Geauga County Maple Leaf they were prepared to circulate a tee members calling for a special
The Rule 4 complaint, filed Aug. 16 by the Russell Township Police Department, issued a warrant for Burry’s arrest and came on the heels of Westwood PTO filing a civil complaint Aug. 9 claiming Burry stole more than $40,000 from the PTO and accusing her of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and unjust enrichment.
“The investigation is still ongoing, but I expect additional charges after this matter is presented to the Grand Jury,” Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said Friday, referring to the Rule 4 complaint.
Burry — a real estate professional with RE/MAX Traditions and owner of Hipsters Children’s Consignment in Bainbridge Township — turned herself in at Chardon Municipal Court Aug. 19, accompanied by her attorney, Tom Perotti.
She was released on a personal recognizance bond and Judge Terri Stupica set her preliminary hearing for Sept. 3.
In the civil complaint filed in Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, attorney Jeffery Fanger, of Fanger and Davidson LLC, said
See Burry • Page 3
12 and the Geauga County
By rose nemunAitis editor@kArlovecmediA com
Eyes were on the skies Aug. 17 as an Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter landed in Middlefield to attend a special day in Geauga County.
Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 and Geauga County Safety Communities Coalition held its first Safety Day and Touch-A-Truck event at 14520 Tare Creek Parkway.
“The hope is that the commu-
nity supports our efforts to spread awareness about safety when driving, biking and walking; and the effects of distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding; and the importance of seatbelt usage and
See Safety Day • Page 6
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The body of a Russell Township man was found the morning of Aug. 20 on the site of the former Newbury Schools on Auburn Road.
Four Geauga County Sheriff’s Office cruisers and a Russell Township Police Department cruiser were gathered about
8:30 a.m. Tuesday near a gray SUV on the scene.
A deputy waiting in a cruiser said other law enforcement personnel were in the wooded area to the east of Oberland Park soccer fields looking for the driver of the SUV, which had been parked there since Sunday.
Shortly after, he said the body of the man, 51, was found in the woods.
Russell Township Police Chief Tom Swaidner said Tuesday afternoon he could not release the identity of the man until family members confirmed it, and he was awaiting the Geauga County Coroner’s Office report before releasing the cause of death.
Although an investigation into the death is ongoing, Swaidner said he doesn’t suspect foul play.
stAff rePort
A Mantua man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Burton Township, according to the Chardon post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Benjamin Derousse, 49, of Mantua, was traveling southbound on Claridon-Troy Road around 4:45 p.m. when he attempted to pass two cars and struck a pickup truck head on in the northbound lane at 15829
Burry from page 1
Burry — who commenced her term as treasurer in August of 2021 — “had significant authority and autonomy and used this authority to mislead and conceal financial information from the board of trustees of the Westwood PTO.”
A call to Burry for comment was not returned prior to press deadline.
Westwood PTO President Krista Kalina became aware of alleged fraud around June 25, according to the civil complaint.
“Ms. Burry had previously provided minimal financial reports to the board despite repeated requests and had avoided multiple requests for financial information, raising concerns with me regarding the financial activities of the organization,” Kalina said in an affidavit included in the complaint.
She contacted Citizen Bank in Chester Township around June 25, upon which she learned the Westwood PTO accounts were significantly lower than Burry had led her and the board to believe, she said in the affidavit.
“I requested bank records from the bank and based upon a review of those bank records on or about June 26, 2024, I discovered Treasurer Kathryn Burry had used the Westwood PTO to pay various vendors and third parties — including her business, Hipsters, and herself — funds that were the property of Westwood PTO without authorization,” she wrote in the affidavit.
Neither Kalina nor the board were aware of Burry’s activities, but Kalina believed Burry “engaged in a pattern of misrepresentations” and presented the board with fraudulent statements, the affidavit said.
Following her discovery, the other board members were notified and a meeting was convened. The board passed a resolution demanding all books and records be turned over to them, as well as a second resolution removing Burry’s financial access, the affidavit said.
The records were provided July 22. Burry’s term as treasurer expired July 31.
“Board members and myself reviewed the financial records received from the bank and from Ms. Burry, and we have determined that
Claridon-Troy Road, the patrol said in a press release.
The pickup truck was a 2024 Black Chevrolet Silverado, driven by a 55-year-old woman from Aurora, Lt. L.P. Jones said in the release.
“After contact with the pickup truck, the motorcycle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a ditch ejecting the driver,” he said.
Derousse, the sole occupant of the mo-
there are a series of inappropriate financial transactions benefitting Ms. Burry personally and/or her business, Hipsters, and that Westwood PTO has been harmed by her actions,” the affidavit said. “Based upon our review of the records to date, I believe that the amount of funds improperly transferred exceeds $40,000.”
Per her own and the board’s review of the records, Kalina said in the affidavit she believes Burry failed to properly account for and deposit cash receipts from organization events, cut inappropriate checks and took funds through apps and ATM transactions.
“Defendant Kathryn Burry has intentionally engaged in a complex and lengthy pattern of fraud and concealment with intent to defraud (the PTO) for the purpose of obtaining funds that were the rightful property of (the PTO),” the complaint said, adding her actions constitute intentional theft and fraud under the Ohio Revised Code.
She has acted with actual malice or egregious fraud in depriving the PTO funds used for the benefit of elementary school children, the complaint said.
“(Burry) had a duty to disclose truthful and accurate information to the president, officers and board members of the organization and repeatedly and intentionally failed to do so,” the complaint read, adding Burry was aware the reports she was giving were inaccurate.
“(Burry’s) actions and false reports constituted fraudulent concealment and were done intentionally to prevent the officers and board members from acquiring material information that would promptly lead to expose her fraudulent activities,” it read, noting the
torcycle, succumbed to his injuries sustained from the crash on scene, Jones said in the release.
The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Burton Fire/EMS, Middlefield Fire/EMS and Community Care provided assistance on scene.
“It is unknown if alcohol is a factor in the crash and a helmet was not used,” Jones said, adding the crash remains under investigation.
PTO has been materially and substantially injured.
Burry was entrusted to manage, safeguard and account for the PTO funds, the PTO said in its complaint, quoting the following section of the ORC relating to fiduciary duties of officers: “An officer shall perform the officer’s duties to the corporation in good faith, in a manner the officer reasonably believes to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.”
In failing to prepare and present accurate financial reports, failing to deposit the PTO’s cash and funds and by misdirecting funds for her own use and her business’s use, Burry has not acted in good faith and breached her fiduciary duties, the complaint said.
“(Burry’s) actions were undertaken with deliberate intent to cause injury to the plaintiff and constituted reckless disregard for the best interest of the corporation,” it said, adding this merits punitive damages.
“Plaintiffs (Westwood PTO) respectfully request this Honorable Court award them damages in the amount in excess of $25,000, the exact amount to be proven at trial, statutory interest, punitive damages in an amount sufficient to curtail said willful and wanton actions, reasonable attorney fees, and costs for the action and such further relief as this court deems just and proper,” the complaint concluded.
When reached for comment, West Geauga Schools Superintendent Richard Markwardt said due to the ongoing criminal investigation, he could not comment on it or any individual who may be involved at this time.
“The West Geauga Local School District is not a party to the lawsuit nor is it named therein,” he added.
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from page 1
meeting for the purpose of ousting McArthur. There are 78 seats on the central committee, one seat for every voting precinct in the county.
In her Aug. 19 resignation letter, a defiant McArthur said her decision to step down had nothing to do with a loss of confidence in her leadership.
“The timing of my decision to resign has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the letter released last week by Chuck Walder and Jim Flaiz,” McArthur wrote. “They contrived a public campaign for my resignation,
In their Aug. 14 letter, officials said the party’s meetings have, for the past several years, been contentious and unproductive.
“This has resulted in us losing our meeting space, lawsuits and many party members not wanting to attend party meetings and events,” they told McArthur. “You have been at the center of litigation that has drained the funds available to the party and the toxic environment that you have created has driven away members and donations. In fact, several elected officials have stopped or reduced donations to the Geauga GOP in recent years.”
The officials noted for the first time in their memory, the Geauga County GOP does not have and will not have a location for its
raised was McArthur’s choice to run twice against her own party’s incumbent county commissioner — she ran two primary campaigns against Ralph Spidalieri in 2016 and 2024. In their letter, the officials said those races “caused deep divisions.”
But in her letter, McArthur touted her successes in recent years.
“Under my leadership, we have not lost any county-wide Republican seats, in fact, few local Democratic candidates have even run for office,” she said. “In the last several general election cycles, Geauga County was number two or three in the entire state for percentage of voter turnout. I built and still maintain meaningful relationships with Republicans all over Ohio.”
McArthur accused the officials of retribution in an earlier statement, released Aug. 15, saying their complaints came only after they were rebuked for their support of Mary Jane Trapp, a Democrat running against Republican Matt Rambo in the non-partisan race for a seat on the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas.
In that statement, McArthur again said Walder and Flaiz were behind the demand for her resignation, along with five other committee members who supported Trapp’s campaign.
“This letter is nothing more than an attempt to distract and confuse the voters,” she said Aug. 15. “Their actions could be considered a form of election interference as these individuals want to take over leadership to control our party, our finances and our actions right before a major presidential election.”
McArthur said seven individuals who currently serve on the party’s central and executive committees, including four who
were recently “put on notice” by the GOP for violating party bylaws and their committee oaths in their support for Trapp.
Those she named include Flaiz, Walder, Hitchcock, Dvorak, attorney Dennis Coyne, candidate for county engineer Andy Haupt and Frank Antenucci, chief deputy administrator of the county Department of Information Technology.
Their primary goal, McArthur said, is to stop the party from supporting Rambo, who was formally endorsed at an executive committee meeting held July 25. None of the seven individuals who were “put on notice” appeared at that meeting, where she said the letter naming them was read aloud.
“The Central Committee will be addressing this attack on me and our party in the very near future,” McArthur wrote Aug. 15. “If the committee members decide they want new leadership, it is up to us as members to decide that together, not disgruntled elected officials, most of whom do not serve on our Central Committee.”
Immediately upon McArthur’s resignation Sept. 6, Vice Chair Kevin O’Reilly will step into the role as acting chair automatically, she said in her Aug. 19 letter.
“Be assured that the Geauga County Republican Party is in capable hands and together, we will proceed with plans to win Republican races up and down the ballot. For the good of the party and our Republican candidates, I urge that you put aside any differences we may have had in the past and unite today for the sake of our county, our state and our country.”
O’Reilly had come to McArthur’s defense last week, telling the Maple Leaf the Aug. 14 letter demanding her resignation was purely
“The issues stated in the letter are secondary to the true reason they are asking for her resignation and have been festering in the committee for years, never rising to the level of resignation,” O’Reilly said.
He said the individuals McArthur named were asked to meet in confidence with him, McArthur and central committee member Timothy Snyder “to talk about their blatant disregard for the oath they took and the impression that it will give to the Republican voters in Geauga County,” but the individuals “became verbally combative” and did not agree they had violated their oaths.
“Their argument that the judge’s race on the November ballot is non-partisan is to ignore the fact that Mary Jane Trapp is a registered Democrat whom one can safely assume holds values that align with the Democrat party,” O’Reilly said. “None of this is intended to address whether Mary Jane Trapp is the most qualified candidate, but simply to hold members of the Republican Committee to the oath they swore to uphold.”
On Aug. 20, O’Reilly issued a letter to committee members confirming that, per the party’s bylaws, he will become interim chair Sept. 7.
“I have already been in contact with our secretary and treasurer, and we will be scheduling a meeting in September to address the election of a permanent chair for the remainder of the term,” he said. “In the meantime, it is critically important that we, as a group, work to get ALL our Republican candidates elected this November.”
One elected official who did not sign the Aug. 14 letter was outgoing county Commissioner Tim Lennon.
“Before I pass judgment and follow the Pied Piper out of town, I think the central committee members need to hear from the party chair, as to what the catalyst for the sudden request to resign is all about and answer to the claims being made against her,” Lennon said last week.
The committee also should hear from each GOP official who publicly and financially decided to support Trapp, he added.
“It seems to me that before any decisions in future leadership are made, or to demand the chair resign, it is the central committee — and the central committee members alone — that will make the decision of any changes in leadership, if necessary,” said Lennon. “If the members would like to consider another leader, then so be it.”
All central and executive committee members have sworn an oath to support Republican candidates, not to publicly or financially support Democrats, Lennon said.
“Those that are involved in doing so owe the Geauga County Central Committee and Geauga County Republican voters an explanation,” he said. “At the end of the day, the party needs to stick together supporting strong conservative leadership for Geauga County and also hold those that are undermining the party accountable for their actions, as well.”
By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com
When Nancy McArthur took the reins from the late Ed Ryder as chairman of the Geauga County Republican Party in 2014, she became the first woman elected to the position.
McArthur said she was committed to unifying the party and growing it through outreach efforts.
But, less than six months on the job, McArthur became embroiled in a dispute with Geauga County Juvenile Court Judge Tim Grendell over a series of emails she had sent to a family member of a juvenile court litigant. Grendell threatened to hold McArthur in contempt of court for her language, which he claimed reflected negatively on the integrity of his court.
In one email, she called Grendell “power hungry” and “narcissistic,” and said he spends tax money like a Democrat.
“I wish he would go away but for now, we are stuck with him,” McArthur said.
In another email, McArthur said she did not “totally trust” Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, accusing him of walking “both sides of the fence, but then, so many people in politics do.”
McArthur was re-elected GOP chair in 2016, after being sworn in as Chardon City Council president, simultaneously becoming the city’s mayor, earlier that same year.
But only two years later, in January 2018, McArthur was ousted from her role as mayor and council president in what she called a shameful and divisive “coup” orchestrated by then-Vice President Jeff Smock.
McArthur was able to fend off two challengers and hold onto her position as GOP chair later that summer. Leading up to the vote, then-Geauga County Commissioner Walter “Skip” Claypool said the party needed a chairman willing to cure divisiveness within the GOP rather than fostering and promoting it. He said McArthur had not demonstrated she was willing or able to do that.
In 2022, a campaign to unseat McArthur became more visible, with some GOP candidates and conservative activists accusing her of encouraging Democrats to cross party lines in support of their primary opponents.
Claypool, who had recently lost a primary election to incumbent Geauga County Commissioner Jim Dvorak, published an ad in the Geauga County Maple Leaf claiming there was a “corrupt element” in the county GOP.
Claypool referenced a newspaper ad McArthur ran on behalf of the party which tied the criminal record of Mario Innocenzi — president of the Geauga County Conservative Club and a vocal opponent of McArthur’s chairmanship — to the campaign of then-state Rep. Diane Grendell, who ran against Walder for the county auditor seat that year.
Claypool called out McArthur in his own responding ad.
“Nancy McArthur, the chair of the Republican party, who is supposed to remain neutral officially and promote Republican values, took out a full-page ad attacking a Geauga Republican citizen and created a number of social media posts encouraging Democrats and Independents to pull a Republican ballot,” Claypool said. “Moreover, she told people who to vote for. In essence implying a party endorsement, which did not exist.”
But, McArthur staved off her challengers after securing a slim two-vote majority.
“I am not perfect and I sometimes rub people the wrong way. I know I have irritated some people,” she said in a speech before the vote that June. “I have always done what I thought best and right for our party and I will continue to do that as your party chair.”
Many in the county GOP have also accused McArthur of using her position as chair to run against Republican incumbents she does not like. In March, she challenged Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri for his expiring seat, taking issue with Spidalieri’s attendance record and ability to serve as a full-time commissioner.
In early February, members of the Geauga County Tea Party stood outside of the Heritage House on Chardon Square to protest her leadership after hearing the GOP had plans to endorse multiple candidates in the March 19 Republican primary.
Members of the GCTP accused McArthur of asking for an endorsement after having “stacked” the GOP Central Committee with her allies to have them endorse her in her race against Spidalieri. However, McArthur said after the meeting that a voice vote called specifically to discuss the topic of endorsements failed, as the party was not yet ready for the idea.
McArthur said the group gathered to protest outside made it “all about her” even though she did not lead the meeting.
“If you want a one-word description for this woman — lawless,” GCTP Vice President Jim MacNeal said at the time.
Spidalieri defeated McArthur 8,208 votes to 5,325.
In January 2023, McArthur had a runin with Portage County resident Brian Ames, who attempted to enter a meeting of the GOP Executive Committee but was rebuffed at the door.
Videos of the struggle between McArthur and Ames show Ames approaching the door and McArthur blocking the entrance, arms held wide apart until Ames attempted to move past her.
The next month, she was sworn into a seat on the Geauga County Board of Elections — now held by Rich Piraino — after being appointed by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
In his letter confirming her appointment to the board, LaRose said while no concerns were raised during McArthur’s background check, some anecdotal feedback from Geauga County residents raised concerns about her past professional conduct and temperament as a local political and public official.
“I have concluded that, while some of the information I received is concerning, none of the information provided to me for review violates the legal precedent for competence as a board member,” LaRose said. “However, I ask that you consider the discord and division this appointment has generated within the county and strive to mitigate these challenges as you begin your new duties.”
Ames was found guilty of criminal trespass in Chardon Municipal Court for the January incident, after a trial held in September 2023. A first-degree misdemeanor count of assault against McArthur was dismissed.
In February, McArthur filed for a civil protection order — a restraining order — against Ames. In a filing with the Ohio Supreme Court Aug. 7, Ames said a hearing on the order, originally scheduled for Feb. 12, never took place.
Records show McArthur attempted to dismiss the order herself a few days before the hearing was scheduled, but in his filing Ames said the language of the order meant McArthur did not have the right to do so without a hearing.
Carolyn Brakey, previously president of the Geauga County Board of Health and Republican nominee for county commissioner in the Nov. 5 general election, echoed Lennon’s call for unity in an Aug. 14 statement.
The GOP's mission is to support Republican candidates and ensure their election, said Brakey.
He accused McArthur of failing to remain neutral and promote Republican values, and instead encouraged Democrats and Independent voters to pull a Republican ballot and vote for her favored candidates.
“With less than three months before a crucial presidential election, it is vital that all members of the Geauga GOP remain focused on this mission,” she said in the statement.
Upon news of McArthur’s impending resignation, Brakey released a follow-up statement Aug. 20 thanking her for her years of service.
“Nancy McArthur’s leadership and tireless work ethic over the past 12 years have been instrumental in achieving (the GOP’s
Outside the building — gathered around a picnic table with a view into a large bank of windows on the north wall of the Heritage House — the tea party gathered with handwritten signs splashed with slogans like, “Nancy your reign of terror/error is over” and “Nancy resign now.“
mission) and I thank her for her dedicated service to our party,” Brakey said. “Although she informed me and others weeks ago of her intention to resign, I appreciate her commitment to continue working through the all-important (Great) Geauga County Fair.”
Brakey said she looks forward to working with O’Reilly and all members of the party to ensure a smooth transition and continue the party’s mission.
“I urge all Geauga GOP stakeholders to
Ames has asked the state supreme court to order Judge David Ondrey, in whose court the order was initially filed, to hold a full hearing and judgment.
“As of Aug. 7, 2024, it has been 219 days since the order was issued and yet no full hearing has been set,” Ames told the supreme court. Republicans from page 4
work in good faith and strictly within the bylaws of our organization. We must ensure legitimacy and fully support our Republican candidates from now through November,” she said in her Aug. 14 statement. “The stakes in this upcoming election are too high for internal discord to divert us from our shared goals. Our priority must be unity and effective leadership within the party to secure Republican victories in Geauga County.”
By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com
The Geauga County Board of Elections had an important reason to be open Aug. 7 — to collect petitions for candidates and issues on the deadline set by the secretary of state.
But that Wednesday, hours after a powerful storm ripped through the county and knocked power out to thousands of customers, workers at the BOE offices on Center Street in Chardon found a generator assigned to their department had gone missing, leaving them without lights or power.
Dennis Pavella, chair of the board, said county officials worked with the elections board and their staff to get backup generators in place on time. Pavella said the collection of petitions would have taken place somehow.
“If we have to sit at the front door with a card table and two chairs, we will be there,” Pavella said he told a colleague.
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obeying traffic laws,” said event organizer Emily Landis, Geauga Public Health educator and Geauga County Safe Communities Coalition coordinator. “The hope is that we can continue to build good relationships with the communities within Geauga County and engage adults and children enough that they think before they travel in vehicles, on foot, or when riding bikes.”
Additional event organizers included ODOT District 12’s Transportation Safety Planner Izzy Ciptak and Safety Consultant Charity Armstrong, who joined Landis in welcoming families inside the new building after meeting OSHP Sgt. Andrew Edinger to learn more about the patrol helicopter and take photos.
“She likes all the equipment,” said Jim Kovacs, of Burton, of his 2 -year-old daughter, Elza, as she inched in to gently touch the helicopter. “This is an excellent event and we have an excellent sheriff. We love living in Geauga County.”
Event participants included AAA East Central, Drug-Free Communities, Family First Council, the Geauga County Amish Safety Board, Geauga County Engineer’s Office, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and K9 Unit, GPH, the safety communities coalition, OSHP and SWAT team, Middlefield police and fire departments, ODOT, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ravenwood Health, University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center and more.
“The GCSCC wants the community to know who they are, where residents can go for information regarding various safety concerns and where they can go to voice their concerns,” Landis said.
Pavella credited Glen Vernick — director of the county’s maintenance department — with immediately addressing the situation and stringing along portable generators until the correct generator could be returned to the elections board. But, the storm raised some issues that must be addressed before the Nov. 5 general election is held, especially since the board will not yet have moved into new space in the county administrative building on Ravenwood Drive before the election.
The board heard from Frank Antenucci, chief deputy administrator of the county Department of Information Technology, during their meeting Aug. 15 about some of the ways the county is working to ensure their physical and cyber security.
In addition to portable electric generators, Antenucci said the IT department is working with the elections board to provide a backup cellular connection to provide support when internet service may also be down.
Ciptak walked over to thank the Amish safety board for their dedication to the coun ty and day’s participation.
GPH partnered with UH Rainbow Injury Prevention Center in Cleveland to provide a car seat check and distribution to income-eli gible families to sign up to receive a free car seat or booster seat.
“According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), while most parents and caregivers are confident that they have correctly installed their child’s car seat, almost half (46%), have been installed incorrectly,” Landis said. “As a child passen ger safety technician, our goal is to provide the resources and education to ensure that children are safely restrained in vehicles to reduce injury. We are excited to help educate families in our community on right car seat for a child, installing the seat correctly and using the seat correctly every time.”
The event also held a Quick-Click Chal lenge competition, demonstrating the ease of putting on and taking off a safety belt.
“We decided to have a vehicle at our event with an opportunity for local agencies and safety day participants to participate in this fun challenge to promote seat belt safety and awareness,” Landis said. “We want our community to be reminded that wearing a seatbelt is the most effective way to protect yourself on the road.”
“We did use those in some other places in the county and they did work,” he said. “We did find out during the storms with some of the towers being really hammered on the west side — Chester, Russell, those areas — that cell was real spotty and not working very well there, but in the center of the county, we didn't have any issues.”
Antenucci added the goal is for the county’s emergency responders, including the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and county Department of Emergency Services, to have a unified communications system with the BOE in time for the election, even if power or cell coverage is lost in the area.
Michelle Lane, director of the elections board, said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in a webinar for elections officials they should plan to use a wireless priority service.
Antenucci explained the service puts a se-
lect number of emergency response cellular lines ahead of civilian calls when cell towers are affected by storms or other outage issues.
He also said the county’s IT team has been “absolutely inundated” with reports from cybersecurity agencies about active risks to county boards of election.
“There's just a significant amount of threat actors out there,” he said. “They're very much focused on county boards of elections. I know that seems difficult for people to understand, but a lot of these nation states and then non-state actors are very focused on the county boards of election.”
It’s not because they want to pick a side, as much as they are looking to expose vulnerabilities, he said.
The IT team is working not just to make sure the county “survives” the election, but to be a model for the rest of the state, he added.
“That’s the goal,” he said.
The new event was scheduled in coordination with children returning to school.
“It is a great time to remind those in the community to slow down for children walking or biking to school and to watch out for school buses as they are picking up and dropping off students,” Landis said. “With schools starting in the next few weeks, we can all use the reminders to stop for buses when they are picking up and dropping off, and to follow the
laws when traveling through school zones.”
GCSO Chief Deputy Thomas Rowan emphasized drivers watch out in the school zones.
“Deputies will be stepping up their enforcement efforts in the school zones in the county and keeping an eye on our children to make sure they’re safe for the start of the school year,” Rowan said.
August also marks the NHTSA’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” high-visibility enforcement campaign through Sept. 2, which includes Labor Day weekend, where there will be increased law enforcement and messaging nationally about the dangers of driving impaired.
“The goal is to deter impaired driving and prevent the tragedies seen on Labor Day weekends from happening in our community,” Landis said. “We hope to bridge any gaps between these agencies and the residents and bring the community together all while making it a safer place to live and travel.
“None of this would be possible if it weren’t for the multiple agencies and those who serve the communities within Geauga County,” he added. “We would like to thank each agency and their representatives for their dedication to Geauga County and the safety of the residents.”
Liana K. Gigliotti, of Middlefield, was sentenced Aug. 14 to 15 days in jail and five years of community control for her part in laundering $1.8 million from her uncle’s estate, a third-degree felony.
She was credited with one day already served at the Geauga County Safety Center.
Gigliotti had previously pleaded guilty in front of Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Paschke for her role in a continuing case of criminal conduct involving her uncle’s estate from Jan. 1, 2019, to Nov. 1, 2023, according to court records.
Gigliotti also pleaded guilty as the statutory agent for the GN Company, 12841 Mayfield Road in Middlefield, and was fined $1,000.
As part of the plea deal, Paschke dismissed a second count of money laundering and charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony; theft from a person in a protected class, a first-degree felony; and receiving stolen property, a third-degree felony.
Gigliotti is one of four co-defendants involved in the criminal case. The others are her father, Gino Notarian, who pleaded guilty in June to one count of money-laundering and has a sentencing date of Sept. 12; her brother, Joseph Notarian, facing the same original charges Gigliotti faced, with a trial date scheduled for Sept. 13; and her husband, Agostino Gigliotti, charged with intimidation of a crime victim, a third-degree felony, who has a trial management conference set for Sept. 23.
Gigliotti’s attorney, Matthew Bangerter, asked Paschke for leniency on the 14 days jail, requesting non-custodial community control instead.
Bangerter said there was a misunderstanding in the family while the defendant’s uncle was dying and Gigliotti just followed
body’s estate,” he said, adding she was just paying the estate’s bills and listening to her father’s advice.
“She realized some things weren’t quite kosher,” Bangerter said.
He said Gigliotti was remorseful and very emotional, and asked the court to give his client 14 days of house arrest instead of jail time.
“I’d like to apologize to you and the court. My intention … was to help my dad’s estate and take care of my uncle’s estate. I made numerous mistakes — I didn’t go into it planning that. It’s not something I wanted to do on purpose. I apologize to my uncle and his estate for anything I’ve caused anyone,” said a visibly emotional Gigliotti. “I’m just sorry.”
Paschke was not inclined toward leniency, however.
She complimented the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office’s multi-page report of the investigation into the cases.
There were large amounts of money commingled with those of the defendant and money was moved through various accounts, Paschke said.
“It was not a one-time occurrence. The money was not spent on her dying uncle. The money was not all used for taking care of the defendant’s dying father,” she said, adding some of the money was spent on cars and travel expenses.
She also noted several family members who were present.
“The individuals in the back of the courtroom were harmed by these actions,” Paschke said.
Gigliotti was arrested March 2, 2023, at her residence in Middlefield, Geauga County Assistant Prosecutor Christian Bondra said over the phone Aug. 16.
Bondra said most or all of the total of $1.8 million across the four cases is being paid back to the estate.
By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com
On Aug. 6, the Auburn Career Center Board of Education honored eight students who competed in national competitions.
Jade Fink, a Berkshire student who graduated with the class of 2024, won top national honors in the baking and pastry category at the 2024 Family, Career and Community Leaders of America national competition held this summer in Seattle.
ACC Superintendent Brian Bontempo said her first-place finish is the first in Auburn’s history.
“It is quite a high bar for all students to strive for when they come to Auburn,” he said. “But, we do know that when you raise expectations for students, (when) you support teachers and give them what they need to be the best (and) wrap amazing equipment, supplies and opportunities around each program, greatness is certainly possible.”
Overall, ACC had eight students reach the top 10 in the entire country across four different national competitions.
Jase Muni, a Chardon 2024 graduate, placed fifth nationwide in the FCCLA culinary competition.
Their instructor, Amy Ryan, said prior to their national success, both students won first place in their respective state competitions
“I think (it) was a first for FCCLA for one school to get first in culinary and first in baking and pastry,” she said.
Fink said for the competition, she had to make cream puffs, blueberry muffins, chocolate chip cookies and decorate a cake in about three hours.
Muni had one hour to create a dish featuring pork medallions with a mushroom cream sauce, and a quinoa and vegetable medley.
Both currently work in restaurants. Fink said she has eventual plans to open her own bakery.
“These are two students that are very ‘one-in-a-million’ unique and they will be very missed,” Ryan said.
Kassem Srhiri, an iSTEM student who graduated this year from ACC’s Pro Web
Preston Ford, of Burton Village, donated a 2024 crew cab F150 Ford 4x4 pickup truck to the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield Aug. 15.
The truck will be raffled off at the 2025 Maple Splash Festival, with tickets going on sale late in the fall at maplesplashraffle.com.
Rotarian Larry Fox said the club raised more than $200,000 from the sale of tickets last year to distribute to local nonprofits. Bill Preston said Preston Superstore will have a display at The Great Geauga County Fair this year.
Pictured are, from left, Rotarians Larry Fox, Bob Johnson and Pat Preston.
from page 8
and Game Design program, earned second place at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in June in Atlanta. Srhiri said he created two separate programs for the competition — one for tracking dice rolls and another to automate a payroll system — in under five hours.
In addition to creating the programs, Srhiri said he had to build and test the user interface in the time allotted.
Angel Santiago, a Painesville City Schools student who is now a senior in the Allied Health Technology program, placed 10th in the SkillsUSA Medical Math competition.
Santiago said he plans to dip his toes into healthcare, shadow doctors and find internships in medicine during his senior year.
Four students in the school’s construction program earned 10th place at the national SkillsUSA TeamWorks contest held in April. The team included Noah Bernesser, Matthew Evans and Caleb Whitehead — Chardon High School 2024 graduates — along with Joshua Fankboner, a 2024 Riverside High School graduate.
Their instructor, Bob Hill, said the fourman team competed extremely well at the state level.
The national competition pitted them against teams from 34 states, Hill said.
“They had to do a framing project that was two levels,” he said. “They had four different pitches of roofs that they had to put on the project. Then, they had to rough-in for a bathroom and for a laundry room, and then, (on) the residential wiring side of it, they had to put everything together and do three-way switching. Then, they had to do like a brick veneer on the one front of the building.”
The team also had to disassemble the project and clean up their workspaces, Hill added.
In 2000, Hill said at the first team-build competition held by SkillsUSA, the ACC construction team took gold in the state competition and second place nationwide.
“It was a great experience. It's crazy to think (it’s been) 24 years since I was last at the competition,” he said.
Bontempo said students who come to
Auburn are prepared for their future.
“The schools in our area, students and teams in our region, they know how to be champions. It happens in sports, academics and in the arts,” he said. “We're doing our part here at Auburn to prepare students for their future and to be champions.”
By Allison Wilson Wilson@kArlovecmediA com
Bainbridge Township caught heat at the Aug. 19 Geauga County Budget Commission hearing for wide variances within their budget.
“I got a couple issues,” commission member and county Prosecutor Jim Flaiz told Bainbridge officials. “So, as people know, one of my big issues with any budget is your estimated ending balance and what your actual (balance) ends up (being). Because you tell the taxpayers, ‘Hey, we’re gonna have $865,000 in our general fund’ and really, you have $2.5 million.”
The township is estimating their ending balance for this year to be $677,000, but Flaiz said he believes it will actually be over $2 million.
County Auditor Chuck Walder — who also
sits on the commission alongside county Treasurer Chris Hitchock — had a different take on the matter.
“I think, Jim, if you look at their actual expenses to their estimated expenses in the general fund, they couldn’t be any closer,” he said.
Flaiz brought up the issue of the fire fund.
“In 2023, you’re telling your taxpayers — now again, it’s a bit of a cumulative error — but you’re telling your taxpayers the end of 2022, you’re gonna have $6,700 as an ending balance. You had $1.548 million,” he said.
“And then in 2023, you say your estimated ending value is $67,000. It’s $1.3 (million).”
The township told Bainbridge Fire Chief Lou Ann Metz she needed to find ways to save money in case their fire levy didn’t pass, Bainbridge Fiscal Officer Janice Sugarman said.
Flaiz said his issue was the township asking for more money when the fund already has a lot.
While it has come down from what it used to be, the numbers need to be tightened up, Flaiz said.
“To me, that’s what you’re presenting to the taxpayers. This is what we’re gonna end up with and then there’s these huge variances,” he said.
Sugarman disagreed.
“Have you looked at what we said we were gonna spend and what we actually spent?” she asked. “In each of those funds, they’re very, very close. The only one that’s a little bit off is fire because the trustees asked her to not spend anything. They stopped with training expenses, they stopped capital expenses. So, they’re only spending operating (funds).”
Flaiz said Bainbridge needs to report if
their estimated beginning balance is going to change based upon what’s happening in the current year.
If you begin the year with a wide variance, Walder pitched in, you’ll end the year with a wide variance.
“If you’re 100% perfect, you’re gonna end up with the same variance at the end of the year because you can’t enter and exit with a different variance unless you’re off by either your revenue or your expenses,” he said.
Walder said he looks at the revenue and expense lines, not the beginning and ending balances, as those are cumulative.
“What I’m asserting is a little different perspective. I use your ending budget submission cash carryover and when you look at them, you’re at 54% in the general fund, 21% in all of your road funds combined, 16% in fire. You’re optimal,” Walder told them. “This is what happens when you create reserve funds. You are the classic example of how to make future carryovers reasonable by putting in a reserve fund.”
Walder said he is comfortable with their percent cash carryover at the end of submission.
Hitchcock, however, expressed concern about the township’s funding trends.
“The general fund actual ending cash balance has been trending up for the past three years,” he said. “It’s now at $2.5 million dollars, which was the ending cash balance in 2023. That’s enough to fund the operations for a full year and a third without any tax revenue.”
The trend is in the wrong direction, he said, adding while estimated revenue and expense may be close, the amount of cash they have on hand is not necessary.
“You could easily return a million dollars to the taxpayers and not have it impact you whatsoever,” he said.
Sugarman said work being done on the town hall, which will probably come out to around that amount, would come from the general fund.
“We have estimates that range anywhere from $750,000 to $3.3 million,” she said, noting a final estimate likely to be less than a million will be in soon, but they aren’t sure of the amount, so have not yet budgeted for it.
“It’s an emergency expense,” she said.
Bainbridge Township Trustee Kristina O’Brien added there had been a complete roof failure and the building is an unsafe space.
While the township had already been looking at renovating it, it is now a need, she said.
Bainbridge’s budget passed, with Walder and Flaiz voting yes and Hitchcock voting no.
By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com
Two Geauga County Budget Commission members voted “no” on approving Chester Township’s 2025 budget during their annual hearing Aug. 19.
Geauga County Treasurer Chris Hitchcock, who sits on the commission, called Chester Township trustees Ken Radtke and Joe Mazzurco and Fiscal Officer Patricia Jarrett on the carpet for a projected ending balance of more than $4.7 million for 2024, including more than $1.1 million in the general fund – many times more than predicted a year ago.
Fire, police and road funds all had more money than is good practice and officials have been telling taxpayers the amounts in those funds are much smaller, Hitchcock said.
“This has been going on for 20 years,” he said.
Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz — who also sits on the commission alongside Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder — doubled down on the treasurer’s comments, noting trustees should be investing in their facilities, not hoarding money.
“Your (police) facilities are the worst in the western corridor,” he said. “You have all this cash, yet your police department, for the operation you are running, is completely deficient.”
If trustees refuse to use the money to invest in infrastructure, the commission may take steps to turn some back to their taxpayers, Flaiz said.
Walder said the township has too large a cash carryover.
“There’s some justification for having that money, just not as a carryover,” he said,
recommending an alternative — and better — way to budget.
“The responsible thing to do is save in reserve funds. I’ve preached reserve funds now for four years. The bigger an organization is, the more important it is to have a responsible plan,” Walder said, espousing a system that allows trustees to create funds where money can be saved for established projects or acquisitions for up to 10 years.
Those funds are “off the radar” of the budget commission during the annual hearings, he said.
“If I don’t see some (reserve funds) created next year, I’m tapping out. You have departments that are broke and departments that are loaded. Reserves will help,” Walder said.
Jarrett said trustees had planned road projects last year, but all the bids came back too high and everything had to go back out to bid, delaying the work and spending.
Storms pushed capital projects back again, she said, noting more money would have been spent, otherwise.
A study has been done and plans made to spend down the money for road, police and fire departments, Jarrett said.
“You can do multiple reserves for each project,” Walder said. “The more specific you make those funds, the cleaner it gets. The problem is, you have none. Figure out exactly what you need to save for, then go and do it.”
He voted to approve their budget “to give them time to create reserves,” but Flaiz and Hitchcock voted against approval, thereby taking the budgeting process out of the officials’ hands.
“You want us to redo the budget?” Jarrett asked.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who endured, helped with cleanup and aided others in the Aug. 6 storm and resulting aftermath.
Chester’s police, road and fire departments did a commendable (and safe) job working many hours, including in the dark, to clear streets, perform wellness checks and return our community to a sense of normalcy.
I’d like to thank the many line crews from both in-state and as far away as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Georgia who came to our aid. I learned from the line workers I spoke with about the coordinated multi-team process (damage assessment, drop poles/ equipment, install new electric poles, and line hookup) it takes to restore power.
Our fire chief, Bill Shaw, who retired from the City of Solon after 20 years, commented on the positive attitude and generally cheerful disposition of our Chester residents considering the challenges. He was impressed with how many friends and neighbors pulled together with the cleanup. That is how a community is supposed to respond.
Township Administrator Mark Purchase had the forethought to secure a tanker of potable water and stage it at town hall for two days. Nearly everyone I met there had a cheerful attitude, thankful and expressing gratitude, realizing things could be much worse.
“Only we can do it,” Walder said. Claridon Township
Walder carried on his clarion call for reserve funds in his discussion with Claridon Township Trustee Jonathan Tiber and Fiscal Officer Paula Heitanen.
He cited an 88% carryover in the township’s general fund and called the 31% carryover in the fire and ambulance fund “optimal.”
“You need reserve funds. Put away money for long-term things — structural, roads, trucks. That will drop your cash balances and make us all happy,” Walder said. “If you need money for other purposes, you can cash it out and transfer. We can help you set those up.”
Tiber noted Aquilla Village, within the township, is working toward dissolution and Claridon is uncertain of how that will play out, so budgeting for 2025 is a challenge.
Both air conditioning units in the township buildings broke in the same week and cost $5,000 each to repair, he said.
“Nobody who comes here has a crystal ball,” Walder said, but agreed the Aquilla Village situation is a big unknown.
The issue of dissolution will go on the Aquilla ballot in November and if the residents vote it down, a different scenario will emerge.
“If it passes, (Aquilla residents’) taxes will go down significantly,” Flaiz said. “The auditor, recorder and county commissioners will decide what to do with the (village) assets. Until you get clear of a couple of years of that, you have an X factor that’s never been dealt with before. I would keep a high cash balance, too.”
In a phone conversation Aug. 20, Tiber said trustees and the fiscal officer took steps
during their regular meeting Aug. 19 to set up reserve funds.
The Claridon budget was unanimously approved.
Hitchcock lambasted Munson Township Trustees for misrepresenting to taxpayers how much money is in the coffers.
“I think your budgeting needs to be far better,” he said, pointing out the arrangement between the township and the Munson Township Fire Department.
The township owns the equipment, but the department is independent, he said.
“How do you pay for equipment? I’m not concerned with the amount of money, I’m concerned about your budget.”
Munson uses a zero-based budgeting system, Walder said.
“You appropriate as much cash as you can. It’s not transparent,” he said, urging them toward reserve funds. “Coming out of zero can take five years to get to reserves. You guys inherited this — you’ve got to uninherit it, somehow. I think people want you to think forward.”
Walder said it is going to take time for Munson to make the change.
“You’re going to have to hear from Chris for a number of years. He’s driving the equation,” he said.
Flaiz complimented the report Munson turned in, but questioned the deal with the fire department.
“You’ve got a goofy fire contract. Those numbers are just weird,” he said.
The Munson budget was passed unanimously.
I met only two ‘grumpy’ people. I told them there is no use being upset about the situation because it doesn’t make the power come on any faster.
A positive attitude and determination to overcome helps one deal with adversity.
There are things we learned that we could improve upon, and internal post-incident review discussions have already begun. We already learned that we could accomplish more by working together with a positive attitude and I am thankful for that from our residents and responders.
Ken Radtke, Jr., Trustee Chester Township
There was a time, just a few generations ago, when some overlooked the “de-humanizing” of people that occurred to slaves by those who took part in or endorsed the practice of slavery.
Now, we have another “de-humanizing” behavior called abortion. Someday, I believe, that in a few generations (maybe sooner), people will begin to see abortion for what it is, and denounce it as they did slavery, as a practice that “de-humanizes” an unborn baby.
Rita Sestokas Shine Chardon Township
Don’t fall for the Democrat trap. Vote Matt (R)ambo, the Republican GOP-endorsed candidate for Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge.
Attorneys play legal games when they have something to hide. In a recent article, the opposing candidate stated the election for common pleas court judge is a non-partisan race. If truly non-partisan, why did she run in the Democrat primary to get on the ballot? Only a Democrat can run in a Democrat primary.
The article quotes the candidate as saying “I’m not a D.” That’s either a false statement or an impossibility. It is unlawful for a non-Democrat to run in the Democrat primary. If she is a non-partisan, why does her campaign sign hang at the Geauga Democrat party office?
The article could have said she was the Democrat candidate for judge but chose to hide behind legal games or perhaps worse.
The Democrat candidate was previously an appellate court judge. Consensus is she did not seek re-election because a new law requires appellate court candidates to be open and honest about their party affiliation and she would have to declare she is a Democrat, in which case she would not be successful. As a common pleas court ju-
dicial candidate, she can hide her political affiliation by playing legal games.
Matt (R)ambo is Geauga’s Republican candidate for common pleas judge. You will not see (R)ambo play these legal games in the election or as judge; (R)ambo will be strong and fair.
Matt (R)ambo has the wide breadth of legal experience, as staff attorney in a common pleas court, presiding over hearings and trials as magistrate in the Ohio Court of Claims, and in private practice, necessary to be strong and fair as Geauga County Common Pleas Judge.
When asked by a member of Congress under oath, a Democrat candidate for U.S. Supreme Court Justice was unable to define what a woman was in her confirmation hearing. The Geauga Democrat candidate is quoted as saying, “I know what trial judges are not supposed to do.” What I know is that judges should be open and honest about facts and party affiliations and not play games to confuse the public to be elected.
Don’t fall for the Democrat trap. Vote Matt (R)ambo, the experienced and qualified Republican candidate for Geauga County Common Pleas judge, endorsed by the Geauga County GOP.
Tim Snyder Village of Burton
Audrey C Kocis, 88, of Hambden Township, passed away Aug. 13, 2024, at Ohman Family Living Holly in Newbury Township.
Audrey was born on Oct. 17, 1935, in Cleveland, and lived most of her life in Hamb den.
Audrey and Duree were married on Feb. 11, 1956.
She retired from Great Lakes Cheese, in Newbury.
Audrey enjoyed flowers, gardening, card playing and baking cookies for family and friends.
Her greatest love was spending time with her family and friends.
She is survived by her sisters, Marilyn and Linda (Rick); children, Duree, David, Robin (Gary), Judith (Joe) and Beth (Brett); as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, along with many lifelong friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Dorothy (nee Speth) Grumney; beloved husband Duree B. Kocis; brothers, Loren and Raymond; daughters-in-law, Susan Jaeger and Victoria Kocis; and grandchildren Chris and Alexander.
We thank the staff at Ohman Family Living at Holly for the exceptional care they provided our mother. We are deeply grateful.
Visitation and funeral service for Audrey will be held on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, at Hambden Congregational Church, 13840 GAR Highway, Chardon, OH 44024.
Visitation for friends and family will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The funeral service will begin at 12 noon. Interment to follow at Hambden Township Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Burr Funeral Home in Chardon. Information and condolences online at www.burrservice. com.
Notices should be sent in writing by the funeral directors and memorial societies to: Geauga County Maple Leaf, P.O. Box 1166, Chardon, OH, 440245166, faxed to 440-285-2015 or emailed to editor@karlovecmedia.com. The Maple Leaf charges a flat fee of $125 per obituary or death notice, including a photograph.
John Marshall Evans
John Marshall Evans 93, of West Farmington, formerly of Solon, passed away at his home on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
He was born Nov. 8, 1930, in Cleveland, to the late Alexander and Marie (nee Kelly) Evans.
John graduated in 1949 from Shore High School in Euclid. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a staff sergeant where he was a weather observer.
John worked for the Higbee Department Store in Cleveland, the American Society of Metals in Russell Township, and the S Roper Lock Box Co. for over 50-plus years.
He was a member of the Farmington Senior Center, and recently inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution in 2023.
He was a train enthusiast and enjoyed traveling by train on family vacations. He collected model trains, was the family historian and was proud that he had seven family members listed on the Solders and Sailers monument in Cleveland.
John was an avid reader and enjoyed mowing his lawn.
He will be sadly missed by his loving wife, Linda C. (nee Rogel) Ramey Evans, who he married on Aug. 26, 1989; loving children, Robert (Mary Lou) Evans, Jack (Diane) Evans, Patty (Gary) Stromberg, Charles “Chuck” Evans, Todd (Jane) Evans, Nancy (Craig) Todd; stepson, Aaron Ramey; brother James (Kristi) Evans; and 16 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy J. Setron; infant sister, Jane Evans; and brother Tom Evans.
Calling hours will be held Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, from 2-6 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, from 9-11 a.m., at Sly Family Funeral Home, 15670 W. High St, Middlefield.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with Minister Chris Hutchings officiating, Military Honors will be performed by The U.S. Air Force and then a presentation by the Sons of the American Revolution following the service.
Memories and condolences can be shared with the family a www.slyffh.com
Effective Aug. 1, 2023, for-profit and nonprofit organizations or groups will need to purchase a paid advertisement for an event anytime tickets are sold, a fee is charged or a freewill donation is taken. If an organization or group does not wish to buy an ad to promote their event and connect with our readers, Karlovec Media Group will print a simple liner-type ad identifying the event, date/time/place and a number to call for more information. E-mail submissions to: cbb@karlovecmedia.com
Aug. 23
The 24th annual benefit auction for D.D.C. Clinic – Center for Special Needs Children will be held at the Buster Miller Farm located at the intersection of Newcomb and Nash roads in Middlefield. The auction starts at 2 p.m.; a full lunch stand will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Event includes a live and silent auction, basket raffles, baked goods, train rides and other activities for children.
Bid on quilts, furniture, tools, farm supplies, buggies and more, including a 32×48foot building to be built on-site, custom kitchen cabinets and a 16×24-foot timber frame pavilion.
For information, call Eli Miller at 440632-1668.
Aug. 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Newbury Township’s fifth annual vintage car, truck and tractor show will be held at Oberland Park, 14639 Auburn Road, Newbury Township. Registration is from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration and admission are free. The event includes goody bags and dash plaques for first 100 show entrants, food, raffles, 50/50, show awards, a trivia concert and DJ. Shadow of Doubt will perform a free concert at 7 p.m.
For information, contact Eric at 440318-3742 or bluebirdcustom18@yahoo. com. Rain date is Sept. 7.
Aug. 25, 3-7 p.m.
The Penn-Ohio Polka Pals picnic dance at SNPJ Farm, 10946 Heath Road, Kirtland features music by Patty C & the Guys, Bill Bevec Band, Rex Taneiri Band and the Zolkas Band. The kitchen and bar open at 2 p.m. Open to the public. For information, call 440-256-3423.
Aug. 24 and 25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Northeast Ohio Steampunk Festival will be held at the Century Village Museum in Burton. The festival features vendors and artisans, food, shows and musical entertainment and contests. Visit cletix. com for presale tickets or purchase tickets at the gate. Proceeds benefit Century Village Museum.
St. Anselm Women’s Guild is now accepting vendors for its Christmas Boutique on Nov. 9. If interested, contact Shirley Chambers at 216-832-5158 or shirlthewhirl76@yahoo.com.
Aug. 28, 11 a.m.
The Geauga County Public Employee Retirees, Inc. (PERI) Chapter 86 will meet at the marina shelter at Punderson State Park, state Route 87, Newbury Township. Guest speaker is Michelle Lewis from the League of Women Voters. Call 440-2264491 to RSVP.
Aug. 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All are welcome to attend a free community lunch presented by the Women’s League at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 11900 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township.
Aug. 29 – Sept. 2
Visit the Geauga County Master Gardener Volunteers’ booth display “Connecting to Our Roots” located in building 9 at the south end of the fairgrounds at the Great Geauga County Fair. Theme areas include Out in the Weeds, Gardening Basics, Homesteading Basics, Clean Green Earth, and a children’s fun area. MGVs will be on duty to help answer gardening questions.
Sept. 5-7
St. Mark Lutheran Church Women’s League will host its annual This and That garage sale at the church located at 11900 Chillicothe in Chester Township. The sale runs Thursday from 6-9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds support its monthly community lunch and mission grants.
Sept. 12, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District is taking orders for its annual fall fish sale that will be held on the midway at the Geauga County Fairgrounds. Pond safety kits are also available.
For a list of available fish and to place an order, visit www.geaugaswcd.com. Order deadline is Sept. 4. All proceeds support the district’s education programs. Questions? Call 440-834-1122.
Sept. 12, 5:30-9 p.m.
Tickets are on sale for Foundation for Geauga Parks’ Twilight Soiree at Fowler’s Mill in Chester Township.
The event features gourmet cuisine, live music, live and silent auctions, and nature-related programming and night sky viewing.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 440-564-1048 or visit www. foundationforgeaugaparks.org.
By Allison Wilson editor@kArlovecmediA com
Matthew Dolan, a fugitive from North Carolina, was arrested Aug. 12 after the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office received a tip he had fled to a private residence in Chardon Township.
Dolan, 23, of Pender County, N.C., was wanted on aggravated murder charges arising from an incident that occurred on Aug. 11.
“Dolan was taken into custody without incident. Deputies spoke with detectives from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office and assisted them with their investigation,” the GCSO said in an Aug. 13 Facebook post.
“Dolan was transported to the Geauga County Sheriff's Office where he is being held and awaiting extradition back to Pender County.”
He faced his first court appearance during an extradition hearing held Aug. 14 in Chardon Municipal Court.
Judge Terri Stupica said the purpose of the hearing was to read the charges from North Carolina into the record. Geau ga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz provided the court with Dolan’s arrest warrant from North Caroli na, which listed three counts: first degree murder, first degree arson and cruelty to animals.
Attorney Paul Grant, representing Dolan, said Dolan would not choose to be extradit
ed and asked for a hearing on the
No bond was set and a further hearing will be held Aug. 28. If the state of North Carolina obtains a governor’s warrant, which would have to be processed through the governor’s office, before that hearing, Flaiz said Dolan could be extradited to North Carolina without any further hear-
By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com
All or part of a new water treatment facility may be in the works for Burton Village.
The Burton Village Board of Public Affairs discussed the need for a new building to house the facility and outbuildings and to possibly replace the outdated equipment inside it during an Aug. 14 meeting.
“All the poles in the ground have rotted,” said long-time board member Curt Johnson. “The whole water thing needs to be redone.”
The pole building with wooden siding was erected in 1988, said village Utilities Supervisor Jake Neill.
BVBPA member Nick Rundo brought up the equipment inside the building, asking if replacing it should be considered.
Johnson asked if the project could be
done in pieces.
Replacing the filters, the sand and gravel in the system should be done one cell at a time, Neill said. The sand and gravel has to be removed in order to evaluate the condition of the shell, he said, adding replacing the material would cost about $30,000.
As for the structures, Neill said there is only so much that can be done to keep them functional.
“We do what maintenance we can,” Neill said. “The well houses are just little wooden sheds that need new roofs.”
He recommended the structures be assessed.
“There needs to be new equipment, inside and outside. We are behind the eightball,” Johnson said.
BVBPA member Bill Pinkava said the Rural Community Assistance Partnership is doing a utility rate study for the village.
In November 2023, board members discussed a RCAP study. In that meeting, Pinkava said RCAP suggested a 7% increase of water and sewer rates.
The village has a standing 3%-a-year increase, but in 2023, rates were raised 9% due to inflation’s effect on materials and maintenance costs, he said.
A new RCAP study is underway, Neill said in a followup interview last Tuesday.
In other business, water and sewer clerk secretary Lynn Biegacki reported billing software is not allowing residents to pay their bills online.
“I don’t know what the answer is, but this is bad,” she said, adding when trying to print a bill, a lot of information, such as the date, is missing.
“Residents want to pay online,” Biegacki said.
“If we’re driving our customers crazy, I think that’s stupid,” Johnson added. “We need to do something.”
Rundo said the software problems aren’t new.
“We tried a new system — it failed. And the change failed. What can we do? There’s been a need for a system update for several years,” he said.
Neill and Biegacki said trying to get help for the current program online has been very difficult and keeping records is time consuming.
“Today, I had more than 100 payments and I had to write each and every check and the amount,” she said.
Rundo called writing checks “old school.”
“This system is confusing and not user-friendly,” he said. “I think there’s a lot more people who want to pay online or auto-pay. This system doesn’t make it easy.”
Pinkava recommended checking with Middlefield Village or Garrettsville, which reportedly have billing programs that work well.
By Allison Wilson editor@kArlovecmediA com
Newbury Township’s old school bus garage has been broken into and vandalized, Trustee Bill Skomrock said at an Aug. 14 regular meeting.
“I don’t know how they got it open. There’s a footprint about this big on the door,” he said, motioning with his hands, “And, it doesn’t look like the jambs broke or anything.”
The vandals did massive damage, Skomrock continued.
“There was a pallet of five-gallon buckets of roof coating. Half of them to three quarters of them are gone. They stole them. The other half, they busted them open, it’s all over the floor,” he said.
Burton Public Library is looking for entries for the 2024 Burton Art Show to be held Oct. 8-12 at the Burton Public Library, 14588 W. Park St., Burton. Entry days are Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.; Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; and Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Artists 16 years and older who live, work or attend school in Geauga, Lake or Portage counties are invited to submit their work. There is a limit of three items per artist. Entry forms are available at all public libraries and also online at burtonlibrary.org. For more information, call the library at 440-834-4466.
The vandals also smashed the windows on the cab of a Kubota tractor and dumped tar down its side, and lightbulbs had been broken, as had a piece of particle board used to block off a doorway, Skomrock said.
The township shares the garage, now used for storage, with West Geauga Schools.
All of the damages were on the West Geauga end, Skomrock said.
“I’m to the point right now — we need to camera-ize our properties,” Skomrock said.
“This is beyond ridiculous, the vandalism that’s going on over in that area.”
The bus garage is not the only vandalism
Newbury has faced recently. A previous meeting saw discussion of a chair put through the ceiling of the stadium’s press box and a porta-potty at Oberland Park being trashed.
With the township currently looking to install permanent bathroom facilities at the park, actions like this are a cause for concern.
“If we’re going to spend over $300,000 on a brand new restroom — you can read my mind,” Skomrock continued. “I’m just so upset with people that just can’t leave stuff alone.”
Fire Chief Ken Fagan asked if there had been theft, or only vandalism.
While some of the roof tar had been stolen, the incident had mostly just resulted in destruction, Skomrock replied.
Trustees have already discussed installing cameras on township property, and voted to accept a bid by Zirkle Tech for cameras at the recycling center at their July 3 meeting.
With work expected to start soon, Trust-
Fall Prevention Awareness Day
Sept. 18, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
The Geauga County Department on Aging, in conjunction with Ohman Family Living at Briar and UH Geauga Medical Center, will present a day dedicated to helping seniors learn how they can lower their risk for falling and continue to live independently. The event will take place at Ohman Family Living at Briar, 14807 N. State Ave. in Middlefield.
The event includes lunch, a panel discussion and a presentation on the Chore and Home Safety program that is designed to provide health, safety, fire prevention and ADA adaptations to homes. To RSVP, call Melissa Wheeler at 440-279-2167.
A free six-week self-management class that focuses on diabetes will be held Wednesdays, Oct. 2 through Nov. 6, from 1-3:30 p.m. at the West Geauga Senior Center, 8090 Cedar Road in Chester Township. Seniors 60 years of age and older will get the support they need, find practical ways to deal with pain, fatigue and sugar control, discover better nutrition and exercise choices, understand new treatment choices and learn better ways to communicate with doctors and family about their health.
To register for the free class, call Geauga County Department on Aging’s Melissa Wheeler at 440-279-2167
ee Dave Lair said he can ask about an additional project to add cameras in other areas. In addition, Trustee Greg Tropf suggested installing an alarm system inside the garage.
“If we catch these kids, or adults, or whoever they are, I am all for prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law and (making) them responsible for the damages and cost of repair,” Skomrock said. “Jail time would be great, too. And, I’m serious about it. I’m tired of this.”
NOTICE IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO
Case No. 24-F-000294 - PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC -VS- JOHN E. MCGIFFIN AKA JOHN MCGIFFIN, ET AL. DEFENDANTS
Unknown Heirs at Law, Devisees, Legatees, Executors and Administrators of John E. McGiffin aka John McGiffin, deceased, whose last known address is Unknown, and who cannot be served, will take notice that on 04/26/2024, Plaintiff filed a Complaint for Money, Foreclosure in Reformation and other Equitable Relief in the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, 100 Short Court, Suite 300, Chardon, OH 44024, Geauga County, Ohio, Case No. 24F-000294 against Unknown Heirs at Law, Devisees, Legatees, Executors and Administrators of John E. McGiffin aka John McGiffin, deceased, and others as Defendants, alleging that, John E. McGiffin aka John McGiffin is in default for all payments from August 1, 2023; that on December 7, 2013, John E. McGiffin aka John McGiffin, deceased, and Kimberly McGiffin executed and delivered a certain Mortgage Deed in which said Defendants agreed, among other things, to pay the Note and to comply with all of the terms of the Mortgage Deed hereinafter described, which Mortgage Deed was filed in the Recorder’s Office of Geauga County, Ohio on December 20, 2013, recorded in Volume 1964, Page 1183 that, further, the balance due on the Note is $120,021.52 with interest at the rate of 5.0000% per annum from August 1, 2023; that to secure the payment of the Note, executed and delivered a certain Mortgage Deed to and thereby conveying, in fee simple, the following described premises: Situated in the State of Ohio, in the County of Geauga, and in Auburn Township: Commonly known as 17810 Bridge Creek Trail, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 and further alleging that the aforesaid Mortgage is a valid and subsisting first and best lien upon said premises after the lien of the Treasurer; that the Note is in default, whereby the conditions set forth in the Note and Mortgage have been broken, that the Mortgage has become absolute and that Plaintiff is entitled, therefore, to have the Mortgage foreclosed, the premises sold, and the proceeds applied in payment of Plaintiff’s claims; that the Defendant Unknown Heirs at Law, Devisees, Legatees, Executors and Administrators of John E. McGiffin aka John McGiffin, deceased, among others, may have or claim to have some interest in or lien upon said premises; that all of the Defendants are required to set forth any claim, lien or interest in or upon the premises that he, she, or it may have or claim to have or be forever barred therefrom; that Plaintiff’s Mortgage be declared to be a valid and subsisting first and best lien upon said premises after the lien of the Treasurer, if any, that its Mortgage be foreclosed; that all liens be marshaled; that the equity of redemption of all Defendants be for-
AUBURN TOWNSHIP
David M. and Margarita M. Hutz, 11187 Taylor May Road, to Drew and Emily Schueneman, $400,000. (2.74 acres)
BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP
Jacqueline A. Zahl (TOD), 7011 Oak St., to Maple Estates OH LLC, $343,000. (0.18 acres)
Judith Towner, 8318 Bainbridge Road, to Megan F. and Robert A. Jr. Faller, $345,000. (1.11 acres)
Diana E. Lindeman, 17124 Woodmere Drive, to Daniel J. and Alexandra W. Reyes, $410,000. (0.34 acres)
Linda L. Sowers, 8480 Woodberry Blvd., to Philip M. Jr. and Katherine Anne Mann, $830,000. (1.00 acres)
Therese L. Porter (trustee), 8150 Wisteria Drive, to Bondfam LLC, $735,000. (0.57 acres)
BURTON TOWNSHIP
B. K. Monroe Inc., Hale Road, to MAE Company LLC, $52,400. (5.21 acres)
CHARDON CITY
Lloyd H. Wells (trustee), 521 Water St., to LUV 501 Water LLC, $1,260,000. (2.99 acres)
Raymond E. Simkins (TOD), 109 Bridgewater Lane #11, to Lavae Dierker, 315,000. (0.00 acres)
FLG Chardon LLC, 207 High Fox Drive, to NVR Inc., $90,000. (0.17 acres)
FLG Chardon LLC, 162 High Fox Drive, to NVR Inc., $90,000. (0.20 acres)
FLG Chardon LLC, 238 High Fox Drive, to NVR Inc., $90,000. (0.17 acres)
ever cut off, barred, and foreclosed; that upon the sale of said premises the proceeds be paid to Plaintiff to satisfy the amount of its existing lien and the interest, together with its disbursements, advancements, and costs herein expended; and for such other and further relief to which is may be entitled in equity or at law. Defendants are further notified that they are required to answer the Complaint on or before September 19, 2024, which includes twenty-eight (28) days from the last publishing, or judgment may be rendered as prayed for therein.
Submitted by Suzanne M. Godenswager (0086422), Sandhu Law Group, LLC, 1213 Prospect Ave. Suite 300, Cleveland OH, 216373-1001, Attorney for Plaintiff. Aug8-15-22, 2024
Geauga County
Notice is hereby given that competitive sealed bids will be received by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 350, Chardon, Ohio 44024, or by mail at the same address until 1:45 p.m., local time on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 for the Elderly Nutrition Program Preparation and Delivery of Catered Meals, according to federal guidelines, for the Geauga County Department on Aging, and will be opened at 2:00 PM and read immediately thereafter in Room B 303.
Each bid must be accompanied by an original bid bond with original signature(s) or certified check, cashier’s check or money order on a solvent bank or savings and loan association, payable to the Geauga County Board of Commissioners, in an amount equal to five (5%) percent of the bid and shall be held as a guarantee that in the event the bid is accepted and a contract awarded to the Bidder, the contract will be duly executed in conformity with the invitation and the bid.
Envelopes containing the bid and other required documents should be sealed and clearly marked “Elderly Nutrition Program Bid for the Preparation and Delivery of Catered Meals for the Geauga County Department on Aging.”, Attention: Clerk, Geauga County Board of County Commissioners, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 350, Chardon, Ohio 44024.
The successful bidder is required to enter into a contract assuring the faithful performance of all things to be done and furnish a performance bond in a sum of not less than Twenty Five percent (25%) of the total bid price for the complete work, said bond to be that of an approved surety company authorized to transact business in the State of Ohio meeting the requirements of O.R.C. Section 153.57. Specifications may be obtained at the Office of the Geauga Department on Aging, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 200, Chardon, Ohio 44024, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Geauga County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all bids or any part thereof and to waive any formalities and/or irregularities in the bids. A copy of this legal notice will be published in the Geauga County Maple Leaf, Cleveland Plain Dealer and posted on the County’s internet site on the world wide web. Go to https://bocc.geauga.oh.gov/public-notifications/bid-openings/ and click on the project name to view this legal notice.
BY ORDER OF THE GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Christine Blair, Clerk Aug22-29, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICE
The following matters are the subject of this public notice by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The complete public notice, including any additional instructions for submitting comments, requesting information, a public hearing, filing an appeal, or ADA accommodations may be obtained at: https://epa.ohio. gov/actions or Hearing Clerk, Ohio EPA, 50 W. Town St. P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216. Ph: 614-644-3037 email: HClerk@epa.ohio.gov
Final Issuance of Permit to Install RUSSELL TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY CENTER
Facility Description: WASTEWATER Receiving Water: null Date of Action: 08/12/2024
Final Issuance of Permit to Install FAIRMONT ARTS CENTER
Facility Description: WASTEWATER Receiving Water: null Date of Action: 08/15/2024
Aug22, 2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION
Chagrin Valley Mini Storage
Public online auction to take place on www. storagetreasures.com to satisfy liens from Chagrin Valley Mini Storage. The units are located at 10056 Kinsman Rd., Newbury, OH 44065. The auction will end on September 5, 2024 to the highest bidder. Chagrin Valley Mini Storage reserves the right to remove any unit prior to the end of the sale. Name and last known address below.
Katie Burry, 16735 Chillicothe Rd, Bainbridge, OH 44023-10x10-222- Household Darlena Webb, 4399 River Rd, Perry, OH 44081-10x10-1-Household
All buyers must register through www.storagetreasures.com to participate in the live online auction and follow the terms of the website. All sales require a $50.00 deposit until emptied. Terms for payment are cash only. Any questions can be sent to greg@chagrinvalleyministorage.com Aug22-29, 2024
CHARDON TOWNSHIP
Gregory C. and Tracey A. Eggleston, 9799 Ravenna Road, to Matthew L. and Molly E. Hannen, $300,000. (5.10 acres)
CHESTER TOWNSHIP
Patricia G. Poucher, 11532 Chillicothe Road, to Andrew LaRiccia, $195,000. (1.31 acres)
Mary C. Minor (trustee), 12414 Stockbridge Drive, to Gary A. Levin and Cathleen M. Bolek, $622,500. (5.00 acres)
CLARIDON TOWNSHIP
Christin L. Delong, 13256 Aldenshire Drive, to Caleb and Stephanie Hering, $323,900. (1.00 acres)
HAMBDEN TOWNSHIP
Peter M. and Kelly S. Katz, 15145 Regents Way, to Patrick E. McVey (trustee), $540,000. (3.00 acres)
MIDDLEFIELD VILLAGE
Middlefield Parkway, 15259 Timber Ridge, to NVR Inc., $66,600. (0.21 acres)
NVR Inc., 15224 Timber Ridge, to TJL Investments LLC, $346,200. (0.27 acres)
NVR Inc., 15240 Timber Ridge, to Susan C. Johnson, $350,700. (0.21 acres)
NVR Inc., 15254 Timber Ridge, to Sydney G. Campany and Adam M. Stewart, $343,000. (0.21 acres)
MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP
Rueben Randall Hardy, James C. Orr Jr., Samuel
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO
Case No. 24-F-000440 - Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, FIDUCIARIES, DEVISEES AND DONEES OF DUANE G. RECTOR, JR., et al.
Unknown Heirs, Beneficiaries, Fiduciaries, Devisees and Donees of Duane G. Rector, Jr, whose present place of residence is unknown, will take notice that on July 3, 2024, Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC filed its Complaint in Case No. 24-F-000440 in the Court of Common Pleas of Geauga County, 100 Short Court, Chardon, OH 44024, seeking foreclosure and alleging that the Defendants Unknown Heirs, Beneficiaries, Fiduciaries, Devisees and Donees of Duane G. Rector, Jr. have or claim to have an interest in the real estate described below:
Permanent Parcel #: 32-050150
Property Address: 19198 Mumford Road, Garrettsville, OH 44231
The Defendant(s) named above are required to answer on or before the 19th day of September, 2024.
Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC
BY: LOGS Legal Group LLP, Tamara Gurchik, Attorney for Plaintiff, 4805 Montgomery Road, Suite 320, Norwood, OH 45212. (513) 396-8100.
Aug8-15-22, 2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Village of Burton
A Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 5:30 PM in the Village Office. The Board will review a variance request from Ms. Dawn Patterson, East Park Lofts LLC. at 14577 East Park Street to install a driveway and rear parking lot at this property.
Jennell Dahlhausen, Fiscal Officer Aug15-22, 2024
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING ANNUAL TAX BUDGET HEARINGS
GEAUGA COUNTY BUDGET COMMISSION
The Geauga County Budget Commission will hold a special meeting for the 2025 Tax Budget Hearings beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 26, 2024 at the Geauga County Auditor’s Office, 215 Main Street, Chardon, Ohio for the following taxing districts: Monday, August 26, 2024 9:00 a.m. Chester Twp. Geauga County Regular Business
Charles E. Walder, Auditor Secretary/Budget Commission Aug20, 2024
U. Orr, Lolita D. Orr, Kamilla D. Jones and Rueben R. Hardy, 9424 Madison Road, to Rueben Randall Hardy, Samuel U. Orr, Lolita D. Orr, Kamilla D. Jones and Rueben R. Hardy, $12,850. (19.99 acres)
Dan, Ada, Norman D. and Katherine Miller, Madison Road, to Dan D. Miller, Ada Miller and Lester D. Miller, $96,000. (71.24 acres)
MUNSON TOWNSHIP
Davet Investments LLC, 9705 Mayfield Road, to Irina Sharapov, $535,000. (2.91 acres)
Duane E. and Jeanne Mae Kurapka, 10020 Sherman Road, to Andrew and Nicolina Bryan, $800,000. (26.56 acres)
NEWBURY TOWNSHIP
George J. Lashley, Theresa Barkman and Jacquelyn Svec, 14530 Bass Lake Road, to Samantha DiSanto, $235,000. (3.53 acres)
Joshua A. Williams, 12017 Pekin Road, to Mark Galit, $365,000. (5.00 acres)
Michael Carothers, Carol Dean and Daniel Garver (trustee), 11658 Pekin Road, to Aberdeen Property Management LLC, $107,100. (2.29 acres)
Robert W. and Sharon L. Shaw, 15259 Munn Road, to Caleb D. and Elisabeth Anne Brazytis, $211,000. (1.50 acres)
RUSSELL TOWNSHIP
U.S. Bank National Association (trustee), 7922 Thornapple Drive, to Insana Homes Ltd., $140,000. (1.54 acres)
SOUTH RUSSELL VILLAGE
99 Lakeview Lane LLC, 110 Fernwood Road, to Madison L. Monroe, $307,000. (0.35 acres)
Mary M. Hunt, 29 Woodside Road, to Catherine Hattenbach, $350,000. (1.18 acres)
Peter and Corinne Bahner (trustees), 1405 Bell Road, to Joshua and Amber Stout Nebozuk, $365,000. (1.01 acres)
Jennifer L. Truszkowski and Amy B. O’Neil (successor trustees), 117 Manor Brook Drive #1, to William J. and Donna L. Williams, $670,000. (0.00 acres)
TROY TOWNSHIP
David Effron, 18855 Rapids Road, to 18855 Rapids Road, $0.00 (12.00 acres)
Newbury Rental: 3BR, 2Ba, half of a duplex, 1 floor, separate entrance. $1,195/mo., plus utilities and deposit. No pets. 440-665-2345.
John Deere Lawn Tractor: Model 314, 14-HP, auto-trans, hydraulic 3-blade 46” cutting deck, w/snow plow and trailer; $1,200/OBO. 440-564-1172.
VEVOR Demolition Jack Hammer
3600W Jack Hammer
Concrete Breaker 1800 BPM Heavy Duty Electric Jack Hammer 6pcs Chisels Bit w/Gloves & 360°Swiveling Front Handle for Trenching, Chipping, Breaking Holes. BRAND NEW, NEVER OPENED. $225. Email ads@karlovecmedia.com and write “Jack Hammer” in subject line.
Toro Wheel Horse 38” Riding Mower: $400/OBO. Husqvarna self-drive and push mowers. DWS715 DeWalt compound miter saw, new, in box; $200. 440-2725736.
Never used Grace EZ3 Fabri-Fast Quilting Frame: Partially put together but did not fit in the area planned. $350/ OBO! Only thing needed is cloth leaders as they did not come with the frame. Please call 330 327-0379.
2016 Rockwood Mini Lite Travel Trailer 2504S. Dining area slide-out, bunk beds, Queen Murphy bed. Gas/ Electric Fridge/Freezer, double sink, 3 burner stove with oven. Full bath and LOTS of storage. $18,500. 440812-8729.
TEARDROP CAMPING TRAILER 2014 SoCal Deluxe model 5’X11”, Queen size bed, galley kitchen, roof rack, easy towing. $9,000. 440-230-3750 Parkman
Daylilies: over 450 varieties, $10 to $12 per large clump. Call 440-543-9303 or 440-570-1377.
Small stack of lumber: multiple sizes. 2007 Dodge Dakota SLT: 161,000 miles, silver, 6’6” bed w/liner, body some rust-back fender wells. Call for details 440-2239471.
Howard Rototiller: 42” wide, for compact tractor. Cat 1 three-point hitch. $1,800. 440-487-2955. Husqvarna chainsaw: GC, $75. Aerifier: tow-behind, $50. 440-670-4207.
Oxy-Acy. Torches: Large tanks, nice stainless steel cart. Gauges, heating and cutting tips. $400. Text 216-4015151.
Matching Couch and Loveseat: floral print, in good shape, ready to sell; make offer. 440-632-9675, Middlefield.
24-foot aluminum extension ladder, $200. Vintage grinding wheel, on stand, 2-inch by 20-inch wheel, $300. Massage table, used, headrest and bolster attached $125. 440-286-6878.
COMPLETE GEO TRAX SET: with tracks, structures, figures, engines, controllers, vehicles. Best Offer. Call 440729-1082.
Electric Log Spliter, $325/OBO. Antique Crank Wall phone, $279/OBO. Many aquariums, $5 to $100. 440-338-3563.
Second Hand Treasures. A unique shopping place. Something for everyone! Weekly Sales: Thursday, Friday, Saturday. 9a-5p. Many $1 bargains. 9098 Old St Road, Rt.608, Chardon.
Aug 30-31, 9a-4p, 18071 Tilden, Troy Township, close to Rts 700/422. Tons of items left, FREE items.
Barn homes needed for semi-feral cats, as their elderly caretaker is being evicted. All cats are being fixed & vaccinated. Rebecca 440-321-2485.
FREE fact: your child vaping is MUCH WORSE than a tornado! Easier to remove a tree than an addiction!
Homes & Land Wanted: any condition or situation! Fast, friendly, local. Serving Geauga and surrounding counties. Text or call Wayne at 330-269-9595.
Joe Eicher doing roofing, siding, remodeling, cleanout houses, we do most anything. Call between 8a-4p, 440-813-4272. No answer, leave message.
Wanted: Cleaning Jobs, Middlefield/Burton area, have experience. 440-834-0796.
HAVE STORM DAMAGE? Need help with clean up? Call Albert’s Complete Tree Service: 45+yrs experience! Free Estimates. 440-687-5404.
Did you know Karlovec Media Group prints business cards? Prices start at only $30 for 500 (B&W, 1-sided, no bleed). Call 440-729-7667 or email ads@karlovecmedia.com.
Licensed caregiver: will do in-home care and light housework. 24/7. References. 440-313-1804.
Taxi Service: 4 passengers only, for cleaning crews, short and long trips. Contact Lisa at 440-708-4835.
Old fishing tackle wanted: fishing lures (wood or plastic), mouse to bear traps, wooden duck decoys. Call Lee 440-313-8331.
4-wheelers, 3-wheelers, dirt bikes, mini-bikes, go-carts, golf carts, gators, farm tractors/equipment, trailers, riding mowers, snowplows. Paying cash. 440-413-3119.
To advertise in the Classifieds, contact the advertising department at 440-729-7667 ext. 500 or email your ad directly to ads@karlovecmedia.com
group 8389 Mayfield Road, B-5 Chesterland, OH 44026 Fax: 440-729-8240 All classified line ads run in The Geauga County Maple Leaf on Thursdays, and in the Chesterland News and Middlefield Post on the weeks each newspaper is published. The Chesterland News and Middlefield Post are published every other week on opposing weeks.
☐ Here is my ad. The per week cost is $15
number ___________ (found on mailing label) ☐ I would like to be a MAPLE LEAF SUBSCRIBER and advertise for FREE. Enclosed is $55 for an in-county 12-month subscription (subscription rate valid through 12/31/24)
The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Aug. 9 to Aug. 15, 2024.
ANIMAL PROBLEM
Aug. 14
4:03 p.m., Kinsman Road, Newbury. Caller went to the business mailbox and had a dog come at him. Caller had a gun in a holster that he did place his hand on just in case. Caller never drew his weapon. Dog owner came out and was raising an ax at the caller. Dog owner believed to be back in building. Owner was about dog at large.
ASSAULT
Aug. 9
1:27 p.m., Ravenna Road, Newbury. Caller advised his wife's son just assaulted him. He punched caller in the face. He is still here now. 37-year-old. He lives here. No weapons on him. No alcohol or drugs for the male. Caller has had a few beers. He was being disrespectful to caller's wife and he told him not to talk like that and then he punched him in the face. Denying rescue. There are weapons in the house but they are secured. Suspect was arrested.
CITIZEN ASSIST
Aug. 14
9:45 a.m., Stone Road, Newbury. Groundhog in the chicken coop. Caller's son has been trying to get it out all morning. Groundhog is out.
FOUND PROPERTY
Aug. 10
2:23 p.m., Stillwell Road, Huntsburg. We have an indoor/outdoor cat that went missing in December 2023. Today I was at work and the Middlefield vet called me advising that there was a subject there with a cat and when they scanned it, it returned to me as it was chipped. Nature changed from Theft to Found Property. Cat returned to owner.
PROPERTY DAMAGE
Aug. 10
9:08 a.m., Knotty Pine Lane, Hambden. Damage to vehicle, someone keyed vehicle. Kids had a sleepover at the house. In the early morning hours, his Chevy Impala keyed. On the hood a penis was scratched in and the word “cheese” was scratched in by the gas tank door. Unknown suspects.
SUSPICIOUS
Aug. 12
4:57 p.m., Wintergreen Drive, Chardon. Caller's nephew is at the house. Male killed someone in North Carolina and set the house on fire. Male is outside in a Jeep Cherokee. Killed his sister with knife last night in NC. Caller doesn't see any weapons. Active warrant for murder and arson. Caller is inside, weapon is secured. Was taken into custody on his active warrant out of North Carolina.
Aug. 15
5:40 p.m., Stratford Ridge Lane, Chardon. Lowe's delivery driver went to the wrong driveway, homeowner came out with a gun. Male is in a gray Tundra pickup truck. Caller is in the driveway and is afraid to get out. Caller does not know where the Tundra went to. Caller saw the homeowner brandishing the handgun. Homeowner then got into his truck and came down the road after the Lowe's truck. The Lowe's truck is now in the correct driveway but afraid to get out. Homeowner asked the driver is he was f** stupid, that he just dealt with this shit the other night. Deputies spoke with all parties involved.
Aug. 9
6:33 p.m., View Drive, Newbury. Caller is out of town, stated his wife and neighbor alerted him that his generator was stolen from his property. Generator is a red Honda 2800 Generator, brand new. Roughly $1300. Portable, mini. Suspect unplugged it and took off. It was running when it was stolen Contact was made with who is currently in PA. Generator his driveway. was unable to provide the serial number and is unsure if he has that information. Deputy spoke with neighbors who did not observe anything suspicious, and no was was home at the time of the theft. Deputy will perform extra patrols in the area. no leads or suspects at this time.
Aug. 12
3:11 p.m., Lucky Bell Lane, Auburn. Small gray vehicle drove by occupied by a white male and he held up a gun and pointed it at the kids that were playing in the yard. The vehicle continued toward Stafford. Two 10-year-olds and a 9-year-old. Caller says you can come to the front door she closed everything because of the incident. Black gun described as a pistol. Juvenile stated they did not know the vehicle or the operator of the vehicle. Operator of the vehicle did not get out of vehicle or make contact with anyone at the residence. Everyone at the residence checked okay and wanted the incident documented.
Aug. 13
3:11 p.m., Auburn Road, Newbury. Newbury Township will be at the old bus garage for a vandalism report. Complainant reported that someone broke into the old bus garage and vandalized the inside. Deputy took photographs of the damage inside the building. There are no security cameras and no suspect(s) at this time. Information and photographs gathered for a report. Complainant is requesting extra patrol during night time hours. See report.