stanDarD Postage & Fees PaiD WiLLoughby, oh Permit 42
Volume 52, No. 10
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967 Car Accident Sparks Bizarre Investigation
Four Vie for Two Trustee Seats By Cassandra Shofar cassandra@geaugamapleleaf.com
By John Karlovec editor@geaugamapleleaf.com A one-vehicle crash on Wilson Mills Road last week sparked a bizarre series of events that resulted in a Copley woman being charged with obstructing official business, a felony, and potentially facing more serious charges, including kidnapping. At approximately 12:53 a.m. Oct. 3, a woman, later identified as Katelyn Weatherly, called 9-1-1 to report a vehicle had overturned and the female driver had unknown injuries. “While on the line, I could hear a female in the background stating she was OK,” a Chester Township dispatcher wrote in the incident report. “Caller then said everything was fine and we could disregard, then she disconnected.” When the Chester police officers arrived on scene at 9190 Wilson Mills Road, they found the overturned vehicle — but no one was inside, Police Chief Mark Purchase said. “The guys get on scene and they can’t find anybody, so now they’re looking around, did somebody pick somebody up, they run the plate, they figure out where it comes back to, they talk to this girl’s (driver’s) mother, who tells police her daughter isn’t home and has the car,” Purchase said. Purchase explained Weatherly refused to identify herself, but said she had the driver who was inSee Accident • Page 4
Claypoo l
Kolk
Petruziello
Radtke
Four people — two challengers and two incumbents — are running for two Chester Township trustee seats in the Nov. 5 general election. Incumbent Ken Radtke is trying to maintain his seat while Michael Petruziello challenges him, and former Geauga County Commissioner Walter “Skip” Claypool is challenging incumbent Frank Kolk — who was appointed to fill the trustee seat earlier this year after former Chester Township Trustee Bob Rogish stepped down — to finish out the remaining two years of the seat’s term. Candidate Karen Austin, who had thrown her hat in alongside Claypool, pulled out of the race, explaining in an email she thought it was “best for the community if there were only two people vying for (that seat).” See Trustees • Page 8
Jarrett Challenges Richter for Position By Cassandra Shofar cassandra@geaugamapleleaf.com
Patricia Jarrett, a certified public accountant, is challenging Chester Township Fiscal Officer Craig Richter for his position in the Nov. 5 general election.
Patricia Jarrett
Jarrett, 56, graduated from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School (formerly Notre Dame Academy), earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cleveland State University and received her certified public accountant license in 1996. Jarrett is a past president and treasurer of the Chardon Square Association and member of the Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce. She has decided to run for fiscal officer because she believes
she can use her experience as an accountant who has been in practice for over 20 years to better serve the Chester Township residents. “Under my care … (Chester Town- Jarrett ship) Trustees will receive monthly reports so they can make good decisions with solid, accurate information. As fiscal officer, I will devote the time needed to do a good job, not Richter just show up at meetings.” Jarrett said in her two decades as an accountant, she has never once been penalized for inaccurate payroll deposits. “I am retired and not working
a high demand full-time position with a large corporation,” she said, referring to her opponent’s employment with Nestle USA. “I will have the time to devote to updating Chester Township to the 21st century by implementing the recommended State of Ohio Auditor UAN software for better transparency and accountability of taxpayer dollars.” Jarrett said her clients have included fire departments, townships and cities, and she has had experience in solving bookkeeping, budgeting and payroll issues, including federal and state penalties. See Fiscal • Page 12
LocaL PostaL customer ecrWss/eDDm
CHESTERLAND NEWS