Community Meetings
Geauga County: April 15, 9:30 a.m. – Geauga County Commissioners, 3 p.m. – Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste Management District, Board of Directors, Room B303. All county meetings are held at the Geauga County Administrative Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive (Ste. #), Claridon, unless otherwise noted. County commissioners meetings are held in Suite 350.
Aquilla Village: April 14, 7 p.m., Village Council. All meetings are held at Town Hall, 65 Turner Drive, unless otherwise noted.
Auburn Township: April 10, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at the Administration Building, 11010 Washington St., unless otherwise indicated.
Bainbridge Township: April 14, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees, at the Bainbridge Township Service Department, 17800 Haskins Road; April 17, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals, at the Centerville Mills Park Dining Hall, 8558 Crackel Road.
Burton Township: April 14, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. The meeting will be held at the Burton Township Administration building, 14821 Rapids Road.
Burton Village: April 14, 7 p.m., Village Council. All meetings are held at 14588 W. Park St., 2nd Floor, unless otherwise noted.
Chardon City: April 10, 6:30 p.m., City Council. All meetings are held at the Municipal Center, 111 Water St., unless otherwise noted.
Chardon Township: April 16, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Township
Investigation from page 1
Niehus confirmed his department received a report on Feb. 24 and referred it to the county’s sex abuse investigator at the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office.
“This is an active investigation and there is no other information being released at this time,” Niehus said. “Also, I will not be commenting until the investigation is completed.”
County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said he could not comment on the matter because there is a pending grand jury investigation.
After speaking with authorities, the parent said she believes the school district did not handle the allegations appropriately.
She also believes the district failed to protect the victims and continued to put them in harm’s way by allowing the male student accused of assaulting them back into the classroom a few days after the incidents were reported.
According to her daughter, the male student is the son of a Chardon Schools Board of Education member, she said.
The parent said, to her knowledge, there were at least eight female students impacted by the male student’s behavior and she called the district’s handling of the situation unacceptable and asked that administrators take action to remove the student from the classroom and protect the victims.
Superintendent Michael Hanlon issued the following statement April 5 in response to a request for comment:
“The Chardon Local School District places a high priority on the safety of students, staff and community in our schools. To the extent your request pertains to the district’s internal investigation into allegations of student misconduct or any related administrative actions or decisions, please note that the district is prohibited by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Section 3319.321 of the Ohio Revised Code from disclosing such information.
Hall, 9949 Mentor Road, unless otherwise noted.
Chester Township: April 14, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; April 16, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission; April 17, 6 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Township Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.
Hambden Township: April 16, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Town Hall, 13887 GAR Highway, unless otherwise noted.
Huntsburg Township: April 15, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Town Hall, 16534 Mayfield Road.
Middlefield Township: April 14, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All trustees meetings are held at Township Office, 15228 Madison Road, unless otherwise noted.
Middlefield Village: April 10, 6 p.m. – Finance and Ordinance Committee, 7 p.m. – Village Council. All meetings are at the Municipal Center, 14860 N. State Ave.
Montville Township: April 15, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Montville Community Center, 9755 Madison Road, unless noted.
Munson Township: April 14, 6:15 p.m., Park and Recreation Board; April 16, 6:30 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals. All meetings are held at Township Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, unless otherwise noted.
Newbury Township: April 16, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Town
“The Chardon Local School District prioritizes compliance with all legal requirements regarding the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect and conducts regular staff training on this topic. The district has no record of any staff member failing to comply with the mandatory reporting requirements set forth in Section 2151.421 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Hall, 14899 Auburn Road, unless otherwise noted.
Parkman Township: April 15, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Community House, 16295 Main Market Road, unless otherwise noted.
Russell Township: April 17, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Town Hall, 14890 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.
South Russell Village: April 14, 7 p.m., Village Council. All meetings are held at the Village Hall, 5205 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.
Thompson Township: April 16, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees, at the Geauga County Public Library - Thompson Branch.
Troy Township: April 15, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Troy Community Center, 13950 Main Market Road, unless noted.
Berkshire BOE: April 14, 6 p.m., regular meeting. All meetings are held at BOE auditorium, 14155 Claridon Troy Road, Burton, unless otherwise noted.
Kenston BOE: April 14, 7 p.m., regular meeting. All meetings are held at Auburn Bainbridge Room at Kenston High School, 9500 Bainbridge Road, Bainbridge.
West Geauga BOE: April 14, 7 p.m., regular meeting. All meetings are held at the BOE Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road, unless otherwise noted.
“Chardon Local Schools maintains a strong, collaborative relationship with local law enforcement and county agencies, and we engage regularly with families to support students. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is a top priority, and we remain committed to creating a secure learning environment for all.”
John Karlovec contributed to this article.
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SUBMITTED
Roots
from page 1
Roots of Tomorrow in August with help from State Service Forester Jason Van Houten from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Aiden said.
Van Houten sent information to landowners who might be interested in reforesting land in Geauga County and Rea agreed to sponsor the project on his acreage along Ravenna Road, Aiden said.
Last Sunday was the second event Aiden took part in, he said in a phone interview. The first involved planting young trees on a property in Chester Township.
“The landowners buy the trees — we just supply the labor,” he said, adding they hope to reforest other properties in Geauga County this spring.
Aiden said he attends Hawken School in Chester Township and Nathan is in high school at Phillips Exeter Academy, a boarding school in Exeter, N.H.
Rea said there were two projects Sunday.
The crew planted about 250 Norway spruce trees along Ravenna Road as a windbreak, he said.
The remainder of the plants were placed along the edge of a woods bordering a tillable crop field, Rea said.
That planting included native grasses, ground cover and nine varieties of shrubs or saplings to create edge feathering along about 50 feet of woodland, he said.
Rae and his wife, Renee, bought the prop-
erty and the 1885 farmhouse in 2014. They have been restoring the century building and the land for 11 years, he said.
“We want to get this property back to natural plants,” he said. “We are trying to benefit the wildlife.”
Their first project was establishing 5 acres of pollinator plants. Now that is accomplished, Rea said they are tackling the next step by planting trees.
After the next visit from Roots of Tomorrow, they want to go to work on the long-term job of clearing out the invasive species in 18 acres of woodlands, he said.
In the next month, Roots of Tomorrow will help the Reas replant natural flora.
Rea said they are looking forward to working with Aiden and his crew in May, when another 700 plants will arrive.
Sunday showed him the Roots for Tomorrow volunteers know what they are doing.
One person would drive a spade into the soggy ground and push it back and forth until it formed a little chasm, Rea said.
The next step was dropping fertilizer and enzyme pellets into the hole, he said adding the roots of the plant were settled into the mud and the dirt pushed back against the tree.
The assembly line started about 11 a.m. and it only took a few hours to complete both areas.
“My wife and I and Jason chugged along behind them,” Rea laughed. “They were fun to be around. We had a great time.”
Aiden said he and Nathan would like to expand their website, rootsoftomorrow.org, so they can assist more property owners to take their land back to its natural state.
Diamond Dispute: Baseball Teams Battle for Field Time
staff report
The West Geauga Sports Federation and the Knights Organization came to the Newbury Township Trustees meeting April 2 hoping for field use this spring and summer.
While there are five fields at the park, which is on the former Newbury Schools property on Auburn Road, only three of them are usable. The property belongs to West Geauga Schools, which absorbed the school district in 2020.
President of the Knights Organization, William Rivera, said he discussed a sublease for two of the fields last March, but it never went through.
“We spent $20,000 between the township and the Knights Organization for the two fields,” Rivera said.
The West Geauga Sports Federation also requested to use the field five days per week at the trustees meeting.
“It's a public entity that we have to share and we can't just keep people out,”
Library
from page 1
year 2026 and $495 million for fiscal year 2027, whereas DeWine’s proposed budget would allocate $531.7 million for 2026 and $549.1 million for 2027.
“This fiscally conservative budget will deliver significant, swift property tax relief for all Ohioans,” Finance Chairman Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said in a press release. However, it will also greatly affect library programming, Carroll said in the letter.
“In Geauga County, the public library fund makes 33% of all Geauga County Public Library operations possible,” she added.
Some of the library programming that could see changes include one-on-one technology help, makerspaces, homebound delivery for seniors, storytimes for children, patron-led homeschool co-ops, book and movie streaming, AARP tax preparation and more.
“The services that we provide that are important to one patron might not be something that another patron uses … but we offer every group something that they may need,” she said in an April 7 phone interview. “Every age group, every demographic, every income bracket, every political or religious persuasion is served by our library.”
In 2024, there were 513,626 library visits to the county libraries. In 2025, there have been 115,199 visits so far, according to Denise Javins, marketing and communications manager for GCPL.
“The proposed funding levels take us back 25 years, threatening programs, materials and services that our community relies on,” Carroll said in the letter.
In other states, libraries are a part of the county or city government. However, in Ohio, libraries rely on state funding to pay for things like building maintenance, human resources, upkeep and others, she said.
“That's why we have the public library fund to support us and make sure we provide consistent services across the state,” Carroll said April 7.
Michelle Francis, executive director of the Ohio Library Council, wrote a letter detailing the risks to Ohio without the funding.
he said. “We're going to play like adults and we're going to share, okay? That's — that's the way it's going to be.”
Trustee Bill Skomrock provided the Knights with a contract to use two of the fields at the end of the meeting.
The other fields are in need of significant work, Rivera said, as trees are growing in one of the fields.
In other business, Skomrock said details for the bathroom project at Oberland Park are still being sorted out, as the minimum size for the water storage tank is 1,000 gallons and the proposed tank size is 140 gallons.
“For Geauga Public Health to approve the private water system application without a variance, the hauled water storage tank would need to be 1,000 gallons,” he said, adding there could be some alternatives to get around this.
“I wish I would have never done this in the long run, but I'm pretty stubborn,” he said. “Hopefully we can get this thing accomplished.”
The updated timeline is unknown.
“Ohio's public libraries have had a partnership with the state to deliver services at the local level for almost 100 years and that funding is now at risk,” Francis said. “Public libraries serve all ages, and funding cuts of this magnitude could jeopardize the vital services that our communities rely on.”
Libraries were already on hard times, financially, she said.
“Now is not the time to make additional cuts to libraries when the demand for services at the local level is growing and expanding, usage is increasing and the rising cost of inflation can no longer be absorbed or ignored,” Francis said.
The proposed budget would not only impact library funding, it would also affect members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“It is the policy of the state of Ohio to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,” a portion of the bill said.
This is the same text President Donald Trump used in an executive order in January.
“It conforms with federal law and it’s common sense we codify that into law and put this behind us,” Stewart said in the April 1 press release. “It’s like saying the world is round instead of flat and we think it was warranted to be in the code, so we can put that kind of discussion behind us.”
The bill would also require libraries to move any “material related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression” to “a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of persons under the age of 18.”
This goes against what libraries stand for, Carroll said.
“It does go against what libraries do, which is, we allow the parents to direct what children take out and we are for intellectual freedom,” Carroll said. “We don't — We don't censor materials. That's really for families and parents to discuss. However, we will always follow the law, and if this becomes law, we'll figure out how to address it.”
She added it’s too soon to tell what specific changes would need to be made.
The House was slated to vote on H.B. 96 April 9.
Chris and Aaron Wei, of Solon, dig into the project of planting 700 trees on a property in Burton Township as part of the Roots of Tomorrow reforesting project.
Dropped Donut Causes Serious Crash in Thompson
By Jamie Ward Jamie@karloveCmedia Com
A distracted driver reaching for a donut caused a three-car crash on Route 166 between Dewey and Clay Road April 2 at 7:20 a.m., according to Sgt. Aaron Belcher of the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Nicholas Fleming, 28, of Eastlake was traveling east with his morning coffee and donut when he dropped the donut and went left of center, striking a white Ford Edge that veered off into a field and hit a gray Toyota Civic head on, causing a serious injury, Belcher said.
The driver of the Civic was extricated from the vehicle by Thompson Fire and EMS and transported to University Hospitals Geauga, Belcher said, adding the driver’s injuries were serious but not life threatening.
Fleming was also transported to the hospital.
A 58-year-old woman driving the Edge was treated and released on scene by LeRoy Fire and EMS.
Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Transportation closed the roads in the area and spent nearly three hours reconstructing
NDCL Assoc. Athletic Dir. Arrested for Sexual Battery
staff report
A Mayfield Heights man accused of sexual battery was arrested March 31 at Notre Dame Cathedral-Latin High School in Munson Township.
On April 1, Devin Hernandez, 30, was arraigned before Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica on one charge of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. His bond was set at $20,000, which he has since posted, according to court records.
Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said
in a press release April 1 an individual at Hawken Upper School in Chester Township, where Hernandez previously worked, filed the sexual battery charge.
If convicted, Hernandez could serve up to five years in prison and be required to report as a Tier III sex offender, Flaiz said.
“Additional charges could be brought once the matter is presented to the grand jury,” he said.
On March 31, Jacqueline Hoynes, president of Notre Dame Schools, released a statement regarding the arrest.
In part, she said: “We want to inform you of an incident that oc curred at NDCL today. At the end of the workday, local law enforce ment arrested one of our employ ees and a criminal investigation is underway.
“The employee was imme diately placed on administrative leave and will not be permitted on our campus.
“We want to clarify that none of the allegations involve any students, staff or families
from Notre Dame – Cathedral Latin.”
Hernandez was hired in August 2024 as the school’s associate athletic director for sports performance, according to NDCL’s website.
He spent the previous two years as assistant strength and conditioning coach at Hawken Upper School, according to the site.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled in front of Stupica at 10 a.m. April 8.
Chardon Man Among 5 Arrested in Human-Trafficking Sting
staff report
A 35-year-old Chardon man and four other men from across Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania have been arrested on human trafficking-related charges following an undercover operation between the Conneaut Police Department and the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.
Troy
from page 1
to keep (the gas tanks) as full as we can, but there are times, (multiple calls) come up,” Nix said. “We prepare for the worst. Sometimes, things happen. I want to have an emergency contingency plan.”
Nix, who was hired as chief Dec. 17, also provided trustees with staffing updates, as some firefighters were upset when trustees chose Nix over previous Interim Chief Nick Bushek and three of them resigned as a result.
Only 15 of 20 staff members are currently “active,” Nix told trustees April 1.
Trustee Leonard Barcikoski was under the assumption there were 30 active fire staff, he said.
Trustees asked Nix about the firefighters
Conneaut Police Chief Michael Colby listed the suspects’ hometowns, ages and pending charges in an April 1 post on the department’s Facebook page, but did not release their names.
In response to a followup email April 3 requesting more details, Conneaut police indicated the records would be released once the charges were official.
The Chardon man will be charged with
he “inherited” from Bushek.
“We’ve gotten rid of some. The ones that I had not seen, or I looked in the files (and they) hadn't been up (to the station) in six months or longer, were sent notices,” Nix said. “State your intentions and prove it and get up here, or I'm releasing (you) from the department.”
After these letters were sent, a couple people came back up to the station and some were released, Nix said.
During the meeting, the chief also mentioned the 10-digit emergency number 440834-1818 will no longer be in use for emergency calls. All emergency calls should now go to 440-286-1234, which is the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center.
Residents should ask their security and monitoring companies to have this changed and residents and visitors of Troy should use 9-1-1.
solicitation of prostitution, according to the department's Facebook post.
“It was discovered that this individual is a Tier 3 sexual offender recently released from prison and on parole for the sexual assault of a child,” Colby added.
The suspects range in age from 32 to 62 and are from Painesville, Chardon, Ashtabula, Erie and Parma. Two were on parole, according to Conneaut police.
Charges across the group include trafficking in persons, solicitation of prostitution, possession of methamphetamine and drug trafficking, police said.
The operation was conducted following the execution of two search warrants and one arrest earlier in the week in connection with the Northeastern Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Paines-
ville Office of the FBI, Colby said.
Three other men were criminally charged during those operations, all for pandering obscenity involving a minor and one for criminal child enticement for attempting to solicit a child for sexual activity.
Investigators identified multiple potential child victims across the operation, Colby said.
“It is the highest priority of the Conneaut Police Department to protect those in our community that cannot protect themselves,” Colby said. “We would like to thank the Northeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, The Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, the Painesville Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ashtabula Police Department and the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.”
Hernandez
Chester Township Officer Injured in Crash
staff report
Chester Township officer Brian Bowser was struck by a vehicle at 8:30 p.m. April 2 at the intersection of Wilson Mills Road and Caves Road, according to law enforcement.
Dashcam footage shows Bowser striking a vehicle going north on Caves Road.
“The Ohio State Highway Patrol conducted the investigation and determined that an older model Chrysler PT Cruiser was traveling north on Caves Road, approaching the intersection with Wilson Mills Road,” the Chester Township Police Department said in a statement. “The vehicle disregarded the clearly visible red traffic signal and proceeded into the intersection, directly into the path of the Chester Township patrol vehicle.”
There is heavy damage to both vehicles
involved, Police Chief Craig Young said in an April 4 phone interview..
“(They faced) minor injuries, is what I'm hearing,” he said. “Our officer is at home. He's just sore.”
Everyone involved was taken to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital, police said in the statement. Dashcam footage is available on the Chester Township Police Department Facebook page.
Young said he is waiting on the patrol’s findings. He also issued a reminder to drivers.
“It is crucial to remain alert and focused when operating a motor vehicle,” he said in the press release. “This incident serves as a clear example of a preventable accident and a stark reminder of the consequences of driver inattention.”
Geauga Safety Center Slated for Renovations
Spidalieri Questioned
By allison Wilson Wilson@karloveCmedia Com
about Email Accessibility
The Geauga County Safety Center’s visitation room will soon get a makeover, after a statutory committee approved design plans at the April 1 Geauga County Commissioners meeting.
While the design drawings are not public record, the committee — comprising commissioners Jim Dvorak, Carolyn Brakey and Ralph Spidalieri, Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, Geauga Clerk of Courts Sheila Bevington and Magistrate Randy Taylor — did discuss some details. Geauga County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge Tim Grendell was invited, but was not present.
“The project is taking the existing, approximately 450-square-foot (video) visitation room … that consisted of 10 outdated video monitoring stations. These monitors have not been used for some period of time and have been replaced by three video visitation wall-mounted phones,” Geauga Maintenance Department employee Charles Tkatch explained. “The goal of this project is to reconfigure that existing space into two separate
rooms, a reduced, approximately 86-squarefoot video visitation room … and then convert the remaining, approximately 364-square-foot space into office space for jail operations, health and environmental specialists.”
The project would consist of the remov al and demolition of the existing visitation booths and wall, and modifications to the floor so it could support the installation of a new wall separating the jail operations and visitation space, he continued.
There would also be HVAC, electrical and fire suppression system modifications, among other similar items, Tkatch added.
“That building was designed over 20 years ago,” Hildenbrand said. “Technology has changed. We don’t have people coming in to visit like we used to because there’s other technology, they can visit from home.”
The biggest problem in the jail is mental health and addiction, he said.
“That’s what these rooms are for, is for the mental health people to have a place to work,” he said. “Right now, they’re trying to work on the backside of this visitation room. It’s a very small room, it’s a very important part of the jail.”
This is one way to better help those counselors and hopefully bolster their progress, he said.
While the jail does not have full-time counselors handling mental health and addiction, counselors from Ravenwood Health regularly work at the jail, he said.
The renovation project estimate is $150,700, Tkatch said.
The statutory committee unanimously approved the plans.
During the public comment section of the meeting, Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri clashed with a Chagrin Valley Times reporter, who asked him why his county email was only set up in March when he has been a commissioner for 12 years.
Spidalieri replied he’s had an email account since day one, which was probably set up when he took office. His password was updated and the program reinstalled on his desktop, he said.
Spidalieri affirmed he had checked his email before, questioning why she had made the public records request to begin with.
The reporter stated Spidalieri refuses to talk to her.
“I refuse to talk to you because every
myself, (former Commissioner Tim Lennon) and also (former County Administrator Gerry Morgan) had our emails entered in, where we physically watched one day here in the office, where emails were shown being opened and being closed again,” he said.
Spidalieri called it “interesting” for the reporter to be asking him questions about his emails.
“I’m going to ask for an investigation, probably with the sheriff’s office, to investigate this because you’re going to be (a) witness of who told you this. Because whoever’s telling you this is probably who’s been behind opening emails,” he said, noting commissioners have sensitive documents in their emails.
The reporter asked Spidalieri why he uses a Yahoo email account if his emails are privileged. Spidalieri replied he can’t stop people from sending him things to his Yahoo account.
The reporter asked Spidalieri whether he uses the Yahoo account for county business. Spidalieri replied he does not.
“I made the choice, personally, to not effectively engage myself with (my county email account) until (former) County Administrator Morgan left,” he said. “When I came back and saw that, I was not going to get engaged into my (county) email at all so I could testify under oath to say 100% that I had no access, no involvement with my email at all in that course of time if there was any allegations made to me.”
County emails are being opened and read,
sioner's office indicated concerns about an unauthorized outside party accessing their email,” he said April 4. “Given the robust security protocols in place — including multiple layers of encryption and the fact that county email has been hosted securely through Microsoft for several years — I am uncertain how such unauthorized access would be feasible.”
There are alert systems in the network to make ADP aware of hackers, he added.
“In my 14-year tenure with the county, the only significant email breach occurred at the (Geauga County) Department of Water Resources, prior to its integration under the Automatic Data Processing board,” he said.
The Geauga County Maple Leaf obtained the same records sent to the Chagrin Valley Times, which detail the set-up of Spidalieri’s email account in March of 2025.
The records show the completion of the set-up, Antenucci clarified, confirming the actual account was created in 2013, after Spidalieri took office.
A license for Spidalieri was added when county emails were migrated to Microsoft several years ago, Antenucci said, adding it looks as if he never fully utilized the new account and the password was long expired.
Included in the records are work notes for the email’s setup on computer and phone.
“Updated computer since PC was not logged into or turned on for a very long time,” the March 18 notes read. “Roughly 2,900 unread emails.”
Commissioners Vote Yes on New Airport Resolution
By allison Wilson Wilson@karloveCmedia Com
In a split vote, Geauga County Commis sioners approved a resolution allocating $800,000 to the Geauga County Airport Au thority for construction of a new T-hangar April 8, with Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri the dissenting voice.
The decision came after months of stall ing, discussion and a conversation Tuesday that quickly became tense.
In December, commissioners voted in fa vor of a request from the airport to allocate $1.3 million for construction of a new T-han gar and upkeep to the facilities, with the transfer of money contingent upon an agree ment that was never finalized.
In February, commissioners voted to rescind the old motion and re-negotiate an agreement, after which Brakey — who is new to the board and was not involved in December’s decision — expressed disapproval of the $1.3 million amount.
Commissioners voted 2-1 in favor of putting together a new resolution allocating $800,000 April 1, with Brakey the sole vote against.
With a $586,000 grant secured for the T-hangar project, the Airport Authority has expressed frustration with how slowly the process has gone and voiced fears about losing the money as a result.
Airport Authority President Chip Hess appeared once again before commissioners April 8 to plead his case.
Two resolutions had been prepared, acting County Administrator Linda Burhenne said — a “simple” resolution and a version with accountability measures.
Burhenne noted she was unsure if the measures had ever been sent to the airport authority for consideration.
“We’re under the gun. We took bids yesterday and if we don’t get this approved next week, we lose funding,” Hess said, adding the authority had a board meeting the night before and would have liked to have seen the resolution.
The resolution would require quarterly reporting, including copies of leases, occupancy rates, rental income and operational
Measles from page 1
March 25 press release.
“Nine are linked to an adult male reported last week as the state’s first measles case of 2025. None of the individuals were vaccinated,” he said.
The disease is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated, he said.
“Measles is especially dangerous for young children, so I strongly urge all parents across Ohio to make sure your children are vaccinated. It is a crucial layer of protection that can save lives,” he said.
While there have been no cases in Geauga County, the topic has floated around the past several Geauga County Board of Health meetings, with officials emphasizing the importance of inoculation.
costs for three years after the completion of the T-hangar, funds to become a loan in the event conditions were violated and restricted the airport’s ability to increase wages for staff, among other items.
Commissioners would determine instances of noncompliance.
There were several items in the resolution the airport authority did not understand or know were coming, Hess said, listing the payback clause, penalty clause and reports.
Members of the audience questioned the wages restriction.
Brakey said it was a way to cap costs a little, noting the airport is looking to increase revenue.
“Who’s running the airport? The airport authority or the county commissioners?” Hess asked.
“Well, we’re giving you money, I mean are you going to be a choosy beggar or are you gonna take the money?” Brakey replied.
Hess called Brakey’s response rude, noting the airport’s staff is mostly volunteer.
He detailed the history of the T-hangar
project, starting with the airport’s master plan approval in 2013.
The document has been in the commissioners’ office since 2013, as they are co-sponsors, Hess said, pushing back on comments made the previous week about officials not receiving documents from the airport.
The airport had also sent a letter to commissioners requesting funding in July 2024, after which the airport had meetings with commissioners and the county administrator, he said.
Commissioners also never acted on the agreement they voted to re-negotiate, he said. Commissioners never received it back from the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office, Burhenne replied.
Copies of all plans, specs and grant applications had been sent to the county, Hess said.
Burhenne concurred, apologizing for previously saying she didn’t remember receiving them.
“I have over 50 emails talking about this project for the last year, with all the people
I’ve mentioned listed in some fashion in those discussions,” Hess said.
To say the airport never submitted anything to the county is untrue, he reiterated.
Burhenne asked Hess if the airport authority found any of the conditions in the resolution unmeetable.
Hess shot back the airport had not been able to read it, yet.
Brakey called the conditions “boilerplate,” saying she didn’t understand why Hess was unwilling to add taxpayer protections.
Hess once again took issue with the contingency on employee compensation.
Commissioner Jim Dvorak said he hadn’t realized the condition was about compensa-
“I think most of the checks and balances are doable — the quarterly report, different things like that,” he said, asking if the airport would be okay with all the conditions except the compensation.
Lengthy discussion followed, with tension once again rising at the word “fraud” in the resolution.
“That’s a choice of words there that have been brought up before at county commissioners meetings, and especially the word ‘fraud,’” Hess said. “Does somebody have grounds to accuse us of that?”
Brakey repeated the conditions are standard boilerplate. Hess accused Brakey of previously using the word “fraud” with regards to the airport.
“I think there’s potential conflicts of interest, I think there’s some self-dealing going on, I don’t necessarily think there’s fraud,” Brakey replied.
Airport Authority Vice-President Greg Gyllstrom objected to Brakey’s implications, saying members who have planes in hangars don’t vote on the rent rate for that hangar and the airport would not compromise the county.
The airport is treating commissioners as a nuisance, when they are doing their job, Brakey replied.
The resolution with conditions passed, with commissioners modifying it to remove the point about compensation.
Spidalieri voted no, saying the resolution should have been straightforward.
Former board member Mark Rood noted at his practice in South Russell Village, staff have been educated on what to do if a person who suspects they have measles calls into the office to be seen.
“The need to do that is something that I felt we had long since passed,” he said.
Staff were asked to query if anyone in the household had travelled internationally, he said.
Per the CDC, measles was declared to have been eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning measles is not spreading within the country and new cases are contracted abroad.
At the March 26 health board meeting, shortly after outbreaks were identified in Ohio, Health Commissioner Ron Graham noted concern about the disease spreading in unvaccinated populations.
“We have a certain concern with the Amish population, so we’re going to stay on top of that,” he said, noting the board would
“With complete eradication, there’s a reason why these diseases aren’t present, but it’s not that they’re not just there. It’s because we’ve eradicated them. So, we need to continue to keep those at bay,” board member Ashley Jones said at the board’s Feb. 26 meeting. “So, it’s more important now than ever, especially with our childhood vaccinations, to make sure we’re adhering to that.”
be talking with University Hospitals for preparation.
“Once it gets into that community, it’s going to go pretty fast, so we need to be proactive,” Graham said.
GPH will continue to monitor measles cases, Litke said, noting the majority of cases are currently in one specific area of Texas.
Litke also warned to be aware of the language used in discussions, as an outbreak in Ohio is defined as two or more cases in the same setting.
The state level exclusion rule is a key component of measles planning when it comes to impact on schools, Litke said April 7, referencing ODH’s guidance on handling cases in close contact educational institutions where there may be high rates of vaccine exemptions.
Those who are exempt from or refuse the vaccine should be excluded from school, childcare and similar institutions until 21 days after the rash onset in the last case of measles, according to ODH.
“My goal is to minimize any disruption to children's education. To this end, we are proactively sharing relevant information with
key officials within the county so they are well-informed and can anticipate potential issues,” Litke said.
According to a March 20 press release from ODH, Ohio had 90 cases in 2022, one case in 2023 and seven in 2024.
“The measles vaccine (called MMR as it protects against measles, mumps and rubella) is safe and effective at preventing measles,” Vanderhoff said March 25. “Two doses of MMR is 97% effective against measles. If you are up to date on the measles vaccine, the risk of getting sick is extremely low.”
The CDC recommends children receive two doses, one at 12 through 15 months and one at four through six years old, he said.
Measles spreads to others through coughing and sneezing, he said, adding nine out of 10 people exposed will become ill if not protected against the disease.
“The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated,” Vanderhoff said March 20. “This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated.”
ALLISON WILSON/KMG
Following a terse conversation between the Geauga County Airport Authority and Geauga County Commissioners, commissioners vote in favor of a resolution allocating $800,000 to the airport for construction of a new T-hangar. Pictured, from left, are Airport Authority President Chip Hess, Commissioner Jim Dvorak, Commissioner Carolyn Brakey and Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri.
Collapsed Home’s Future to Be Determined
By emma maCniven maCniven@karloveCmedia Com
The person responsible for the home at 8460 Ridgewood Lane, which collapsed earlier this year, is working with his attorney, Michael Drain, to demolish the building, said Trustee Kristina Port April 4.
The home, owned by Victor Vilimas, according to the Geauga County Auditor’s Office, was left in the care of Paul Mileris, of Ohama, Neb., after Vilimas died in 2019.
Port hopes Mileris and his attorney attend the April 17 trustees meeting.
“We are hoping after that conversation that that gentleman (Mileris) has with the
attorney … there could be some resolution as to what to do with the property with respect to demolition or, you know, what's going to happen (with the home),” she said.
In other business, Port said trustees decided not to extend the contract for Strollo Architects or ACM Construction Management for the new township community room construction during the April 3 trustees meeting.
“The other two trustees (Jim Mueller and Chris Hare) did not agree with me. I wanted to have an extension of the contract for the ADA doors for the entranceway, so they're handicapped accessible,” she said. “The other two trustees were in agreement that we
should not extend the contract for ACM or Strollo.”
Port said trustees will now have to agree if they want to do a change order for any additions that aren’t on the original schedule.
Next week, the township will receive a final cost for the acoustics and baffling project for the community room, Port said.
The current estimate is $22,000-$26,000 from Thomas Ryan, an acoustic engineer from Technological Design Studios, of Maryland, she said.
“The gentleman's (Ryan) coming out from the company next week to actually be on site to review what needs to get done for the noise abatement,” she said, adding they
don’t need a change order for that.
The community room is still awaiting final completions including the baffling, a door, flooring and fixing an air conditioner repairs. However, the fire panel passed its inspection April 2, Port said, adding they are waiting for the occupancy permit that was dependent on the panel passing.
Port also asked Road Superintendent Gene Layne to reach out to the Ohio Department of Transportation regarding potentially widening Chagrin Mills Road due to entry and exit hazards due to the steepness of Chagrin Mills Road.
She said it is ODOT’s responsibility as it is a state road.
Parkman Finalizes 2025 Road Improvement Plan
staff report
Orange barrel season is expected to be expensive for Parkman Township this year.
Trustee Lance Portman presented projected costs April 1 for a number of sections of roads, most of which will be candidates for chip and seal, not asphalt.
The only contractor who responded to his call and toured township roads was Suit-kote Corp., out of Meadville, Pa., he said.
“The price kinda shocked me,” he told trustees.
Many roads, especially part of Nash Road, deteriorated through the winter. Part of Nash was impassable due to deep potholes, Port-
man said at the Feb. 4 meeting.
Trustees agreed to concentrate the township’s resources on road improvement this year.
Last Tuesday, trustees voted to fund the following projects:
• Short Hosmer Road for $67,300;
• Short Shedd Road maintenance coat for $20,800;
• Maintenance coat on Nash between Newcombe and Madison roads for $27,200;
• Maintenance coat for Swine Creek Road from the township line to the county line for $18,900;
• Maintenance coat for Payne Road between state Route 88 to the county line for $13,800;
• Rutland Road from Parkman Nelson Road to the county line for $12,200;
• Patch Road maintenance coat from Newcombe Road to Troy Township line for $30,700;
• Crack fill repair on various roads for $13,500.
The area most severely damaged on Nash would be repaired with two layers of asphalt, Portland said.
The total cost for all the projects is about $205,000, which leaves about $20,000 left in the road budget, said Trustee Joyce Peters.
“I don’t want to put us right at the limit,” Portman said, adding that preparing Nash for the asphalt layers may use some of that $20,000.
Nash gets heavy use near the auction barn and the surface there broke up due to deep frost through the winter, Portman said. Trustees voted to accept the plan.
In other business, trustees agreed to resurface the tennis and basketball courts at Overlook Park and convert the tennis court into two pickleball courts; drag the baseball fields once a week to avoid weed control chemicals; and place the township’s second automated external defibrillator at the road department garage rather than install it at the park for fear of vandalism or theft. An AED is a portable device used in the case of sudden cardiac arrest.
Burton Residents Protest Rezoning of Ronyak Parcel
By ann Wishart ann@karloveCmedia Com
More than a dozen Colony Lane residents attended the Burton Village Planning Commission meeting April 4 to passionately argue against rezoning a 5.5-acre parcel on their road from residential to industrial use.
East Walden Properties LLC, a.k.a. Ronyak Bros. Paving, submitted the rezoning petition. Ronyak owns the asphalt and concrete facility on 12.74 acres at 14376 North Cheshire Street, which is described as a commercial property on the Geauga County Auditor’s Office website.
The company also owns the irregularly-shaped, residential-zoned parcel to the south and west of the yard with about 500 feet of frontage along the north side of Colony Lane.
The section of Colony in the village is paved and the section in Burton Township is gravel. Colony intersects Kinsman Road at a sharp angle on the township end.
Ronyak created a wide driveway across its smaller parcel from its yard for access to Colony Lane in 2016, but the village issued a cease and desist order and did not issue a driveway permit. The exit from Ronyak’s yard is blocked from traffic.
During the public hearing last Friday, Col ony Lane resident Mike Lester cited safety as one of his concerns.
“There are a lot of children and dogs — people walk it every day. The road is a trea sure in Burton,” he said. “I don’t understand where a place for an asphalt company would be on a road like that.”
Lester also said rain and snow run-off from the gravel driveway is a concern and the
he is opposed to Ronyak being able to store blacktop near the road.
Ken Moses, who lives at the intersection of Colony and Garden Street in the village, read a statement opposing the rezoning proposal, listing increased traffic and safety risks, noise pollution, air quality and health concerns, water pollution, decreased property values, quality of life and community impact, and the long-term environmental impact as immediate concerns.
“This is Colony Lane. It’s barely passable for two cars,” he said.
The pavement, which measures about 20 feet wide, has deep ditches on either side on the gravel end.
If heavy trucks travel the road from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. — which is when residents can hear grinding, loading and dumping at the yard — Colony Lane would require significant public resources for maintenance, Moses said.
Pete McDonald, director of land stewardship at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy based in Moreland Hills, said the conservancy has about 300 acres west of the 5.5-acre parcel, including about 100 acres of category three wetlands.
The area has about 900 feet of forested streams and a 30-acre lake, he said, adding runoff from the Ronyak property could drain directly into the lake and degrade natural habitats in the area.
Dennis Ibold, attorney for Ronyak, said any development would be dependent on several government environmental agencies’ approvals.
“Essentially, you are not allowed to change where water runs off,” he said. “We have multiple agencies who get involved if property is developed. (Ronyak) would have to come up with a development plan … before they put a shovel in the ground.”
Other residents said their property values would decrease dramatically if the acreage across Colony Lane becomes industrial and the trucks hauling asphalt from the Ronyak yard are hard on the state and village roads.
“Their trucks damage and damage and damage these roads,” said village resident Ed Klingensmith, who asked if the village would benefit if the zoning of the 5.5 acre changed from residential to industrial.
Village Mayor Ruth Spanos, who sits on the planning commission, said land value affects tax revenue.
“I can’t predict tax revenue from an individual zoning change. A business within the community being more successful provides us with higher tax revenue,” she said, adding if the residential properties along Colony
on Colony Lane from residential use to industrial use. The commission voted not to recommend the change to Burton Village Council April 4.
Lane see a value decrease, their property taxes could also decrease.
Joe Walkos, a Burton Township resident of Colony Lane, said there are seven homes that could be impacted ranging in value from $500,000 to $800,000 and there would be legal consequences if the village approves a zoning change.
“I built my house on a residential street,” he said, adding if the village allows the land to become industrial, he would “come after the village for damages.”
He also suggested there is legal precedent whereby the part of Colony Lane in the township could be disconnected from the part in the village, in which case, Ronyak’s trucks exiting from the driveway would have to go out Garden Street in the village.
Planning commission member Curt Johnson asked Dave Ronyak what he plans to do with the 5.5 acres other than use it as a back entrance to their yard.
“Currently, we have no plans to develop the five acres,” Dave Ronyak said.
Commission member Cory Brown, who also sits on village council, said he would like to see an alternative proposal that would be more palatable to residents.
Village legal counsel Todd Hicks said if the acreage is rezoned to industrial use, the owners are only limited by the M2 industrial regulations.
“Going forward, they (could) do anything industrial,” he said.
One alternative would be for Ronyak to seek a use variance for the driveway.
If the board of zoning appeals granted that variance, the property would remain residential, but trucks could use the driveway, Hicks said.
Spanos clarified the commission’s decision is only a recommendation to the village council, which would ultimately decide if it would rezone the 5.5 acres, following at least one public hearing on the matter.
Friday, the commission had the choice to recommend for the rezoning, recommend against the rezoning or table the petition, she said.
The commission voted against recommending the rezoning of the 5.5 acres from residential to industrial use.
After the meeting, Jerrod Ronyak, company president, said he was not surprised at the commission’s vote.
S P O R T S
Growth Key as Platz Leads Hilltoppers Lax
By alan kornspan sports@karloveCmedia.Com
As a standout high school football player at Chardon in the mid-1990s, Scott Platz played linebacker under legendary Hilltoppers Head Coach Bob Doyle.
For Coach Doyle, instilling a positive attitude among his team was paramount to gridiron success. In fact, Doyle told the Maple Leaf in 2014 that when he coached Hilltoppers Football he wanted his athletes to focus on the mantra, “If you believe, you can achieve.”
By developing a culture that instilled a high level of belief in self and team, Coach Doyle led Platz and his teammates to the Hilltoppers first state championship in 1994 when they defeated Buckeye Local,17-6.
After a successful high school football career under Coach Doyle, Platz went on to play college football at Mercyhurst University.
While a student-athlete at Mercyhurst, Platz broke the school record for all-time tackles.
Moving on to work in the financial sector after graduation, Platz also returned to his alma mater to coach football, boys lacrosse and girls basketball.
See Hilltoppers• Page 14
Tigers Battle Major Injuries Early in Season
By Brian lavriCh sports@karloveCmedia Com
The old saying goes, “If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”
Well, just four games into the season and that’s how the Chagrin Falls baseball team feels. The Tigers have already had several players suffer injuries including some that will keep them out for the season.
Chagrin Falls coach Michael Sweeney, who is now in his 25th season, still sees many talented players on his roster.
“We have been hit hard with injuries so far,” Sweeney said. “We have three players who could be out for the season who would be in the starting lineup. Two of them are definitely out for the season. This will force many of our younger players to have to grow up in a hurry. We may have to play many different combinations and pitch many different players before we find out who gives us the best chance for success.”
The Tigers have started out 1-3 after going 11-18 (3-7 in the Chagrin Valley Conference) last season.
“We have a couple of JV (junior varsity) kids playing,” Sweeney said. “We’re asking
them not just to play, but to be a big part of the team. It’s tough. Have we gotten better? Yes, we have gotten better. We’re struggling to throw strikes, but we only had one error in our first three games. We’re struggling to hit. We’re a young team so it’s tough putting seven full innings together.”
Junior Jack Watson would be the Tigers’ number one starter, but is injured and will probably miss the whole season. Taking over as the first starter for the Tigers is senior Finn Johnson. Last season Johnon was 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA with 31 strikeouts and only seven walks in 29 innings. Johnson also catches and even plays shortstop as he drove in nine runs last season.
“Finn has made huge improvements each year as he does an outstanding job wherever we put him in the field,” Sweeney said. “He has become a tremendous all-around catcher. He does an excellent job of framing, blocking and throwing out runners.
“Finn is also an excellent shortstop. He has improved steadily as a hitter and as a pitcher.”
Following Johnson in the rotation will be senior Henry Myers, who went 2-1 last sea-
son with a 3.11 ERA. He struck out 19 covering 18 innings. Last season he made just two starts as he was used mainly as a reliever. He pitched in 10 games in relief.
Both Johnson and Myers have missed the first four games of the season due to injuries, but Sweeney expects them both to return very soon as sophomore Ash Martin is also probably out for the season.
“It’s not just people out for the season, it’s not just major (injuries),” Sweeney said. “We have a lot of minor ones too. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Other pitchers who should start for the Tigers are junior Eric Nemunaitis, sophomore Ethan Nielsen, freshman Rice Johnson and junior Joey Tenebria.
Sophomore Will Murray has led off while playing shortstop. He started slowly as a freshman last season, but came on strong as Murray finished with 10 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
“Will has tremendous hands and is an outstanding shortstop,” Sweeney said.
Murray also made eight relief appearances last year as he earned a save with a 1.50 ERA.
Nemunaitis should start at second base while Rice Johnson plays third base and freshman Jack Hopkins plays first.
Batting third for Chagrin Falls is junior
center fielder Henry Cimperman. Last season, Cimperman hit .292 with 26 hits, four doubles, scored 25 runs and stole 11 bases.
“Henry has turned into an excellent allaround player,” Sweeney said. “Henry is an excellent defensive center fielder. He gets great jumps on the ball and can go get it. He is probably our most consistent hitter. Henry has a chance to be one of the better hitters in the area.”
Joining Cimperman in the outfield will be senior right fielder Brandt Stevens and freshman left fielder Dylan Pribanic. Last season Brandt hit .250 with four doubles and 15 RBIs.
“Brandt is a relentless worker and has steadily gotten better and better,” Sweeney said. “Brandt has turned himself into an excellent outfielder with a strong arm and is a middle of the order hitter for us.”
Senior Nathaniel Newton will catch a lot for the Tigers, but Sweeney said he has the ability to play most of the positions on the field including pitching.
Fellow senior Mason Hart will be the primary DH for the Tigers and helps provide Chagrin Falls with power.
Providing depth for the Tigers will be sophomores Robbie Quinn (outfield) and Noah Schaefer (infield).
Bombers Working Through Woes
By Cameron palmer sports@karlovemedia Com
The Kenston Bombers baseball team opened the season 0-5 as of April 5, before opening up Western Reserve Conference play on April 7 as they host Willoughby South.
Slow starts to the year are not new territory for this Bombers group, as they opened last year 2-5 before ending the year at 15-161 following a Div. II Regional Championship loss to the eventual state champs, Beloit West Branch, 2-1.
Working through early struggles can be challenging, but it allows Kenston to learn and grow as a group that welcomes some new faces to the varsity squad.
“I don’t love (the slow start), and that’s a tendency I need to work out amongst players,” said Kenston head coach Joe Hritz following an 8-2 loss against Gilmour on April 2. “This year has been no easy case, but at the same time, we’re figuring out what we’ve got. I don’t think we’re down and out yet, and we’ve got a lot of things to work out as a team. We’ll figure out what’s going on and be back, I’m not worried.”
The Bombers have had to work through the woes against some of the best competition in Northeast Ohio, and even facing tougher tests for a Spring Break trip down in Cincinnati.
As most say, it’s important to take the lumps now in April as opposed to late May when the postseason is ramping up.
“Hopefully (the schedule) prepares for the postseason, and that’s always the goal,” Hritz said. “With the division we’re in this year, it’s going to start getting tight here real quick. We gotta kick it into gear. We have to look in the mirror and say, ‘Hey, are we going to grind, fight, take care of business?’. This is the time to turn it around, work on stuff, and find out what we have. These guys are starting to fall into their roles.”
Kenston graduated 12 seniors last year and now returns nine letter winners from last season. Of those nine coming back, two of which can be vital to the success of this team, once it gets rolling, coming off of a state championship win in 2023, and regional runner-up finish in 2024.
Lucas Kaltenbach and Graysen Bischof. Kaltenbach, a senior and ace of the staff, leads a young group on the mound as he makes his third straight appearance as a member of the varsity roster.
“What I’m liking is that all the pitchers are challenging the hitters,” Kaltenbach said. “Nobody’s pitching away from anybody. I al-
ways tell them, ‘I don’t care if it’s the number one draft pick, we got to go at him. We’re not just going to pitch around him. Even if he’s number one, he’s still going to get out five out of ten times.’ We’re attacking, we’re battling back in counts which is what I like to see. I’m seeing improvement, even though it’s early. We just have to get things to click, and once it does, we’re going to turn it around.”
Entering his senior year, he’s posted career numbers of a 5.17 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 43.33 innings pitched.
Kaltenbach feels the light at the end of the tunnel is growing closer, but there are also cleanups needing to be done to get there.
“We need to be more aggressive as a team,” Kaltenbach said. “I feel like we’re watching too many pitches, and that’s something I’m trying to fix early. I want to swing (the bat) more. We’re so young, it’s going to take time. I see the improvement and the hard work, and I see that we care. I feel fully confident that it’s going to happen. I don’t know when, but I feel like it’ll happen somewhat soon.”
Bischof, a junior, enters with a career batting average of .262 in his first three seasons on varsity. He’s added in 12 RBI with five doubles and three triples to this point.
Last season he appeared in all 27 games for Kenston, and he knows how much taking these early lumps can get this team ready and battle-tested for the playoffs.
“All of these kids are fighting for spots right now,” Bischof said. “All of these kids are ready to play and want to get their chance to show their talent. Starting the year like this is not unknown to us, but our record does not define us. The past two years, we’ve had losing records early, but I know we can build off of it. It shows us a lot of our little niches of things that we need to get and get better.”
Bischof may only be a junior, but he’s been a part of two special seasons early in his career, and his voice can help guide the Bombers back on track.
“Some of these kids are just getting used to this, so us returning starters are just trying to set some guidelines,” he said. “All these guys just want to play, and we’re trying to show them that we’re going to have ups and downs, but we have to learn how to come back from those. We’ve got a good core, and I think we can work around it and make ourselves known.”
Despite all that, the message is simple for Kenston.
“It’s time to come together,” Hritz said. “This team's been dealing with a lot, and it’s time to loosen up a little bit. I hope these guys will do it and come together.”
Camp Ho Mita Coda Open House April 12
staff report
Camp Ho Mita Koda welcomes families of children with type 1 diabetes to a free open house from noon to 4 p.m. April 12 at the campgrounds at 14040 Auburn Road, Newbury Township.
Activities for parents and children include kayaking, fishing (bring poles and bait), archery, tomahawk throwing, arts and crafts, a campfire, a scavenger hunt and walking tours of the camp.
Information on camp programs and medical care for parents and campers will be available in the pavilion. The camp can also be rented for weddings and corporate retreats,
And everyone who attends the open house will be entered in a drawing to win a half-day camp rental. The winner may bring
up to 50 guests to the camp for a retreat, reunion or party. Rental includes all lake activities.
The camp is a community retreat center and coed summer camp for kids and teens with type 1 diabetes. Located in Newbury and Metamora, Michigan, Camp Ho Mita Koda offers overnight and family camps for boys and girls in kindergarten through grade11 for one-week sessions.
Founded in 1929, Camp Ho Mita Koda is the first and oldest operating summer camp in the world for kids with T1D, according to the website.
On April 12, food may be purchased at food trucks from You Enjoy My Donuts and Twisted Dish.
To register online for the open house go to www.camphomitakoda.org.
Bulletin Board
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. Email submissions to: cbb@karlovecmedia.com
FGP Explorers Series
April 11, 7-9 p.m.
Join Foundation for Geauga Parks for a “Snipe Hunt and Twilight Timberdoodle Sky Dance” at the Katydid Lodge at Frohring Meadows, 16780 Savage Road in Bainbridge Township. For information or to register, visit foundationforgeaugaparks. org or call 440-564-1048.
Outreach Spaghetti Dinner
April 17, 6-7 p.m.
Christ Presbyterian Church offers free drive-thru spaghetti and meatball dinners the third Thursday of each month. Salad and dessert are included. The church is located at 12419 Chillicothe Road in Chester Township.
Good Friday Meal
April 18, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Chardon VFW Post 6519 is serving up a Good Friday meal at the post located at 752 Water St. Menu items include fish, shrimp, chicken, pierogies and more. The public is welcome. Carryout is available. Call 440-285-3699 for information.
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
April 19, 9-11 a.m.
Chardon Square Association will host a pancake breakfast with the Easter bunny
at Pilgrim Christian Church on Chardon Square. There will be photo opportunities.
At 11 a.m., Chardon Chamber of Commerce will host a free Easter egg hunt for children 10 and under in the park. Bring a basket.
Visit chardonsquareassociation.org for more information.
Montville FD Easter Egg Hunt
April 19, 10 a.m.
Montville Fire Department will hold a community Easter egg hunt for children ages preschool through 10 at the Montville Community Center pavilion and ball field, 9755 Madison Road. Easter Bunny arrives at 10 a.m., with the egg hunt to follow.
Event will be held outside, rain, snow or shine. Bring baskets for gathering eggs.
Young of Heart
Geauga Young of Heart will not meet on April 18 since it’s Good Friday.
The group will see a movie at the Aurora Atlas Movie Theater at 11 a.m. on April 23. Call Kimber at 440-668-3293 for information.
Save the dates for a trip to Playhouse Square on July 15 to see “Kimberly Akimbo” and to the Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 8-10 to see “Noah” and more.
Gordie isn’t a special needs cat, but he is very shy until he gets to know and trust you. If you are patient with him, he will become a loving pet. He is about 5 years old, and has short gray and white fur. For more information, call or text Doreen at 440-759-0076 or email HappyTailsCatSanctuary@gmail.com.
Two of the “special needs” cats available for adoption from Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary are Ziggy and Shelley. Ziggy, about 3 years old, is a neutered, short-haired, friendly male. He must eat special food to prevent the return of urinary tract crystals which were previously surgically removed. Shelley, about 2 years old, is a spayed, long-haired, friendly female. She tested “pos itive” for FIV, an immune deficiency, but has a good chance of living a normal life span with good nutrition and general good care.
Happy Tails to Hold Annual ‘Purr-pose’ Benefit May 4
staff report
Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary will be hosting its third annual “Purr-pose” benefit May 4 in support of the nonprofit, mostly cage-less, nokill shelter.
The event — held from 2-5 p.m. at the Banquet Center of St. Noel in Willoughby Hills, 35200 Chardon Road — will include a family-style dinner, silent and Chinese auctions, a 50-50 raffle and will feature singer Bobby Leach.
Cost is $75 per person and registration will begin at 1:30 p.m., according to a Happy Tails press release about the event, which added reservations are due by April 27.
Donations of cat food and kitty litter brought to the benefit would be appreciated, but aren’t required, the sanctuary said in the release.
The dinner, served at 2:30 p.m., will feature beef, chicken, salmon and pasta entrees (vegan options available with advance notice). Other items include salad, vegetable side dishes, desserts, coffee, tea, soft drinks,
wine, beer and more, according to the press release.
Sponsors of the benefit are Gail Linda Kopp, Mary Treanor, and Patty Engel and Matt Willingham, of Charity Rx.
“We heard ‘rave reviews’ from the people who attended our last two events at St. Noel’s Banquet Center and we’re pleased to hold our annual event there again,” said Happy Tails President James Harris in the release. “Our attendees can enjoy a tasty dinner while helping the sanctuary. We have some adoptable cats, but we are committed as well to caring for senior and special-needs cats, most of whom will spend their lives in our facility or in our foster homes.”
Checks or money orders to attend the event and/or tax-deductible donations can be mailed to: Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary, P.O. Box 581, Chesterland, OH 44026. To use PayPal, go to www.HappyTailsCatSanctuary.org. For more information, call or text Doreen at 440-759-0076 or email HappyTailsCatSanctuary@gmail.com
SUBMITTED
Obituaries
Richard Allen Barnes
Richard Allen Barnes, age 85, of Chester Township, passed away at the David Simpson Hospice House in Cleveland on April 7, 2025.
Born on Feb. 11, 1940, in Chardon, he was a lifelong resident of Chesterland. He graduated from West Geauga High School in 1958 and was an Army veteran, serving as a radio teletype operator from 1963 to 1965.
Richard was the owner/operator of Barnes Sawmill in Chesterland. He started working at the sawmill as a young boy with his father and grandfather and started working full time when he returned from the Army in 1965. He took over the business when his father retired and this would have been his 60th year at the sawmill.
In addition to running the sawmill, Richard made maple syrup and won many ribbons at the Geauga County Maple Festival. He won first place in 1991 and was proud that his son took over the maple syrup operation as a fourth-generation syrup producer.
Richard was a drag racer in the gasser classes in the 1960s, racing regularly at Thompson Drag Raceway (now Kuhnle Motorsports Park) and other local drag strips. He enjoyed attending the Gasser Reunion races at Thompson and loved watching his son compete in his 1933 Willys. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR races and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and loved cats and dogs.
He is survived by his son, Benjamin (Melissa) Barnes, of Chesterland; daughter, Katherine (Eric) Snyder, of Montville Township; granddaughter, Adelyn Barnes; ex-wife and longtime companion, Marianne Barnes, of Chesterland; step-daughter, Valerie Ventura, of Mayfield; sisters-in-law, Cynthia Barnes, of Chesterland, and Dianne Barnes, of Munson Township; nephews Jason (companion Alison) Barnes and Charles (Molly) Barnes, and nieces, Kim Carroll and Tami (Jeff) Setlock, all of Chesterland; and other family members and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard O. and Rose (nee Vanac) Barnes; first wife, Linnette (nee Petersen); brothers, Leslie and David; nephew Christopher Barnes; and stillborn grandson Rilan Barnes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Geauga County Department of Aging home delivered meal program; the
Hospice of the Western Reserve; or a local animal shelter.
A visitation for friends and family will be held on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chesterland.
Arrangement entrusted to Burr Funeral Home, Chardon. Your condolences and cherished memories may be shared online at www.burrservice.com.
Nancy Jean Dull
Nancy Jean Dull (nee: Jurek), age 85, passed away peacefully at her home on April 3, 2025.
Born on May 6, 1939, to Leo L. and Helen (nee Vargo) Jurek, she was a lifelong resident of Chardon.
Nancy was a proud graduate of Burton High School and a dedicated member of the Chardon Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses; her faith was a cornerstone of her life.
Nancy married Donald Dull on May 28, 1983, in Chardon, and together they built a life filled with love. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and her family was always her greatest joy.
She was a dedicated housekeeper at Chardon Healthcare, where she spent many years serving others before her well-earned retirement.
Nancy loved tending to her beautiful roses and rock garden, baking cookies for her loved ones and showering affection on her beloved cats.
She is survived by her children, Dewey (Mary) Blankenship, Michel Dull, Glenn W. (Gina) Blankenship and Melissa Holben; her sister, Lynne Dull; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her parents; dear husband, Donald Dull; son Leo Blankenship; grandson Mark Dull; great-granddaughter Faith Ann Turner; and stepson, Allen Dull.
A memorial service will be held at a later date to honor and celebrate her life.
Arrangement entrusted to Burr Funeral Home, Chardon. Your condolences and cherished memories may be shared online at www.burrservice.com.
CES Students of the Month
Cardinal Elementary School congratulates its Students of the Month for February and March.
Students of the Month for February are: kindergartners Anna Arellano, Raenetter Gardner and Cassidy Carmicle; first-graders Avery Hollesh and Dakota Blankenship; second-graders Blake Harris and Nora McMillin; third-graders Carter Riviotta, Aleah Troyer and Charlotte Culliton; fourth-graders Andrew Wojtasik and Lydia Hilger; fifth-graders Brantley Brilla, Emberlynn Ludlow and Sebastian Lingler; and
sixth-graders Lyric Slabe, Avarie Wolf and Trinity Culliton.
Students of the Month for March are; kindergartners Etta Myers, Melina Hostetler and Katarina Balcer; first-graders Enzo Loomis and Trevor Prebish; second-graders Allie Herrera and Lyla Jo Slone; third-graders Emmarie Adkins, Cindy Yoder and Tanner Ruskiewicz; fourth-graders Matthew Cochran and Russell Lingler; fifth-graders Ethan Koch, Carrier Pestyk and Gabby Wertz; and sixth-graders Kieran Buresch, Max Johnson and Dominic Rondini.
Legal Notices
Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate General Code, Sec. 11661 Revised Code, Sec. 2329.26 Case No. 17-F-000372
The State of Ohio, County of Geauga, ss: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO WACHOVIA MORTGAGE FSB, FKA WORLD SAVINGS BANK, FSB, Plaintiff vs. CARYL MAHVI, ET AL., Defendants
In pursuance of an Alias Order of Sale in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public auction, at https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, on Thursday, the 24th day of April, 2025, at 10:00 o’clock A.M., and if the parcel does not receive a sufficient bid, it shall be offered for sale, without regard to the minimum bid requirement, at the same time of day and at the same place of the first sale, on Thursday, the 8th day of May, 2025 the following described real estate, situated in the County of Geauga and State of Ohio, and in the Township of Russell to wit:
Parcel No. 1
Situated in the Township of Russell, County of Geauga, and State of Ohio: and known as being Sublot No 14 in the Red Raider Trails Subdivision Amended of part of Original Russell Township Lots Nos. 4, 5 and 6, Tract No. 1 and part of Lots Nos. 1, 10 and 11, Tract No. 2, Section No. 14 as shown by the recorded plat in Plat Book 13, Page 47 of Geauga Map Records be the same more or less but subject to all legal highways.
Parcel No. 2
Situated in the Township of Russell, County of Geauga, and State of Ohio: and known as being a parcel of land in the Red Raider Subdivision of Original Russell Township Lots Nos. 4, 5 and 6, Tract No. 1 and part of Lots Nos. 1, 10 and 11, Tract No. 2, Section 11, as shown by the recorded plat in Book 13, Pages 47-50, in the Geauga County Map Records, being further described as follows:
Beginning at the intersection of the Northerly line of Sublot No. 14 with the Easterly line of Shire Court, 60 feet wide;
Thence South 82° 19’ 13” East along said Northerly line, a distance of 424.73 feet to a point;
Thence North 4° 32’ 31” East, a distance of 187.50 feet to a point;
Thence South 89° 16’ 36” West, a distance of 446.84 feet to a point on said Easterly line of Shire Court;
Thence South 5° 3’ 43” East along said along said Easterly line of Shire County, a distance of 125.00 feet to the Place of Beginning and containing 1.5250 Acres of Land as surveyed by Hedrick & Associates, Inc., December 1983, be the same more or less but subject to all legal highways.
Property Address: 14611 Shire Court, Novelty, OH 44072
Prior Deed Reference: Volume 1170 Page 301 re-recorded as Volume 1178 Page 891 Said Premises Located at: 14611 SHIRE COURT, RUSSELL TOWNSHIP, OH. INSIDE APPRAISAL COMPLETED Permanent Parcel Number: 26-195731, 26195732
DEPOSIT: Pursuant to O.R.C. 2329.211, the required deposit for this offering shall be $10,000.00. Said deposit shall be paid by WIRE TRANSFER of ACH DEBIT TRANSFER with https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction. ohio.gov.
The purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover. Said Premises appraised at ($1,300,000.00) and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of that amount ($866,667.00). Please note: The appraisals are based on an exterior appraisal of property only, unless otherwise noted.
TERMS OF SALE: The FULL purchase price shall be paid to the Sheriff within thirty (30) days from the date of confirmation of sale, and on failure to do so, the purchaser may be held in contempt of court, the court may forfeit the sale and/or deposit, or the court may issue any other order it sees fit.
SCOTT A. HILDENBRAND, Sheriff Geauga County, Ohio
Paul M. Nalepka, attorney
Mar27Apr3-10, 2025
Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate General Code, Sec. 11661 Revised Code, Sec. 2329.26
Case No. 23-F-000584
The State of Ohio, County of Geauga, ss: CITIZENS BANK, N.A., Plaintiff vs. RUBY M. PUGH, ET AL., Defendants In pursuance of an Alias Order of Sale in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public auction, at https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, on Thursday, the 24th day of April, 2025, at 10:00 o’clock A.M., and if the parcel does not receive a sufficient bid, it shall be offered for sale, without regard to the minimum bid requirement, at the
same time of day and at the same place of the first sale, on Thursday, the 8th day of May, 2025 the following described real estate, situated in the County of Geauga and State of Ohio, and in the Township of Bainbridge to wit:
Situated in the Township of Bainbridge, County of Geauga and State of Ohio: And known as being Sub-Lot Number Nine (9) in the Beacon Hills Sub-Division of Lots 9 and 16, Tract 3, as the same is platted and recorded in Volume 8, Page 2 of the Geauga County Records of Plats, be the same more or less, but subject to all legal highways.
Said Premises Located at: 8590 BEACON HILL DRIVE, BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, OH.
Permanent Parcel Number: 02-029500
DEPOSIT: Pursuant to O.R.C. 2329.211, the required deposit for this offering shall be $5,000.00. Said deposit shall be paid by WIRE TRANSFER of ACH DEBIT TRANSFER with https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction. ohio.gov.
The purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.
Said Premises appraised at ($100,000.00) and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of that amount ($66,667.00). Please note: The appraisals are based on an exterior appraisal of property only, unless otherwise noted.
TERMS OF SALE: The FULL purchase price shall be paid to the Sheriff within thirty (30) days from the date of confirmation of sale, and on failure to do so, the purchaser may be held in contempt of court, the court may forfeit the sale and/or deposit, or the court may issue any other order it sees fit.
SCOTT A. HILDENBRAND, Sheriff Geauga County, Ohio
Johna M. Bella, attorney Mar27Apr3-10, 2025
Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate General Code, Sec. 11661 Revised Code, Sec. 2329.26 Case No. 24-F-000276
The State of Ohio, County of Geauga, ss: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR DEEPHAVEN RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE TRUST 2020-2, Plaintiff vs. DANIEL G. MARTIN, ET AL., Defendants
In pursuance of an Alias Order of Sale in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public auction, at https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, on Thursday, the 24th day of April, 2025, at 10:00 o’clock A.M., and if the parcel does not receive a sufficient bid, it shall be offered for sale, without regard to the minimum bid requirement, at the same time of day and at the same place of the first sale, on Thursday, the 8th day of May, 2025 the following described real estate, situated in the County of Geauga and State of Ohio, and in the Township of Huntsburg to wit:
Situated in the Township of Huntsburg, County of Geauga and State of Ohio: Known as being part of Lot No. 61, of said Huntsburg Township and is further bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a nail found in an iron pipe monument found at the intersection of the centerline of Stillwell Road and Princeton Road; Thence South 89° 20’ 40” West along Stillwell Road centerline a distance of 382.40 feet to a point; Thence North 0° 10’ 20” West a distance of 345.00 feet to an iron pin set; Thence North 89° 20’ 00” East, a distance of 384.82 feet to a point in the centerline of Princeton Road, passing through an iron pin set 30 feet therefrom; Thence South 0° 48’ 40” West along Princeton Road, centerline a distance of 98.99 feet to an angle point in said centerline; Thence continuing along Princeton Road centerline South 0° 0’ 13” East a distance of 246.12 feet to the place of beginning and containing 3.0345 acres of land, as surveyed and described by James M. Peter, P.S. 6420 in March 1995. Bearings shown herein are to an assumed meridian and are used to denote angles only, be the same more or less, but subject to all legal highways.
Prior Deed Reference No.: Book OR 1954, Page Number 117 and Instrument Number 201300862102.
Said Premises Located at: 12030 PRINCETON ROAD, HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH.
Permanent Parcel Number: 16-078295
DEPOSIT: Pursuant to O.R.C. 2329.211, the required deposit for this offering shall be $10,000.00. Said deposit shall be paid by WIRE TRANSFER of ACH DEBIT TRANSFER with https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction. ohio.gov.
The purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.
Said Premises appraised at ($490,000.00) and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of that amount ($326,667.00). Please note: The appraisals are based on an exterior appraisal of property only, unless otherwise noted.
TERMS OF SALE: The FULL purchase price shall be paid to the Sheriff within thirty (30) days from the date of confirmation of sale, and on failure to do so, the purchaser may be held in contempt of court, the court may forfeit the sale and/or deposit, or the court may issue any other order it sees fit.
SCOTT
A. HILDENBRAND, Sheriff Geauga County, Ohio Austin R. Decker, attorney Mar27Apr3-10, 2025
Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate General Code, Sec. 11661 Revised Code, Sec. 2329.26 Case No. 24-F-000512
The State of Ohio, County of Geauga, ss: THE MIDDLEFIELD BANKING COMPANY, Plaintiff vs. DAVID J. NEMEC, ET AL., Defendants
In pursuance of an Order of Sale in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public auction, at https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, on Thursday, the 24th day of April, 2025, at 10:00 o’clock A.M., and if the parcel does not receive a sufficient bid, it shall be offered for sale, without regard to the minimum bid requirement, at the same time of day and at the same place of the first sale, on Thursday, the 8th day of May, 2025 the following described real estate, situated in the County of Geauga and State of Ohio, and in the Township of Newbury to wit:
A copy of the complete legal description can be found in the Geauga County Recorder’s Office, 231 Main Street, Suite 1-C, Chardon, Ohio 44024, OR Volume 1891, Page 2341
SHORT LEGAL
DESCRIPTION: LOT 37 TR 3
Said Premises Located at: 16022 MESSENGER ROAD, NEWBURY TOWNSHIP, OH.
Permanent Parcel Number: 23-231001
DEPOSIT: Pursuant to O.R.C. 2329.211, the required deposit for this offering shall be $10,000.00. Said deposit shall be paid by WIRE TRANSFER of ACH DEBIT TRANSFER with https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction. ohio.gov.
The purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.
Said Premises appraised at ($250,000.00) and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of that amount ($166,667.00). Please note: The appraisals are based on an exterior appraisal of property only, unless otherwise noted.
TERMS OF SALE: The FULL purchase price shall be paid to the Sheriff within thirty (30) days from the date of confirmation of sale, and on failure to do so, the purchaser may be held in contempt of court, the court may forfeit the sale and/or deposit, or the court may issue any other order it sees fit.
SCOTT A. HILDENBRAND, Sheriff Geauga County, Ohio Maureen Zink Delaney, attorney Mar27Apr3-10, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
Sale of Real Estate GEAUGA COUNTY
Foreclosure Auction
Case# 24-F-000308 - JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association vs Dennis L. Woodford, et al.
The description of the property to be sold is as follows:
Property Address: 18275 CHILLICOTHE ROAD, CHAGRIN FALLS (BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP), GEAUGA, OH, 44023; Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 02-224600 Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on April 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM for a minimum of 7 days.
Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third-party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.
Provisional Sale date: May 6, 2025 at 10:00
AM. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5,000 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.
Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.
To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 24F000308 into the search bar. Mar27 Apr3-10, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
SALE OF REAL ESTATE
In the State of Ohio, County of Geauga, Case No. 23-F-000449 - Freedom Mortgage Corporation (Plaintiff) vs. Reginald Stovall, et al, (Defendants)
In pursuance of an Order of Sale directed to me in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public online auction the following described real estate:
Property Address: 17866 Leggett Road, Montville, Ohio 44064
Legal Description: A full legal description of the property may be obtained at www.buddybartonauctions.com.
Parcel Number: 20-020700
Said Premises Appraised: $285,000.00
Minimum Bid: $190,000.00
Location of Sale: Online Bidding at www.buddybartonauctions.com
Bidding Open Date: April 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Bidding Closes Date: April 30, 2025 at 2:00
PM
2nd Provisional Open Date: May 7, 2025 at 9:00 AM
2nd Provisional Close Date: May 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Terms of Sale: A deposit in the amount of $10,000 is due by wire transfer within 48 hours upon conclusion of the auction. Funding must take place within 30 days of confirmation of sale. A 5% Buyer’s Premium shall apply. The auction is subject to postponement and cancellation. Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient. Ross Barton III, Private Selling Officer, info@buddybartonauctions.com, 330-4641375
Mar27 Apr3-10, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
SALE OF REAL ESTATE
In the State of Ohio, County of Geauga, Case No. 24-F-000440 - Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC (Plaintiff) vs. Unknown Heirs of Duane G. Rector, Jr., et al, (Defendants)
In pursuance of an Order of Sale directed to me in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public online auction the following described real estate: Property Address: 19198 Mumford Road, Garrettsville, Ohio 44231
Legal Description: A full legal description of the property may be obtained at www.buddybartonauctions.com.
Parcel Number: 32-050150
Said Premises Appraised: $100,000.00
Minimum Bid: $66,666.67
Location of Sale: Online Bidding at www.buddybartonauctions.com
Bidding Open Date: April 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Bidding Closes Date: April 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
2nd Provisional Open Date: May 7, 2025 at 9:00 AM
2nd Provisional Close Date: May 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Terms of Sale: A deposit in the amount of $10,000 is due by wire transfer within 48 hours upon conclusion of the auction. Funding must take place within 30 days of confirmation of sale. A 5% Buyer’s Premium shall apply. The auction is subject to postponement and cancellation. Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient. Ross Barton III, Private Selling Officer, info@buddybartonauctions.com, 330-4641375 Mar27 Apr3-10, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO
Case No. 25-F-000129 - Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio, Plaintiff, vs. Joseph L. Sanders, et al., Defendants
Joseph L. Sanders, and the Unknown Spouse, if any, of Joseph L. Sanders, whose last known address was 7196 Woodlands Ave., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, address is unknown, and cannot, with reasonable diligence, be ascertained shall take notice; and, if deceased, their unknown heirs, devises, legatees, administrators, executors, and assigns will take notice that on the 25th day of February, 2025, the Treasurer Of Geauga County, filed a Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, Ohio 44024, entitled Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County vs. Joseph L. Sanders, et al., Case No: 25F000129, against the above-named parties, praying that the premises hereinafter described be sold for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes, owed and unpaid, is $880.62 together with accruing taxes, assess-
ments, penalties, interest, and charges; as well as court costs. Said premises is described as permanent parcel number(s) 02-308800 and 02-309000. A complete legal description of the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Recorder’s Office. The volume and page number for the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Auditor’s Office.
The object of the action is to obtain from the Court a judgment foreclosing the tax liens against such real estate and ordering the sale of such real estate for the satisfaction of delinquent taxes.
Such action is brought against the real property only and no personal judgment shall be entered in it. However, if pursuant to the action, the property is sold for an amount that is less than the amount of the delinquent taxes, assessments, charges, penalties and interest against it, the Court, in a separate order, may enter a deficiency judgment against the owner of record of a parcel for the amount of the difference; if that owner of record is a corporation, the Court may enter the deficiency judgment against the stockholder holding a majority of the corporation’s stock.
The above-named parties are required to answer on or before 28 days after the last date of publication. Such answer must be filed with the Clerk of Courts, and a copy must be served on the Prosecuting Attorney.
By Kristen Rine,
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Attorney for Plaintiff. Apr3-10-17, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO PROPERTY OWNER (APPLICATION FOR A VARIANCE) HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO
The Huntsburg Township Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing on an application, identified as number 2025-02, for a Variance, on Wednesday, the 30th day of April 2025 starting at 7:00 pm. at the Huntsburg Community Center located at 12406 Madison Road, Huntsburg, Ohio.
The application submitted by Paul C. Carman and Karrie M. Carman to request they be granted a variance for area set back to allow for an access building at 12305 Zrolka Drive, Huntsburg Township.
Persons affected or wishing to comment may speak for or against either in person or by an attorney at said hearing.
David Peterson, Chairman Apr10, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
GEA – WASHINGTON ST/BAINBRIDGE RD
Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio
Bids will be received by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners digitally via Bid Express® or in a sealed envelope at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024 by 10:00 AM local time on May 2, 2025 and read publicly at 10:05 AM local time at the above address.
The bid shall be let upon a unit price basis. The estimated cost for this project is $610,000. Proposal, plans, and specifications may be obtained from the following website: https:// www.bidexpress.com/. Bidders and subcontractors can view and download information free of charge. All digital Bidders must register with Bid Express® (allow time for processing). Submission of a digital bid requires a fee paid directly to Bid Express®. This fee is charged on a per bid or monthly basis. Paper bid documents are also available free of charge at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024. Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 153, the bid must be accompanied by an original sealed document (uploaded for digital bids) in the form of a bond for the full amount of the bid (100%). Otherwise, each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or letter of credit in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total bid amount pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1305. All digital Bidders must submit original documents within three (3) business days of the bid opening. All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will, to the extent practicable, use Ohio products, materials, services, and
labor in the implementation of their project. Bidders must comply with the prevailing wage rates on Public Improvements as determined by the Davis Bacon Act.
Domestic steel use requirements as specified in Ohio Revised Code §153.011 apply to this project. Copies of §153.011 can be obtained from any of the offices of the department of administrative services or through http://codes.ohio. gov/orc/153.011.
Bids may be held by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days from the date of opening, for the purpose of reviewing the bids and investigating the qualifications of Bidders, prior to awarding the contract. The Geauga County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informalities or irregularities in the bids received, and to accept any bid or bids which are deemed most favorable to the Board at the time and under conditions stipulated, all in accord with the applicable provisions of laws of the State of Ohio governing the conduct of the Geauga County Board of Commissioners.
This legal notice is posted at the following website: https://www.geaugacountyengineer. org/projects-bids/legal-notices/ BY THE ORDER OF THE GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Christine Blair, Clerk Apr10-17, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Asphalt Resurfacing of Sections HI of Bundysburg Road, TR-0311 Huntsburg Township, Geauga County, Ohio
Bids will be received by the Huntsburg Township Board of Trustees digitally via Bid Express® or in a sealed envelope at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024 by 10:00 AM local time on April 25, 2025 and read publicly at 10:05 AM local time at the above address. The bid shall be let upon a unit price basis. The estimated cost for this project is $500,000.00. Proposal, plans, and specifications may be obtained from the following website: https:// www.bidexpress.com/. Bidders and subcontractors can view and download information free of charge. All digital Bidders must register with Bid Express® (allow time for processing). Submission of a digital bid requires a fee paid directly to Bid Express®. This fee is charged on a per bid or monthly basis. Paper bid documents are also available free of charge at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024.
Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 153, the bid must be accompanied by an original sealed document (uploaded for digital bids) in the form of a bond for the full amount of the bid (100%). Otherwise, each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or letter of credit in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total bid amount pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1305. All digital Bidders must submit original documents within three (3) business days of the bid opening.
All contractors and subcontractors involved with the project will, to the extent practicable, use Ohio products, materials, services, and labor in the implementation of their project.
Bidders must comply with the prevailing wage rates on Public Improvements as determined by the Ohio Department of Commerce.
Bids may be held by the Huntsburg Township Board of Trustees for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days from the date of opening, for the purpose of reviewing the bids and investigating the qualifications of Bidders, prior to awarding the contract. The Huntsburg Township Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informalities or irregularities in the bids received, and to accept any bid or bids which are deemed most favorable to the Board at the time and under conditions stipulated, all in accord with the applicable provisions of laws of the State of Ohio governing the conduct of the Huntsburg Township Board of Trustees.
This legal notice is posted at the following website: https://www.geaugacountyengineer. org/projects-bids/legal-notices/. BY THE ORDER OF THE HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Michele A. Saunders, Fiscal Officer Apr10, 2025
Geauga Sheriff’s Blotter
The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office March 28 to April 3, 2025.
BURGLARY
March 30
7:21 p.m., GAR Highway, Montville. Caller advised someone broke into the house within the last two weeks. Caller advised it is a vacant house. Caller advised the door handle is smashed in and items inside were ransacked, house is just used for storage. Caller touched the door handle. Caller will be waiting outside. Someone pried the door and entered. Three boxes of collectables were knocked over. Nothing was missing, no leads. Report to follow.
DOMESTIC DISPUTE
March 29
8:01 a.m., Cloverdale Drive, Middlefield. Male yelled what the F are you doing. Nobody is talking to dispatch, possible a child in the background watching TV. Male stating he is trying to fix it. He is stressed out and just woke up. All seems
calm now in the background, no voices, no obvious disturbances. Line that the call came in from is a discontinued phone, unk if anyone is aware that 911 was ever dialed. Woke female up she is not sure why PD is at location. Per Middlefield, it was accidental, male was trying to get his Roku TV to work.
SUSPICIOUS
March 28
5:47 p.m., Thomas Street, Newbury. Two juveniles in the area, acting suspicious. Ding dong ditching residence. Left on foot southbound. 13 to 14 year olds, one heavy set with blue shirt and shorts, other one is skinny with black shirt and jeans. Deputy checked the surrounding area.
March 31
9:49 a.m., Ascot Lane, Auburn. Caller noticed a bullet hole in his basement window. Happened sometime over the weekend. Found a broken basement window. Appears as if it was caused from a bullet. Unknown of where it came from. Informational report at this time.
Real Estate Transfers
Following is a list of real estate transfers for the week ending April 4, 2025, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Transfers may involve the sale of land only.
AUBURN TOWNSHIP
Kenneth R. Gibb, 11581 Washington St., to Cooke Enterprises LLC, $110,000. (2.00 acres)
BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP
Jennifer Harris Hoffman, Bainbridge Road, to Pamela S. Krotzer, $4,500. (0.71 acres)
Pamela S. Krotzer and Jennifer Harris Hoffman, 9575 Bainbridge Road, to Pamela S. Krotzer, $224,800. (16.38 acres)
Jill Neifach (trustee), Chagrin Road, to Jeremy and Aimee Elizabeth Gilman (co-trustees), $43,000. (1.60 acres)
REO 2023 NR2 LLC, 9266 Kingsley Drive, to Michael and Debra Kellis, $222,000. (1.50 acres)
Linda W. White (TOD), 17911 Snyder Road, to Stoneybrook Farm 5555 LLC, $270,000. (1.61 acres)
BURTON TOWNSHIP
Jason Leslie Hill, 14435 Park Way, to Bonnie Hill Smith, $25,900. (0.40 acres)
CHARDON CITY
Alec N. and Lauren Curto, 209 Canfield Drive, to Elizabeth and Ian Landies Jr., $458,000. (0.80 acres)
NVR Inc., 251 High Fox Drive, to Tyler Nameth and Allison Traci, $440,200. (0.17 acres)
NVR Inc., 257 High Fox Drive, to George E. and Sarah M. Elbel, $535,800. (0.23 acres)
CHARDON TOWNSHIP
Doris E. Thome, 10929 Auburn Road, to Robert M. and Sara C. Ackerman, $286,000. (1.56 acres)
Sarah E. Daubenspeck, 8833 Ravenna Road, to Heidi S. Paul, $250,000. (3.13 acres)
Shannon R. Burke, et. al, 8648 Ravenna Road, to Michael Trimboli (trustee), $325,000. (7.03 acres)
CHESTER TOWNSHIP
Eastern Suburban Properties LLC, 8624 Mayfield Road, to Egle Ellie Janusauskaite, $211,500. (0.50 acres)
Marko Bjelopera (trustee), 12090 Privacy Lane, to Nicholas A. and Elizabeth C. DiFranco, $500,000. (3.00 acres)
HAMBDEN TOWNSHIP
Scott and Tara R. Webster, 13480 Walking Stick Lane, to Lillian Y. Lopez, $480,000. (3.00 acres)
HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP
Luke Kruse, 12861 Princeton Road, to Owen I., Nevin R., and Emma J. Byler, $325,000. (5.00 acres)
MIDDLEFIELD TOWNSHIP
Joseph M. Sykora, Gregory C. Sykora, Jeffrey C. Cook, and Sharon G. Osborn, Adams Road, to Kenneth A. and Carolyn W. Troyer, $350,000. (9.04 acres)
Marlin M. and Ruth Ann Miller, 15560 Burton Windsor Road, to Melanie M. Niehus and Robert B. Sells, $375,000. (10.55 acres)
MIDDLEFIELD VILLAGE
NVR Inc., 15412 Oak Hill Drive, to Joyce M. Glowacki, $344,100. (0.21 acres)
NEWBURY TOWNSHIP
Timothy and Susan Yokules and Barbara Bradley, 14459 Bass Lake Road, to Michael A. Malvacino, $175,000. (4.35 acres)
PARKMAN TOWNSHIP
Laura Sygula, 17655 Bradford Road, to Simple Sale LLC, $275,000. (20.00 acres)
TROY TOWNSHIP
Crist A. Miller (trustee), 16649 Jug St., to Esther K. and Crist C. Miller Jr., $105,000. (12.84 acres)
