POST Wednesday, January 27, 2021 • Vol. 14 No. 18 • FREE
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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Middlef ield Parkman Trustees Appoint New Fiscal Officer By Diane Ryder editor@geaugamapleleaf.com At her first official meeting, newly-appointed Parkman Township Fiscal Officer Susan Wojtasik marveled at the realization she would be working with department heads she knew when they were children. “I knew the fire chief and the road superintendent when they were little kids,” Wojtasik told the Geauga County Maple Leaf after the meeting. “It will be interesting to watch those kids all grown up and in charge.” Children have always been high priority in Wojtasik’s life. The 24-year
Accident on Route 322 Kills Middlefield Amish Teen
township resident and her husband, Ted, have six grown children, 20 grandchildren, helped raise 32 foster kids through the years and worked with the Geauga County court-appointed special advocate program. “I’ve learned how to deal with difficult personalities over the years,” she said, smiling. Wojtasik was appointed unanimously during a special trustees meeting Jan. 15 and sworn in the following day. She replaces former Fiscal Officer Nina Reed, who resigned abruptly during the trustees’ Jan. 5 organizational meeting. Wojtasik will serve in the appointed position that will expire in
March of 2024. If she decides to fiscal office and upgrade the townrun for the next term, she will face ship’s antiquated records system. election on Nov. 7, 2023. “I want to get township policies Parkman Trustee Dennis Ikeler clarified and updated,” she said. said Wojtasik was one of “And I want to get the two applicants interviewed township’s records comfor the position and was puterized instead of the chosen because of her huge bank of paper files in long list of qualifications. cabinets that nobody looks “She has a lot of good at in the basement.” qualities and experience,” The new fiscal officer Ikeler said. said she will attend trainWojtasik Wojtasik has owned ing seminars to learn the and run several businesses over the Uniform Accounting Network softyears, has served as an administra- ware and other information she will tive assistant and served as presi- need in the job. dent of the Bainbridge Jaycees. “I’m excited to be doing this to She said she plans to organize the serve my community,” she said.
Plain Country starts on page 9
Cardinal Sophomore Gets Birthday Surprise
Staff Report At approximately 6:36 p.m. Jan. 23, a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 322 just east of Cox Road killed a 16-year-old Amish boy. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Ashtabula Post’s preliminary investigation showed a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, driven by Steven Mares, 53, of Newbury Township, was traveling eastbound on Route 322 and an Amish buggy ridden by Norman Detweiler, 16, of Middlefield, was also traveling eastbound on Route 322 on the shoulder. He was on his way to his grandparents, said his aunt, Kathryn Detweiler. The Caravan struck the buggy from the rear, officials said. Mares was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash, the patrol reported. Norman, the eldest son in his family, succumbed to his injuries at the crash scene. His horse had to be put down, Kathryn said. “Norman … will be sadly missed. Let’s remember the grieving family,” she said. At this time, it does not appear alcohol and/or drugs were involved, the patrol said, adding the crash remains under investigation.
ANN WISHART/KMG
Clayton Kudera had a real surprise for his 17th birthday Jan. 16 when Middlefield Fire Department’s bucket truck and a cruiser from Middlefield Village Police Department drove by his home on Glen Valley Drive to wish him happy. The short parade was arranged by his grandmother, Julie Kirby, who wanted to give him something exceptional to remember. Clayton, a student with special needs, started his sophomore year at Cardinal High School in the fall when he, his mother, Patty Kudera, and sister, Chloe, moved to Middlefield, but, with irregular school attendance due to COVID-19 precautions, Kirby said he hadn’t had a chance to make new friends. He runs track and cross country, but said he is a really big fan of really big trucks. Kirby said she talked to Middlefield Police Chief Joe Tucholski who set it up. “It was so nice of them to agree to do this,” she said.
Middlefield Village Finances Continue to Improve in New Year By Ann Wishart ann@geaugamapleleaf.com
Middlefield Village Council received good financial news during its Jan. 15 meeting — but a council member said the budget could be even better. Fiscal Officer Nick Giardina
said early in the meeting the 2020 financial report shows the village income tax revenue was up more than $12,000 and overall receipts for water, sewer and income tax were about $5.13 million, down about 1% from 2019. The original budget goal for the newly created infrastructure
fund was $600,000. This past year, the income tax collections yielded $695,000, Giardina said. “We began 2020 with $6.68 million and ended with $7.8 million in all funds. It was a very good year,” he said. Councilman Bill Blue said the See Finances • Page 6
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