Geauga County Maple Leaf 6-26-2025

Leaf

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Vol. 31 No. 26 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com

$1.25

Sting Busts Elderly Investment Scam

By emmA mAcniven mAcniven@kArlovecmediA com

A multi-agency investigation uncovered a complex fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims under the guise of investment assistance, local authorities announced last week.

Investigators from the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Township Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s

Chuha Gets 6 Months in Jail On Child Porn Charges

Judge Also Orders 3 Years of Community Control

By Allison Wilson Wilson@kArlovecmediA com

Ken Chuha, 69, of Chardon, was sentenced to six months in jail and three years of community con trol for child porn-related charges June 20.

Bainbridge Bids Farewell to Historic Town Hall Gym

emmA mAcniven cniven@kArlovecmediA com

After nearly a century at the heart of the community, the historic Bainbridge Township Town Hall gym room was reduced to rubble June 17 — its demolition marking the end of a long-debated project fueled by safety concerns, structural warnings and bittersweet memories.

Trip Down Memory Lane

One of the challenges officials See Gym • Page 5

Tradition, Flavor Top Menu at Amish Country Kitchen

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA.com

The grand opening of Amish Country Kitchen in Middlefield June 16 ushered in delicious, fresh and locally sourced meals for area diners seven days a week.

The spacious dining room, at 15015 Kinsman Road, provides a comfortable, friendly atmosphere and a buffet or table service by an experienced wait staff, said owner Christopher Kanieski during an interview June 23.

Many of the employees are See Kitchen • Page 6

Chardon Council, BOE Pass Resolutions Opposing HB 335 page 4

See Scam • Page 4 Commissioners Vote to Guarantee Engineer Seat on NOACA page 6

Community Meetings

Listed are upcoming public meetings and executive sessions in Huntsburg, Middlefield and Parkman townships, the Village of Middlefield and Cardinal Schools.

Huntsburg Township: June 25, 7:30 p.m. –Board of Zoning Appeals, public hearing on application for variance to allow for a family residence with an in-law suite, 8:30 p.m. –public hearing on application for variance to allow for a family residence with an in-law suite; July 1, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; July 15, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings held at the Town Hall, 16534 Mayfield Road. Middlefield Township: July 14, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Township Office, 15228 Madison Road, unless otherwise noted.

Middlefield Village: July 8, 5:30 p.m. – Streets, Sidewalks & Utilities Committee, 6 p.m. –Planning Commission; July 10, 5:30 p.m. –Recreation, 6 p.m. – Finance & Ordinance, 6:30 p.m. – Safety, 7 p.m. – Village Council.

All meetings are at the Municipal Center, 14860 N. State Ave.

Parkman Township: July 1, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; July 15, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Community House, 16295 Main Market Road, unless otherwise noted.

Cardinal BOE: June 25, 6:30 p.m., meeting/work session; July 9, 6:30 p.m., regular meeting; July 23, 6:30 p.m., meeting/work session. All meetings held at BOE Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, unless otherwise indicated.

Chardon KidsFest Rescheduled for Aug. 9

Due to inclement weather June 14, the Chardon Square Association’s annual KidsFest was canceled and rescheduled for Aug. 9 on Chardon Square.

The free event will hold a family market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a kids market (booth registration is $10) for children 15 and under from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the KidsFest from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The festival will include a dunk tank, pizza eating contest, silly string booth, sponsor activities, tug-o-war and more, according to the square association.

Visit chardonsquareassociation.org for more details and market registration.

karlovec group

8389 Mayfield Road, Suite B5 Chesterland, Ohio 44026

Phone 440-729-7667 FAX 440-729-8240 ads@karlovecmedia.com Phone 440-285-2013 FAX 440-285-2015

editor@karlovecmedia.com

Jeffrey B. Karlovec, Publisher

John D. Karlovec, Editor

Cassandra C. Shofar, News Editor

Jamie A. Ward, Sports Editor

Ann Wishart, Staff Reporter

Allison Wilson, Staff Reporter

Emma MacNiven, Staff Reporter

Clay Karlovec, Sales Representative

Clinton Sestak, Sales Representative

Regina Swinerton, Classifieds

Karen S. Kaplan, Graphic Design

Pamela J. Molnar, Production Supervisor

Emma McGuire, Paginator

Submissions and Deadlines

• Editorial submissions are printed as space is available, at the publisher’s discretion, and may be edited for length, clarity and grammar. All submissions are due by Monday at noon for consideration for that Thursday’s edition.

• Email all editorial submissions and questions to editor@karlovecmedia.com.

• The space reservation deadline for paid advertisements in that Thursday’s Geauga County Maple Leaf is the preceding Friday by noon. Late ads may be accepted at the discretion of management.

• Email legal notices and questions to legalads@geaugamapleleaf.com.

• Email advertising requests and questions to ads@karlovecmedia.com.

Subscription Rates (valid through 12/31/25)

Weekly Issue (in Geauga County)

One year: $55 • Two years: $100 Senior Citizens one year: $50 Single copy: $1.25

Weekly Issue (outside Geauga County)

One year: $65 • Two years: $120 Weekly Issue (snowbird/seasonal address) One year: $65

Online Only (No Mailed Copy) $55 NewspaperandOnlineSubscriptions are Non-Refundable. YoucanviewtheRefundPolicybyvisiting: www.geaugamapleleaf.com/refund-policy/ orbyusingthe“More”menuonthewebsite.

•Geauga County Maple Leaf is a newspaper of general circulation published weekly. Contains general, legal, real estate, insurance and commercial news.

•Copyright © 2025 Geauga County Maple Leaf LLC. All rights reserved. Material published in Geauga County Maple Leaf is prepared at substantial expense and is for the sole and exclusive use of the subscriber. It may not be republished, resold, recorded or reused in any manner, in whole or part, without the publisher’s written consent. Any infringement will be subject to legal redress.

•Geauga County Maple Leaf (USPS 011-535) is published weekly by Geauga County Maple Leaf LLC. 8389 Mayfield Road, Ste. B5, Chesterland, Ohio 44026. Periodicals postage paid at Chardon, Ohio 44024. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Geauga County Maple Leaf, P.O. Box 1166, Chardon, OH 44024-5166. Subscribers should notify the publisher in writing of address changes or unsatisfactory delivery.

•Under no circumstances will any record filed in the county be suppressed at any time for anybody, except by order of court.

•Attorneys placing legal advertisements are responsible for payment.

•The publisher is not responsible for errors in advertisements after first publication if not advised by the advertiser.

City of Chardon

Council, BOE Pass Resolutions Opposing HB 335

By Allison Wilson Wilson@kArlovecmediA com

Both Chardon City Council and Chardon Schools Board of Education took a stand against House Bill 335 June 18.

Both entities passed resolutions opposing the house bill in the wake of Superintendent Mike Hanlon and Treasurer Deb Armbruster recently explaining to council the potential negative impacts the bill — which eliminates inside millage for governing bodies except townships — would have on public schools.

HB 335 is currently in the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee and has had several hearings, Hanlon said.

HB 335 would eliminate $1.5 billion to schools statewide, possibly resulting in a reduction of 20,000 teaching positions, the school district’s resolution read, adding Chardon Schools is projected to lose $4.3 million, equivalent to about 120 teaching positions.

The city would lose about $630,000 and

Geauga County, about $11 million in annual revenue, the resolution said.

The reduction would require cuts to educational programs, services and personnel that benefit students, the resolution said, adding there are targeted alternatives such as Senate Bill 22 that would not damage school funding.

SB 22 states it would authorize tax credit or rebate for certain homeowners and renters whose property taxes or rent exceeds 5% of their income.

“It’s important to understand that because Chardon is not at the 20-mill floor, the bulk of the increase taxpayers are reacting to in their property values resulted in simply a rollback of millage that we collect, so it’s a net zero,” Hanlon noted. “The only increase we saw was on inside millage and it’s $732,000 on inside millage per year. We’ve given $1.6 million back in the form of fee reductions, elimination of pay-to-participate, so on.”

It’s not an even distribution, but it is an effort the district and board made to redirect those funds back to taxpayers, he added.

Hanlon suggested sending the resolution to state Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, Sen. Sandra O’Brien and the chairs of the house and senate finance committees.

School board President Karen Blankenship suggested adding Gov. Mike DeWine to the list.

Chardon City Council’s resolution made similar points.

“Inside millage is a long-standing and vi-

tal source of revenue that supports the provision of essential local services such as police and fire protection, mandatory contributions to the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Funds, infrastructure maintenance, and parks and recreation without the need for voter approval,” it said.

The legislation would create fiscal uncertainty for cities and villages across Ohio and would impose changes without providing revenue replacement, potentially threatening the delivery of basic public services, the resolution said.

The city emphasized its belief in meaningful and collaborative property tax reform, calling HB 335’s approach “unbalanced and detrimental to the financial health and self-determination of Ohio’s local governments.”

Council opposed the bill and urged the Ohio General Assembly to reject it in its current form.

Per the resolution, copies will be sent to DeWine and the city’s representatives.

Sheriff’s Office Reaffirms Stance in ACLU Lawsuit

stAff report

The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office filed a response to a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court June 17 reasserting that certain denied records are prohibited from public disclosure by federal law.

In May, the American Civil Liberties

Union of Ohio sued the GCSO after requesting and being denied copies of the office’s contracts with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

While the GCSO has said those records are not publicly available due to federal law, the ACLUO contends the cited statutes are only applicable to personal information about

NOTICE TO GEAUGA COUNTY TAXPAYERS PAYMENT OF REAL ESTATE TAXES

Last Day for Payment of Second Half of 2024 REAL ESTATE TAX IS July 9, 2025

Notice is hereby given the Treasurer’s books for the Second Half 2024 real property tax collection are now open for payment and will close for the second half on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. In accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, second half taxes paid (or postmarked in the case of mail payments) after July 9, 2025 will accrue a 10% penalty.

Further, it is the property owner’s responsibility to notify this office in writing when an address is changed or when a mortgage is paid or sold to another company in order that the tax bill is sent to the correct address.

Every effort is made to see that you receive your tax bills; however, the Ohio Revised Code provides the property owner is responsible for payments even if you did not receive your bill. Please call us if you have not received a tax bill unless you have made previous arrangements with a financial institution to pay them.

FAILURE TO RECEIVE A TAX BILL WILL NOT AVOID A PENALTY.

Military Reservists and National Guard members who are called to active duty may defer payment of their real estate taxes until six months after their tour of duty ends. Spouses and/or dependent parents may also be eligible for this tax deferment.

Taxes may be paid at the Treasurer’s office located in The Opera House, 211 Main Street, Suite 1A, Chardon, OH 44024. A drop box has also been installed near the entrance for your convenience. Payments placed in the drop box on the last day of collection will be collected and posted the next day. Payments received in the drop box on Thursday, July 10, 2025 will be considered late and penalties will apply.

Regular Office Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Checks should be made payable to: Geauga County Treasurer.

Christopher P. Hitchcock Treasurer, Geauga Couty

detainees, which is not what they are seeking.

Therefore, the union is asking the court to compel the sheriff’s office to release the documents and the sheriff’s office is standing firm in its decision not to.

In its response, the GCSO denied ACLUO’s allegations of wrongdoing and reiterated the union does not have a legal right to the records.

The GCSO also denied the union’s request that the sheriff’s office pay ACLUO’s

Scam from page 1

Homeland Security Investigations and FBI task force officers coordinated a sting operation May 13 that resulted in the identification of two suspects — one Indian national and one Pakistani national — connected to a network exploiting seniors.

An elderly victim, of Chester Township, was asked by a perpetrator to invest in another form of currency that would be picked up by a courier, the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

“Investigators were informed that the victim had already lost a significant amount of money and was being led to believe the perpetrator was aiding in her investments,” the GCSO said in the release. “Detectives then arranged to deliver the package to the courier and conduct surveillance on the suspects to identify all involved in this scheme.”

The GCSO knew the victim was meeting up with the perpetrator, Lt. James Jonovich said June 23.

“We generated, essentially a sting operation, a false pickup,” he said. “We waited for them to come pick up the fraudulent currency and we then followed them and took them down.”

The courier said a friend from Africa gave him directions and a location of where to pick up the package, the release said.

“The courier additionally informed detec-

legal fees and denied all liability, according to its response.

The ACLUO’s complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, the records are exempt from disclosure under public law and the GCSO does not possess records responsive to the ACLU’s request, the sheriff’s office said in its response.

“...(GCSO asks) that (ACLU’s) complaint be dismissed and that it may go hence without cost or delay,” it concluded.

tives they picked up approximately $40,000 from an elderly male in Chicago and $3,000 of that money had been used to fund this trip (to Ohio),” the release said.

Investigators were able to seize the $37,000 from the courier's apartment in Chicago, the GCSO said in the release.

Jonovich added Steven Deardowski — who has credentials with HSI — was the main detective on the case and was able to continue the investigation in Chicago.

“Through good investigative work and excellent interviewing … we were able to discover there (were) crimes occurring in other states,” Jonovich said.

Officials are urging the public to be cautious when approached with unsolicited financial offers, particularly those that originate online or involve unusual requests to transfer funds.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it is,” Jonovich said.

If a caller says, “Stay on the line with me as we do this,” “Let’s get it done right away,” or “You need to respond now,” those are red flags, he said, adding they should call local law enforcement if they think they are being scammed.

“We can generally tell very quickly with some of the databases we have when things are fraudulent,” Jonovich added.

The Pakistani national was arrested and is currently being held on an immigration violation, as his visa expired. The investigation is ongoing, officials said.

Russell Township

Chesler Recommends Updating, Moving Town Hall

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

Russell Township resident Michael Chesler swept aside concerns about the historic status of the township town hall and proposed repairs, renovation and relocation of the building June 18.

“’Historic building’ is a very broad term,” said Chesler, president of The Chesler Group in Moreland Hills, during the Russell Township Trustees regular meeting. “This building is historic because you say it is. That’s true.”

The structure is 175 years old and was placed on the Ohio Historical Index in 1981, he said.

“It is a building of historical significance,” he said, noting it was built in 1850 as a nondenominational church and meeting space for many groups.

“It’s not very ornate,” Chesler said. “It, shockingly, lacks ornamentation.”

The town hall was renovated in 1927,

which doesn’t affect its value to the community, he said.

“It’s not on the National Register of Historic Places and it does not need to be for it to be a historic building,” Chesler said.

Guidelines to alter the building do not apply to the town hall.

“You don’t have to do stuff unless you renovate it with a federal grant. None of that is happening here,” Chesler said. “It’s a local landmark. It is the center of this township.”

He sent a proposal to the township a year ago, met in May with officials and recently asked for an audience with trustees to discuss possibilities.

“Typically, I don’t do small projects like this, but I am happy to be involved,” Chesler said. “The idea is to do a light, inexpensive freshening and renovation of the building.”

While the town hall possesses few unique features, he pointed out a few of great worth, including the tall, triple-pane windows along the north and south sides.

“It’s shocking the (pre-Civil War) windows survived. If you want my involvement, those windows stay,” Chesler said, noting the high, beautifully-arched ceiling in the meeting room.

“Don’t reduce the volume (of the room),” he said, recommending hanging panels from the ceiling to improve the acoustics of the space. “That siding’s got to go – historical buildings don’t have vinyl siding. It looks like shit, excuse me. Underneath, I bet the original siding is still there.”

If the old paint has lead in it, Chesler said it can be encapsulated and repainted.

“Finally, my suggestion is this building needs to be relocated,” he said, adding parking lot, visibility and approach would be much improved if the structure was moved to the northwest corner of the parking lot.

“None of the doors are out of whack. The floors are like a bowling ally,” he said, suggesting the tongue-and-groove flooring be stripped and refinished to show off the original wood.

The foundation, patched up over the decades, could be eliminated and I-beams placed under the structure, then the building can be moved to a concrete slab in the northwest corner of the parking lot, Chesler said.

“That’s very inexpensive. It’s an easy, easy, easy one to do,” he said. “You’ll never have a foundation problem again.”

Chesler also recommended updating the lighting and climate control system, remodeling the bathrooms, putting an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp on the back of the town hall and taking off the additions.

faced in tearing the gymnasium down was the potential loss of historical value, which they ran into when evaluating the front room.

It was originally built in the 1800s by the then Bainbridge Board of Education, accord ing to long-time Bainbridge Township Histor ical Society member Joan Demirjian.

The building — located off of state Route 306 behind the fire department — was used as a gymnasium for school students.

Lifetime resident Bill Takacs attended first and second grade in the town hall gym in the early 1940s, he said.

It was used as the school auditorium for plays, graduations, ceremonies, meetings and dances, according to the historical society.

“Many see it as an important structure, well used in the township,” Demirjian wrote last year.

The Sons of Temperance used the build ing as a meeting hall and gave it to Bainbridge once the group built a hall, which is now the Bainbridge Township Historical Society mu seum, Demirjian said.

“We had a lot of good times there,” Bain bridge resident Barbara Phan told trustees last year, adding the building was also used for pancake breakfasts, craft shows, meet ings, dinners and plays.

The gym had the original tongue-andgroove beaded ceiling and walls, according to historical society records, which added the stage had original floors and joists.

Safety Concerns

Township officials have been discussing the idea of modernizing the building since COVID-19, when trustees wanted to improve their online meetings by building a new trust ees room, according to previous reporting.

Fast-forward to present, the renovation project — which would include demolition of the room cap and basement — was fasttracked in February after Drew Thompson, of DS Architecture in Cleveland, told township officials the town hall was dangerous and should be closed immediately.

Thompson sent a letter to trustees following a walk-through of the town hall Feb. 24.

“We observed what appears to be a signif-

fessional assessment, there is a substantial risk of catastrophic structural failure, posing a serious threat to the health, safety and welfare of all occupants,” Thompson said in the letter. “Given these concerns, we strongly recommend that the entire town hall building and surrounding area be temporarily vacated as a precautionary measure.”

The Geauga County Building Department did a second walk-through with DS to confirm

“Moving the building provides a tremendous benefit any number of ways,” he said.

Structurally, the town hall is very sound and a credit to the original builders, Chesler said.

the state of the building, Bainbridge Township

Trustee Michael Bates emphasized the building is a hazard back in April.

“We talked about this project the very first month that I was a trustee and I'm now in my last year of my first term and it's time to do something,” he said. “The building is falling down. I watched (Service Director Jim Stanek) move those walls (with his hands). I felt like running for cover when he did it because I thought the roof was going to fall

Trustee Chris Hare said trustees need a cost estimate before they decide if they would proceed.

The work could be done in phases if that’s what trustees want, Chesler said.

down on top of me. It was scary.”

Bainbridge Township Service Director Jim Stanek reiterated his safety concerns on a call in March.

“The building kind of decided on its own that it's not going to be saved,” he said.

To prepare for the demolition, the service department removed furnace units from the basement, relocated the electrical panel and cap, removed plumbing from the basement, and located and marked all underground utilities, Assistant Service Director Alex Hansel said.

The service department installed a conduit for a new fiber optic line between the Bainbridge Township police and fire departments, he said, adding they moved all of their communications to the police department.

Next Steps

Next steps include continuing renovations to rebuild the demolished town hall meeting room, as well as upgrades to trustees’ chambers and accessibility improvements.

The lowest bid for the project was $934,334, which included plans to remove electrical, plumbing and other utilities. However, the service department was able to contract those services out to save money.

DS Architecture expects new bids to be at $737,000 for the new town hall room and trustees’ chambers, said Jeff Myers, of DS, at the June 23 trustees meeting.

Stanek told those in attendance he thought the number would be lower.

“I was a little disappointed when I saw the new estimate,” he said.

Bids for the renovations will be open until July 25 at 10 a.m.

As a result of the building closure, officials have relocated departments and meeting spots.

The Bainbridge Township Zoning Department relocated to the Burns-Lindow Building at 8465 Bainbridge Road. Bainbridge’s food pantry, Food for Friends, moved to the Lakeside building at 8558 Crackel Road; the township fiscal office has been relocated to the fire department’s meeting room at 17822 Chillicothe Road; and the Bainbridge Township Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals meetings will be held in Centerville Mills Dining Hall at 8558 Crackel Road.

Trustees will continue meeting at the service department at 17800 Haskins Road.

Commissioners Vote to Guarantee Engineer Seat on NOACA

Letter to State Health Dept. Criticizes O&M Program

By Allison Wilson Wilson@kArlovecmediA com

Geauga County Commissioners voted in favor of giving up one commissioner seat on the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency board to give the county engineer a guaranteed spot June 17.

NOACA recently approved changing its code of regulations to reserve one of the county’s three seats for Engineer Andy Haupt and now, individual counties must ratify it, Commissioner Carolyn Brakey explained.

She and Commissioner Jim Dvorak voted in favor of ratifying the amendment last Tuesday, while Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri was absent and, therefore, did not vote on the issue.

“Our other member counties have their engineers on board as voting members now,” Haupt said during last Tuesday’s meeting. “It allows a voice that supports the taxpayers of rural, Amish communities.”

Many of NOACA’s constituent counties are more urban than rural, he said.

“(The guaranteed engineer seat) allows roads, bridges, safety concerns to be paramount from (the) point of technical expertise and experience that the engineer brings to that table,” he said. “Chasing, supporting and advocating for funding that we are due is one of the most important things that seat has to represent …”

All of NOACA’s other counties have their engineer as a voting member and that is all Geauga wants, as well, Dvorak said.

Kitchen from page 1

Amish and the restaurant is in the heart of Amish Country – hence the name, he said.

In keeping with the Amish theme, the menu offers crispy honey-fried chicken, stuffed peppers, cabbage, kielbasa and pierogies, as well as other favorite comfort foods like Lake Erie walleye, broasted chicken and St. Louis ribs to satisfy any appetite.

“When you come here, we want you to come for the fresh food,” Kanieski said. “We don’t want it to be just great; we want

Brakey wished Haupt could be added as a fourth seat, but Geauga County does not have the population for an additional seat, she said.

Resident Skip Claypool, who is Spidalieri’s alternate on the NOACA board, took issue with the change.

“I’m very sad about this ratification because it actually is detrimental to Geauga County,” he said, adding it is removing a commissioner voice from the board.

“What has been said is that we need a county engineer at the table,” Claypool said. “That’s true and we’ve always had our county engineer at the table. They’ve always been named an alternate.”

Commissioners also regularly interact with the engineer to stay up to date, he said, adding this amendment shows a lack of integrity.

“One of the commissioners who’s likely impacted is not in this meeting,” he said, referring to Spidalieri. “This board never had a public discussion about doing this.”

Commissioners should be asking NOACA for a fourth seat, Claypool said.

At this time, the board does not know which commissioner will give up his or her seat to Haupt, Dvorak said in a follow-up interview June 23.

Currently, all three commissioners are retaining their seats, he said, adding the other counties still have to ratify the amendment, which may take several weeks.

They are also uncertain whether the change would be implemented this year or

it to be fabulous!”

To attain an “old world” approach to food, Kanieski visits the Geauga Growers auction weekly to buy the freshest raw ingredients available, he said.

As the summer advances, he will be find ing locally grown fruits and vegetables to grace the Amish Country Kitchen’s tables.

“The entire premise for the restaurant is that eating is traditionally a social experi ence,” he said.

Guests are welcome from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sun day, Kanieski said, adding they plan to be open on Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as oth er holidays when many restaurants are closed.

Kanieski said the “Cash Only” sign at the door will be going away as soon as the pointof-sale equipment is installed in the next week or so. The machine accepting bank and credit cards was expected to be in place by Mother’s Day, he said, but installation scheduling was delayed. Meanwhile, the restaurant is only able to accept cash from its customers.

during January’s reorganizational meeting, he added.

This action has been in progress for 12 years or more, Dvorak told Claypool last Tuesday, reiterating Brakey’s comment that the county needs a higher population to have a fourth vote.

Two other residents, Elsie Tarczy and Christine Stenzel, echoed Claypool's words and emphasized their desire to see a fourth seat.

Geauga County is unlike other NOACA counties and does not have an equal say, they said.

The county will not be losing a vote with this change, Dvorak emphasized.

In other business, commissioners also voted to send a letter to the state criticizing the ongoing operation and maintenance program, which Geauga Public Health is currently rolling out. The letter, addressed to Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, expresses concern about the program’s impact on the county.

“Geauga County is uniquely impacted by this regulation,” commissioners said in the letter. “The majority of our residents live in homes serviced by septic systems — estimated at 30,000 across the county. These are not fringe cases; they represent the backbone of our rural housing infrastructure.”

While GPH has gone out of its way to implement the state mandated program — which requires homeowners to pay permit fees — in a way that is minimally burdensome, the rule mandates a one-size-fits-all program with no flexibility for responsible homeowners to be exempt, commissioners wrote.

Nearly a third of the county’s population is elderly and on fixed income, with many forced to absorb the cost while also juggling the rising cost of living, they said in the letter.

“We believe Ohio can protect clean water without saddling residents with another unfunded mandate,” commissioners wrote, calling for a more targeted approach and expressing a willingness to work with ODH on finding a balanced path.

Cleveland resident Xavier Rivera also came before commissioners during the public comment section of the meeting to ask the county to cancel its contract with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Currently, ICE detainees are housed at the Geauga County Safety Center. Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand has previously said the agency pays $100 per detainee per day.

“I’m here to ask you to cancel the ICE contract that the county has, to close the detention facility that we have here,” he said. “As of January, dozens of people were detained here after a series of arrests in Northeast Ohio, when 20 people were arrested.”

Deportation efforts have focused on ordinary, hardworking people and not on violent criminals, he said.

“By maintaining this ICE contract, the county is complicit with the violence and the ongoing attack on undocumented people who are not dangerous to our decadent society, but the backbone of it,” he said.

Commissioners did not comment, but invited Rivera to email them the rest of his statement after his allotted time to speak ran out.

Since Burton is the pancake capital of the world and he understands how popular the traditional hotcakes are among area residents, they are on the menu all day long, he said.

“People love our pancakes, they don’t care if it's 6 a.m. or 6 p.m.,” Kanieski said.

To keep with its “Buy Geauga” philosophy, the restaurant also offers maple syrup from the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield’s log cabin on Burton Square, he said.

Partnerships with other Geauga County businesses make the Amish Country Kitchen’s offerings especially tasty, Kanieski added.

Diane Schneider, owner of D.S. Cakes and Sweets in Newbury Township, is providing baked goods, such as cheesecake and shortbread cookies for the showcases by the

D.S. is closed Sundays and Mondays, so the restaurant is providing an outlet for her desserts.

Fry pies, a famous Amish delicacy, and donuts made fresh at the Amish Farm Market in Middlefield, will also be available as dessert or for take-home treats, Kanieski said, adding the market is closed Sundays.

The patio is lined with pots of hanging flowers for sale, also from the farm market, he said.

“When you live in the country, everybody helps everybody else,” he said. “We need to get back to traditional values.”

It is a philosophy his general manager, Xander Rose, embraces, Kanieski said.

Rose was raised on a farm and started in the hospitality industry at the former Dutch Pantry, washing dishes 15 years ago, so managing this restaurant is a huge ac -

The Amish Country Kitchen is not Kanieski’s first trip down the river, either.

He also owns The World Famous Iron Horse Saloon at 13468 Main Market Road (Route 422) in Troy Township. He renovated and opened the historic eatery on the Cuyahoga River, where he also operates Crooked River Adventures, renting out canoes and kayaks.

Kanieski also has plans to expand the Amish Country Kitchen. The restaurant can accommodate up to 150, so large group get-togethers are possible and Kanieski said the patio will be open for diners.

Alcoholic beverages will be available once he has the licenses, he added.

In the meantime, diners can enjoy the ambiance and fresh cooking every day.

“You can taste the sunshine in our vegetables,” he said.

Officials Get Wrecking Ball Swinging on House Demo

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

Pressed by the Hemlock Hills Homeown ers Association, Russell Township Trustees passed a lengthy resolution June 18 during a special meeting to start the process to demol ish a house at 8460 Ridgewood Lane.

The house, deserted for about five years since its owner, Victor Vilimas died, was left in the care of Paul Mileris, of Omaha. Vilimas did not leave a will, said attorney Michael Drain, the estate’s administrator.

There are eight possible beneficiaries, living out of state, and one has indicated they would be willing to have the house demol ished, but there is no contract for the work, Drain said.

Trustee Jim Mueller asked who would be responsible for paying for the demo, the haz ardous materials survey, the report and other costs.

“That’s the $12,000 question,” Drain said. “I don’t know.”

Melissa Palmer, township administrator, said she researched the current standards on hazardous materials.

“The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) no longer requires a form, a permit or an assessment to be done for a residential demolition,” she said.

Geauga County requires a permit to demo and for the contractor to be registered with the county, Palmer said, adding costs would

Chuha from page 1

“He is accountable for his actions. He knows what he did is morally wrong, criminal in nature, violates and offends the community.”

Chuha is actively engaged in therapy and counseling with the goal to understand why he engaged in this conduct and to ensure he never re-offends, he said.

“I think that’s important because, as you know, the court has certain guiding principles here in fashioning an appropriate sentence and at least several of those would relate to protecting the community and fashioning a sentence that would serve to rehabilitate him,” Bradley said, adding counseling checks those two boxes.

said trustees could send out the property no tices, hold any necessary hearings and move forward.

“My advice is to have a title search done to identify the parties and provide notice to all parties,” she said.

Once the notices go out, the parties have 30 days to appeal and a hearing must be held within 20 days of a request for a hearing,

ty to get the ball rolling.

Any costs for the process can be certified to the county auditor, Wieland said.

Ben Kotowski, a member of the HHHOA, said the heirs will incur the cost of the work but it will be minimal in terms of the inheritance.

According to the Geauga County Auditor’s Office website, the 1,800-square-foot house, built in 1954, sits on 1.5 acres and is

The other factor to consider is punishment, Bradley said.

“We’re asking the court to consider imposing a sentence of community control with any conditions the court sees fit,” he said. “He now is a convicted felon subject to sex offender registration. He recognizes all of his friends and family and supporters in the community, many of whom are in the back of the courtroom here today, are shocked, surprised and disappointed in him.”

All of those things serve as a form of punishment, Bradley said.

Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Burling said while Chuha may be remorseful, harm has still been done.

“I have prosecuted these cases for a number of years and what I’ve seen in these cases is a lot of times, it’s an easy crime to commit because you just sit at your computer at home with no one around,” Burling said. “I think that lures people into a sense of not recognizing that these are in fact real children who are being exploited.”

This specific case deals with nudity rather than sexual activity, but it is still illegal and an exploitation of children who will be impacted for the rest of their lives, he said.

While Burling was happy to hear Chuha has been in counseling, he emphasized Chuha’s actions were unacceptable.

“Taking into consideration the harm done here, as well as the lack of (prior criminal) record, his age and the fact that he did get into treatment, the state is asking the court on count two for a six-month residential community control sanction, and then once he’s completed that, he be placed on non-residential community control for both counts with the court’s standard conditions,” he said.

The state also asked that Chuha be required to continue counseling and that the court impose several special conditions banning Chuha from owning or viewing pornography, for internet usage to be monitored, to ban him from entrance to sexually explicit businesses and to ban him from congregating in locations children are likely to congregate,

valued at about $221,200.

Kotowski said the property has been neglected since Vilimas died in 2019 and the house collapsed in early March this year.

“We’re going on five months. Nothing has happened. The heirs have not been responsible. The building has stood empty for more than five years,” he said. “They have had ample time to do anything they want. It’s time to consider the community’s interests.”

Wieland said the abandoned vehicles, including a Mercedes, on the property are a

If they don’t have current license plates, the township zoning inspector can take action, Kotowski said.

Township Fiscal Officer Karen Walder said her concern has been the fiscal responsibility of the township.

“After hearing concerns of residents at several meetings and reading the newspaper report, I reached out to Susan (Wieland),” she said, adding she contacted a potential demolition contractor who estimated the total cost of the project at between $25,000 and $26,000.

Walder said the township has sufficient funds to have the work done and she read a lengthy resolution that would authorize the township to carry out a title search and notify owners of actions being taken.

Any costs will be placed on the property’s tax duplicate, she said.

Trustees voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.

Burling said.

Chuha agreed to forfeit two video cameras, a computer tower, a hard drive and two SD cards, and also must register as a tier one sex offender, Burling said.

Jim Blum, a lifelong friend of Chuha’s who submitted a letter in his favor, testified to his character.

Today isn’t about Chuha’s guilt or innocence. Rather, it is about the first step in Chuha’s recovery and what it will take to move forward, Blum said.

He referenced the words of another audience member, who he said has worked with incarcerated teens.

The worst thing that happens to them is for their friends, family and community to vilify, shun and abandon them, he said.

“Now Ken may have gone down a wrong path, but for 69 years, he was on the right and what I’m asking you (Rambo) to do is to lead us as a community in making sure we don’t go down another wrong path in his recovery,” he said.

Chuha read a statement expressing regret.

“I have to live with the choices I made and want to rebuild my reputation and trust that I lost in the community,” he said. “I am taking responsibility by going to counseling. I want to understand and make sure that I

won’t do it again.”

Rambo agreed with Burling’s assessments.

“The one thing I think, Mr. Chuha, that you do not appreciate, was the fact that your conduct and conduct by others similar feeds into a system where children are victimized. Without your conduct, without the demand for the materials that you consume, those victims might not be victims. And that is something I think I have failed to hear you recognize, or seen recognized in any of the materials presented to me,” Rambo said.

In addition to jail time and community control, Chuha must also continue mental health treatment, possess no devices that can access the internet, must not consume pornography and must avoid locations where children congregate, among other items, Rambo ordered.

Chuha will report to the Geauga County Safety Center before noon June 23, the judge said, adding he would also be required to pay a $2,500 fine over the next three years and must also register as a tier 1 sex offender with the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office after his release from jail.

Chuha’s other charges — one count of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, one count of illegal use of a minor and one count of possessing criminal tools — were dismissed upon his sentencing.

‘It’s a Different World’ Auditor Warns Bainbridge of Growing Cyberattacks

By emmA mAcniven mAcniven@kArlovecmediA com

In the wake of significant cyberattacks in the county and around the state, Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder issued a warning to Bainbridge Township Trustees June 23 that public officials are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated hackers — and the risk is getting worse.

His warning comes on the heels of a multi-county statewide attack and an attack on Burton Township this year. In previous years, Munson Township fire department and Thompson Township police department have been hit, Zach McLeod, director of the county Department of Advanced Research and Cybersecurity, previously reported.

Walder told Bainbridge trustees about the multi-county attack, which originated from a breach at the Lands Records Modernization Conference May 20 in Columbus, an event many government officials from around the state attended.

Over the course of seven days, hackers gained the email addresses of hundreds of attendees.

“Cyber criminals likely took advantage of this setting by deploying a rogue Wi-Fi network (Evil Twin) or malicious QR code at the conference to steal log-in credentials from attendees,” Walder wrote in a document to trustees, adding these are getting common at public events.

An “Evil Twin” is a network set up with a similar name mimicking the legitimate network, he said.

“I'm coming to you with two basic requests. The first is, if you or any of your employees go to any government events, do not use public Wi-Fi,” he said. “Don't trust it, even if (it’s at) a conference.”

The Automatic Data Processing board recently issued guidance banning county officials from using county devices on public Wi-Fi, in light of the attack.

Walder recommended governmental officials use a hotspot instead.

“You can trust that, but don't trust public Wi-Fi, especially in a restaurant or a hotel or the airport,” he added.

He also asked trustees not to scan any QR codes, which are an array of black and white squares scanned with a device to connect to an online link.

Cyber security attacks through QR codes are called “quishing,” Walder added.

“People are taking these fake ones and they're just putting (them) up with Scotch tape on the walls of the conference centers,” he said, noting there were sessions at a recent conference where he was asked to scan a QR code for surveys.

Walder also warned trustees these cyberattacks are going to get worse because of the American attack on Iran June 21, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

“(The) government is their first point of attack from the Iranians anyway because they're trying to pay back the government, but they're going to go after anybody with money,” he told trustees.

Emails might “quarantine” more than usual, as well, Walder said, referring to when suspicious emails are detected and held.

Erie Insurance is a recent victim of a cyber attack, causing their offices to close for

“Nobody wants to have to do this, but we’re — it’s a different age. It’s a different world. We have to deal with it.”

– Chuck Walder

two weeks as of June 11, he said.

“If you are at all suspicious, just click on the email, do not open it, but just hit the ‘phish alert’ button in your Outlook and it'll go right to ADP,” Walder told trustees, adding ADP will open it, see if it’s dangerous and send it back if not.

Lastly, Walder said he is cracking down on the technological training required of county employees.

“We can't afford to just put them back on the network without recognizing that you gotta, you gotta not click on stuff,” he warned, adding officials will soon receive a list of people who haven’t completed their training.

He told trustees one ransomware attack costs the county about seven figures.

“We are to the point now where I'm spending so much money trying to fix a problem after the fact,” he said, adding he is trying to prevent these situations from happening.

“We're protecting a quarter of a billion dollars,” he told trustees.

“We are protecting what’s in the treasury … your budgets,” added Kate Jacob, chief compliance officer and administrator for the auditor’s office.

Walder said he understands there is pushback from government employees.

“I know you hear it,” Walder told trustees. “Nobody wants to have to do this, but we're — it's a different age. It's a different world. We have to deal with it.”

Ohio BMV, Sheriff, Issue Warnings Over Scam Texts

stAff report

Ohio residents are being targeted by scammers posing as the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get personal information, authorities are warning.

“Ohio residents have reported receiving text messages from scammers claiming to be from BMV and informing the recipients that they have an outstanding traffic ticket,” the Ohio BMV said in a press release. “The text then instructs the recipient to pay immediately to avoid a license suspension.”

This is a phishing technique that is aimed to get personal and financial information, the BMV said, adding it is part of a national scam.

These messages could say you have outstanding tickets, you have a suspended license or ask for personal information, the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office added in a statement.

The messages could also look official with BMV logos and links, GCSO said.

“If you receive this text, do not fall for this scam,” Ohio BMV Registrar Charlie Norman said. “Do not click any links and delete the text. (The) Ohio BMV will never send you a text demanding payment or requesting your personal information.”

The GCSO emphasized that people should not click any links or give out any personal information.

“The BMV does NOT send unsolicited texts asking for personal info,” the GCSO said. “If in doubt, contact your local BMV

office directly or visit their official website.” Scam attempts can be reported to scam the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud. ftc.gov.

Burton Public Library

Burton Library is located at 14588 W. Park St. Registration is required unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 440-834-4466 or visit burtonlibrary.org.

Outback Ray

July 31, 1-2 p.m.

Join in welcoming Outback Ray and his exotic animal friends. No registration is required.

The Golden Age of Shopping

July 10, 6-7 p.m.

Explore the heyday of Cleveland’s most glamorous department stores, presented by the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Stories of Egyptian Mythology

July 18, 3-4 p.m.

The book of the dead is open, and the gods have stories to tell about the Ancient World.

Nature with Punderson’s Naturalist Ann

Explore the wonders and colors of nature. Classes will alternate between the Burton Library and Punderson Park’s Nature Center. Classes will be held from 1-2 p.m. at Burton Library: July 11 and 25, and Aug. 8; and at Punderson Park: June 27, July 18, and Aug. 1 and 15.

Fouth of July Events

Auburn Parade

July 4

Auburn Boy Scout Troop 101 is hosting the 4th of July Parade, which commences from the Meadows Subdivision off Auburn Road at 11 a.m. and travels to the Auburn Fire Station, where hot dogs and beverages will be available. All proceeds go straight to the Boy Scout Troop. For information, email auburnparade@yahoo.com.

Bainbridge Township

July 5, 6-10:30 p.m.

The 4th of July celebration will be held on the Kenston High School campus with live music, food trucks, face painting and bounce houses. Fireworks will go off at dusk.

Burton

July 5, 9:45-10 p.m.

American Legion Post 459 presents its 34th annual 4th of July fireworks show at the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton. Gates open at 6 p.m. Fireworks will start around 9:45-10 p.m. Rain date is July 6.

Chardon

July 5

The Chardon fireworks show returns to Chardon High School. The new shoot location near the tennis courts opens up the CHS student parking lot and all the grounds surrounding Chardon Early Learning Center for close-up viewing.

Old Glory Day

July 4, 1-4 p.m.

The Chardon Square Association, the City of Chardon and Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce sponsor Old Glory Day on Chardon Square.

Decorations are provided for the children to decorate their bikes, scooters or wagons, followed by a children’s parade around the square lead by the Chardon Fire Department.

Following the parade is an afternoon of games, music, face painting, balloon animals and a pie-eating contest. The Rotary will provide ice cream, the Kiwanis will have balloons for the bikes and Wal-Mart will provide water.

Other snacks will be available for sale by the Chardon Square Association.

West Geauga Kiwanis

July 4

The West Geauga Kiwanis Independence Day Parade’s theme is “Celebrating West Geauga’s History.” Judging of floats and cars will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the parade will go south on state Route 306 promptly at 11 a.m. to the high school. Visit wgkiwanis.org for Kiwanis information and information.

Village of Middlefield

July 3, 9-10 p.m.

Village of Middlefield is hosting fireworks at Yoder Brothers Park located at the corner of North Thompson Avenue and Almeda Drive. Use the address 16060 Almeda, Middlefield for directions. Rain date is July 5.

Thompson Township

July 4, 3-9 p.m.

The theme for the annual parade is “Celebrating Rural America.” There will food vendors, a car show at Hemly’s Hardware, activities on Thompson Square, a raffle and more.

Paddlefest Makes Big Splash at Headwaters Park

By rose nemunAitis editor@kArlovecmediA com

People with paddling skills waded into Headwaters Park on the second day of sum mer to participate in Geauga Park District’s first-ever Paddlefest.

“We're occasional kayakers and we real ly weren't sure what we were getting into, especially knowing that it was kind of a competition,” said Kay Kramarz, of Chester Township, who came to the event with her husband, Tom; daughter, Melanie, of Cincin nati; and friend, Kathleen Parrino, of Lake wood. “But, much to our delight, we had a great time. We completed each of the activ ities at our own pace. But believe me, there was still a challenge to it.”

Kayakers and canoeists tested their paddling abilities June 21 on the East Branch Reservoir in Middlefield.

A $10 preregistration fee included three exercises designed to challenge participants, who either brought their own kayak or canoe, or reserved a kayak.

GPD Special Events Coordinator Holly Sauder welcomed entrants inside the boathouse.

“We hope participants will find new ways to enjoy paddling at Headwaters Park,” Sauder said.

Each activity earned paddlers raffle tickets for prizes at the conclusion of the event, which was divided into three two-hour time slots, staggered to help with traffic flow.

GPD Outdoor Education Specialist Trevor Wearstler welcomed participants at the shoreline, following their check-ins.

“The East Branch Reservoir is 420 acres and about two miles long,” Wearstler said.

“However, we have only utilized the southern end of the reservoir near our boat launch for this event.”

Paddlefest challenges were designed to be a fun way to do all the maneuvers paddlers might have to do while actually out on the wa ter, Wearstler explained.

Challenges included maneuverability mini golf, where people paddled to a green buoy tee to launch softball-sized plastic balls as far as they could toward the canoe hole.

A navigation treasure hunt involved participants paddling to assigned locations on a map and drawing what they saw on their treasure hunt map to complete a picture.

An endurance poker relay had people

paddle back and forth between two poker table canoes, drawing one card at a time until they received five, after which their cards were opened on shore to see whether their hand beat the house.

Parrino not only won the card game, she felt like she hit a royal flush on wildlife sightings after spotting an adult eagle flying over to its nest.

Wearstler said two known bald eagle nests did have some influence on where they set up activities.

Headwaters Park is known for its eagles, who often return to the same nesting territory year after year.

“Later on the shoreline, GPD had a scope on the nest and we saw the young eaglet on the branch,” Kramarz said.

Chardon’s Eric Brandt and his son, E.J., finished in the first group and plopped down under the boathouse pavilion, sharing their

enthusiasm for a morning on the water well spent.

“I really liked it because it was so much fun,” E.J. said. “I enjoyed the endurance event. I think I am pretty good at kayaking and my experience today improved my skills … my favorite part of Paddlefest was racing my dad, even though he won.”

The feelings were mutual for Eric.

“I enjoyed spending time on the lake with just my oldest son and if this opportunity is offered again next year, we will definitely be there,” Eric said. “The staff from the park district were friendly and helpful and made our day a success.”

Wearstler just hoped people had a good time and maybe felt a little more confident with their kayaking skills.

“Next time they are out on the water, instead of just paddling around, they can make a game out of their paddling,” Wearstler said.

Food Service Program Costs Increase $36K Health Board Saves $25,000 in

By Allison Wilson Wilson@kArlovecmediA com

While the Geauga County Board of Health voted in favor of increasing some environmental health fees and adding two new ones, it was able to reduce other fees for a cost savings of over $25,000 June 18.

“There’s two new fees,” said Environmental Health Director Dan Lark during the regular health board meeting. “One is an expedited plan review (fee for $500). Typically when we get plan reviews in for restaurants, they have to wait in line and sometimes, there’s companies that want to get it done right away, so we’ll expedite it and pay someone some overtime to do it.”

The other is a temporary tattoo license fee for $200, he said.

“We only had a tattoo license in the county, which is good for a year. We wanted to make sure different fairs and festivals, if they have a temporary tattoo license, we go out

Fee Reductions

installer registration fee and service provider registration fee each, which are both septic system related, from $200 to $175, the county camps fee from $185 to $160 and reductions in multiple House Bill 110 aeration fees, among others, according to Lark’s report.

The net change is a reduction of $25,325, the report said.

“We do a cost methodology where we look at everybody’s time the prior year and do an evaluation of it, so we found we could have some savings for the county,” Lark said.

Other fee increases were primarily related to the county’s food service program, he said.

“This one is more mandated by the state. There’s an elaborate spreadsheet we have to use to come up with this and it sets a maximum fee. We did not go to the maximum,” Lark said.

The net increase across the food service program was $36,232, his report said.

It is common for food service fees to fluctuate by year, board President Ashley Jones

In other business, the Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant has been cut by 20%, resulting in a loss of $26,000 to

FGP Awards 2025 Scholarships

Geauga County, County Health Administrator Adam Litke said.

“We’re trying to figure out how to best absorb those cuts,” he said. “Because we still have to do epidemiology with disease tracking, surveillance, things like that.”

The state is saying GPH is fully funded for nine months, with three months without funding, Litke said.

“But we may get funding,” Litke said. “Right now, it’s hard to budget for because we theoretically have to budget for nine months of income, but there could be three more months that show up later in the year.”

The grant is related to county preparedness for emergencies, such as drills for large scale emergencies, Litke said in a follow-up text June 23.

An example would be the dissemination of potassium iodide pills in the event some-

thing happened at the Perry nuclear plant, he said.

The agenda also saw a report on legislation by Health Commissioner Ron Graham, providing information on House Bill 309, which would modify various laws impacting the Geauga County Budget Commission.

The bill would grant the budget commission the ability to review GPH’s budgets, evaluate revenue needs from local entities or property taxpayers, and may decrease its revenue, among other items, per Graham’s report.

Several members of the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners met with state Rep. David Thomas, who introduced the bill, shortly before its introduction. The AOHC’s property tax workgroup will prepare feedback to share with him, Graham said in his report.

Parkman Fireplace Too Expensive to Replace

ANN WISHART/KMG

Lance Portman. Bricks above the mantle are missing and the mortar is deteriorating, but groups who reserve the pavilion use the fireplace to keep warm in spring and fall, he said.

stAff report

The cost to rebuild the fireplace and chimney at the Overlook Park pavilion in Parkman Township sparked a brief discussion between township trustees June 17.

“The price to rebuild from scratch … would be about $25,000,” Trustee Lance Portman said, adding some work was done over the years.

“The only thing original is the mantle,” he said.

The fireplace has loose bricks and the chimney needs to be repointed, he said.

“I’m waiting to get figures for repair,” Portman said. “I don’t think we can spend $25,000.”

Options include getting a propane heater to put in the fireplace, but a liner to the chimney will be needed, he said.

Fires in the wood-burning fireplace are

reunions, he said.

The community house also needs work, said Trustee Henry Duchscherer.

“I met with the architect for the front porch for a recommendation on the second floor and the pillars,” he said, adding the foundation needs to be sealed and a new drain line is needed. The front of the building may be redesigned, depending on the architect’s suggestions when he returns, Duchscherer said.

In addition, the fire escape needs to be repaired or replaced, he said, adding one estimate for a concrete fire escape was $3,250.

The kitchen renovation is coming together, with the cabinet replacement scheduled and the plumbing ready to be finished by August, Portman said.

However, he didn’t hold out much hope for resurfacing the tennis courts.

Early Childhood Center Ready for Start of School

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

The spacious rooms in the Berkshire Schools Early Childhood Center building are ready and waiting for their first small inhabitants in the fall.

More than 40 students, ages 3 through 5, will be learning basic skills in three of the classrooms, said Bill Kermavner, center director.

Some students are in part-time preschool, some in full-time pre-school and about half have some learning disability, he said during a tour of the new, eight-room modular structure June 18.

“What’s unique about this program is we had four kids the first year. Last year, we had more than 40,” Kermavner said.

The program was housed at the Kent State University – Geauga campus down the street, where Berkshire was expanding its pre-school enrollment to keep pace with a baby boom that happened during the pandemic, he said.

Students primarily come from Berkshire families, but about five are enrolled from out of the district, he said.

School districts are required by the U.S. Department of Education, through the Individuals with Disabilities Act, to provide schooling, either in-district or at a district that has a licensed program, for their youngest students identified with special needs, Kermavner said.

The building was erected last year and finished this spring to give Berkshire the ability

to house its own students and enroll others.

“We were sending kids out to other preschools to meet their special education needs,” Kermavner said. “We wanted to bring our kiddos home.”

Berkshire students with disabilities at tend for free, he said.

Tuition for students with special needs outside the district is paid by the child’s home district, Kermavner said, adding the families of preschool students without spe cial needs pay $2,610 per year for half days and $5,220 for full days.

Payment can be made on a monthly basis, he said.

Teachers use a preschool curriculum that teaches through play-based learning, struc tured to each student's needs and to prepare older students for kindergarten, according to the school website.

Last year, all students at KSU-Geauga were full time. The staff put out a survey to parents and one suggestion was to provide a half-day alternative, so one classroom has morning and afternoon periods, Kermavner said.

Another classroom is leased by Jump Start Burton, an independent pre-school pro gram, Kermavner said, adding the therapy classroom will serve double duty, providing before- and after-school care for elementa ry-age students at a reasonable cost.

During the school day, that room is ded icated to providing special services, such as therapy, to those with special needs, he said.

An early childhood grant helps cover some of the cost of therapy, such as special

Auditor Discusses Tax Refunds, Cybersecurity

By chArlotte Jons editor@kArlovecmediA com

Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder visited Auburn Township Trustees June 16 to update officials and residents on the return of more than $700,000 of miscollected tax levy funds to township taxpayers.

He also talked about growing cybersecurity threats to local governments.

Regarding the levy funds, Walder explained voters had passed a previous township levy with “fatal errors” in its language.

Almost a year ago, trustees, at the recommendation of the auditor, agreed to refund residents more than $700,000 this year from a roads levy that was erroneously collecting money for over three years.

road levy, trustees said in a meeting in 2024. However, the county and state continued to send funds for the 1-mill roads levy to the township.

The Geauga County Board of Elections identified the mistake after the fact and recommended the collected funds be returned to affected taxpayers, he said, adding the process required detailed legal and financial work.

“We were made aware of this about a year ago now and we had a lot of due diligence to perform, as you can imagine,” Walder said.

Working closely with the trustees, particularly Fiscal Officer Dan Matsko, the auditor arranged for the refunds to go out in the first half of this year. Trustees put aside township funds necessary for repayment.

Walder’s office with a similar situation involving Geauga Public Health, Walder said.

Kate Jacob from the auditor’s office attended Monday’s meeting and said she has been focused on the client’s perspective throughout the refund process.

She presented a summary of the current distribution status, noting that approximately 14% of the payments remain in progress, while 5% have been marked as undeliverable.

“There will be a second delivery attempt prior to those being sent to unclaimed funds,” Jacob said, adding the issued warrants will become void on July 23.

Jacob, from

office,

Anthony Joseph Montana

Anthony Joseph Montana, age 75, passed away on June 3, 2025, surrounded by his family, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer.

Tony was born on December 13, 1949, to Joseph and Mary (nee Mandala) Montana and was raised in Cuyahoga Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his devoted better half, Janet Raber; his beloved daughters, Aimee (Joseph), Melissa (Guy) and Rose (Matthew); and Janet’s daughters, Laurie (David) and Jody (Michael), whom he loved as his own.

Tony was a proud and loving Papa to his grandchildren: A.J., Andrew, Guy, Celia, Alana, Olivia, Annalise and Ryan. He was also blessed with bonus grandchildren: Jennifer (Colin), Delaney, Will and Rosie, all of whom brought him great joy.

He was the cherished brother of Rosemarie (Gregory), Joseph (Helen), Maryann (Tino); and the adored uncle of his nieces Christina and Erica and their families.

A dedicated and hardworking man, Tony was the proud owner of Montana Produce and Fig Tree Bulk Foods in Middlefield. He poured himself into his work, striving to offer the best products with fairness, integrity and a deep sense of community. He always had a project underway with his dear friend, Dan Gingerich, a reflection of his tireless work ethic and commitment to those around him.

During his illness, Tony was lovingly cared for by Janet, whose strength and compassion were a great comfort.

The family also thanks Dr. William Ervine for his dedicated care over the years.

Tony will be remembered for his faith, generosity, determination and the love he shared with his family, friends and the community he served so faithfully.

Friends will be received Friday, June 27, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., at Sly Family Funeral Home, 15670 W. High St, Middlefield. Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 11 a.m., at St. Lucy’s Catholic Church, 16280 E High St, Middlefield.

In 2017, a previous fiscal officer failed to file the correct paperwork to place the levy on the ballot, so voters did not approve the

A law firm specializing in this type of distribution was contracted to manage the process. The same firm previously assisted

Obituaries

Memorial contributions in Tony’s honor may be made to a charity of your choosing.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.slyffh.com.

Jacqueline M. Foote

Jacqueline “Jacquie” M. Foote, age 87, of Huntsburg Township, passed away Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Ohman Family Blossom Hill Nursing Home. She was born Aug. 31, 1937, in Cleveland, the daughter of Frank and Kazmera (nee Binkowski) Fatur.

Jacquie graduated from St John College in 1959 with a B.A. in elementary education. She went on to receive a master’s in elementary education from Western Reserve University in 1963 and was named a Jennings Scholar in 1967.

In September of 1959, she began what would turn into a 40-year career as a sixthgrade teacher of gifted students in the Rocky River Schools.

On Nov. 5, 1966, she married the love of her life, Francis Chandler Foote. They were happily married for 56 years.

In 1976, they built what would be their dream home in Huntsburg. In 1980, they added a barn and began acquiring animals and this became High Meadows Farm. Jacquie had a fondness for animals large and small; many cats, dogs, horses and whoever showed up were loved and cared for.

Jacquie was very active in her church, St Patrick’s in Thompson Township, and led the way to the beginning of the Good Samaritan Ministry. She was also active in the Huntsburg Grange. She wrote many articles on lo-

cal history for the Geauga County Maple Leaf and then went on the become an editor for the Middlefield Post.

Jacquie was kind and giving. Her strong faith led her to help anyone and everyone she met. She loved a great book, especially mysteries, music and theatre. She will be dearly missed.

She is survived by Sarah (husband Kirk) Kudrna and their children, Calvin, Dean and Will; and Kelly Whitney (husband Chris) and their children, Brendan and Grace.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis; and her parents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 16550 Rock Creek Road, Thompson. Family and friends will be received for one hour prior to the service at the church from 10-11 a.m. Final resting place will be St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Good Samaritan Ministries at St. Patrick’s Church.

The Behm Family Funeral Home is assisting the family during this time. Online obituary and guestbook at www.behmfuneral.com.

Theodorus Elliot Detweiler

Theodorus “Theo”

Elliot Detweiler died courageously in his home after three years of living with cancer on the evening of June 22, 2025. He was sur rounded by a loving family that cared for him deeply.

Theo was born on Sept. 22, 2002. Born two months prematurely, his resilience was formed early, as he spent much of his first four months at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland.

Theo was a passionate learner from an early age. He read more books through elementary school than many people read through college. His intelligence seemed effortless, but he dedicated the time and focused diligently and generously and shared his abilities through tutoring. When he graduated from Chardon High School in 2021, he already had two years of college credits from

When Matsko asked for clarification on the term “undeliverable,” Walder explained that most of those cases involve recipients who have moved out of the area or passed away.

“What ultimately will happen to the un-

See Auburn • Page 16

attending Hiram College. Theo went on to attend John Carroll University with a major in forensic psychology.

Outside of school, Theo loved spending time connecting with friends. He was inspired by the arts. He was obsessed with musicals, starting with “Hamilton,” and his passions were infectious to those around him. He found inspirational depth in the works of Vincent van Gogh, traveling to Europe in 2023 to see his famous paintings and where Van Gogh spent his time.

If Theo was interested in something, he pursued it with zeal. When Theo became enchanted by the honeybee, he quickly turned that curiosity into becoming a beekeeper. Theo’s memory lovingly lives on with his parents, Heather and Greg; siblings, Scarlet, Kie (twin) and Hazel. He was the cherished grandchild of Bill and Ruth Detweiler and Don Kovach. Among his aunts and uncles are Christie Kovach, Mark and Cheryl Kovach, Jeff Detweiler, Shawn and Melissa Kovach, Jennifer Kovach, Dennis Kovach, Shane and Crystal Kovach, Kim Kovach, Floyd and Kerri Semlow; and many cousins.

He was predeceased by his grandmother, Alberta Paulette Kovach; step-grandmother, Patricia Kovach; and Uncle Bob Voytko. Theo and his family would like to express humble gratitude to all the talented and compassionate staff and UH Cleveland and UH Geauga Medical Center, particularly Seidman Center and the emergency room. This was Theo's home away from home for the last couple of years. Thank you for treating him like family.

Visitation for Theo will be at Burr Funeral Home in Chardon, from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025, followed by a time to share memories about him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: UH Seidman Cancer Center, https:// www.uhhospitals.org/services/cancer-services/ giving-to-uh-seidman; STAAR Ovarian Cancer Foundation, https://www.staaroc.org/; or The Trevor Project, www.thetrevorproject.org.

Arrangements are entrusted to Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.burrservice.com.

Feathers and Fleece

Feathers and Fleece 4-H Club is off to another great year preparing for the Great Geauga County Fair.

The current elected club officers include Julia Suvak as president, Allie Wiseman as vice president, Selah-Rose Milko as secretary, Christina McIlroy as treasurer, Aubrey

Bloodmobile

Haefke as health and safety officer, Charlie Prosser as recreation officer, Becky Thur as community service officer and Anna Chongris as news reporter.

The club will offer a community car wash in July at Chardon Tractor Supply.

(Submitted by Anna Chongris, news reporter)

Health & Wellness

July 13, Church of St. Mary, 401 North St., Chardon, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Auburn

from page 15

claimed funds?” asked Trustee Patrick J. Cavanagh.

“The state manages the unclaimed funds,” Walder said. “It is out of our control. Our responsibility is that, after a certain window of time, we are, by law, required to return any money that isn’t collected by somebody to be sent to the unclaimed funds account.”

Trustees commended the auditor’s office for its transparency and effort in the return process.

“This was a huge effort to get this money back,” Cavanagh said.

Walder also warned trustees about increasing cybersecurity threats to local governments.

While no successful breaches have occurred in Geauga County, he said several attacks have been attempted.

“Since you are under (the Geauga County Automatic Data Processing board’s protection), I wanted to assure you that we

have watched them and we have security umbrellas in place,” he said, emphasizing the importance of this kind of protection.

He advised residents to avoid using public Wi-Fi while traveling and to be cautious with QR codes to avoid data theft with these issues on the rise.

Walder said these tools can be safe, but it is crucial to ensure they are from trusted sources and are entirely safe.

While some townships in Geauga County are not part of the county's ADP system, Walder said collaborative efforts are ongoing to identify and blacklist malicious entities throughout Geauga.

He reported no funds have been stolen locally, but with scams getting more and more deceiving, it is important to remain vigilant.

The trustees thanked both Walder and Jacob for their hard work.

“Your group is phenomenal,” Matsko said. Walder said he is happy to return for future updates with both financial returns and cybersecurity.

“Our job is to protect Geauga,” he said. “We intend to continue to do that.”

Bulletin Board

Donation appointments may be made by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-733-2767.

July 1, Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Bainbridge Township, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

July 3, Adam Hall, 11455 E. Washington St., Auburn Township, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

July 8 and 9, Centerville Mills, 8558 Crackel Road, Bainbridge Township, 12-6 p.m.

July 10, Geauga YMCA, 12460 Bass Lake Road, Munson Township, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

July 14, Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township, 12-6 p.m.

July 15, Middlefield Library, 16167 East High St., Middlefield, 12-6 p.m.

July 17, Mayfield Church, 7747 Mayfield Road, Chester Township, 1-6 p.m.

July 18 and 31, Munson Town Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, Munson Township, 12-6 p.m.

July 23, Parkman Community House, 16295 Main Market Road, Parkman, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Berkshire Schools

GPD Grant Awarded

The GPD Employees’ Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to Berkshire Local School District to support the continuation of its STEMin’ Up Technology at Berkshire Middle School program. The funding has allowed

the district to enhance its inclusive computer science and STEM curriculum by installing eight new Dell Optiplex 7020 computers.

The STEMin’ Up program provides students in grades five through eight, including those with disabilities, gifted learners and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with hands-on experiences in coding, web design and digital programming. The updated technology supports collaboration, peer learning and access to industry-relevant platforms like Code.org and Carnegie Mellon’s Python curriculum.

“The additional computers have expanded our ability to offer inclusive, project-based learning environments that prepare students for future academic and career pathways which has been a focus since I arrived to our district in 2017," Dr. John Stoddard said.

Berkshire Local Schools plans to build upon the success of the grant by seeking additional funding to further expand the program. Long-term goals include completing the original installation of 15 collaborative learning stations and replicating the program model in other grade levels across the district.

“This grant helps us continue our mission to provide all students with equitable access to high-quality STEM education,” said Dr. Vanessa Karwan, director of professional learning and community outreach.

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

Food Pantry Open

June 27, 10 a.m. to noon

The food pantry at the Chester Christian Center church is open to anyone in the community in need of food. One does not need to be a member of the church to attend. The church is located at 11815 Chillicothe Road in Chester Township.

Concert in the Park

June 27, 7-9 p.m.

City of Chardon hosts its free summer concert series featuring Pieces of Eight at the gazebo on Chardon Square. Visit www. chardon.cc for information.

CSA Family Market

Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Chardon Square Association’s Family Market runs Saturdays through Aug. 23 on Chardon Square. The community-based marketplace provides fresh, locally sourced products in a family-friendly atmosphere, connecting the community with local farmers and artisans. Enjoy live music, games and raffles while shopping and supporting the local economy. For more information, call CSA Family Market manager Ed Slusarski at 216-577-0864 or email edwardslusarski@outlook.com.

Geauga SOGI Family Pride

June 28, 1-6 p.m.

Join for a free event at The Family Life Center, 16349 Chillicothe Road in Bainbridge Township with food trucks, resources, entertainment and activities for all ages. For a schedule of events, visit: www. GeaugaSOGI.org.

Hope4theHeart

June 28, 2-8 p.m.

The third annual Hope4theHeart event will take place on Chardon Square, featur-

ing music, food trucks, personal testimonies and messages of hope. For more information, contact Dean Carlo, of Chardon Youth For Christ, at 216-338-6581.

Amateur Radio Field Day

June 28 and 29

Members of the Not Case Amateur Radio Club will participate in the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise in Huntsburg Township. Field Day is a showcase for how Amateur Radio works reliably under any conditions, from almost any location, to create an independent communications network. Anyone may become a licensed amateur radio operator. For more information, visit www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio.

Maplewood Concert Series

July 1, 3 p.m.

Maplewood at Chardon’s summer concert series continues with jazz musician Stan Miller. Visit with residents, family and friends while enjoying refreshments. Call Trista Keller at 234-208-9871 for information.

Meet Us in the Garden

July 12, 10 a.m.

The OSU Lake County Master Gardener Volunteers host its next Meet Us in the Garden talk at the Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. Three Master Gardeners will present HELPLine Live – Ask an Expert or Three.” The event is free, but registration is required by June 28. Visit mentorpl.org or call 440-255-8811.

Maple Splash Festival

July 12, 2-9 p.m.

The drawing for the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield’s Maple Splash Raffle will be held at Century Village in Burton. Admission is free. Event includes food, entertainment and prizes. Visit www.maplesplashraffle.com for tickets and list of prizes.

Legal Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

TAX BUDGET HEARING

Auburn Township

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Trustees of Auburn Township will conduct a Public Hearing on Monday, July 07, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. on the “2026 Tax Budget” at Auburn Administration Building, 11010 Washington Street, Auburn Township, OH 44023.

The proposed “2026 Tax Budget” is available for review beginning June 26, 2025 at www. auburntownship.com and at the Auburn Administration Building, Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

BY THE ORDER OF THE AUBURN

TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Daniel J. Matsko, Fiscal Officer Jun26, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

TAX BUDGET HEARING

Munson Township

Two copies of the proposed 2026 tax budget for the Township of Munson, Geauga County, Ohio will be on file and available for public inspection until July 8, 2025 in the Munson Township office weekdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. A public hearing on this budget will be held at the Munson Township Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, Munson Township, at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. BY THE ORDER OF THE MUNSON

TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Todd R. Ray, Fiscal Officer Jun26, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES

Chester Township

The Chester Township Board of Trustees (“Owner”) is soliciting statements of qualifications for professional design services for constructing buildings for their Road Department and Police Station (“Project”).

Firms interested in providing the professional design services for the Project may obtain the Owner’s Request for Qualifications for Professional Design Services, which provides additional details regarding the Project, the potential design services that may be provided, and the procedures, timeline and conditions for submitting and evaluating a statement of qualifications, by contacting:

Mark A. Purchase, Chester Township Administrator Email: mapurchase@chestertwp.org

The subject line of the e-mail should clearly read “Request for Qualifications for Professional Design Services”.

The deadline for submission of a statement of qualifications is 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on July 11, 2025. Jun19-26, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR BIDS

Chester Township

The Chester Township Board of Trustees is currently accepting bids for the CONCRETE RENOVATION OF EXISTING SALT DOME, 8558 Parkside Drive, Chester Township, Ohio 44026.

Owner’s Representative: Township Administrator Mark A. Purchase

Contact Chester Town Hall at (440) 729-7058 or mpurchaseta@chestertwp.org for bid packets and information.

The construction project and restoration of a concrete foundation wall within the Township’s salt dome. This structure is utilized for the storage of road salt and was originally constructed in the early 1980’s. The estimated project cost: $125,000.00

Bid Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM Bids must be received at Chester Township Town Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township, Ohio 44026 Jun19-26, 2025

IN THE JUVENILE COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF COLUMBIA, STATE OF GEORGIA IN THE INTEREST OF:)

A. M. S.) FILE NO: 2023J0044 SEX: FEMALE) DOB: 07/17/2014)

N. Z. S.) FILE NO: 2023J0043 SEX: MALE) DOB: 02/10/2017)

NOTICE OF SUMMONS

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN and THE UNKNOWN BIOLOGICAL FATHER of the above minor children, and any other party claiming to have a parental interest in said minor children born to Gina Sweet a/k/a Gina Von

Sachsen-Altenburg.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED, in accordance with O.C.G.A.§15-11-96, that the above proceeding seeking the termination of the parental rights of the named children was filed against you in said Court on the 23rd day of May, 2025, by reason of an Order for Service by Publication entered by this Court.

YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED AND REQUIRED to lay any and all other business aside and to be and appear before the Juvenile Court of Columbia County, located at 7045 Evans Town Center Blvd, Evans, Georgia 30809, on the 22nd day of August, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. and to remain in attendance from hour to hour, day to day, month to month, year to year, and time to time, as said case may be continued, and until discharged by the Court; each of you then and there to make defense and to show cause why the said children and all parties named herein should not be dealt with according to the provisions of the law. The hearing is for the purpose of determining whether your parental rights should be terminated. The effect of an order terminating parental rights under O.C.G.A.§15-11-93 is without limit as to duration and terminates all the parent’s rights and obligations with respect to the children and all rights and obligations of the children to the parent arising from the parental relationship, including rights of inheritance. The parent whose rights are terminated is not thereafter entitled to notice of proceedings for the adoption of the children by another, nor has the parent any right to object to the adoption or otherwise to participate in the proceedings.

A copy of the petition may be obtained by the parents from the Clerk of the Columbia County Juvenile Court, 640 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, Georgia, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, exclusive of holidays. A free copy shall be available to the parent. Upon request, the copy will be mailed to the requester - parents or alleged parents only.

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that while responsive pleadings are not mandatory, they are permissible and you are encouraged to file with the Clerk of this Court and serve on Petitioner’s attorney, Gary A. Glover, an answer or other responsive pleadings within sixty (60) days of the date of the order for service by publication.

WITNESS the Honorable Charles E. Evans, Judge of said Court, this 23rd day of May, 2025.

Cindy Mason, Clerk, Juvenile Court Columbia County, Georgia Jun19-16Jul3-10, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

25-F-000041 – JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff vs. Ryan Davis, et al., Defendants

The Unknown Heirs at Law or Under the Will, if any, of Joyce Davis aka Joyce A. Davis, deceased, whose last place of residence/business is unknown, but whose present place of residence/business is unknown will take notice that on January 13, 2025, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association filed its Complaint in Case No. 25-F-000041 in the Court of Common Pleas Geauga County, Ohio, 100 Short Court Street, Suite #300, Chardon, Ohio 44024, alleging that the Defendant(s) The Unknown Heirs at Law or Under the Will, if any, of Joyce Davis aka Joyce A. Davis, deceased, have or claim to have an interest in the real estate described below: Permanent Parcel Number: 15-101000; Property Address: 13004 Chardon Windsor Road, Chardon, OH 44024. The legal description may be obtained from the Geauga County Auditor at 231 Main Street, Suite 1-A, Chardon, Ohio 44024, 440-279-1600.

The Petitioner further alleges that by reason of default of the Defendant(s) in the payment of a promissory note, according to its tenor, the conditions of a concurrent mortgage deed given to secure the payment of said note and conveying the premises described, have been broken, and the same has become absolute.

The Petitioner prays that the Defendant(s) named above be required to answer and set up their interest in said real estate or be forever barred from asserting the same, for foreclosure of said mortgage, the marshalling of any liens, and the sale of said real estate, and the proceeds of said sale applied to the payment of Petitioner’s Claim in the proper order of its priority, and for such other and further relief as is just and equitable.

THE DEFENDANT(S) NAMED ABOVE ARE REQUIRED TO ANSWER ON OR BEFORE THE 31th DAY OF JULY, 2025.

BY: REIMER LAW CO. Donald Brett Bryson, Attorney at Law, Attorney for Plaintiff-Petitioner, P.O. Box 39696, Solon, Ohio 44139. (440) 600-5500. Jun19-26 Jul3, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

TAX BUDGET HEARING

Claridon Township

Claridon Township will have their 2026 preliminary budget for the public to review on June 30, 2025 between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:30 am or by appointment by emailing Fiscal Officer, Clint Hardman at Fiscal@ClaridonTownship.com. The budget will be available at the Claridon Township Administrative building located at 13932 Mayfield Road in Claridon. The Claridon Board of Trustees will hold a Public Hearing on the budget at the same location on July 7, 2025 at 5:45 pm. Clint Hardman, Fiscal Officer Jun26, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE TAX BUDGET HEARING

Chester Township

The Chester Township Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing at 6:00 PM on July 10, 2025 for the FY 2026 budget. A copy of the 2026 budget can be viewed at Chester Town Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, OH 44026 through July 10, 2025. Patricia Jarrett, Fiscal Officer Jun26, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING 2026 TAX BUDGET

Burton Township

The Burton Township Trustees will hold a public budget hearing on the proposed Burton Township Tax Budget for 2026 on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. at the Burton Township Administration Building, 14821 Rapids Road, Burton Ohio. Two copies of the tax budget will be on file with the Township Fiscal Officer for public inspection once adopted by the Burton Township Trustees. Arrangements to review the budget can be made by contacting the Township office at 440-834-1500.

Katie O’Neill, Fiscal Officer Jun26, 2025

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE PARKMAN TOWNSHIP ZONING RESOLUTION

O.R.C. SECTION 519.12(D)

Notice is hereby given that the Parkman Township Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on resolutions, which are amendments to Section 1002.4 and Section 1102.0 identified as #2025-01 to the Parkman Township Zoning Resolution at the Parkman Community House (16295 Main Market) at 6:15 p.m. on July 1, 2025.

The motion proposing to amend the zoning resolution will be available for examination at the Parkman Community House until July 1st 2025 (posted on the front bulletin board). After the conclusion of the public hearing, the matter will be submitted to the Board of Township Trustees for its action.

Denise Villers, Fiscal Officer Jun26, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Troy Township

Notice is hereby given that the Troy Township Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing on an application for an appeal for a variance to the Troy Township Zoning Resolution on the 8th day of July, 2025 at 7:00 o’clock p.m. at the Troy Community Center, 13950 Main Market Road, Burton, OH 44021. This application #ZP25-18, submitted by John Gingerich, requests that a conditional zoning certificate be granted for a home occupation for creating blueprints (Draftsman) in the R-5 district for the property located at 14800 Grove Road in Troy Township PPN # 32-035900. Lisa Murphy, Secretary Jun26, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

Case No. 25-F-000252 - Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio, Plaintiff, vs. Robert E. Blanks, et al., Defendants Robert E. Blanks, whose last known address was 8830 Crackle Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, Garey Blanks and Unknown Spouse, if any, of Garey Blanks, whose last known address was 175 6th Street, #525, San Francisco, CA 94103, 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

17th day April 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. Robert E. Blanks, et al., Case No: 25-F-000252, 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 $22,086.23 together with accruing taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, and charges; as well as court costs. Said premises is described as permanent parcel number(s) 02-031100. 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. Jun26 Jul3-10, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING APPEAL FOR AN AREA VARIANCE TO THE CHESTER TOWNSHIP ZONING RESOLUTION

Notice is hereby given that the Chester Township Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing on an application identified as number ZA-2025-6, on an appeal for an area variance to the Chester Township Zoning Resolution on the 7th day of July, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at Chester Town Hall.

The applicant, Anthony Albino is requesting an Area Variance for his property located at 12188 Shiloh Dr. He proposes building an accessory building in excess of the maximum combined 1,280 square feet permitted for accessory buildings.

This application fails to meet Section 5.01.03 of the Chester Township Zoning Resolution. Kathleen McCarthy, Secretary Jun26, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Russell Township

Notice is hereby given that the Russell Township Board of Zoning Appeals will have one Public Hearing on applications of appeal for two variances to the Russell Township Zoning Resolution on Monday, July 7, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Russell Townhall, 14890 Chillicothe Road.

Variance Application #569, submitted by applicant Dennis J. Shelby & Saralee Bajaksouzian for property at 8119 Fairmount Rd., parcel number 26-067300. The Applicant is seeking to construct a new home on the property and live in their current home until the Occupancy Permit is issued, then demolish the old home. No side or rear setback variances are required. The Board of Zoning Appeals welcomes factbased testimony to assist in making an informed decision.

Bonnie Guyer, Secretary Jun26 Jul3, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

West Geauga Local Schools

Chesterland, Ohio

Sealed bids for the installation of a public water well will be received by the Treasurer of the West Geauga Local School District, located at 8615 Cedar Road, Chesterland, Ohio 44026, until 12:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at which time sealed bids will be opened and publicly read aloud. Electronic submissions will not be accepted. No immediate decision shall be made.

A mandatory on-site meeting will occur on Monday, July 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. EST. Electronic copies of the Drawings and Specifications can be obtained by emailing Karen Pavlat at karen.pavlat@westg.org.

In addition, this legal notice is posted on the School District’s internet web site. The notice and the Drawings and Specifications may be accessed at https://www.westg.org/page/bidsquotes, or by going to https://www.westg.org/, clicking on “MENU” and then clicking on “Project Bids and Quotes” under the “District” heading in the pop-up menu.

Drawings and Specifications will also be made available for inspection during regular business hours at the following location: Karen Pavlat, Treasurer/CFO West Geauga Local Schools 8615 Cedar Road Chesterland, Ohio 44026 (440) 729-6815

Copies of the Drawings and Specifications may be purchased for a non-refundable cost of $.10 per page, and will be mailed upon request for a non-refundable fee. Prospective bidders interested in receiving copies of the Drawings and Specifications through the mail should contact Karen Pavlat using the information provided above.

Bids shall include, and Bidders shall submit with their Bids, bid security in the form of: (i) a bond in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Sections 153.54 and 153.571 naming West Geauga Local Schools as obligee for the total amount of the Bid, including add alternates; or (ii) a certified check, cashier’s check or letter of credit in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the Bid, including add alternates, as prescribed by Ohio Revised Code Section 153.54.

Each bid shall be filed on forms furnished with the Bid Documents and shall be delivered in an opaque sealed envelope, the outside properly marked with the Project Title, Date, and Time of Bid Opening. Each bid shall contain the name of every person interested therein. All questions concerning bid packaging and supplemental information should be submitted to scott.amstutz@westg.org.

No bidder may withdraw its bid within sixty (60) days after the bid opening. The District reserves the right to waive irregularities in bids, to reject any or all bids, and to conduct such investigation as necessary to determine the responsibility of the winning bidder.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

WEST GEAUGA LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Karen Pavlat, Treasurer/CFO Jun26, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES

Sealed bids will be received at the office of the Board of County Commissioners, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 350, Chardon, Ohio 44024, for the:

DWR FUEL & FUEL TANK PROVIDER during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, until 1:45 pm (local time) on July 9, 2025 at which time the bids shall be opened and publicly read at 2:15 pm in the Commissioners’ Chambers.

Specifications may be obtained, cost-free, off the Geauga County Department of Water Resources’ website at: www.gcdwr.org.

A copy of this legal notice is posted on the Geauga County’s website. Go to http://www. co.geauga.oh.us/departments/commissioners/ bids/ and click on the project name to view this legal notice. Envelopes containing the bid and other required documents shall be sealed and clearly marked “DWR FUEL & FUEL TANK PROVIDER” Bid, Attention: Clerk, Geauga County Board of Commissioners, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 350, Chardon, Ohio 44024.”

Each bid must be accompanied by a bid bond or guaranty in the amount of 100% of the total amount bid, or a certified check, cashier’s check, or letter of credit in an amount not less than 10% of the total amount bid, as required by R.C. 153.54. The bid bond or guaranty must be submitted as a guarantee that if the proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into and its performance properly secured.

The bid bond or guaranty shall be issued by an approved surety company authorized to transact business in the State of Ohio and said company shall have local representation. The bond or guaranty shall meet the satisfaction of the County Prosecutor.

The Geauga County Commissioners reserve the right to waive any informalities, and to reject any or all bids received or any part thereof. Terms of payment shall be as described in the bid specifications.

BY ORDER OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF GEAUGA COUNTY

Carolyn Brakey, Esq.

James W. Dvorak

Ralph Spidalieri

Jun26 Jul3, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

Village of Middlefield

Notice is hereby given that during the Council Meeting Public Hearing held on June 12, 2025, The Village of Middlefield passed the following legislation:

RESOLUTION 25-07 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

RESOLUTION 25-08 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPT AND ENTER INTO A WATER SUPPLY REVOLVING LOAN ACCOUNT (WSRLA) AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEFIELD FOR PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF WATER FACILITIES, AND DESIGNATING A DEDICATED REPAYMENT SOURCE FOR THE LOAN, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

RESOLUTION 25-09 A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE PROPERTY AT 15885 WEST HIGH STREET TO BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE,

AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

ORDINANCE 25-123 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT FOR OPERATION OF THE MIDDLEFIELD-CARDINAL RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

ORDINANCE 25-124 AN ORDINANCE REZONING 2 PARCELS OF LAND ON LAKE AVENUE (PPN 18-054810 AND PPN 19-044150) FROM “R-1, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL” TO “R-PUD, PLANNED UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT,” AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

ORDINANCE 25-125 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING VISION AND DENTAL HEALTH CARE BENEFITS THROUGH DELTA DENTAL PLAN OF OHIO, INC., AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

ORDINANCE 25-126 AN ORDINANCE EMPLOYING CAMERON DIMOS, AS A PARTTIME SEASONAL STREETS LABORER, AT THE RATE OF $17.08 PER HOUR, RETROACTIVELY EFFECTIVE JUNE 9, 2025, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

ORDINANCE 25-127 AN ORDINANCE HIRING MICHAEL BURGE AS A PART-TIME POLICE OFFICER, CONTINGENT UPON HIS COMPLETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 139.01 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES, AT THE PAY RATE OF $20.00 PER HOUR, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

ORDINANCE 25-115 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CODIFIED ORDINANCE SECTION1140.11 ENTITLED “VIOLATIONS”AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

ORDINANCE 25-116 AN ORDINANCE

AMENDING CODIFIED ORDINANCESECTION 1157.02 ENTITLED “OFF-STREET PARKING SPACEREQUIREMENTS,” AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

ORDINANCE 25-117 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE ANNEXATION OF64.7094 ACRES OF LAND IN MIDDLEFIELD TOWNSHIP TO THE VILLAGE OFMIDDLEFIELD, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

The Complete Text Of These Resolutions And Ordinances May Be Viewed Or Obtained At The Office Of The Fiscal Officer, 14860 N. State Ave., Middlefield, Ohio During Regular Business Hours.

Cindy Naftzger, Administrative Asst. /Billing Clerk Jun26, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

Alterations to Bainbridge Town Hall Bainbridge Township

Sealed bids for the Alterations to Bainbridge Town Hall will be received by Janice Sugarman of Bainbridge Township Fiscal Office,

Real Estate Transfers

17822 Chillicothe Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 until July 25, 2025, 10:00 am local time, as described in plans and specifications, prepared by DS Architecture, LLC. Bids will be opened publicly immediately thereafter and read aloud. Late bids shall not be accepted and will be returned, unopened. Conditional or Qualified bids will not be accepted. The award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

Statement of Probable Cost: All-encompassing General Work as described: $737,000

Anticipated Construction Start/Completion: Aug. 11, 2025 to Nov. 28 2025

Drawings and specifications for use in preparing your proposal can be purchased for a non-refundable fee via the SE Blueprint Planroom database starting Friday, June 27, 2025. Please email seblue@seblueprint.com or call with quantity requests to order. Individual drawing or specification sheets will not be dispersed. Direct all questions in writing to the Architect: Attention: Drew Thompson, Project Architect, (Phone 216-835-7286, Email: athompson@dsarchitecture.com.

Each bidder is required to furnish with its proposal a Bid Guaranty and Contract Bond in accordance with Section 153.54 of the Ohio Revised Code. Bid security (100% of the bid amount) furnished in Bond Form, shall be issued by a Surety Company or Corporation licensed in the State of Ohio to provide said Surety.

Each proposal must be on bid forms supplied in the bid package and must contain the full name of the party or parties submitting the proposal and all interested therein. The contract will be awarded to the “lowest responsive and responsible bidder”. Bidders note that all proposed Subcontractors are to be listed on the Proposal. Bidders are cautioned that failure to name Subcontractors in the Proposal may be cause for rejection of the bid.

A highly recommended Pre-bid conference will be held at Bainbridge Town Hall, 17826 Chillicothe Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, on July 14, 2025 at 9:00 AM.

All bids will be good for 60 days from the time of the Bid receipt. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informalities or irregularities in the bids received, and to accept any bid which it deems most favorable. Proposals are due at Bainbridge Fiscal Office at the Bainbridge Fire Department. 17822 Chillicothe Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, Attention: Janice Sugarman, Fiscal Officer, on or before 10:00 am, Friday, July 25, 2025. No extensions of bid due date will be granted. Proposals shall be submitted on the bid form. The words “Proposal for Bainbridge Town Hall Renovations -Attn: Janice Sugarman” and the Bidder’s name shall appear on the envelope. BY ORDER OF THE BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Janice S. Sugarman, Fiscal Officer Jun26, 2025

Following is a list of real estate transfers for the week ending June 20, 2025, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Transfers may involve the sale of land only.

AUBURN TOWNSHIP

Brian and Renee McCallister, 16561 Lucky Bell Lane, to Ralph Steven Eugene and Kelly Renee Wonnell, $620,000. (3.61 acres)

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP

John R. and Diane Kovatch, 7860 Bainbrook Drive, to Jonathan and Aubrey Tench, $659,900. (0.51 acres)

Jeremy and Beata Earl, 17835 English

Drive, to William Edward Gemmell and Valerie Lynn Ash, $640,000. (1.50 acres)

Robert M. Hager and Maria P. Vitale, 8751 Lake in the Woods Trail, to Brendan J. Mcnamara and Kaiwei Hsieh, $560,000. (1.50 acres)

Christopher Arnold, Findlay Street, to Steven B. Huckabee, $500.00. (0.42 acres)

CHARDON CITY

FLG Chardon LLC, 110 Emerald Drive, to NVR Inc., $93,000. (0.17 acres)

FLG Chardon LLC, 242 High Fox Drive, to NVR Inc., $93,000. (0.17 acres)

Polly A. Resch (trustee), 228 S. Hambden St., to Sarah M. Zakrajsek, $225,000. (0.25 acres)

CHARDON TOWNSHIP

Craig P. and Christine R. Downs, 10015 Crestridge Drive, to Kevin and Lucretia N. Rippin, $406,700. (1.06 acres)

CHESTER TOWNSHIP

David J. McCarty, 8837 Camelot Drive, to Nicolas and Kendall Wilhelmina Totarella, $512,500. (1.52 acres)

Grandview Capital LLC, 8280 Maple Drive, to Christopher J. Colagiovanni, $240,000. (1.00 acres)

Richard B. and Kelly F. Dolecek, 7662 Oak Hill Drive, to Theodore, Michelle, Ted, and Autumn Farinacci, $450,000. (1.69 acres)

CLARIDON TOWNSHIP

John Raymond and Alison Hannah Haueter, 11364 Aquilla Road, to Maple Spring Farm LLC, $165,000. (9.71 acres)

HAMBDEN TOWNSHIP

Jeffrey B. and Kerry L. Belle, 14161 Rock Creek Road, to Joseph and Diane Garrett, $635,000. (3.16 acres)

MIDDLEFIELD VILLAGE

Angelo J. and Kay G. Previte (trustees), 15335 Royal Oak Drive, to Lee Anne and Ronald J. Roth, $390,000. (0.21 acres)

NVR Inc., 15397 Oak Hill Drive, to Randall W. and Cheyenne L. Faulhaber, $332,100. (0.25 acres)

Middlefield Parkway, 15266 Woodsong Drive, to NVR Inc., $66,600. (0.20 acres)

Robin A. and Debora S. Parrish, 14894 Grant Drive, to Kristal Ann Cowle, $275,000. (0.38 acres)

PARKMAN TOWNSHIP

Marvin E. Miller, 16410 Old State Road, to Lester J. and Karen R. Miller, $300,000. (4.58 acres)

RUSSELL TOWNSHIP

Dora E. Ghodooshim, 8880 Galloway Trail, to Daniel S. and Caitlin Kocsak, $625,000. (3.01 acres)

Michael and Nancy Bates (TOD), 8740 Galloway Trail, to Brent L. and Victoria Behnke, $875,000. (7.38 acres)

SOUTH RUSSELL VILLAGE

Jeffrey R. Donaldson, 812 Bell Road, to Jack and Ariana Amendola, $399,900. (1.00 acres)

Kathleen Pavlish and William Todd Adams, 102 Laurel Road, to Spencer Kalsbeek, $307,000. (0.30 acres)

Classifieds

AUTOS & PARTS

BUYING CARS: $Cash$ Paid for cars, trucks, classic cars, tractors, garden tractors, construction equipment running or not, scrap, cleanups. 440-465-8795.

FOR RENT

Chesterland: 3-bedroom ranch, 2.5 car garage, family room, fireplace, laundry room, central air, gas heat, West Geauga schools. No pets. No Smoking. Showing now. $1,800/mo. 440-465-2340.

Huntsburg: Remodeling: 5BR, 2BA. Includes laundry room, rec room or 6th BR, basement, garage. Large closets, 2 are walk-in. No pets, No smoking. 440-6365747.

FOR SALE

Engine Hoist: 2 ton. w/8-ton long ram cylinder. $250. 440-487-2955.

Tractor: Farmall A. Excellent condition, includes belly mower, very good tires, easy start, runs well. Make Offer. 440-286-3295.

Motorcycle Lift: Direct-Lift, hydraulic, 1,000-lbs capacity, can accommodate a trike, $250. 216-513-0567.

Cat Tower: 78” tall, 2 cubbies, 3 shelves, 1 hammock. $40. Montville area. Leave message at 440-346-7708.

Patio Set: 42” High Top, 4 swivel chairs, cushions and umbrella. All cast aluminum, must see. $350/OBO. 440-223-6056.

Burial Plot: Double Depth, Western Reserve Memorial Gardens, Old Rugged Cross section 201A. $2,000/ OBO. 440-321-6925.

Two burial plots at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens with full package: 2 vaults, 2 caskets, dual memorial headstone; $7,400. 440-476-0706.

New white triple track Storm Windows: perfect for home & porch enclosures (7) 30-1/4x59-1/4 $95 each. George 440-336-5044.

DEER HUNTERS: (40) Deer Hunter and (73) Bow Hunter Magazines. Vintage, Excellent Condition. Great reading and informational. Harvest that Big One!! Inquire. 440223-9471.

Scooter: needs work. $200. Call 440-286-3380, ask for Chuck.

Great Wood Shop Hobby Wood: 100 board-feet wormy Chestnut; 200 feet planed and straight edged Black Walnut; 300 feet planed Butternut. Call to Inquire. 440336-2027.

Jayco Quest 2004 folding camping trailer, propane tank, battery, 3-way fridge, 2-burner stovetop. $1,500/ OBO. Auburn. Text 440-591-9554.

Pampered Chef Multi Cooker: brand new, never used. Retails $229, will sell for $150. 440-632-0518.

Lake View Cemetery, 4 burial plots total (2 double lots): Cemetery Price $10,100 per dbl. Asking $8,000 each dbl. 440-729-0070.

Shotgun: Remington 870 Super Mag 12-ga w/scope, rifled barrel, like new; Inquire. Also: 24-foot Aluminum Extension Ladder; $200. Vintage Grinding Wheel w/ stand; $300. 440-286-6878.

2008 Nissan Xterra: Very Good Condition, $7,400. Two Large Kayaks, $800 each. SPINNER Exercise Bike, like new, $250. 440-901-4029.

Wood and Weekend Woodworker Magazines: $0.50 cents/each. Hardcover Woodworker Projects and Backyard Builders Books: $3-$5/each. Stones, all sizes: make offer. Wooden pallets: Free. 440-548-2657.

Family Burial Plot for sale. All Souls Cemetery. Serene location in prime section. Section 16. 216-440-8743.

Speakers: Two Infinity 10” woofer 4-ohm 200 watts speakers. Yamaha 200 watt receiver w/remote. $200 for all. 400-431-6944.

Antique Curio Cabinet: glass sides, glass door, mirror back, 8 adjustable shelves, 85” tall, 22” wide, 17” deep, Excellent Condition, very unique; $480. 440554-5731.

GARAGE/ESTATE SALES

June 26-28, 9a-4p, 8345 Belle Vernon Drive, Russell. Furniture, home decor, housewares, jewelry, accessories, clothing, baby clothing, shoes, books, games, puzzles, &more! Also selling perennials and garden art. UNIQUE GARAGE SALES: Weekly April - Oct, 4 buildings, Thursday thru Saturday, 9am-5pm. $1 most items. 9098 Old State Rd, (Rt 608, Chardon). Something for everyone!

June 27-28, 10a-3p, 9600 Fairmount Rd, Russell. 3-Estates Sale: 70yrs collecting. Downsizing. Antiques, collectibles, miscellaneous items. Cash Only.

June 26-28, 9a-3p, 8710 Maple Glen, Chardon. Moving Sale: households, furniture, bikes, tools, table saw, nail guns, compressor. 38 years accumulation.

June 26-28, 8a-4:30p, 11085 Taylor Wells Rd, Chardon. Barn&Yard Sale: Logaberger, glider, furniture, country/patriotic decor, weight/exercise equip., roto tiller, portable basketball hoop, books, jewelry. Free Stuff!

June 26-28, 9a-5p, 7695 Apple Blossom Ln, Chesterland. Multi-family sale: Women’s shoes size 9, like new. Women, girls’ clothing, household, misc furniture, western saddle, ping pong table, toys, games, hitch mounted ski rack, vintage.

June 26-28, 8:30a-4p, 18650 Shaw Raod, Auburn Twp. by Lake LaDue. Barn Sale!

June 26-28, 9a-4p, 10855 Chardon Rd, west of Chardon. Multi-Family Sale at Wilders Mobile Home Park. Don’t miss it!

HELP WANTED

Help Wanted: Brush Hogging, small pasture. Chardon area. 440-286-3840.

PETS & ANIMALS

2 Nigerian Dwarf Nanny Goats: Dehorned, very cute, friendly, 1 yr old, $250 each /OBO. Call or text 440881-6332.

PASTURE RAISED BROILER CHICKENS: Available July 23. Order now: 3.25 pound whole bird. Rome, Oh 44085. Call/text Ian 440-387-9857.

Tux & Bea: bonded pair of 9-yo Tuxedo cats, need indoor home. Tux is a lap cat. Bea is more shy. Both fixed. Rebecca 440-321-2485.

MISCELLANEOUS

FREE fact: a marijuana dispensary in your community will ruin lives—especially your young people! Contact your trustees and council. It matters.

REAL ESTATE

Mobile Home For Sale! You move it off our Marblehead Ohio property. 1980 Holly Park 14x70. New kitchen, new ac/furnace in 2020. $10,000. 330-307-4130.

Local Investor will pay fair cash price for homes or land in any condition. Fast closing. Call or text 440-3460161 today.

Homes & Land Wanted: any condition or situation! Fast, friendly, local. Serving Geauga and surrounding counties. Text or call Wayne at 330-269-9595.

SERVICES

Albert’s Complete Tree Service: 45+yrs experience! Competent in all aspects of Arboriculture, Forestry and Land Clearing. Also, Firewood, Excavation and Sewer Work. Free Estimates. 440-687-5404.

Certified Caregiver: will do in home care, laundry, housekeeping, and cooking. 440-313-1804.

Team R Painting: We are here to meet all your interior and exterior painting needs! Give Jaden a call at 330531-3870 for your free quote today!

WANTED TO BUY

Wanted to Buy: Smaller size manure spreader. 440829-1856.

Buying all Stanley Bailey planes. Call Karl at 440-8123392.

4-wheelers, 3-wheelers, dirt bikes, mini-bikes, go-carts, golf carts, gators, farm tractors/equipment, trailers, riding mowers, snowplows. Paying cash. 440-413-3119. Also, scrap cleanup and removal.

Old fishing tackle wanted: fishing lures (wood or plastic), mouse to bear traps, wooden duck decoys. Call Lee 440-313-8331.

Geauga Sheriff’s Report

The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office June 13 to June 19, 2025.

ANIMAL PROBLEM

6:47 p.m., Kinsman Road, Johnnys Grill, Newbury. Large black dog. He won't stay off the tables. Was given his last warning. He was advised the next time he will get a ticket.

FRAUD

June 13

1:44 p.m., Ravenna Road, Chardon. Report for identity fraud. Unknown person from Indiana ordered $26 worth of sweet tea packets with caller's name and email address but changed the card number and mail address. No financial loss. Advice given.

SUSPICIOUS

June 13

4:26 p.m., Thompson Road, Thompson. Caller states an hour ago someone was driving a gold vehicle/SUV/van taking photos of the callers home. Caller approached it and they sped off. Caller is worried someone is spying on her property. Gold van/ SUV stopped in front of her driveway and when she approached the younger looking passenger took pictures of her and drove off.

June 14

12:19 p.m., Auburn Road, Legend Lake Golf Course, Munson. 15 mins ago two vehi-

cles pulled into the parking lot, backed into parking spots and hung out for 10 mins talking. One of the males opened his truck and removed large water container full of blue liquid. They chatted and eventually left in opposite direction. Black vehicle was a Dodge Nitro and the other was a white Land Rover. Vehicles were gone on arrival. Only wanted to report what occurred.

June 19

2:41 a.m., Aquilla Road, Claridon. Caller hears car alarm and someone yelling profanities. She thinks it may be her ex-husband and she thinks someone may have him locked up? Or that he may have just recorded his voice to try and get her in trouble. She was also talking about people with mental issues being in the area and messing with the plumbing. Stated she heard her ex husband in the vents and requested it be documented. She refused to be taken to UH and did not meet pink slip standards.

June 19

8:03 p.m., Madison Road, Montville. Caller was upstairs when his Ring camera went off. There was an older male with glasses, white hair on his porch. He asked if there was a girl there. He then said he got an address and directions to meet up from Facebook. The male then pulled up his phone and showed a Madison address. Caller reports there is a male on the registry that looks like the male. The male left the area.