Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967 WG Board OKs Proposal For Water Treatment Plant, Maintenance Facility By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com The West Geauga Schools Board of Education approved a $5.2 million design-build proposal from Cold Harbor Building Company for a new campus water treatment plant and maintenance facility during its Feb. 16 board meeting. Higley Construction, of Cleveland, submitted a bid totaling $4.8 million, while Cold Harbor, of Chardon, proposed $5.2 million, district Treasurer Karen Pavlat said in a Feb. 2 follow-up interview. The board selected Cold Harbor, citing its timeline, experience and inclusion of contingencies. See Proposal • Page 3
Chester Officials Plan 225th Anniversary Honoring Twp. Founders By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com As the nation prepares to mark America’s 250th anniversary, Chester Township is planning its own milestone celebration — 225 years since its founding. Plans are underway to honor early settlers Justice and Mabel Miner — who arrived in Chester in 1801 — during a townshipwide event this spring. Diana Kresnye, of the Grave Hunters, and a historical interpreter at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, appeared before Chester Township Trustees Feb. 19 to ask whether the township would partner in events this year to recognize the Miners. See Anniversary • Page 7
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Volume 57, No. 19
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Dragons Breathe Fire on Wolverines in the 4th
27 edge into the locker room at the intermission. Sadly, as has happened several The last couple seasons have other times this season for Wolverbeen very tough on Lakeside Drag- ines Head Coach Micah Young and on basketball teams, especially the his team, after a pair of Vince Vecboys. Chances to win as they've chio free throws helped West G learned to persevere have been gain a 10-point lead with 15 ticks minimal at best. gone in the fourth period, those At the Dragons' temporary would be the team's only points of home Feb. 19 on the the fourth period until court of St. John High Pesho hit the second School, Lakeside was of two free throws with getting schooled in soljust 54.5 seconds left id team basketball for to play in the game. three quarters and 15 Meanwhile, Lakeseconds, as the West side — with only a sinGeauga Wolverines gle senior in uniform, whacked them hard. but a plethora of sophBut call it lesson Paskowski omores and freshmen learned, for both teams, as Lake- eager to win after consecutive side got hot over a 6-minute-33-sec- three-win seasons — got confident ond portion of the fourth period behind sophomore Drequan Bradand held the Wolverines scoreless ley and junior Jarez Osborne to to earn a 62-56 non-conference score 15 points in a row for a 58victory. 53 lead. The early going saw the game The Wolverines just couldn't played in close quarters, but climb the hill against the gradually, the Wolverines estab- fire-breathing youngsters in green. lished control in both shooting Pesho finished with only 16 and rebounding, and played tight points as Lakeside shut down his defense. With Cooper Paskowski work in the paint, and Paskowski hitting for 12 first-half points, and added only two more points to his Mason Pesho owning the paint total. area to the tune of 13 first-half It's happened like that before points, the Wolverines took a 36- for the Wolverines (8-14), who
By Rich Kelly sports@karlovecmedia.com
haven't figured out how to avoid collapses in tough times this season. "It has to be a mental thing for us," Paskowski said as he exited the locker room after the game. "We have a very good team here this year, but it seems like we just have short periods of time when we lose focus, and it has hurt us every time. We need to control ourselves better in tight spots, to stay in sync within our own skill sets to control games better." Coach Young agreed. "This has been the story of our season to this point," he said. His team now prepares for tournament play at Orrville. "We've just had so many games when we played very well, then something would alter how we were seeing things, and we'd fall apart for short periods, and it hurt us every time. "Games are just not going our way completely, and it's those times that have cost us almost every time we play. These kids are working so hard, so the effort is not hurting us — it's just mistakes at the wrong time." Although thrilled for his team's win, Lakeside Head Coach Bill Osborne expressed great respect for the Wolverines after the game. See Basketball • Page 3
Students Shine at Spelling Bee
SUBMITTED
West Geauga students Alex Boukis, Anthony Finizia-Boisselle, Michael Franceschini, Andrew McNamara, Lucas Oklander and Ella Branch competed in the district spelling bee.
Students from Lindsey Elementary and West Geauga Middle School competed in the district spelling bee, showcasing their spelling skills one word at a time. Michael Franceschini earned the championship title and advanced to represent West Geauga Local Schools at the Geauga County Spelling Bee, where he finished second. Also competing in the district round were Alex Boukis, Anthony Finizia-Boisselle, Ella Branch, Andrew McNamara and Lucas Oklander.
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