LocaL PostaL customer ecrWss/eDDm
Volume 56, No. 3
stanDarD Postage & Fees PaiD WiLLoughby, oh Permit 42
CHESTERLAND NEWS
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Grendell Decision Delayed Staff Report A decision in the case against Geauga County Probate and Juvenile Court Judge Tim Grendell will be delayed into early July, after a twoweek extension was granted on the request of both Grendell’s attorneys and the Ohio Disciplinary Counsel. In November 2022, four charges were brought against Grendell by the ODC to be heard by a three-member panel of the Ohio Supreme Court Board of Professional Conduct. After a series of hearings held in Columbus this February, a decision was said to be expected at the end of June. However, attorneys on both sides of the case asked the panel June 17 for extra time. A joint filing highlighted the volume of hearing-related materials in the case record. “As the panel is aware, the record in this matter consists of more than 3,000 pages of transcript and hundreds of hearing exhibits,” the motion said. “Despite their best efforts, the parties find that additional time is necessary to present the panel with post-hearing briefs that are succinct, complete and cogent. The parties, therefore, respectfully request a two-week extension of time, until July 8, 2024, for the filing of post-hearing briefs.” Two of the charges against Grendell centered on custody cases that gained national attention. A third charge rose out of a long-running administrative feud between Grendell and the office of Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder, while the final charge alleged Grendell acted inappropriately while testifying at the Ohio Statehouse in favor of a bill brought by his wife, former state Rep. Diane Grendell (R-Chester Township).
Russell Resident Requests Fourth Of July Home Fireworks Ban By Allison Wilson editor@karlovecmedia.com
An anonymous resident has asked Russell Township Trustees to ban bottle rockets during the Fourth of July. Trustees discussed the request, which came in the form of an email, during their June 20 meeting. Trustee Kristina Port noted the email did not include the sender’s surname or address. Trustee Jim Mueller asked Russell Police Chief Tom Swaidner how much trouble fireworks cause the department around the holidays. Swaidner noted Ohio law changed in 2022, now allowing Ohioans to shoot commercial
grade fireworks. Per the Ohio Department of Commerce, unless it has been outlawed by local government, around the Fourth of July, residents may light off fireworks from 4-11 p.m. July 3-5, as well as on the weekends before and after the holiday. “We’ve seen (the number of fireworks complaints) trend downward,” Swaidner said, adding the department saw 20 complaints in 2020, 13 in 2021, 11 in 2022 and six last year. He elaborated officers responding to said complaints would use discretion based on factors such as time of day. People causing a disturbance would be issued first a warning and then a citation if they don’t stop, he said.
INSIDE
Swaidner also said he wasn’t certain a resolution would be helpful with the Fourth of July fast approaching. “There has to be a public notice on it and I don’t think we would have enough time to get it out, to notify the public, for it to be compliant,” he said, cautioning the board against enacting such a resolution without first discussing it with the county prosecutor. Port pointed out scheduled events around the area would be finishing their fireworks displays around 10:30-11 p.m., as dusk won’t happen until after 9:30 p.m., so someone going to bed early would be disturbed regardless. Trustees did not take any action on the request.
Local Fastpitch Softball Champions
SUBMITTED
On June 27, the girls 12U West Geauga’s Parnell’s Pub fastpitch softball team won the championship game against Concord’s Complete Image DME 16-14 after an incredible effort by both teams. Parnell’s Pub is coached by Bill Wright, John Milnar and Stan Sarnowski.
facebook.com/chesterlandnews @chesterlandnews