Leaf Thursday, March 20, 2025 Vol. 31 No. 12 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
Middlefield Village
New Medical Center Plans Announced By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Middlefield Village and University Hospitals are forging an agreement to create a medical center on Kinsman Road near its intersection with Gingerich Road. Middlefield Village Council gave Mayor Ben Garlich the authority March 13 to sign a purchase agreement for the vacant BFG Supply Company distribution center on Kinsman Road with the intent of renovating it in partnership with UH. “We’ve been trying to get a medical center in the village for five years. We think this building is a perfect fit for us,” Garlich said near the end of the meeting. “This is a great investment for the village and we will finally get the urgent care we need.” See Center • Page 3
Chardon Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Charges
West G Board Rescinds Bond Issue from May Ballot By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com After community feedback, particularly from the senior population, West Geauga Schools Board of Education unanimously voted to remove a $128.2 million bond issue from the May 6 primary ballot during its March 10 meeting. Treasurer Karen Pavlat said the 5.35-mill bond issue — which was slated to fund a new combined campus, auditorium and field house for school and community
Claypool
Sherwood
use — would have cost homeowners $187 per year per $100,000 property valuation. The district has spent $56,000 on design plans with GPD Group, an architecture and design planning
firm in Akron, Pavlat said. Board President Christina Sherwood said it’s important the district considers the feelings of older adults in the community on fixed incomes who would be impacted the most. “I really felt like this would be the right time in spite of everything and then I started listening to more and more people, and our seniors, in particular, are feeling a little bit squeezed — a lot a bit squeezed — and so that's a large See Ballot • Page 5
Hundreds Flock to Observatory Park for Lunar Eclipse
Submitted
About 250 people filtered into Observatory Park late March 13 and early March 14 to catch an immaculate view of a total lunar eclipse, peaking around 2:30 a.m., with park telescopes and interpretation by Geauga Park District "Astro-Nat" Chris Mentrek. Those who missed it will have another chance to see one March 3, 2026, just missing the end due to its timing so near moonset.
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Governor’s Proposed Budget Puts Educational Funding Weight on Taxpayers page 6
Women’s History Month Looks Back to Inspire Future page 8
Fire Destroys Nature’s Nook Salvage Store in Middlefield page 10
Auburn Career Center Supt. To Retire page 7
Sports page 14
Obituaries
Staff Report Chardon resident Ken Chuha pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material in the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas March 11. Chuha, 69, had been charged with pandering sexually oriented content involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony; three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material, fifth-degree felonies; and one count of possessing criminal tools, also a fifth-degree felony. He originally pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 11. As a result of his guilty plea, the state agreed to dismiss the pandering charge, one count of the illegal See Chuha • Page 4
Commissioners Appoint New County Admin.
pages 12-13
Sheriff’s Sales & Legal Notices start on page 17
Classifieds page 19 Single Edition $1.25
TOP PHOTO CHRIS MENTREK BOTTOM PHOTO SONNY WILLIAMS