Leaf Thursday, February 20, 2025 Vol. 31 No. 8 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
Chester New Club Sews Kindness Township Into Fabric of the Community Fire Chief Retires By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com
Shaw Looks Forward To Pursuing Photography Hobby By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com
After four decades of always preparing for the worst, Chester Township Fire Chief Bill Shaw can’t wait to look for — and capture — the positive in his retirement. While this won’t be Shaw’s first taste of re- Shaw tirement, he hopes it will be a better experience than the last one. Shaw previously retired as fire See Shaw • Page 5
Preston Auto Promises Raffle Vehicle For CABC By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com For the third consecutive year, Preston Auto Group is donating a vehicle to the Cardinal Athletic Booster Club to help raise funds for Cardinal Schools’ athletic program. A raffle for the donated truck will be launched in March, club President Jennifer Miller said in a recent interview. Preston’s first contribution — a red Ford F-150 — was raffled off and raised $51,960. See Preston • Page 4
As the mother of an adult daughter with autism, Lori Weber learned it took a team of caring teachers, direct service providers, social service assistants, and other care providers and specialists for her daughter to reach her potential in education. Graduation changes everything for people with developmental disabilities. “While typical graduates go to college or get jobs, DD graduates often fall into a routine that leads to a dormant lifestyle with few opportunities to challenge themselves and grow,” Weber said. As a result, Weber founded NPower Services, which helps adults with special needs build meaningful lives by finding vol-
Grendell Case Reaches Oral Arguments page 4
Survey Says: Keep Thompson Twp. Rural page 6
ROSE NEMUNAITIS/KMG
Kindness Sewing Circle members, from left, Lori Weber, Marian Wernet, Lucy Kulbago, Anne Marie Wolfe, Melissa Kapela and Lauren Carson spread kindness through their love of sewing.
unteering, music, art, service, fitness and employment-building opportunities. They also run Project Kindness, which aims to align self-care and service opportunities for adults who want to contribute to
making a kinder world. The project recently launched a Kindness Sewing Circle Feb. 7 at Celebration Lutheran Church, 10621 Auburn Road in Chardon, for people of all abilities. See Sewing • Page 5
Geauga Theater May Not Reopen Until May page 11
Obituaries page 14
Legal Notices page 18
Classifieds page 20
Newbury Man, Step-Daughter Accused of Stealing SNAP Benefits Staff Report Kurt Copley, 60, and Brittany Cornman, 26, of Newbury Township, were recently charged with illegally using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits after Copley’s brother, who was the recipient of them, passed away last August. A Geauga County grand jury handed down a six-count indict-
Copley
Cornman
ment charging Copley with three counts of illegal use of SNAP benefits, a fifth-degree felony, and three
counts of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor; and charging Copley’s step-daughter, Cornman, with two counts of illegal use of SNAP benefits and two counts of theft, according to the indictment filed in the Geauga County Common Pleas Court Feb. 11. Copley allegedly continued to use his brother’s SNAP benefits card after he passed away last year, See SNAP • Page 5
Sports pages 12-13
Kenston Schools
Superintendent Proposes PI Levy Projects By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com Kenston Schools Superintendent Bruce Willingham provided more details about the district's plans for its new permanent improvement levy Feb. 10. The 1-mill, five-year levy, which
passed Nov. 5, will collect an estimated $1,196,000, according to the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Willingham presented a two-page document at the Kenston Schools Board of Education meeting that outlined the proposed projects
within seven sections: general/ maintenance, food service, transportation, parking lot, technology, athletic department and the Gardiner Elementary School building. “The goal with PI is to make See Kenston • Page 3
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