Leaf Thursday, May 15, 2025 Vol. 31 No. 19 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
Yost Approves Petition to Abolish Property Taxes
Middlefield Village
Additional Water Wells May Supply Village for Decades By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
By Cassandra Shofar cassandra@karlovecmedia.com The Committee to Eliminate Ohio’s Property Taxes passed its first hurdle on the path to the November ballot after Ohio Attorney General David Yost certified its petition May 9. The citizen-led initiative aims to have a constitutional amendment abolishing Ohio’s property taxes placed on the Nov. 4 ballot, said committee member Brian Massie in a May 2 press release. “It is very clear to most Ohioans that the current property tax system is excessively burdensome on citizens who are least able to pay,” Massie said in the release. “It promotes government growth See Petition • Page 4
One Dead, One in Hospital After Accident In Claridon Staff Report A collision between a car and dump truck in Claridon Township the morning of May 7 left one man dead and a woman with life-threatening injuries, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Katherine Taddeo, 66, of Rome, was driving a 2016 Hyundai Elantra westbound on Chardon Windsor Road around 8:30 a.m. and failed to yield after stopping at a stop sign, said OSHP Lt. Larry Jones in a press release. Jeff Hazen, 67, of Chardon, who was driving a 1985 International Scout dump truck northbound on state Route 608, struck the driver’s side of the Elantra and the vehicles subsequently traveled off the west side of Route 608, with the Elantra striking a tree and the dump truck striking the ditch, Jones said. See Accident • Page 5
INSIDE
ANN WISHART/KMG
This rig is located on property Middlefield Village recently purchased on Kinsman Road in Burton Township. A test hole drilled recently indicates a village water well should be productive at the site.
The 58 acres Middlefield Village purchased in March may be the site of two projects with longterm benefits for residents and businesses — another water well and a medical center. During the May 8 village council meeting, Mayor Ben Garlich announced the third test hole drilled at the former BFG Supply Company property on Kinsman Road in Burton Township is very promising. Joe Tucholski, street and utilities director, reported initial results See Wells • Page 5
Rotary Fishing Event Lures In Connection, Community By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com The sounds of joyful chatter and the buzz of hurling bobbers filled the fishing platforms May 8 at Geauga Park District’s Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve in Munson Township. Anticipation built as buses rolled into one of the park’s most popular and scenic catch and release fishing stops. Geauga County Rotary clubs celebrated another successful event for children with special needs, made possible through a community of first responders and volunteers spearheaded by Burton Middlefield Rotary Club member Jim Dvorak. “It is a fantastic chance to work with the kids. In many cases this is the only time that they have the opportunity to go fishing,” Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildebrand said. “They all seem to really enjoy the experience as the helpers do also. Rotary’s mission is ‘Service Above Self.’ It is an honor to assist Rotarian Jim Dvorak to bring a pleasurable experience to these kids.” This year’s school outing welcomed 52 students from Chardon, Berkshire, Crestwood and West Geauga Schools. Dvorak said all the students caught at least one fish.
Some caught even more — like Blake, from Berkshire Schools, who said his favorite part of the fishing event was the discovery of snail shells, being outside in nature and meeting the volunteers who helped him to cast and catch fish. “The children (with special needs) are often forgotten or left behind in some outdoor activities,” Dvorak said. “The schools and students look forward to this event every year. Over the years, we have been buying fishing poles and equipment. I am happy to say we now have 70 fishing poles See Fishing • Page 5
Single Edition $1.25 Blake, from Berkshire Schools, catches a fish May 8 during the annual Geauga County Rotary clubs’ fishing event at Geauga Park District’s Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve in Munson Township. ROSE NEMUNAITIS/KMG