Leaf Thursday, May 22, 2025 Vol. 31 No. 20 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
Berkshire Coach Pleads Guilty To Pandering Obscenity
GPD to Put Renewal/Increase Levy on Ballot page 4
Man Arrested After Police Chase Ending in Bainbridge page 8
Staff Report Nick Burzanko, the Berkshire football and baseball coach accused of sending inappropriate Snapchat photos to a 17-year-old Berkshire Schools student, has pleaded guilty May 9 to a felony for the incident, according to Geauga County Common Pleas Court records. The charge, pandering obBurzanko scenity, a fifth-degree felony, could carry a sentence of up to 12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine. It would also require Burzanko to register as a Tier 1 sex offender, which is a period of 15 years. Burzanko, 35, of Middlefield, who remains out of jail on a personal recognizance bond, is scheduled to be sentenced July 3 by Judge Matthew Rambo. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered to See Burzanko • Page 3
5 Months In, Brakey Compares Campaign to Conduct page 9
Sports pages 11-15 ANN WISHART/KMG
From left, Berkshire Schools Treasurer Beth McCaffrey, Superintendent John Stoddard and Pat Preston, owner of Preston Superstore in Burton Village, look over blueprints for the Preston Educational Garage during an open house May 16.
Out with the Old, In with the New
Preston, Berkshire Partner on Workforce Development Campus By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com An open house May 16 at the former Ohio Department of Transportation yard in Burton Village
raised the curtain on a newly-renovated nine-bay garage that will be part of the Berkshire Workforce Development Campus. Berkshire Schools and Pat Preston, owner of Preston Super-
store, are partnering to renovate the 5 acres at the corner of Kinsman and Rapids roads into the campus, which will be designed to give area students training and See Preston • Page 5
Obituaries pages 16-18
Sheriff’s Sales & Legal Notices page 21
Classifieds page 23
Leadership Geauga Helps Youth Grow, Flourish By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
ANN WISHART/KMG
Volunteers from the Leadership Geauga alumni group planted a garden for the Geauga Youth Center during LG’s day of service May 10. Pictured are, from left, Glen Peck, Christine Frankenberry, Paige Fisher, Alan van Zeeland, Amy Murfello, Terry Rose and April Rose. Not pictured are Natalie Smith and Tim Kerhres.
There is a lot more going on under the surface at the Geauga Youth Center than is apparent from the residential treatment facility’s entrance on Aquilla Road. Every year, a garden in the sunny backyard of the center, tended by the teens living and learning there, yields fresh and nutritious tomatoes, green beans and other summer vegetables for their dinner table. This year, the garden was planted by Leadership Geauga alumni on May 10, as their contribution on LG’s annual day of service. See Leadership • Page 4
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