Leaf Thursday, April 10, 2025 Vol. 31 No. 15 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
ODH: Vaccination Best Defense Against Measles By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com There have been 607 total confirmed measles cases across the United States in 2025, with 12% of cases hospitalized and two deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control. In 2024, the total number of cases was 285. In 2004, it was 37. Geauga Public Health is preparing for potential scenarios should the county see a significant number of measles cases, Health Administrator Adam Litke said in an April 7 Litke email. There have been 10 cases in Ashtabula County, Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said in a See Measles • Page 7
Chardon Schools
Authorities Investigating Sexual Assault Report at Middle School By Cassandra Shofar cassandra@karlovecmedia.com
Multiple parents of sixth-grade girls at Chardon Middle School are sounding the alarm on alleged sexual assault reports involving a male classmate in the choir program, and the district’s handling and reporting of those allegations. On April 7, the Geauga Coun-
Troy Township Fire Chief Jim Nix and Assistant Chief Eric Lewis ran out of fuel — literally — after responding to several back-to-back calls a few weeks ago, Nix said at the April 1 trustees meeting. “It was after-hours by Nix the time we got done and our local gas station was closed,” Nix said, adding he thought they had a service contract to fill up at the gas station 24/7. Nix asked trustees if the department could have a contract with a backup station as their cur-
enough, reported it to the assistant principal, more names were given as a result and one of them was her daughter. The parent said she filed a police report with the Chardon Police Department in February and spoke with the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office a few days later. Chardon Police Chief Scott See Investigation • Page 3
County Library Braces for Proposed $100M Funding Cut Pending Bill Could Hit LGBTQ+ Population By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com If passed, the recently-introduced Ohio House Bill 96 would reduce public library funding by $100 million — significantly impacting Geauga County Public Library programming. “Eliminating the public library fund and replacing it with the
Sparks Fly Over Fuel at Troy Trustees Meeting By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com
ty Maple Leaf spoke with a parent of one of the alleged victims, who said the incidents involved a sixth-grade male reportedly sexually assaulting multiple sixth-grade females in the middle school choir program between October of 2024 and Feb. 24 of this year. The parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said two of the female victims had finally had
rent contract doesn’t allow them 24/7 access to fuel. The standard currently is to fill up the tank once it’s halfway empty, however, emergencies happen, he added. “It’s embarrassing to run out of gas,” Trustee Donn Breckenridge said. “No, that means we're busy doing our job,” Nix countered. “I'm the one that was on the squad that day. I'm the one that ran the three or four calls. It wasn't done because of laziness.” There needs to be a backup plan, he said. “In a perfect world, we do try See Troy • Page 5
same level of funding libraries received a quarter of a century ago is a threat to all library programs, materials and services,” GCPL Executive Director Kris Carroll said in a letter. “We rely on funding from the state’s public library fund to support operations and capital improvements.” H.B. 96, introduced April 1, would cut a hundred million dol-
lars more from library funding than Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed budget. The Ohio House is proposing to allocate $485 million for fiscal See Library • Page 4
By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
SUBMITTED
pages 11-14
Dropped Donut Causes Serious Crash in Thompson page 5
Geauga Safety Center Slated for Renovations
Roots of Tomorrow Takes Burton Farm Back to Nature
Aiden Bai, 14, of Solon, prepares April 6 to help plant 700 trees at the home of Chris and Renee Rea in Burton Township.
Sports
April 6 was a cold, wet, spring day, but it didn’t discourage the Roots of Tomorrow group as they planted 700 seedlings on a farm in Burton Township. Farm owner Chris Rea said he was taken aback when Aiden Bai, 14, showed up with a shovel, half a dozen friends and boundless enthusiasm. “When these kids showed up, I thought, ‘Oh no!’ But the forester worked with them before,” Rea said. “Once they get going, they go!” Aiden and his friend, Nathan Liu, 16, both of Solon, founded See Roots • Page 4
page 6
Commissioners Vote Yes on New Airport Resolution page 7
Burton Residents Protest Rezoning Of Ronyak Parcel page 10
Obituaries page 15
Sheriff’s Sales & Legal Notices pages 17-18
Classifieds page 19 Single Edition $1.25