Leaf Thursday, April 17, 2025 Vol. 31 No. 16 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
McCune’s Bees Busy Despite Huge Die-Off By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Gene McCune, of Auburn Township, considers himself lucky this year — only about half his bee hives died during the winter. Throughout the apiary industry, many beekeepers lost up to 80% of their hives since last fall, he said, adding the almond industry in California that depends on commercial beekeepers hauling thousands of hives in to pollinate their trees may be in trouble. “This was a sad winter. It was the worst die-off in 20 years,” McCune said, standing by a row of wooden hives in his side yard. Six painted hives were buzzing with bees arriving with yellow, pollen-laden legs. Six hives were full of dead bees. Founder and owner of McCune Family Apiaries, the township trustee has about 200 hives in 15 locations around Northeast Ohio, and said he expects to lose at least See Bees • Page 6
Chardon Schools
2nd Parent Speaks Publicly on Sexual Assault Allegations By Cassandra Shofar cassandra@karlovecmedia.com A second parent has spoken out publicly about ongoing sexual assault allegations involving a male student in Chardon Middle
School’s choir program, expressing frustration with how the district has handled the situation. The parent, who has two children in the Chardon Schools district and requested anonymity to protect her family, said her daugh-
ter was one of several victims in the alleged incidents, which reportedly occurred over the past several months. “I feel like everything was pushed under the rug and it’s See Allegations • Page 7
Opinion page 21
Sports pages 19-20
Obituaries page 22 ALLISON WILSON/KMG
Protesters with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, seen here April 12, are demanding the release of ICE detainees both across Ohio and nationwide, and will be demonstrating monthly outside the Geauga County Safety Center until their goals are met.
Anti-ICE Demonstrators Protest Outside Geauga County Jail By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com
Demonstrators stood in front of the Geauga County Safety Center on April 12 to rally against the
detention of immigrants in the jail and nationwide, marking three months of protest at the facility. About 30 demonstrators of all ages trickled in across an hour of speeches and chants, many carry-
Legal Notices page 25
Classifieds page 27
ing homemade signs. Previous protests have attracted 50 to 100 demonstrators despite the distance from Cleveland and Akron, said Sean Sullivan, an See Protest • Page 4
Fire Destroys Kaballos Mexican Restaurant Staff Report
SUBMITTED
A fire at Kaballos Mexican Restaurant, 15585 West High Street in Middlefield, April 13 destroyed the bar and roof, resulting in what appears to be a total loss, said Middlefield Village Fire Department Lt. Ben Reed.
A fire engulfed Kaballos Mexican Restaurant in Middlefield Village the morning of April 13, destroying the bar and roof and resulting in what appears to be a total loss, said Lt. Ben Reed, of the Middlefield Village Fire Department. “The employees came in, turned on some lights and smelled something electric burning,” he said in an interview Sunday afternoon, adding no one was injured in the fire. The department was alerted to a fire at 15585 West High Street about 9:30 a.m., Reed said. When
fire trucks arrived a few minutes later, the fire was fully involved and there were already flames visible in the bar area, he said. Firefighters entered the front of the building and were able to get the blaze put out fairly quickly, but the roof and air conditioning unit were compromised and there was heavy smoke and heat damage throughout the five-star restaurant, Reed said. Fire departments from Burton, Windsor and Mesopotamia townships automatically answered the call to assist and MFD firefighters stayed on scene until about 2 p.m. See Fire • Page 3
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