Leaf Thursday, May 8, 2025 Vol. 31 No. 19 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
Budget Commission Rejects Berkshire’s Amended Budget
Burton Trustees Contract with ADP After Hacking Incident page 6
County Judge Reflects on Journey to the Bench
Unvoted Property Tax Increase Scuttled By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
The Geauga County Budget Commission recently said Berkshire Schools’ original budget approved in February failed to show a need for a 2.5-mill transfer of inside millage. The commission also rejected the district’s amended budget submitted later that month. The unanimous vote scuttled the Berkshire Schools Board of Education’s plan to shift 2.5 mills from the general fund to the permanent improvement fund, dropping the district below the 20-mill floor and automatically increasing property taxes without residents’ vote. The commission’s special evening meeting April 22, originally scheduled for March 17, lasted for See Budget • Page 3
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Over 200 protesters and several counter protesters gathered on Water Street in Chardon May 4, many carrying signs airing a variety of grievances with President Donald Trump’s administration.
‘This is Not a Red Thing. This is Not a Blue Thing’
200 Protest Trump Administration in Chardon By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com Despite Geauga County voters’ majority support for President Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election, over 200 people, mostly from the county and surrounding areas, showed up to protest the current administration’s policies
May 4 in Chardon. Demonstrators at the protest — called May Day Strong — stood at the junction of Water Street, Cherry Avenue and Wilson Mills Road for two hours, yelling chants related to democracy and holding signs outlining a variety of grievances. “Everybody has an issue that’s hitting home to them, be
it friends that are immigrants, be it social security benefits that they’re scared are going to get lost, medicaid benefits, federal jobs,” said protest organizer Lisa, of Chardon, who requested to be referred to by her first name only for privacy concerns. “There are veterans who are out (protesting) See Protest • Page 4
Auburn Scout Takes on Greyhound Re-Homing Project By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Brynn Krahe’s love for greyhounds started with a plan to earn high school graduation honors for volunteer hours. Four years after her first visit to Greyhound Adoption of Ohio kennel in Bainbridge Township, the Kenston Schools junior not only owns one, she has imported eight racing greyhounds from Australia and is on a mission to find them all homes. In the process, Brynn, 17, said she earned her Girl Scout Gold Award and gained an appreciation for the large, muscular giants. She also did her advanced placement capstone research paper
on why greyhounds chase, but seldom kill, prey. “My older brother started volunteering here every Friday,” Brynn said, standing in the GAO parking lot with Seymour, a greyhound up for adoption, on a leash during a recent interview. Once she met the greyhounds at the kennel, it wasn’t long before the then-high school freshman began lobbying her father, Mitchell Krahe, for a dog. “Dad said we couldn’t get a greyhound, but I fell in love with Brax,” she recalled, adding she shared videos of Brax with him. “I kept begging him and begging him,” she said. See Greyhounds • Page 5
page 7
Zoning Issues in Aquilla Set Off Fireworks page 7
Bushman’s Years of Township Service Runs in the Blood page 10
Opinion page 12
Obituaries pages 18-19
Sports page 20
Sheriff’s Sales & Legal Notices start on page 23
Classifieds start on page 26 Single Edition $1.25
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Brynn Krahe, of Auburn Township, walks Patches, a greyhound at Greyhound Adoption of Ohio in Bainbridge Township she is seeking to re-home.