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Wednesday, October 29, 2025 • Vol. 18 No. 12 • FREE
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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Middlef ield Four Charged in Amish Kidnapping, Home Invasion Case Bound to Common Pleas Court Staff Report Editor’s Note: This article summarizes information from four previous Geauga County Maple Leaf articles on the Amish kidnapping and home invasion case published on Oct. 16 and 23. Four men are facing felony charges after a violent Oct. 9 home invasion in rural Middlefield Township in which an Amish father and his 8-year-old son were assaulted and threatened during an attempted kidnapping and robbery, authorities said. According to the Geauga County Sheriff’s Hosler Office, three men in a black Chevrolet Colorado pickup pulled into the victims’ driveway about 5:26 p.m. and entered the home. The father told dispatchers the intruders demanded money and appeared to be abducting his son. “The victim had reportedly given all of his money to the suspects. He further stated they hit him, threatened to kill him … and he did
Trick or Treat
Middlefield Village
Oct. 31 • 5:30-7:30 p.m. Trick or Treat in the Village of Middlefield will be held on Oct. 31 from 5:30-7:30p.m. Then head over to the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department to enjoy refreshments and the annual costume contest beginning at 7:30 p.m. SUBBMITTED
Huntsburg Township
Ricky Lee Martin, above, William Hatfield and Randall Cromer, left, are taken into custody on charges related to a home invasion, robbery and attempted kidnapping in Middlefield Township Oct. 9. All three are currently being held at the Geauga County Safety Center.
Oct. 31 • 6-8 p.m. “Trick or Treat” night for Huntsburg Township will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. Residents wishing to have their homes visited are asked to leave a porch or outside light on. Children are asked to stop only at homes with lights on. Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual cider, doughnuts and costume contest just after 7 p.m. at the fire station.
advise he was injured and bleeding on the 911 call,” Lt. Jim Jonovich said. Investigators said the suspects separated the father and son, held See Arrests • Page 4
Farmers National, Middlefield Bank Announce Merger Staff Report Two Ohio-based community banks announced Oct. 22 that they will merge in a $299 million allstock deal, creating a larger regional banking franchise. Farmers National Banc Corp. (NASDAQ: FMNB), the holding company of The Farmers National Bank of Canfield, will acquire Middlefield Banc Corp., the holding company for The Middlefield Banking Company. Under the agreement approved by the boards of both companies, each share of Middlefield common stock will be exchanged for 2.6 shares of Farmers common stock. Based on Farmers’ closing share price of $13.91 on Oct. 20, the deal
is valued at approximately $36.17 per Middlefield share. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Upon closing, Farmers expects to have roughly $7.4 billion in assets and about 83 branch locations throughout Ohio and western Pennsylvania. At the time of the announcement, Middlefield had about $2 billion in assets, with loans and deposits each around $1.6 billion as of Sept. 30, 2025. “We are excited to announce the merger with Middlefield. This is our seventh bank acquisition in the last 10 years and reflects our proven track record of executing and integrating strategic M&A,”
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDDLEFIELD BANK
Middlefield Bank’s headquarters and main branch in Middlefield, Ohio.
Farmers CEO Kevin J. Helmick said in an Oct. 22 company release. “The merger brings together two high-performing community banks with complementary markets, shared values and a common vision
for growth.” Added Helmick, “We know Middlefield and its markets well, and this partnership not only deepens our presence in Northeast Ohio but See Bank • Page 6
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