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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
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Middlef ield Wednesday, April 1, 2026 • Vol. 18 No. 22 • FREE
7 17, Geauga Credit Unions to Merge, Serving 130K Members By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com April 1 will mark the official merger of 7 17 Credit Union with Geauga Credit Union, according to information posted on the 7 17 website. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies are scheduled at both the Burton and Middlefield Geauga Credit Union branches, ahead of the final consolidation of the two credit unions in November, according to a letter from 7 17 CEO Jonathan Demmier to GCU members. “On April 1, the name and signs will change. However, you should continue to use your Geauga Coun-
ty branches,” he wrote, adding that further changes will be announced before the process is complete in November. “The merger with Geauga Credit union adds to our branch footprint,” he said. Originally established more than 60 years ago for hourly workers at the Packard Electric plant Demmier in Warren, 7 17 has since grown to 12 branches in Warren, Cortland, Vienna, Howland, Hubbard, Canfield, Austintown, Boardman, Kent, Ravenna, and Canton. Membership
is open to those living or working in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Portage, Summit and central Stark counties, according to the website. Several other credit unions are also expected to join 7 17. “The merged entity will operate under the 7 17 Credit Union name and is expected to serve over 130,000 members,” the website states. The Geauga Credit Union merger has been in the works for about a year, Demmier said in a phone interview March 18. “I spent a lot of time in Burton Geauga Credit Union last year,” he said. “We’re really excited to become part of the community and to
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expand the work we’re doing there — helping their 6,500 members to improve their lives.” Demmier, a Chagrin Falls resident, said the Burton and Middlefield locations serve rural communities that attracted 7 17. “The Geauga Credit Union merger takes us into a part of the state that allows us to kinda connect with small towns, as well,” he said. “I grew up in a small town. For me, it feels like we’re coming home.” In the letter to GCU members, Demmier described the merger as the largest in 7 17’s history, allowing the credit union to absorb $108 million in assets from GCU. See Credit Union • Page 4
Supporting the Game: Preston Sports Raffle Benefits Student Athletes By Haley Adams sports@karlovecmedia.com
For the fourth consecutive year, Preston Superstore will help support student-athletes at Cardinal Local Schools in partnership with Cardinal Athletic Boosters by donating a vehicle to be raffled off at the last home game of each football season. This year’s big raffle will be for a Red 2026 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab, with the winning ticket pulled Oct. 2. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the Boosters' general fund. The first year's raffle allowed the Boosters to fund pay-to-particiSee Raffle• Page 4
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The Cardinal Athletic Boosters is again benefitting from Preston Superstore’s donation of a 2026 Ford F250 4X4 Supercab for a raffle that will benefit the student-athletes. The winning ticket will be pulled Oct. 2, the last home football game.
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