Leaf Thursday, January 12, 2023 Vol. 29 No. 2 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.00
Middlefield Man Charged With Aggravated Vehicular Assault By Cassandra Shofar cassandra@karlovecmedia.com
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Charles Hutsenpiller Jr., 56, of Middlefield, was recently indicted on felony charges of aggravated vehicular assault and vehicular assault, an OVI and other related charges connected to a vehicle accident Nov. 15, 2022, that seriously injured a 22-year-old Chardon man.
Kenston Deals with Flooding Aftermath
Water Damage Exposes Asbestos By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com Chardon Schools isn’t the only district dealing with recent flood damage. Frozen pipes at Kenston Intermediate School that burst over the holiday break caused significant water damage to the fifth-grade hallway and classrooms, Superintendent Steven Sayers said in a Dec. 29 letter to district parents. As a result, the district closed KIS last week and used four calamity days for fourth- and fifth-grade students, resuming classes Jan. 9. During the Kenston Schools Board of Education meeting Monday, Jeremy McDevitt, assistant See Kenston • Page 4
A Geauga County grand jury recently charged a Middlefield man with aggravated vehicular assault and vehicular assault, among other related charges, after he reportedly crashed his vehicle into another on Nov. 15 in Munson Township, seriously injuring the driver. Charles Hutsenpiller Jr., 56, Hutsenpiller Jr. was allegedly driving westbound in a 2011 Chevy Tahoe on Wilson Mills Road around 4:55 p.m. while under the influence of alcohol when he veered over the center line and into oncoming traffic, striking an eastbound 2022 Hyundai See Accident • Page 3
Geauga County’s Top New Dogs Ready to Serve By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office rang in the new year by adding two officers to the force. While each has four legs and fur, and neither will ever hold a gun, K-9s Justice and Blue serve just as vital a role as their handlers, deputies Randy Primer and Travis Goodwin, respectively. Justice, a 17-month-old German Shepherd, and Blue, an 18-monthold Dutch Shepherd, were born in Slovenia. Their breeds are known for their working ability, desire to cooperate with their handlers and, in some cases, their tenacity in fighting criminals. The deputies and their K-9s recently completed a rigorous 10week training program and graduated from Excel K-9 Services on Dec. 30. They are certified See Sheriff • Page 6
Sports pages 10-12
Geauga Public Health Considers 0.2-mill Levy for May Ballot page 7
Paul Pestello Resigns from Kenston Schools page 3
Obituaries pages 12-13
Legal Notices page 17
Classifieds pages 18-19
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PIctured, from left, are Excel K-9 Services’ Paul Shaughnessy, Geauga County Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Primer and Chief Deputy Thomas Rowan.