Leaf Thursday, October 31, 2024 Vol. 30 No. 44 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
CHS Goes On Lockdown After ‘Swatting’ Incident Threat Call Came from Outside the U.S. By Amy Patterson amy@karlovecmedia.com Chardon High School students were temporarily ordered to shelter in place Oct. 28 after two reports — later found to have originated outside of the U.S. — alleged the presence of a weapon in the building. “The Chardon Police Department received a message report-
ing an alleged suicidal student in a restroom at Chardon High School. Shortly afterward, another service received a similar alleged threat targeting our school bathrooms,” CHS Principal Adam Tomco said in an email to parents. “Working swiftly, law enforcement traced the location of the IP address, confirming both threats originated from a source outside the United States.”
Chardon Schools Superintendent Michael Hanlon said officers arrived at CHS initially to respond to a single claim of a student with suicidal ideation with the potential to act on those thoughts. A second call came into CHS later, informing the school personnel another agency had received a call with more details alleging someone with a gun in a bathroom. See Swatting • Page 6
Cardinal Schools
Murray Sentenced To Probation, Fine for Grade Tampering page 6
GCSO Hosts Festive Trunk-or-Treat pages 12-13
INSIDE
Gas Leak at Elementary Resolved, No Injuries
Obituaries pages 9
By Ann Wishart
Opinion
ann@karlovecmedia.com
Hundreds of Cardinal Elementary School students got an unexpected day off Oct. 17 due to a gas leak the school custodian discovered early that morning. Cardinal Superintendent Jack Cunningham gave a “shout out” to the staff during the Cardinal Schools Board of Education meeting Oct. 23 for handling the emergency and putting student safety first. The custodian noticed a slight smell at about 7:15 a.m. and started making phone calls, Cunningham said. “The problem was many kids were already on the buses,” he said. “Our staff jumped into action right away.” While vehicles from neighboring townships and Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department moved into See Cardinal • Page 3
page 11 ALLISON WILSON/KMG
Engineer Brian Smallwood presents updated architectural renderings of a Meijer supercenter and mExpress gas station to Chardon Planning Commission Oct. 22.
Chardon Meijer Greenlit Planning Commission Approves Proposal By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com After tabling the topic at their September meeting, Chardon Planning Commission approved the final development plan and architectural review for Meijer Oct. 22. The new supercenter would be located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Loreto Drive and Water Street and would feature an mExpress gas station.
“As you recall, planning commission went through a litany of variances and sign deviations at last month’s hearing,” Community Development Administrator Steve Yaney said. “They either approved them all or, at the time, I think there was one that was removed that was no longer necessary based on discussion at the meeting.” Meijer sought nine variances, See Meijer • Page 8
Sports pages 16-19
Sheriff’s Sales & Legal Notices start on page 23
Classifieds page 28 Single Edition $1.25