Leaf Thursday, July 11, 2024 Vol. 30 No. 28 • Chardon, Ohio www.geaugamapleleaf.com $1.25
State Patrol Investigating Fatal Crash In Munson Staff Report A single vehicle crash the evening of July 6 on U.S. Route 322 in Munson Township resulted in the death of the 43-year-old driver from Kirtland Hills and serious injuries to the passenger. At approximately 6:42 p.m., the Chardon post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol was notified of a crash near the intersection of Bass Lake Road that involved a blue 2023 Lamborghini Huracán, driven by Christopher Rossi. Rossi was traveling westbound on Route 322 at a high rate of speed, lost control, traveled off the See Crash • Page 4
Burton’s Century Village Stars in ‘Empowered’ Documentary
Geauga, Portage Investigators Turn to Crime-Solving Club to Help Crack Cold Cases
Divorced Couple Separately Vanish 10 Years Apart By John Karlovec john@karlovecmedia.com In the spring of 1994, 71-yearold Melvin Leroy Shoemaker disappeared from his home on Main Market Road in Parkman Township. He has not been seen nor heard from since. He left his home and vehicles behind — and roughly $1 million in the bank. Almost a decade later, his exwife, Florence, then 76, vanished from her Portage County childhood home on Winchell Road in Hiram Township. Like Melvin, she has not been seen nor heard from since. Despite thousands of hours of investigative work — including exSee Missing • Page 4
Melvin Leroy Sh oemaker Age: 71 at disa ppearance Missing: April 11, 1994 Location: Park man
COLD CASE: MISSING r Florence Shoemake arance Age: 76 at disappe Missing: Feb. 2, 2003 Location: Ravenna Photos courtesy of Record-Courier
Thompson Ledges Shows Off New, Evolving Improvements
By Allison Wilson
By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com
editor@karlovecmedia.com
Burton Village’s Century Village Museum is soon to take the spotlight, with its living history exhibits to be featured in a short TV documentary series called “Empowered.” The show, hosted by actor Meg Ryan, runs on public television stations across the United States. Its main focus is short form educational documentaries, running three to five minutes. “It’s kind of like if you go on the Discovery Channel and they have a TV show and then at the end of See Documentary • Page 5
ROSE NEMUNAITIS/KMG
The Morton Family, of Thompson Township, visit Thompson Ledges Township Park July 4 to celebrate the park’s new additions.
It’s a tradition for the Mortons, of Thompson Township, to attend their town’s Fourth of July parade every year. After this year’s Independence Day celebration, the young family enjoyed one more familiar stop before heading home — Thompson Ledges Township Park. “It’s a perfect day for all of us,” said Nari Morton. “Thompson Ledges is an amazing place to visit in our town. We go all the time.” Foundation for Geauga Parks sent a soft-opening e-invite to the See Ledges • Page 6
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