POST
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 • Vol. 17 No. 13 • FREE
Local Pilot Flies Supplies to North Carolina By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Plenty of Geauga County residents dug into their pockets and closets while businesses donated inventory to help the victims of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina last month. The hurricane roared through Oct. 3, affecting 39 of North Carolina’s 100 counties and causing more than 100 deaths, according to an Associated Press article Oct. 24. Trucks bound for the Asheville area were loaded at various locations in Geauga and dispatched in Helene’s wake to help those who lost a lot due to flooding and destruction. Veteran pilot Tom Cunningham, 74, assisted in the flow of necessities collected in Geauga County with one main difference — he flew his 1959 Piper Comanche four-seat airplane full of much-needed survival supplies from the Geauga County Airport to Asheville Regional Airport twice in the last month. The first load of canned goods, toiletries, water and sundry other items filled his baggage compart-
ment and back seat, Cunningham recalled during a recent interview at the Geauga County Airport in Middlefield. “If I load the plane right, I can get close to 600 pounds in it,” he said, adding it is important to balance the load. “I weigh the stuff as we put it on the plane.” Cunningham, who has been flying since 1978, said he called down to the fixed base of operations in Asheville to find out what they needed to help people devastated by the hurricane's wide-spread destruction. “The ladies from the Montville Church of Christ organized the food collection and I volunteered to fly the stuff down,” he said. His loads were received by Signature Aviation, the private and general aviation ground organization handling the disposition of freight at the airport in Fletcher, N.C. “Signature flight support was really good,” Cunningham said, adding their personnel See Conservation • Page 9
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Tom Cunningham, who pilots his 1959 Piper Comanche out of Geauga County Airport in Middlefield Village, ferried two loads of goods to Asheville, North Carolina, to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
Rick Seyer Focuses on Local History in Retirement By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
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Rick Seyer points out the boy on the bicycle in the mural in Middlefield Village – a depiction of him when the original mural was painted. A student of local history and elected to village council multiple times, Seyer said he is adjusting to his retirement.
Rick Seyer’s passion to serve the residents of Middlefield Village rivals his love of the history of this bustling community in eastern Geauga County. First elected to Middlefield Village Council in 1974 at the age of 27, Seyer said in a recent interview he estimates he served more than 35 years in public office over the last 50 years. He stepped down from his council seat in September due to hearing loss that made it difficult to keep track of what was being said in meetings, he said. “(Mayor) Ben (Garlich) did See Seyer • Page 8
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