POST
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 • Vol. 17 No. 8 • FREE
Geauga Veterans Sport Fest Returns By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com Geauga Veterans Sport Fest is making a colorful return to Geauga County Sept. 7. Gates will open at 3 p.m. and a fireworks show will kick off at dusk at the sixth annual event in the parking lot of Great Lakes Outdoor Supply at 14855 North State Ave. (state Route 608) in Middlefield. “It’s a great opportunity to see our displays and meet the men and women of the local veteran organizations and show support to veterans, first responders and patriots,” event organizer and veteran Mike Warner said. By attending and purchasing raffle tickets, participants will be supporting veterans and get a chance to visit various veterans’ group displays. Admission is free, and food and beverages will be available for purchase, along with a drawing for the famous 50-item raffle — featuring firearms, outdoor equipment (paddle board, X-bow, Pelican kayaks, Camp Chef 2 burner stove, Camp Chef smoker, deer feeder, Expedition archery crossbow, cooler, fishing equipment, cash prizes and more. With all proceeds donated directly to Geauga County-based veterans organizations, the festival is a main source of funding for the groups. Tickets (one for $20 or three for $50) can be purchased online at Great Lakes Outdoor Supply website or from any of the following veteran organizations: Chardon VFW, Chardon American Legion, Middlefield VFW, Newbury American Legion, Combat Veterans Motorcycle See Sports Fest • Page 2
Middlefield Woman Gets Jail Time for Money Laundering
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Three Others Await Sentencing, Trial Dates By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Liana K. Gigliotti, of Middlefield, was sentenced Aug. 14 to 15 days in jail and five years of community control for her part in laundering $1.8 million from her uncle’s estate, a third-degree felony. She was credited with one day already served at the Geauga County Safety Center. Gigliotti had previously pleaded guilty in front of Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Paschke for her role in a continuing case of criminal conduct involving her uncle’s estate from Jan. 1, 2019, to Nov. 1, 2023, according to court records. Gigliotti also pleaded guilty See Gigliotti• Page 3
Faith Matters page 6
A Message from The Mayor page 7
Classifieds page 8 ANN WISHART/KMG
Liana K. Gigliotti, of Middlefield, was sentenced Aug. 14 to 15 days in jail for her part in laundering $1.8 million from her uncle’s estate. Defending her before Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Pashke is attorney Matthew Bangerter.
Bus Driver Shortage Causes Time Changes for Cardinal By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Cardinal Schools Superintendent Jack Cunningham asked the board of education Aug. 26 to approve a time change for the start and end of the school day. The district — which stretches from Parkman Township to Huntsburg Township — traditionally has 10 bus runs, but the transportation department is short of drivers this year, said Transportation Coordinator Diane Baumgartner at the special meeting. One driver retired, she said, and another quit in July, Cunningham added.
“Part of the problem is, we have, on every corner of our district, we have one student who needs picked up,” Baumgartner said, listing Chardon-Windsor Road, Bundysburg Road, Reynolds Road and Nelson Ledge Road as locations of some of the passengers the buses collect and drop off. “We just encompass the outskirts and it takes time to run it. I can only go so fast.” Bus drivers for the far-flung routes leave the school at 5:45 a.m. to get those students back to the high school by 6:55 a.m., Baumgartner said. Cunningham said two of the buses have 40 passengers each.
“That’s a chunk of kids,” he said, adding the lengthy routes may not get students to school before class time. “We want to make sure they get to eat breakfast,” he said. Cardinal Elementary School — which houses grades kindergarten through seven at the former middle school — provides breakfast, but if students come in too close to the start of class, they may miss the meal, Cunningham said. Teachers’ responsibilities in the classroom end at 3:10 p.m., but now, the buses aren’t available for some students who wait in the cafeteria or gym for up to 40 minutes, he said. See Bus • Page 2
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