2019 was an eventful year in Brookfield, Masury and Yankee Lake with leadership changes within the school and the fire department, the awarding of important grants to the school district and township, a Father’s Day tornado and the township addressing several code enforcement issues. What follows is a recap of the year — in print and video.
As you read through the list, remember that these are all stories that NEWS On the Green covered in 2019, and are only a portion of the stories we brought to you. If you would like to see NEWS On the Green continue to publish these stories, do your part by sending us a donation, subscribing (for home, mail or electronic delivery) or advertising with us. Thank you!
January
Bad to the Bone BBQ opened at 7317 Warren Sharon Road.
Volunteer firefighters Cliff Elliott, Kenny Johnson, Greg Mead and Jared Fisher retired from or quit the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department. The volunteers reorganized by naming Jim Richmond, president; Randy Richman, vice president; Matt Rozhon, secretary; Aaron Kasiewicz, treasurer; and Tim Mosora, trustee.
Brookfield police Cpl. Ralph E. Marchio Jr. retired after 30 years of service.
February
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio granted a rate hike for Masury customers of Aqua Ohio to reflect improvements made for water service. A second hike for the same purpose was granted in October.
Former Brookfield Fire Chief Keith Barrett died.
Brookfield High School’s wrestling program turned 50.
Broken pipes caused by freezing temperatures flooded parts of Brookfield elementary and middle schools.
Brookfield Board of Education and the non-teaching union approved a three-year contract.
Brookfield Code Enforcement Officer Jimmy Ewing resigned.
March
Brookfield school Supt. Velina Jo Taylor resigned to take the top job at Lakeview schools.
Brookfield trustees hired Nicholas Graf and Shane Stelk as full-time firefighters.
David Fennell of Masury was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison for child rape.
April
Brookfield trustees hired Giglio Inc. to remove a burned out and collapsed mobile home on Boyd Street.
Brookfield Fire Capt. Dave Coffy retired after 40 years of service.
First Responders First Inc. delivered safety equipment, including flares, safety vests and a collapsible sign, to Brookfield Fire Department.
May
Paul O’Brien received the Brookfield Optimist Club Outstanding Community Service Award.
A Brookfield schools permanent improvement levy was defeated.
Brookfield voters approved a renewal of a levy for the police department.
Brookfield Fallen Firefighters Foundation presented a $2,500 grant to Brookfield schools to wipe out student lunch debt.
Brookfield Fire Department made several promotions to fill its officer ranks: Nick Cresanto to captain; Steve Smoot to lieutenant; Randy Richman to volunteer captain; and Jim Richmond to volunteer lieutenant.
Black Sheep Bacon Co. opened at 7140 Warren Sharon Road.
Sereday’s Excavating, Masury, demolished a vacant home on Wheeler Street, a contract awarded by Brookfield trustees.
June
Toby Gibson was named superintendent of Brookfield Local School District. Adam Lewis was named to a new position, director of teaching, learning and accountability. Kristen Foster was promoted to replace Lewis as high school principal and Craig Boles was hired to replace Gibson as middle school principal.
Brookfield firefighters picked up four tablet computers that were awarded in a state grant.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources approved the operation of a second injection well on Highland Field Services property on Route 7.
A Father’s Day tornado ripped across Brookfield and Masury, damaging homes, businesses and township property, including Yankee Run Golf Course and Brookfield Township Cemetery.
Brookfield trustees hired Peter Ross as code enforcement officer.
July
Brookfield trustees hired Grand River Forestry of West Farmington to undertake a limited logging at Brookfield Township Community Park.
Daniel Scharmer of Brookfield was sentenced to probation on charges related to the possession of child pornography.
August
Myrdis and Eugene “Lester” Ledbetter, both deceased, were honored by Brookfield trustees as Citizens of the Year at Summer Fest.
Ohio awarded Trumbull County a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant to address drainage, roads, sidewalks and recreation in Masury south of Route 62.
Stephen W. Styranec of Struthers was put on probation on charges of vehicular manslaughter and failing to yield stemming from the Sept. 20, 2018, crash between a garbage truck and a minivan at Route 62 and Bedford Road. Blaine Tinelli, 80, of Hubbard died in the crash.
September
Trumbull County announced plans to extend sanitary sewer service to much of Yankee Lake and part of Masury.
Brookfield Fire Capt. Matt Gordon retired after more than 20 years in the department.
A representative of the Ohio Auditor of State announced the recommendations in a shared-services study covering Brookfield, Mathews and Liberty school districts.
Seven members of an army unit that was stationed in Germany get together at the home of Charles and Medra Dobbins in Masury for a 50th reunion.
Brookfield Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class: Elizabeth Drummond. Barbara Gregorich, Dr. Brian Noble Jones, Francis McCabe, Air Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Sawtelle and the late Judge Raymond J. Rice Sr.
Brookfield trustees and Brookfield Township Historical Society honored the late Rachel Williams Stuart Davis Bricker, who served as a Brookfield Board of Education member, township trustee and state representative during the Great Depression, World War II and the post-war years.
October
Brookfield trustees and Tommie and Kathy Norris Phillips reached an agreement setting the stage for a cleanup of the Phillips’ property at 8085 Warren Sharon Road. The Phillipses did not keep up their end of the deal and the township started removing junk vehicles in November.
Brookfield trustees approved buying a new van for the senior transportation program.
Brookfield Board of Education was awarded a $60,000 grant from the Arconic Foundation for the purchase of equipment to expand its “maker space.”
An arson fire damaged neighboring homes at Roberts Street and Dutch Lane in Masury.
Brookfield High School’s golf team competed in the state tournament for the fourth year in a row, coming in fourth. Justin Atkinson and Conner Stevens were named to the Ohio All State Team for their performances at the tournament.
November
Brookfield Trustee Ron Haun was re-elected to a fourth four-year term. Melissa Sydlowski and Sarah Kurpe were elected to the Brookfield Board of Education, and the school district’s third try at a permanent improvement levy failed.
Brookfield trustees and school board reached an agreement to place a police officer in the school full-time for the rest of the school year.
Brookfield trustees signed agreements with the Ohio Public Works Commission and Trumbull County commissioners paving the way for a grant to pave Rose and Park avenues and Service, Budd and Charles streets.
Brookfield Trustee Gary Lees met with Hubbard city and township officials to discuss ways they can cooperate.
Steve Smoot was promoted to captain in the Brookfield Fire Department.
Ink ‘N Thread Works opens at 8226 Warren Sharon Road.
Nathan H. Delgros of Sharon was sentenced to 18 months in prison on charges of aggravated vehicular assault and leaving the scene of accident stemming from the Sept. 20, 2018, crash of his ATV and a motorcycle driven by Charles Costea, 64, of Masury, who was critically injured, in Masury. Delgros has appealed the sentence.
Brookfield Warrior Hall of Fame inducted Erin Scoccia Womer, April Vansuch Elwood, Ernest Bremick, Ross Tice and James Haun.
Brookfield and Niles school boards signed an agreement to share Brookfield’s treasurer, Craig Yaniglos.
Lucie Thompson lost an appeal of her conviction for animal cruelty stemming from the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County removing horses, ducks, chickens, a pig and a dog in November 2017, when she lived in Brookfield. Thompson filed a federal civil rights suit against the league, Brookfield Township and others.
December
Strimbu Memorial Fund awards grants to 27 organizations, including Brookfield Police Department and Brookfield Township, totaling nearly $200,000.
Jerry Nescastro is appointed to fill a vacancy on the Brookfield Board of Education.
Craig Yaniglos resigns as treasurer of Brookfield Local School District to take another job.
Brookfield Road Department begins a project to install storm sewers on Rose Avenue.
