The opening marks the first cannabis retail facility in Berea establishing a new access point on Cleveland’s southwest side Courtesy of The Landing DispensaryPosted by Tony LangeMay 5 2025CMSBrowserComponents.load({ el: '#vue-1746488042868-709' props: {"cookieName":"parallaxState","cookieValue":"1","expires":1} skipWhenExists: false });[PRESS RELEASE] – BEREA a leading vertically integrated cannabis brand with operations in Ohio and West Virginia announced that its newest The Landing Dispensary following a successful soft opening that began May 1 This new location brings Firelands Scientific's total retail footprint to six locations in the state The Landing Berea will join the company's existing Ohio locations in Cincinnati Monroe and Huron (Firelands Scientific Dispensary) "We are thrilled to strengthen our presence in Northeast Ohio with the upcoming Berea location," said Christy Bezuijen Firelands Scientific’s vice president of Brands and Marketing "This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to providing Ohio cannabis consumers and patients with convenient access to quality products at competitive prices The Berea community has been incredibly welcoming and we look forward to becoming a trusted cannabis resource in the area." the Berea dispensary draws unique inspiration from the local community it serves showcasing the positive economic and social impact of responsible cannabis normalization in both Ohio's medical and adult-use markets The new location will feature Firelands Scientific's complete product lineup alongside a carefully curated selection of other top cannabis brands and grand opening discounts The new dispensary is strategically located on West Bagley Road a main thoroughfare in Berea with excellent visibility and accessibility The location is just a short drive from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and minutes from Baldwin Wallace University and the Cleveland Browns’ practice facility the dispensary offers easy access for residents and visitors with ample parking and proximity to several shopping centers and restaurants Patients and customers will find the location easily accessible from I-71 and the Ohio Turnpike making it a convenient option for cannabis consumers throughout Cleveland's southwest suburbs This retail expansion builds upon Firelands Scientific's established reputation as a community-focused operator dedicated to education product quality and affordable access to cannabis throughout the region For more information about The Landing Berea, including updates on the grand opening, visit www.thelandingdispensaries.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMADISON COUNTY (WYMT) - Kentucky State Police troopers are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Berea Troopers with KSP Post 7 Richmond were contacted by officers with the Berea Police Department at approximately 6:30 a.m WYMT is told that the investigation is centered on a car that was reported stolen and discovered in a parking lot at Walmart When officers with the Berea Police Department approached the vehicle that is when they said an officer quickly found himself in harm’s way hitting one of the officers and pinning him between the car and a pickup truck The officer then fired his gun into the car We are told two people in the car were hit Her charges and how she was involved in the incident are unknown at the time this incident took place,” said KSP Trooper Justin Kearny “There were other people inside Walmart at this time and that’s when the driver placed the vehicle in reverse.” Troopers said the officer and two suspects were taken to the hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries The Walmart remained open for business while the investigation continued A filed citation revealed new information on the officer-involved shooting that occurred in the Berea Walmart parking lot on Tuesday The citation detailed that at around 6 a.m Berea police received an alert regarding a stolen vehicle reportedly out of Rockcastle County The reported stolen vehicle was found unoccupied in the Walmart parking lot and the citation read that after about 20 minutes three people walked out of the Walmart and got into the vehicle Responding officers activated their emergency lights while surrounding the vehicle Officers gave verbal commands to turn off the vehicle and exit with their hands up hitting an officer and pinning him up against a detective's vehicle in the process As officers began to discharge their firearms Allen allegedly accelerated forward in an attempt to flee the scene causing additional damage to another parked vehicle The individuals then exited the vehicle after further verbal commands and were then detained by officers The officer that was hit by the vehicle was taken to an area hospital due to his injuries Allen was charged with attempted murder of a first responder (peace officer) receiving stolen property $1,000 < $10,000 and first-degree attempted fleeing or evading police New details have been released by Kentucky State Police Post 7 regarding the officer-involved shooting in the Berea Walmart parking lot early Tuesday morning there were three people in the vehicle at the time of the incident and the officer discharged his firearm and struck two of the people in the vehicle KSP notes that the third person was detained for questioning Kentucky State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Tuesday morning in the Berea Walmart parking lot according to a Facebook post from the Berea Police Department Berea police say they responded to Walmart to investigate a reported stolen vehicle When officers attempted to make contact with the driver police say "he placed the car in reverse and struck an officer pinning him between two vehicles." As a result the officer then reportedly "fired his weapon into the vehicle to stop it." Berea police say that one officer and two others involved were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries there is no active threat to the community Berea police note that Walmart is open for business but officers are still on the scene investigating Report a typo Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBEREA (WKYT) - Daylight had just broken in Berea Tuesday when police were called to the local Walmart after a suspected stolen car was spotted the driver placed the vehicle into reverse striking one of the officers,” said Trooper Justin Kearney with Kentucky State Police A woman who was also in the car was taken into custody Police have not released the names of the suspects or the officer involved Berea police posted on Facebook that the officer is now recovering at home They said they wanted to thank all of those who reached out with well wishes to him The local Wal-Mart remained open while the investigation was taking place a large section of the parking lot was roped off with crime scene tape Police say there was never any danger to customers but the investigation lasted until well into the afternoon “I’m not sure how many people were there at this time when the incident took place; there were other people inside the Walmart it was early in the morning,” said Trooper Kearney Police are still investigating the incident and it’s not clear to what extent all the charges will be The two men hit by the gunfire were still being treated at a hospital One police officer and two other people have been transported to the hospital for injuries after an officer-involved shooting in Berea A press release from the Berea Police Department says early this morning officers responded to Walmart in Berea to investigate a stolen vehicle he placed the car in reverse and struck an officer The officer fired his weapon into the vehicle to stop it Officials say there is no active threat to the community Kentucky State Police is investigating this officer-involved shooting police are asking that people leave space for officers to work the scene (LEX 18) — The healthcare industry has been grappling with a significant shortage of nurses and staff over the past five years Athough recent developments suggest some improvement work-study program is serving an alternate pipeline for a new generation of nurses expresses her disbelief at the tuition-free promise provided by Berea College It wasn't something I believed was true," Nijimbere said Nijimbere's sentiment is shared among Berea College’s nursing students who are set to join a workforce still struggling to fill positions According to a report by the Kentucky Hospital Association 27% of critical care nursing positions were vacant in 2021 indicating progress but still showing a shortage of nearly 3,900 registered nurses statewide Clayton baccalaureate nursing chair at Berea College emphasized the impact of the college's zero-tuition program in breaking barriers for future nurses "We give students an opportunity they otherwise wouldn't have," she said adding that last year's graduates all found employment within six months with more than three-quarters placed in Kentucky and Appalachia Kennison's commitment is echoed by the students who acknowledged the persistent understaffing issues during job interviews The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated staffing challenges at Kentucky hospitals but Berea College's approach appears to be successfully fostering a part of the new generation of skilled nurses dedicated to their patients we all have one common goal and that is to care for the patient," Nijimbere said Nijimbere and her peers at Berea College are ready to transition from simulation labs to real-world medical settings helping address the critical nursing shortage in the region (LEX 18) — At a school board meeting Monday night the Berea Schools superintendent addressed parents and staff about the cuts that were announced today Chris Preece has taught chemistry at Berea High School for 10 years He found out by phone call today that his contract will not be renewed next school year "They're going to have to run an entire high school with one science teacher I don't see how that's feasible," said Preece He has a wife and two kids - one is a newborn directing his comment towards Superintendent Dr "Myself and so many people are having to deal with the repercussions of this what kind of repercussions are happening to you Hatchett gave a presentation explaining that the district overspent by a lot She said the Kentucky Board of Education stepped in "We have to eliminate programs that we hold dear and that's because we don't have the dollars," said Dr The breakdown of cuts are as follows: 10 district positions 5.5 middle school positions and 8.5 high school positions Included in those numbers is the school social worker Hatchett's spending; she allegedly flew first class for multiple trips this school year that you took advantage of our school," said another parent "She has spent 40,000 just this year of my tax-payer dollars." Preece is concerned about the workload on the remaining staff and how his students will be impacted the options that they will have to take for classes will have to suffer also," said Preece Hatchett alluded to the fact at Monday's meeting that the cuts could have been worse "We could have one principal period for the whole school "There's no words really to say other than we love this district and we want to keep it open." She's retiring at the end of this school year Diane Hatchett is set to retire at the end of this school year as she has been put on paid administrative leave today Parents say Hatchett allegedly overspent on meals and travel while attending out-of-state conferences This came after she gave a school board meeting presentation explaining that the district overspent significantly “There’s been a lack of transparency and lack of communication in the last seven years or so,” Debra Morgan added and their family have dedicated most of their lives to education Allegations that Berea's superintendent misused funds weighed heavily on their hearts “Certainly a blow to everybody,” Debra said more than 20 staff and teaching positions are set to be eliminated “Those lives have been changed—young people who love education Now their careers are brought to a standstill but they are the ones bearing the brunt of the financial ramifications,” Chuck explained The superintendent was put on paid administrative leave while an investigation looks into her use of funds “Tonight was a good step in that direction,” Debra expressed School Board Chairman John Morgan kickstarted the process former Madison County Schools Superintendent but it’s one that has a reputation for doing things right,” he stated While the Berea community pursues their permanent leader in a time of uncertainty the Morgans believe everything will work out in the end “I trust the school board now because they are very willing to listen to people,” Debra confirmed we will find a way to keep this program going wholeheartedly Thomas has a career in education spanning a few decades According to School Board Chairman John Morgan Thomas is coming out of retirement to fill this position The only concern attendees at the board meeting had was Thomas’s wages Morgan shared that he would make more than $550 a day Some attendees indicated that it was too much to give a temporary replacement when the school district is already in financial trouble Berea Independent Schools announced that current superintendent Diane Hatchett will be placed on paid administrative leave as an investigation into her time with the school is underway a former superintendent for Madison County Schools Hatchett has been under fire following an announcement on March 17 that a number of teaching contracts would not be renewed and positions would be cut. Parents have questioned Hatchett's spending as she allegedly flew first class for multiple trips during the academic year Berea High School students walked out in protest of the cuts on March 19. The district will have 30 days after the end of their investigation to make a decision about Hatchett's employment who is set to retire at the end of the academic year (LEX 18) — More than 20 Berea Community Schools teachers and staff will soon be without a job following major teacher and staffing cuts that were announced during a school board meeting on Monday Berea High School students are now making their voices heard with a 'walk out' that took place Wednesday morning just kind of something that we mentioned doing and we show up to school the next day and it's done and it really just shows that we are a community and we are here for each other," said Brinkley Osborne During a school board meeting Monday night Diane Hatchett announced cuts were being made and contracts would not be renewed Hatchett says the cuts are due to overspending "I think right now we're just out here showing support for our teachers our faculty and staff Showing them that we're here to support them like they've supported us all throughout our high school," said Osborne Hundreds of students stood on the front lawn of Berea High School holding signs and chanting in support of those affected The group even marched over to the Board of Education to express their disappointment Kids these days get a bad rap I think about not being engaged Not caring about the world around them and this shows me that our kids are willing to stand up for what matters to them and what matters in this community so I'm so proud of them today," said Katie Basham a parent of a student at Berea High School "Public schools in Kentucky are special places where kids find a sense of belonging They learn about the book stuff but they also learn about the important lessons Vital that we take good care of public schools and especially right now in the Berea community." "Along with the fact our teachers are losing their jobs and being blamed for things that they had zero part in It was all the board and our superintendent and we want to show them support in this hard time," said Kasey Brown a senior at Berea High School.Parents at Monday's board meeting presented district treasurer reports pointing out submitted travel expenditures by Dr but they have helped me mentally and physically They have helped me from freshman year until now and I really love and support them," said Brown Hatchett is retiring at the end of this school year Portfolio hotel is slated to begin late this year "Adding The Barker Hotel as part of District 46 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus will not only help continue to grow Berea and the surrounding areas but also provide fans with an ideal place to stay right in the backyard of our facility," said Haslam Sports Group Chief Operating Officer David Jenkins "We look forward to working with DiGeronimo Companies Shaner Hotel Group and Marriott on this project to help complete the neighborhood which is already bringing a variety of spaces to benefit the region." "Anchoring the development with a hotel of the caliber of The Barker is consistent with our vision for District 46," said DiGeronimo Companies Chief Executive Officer and Marriott for their partnership in bringing this unique hotel offering to Berea." the Tribute Portfolio hotel will encompass more than 96,000 square feet and will feature a range of amenities all crafted to enhance the guest experience "We're thrilled to be expanding our portfolio by partnering with top-tier sports and entertainment venue leaders such as Haslam Sports Group," said Plato Ghinos "This project reflects our ongoing commitment to enhance guest experiences within our hotels." "We are excited to collaborate with Haslam Sports Group and Shaner on this new hotel project in the Berea community," said Bob Hoying "We look forward to bringing this vision to life and contributing to the growth of the area." Collinwood Athletic Complex project marks the 16th field dedicated by the Browns FREE and EXCLUSIVE to Season Ticket Members Three current members of coaching staff to take on new roles in 2025 Talent ID Camps help identify the best athletes across the country for opportunities with the U.S (LEX 18) — A manhunt came to an end following a deadly shooting in Madison County Police arrested and charged Steve Gerlaugh with murder and according to his complaint warrant Detectives say it showed Gerlaugh in the driver's seat of a white Toyota Camry with Thomas Rison standing next to the window when a muzzle flashed and Rison collapses the 42-year-old Rison was shot and killed during an incident on Baldwin Street on his birthday that's a bad way to go on your birthday," Patty Rison According to the Madison County Coroner's office Rison lost his life as the result of a shooting involving the 75-year-old Gerlaugh Gerlaugh is charged with murder and booked in the Madison County Detention Center A criminal complaint warrant says police responded to the scene just after 8 p.m. and they found Rison suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest had been sober for 18 months after battling drugs for nearly 20 years and he was the best person that you could ask for and he made sure I was taken care of," Patty noted Tommy's mom reminded us how strong-willed Tommy could be helping others battling drugs and others in recovery "If he didn't think they were doing what they should be doing he would say something about it," Patty said Tommy's daughter Chloe said her dad set a great example in his recovery Chloe said they were able to develop a strong bond last year (LEX 18) — The Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program at Berea Community Schools is one of the top JAG programs in the state 10 students in the middle school program are representing Berea in a national competition “It gives me such insight into my future and what I can do with my future,” said Dallas Connor president of the middle school JAG program Connor was in seventh grade when the program put on its first Berea bed build in March of 2024 these students are continuing the charge to keep building beds for kids in the community “We were able to build 37 and provide 37 kids in our community with beds.” “It’s helped me learn that helping people is one of the best feelings you could ever feel,” said Tye Le These students learn a lot of skills in the JAG program to learn about real-world work experiences When Berea Schools announced budget cuts last month the middle and high school JAG programs did not make the cut “I was completely heartbroken,” said Delaney Lemaster “The first thing I did was I told my grandma Lemaster helped organize the first bed build in 2024 and she’s now the vice president of career development within the high school program Lemaster is helping lead the charge to try and save the JAG programs in Berea “We are working on a community event to hopefully bring everyone together and also get donations from,” Lemaster said Students and community partners are working together to put on the Sing and Save event on Friday They need $37,000 from that event to save both the middle and high school JAG programs but it’s something Lemaster feels her time in JAG has prepared her for JAG has taught me that it’s just a knock at the door “One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that this is just another knock at the door The Sing and Save event is taking place next Friday at Union Church in Berea If you would like to help out with the Berea bed build or you can also donate money or supplies for that effort A group of Madison County-area residents is holding a town hall meeting Tuesday to air frustrations with the Trump Administration and Congressman Andy Barr Lisa Abbott said members of the group dubbed We Show Up KY began meeting in February to discuss administration actions they say are hurting people and democracy itself “That includes veterans and farmers and people who depend on Meals on Wheels and local immigrant families – just the whole range of the way that the federal government right now is affecting programs that our lives depend on Barr was invited to attend or take part by video from Washington A spokesman cited possible House committee meetings and floor action as the reason for not participating in part because Barr wants a promotion to the U.S “The fact that he's not willing to hear concerns from his constituents sends a loud signal about how he does or doesn't respect local folks and the ways that our lives are being impacted right now.” at the Berea Folk Center and Abbott said supporters of Barr and President Trump are welcome (LEX 18) — Some people in Berea will have to go a little farther for health services as the Martha Pride Community Health Center in Berea sits empty the Madison County Health Department announced its closing because of building concerns says the health department's maintenance team came out to city hall to discuss the building's inspections what I was told is that there were issues with the slab settling That's really the only information that we had our role at the city of Berea would be to simply provide them with any information or architectural diagrams that may be helpful for them to remedy the situation." According to the Madison County PVA the health department purchased the building in November of 2002 Berea's mayor says right now safety is the biggest priority "The main thing right now I think is that safety always comes first and I think that if they have safety concerns certainly I support the decision to temporarily close I'm hopeful that they can resume those services because they are valuable to the southern end of Madison County,” says Fraley Health departments are essential in communities people are being sent to the Richmond location for service The mayor says he hopes this building will reopen "In a county like ours I think where you have two larger cities you know access to public health is critical to our entire community -- especially our lower income population Not only for clinical services but also for public education The health department plays a key role in public health in our community and all communities for that matter,” says Fraley The Madison County Coroner's Office said that one man has died as a result of the shooting involving 75-year-old Steven Gerlaugh that happened on Monday night on Baldwin Street the man was identified as 42-year-old Thomas Rison The coroner's office said that Rison's body will be sent to Frankfort to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy Gerlaugh is charged with murder and is booked in the Madison County Detention Center A Criminal Complaint Warrant detailed that Berea police responded to the scene just after 8:00 p.m and found "Rison suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest." officers recovered surveillance video of the shooting which "shows Gerlaugh in the driver's seat of a white 2003 Toyota Camry speaking to Rison who was standing next to the driver's side window." The warrant stated that "the video shows a muzzle flash then the Rison walking back toward the home before collapsing." The warrant noted that "a witness identified Gerlaugh and confirmed that he fled from the scene after the shooting." The Berea Police Department reported that a man was arrested in connection to a shooting that happened on Baldwin Street in Berea late Monday night According to a Facebook post from Berea police they searched for 75-year-old Steven Gerlaugh for several hours until they eventually located him and took him into custody An original post from Berea police noted that one person sustained injuries from the shooting LEX 18 is working to learn more information devoted father and passionate advocate for public education," will now serve as the superintendent of Berea Independent Schools Neaves began his teaching career at Tichenor Middle School and "spent a decade coaching track and field using athletics as a tool to develop leadership he served as K-12 principal at Williamstown Independent Schools "He leads with intention and focus on giving teachers the support they need to be successful and believes in putting community before curriculum," the district said Williamstown Independent Schools also shared the news on social media we are incredibly grateful for the leadership and care he has brought to our school community during his time here," Superintendent John Sloan said and we wish him all the best in this new chapter." The announcement comes as former Superintendent Dr. Diane Hatchett came under fire in March after budget cuts that are set to eliminate more than 20 staff and teaching positions were announced. Hatchett was placed on paid administrative leave as an investigation into her time with the district began Hatchett was set to retire at the end of the 2024-25 academic year Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Thanks for visiting (LEX 18) — Police in Madison County have just as many questions as answers after an inappropriate incident reportedly took place on a Berea trail the Berea Police Department is hoping to find the man involved and they’re asking the community to be on the lookout “We’ve received multiple calls in reference to a male that’s been seen in the Brushy Fork area,” said officer Barry Manley and he’s observed doing inappropriate things in a public area.” I’d say it probably is sexual in nature,” Manley added and police are now looking for the man from the incident and then at that point is when we start investigating of what’s going on,” said Manley so we don’t have any video proof of what was being done We only have the victim that was there that observed it and the suspect that was doing it.” the Berea Police Department described the man as middle-aged with longer salt and pepper gray hair and a gray beard Berea police hope the community will help during the search “A lot of our crimes are called in by our community members “We just kind of have to gather all of the information at once and kind of build that case and then be able to find who this male is.” While officer Manley hopes the people of Berea will be helpful in finding this man he also hopes this incident won’t prevent people from enjoying the trails around Berea “It’s not something that’s normal for Berea,” Manley said “so I wouldn’t tell people to stay away from these trials.” “Berea is known for the trails that we have throughout our city Officers were unable to locate the man from the description Monday Anyone with information that might help this investigation should contact the Berea Police Department definitely please just say something,” said Manley “That’s the only way we can hurry up and get there and investigate what’s actually going on.” The Cleveland Browns hosted a LEGENDS Clinic at Lou Groza Field on July 8 The Cleveland Browns hosted a LEGENDs Clinic at Lou Groza Field on July 8 The Cleveland Browns hosted a LEGENDS Clinic at Haslam Field on July 9 The Cleveland Browns hosted a LEGENDS Clinic at Griffin Stadium on June 28 The Cleveland Browns hosted a LEGENDs Clinic at Olmsted Falls High School on June 25 The Cleveland Browns hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for our 15th field project at Garfield Heights High School on March 15 The 2025 "A New Era Summit" at Huntington Bank Field on March 26 in association with Gatorade and University Hospitals at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 9 The Cleveland Browns hosted The Girls High School Flag Football Coaching Clinic on February 28 The Cleveland Browns hosted the 3rd Annual Girls High School Flag Football Season Kickoff Clinic presented by Gatorade and in partnership with Bridgestone on February 23 The Browns host The 2025 Greater Cleveland Football Coaches Association Coaches Clinic on February 22 2025 in the Moen Lake Club of Huntington Bank Field The Cleveland Browns hosted a USA Football Talent ID Camp on February 15 A Special Olympics Play Football Clinic at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on January 30 A HELMETS Reveal for Northcoast Youth Football at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 17 Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting The ASPIRE ONE Lunar Record launched early on January 15 as part of the Ghost Riders in the Sky Lunar mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a goal of establishing a new theoretical framework for planetary-scale archival communication Anamaria Berea, an associate professor of computational sciences at George Mason University led an interdisciplinary team that designed a part of the LifeShip payload—an archive to preserve our Earth’s cultural and scientific heritage It will be placed on the Moon through Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lander Firefly missions are part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative in the Artemis program A Getty images documentation of the recent COVID-19 pandemic is also included “We basically created an archive that is housed on a 1GB microchip encoded with diverse content,” said Berea, who also has a PhD is computational social sciences from George Mason. “It is also engraved with NanoFiche including Berea’s name and affiliation with George Mason University the payload will be placed on the Moon after 45 days [early March] and live there for posterity “This portion of the payload includes the Apollo 11 launch code and work will be on the Moon for future generations but George Mason University’s legacy too.” and University Hospitals are teaming up on the creation of District 46 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus An expansion of the existing footprint of the Cleveland Browns in Berea this new neighborhood will be over 16 acres and utilized for a variety of spaces benefiting the region with an anticipated opening in early 2027 a mixed-use neighborhood adjacent to the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus will be developed by Ohio-based DiGeronimo Companies and will include a community field lined for multiple sports for youth an upscale hotel that will be developed in partnership with Crawford Hoying and operated by Shaner Hotel Group a sports medicine facility operated by the team health-system partner and 30k square footage of retail space to support the new pedestrian-friendly neighborhood "The City of Berea and Mayor Kleem have been incredible partners to us at the Browns and the Haslam Sports Group and we're thrilled to work with them on this expansion project that will benefit so many members of our neighborhood," said Haslam Sports Group Chief Operating Officer David Jenkins "We're thrilled to be working with local developer DiGeronimo and additional partners University Hospitals and Berea City Schools on District 46 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus and know this development will be transformative for this community." we're excited to deepen our existing working relationship with the Haslam and Johnson families as well as the Cleveland Browns as we begin to create District 46," said City of Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem these new spaces will continue to enhance all our city has to offer and will bring new opportunities for growth that we're extremely excited about." "We're proud to work with the Cleveland Browns and the City of Berea on this incredible project which will be transformational for the area," said DiGeronimo Companies Chief Executive Officer Vic DiGeronimo Jr "With so many great partners involved in District 46 from the Northeast Ohio region we're thrilled to help bring this vision to life and see the positive impact it will have for years to come." More development plans will be released in the months to come In an emotionally charged Berea Independent School Board meeting Monday parents and teachers expressed outrage at a $1.3 million budget shortfall that has resulted in the dismissal of several staffers and instructors administration and faculty positions that will be either phased out or reassigned to different slots in Berea independent schools Berea Community employees were called to the district office and notified they would not be retained next year it was like The Hunger Games at school Who’s going to be called to walk across the parking lot to sign their pink slip That could have been done with more dignity and respect,” said Ashley Hammond Berea Independent School District Superintendent Diane Hatchett reported that eight district positions were eliminated while the staff of the elementary school was reduced by 10 positions Special education instruction staff was also cut The aim is to reduce district expenditures in personnel by $1.27 million Hatchett and Finance Director Nathan Sweet said other austerity measures will be implemented pausing technology purchases for two years and eliminating some middle school athletic teams Assistant coaching positions will also be cut Some extracurricular activities will be discontinued as well such as the school’s engineering program and the award-winning Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program Hatchett explained that some teachers may be called back into service next year is that the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is allowing the district to implement its own recovery plan and taken us over and not blinked an eye,” Hatchett said of the KDE “They could have gotten rid of all the principals [allowed] one principal for the whole school We’re trying to save as many jobs as possible.” We love this district and we want to keep it open.” Several parents and teachers expressed frustration that their friends and colleagues were dismissed that afternoon Some parents even questioned whether they can keep their children in Berea community schools Berea alumna and parent Hannah King faulted Hatchett for what she said was $40,000 in excess travel expenditures “The severe budget issues did not happen overnight Most concerning is the superintendent’s spending and her failed leadership which has gotten us into significant financial challenges,” King said King called on the board to remove Hatchett immediately and that my children’s education is going to suffer I have to consider if I’m going to leave them here next year,” King concluded Site Based Decision Making (SBDM) council member and parent Rashida Richardson echoed those sentiments “I don’t have faith in this school right now and I don’t have faith in the board,” said Richardson We need better representation in this school and you were supposed to be that listening stoically while parents aired their concerns expressed support for Hatchett and vowed to pitch in to support the school I feel like you’ve gotten a lot of heat today You don’t deserve all that heat,” Dillon said several teachers questioned how the faculty can meet education standards when so many positions are being cut the high school science department is now down to one instructor one of the reasons stated for the budget shortfall is a “misaligned budget,” leaving some to question what that means You need to leave it in the hands of families teachers and the staff to do this budget,” said parent Andrea Woodward Some parents called on board members to apologize for the current budget crisis and the most recently installed members shouldered the blame with their colleagues who didn’t take office until last November “Someone helpfully pointed out that financial oversight is the role of the superintendent Rohrer later added: “The people who are affected are not the people who got us here.” a long-serving board member whose family members attend the school said he is committed to correcting the problems but he emphasized the board can only do so much “I don’t know where the ship didn’t go right but we’re going to make it right,” McCay said I’m only here one night a month,” McCay said who attended his first meeting in January and was immediately appointed chair vowed to provide answers to audience questions at the next meeting “I promise you we’re going to come up with a better solution and we’re going to do better in the future,” Morgan told the audience He also said he agreed with calls to make budget preparation more transparent and participatory “It really is back and forth with KDE about whether this plan gets us to a place of fiscal health Fiscal health means that our students are getting the best possible school education And if I can get kids the best education in Madison County and we can make sure that teachers are taken care of That’s the overriding imperative – the kids first The board will meet again on March 31 in a special called meeting to determine the fate of the school’s solar power project © 2023, Wallingford Broadcasting Company | Site Managed and Designed by iSAFE Complete Managed Services Gretchen Dykstra is an author who has written about everything from the two years she spent living in Wuhan to a book examining the songs that came from the lumberjack era in the 1800s is titled "Lessons from the Foothills: Berea College and its unique role in America." LPM News' Bill Burton spoke to Dykstra about her newest work BB: So what is it that makes Berea so unique in higher education I think there lots of ways that we could unpack that but certainly its history and its founding in a slave state 10 years before the Civil War makes it unique But I think that the fact that it's never lost that commitment to equal opportunity and interracial Education is what is in fact in this day and age What was his role in the creation of Berea he was the founder and he is the reason why all the students know who John Fee is The college is very insistent that people know that they are standing on the shoulders of a real incredibly brave and courageous man He was the son of a slave owner in northeastern Kentucky and then he went to divinity school in Cincinnati where two of his classmates challenged him about being the son of a slave owner going around from church to church trying to convince those ministers to exclude slave owners from the churches It's one thing for the Presbyterian Church to condemn slavery but he said it's something else for individuals to own slaves He eventually left the Presbyterian Church who gave him 10 acres of land on a gorgeous ridge that overlooks the foothills of the Appalachians John Fee started the first school in the South that was co-educational for both men and women but your book really focuses on the eight great commitments that the college has "Provide an educational opportunity for students of all races primarily from Appalachia who have great promise and limited economic resources." What does that meant for those who have attended Berea and just the region at large I think what it means is that 98% of all the students at Berea are low income the average income for the families was $27,000 although 40% of the students do come from Central Appalachia and Kentucky but Berea focuses on the territory south of Albany all the way to Birmingham 25% or 30% of the students come from elsewhere in the United States and 5 to 7% are international students from 70 different countries one of the stories that I love to tell is back in the 60s one of the presidents of Berea was showing a Pakistani woman around the college and at a distance she saw a bald-headed man in saffron robes He's head of Buddhist education in Cambodia.' And the woman turned to him and said then everybody eventually does end up at Berea.' I love that Berea College and its unique Role in America." Gretchen Dykstra will speak about her book at the Filson Historical Society Tuesday night at 6 Louisville Public Media depends on donations from members – generous people like you – for the majority of our funding You can help make the next story possible with a donation of $10 or $20 We'll put your gift to work providing news and music for our diverse community Thanks for visiting a petition from Berea College students looking to take a vote to form a labor union was withdrawn from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Students announced their intentions to organize a union last spring alongside the Communications Workers of America students would have been allowed to take a vote on whether a union would be allowed on campus which means students are required to work 10 hours on campus each week as part of their service-based curriculum Union supporters said they were concerned with issues like better workplace safety higher wages and a formal grievance system Those opposed said a union was incompatible with Berea’s education model and that students can’t be recognized as workers A statement from the United Student Workers of Berea says they withdrew the petition out of concern that more conservative judges appointed by the Trump administration would rule against it The group says there was also concern an unfavorable legal argument could be used to rule against other labor movements “...we are now uncertain if we can prevail before the NLRB and ultimately on appeal in the federal courts on the question of whether Berea student workers are ‘employees’ as defined by federal labor law,” the statement reads That follows similar decisions from other student groups across the country to withdraw their petitions, like the men’s basketball team at Dartmouth University A statement last week from college president Cheryl Nixon says the organizing was a clear call for change on campus She says she’ll speak with students on how to make those changes both immediately and in the long term The campus workers’ statement says some students involved with the petition plan to continue organizing in the meantime Berea College is a financial supporter of WEKU ** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation (LEX 18) — Authorities report than an afternoon fire in a Berea home caused no injuries crews were dispatched to the fire at 4:12 p.m The homeowner suspected the fire began as a result of a lawnmower blowing up but the fire was too advanced to identify the cause Authorities report that all four residents of the home have a place to stay The Berea Independent School Board voted to place superintendent Diane Hatchett on leave Monday as claims of budget mismanagement are investigated District-wide staff cuts were announced after Hatchett said the system “drastically overspent” their school budget during a board meeting last month Community members have since called for a change in leadership Students staged a school walkout in protest Robyn Moreland was one of many parents at Monday’s board meeting and also people in the community have strong ties to this place as well And that's just really the spirit of our school,” Moreland said Retired educator and organizer Debra Morgan was among those present at the meeting She says she’s hopeful for the school’s future “This isn't the first time Berea Community School has faced a hard time financially or with staff cuts,” Morgan said “We've always managed to pull it back around and have our district moving forward.” Former Madison County Schools superintendent Elmer Thomas will be Berea’s interim superintendent as the investigation continues The school board expects to name a permanent superintendent by June 30 The board also voted to scrap a proposed solar project that officials said contributed to the budget problem They also took steps to create two new funds for community members to donate to school programs directly That includes an account at Community Trust Bank and a booster for the school’s Jobs for America's Graduates career readiness program 2025) — Undergraduate students from 17 universities convened at the University of Kentucky J 25-26 for the American Moot Court Association (AMCA) Bluegrass National Series Tournament co-hosted by UK Rosenberg Law and Berea College the colleges co-hosted the Bluegrass Regional Undergraduate Moot Court Tournament a qualifier for the national tournament of the AMCA because of the success of the regional tournament the colleges co-hosted one of the national series of tournaments leading to the crowning of the annual champions More than 60 undergraduate students on 32 teams from across the country competed in this year’s national series round in Lexington The universities represented included Bentley University volunteered to serve as “justices” for each round of the tournament Current law students volunteered to serve as bailiffs AMCA officials and Berea College student volunteers helped UK Rosenberg Law staff facilitate the tournament “This year’s tournament was once again a great success thanks to the team we have established between Berea and Rosenberg Law students and national association representatives consistently praise our event as one of the best in the country and we owe that recognition to strong participation from the local legal practice community and the UK law alumni base,” Huck said The competitions required using every classroom throughout the law building William Mahoney and Kaylee Pierre of Yale University took home the first-place trophy The runners-up were Samhita Kumar and Miles Kirkpatrick “We’re grateful for the hosts and the judges and judges are really the core of the tournament and so we’re just really thankful for them.”  Pierre said she also had a great time during the tournament and appreciated the excellent facilities in the law building as well as her positive interactions with the volunteers and other competitors and that's obvious,” said UK Rosenberg Law Professor Laken Albrink The top eight teams advanced from Lexington to the final round tournament of the AMCA’s national series the profession will be better off with you,” said Fayette District Judge Denotra Spruill Gunther who also served as a justice for the final round donated robes this year for the justices who served in the final round  “You all did a terrific job,” UK Rosenberg Law Acting Dean Paul E who served as chief justice in the final round He reminded the students that oral arguments are a conversation between them and the bench and offered advice about how to prepare for oral arguments the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing It's all made possible by our people — visionaries disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center The Berea Independent School Board voted Ryan Neaves as the town’s new superintendent during its most recent meeting Monday the board placed its former superintendent Diane Hatchett on leave as they investigate claims of budget mismanagement Students staged a school walkout in protest after district-wide staff cuts were announced Hatchett said the system “drastically overspent” their school budget Neaves says he’ll focus on transparency as the district continues to manage the crisis “I think the most important step that I can do is listen and then I'm going to learn and figure out as much about the community and the school as I can,” Neaves said Interim superintendent Elmer Thomas says they’ve got some funding back from federal and student workforce programs The district is currently spending around $300,000 more than it’s making Thomas says the board will continue to be transparent as the budget crisis continues “We'll dig on into that through the rest of this year and into the summer I'll be certain to keep everyone apprised of everything that's going on with our teaching staff with our budget and so forth,” Thomas said Neaves will officially step into the position July 1 In a secured public record, more details are coming to light about the owner of the Cleveland Browns, the Haslam Sports Group’s (HSG),  proposed mixed-use development in suburban Berea That includes specifications for the features in the new 500,000-square-foot development which will be built around a small dubbed a community field.The new development dubbed “District 46” — referring to the year 1946 when the Cleveland Browns were founded — could see construction start before April 2025 on 16 acres of land it owns immediately west of the Browns’ CrossCountry Mortgage Campus which is the team’s headquarters and practice facilities at 76 Lou Groza Blvd Berea Planning Commission approved consolidating 38 other parcels nearby acquired in recent years by HSG affiliates into four larger plots of land for District 46 No plans have been formally presented to the city for approval yet provided by the Ohio Department of Development was an application for Transformational Mixed Use Development (TMUD) tax credits is relatively small compared to the size of most TMUD awards which tend to be in the $5 million to $15 million range RELATED: Browns Reveal Development Plans for Area Around Berea Headquarters This fourth of four TMUD rounds opened in late August; the tax credit award winners could be announced at the end of December based on the four-month duration it has typically taken the state to decide them TMUDs are dubbed the “megaproject tax credit” because they can be requested only for large-scale developments NEOtrans sought summaries of all of the TMUD applications to the Ohio Department of Development but specifically requested information on the Berea Mixed Use Project LLC request The applications contain privileged internal business information which must be redacted before shared publicly “We are continuing to redact applications pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code,” said Mason Waldvogel deputy chief of media relations at the department “I hope to be able to fulfill your request soon.” with another $206 million in private-sector funding But since that $15 million could not be secured a new $5 million recreation center and a multi-purpose sports fieldhouse costing $10 million may have to wait for a second phase District 46 appears to have a $150 million price tag It is not known what is included in the first phase chief communications officer at HSG and for the Browns did not respond to an e-mail seeking more information prior to publication of this article at least five structures are planned to join the proposed community field and an “outdoor fan experience area” at District 46 plus the existing two buildings at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus The multi-sport field is planned to measure 86,400 square feet which equates to a football field plus about 30 feet back on both sidelines next to the Browns’ existing practice fields will be Building 3 45,000-square-foot sports medicine and healthcare facility operated by University Hospitals Health System (UH) plus ground-floor mixed uses The UH building will have 10,500 square feet of sports medicine facility and a 7,500-square-foot media/entertainment studio Across Pearl from UH’s facility and overlooking the future community field will be Building 4 – a five-story major flag hotel with 136 rooms The hotel is proposed to measure about 96,365 square feet The identity of the hotel brand isn’t publicly available are planned on each side of the new community field One is proposed to measure 68,517 square feet and the other 81,714 square feet Both apartment buildings are proposed to have one 5,000-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor of each The building on Front may have indoor parking on its first level The last structure identified in public records is actually a three-level 102,000-square-foot parking garage between Pearl and the Browns’ existing practice fields It is proposed to have enough parking for approximately 200 vehicles The public record doesn’t jibe with the renderings that were released publicly That structure appears to be an office building Plans are still in the early stages and subject to change Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem said the city is finalizing terms of a Tax Increment Financing package with the District 46 development team A TIF captures new tax revenues to be generated by a development in a specific district for use in servicing debt raised to pay for infrastructure and other associated development costs Revenues proposed for the District 46 TIF are new payroll taxes event admissions taxes and hotel bed taxes from the development Other revenues the city will receive are four payments in lieu of taxes of $1 million each in 2026 The plan is to dedicate this revenue to pay down city debts including about $22 million in loans and bond obligations The city will also receive 100 percent of the income taxes from new residential construction It will also cap the building permit fees associated with this development at $1 million For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features helpful guides and beautiful photography and design (LEX 18) — The City of Berea welcomed its first full-time firefighter in 1966 the city and fire department had to say goodbye to that first firefighter after he passed away in his sleep LEX 18's Kayleigh Randle was in Madison County where his family and former colleagues share their memories of the late trailblazer it used to be just a very small bedroom with a bathroom and a very small living room And we had two trucks- three trucks in here at one time and that's all we had and it was a very small department it was a good department — it was a good department," explains Randall Rigsby a retired Berea Fire Department chief and good friend of the late firefighter Berea Fire Department was first built in 1910 The station has been a home and a safe place to thousands across Kentucky It was run by Berea College and volunteers until 1966 the City of Berea took over in 1966 and hired a chief and firefighter To have him be the root of this department is a privilege to know him and give back to him and his service to this department," explains Lieutenant Brent Billings who has been with the Berea Fire Department since 2010 Charles Hobert Halcomb was the first full-time firefighter to honor the city of Berea and put his life before every person who lived there "Well the first time I met Holbert was the night they voted me into the department," describes Rigsby but the minute the bell went off and we left the station it was all business "When I started you heard about Hobert," explains Billings "I had the opportunity of meeting him one time and all of the stories and things that people told us says everyone in the community knew and loved her father Hobert retired from the station as a Battalion Chief in 1994 Taking on small jobs throughout his life until this past year when life took a turn for the worst "He developed a fever so when we took him to the hospital they said he had some kind of infection but they couldn't find it…but the doctor said he is going to die and he will just gradually die," said Williams "We told him how wonderful he was and how he'd been so wonderful to us and that it was okay for him to go on." Hobert had passed away in his sleep at home I mean we were close throughout the years of working We didn't see each other like I would have liked to afterward but I thought the world of Hobert and it hit hard the day I found out," said Rigsby the station let him ride in the fire truck one last time you could just tell all of the memories were coming back to him and he was just a kid again." An official memorial was held on December 2 2024 to honor Hobert and all the good he did for his community "They do a thing called the last call and that gets you when they called his number for the last time and they'll do that a couple times and then they'll finally say this is the last call for Hobert Halcomb," details Rigsby He showed me so much of the fire service the years I worked with him He was excellent at training you and showing you what you needed And I'd just respect him for all he'd done." "I hope that people remember what a good person he was and how he cared for other people and you know he had a lot of other really good firefighters work with him and he cared about them and you know I think he would have died for him and they for him," said Williams plan a 6,500-seat stadium at the center of its District 46 mixed-use development in suburban Berea Other details about the plans were revealed in public records At left is a proposed hotel with an apartment building to the right of it This view looks southeast from the intersection of Front Street and Lou Groza Boulevard (Architecture In a public record secured by NEOtrans, more details are coming to light about the owner of the Cleveland Browns, the Haslam Sports Group’s (HSG), proposed mixed-use development in suburban Berea The new development dubbed “District 46” — referring to the year 1946 when the Cleveland Browns were founded — could see construction start before April 2025 on 16 acres of land it owns immediately west of the Browns’ CrossCountry Mortgage Campus which is the team’s headquarters and practice facilities at 76 Lou Groza Blvd NEOtrans was first to report the sale and its terms last week Property ownerships in and near the District 46 development site in Berea A Cleveland Browns affiliate has agreed to acquire the 3 acres of city-owned land north of Second Avenue The Browns will continue to lease the city-owned land on which their CrossCountry Mortgage campus sets (myplace.cuyahogacounty.gov) provided to NEOtrans by the Ohio Department of Development This fourth of four TMUD rounds opened in late August; the tax credit award winners could be announced at the end of December TMUDs are dubbed the “megaproject tax credit” because they can be requested only for large-scale developments This southeasterly looking aerial rendering above the intersection of Front Street and Lou Groza Boulevard in Berea gives the best understanding of the District 46 conceptual plan it doesn’t jibe with a project summary submitted to the Ohio Department of Development as part of a tax credit application There is an extra building shown here at upper right which appears to be an office building (AODK) “We are continuing to redact applications pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code,” said Mason Waldvogel “I hope to be able to fulfill your request soon.” The District 46 TMUD request is also pretty small in the context of the larger scale of HSG’s proposed development which could cost up to $221 million. Earlier this year, HSG and the city of Berea unsuccessfully sought $15 million in state capital budget funds for the project The location for the District 46 development seen from the corner of Front Street and Lou Groza Boulevard It is the same angle as the first graphic in this article two houses and the former Serpentini Collision Center were the only structures still standing on the development site did not respond to an e-mail from NEOtrans seeking more information prior to publication of this article at least five structures are planned to join the proposed community field and an “outdoor fan experience area” at District 46 plus the existing two buildings at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus next to the Browns’ existing practice fields will be Building 3 Looking south on Pearl Street from near Lou Groza Boulevard shows the planned University Hospitals medical facility at left and a hotel at right (AODK) Across Pearl from UH’s facility and overlooking the future community field will be Building 4 – a five-story major flag hotel with 136 rooms The identity of the hotel brand isn’t publicly available But it was previously described by the Browns as an “upscale hotel” to be developed in partnership with Dublin, Ohio-based developer Crawford Hoying and operated by Shaner Hotel Group of State College, PA. The same team is building a 136-room AC Hotel by Marriott at Valor Acres is actually a three-level 102,000-square-foot parking garage between Pearl and the Browns’ existing practice fields This is roughly the same location as in the previous image The last house left standing in the District 46 development site stood for 141 years at 599 Pearl St It was owned by 98-year-old Bernice Bass Richardson whose late husband Nathaniel apparently was a big Browns fan The house was acquired and demolished in May (Google) The public record doesn’t jibe with the renderings that were released publicly last week The future of our Website depends on revenue from our readers