GIRLS BASKETBALL Wadsworth upsets Stow C1 Today’s weather Serving HIGH: 29 Medina County LOW: 22 since 1832 n n n Sunrise: 7:36 For home delivery, call (330) 725-4166 Sunset: 5:45 T HEHE G AZAZ E TTETTE TUESDAY, February 2, 2021 $1.25 RAYMOND SHULTE, 67, HAD COMPLICATIONS FROM COVID-19 Longtime Hinckley trustee dies “We were from opposite sides of the aisle (and) he was someone my learning curves,” Burns said. Served as trustee The two developed a strong and since 2006, I trusted and was someone I was more than willing to share my successful working relationship as a personal feelings with about things going on around the county. result. member of many “Ray was patient and mentoring in That’s something special when you run into some folks like that.” those early months guiding this new local organizations trustee through the idiosyncrasies Medina County Auditor Mike Kovack on working with Schulte of government bureaucracy,” Burns Jack Kopanski Schulte said. “As I gained my footing, Ray and The Gazette I struck off a great and growing rela- He was 67. in the Hinckley Historical Society and the last three years, Schulte served tionship where I looked to him as one HINCKLEY TWP. — Longtime Along with his work as a trustee numerous other organizations. as a source of knowledge and guid- might look to an older brother. We Hinckley Township Trustee Raymond since 2006, Schulte also was a mem- Fellow Hinckley Trustee Jim Burns ance for Burns when he first became often debated, with differing opin- Schulte III died Saturday at Cleveland ber of the Medina County Township said Monday he was “shocked, dumb- a trustee. ions, as brothers would. Overall, I Clinic Medina Hospital due to com- Association, the Ancient Order of founded, saddened and angry” at the “He happily allowed me to exploit think Ray and I made a great team.” plications from COVID-19. Hibernians and was heavily involved news of his colleague’s death. Over his 15 years of experience to shorten See TRUSTEE, A6 LIVERPOOL TWP. RESIDENT ATTEMPTED Income tax refunds could see big changes TO SAVE DOG New lawsuit could affect local revenue Man drowns distribution, refunds for some individuals in lake on Jonathan Delozier The Gazette Lester Road A recently filed Columbus lawsuit could lead to big changes in local income Bob Finnan tax revenue distribution and refunds for The Gazette some individual taxpayers. The Buckeye Institute, a right-leaning LIVERPOOL TWP. — A 64-year-old Liverpool Township policy think tank based in the state cap- man drowned Saturday in a private lake on Lester Road. ital, has filed litigation against the city Authorities said Keith Hearn had attempted to rescue his dog, who had walked onto the ice-covered pond. At some of Columbus and Ohio Attorney General point, Hearn fell through the ice and was unable to save David Yost seeking to stop local income himself. tax from going to a resident’s work city GAZETTE FILE “It was an unfortunate situation,” Medina County Sher- when they live elsewhere and have A recently filed lawsuit in Columbus seeks to stop local income tax from iff Terry Grice said. worked from home during the COVID-19 going to a resident’s work city when they live elsewhere and have worked When Medina deputies arrived on scene, they observed pandemic. from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, experts advise not to a pair of boots floating in the water. Utilizing a small row Taxpayers can file for this prospective expect payment any time soon as the case could take years. boat in the pond, deputies attempted a rescue. However, refund through the Regional Income Tax while attempting rescue, the deputies discovered the Authority (RITA), which works with the ual taxpayer could financially benefit this is going to be, deciding where exactly boots were separated from Hearn. cities of Medina and Wadsworth. The from the lawsuit being decided in the the local taxes should be going. It’s also The Medina County Water Rescue Team and Wayne needed document, Form 10A, can be Buckeye Institute’s favor. becoming more and more of an issue, County Dive Team were dispatched at 3:16 p.m. to the found on the RITA website. “Say you live in Medina, work in the right now in the short-term, because no 2000 block of Lester Road. A search of the pond behind However, experts are advising those city of Cleveland, and make $100,000 a one expected the pandemic to last this the residence located Hearn at approximately 6 p.m. He looking into this not to expect a payment year,” he said. “When taking Medina’s tax long and still be affecting things like this.” was pronounced dead at the scene. any time soon as the Columbus case has credit into consideration, you’re going to While the city of Brunswick maintains Other agencies that assisted were Valley City, Brunswick yet to go to trial and could take years to be paying Cleveland $2,500 and Medina its own in-house tax department rather Hills, Erhart and Granger fire departments. be decided. $1,060. If this (litigation) was to go a cer- than using RITA, a decision in the law- The sheriff’s office urges residents to be mindful that RITA’s states it will “hold your request tain way, that would drop down to that suit in favor of the Buckeye Institute and even though frozen bodies of water may appear to be able for refund in a suspended status until this person only paying Medina $1,250. That’s ensuing changes to state law would affect to support weight, that is not always the case. litigation is concluded” and that no pay- pretty substantial.” all tax filing no matter the agency. The Litchfield Fire & Rescue Department put out a ments will be processed until that time. Coco added he believes the pandemic City Finance Director Todd Fischer warning on Facebook: “We can’t stress enough, do not go Provisions allowing municipalities to has created a new paradigm in terms of said Brunswick, Medina and other com- out onto the ice after animals.” still collect income taxes from individuals remote working and its relation to local munities surrounding large cities like It was a busy day in the county. The county water rescue who live elsewhere and now work from income taxes. Cleveland could see a net financial gain team, composed of members from various departments home instead of commuting were part “There’s a lot of people who may never under proposed changes. However, he through the county, had two ice rescues simultaneously. also believes the larger cities themselves of pandemic response legislation passed go back to the office,” he said. “I mean Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 last March by Ohio lawmakers. a permanent employment shift. That’s would likely see a significant drop in tax or [email protected]. Medina Square accountant James Coco what we’re seeing. The more people who revenue. outlined a scenario in which an individ- work from home the more of an issue See REFUNDS, A6 “There’s a lot of people who may never go back to the office. I mean a CORONAVIRUS permanent employment shift. That’s what we’re seeing. The more people who PANDEMIC work from home the more of an issue this is going to be, deciding where exactly the local taxes should be going. It’s also becoming more and more of an issue, Local vaccine right now in the short-term, because no one expected the pandemic to last this long and still be affecting things like this.” clinic expects James Coco, Medina Square accountant major turnout CLOVERLEAF HIGH SCHOOL 1,800 Medina County school Officials eye return to in-person learning employees to be vaccinated Bob Finnan Jonathan Delozier High school students are currently under a hybrid schedule The Gazette The Gazette where they’re split into two groups and attend the building MEDINA — School officials called the COVID-19 vacci- WESTFIELD TWP. — A return nation clinic scheduled at Medina High School on Thurs- to full-time in-person curricu- two days per week. Superintendent Daryl Kubilus said day historic in its efforts to mass inoculate hundreds of lum at Cloverleaf High School students can attend the building four days a week upon educators. remains a goal for this academic “We’re part of history,” Medina Superintendent Aaron term, Superintendent Daryl request as a way to address concerns from parents regarding Sable said. “We’re very fortunate to be selected as a county. Kubilus said Monday. Summit (County) is also at the top of the list.” daytime child care and social isolation. Sable said an estimated 1,800 school employees will On Jan. 19, all district build- converge on Medina for their vaccinations when doors ings aside from the high school clinic before Gov. Mike DeWine rently under a hybrid sched- maintaining our 6-foot social open at 7 a.m. and will include those from Wadsworth, the returned to five-day in-person set a formal tiered schedule for ule where they’re split into two distance and the full spectrum Medina County Career Center and two private schools, schedules, three days after 84 Clo- vaccination rollout. According groups and attend the building of our curriculum offerings at among others. Medina is hosting the clinic and Discount verleaf teachers received their first the high school,” he said. “I to the Medina County Health two days per week. Kubilus said Drug Mart is running it.