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📰 Local News: 🚨 Mentor Police Identify Suspect in Hours-Long Standoff

🏗️ What Council Learned About Fire Station 3 Oversight

🍷 Wildwood Arts & Wine Fest Returns to Mentor This Month 🖼️

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Event Spotlight: 🎵 Free Folk-Rock Concert Kicks Off Summer at Penitentiary Glen Tonight

⚾ Sports: ⚾ McMahon Delivers Late Heroics as Yankees Edge Guardians 2-1

⚾ Kennedy Fans Nine as Captains Rally Past TinCaps

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MENTOR, Ohio — A Mentor man is expected to face multiple felony charges after police say two bicyclists were seriously injured in separate incidents Wednesday that led to an hours-long standoff on Orchard Road.

According to Mentor Police, officers were called shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday after a witness reported that the driver of an SUV struck a bicyclist along Headlands Road.

Police identified the suspect Thursday as 42-year-old Michael Leppelmeier of Mentor.

Investigators say Leppelmeier crossed the center line and struck a 72-year-old Mentor cyclist head-on before continuing west. A second cyclist, a 68-year-old Mentor man, told police that the suspect stopped his vehicle, assaulted him, and threw his bicycle into a nearby pond.

Both men suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to local hospitals.

A witness provided the SUV's license plate number, which police traced to a home on Orchard Road. Officers say Leppelmeier emerged from the home armed with a knife. After a Taser deployment proved ineffective, he retreated inside.

Police and SWAT officers spent several hours attempting to persuade him to surrender. Authorities say tear gas was deployed, a police drone was damaged, and SWAT officers eventually entered the home shortly after 6:30 p.m. and took him into custody.

Leppelmeier remained hospitalized Thursday and is expected to face charges including aggravated vehicular assault, felonious assault, and robbery. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.

Source: Fox8.com

MENTOR, Ohio — One of the more detailed discussions at Mentor City Council's June 2 meeting focused on a contract for construction oversight of the new Fire Station 3 project.

Council approved an agreement with Quality Control Inspection (QCI) to serve as the resident project representative during construction of the new station.

The contract authorizes spending up to $156,000, prompting council members to ask why an outside firm is needed after the city already approved a $12.596 million construction contract.

City officials explained that the resident project representative works on the city's behalf throughout construction. According to the administration, QCI will attend weekly meetings with the contractor and city staff, review contractor pay applications, monitor prevailing wage requirements, handle requests for information, and assist with reviewing change orders.

Officials said the firm's role is intended to help the city track project progress and address issues that arise during construction.

Council members also questioned whether city staff could perform the same work. The administration responded that while city inspectors will continue their normal inspection duties, the city no longer has an employee assigned to perform the type of project observation and coordination duties that will be handled through the resident project representative contract.

Officials referenced former Special Projects Administrator Andy Rose, who previously assisted with construction observation on major city projects.

The administration also noted that the $156,000 figure is a "not to exceed" amount and said some services included in the proposal, including pre-construction work, may not be needed.

The contract was approved unanimously as part of the city's preparations for construction of the new Fire Station 3.

The discussion offered residents a closer look at a role that is rarely visible to the public but is often used on large public construction projects. So what exactly does a resident project representative do, and why did city officials believe the role was necessary for Fire Station 3?

A Wildwood Tradition Continues in Mentor

MENTOR, Ohio — Mentor’s Wildwood Arts & Wine Fest returns Saturday, June 20, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Wildwood Cultural Center, 7645 Little Mountain Road.

Set on the grounds of the historic Wildwood Estate, the festival brings together local artists, crafters, music, wine, and food for a relaxed summer afternoon.

Visitors can browse original artwork and handmade goods, including paintings, jewelry, pottery, woodcraft, glass art, and multimedia creations. Live entertainment will take place on multiple stages throughout the day.

Guests can also enjoy local wines, food trucks, art demonstrations, local authors, and a self-guided tour of the historic 1908 Wildwood Manor House. Admission is $2, while children under 8 and Friends of Wildwood members are admitted free.

For many Mentor residents, it’s a favorite summer tradition and a chance to support local artists while enjoying one of the city’s most beautiful historic settings.

Source: cityofmentor.com

One of Lake County's favorite summer traditions returns Friday evening as Concerts & More at the Glen begins its 2026 season at Penitentiary Glen Reservation.

The free outdoor series opens June 5 with a performance by Up 'Til 4, a local folk-rock group, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the reservation's outdoor amphitheater.

Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and settle in for an evening of live music surrounded by nature. Snacks and drinks are welcome, and treats will also be available from the Nature Store.

Presented in partnership with Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, the summer series includes a mix of live concerts and family-friendly puppet shows through August. Upcoming performances feature Storytime Puppet Theater productions, the pop-rock-jazz sounds of Hip To That in July, and Celtic-pop group Tweed in August.

If rain moves into the area, Friday's concert will be held indoors.

Concerts & More at the Glen takes place at Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road in Kirtland. No registration is required.

For residents looking for an easy, affordable way to enjoy a summer evening outdoors, it's a great excuse to pack a chair and spend some time in one of Lake County's most scenic settings.

Get More Details at lakemetroparks.com

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Yankees avoided a three-game sweep with a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night, powered by Ryan McMahon’s go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning.

The win came as the Yankees announced Aaron Judge will be sidelined indefinitely with a stress fracture in his right first rib. He is expected to return later this season and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.

After Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Stuart Fairchild’s RBI single, Jazz Chisholm Jr. tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Chisholm later sparked the winning rally, reaching on a walk, stealing second and scoring on McMahon’s single.

Carlos Rodón allowed one run on two hits over six innings, while the Yankees bullpen secured the win. Max Schuemann, filling in for Judge in right field, added two impressive defensive plays as New York won for the seventh time in its last 10 games.

See Highlights at espn.com

FORT WAYNE, IN — The Lake County Captains overcame an early deficit to defeat the Fort Wayne TinCaps 10-4 on Thursday, improving to 29-24 and staying 2.5 games behind first place in the Midwest League East.

Despite collecting just seven hits, the Captains scored 10 runs thanks to 12 walks and three home runs.

Lake County built a 2-0 lead before Fort Wayne scored four unanswered runs, including a two-run homer by Kavares Tears, to move ahead 4-2.

The Captains responded in the fifth and took the lead for good in the sixth when Maick Collado connected on a two-run homer. Logun Clark added a two-run double in the seventh, and Kevin Rivas capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the ninth.

Lake County’s pitching staff struck out 14 batters. Starter Melkis Hernández allowed four runs over 3.2 innings, while Michael Kennedy earned the win with five dominant relief innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out nine.

The win keeps the Captains firmly in the hunt near the top of the division standings.

See the box score

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