News, notices, stories, and happenings from Flatfield, Ohio.
ISSUE 008 · OCTOBER 2026
Police solve mystery stone
Flatfield Police say they have solved at least part of the mystery surrounding the unusual stone on display at the Flatfield Historical Society.
The small tan-and-orange stone drew renewed attention after visitors reported seeing it flash red and blue inside its display case.
According to Chief Neesman, officers traced the flashing to a nearby residence, where someone had been shining a programmable red-and-blue laser pointer through a window and onto the stone.
The beam struck the stone’s raised markings and reflected through the Historical Society’s glass display case, making it appear as though the stone itself was glowing.
“Stones don't glow by themselves. Our hardworking officers solved the mystery. It was a bored kid,” Neesman said.
Police said they filed no charges and refused to identify the minor. That still leaves one small problem.
Nobody knows what the stone actually is.
Historical Society Director Denise Ennis said regional museums have yet to identify the object, which was discovered earlier this year among old photographs, maps and property records.
For now, the stone will remain on display.
Harvest Festival countdown underway
The Flatfield Harvest Festival is nearly here, and final preparations are spreading across the town square.
Public Works crews are mowing, rolling, and grooming the festival’s grassy viewing hills, where families traditionally spread blankets and lawn chairs for the fireworks. Temporary fencing, lighting, and festival signs are also going into place.
Visitors may notice the tall white security arches being installed at the main entrances. Festival officials say the gates will help manage the large crowds expected throughout the weekend.
Food vendors, game booths, live music and Washington Elementary student artwork will fill the square.
Cleveland Bang Thang will provide the closing fireworks show, scheduled for 9 p.m. on the festival’s final evening. The fireworks will be launched north of the town square.
Residents planning to watch from the hills are encouraged to arrive early, bring a blanket or lawn chair, and follow all posted safety boundaries.
The elephant ears, we are told, require no advance preparation. "There will be enough fried dough for every Flatfielder," said Kiera Elmwood, owner of the Golden Hour Bakery.
Perfect Ferret Bagger fuels playoff sweep
By Jack Ridge
A soft, looping liner into shallow right field! The second baseman is tracking it backwards... the right fielder is charging in, hard... it's falling, it's looping... the second baseman dives... HE'S GOT IT! HE CAUGHT IT!
Twenty-seven up, twenty-seven down!
Holy Perfection Flatfield!
Former Fighting Ferret Kenton Bagger threw a perfect game down by the lake this week. Though it's the ninth perfect game by a Clevelander, doing it in his first Major League start is out of this world.
The pitching perfection helped finish off a four-game playoff sweep of New York.
Bagger attacked the strike zone from the opening pitch and never stopped.
By the ninth inning, everyone in Flatfield knew what was happening. Nobody wanted to say it. Nobody wanted to jinx it! Bagger never flinched!
He retired the final batter, fell to his knees and started sobbing as his Cleveland teammates poured onto the field, and somewhere inside every longtime Ferrets fan was the memory of watching him throw gas on summer nights right here in Flatfield.
Clubaneau went four for four with two home runs and a pair of singles.
Next stop: the American League Division Series.
What more can you ask of these young Ferrets! Wow!
I'm Jack Ridge. Be ready, Flatfield. More to come...
Ferry photographs Ohnay surprise
Passengers traveling from the North Coast toward the Erie Islands received an unexpected look at one of Lake Erie’s most popular residents this week.
A lone Ohnay was spotted swimming near the ferry route well away from the Flatfield shoreline.
Several passengers photographed the animal as it repeatedly circled the same area rather than continuing toward deeper water.
“It just kept going around and around,” one ferry passenger said. “Then I swear I saw something red sparkling behind it.” The passenger declined to give their name.
Other passengers reported seeing what appeared to be a brief reddish trail in the water before the Ohnay dove beneath the surface.
It did not reappear.
There is no indication that the animal was injured, and officials have not identified what passengers may have seen in the water.
The sighting itself is unusual.
Most Ohnay have already moved into deeper sections of Lake Erie for the season, making close encounters increasingly rare until warmer weather returns.
The Gazette reminds residents that rare does not mean approachable.
Do not attempt to follow, touch, feed, swim toward, or otherwise investigate an Ohnay. Lake conditions and Ohnay behavior become increasingly unpredictable this time of year.
Around Flatfield
Lake conditions: Choppy, small craft advisory
Water temperature: 62°F
Winds: NW 12-15 mph
Ohnay advisory: LOW
Sunset: 7:20 PM