Road rage incident leads to charges. Humane Society maintains "no kill" status. And new murals in Marysville and Richwood dedicated.
Give us a few moments and we'll serve up what matters in Marysville on Friday, June 27, 2025
In this edition, sponsored by Suds Brothers Car Wash on Damascus Road
A road rage incident led to an arrest at US 33 and US 36 on Wednesday
New mural wall-scapes dedicated in Marysville and Richwood highlight historical roots
Memorial Health announces 2025 volunteers of the year
And the Silver Scene Players hit the stage at the Avalon Theater starting tonight
First up: a word from today's sponsor
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Arrest made following road rage incident on US 33 on Wednesday
Union County Sheriff’s deputies charged a Columbus man for his involvement in a road rage incident on Wednesday.
36-year-old Michael D. Jackson allegedly brandished a firearm at another driver in an incident on US 33 near Mitchell Dewitt Road just before the 9 a.m. hour.
Marysville Police were able to locate and stop Jackson’s 2016 Nissan at the US 36/Delaware Avenue exit. As a result, deputies recovered a stolen gun and charged Jackson with receiving stolen property and having a weapon under a disability.
Jackson was transported to the Tri-County Jail.
Improper passing leads to US 36 accident
Marysville Fire crews and the Union County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle accident on US 36 east of Marysville near Whitestone Road on Wednesday afternoon around 3:50 p.m.
33-year-old Victor Flores of Marysville was cited for improper passing in the crash that involved a 2016 Ford F-150 and a 1998 Honda Accord.
Airbags were deployed in both vehicles, which were totaled in the collision. Occupants of both vehicles were out and walking around when EMS crews arrived.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
Union Co. Humane Society maintains “no kill” status
More than 90% of the dogs and cats taken in by our local Humane Society shelter were saved in 2024.
The Union County Humane Society announced on Thursday that it was able to maintain its “no kill” status according to Best Friends Animal Society’s 2024 annual data report.
"We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a no-kill shelter once again,” said the Humane Society’s media director, Audra Mattson. “Many rural shelters simply don’t have the resources to dedicate the time and care needed for animals with behavioral or medical challenges—but we do, thanks to a team that refuses to give up on any pet.
She said every animal that comes to the shelter deserves a chance, and the organization is committed to making that happen.
“Reaching no-kill status is a milestone, but maintaining it takes ongoing community support. Every donation, adoption, share, and volunteer hour makes it possible for us to continue saving lives.”
Achieving “no-kill” status has been a priority for the Humane Society since 2023, when it committed to eliminating behavioral euthanasia.
“We recognized that most of the behavior challenges we see stem from fear, not aggression—and we knew that with time, patience, and individualized care, these animals could thrive,” Mattson said.
She said an emphasis has been to shift the public mindset regarding dogs and cats with difficult personalities.
“We’ve made huge strides in public education, helping shift perception from ‘unadoptable’ to ‘misunderstood’ for many of our long-term residents.”
If you’d like to learn more about the Union County Humane Society, click here.
Murals have their day on Thursday
Above: City leaders at Thursday’s dedication of a new mural at Lewis Park on Grove Street.
The City of Marysville officially dedicated a wall-scape at Lewis Park on Thursday morning, depicting a vintage picture of the Marysville Monarch High School Football squad from the late 1950s.
City Council President Donald Boerger noted these types of initiatives are a tip of the hat to Marysville's legacy.
"It's always important to honor our past residents and what they've done to make this community successful in the first place for new residents to call Marysville home," he said.
Lewis Park is the former athletic field for Marysville High School athletics.
Marysville Parks Superintendent Brandon Moore said the mural reflects the Parks master plan.
"We thought this would be a good place to honor the history of this park with a mural…so you can drive by and appreciate the history behind it."
Moore said they are looking for other ways to incorporate the history of the City into local parks through artistic expressions.
Richwood historical mural dedicated
Above: Chamber of Commerce members and community members joined to dedicate the mural at Richwood Banking Company (Source: RBC Facebook page)
The Union County Chamber of Commerce, Richwood Banking and residents celebrated the dedication of a mural on the bank building Thursday morning.
The mural depicts various scenes from the history of the Richwood Community. Richwood native Brad White, of Good Boy Creative Solutions, was commissioned to design and paint the mural.
Both of these new wall-scapes are worthy of a drive by this summer in Union County.
Getting ready to take down Hometown uptown
Above: Crews were getting equipment in place to begin the demolition
City crews were setting equipment in motion to begin the demolition of the old Hometown Auto site on Plum Street on Thursday morning.
Fencing was being erected around the site, and heavy equipment was being positioned to take down the building.
It's an interesting demolition project as the Town Run drainage area runs diagonally across the property (from left to right above).
Plans for the site are still being considered by City leaders.
The demolition will take a few weeks and will result in temporary road closures around the site.
Local heat tempered by rain/clouds
The Union County Airport recorded nearly 6 tenths of an inch of rain around 3 p.m. on Wednesday as a brief round of thunderstorms moved through the area.
Before the rain in the afternoon, temperatures at the Airport peaked to 91.4°F with the Heat Index at 98°F. The rain pulled temperatures down into the mid-70s the rest of the day.
Partly cloudy skies and sporadic rain in parts of the county offset the extreme heat on Thursday, too.
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory through today with a chance of thunderstorms.
Heat is hard on livestock, too
As residents in the area have pursued multiple strategies to keep cool in the extreme heat the past few days, farmers face the challenge of keeping livestock cool, also.
According to the Union County Extension office, OSU researchers estimate more than $2 billion in economic losses to the U.S. livestock and poultry industries due to heat stress.
Extension climatologist Aaron Wilson offers the following tips for farmers seeking to protect livestock in the extreme heat of summer:
Ensure all ventilation equipment in barns is well-maintained and functioning properly. If temperature alarms are present, test them.
Always have fresh, clean water available to the animals.
Shade must be available for animals not confined in structures.
Consider changing feeding times for animals. Feed intake produces heat. This usually peaks 4 to 6 hours after feeding. Receiving more of the daily ration after the heat of the day will help relieve some of this added stress.
Farmers and farm workers, like all of us, need to stay hydrated and save particularly strenuous tasks for cooler parts of the day when possible. More frequent breaks and acclimating a tolerance for working in the heat is also suggested by our friends at the Union County Extension Office.
Memorial Health Recognizes Volunteers of the Year
Above: Ed and Karen Klink with Memorial Health CEO Chip Hubbs
Ed and Karen Klink are Memorial Health’s Volunteers of the Year.
The husband-and-wife duo were selected by hospital staff for their willingness to help out wherever needed, leading with a smile, and upholding Memorial’s values, mission, and vision.
Together, they have over 3,000 hours of volunteer service. Karen helps in the two on-campus Memorial Gift Shops, Ed assists the Materials team, and they both deliver Memorial Mobile Meals.
When they first started volunteering at Memorial, they were new to the area and looking to build connections and friendships after retiring.
Reflecting on their time in the volunteer program, Karen shares:
“I am so glad that I came here – it’s a really nice place to be… the camaraderie between the volunteers, the staff, and the community is amazing.”
Volunteering makes an impact
Memorial Health’s volunteer program has over 300 volunteers – both students and adults – who share their time and talents with the Memorial organization and annually volunteer over 35,000 hours of service.
Silver Screen Players present: Baskerville
The Silver Screen Players are back at it this weekend with their production of Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.
The shows are Friday and Saturday evening at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Avalon Theater in uptown Marysville.
Proceeds of this production will benefit the Avalon.
The production is directed by Keriann Menz and features Tom Smith as Watson and John Davoll as Sherlock Holmes.
"In this play that includes only 5 actors, you’ll find yourselves tracing the story through the witty character switches and familiar antics of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Prepared to be rolling in laughter with this classic duo and on the edge of your seat in suspense as we uncover the true "hound" of the Baskervilles!"
Click here for ticket information.
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-Joe C.