It was a day like any other, or so I thought. Little did I know, my Son was about to witness the most dramatic showdown in veterinary history. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Charlie, my sweet, peace-loving Shih Tzu, was happily trotting along as we made our way to the Claremont Veterinary Clinic. We were just going in for some routine shots and bloodwork—simple, right? Well, not today.
The moment we stepped into the clinic, Jeremiah could sense a change in the air. Charlie’s nose twitched, his eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled in his throat. Something was brewing, and it wasn’t good.
As soon as they entered the exam room, all “H” broke loose. The vet, armed with nothing more than a tiny syringe, approached Charlie with a smile. But Charlie wasn’t having it. No sir, not today! With the speed of a ninja and the ferocity of a lion, my tiny Shih Tzu transformed into a whirlwind of barking, snapping, and growling. The once-peaceful clinic was now a battlefield, and Charlie was leading the charge.
The vet techs scrambled like they were in the middle of a tornado drill. “Code Red! Code Red!” someone might as well have shouted. In the chaos, the vet’s stethoscope flew across the room, a clipboard clattered to the floor, and a box of cotton balls exploded like a popcorn kernel in the microwave.
Charlie was relentless, defending himself against what he clearly believed was an invasion of his personal space. It was so bad they had to bring out the heavy artillery—the dreaded muzzle. And let me tell you, getting that muzzle on Charlie was like trying to wrestle an octopus into a sock. The vet techs worked in tandem, one holding Charlie, another trying to calm him with soothing words, and a third carefully slipping the muzzle over his tiny but very sharp teeth.
Finally, with the muzzle in place, Charlie was subdued—though he still gave them the side-eye, like a prisoner plotting his escape. The shots and bloodwork were completed in record time, and we were free to leave the war zone.
That night, back at home, Charlie curled up on my lap, his eyes big and soulful, as if to say, “Dad, I may have acted out today, but you wouldn’t believe what they were trying to do to me.” He looked so innocent, like a kid who just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. How could I stay mad at that face? I gave him a kiss on the head and said, “That’s okay, buddy. Just… maybe don’t do that again.”
Charlie yawned, as if to say, “No promises,” and fell asleep, dreaming, no doubt, of his revenge, when they next meet.
*** All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law***
ASHLAND COUNTY – Thursday, August 22, 2024 — Motorists in Ashland County should be prepared for ongoing and new construction projects on major roadways starting next week. All construction activities are subject to weather conditions and may change.
U.S. Route 42 Urban Resurfacing
Location: City of Ashland, from Baney Road to just north of Cleveland Road
Details: Single lane closures will be in effect as resurfacing work continues. Traffic will be maintained throughout the project.
Estimated Completion: November 2024
U.S. Route 42 Bridge Replacement
Location: U.S. 42 between SR 89 and Township Road 553
Details: Single lane closures will occur for a bridge replacement. Temporary traffic signals will be used, and lane widths will be reduced to 10 feet in the work zone.
Estimated Completion: October 2024
Township Road 543 Closure
Details: Township Road 543 is currently closed for 75 days. The detour route is TR 543 to TR 1275 east to TR 593 to U.S. 42, and reverse.
Estimated Reopening: Saturday, September 21, 2024
U.S. Route 42 & State Route 302 Intersection Improvement
Details: The intersection of U.S. 42 and SR 302 is being converted into a single-lane roundabout. The intersection remains closed, and detours are in place for both local and non-local motorists. Local Detour: U.S. 42 east to SR 89 north to SR 58 north to U.S. 224 east to SR 301 south to SR 302, and reverse. Non-Local Motorists: SR 302 west to SR 301 north to U.S. 224 west to SR 58 south to SR 302, and reverse. SR 604 at U.S. 42: Closed due to the ongoing work at the U.S. 42 and SR 302 intersection, with only residential traffic maintained. SR 302 Westbound: Closed from SR 89 to U.S. 42, with access maintained for residents. SR 302 Eastbound: Closed from U.S. 42 to the Township Rd 251/1080 intersection, with access maintained for residents.
Estimated Completion: October 2024
Interstate 71 Bridge Repairs
Location: Various locations between U.S. 30 and SR 301
Details: Single lane closures in both directions for bridge repairs. Traffic will be maintained at all times.
Estimated Completion: September 2024
Interstate 71 Pavement Repairs
Location: Northbound I-71, just south of the U.S. 250 interchange
Details: Nightly lane closures for pavement repairs will continue. Traffic will be maintained at all times.
Estimated Completion: August 2024
State Route 96 Urban Resurfacing
Location: SR 96 in the city of Ashland, from Baney Road to Cottage Street
Details: Single lane closures for resurfacing. Traffic will be maintained at all times.
Estimated Completion: November 2024
State Route 604 Resurfacing
Location: SR 604, from U.S. 42 to just west of Camp Road
Details: Single lane closures for resurfacing work. Traffic will be maintained at all times.
Estimated Completion: September 2024
County Road 775 Closure
Location: Vermillion Township, between Township Road 757 and Township Road 2206
Details: A portion of County Road 775 will be closed from Monday, August 26th through Thursday, August 29th for culvert replacement.
Estimated Reopening: 4:00 pm, Thursday, August 29th
Motorists are advised to plan accordingly and follow posted detour routes to ensure safety and minimize travel delays. For the latest updates, visit the ODOT website.
Ashland, OH – The West Main Street Bridge project in Ashland is progressing with a significant milestone reached today as the concrete was poured for the bridge deck. Ashland County Engineer Ed Meixner provided an update on the status, acknowledging a slight delay in the project timeline but affirming that it remains on budget.
“We’re a little bit off schedule now, but we’re still on budget, so that’s the good thing,” Meixner said during his update. Initially, the project was slated for completion by August 30th. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the completion date has been pushed back to around September 19th or 20th.
The delay, according to Meixner, is primarily due to the curing process of the concrete. “Once the concrete is poured, it usually takes about 28 days to fully cure. If testing shows the concrete reaches the necessary strength sooner, we may be able to open the bridge earlier than expected,” he explained.
The project, contracted to Adina Corporation, was initially bid at $998,000 but is now expected to come in under budget at approximately $950,000. This reduction in cost is attributed to the non-performance of certain tasks, which were more expensive than the additional work added during the project.
Funding for the bridge comes from multiple sources: a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission, $300,000 from the Ashland County Commissioners’ ARPA funds, with the remaining costs covered by gas and motor vehicle tax funds.
Meixner also praised the cooperation of the local residents, noting minimal complaints despite the inconvenience caused by the road closure. “The people along West Main Street have been a real blessing to work with,” he said, expressing gratitude for their patience throughout the construction period.
The project, which involves pouring about 95 cubic yards of concrete, represents a crucial step in restoring normal traffic flow in the area. Once completed, the bridge is expected to alleviate some of the traffic issues caused by the construction.
While some of the work has just taken longer to complete than was planned, the overall progress remains positive, with the community eagerly awaiting the reopening of West Main Street Bridge by mid-September.
ASHLAND, Ohio – The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Ashland is excited to announce the next Youth Theatre production will be “Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man Jr.” Auditions for youth ages 8 through 17 will take place on Monday, Aug. 26 and Tuesday, Aug. 27 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at The Salvation Army’s Ashland Kroc Center, 527 East Liberty Street, Ashland.
Audition packets for “The Music Man Jr” are now available for pick-up at either one of the Welcome Centers at the entrances of the Kroc Center, or online at the following links:
Audition Details, Requirements & Character Breakdown
Music Man Leads (Harold & Marion) Audition Songs & Scripts
Music Man Supporting Cast Audition Songs & Scripts
Auditions consist of three parts: vocal, acting and dance. Those wishing to audition for a specific role must prepare the provided audition song and script for that role. Youth wishing to be considered for more than one role only need to prepare audition materials for just one role.
Rehearsals will take place on Mondays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Performances will take place on January 17, 18 and 19, 2025. Backstage crew will also be needed closer to production.
Production of “Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man Jr.” will be led by Majors Billy and Annalise Francis, and Amy Morgan.
“The Ashland Kroc Youth Theatre program has a holistic approach to learning vocal, acting, movement, and stage techniques in the process of being part of a production from start to performance,” says Major Annalise Francis. “We seek to inspire the development of each performer in an encouraging, cast-oriented, Christ-centered environment.”
Sponsorship opportunities to help provide participation scholarships and cover the cost of production are also available. If a local business or service organization is interested in partnering with the Ashland Kroc Center in the production of “Meredith Wilson’s the Music Man Jr” they should reach out to Dan Lawson, PhD, Director of Community Relations and Development for the Ashland Kroc Center, at (419) 281-8001.
Ashland County, OH — A horrifying incident involving a 6-year-old child who was viciously attacked by a Pitbull has led to the arrest of three adults in Savannah, Ohio. The child, who was restrained with handcuffs on both his hands and feet, sustained severe injuries in the attack.
According to Chief Deputy David Blake of the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at approximately 5:06 p.m. A 911 call was made, reporting that a Pitbull had bitten a young boy on the neck and ear at 23 Chapel Street. Emergency responders found the child in critical condition upon arrival and immediately called for Life Flight to transport him to a hospital for urgent medical care.
Initial investigations identified the child’s mother, Angelina Williams of Cleveland, Ohio, as living at the residence with a family member of the homeowner, Robert Michalski. Michalski, who owned the Pitbull, had left the house with the dog before authorities arrived.
Further investigation on Monday, August 19, 2024, revealed a disturbing detail: the 6-year-old child had been handcuffed by the adults in the home before the attack occurred. Deputies executed a search warrant at the residence, where they discovered evidence supporting this allegation.
Additionally, Michalski and the Pitbull were found hiding in a cubbyhole upstairs. The Pitbull has since been taken into custody and classified as a vicious dog.
Angelina Williams, Robert Michalski, and Williams’ boyfriend, Taylor Desiree Marvin-Brown, who allegedly assisted in restraining the child, were all arrested and taken to jail.
*** All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law***
The investigation is ongoing, and the case will be forwarded to the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office for further action.
Ashland, OH—A single-vehicle rollover crash occurred on State Route 60, just south of County Road 2104, around 5:08pm this evening. Emergency services, including the Ohio Highway Patrol, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, and Hayesville Fire Department & EMS, responded to the scene in the 2100 block of State Route 60.
Joe Daugherty, 60, of Ashland, was driving a silver 2008 Ford F-150 southbound on State Route 60 when he lost control of the vehicle while going around a curve. The pickup truck went off the west side of the road and overturned.
Daugherty was transported to Ohio-Health Mansfield Hospital with injuries believed to be serious but non-life-threatening.
An Ohio Highway Patrol trooper stated that the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Ashland University is excited to serve as this year’s host of the 16th annual Connecting 4 Justice International Conference, which will examine the challenges and successes for transitioning out of prison and back to families and communities. It will take place on AU’s campus over a three-day period from Wednesday, Sept. 18, to Friday, Sept. 20, and the theme is “Conversations, Collaboration and Community.”
The event, formerly named the InterNational Prisoners Family Conference, is a collaboration between AU and The Ridge Project. It is intended to generate conversation on how to continue bridging the gaps in the carceral system and is geared towards anyone eager to gain knowledge—professional or personal—to take action to enhance the well-being and future success of justice-impacted persons transitioning to homes and communities.
Attendees at previous conferences have included formerly incarcerated individuals, addictions counselors, attorneys, faith-based organizations, criminal justice personnel, health care providers, mental health professionals, social service agencies, educators, government officials and many more.
Expert speakers and panelists will discuss topics such as the importance of family and challenges faced by those at home while a loved one is incarcerated and during return, the value of higher education in corrections and key reentry services through department of corrections, not-for-profit organizations and other social support agencies.
“This work, to provide pathways for reunification with families and communities, to attain educational degrees and training, and to pave clear connections to economically sustaining careers and employment, can only be achieved through the conversation and collaboration of many organizations and agencies … a quilt coming together with a common goal,” commented Jim Cox, assistant vice president of correctional education at AU.
There are a broad range of presentations and workshops being finalized. One of the highlights will be a keynote address by author and ethical leadership expert Chuck Gallagher. His keynote, “Victim or Victor,” centers on the importance of embracing a future where one is not defined by their past but empowered by their choices.
Today, Gallagher is a vice president of sales and marketing for American Funeral Financial and also the president of Ethics Resource Group, but he was previously convicted of embezzlement and tax evasion. He will present valuable lessons of his personal journey from incarceration to ethical leadership by illustrating the unique challenges of re-entry and providing the audience with tools and strategies to navigate this transition with confidence.
Another featured speaker will be Ashland alum Perry Holloway ’79. A managing partner of schoolman101.com, Holloway is committed to justice reform as he develops initiatives aimed at preventing young people from entering the prison pipeline and advocates for legislative changes to reduce the prison population. His presentation, “From Mass Incarceration to Decarceration,” will look at policies that seek to reduce incarceration and promote alternatives to imprisonment.
Also, Oscar McKnight, Ph.D., the director of AU’s Psychological Counseling Services, will be presenting “A Qualitative Examination of Life, Career and Educational Expectations.” McKnight is a seasoned mental health professional with more than 30 years of experience in counseling and administration with a focus on formerly incarcerated/justice-involved persons.
Head over to the corner of Jay Street and W. Walnut St. where Zack & Jillian Watson have set up a lemonade stand! All proceeds go directly to support the Wilcox family adoption fund.
They’ll be there until 4 PM today, serving up some refreshing lemonade and delicious baked goods.
Don’t miss out—stop by, enjoy a treat, and support a wonderful cause!
Collins, Ohio – On the evening of August 16, 2024, a serious incident occurred at the Huron County Fairgrounds during the popular Tough Truck event. At approximately 10:00 PM, one of the participants experienced a mechanical malfunction, causing their vehicle to veer into the staging area.
The mishap resulted in multiple injuries, two of which were severe. The injured individuals were transported to nearby trauma centers for further medical care.
In a statement issued by the Townsend Township Fire Department, Acting Fire Chief Jonathan White expressed deep concern for those affected by the incident. “We will be keeping everyone involved in our thoughts and prayers,” said Chief White.
Chief White also extended his gratitude to the emergency response teams who assisted in managing the situation. “I would like to thank the members of our department, Berlin Township Fire Department, New London Fire Department, and North Central EMS for doing a great job and keeping everything running as smoothly as possible,” he stated.
The swift response by the Huron County Sheriff’s Office and the Huron County Fair Board was also acknowledged for ensuring the safety of all involved and allowing emergency personnel to carry out their duties effectively.
The incident is under investigation, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
The community remains hopeful for the recovery of the injured and is rallying around those affected by this unfortunate event.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield and State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon today at the Division of State Fire Marshal’s campus to announce a statewide Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign to raise awareness for Ohio’s need for volunteer firefighters.
“Many Ohio communities rely on volunteer firefighters to keep them and their families safe every day,” said Governor DeWine. “As volunteer numbers decrease, Ohioans are increasingly at risk, which is why it so important to spread awareness for Ohio’s need. We hope to encourage everyday Ohioans to become extraordinary heroes by serving their communities as volunteer firefighters.”
In 2022, Governor DeWine created the Volunteer Fire Service Task Force, a group consisting of volunteer fire departments, municipalities, and state agencies, to study and improve the future sustainability of volunteer fire services in Ohio. The deployment of the PSA campaign is the latest fulfilled recommendation identified in the Task Force’s 31-page report.
Starting today, two 30-second PSAs will appear on televisions across the state along with ads on various digital platforms, including social media. The PSAs feature current Ohio volunteer firefighters sharing why they choose to serve encouraging Ohioans to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter themselves.
Individuals can visit MakeMeAFirefighter.org and search for volunteer firefighter opportunities in, or near, their communities. Users can then click on a specific position, read details about the role, and express their interest. Currently, there are nearly 400 open positions across Ohio listed on the website.
Approximately 70% of fire departments in Ohio are volunteer. While the number of emergency calls is increasing across the state, the number of volunteer firefighters is decreasing. From 2018 to 2021, there was a 6.5% decrease in the number of volunteer firefighters; meanwhile, from 2018 to 2020, there was a 9% increase in calls.
The nation is experiencing a similar trend. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, approximately 65% of the country’s estimated 1,041,200 firefighters are volunteers, and 64% of 29,452 fire departments in the U.S. are all-volunteer. In 2020, the number of volunteer firefighters in the U.S. reached a low while call volume has more than tripled in the last 35 years.
“Many Ohioans underestimate or simply aren’t aware of the critical role that volunteer firefighters play in our daily lives,” said Ohio Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “There is no question that volunteers are a key component in our ability to maintain a strong, robust and responsive fire service across the state. These are men and women who, despite working full-time jobs, have made the decision to step up and serve their communities and neighbors, often on what could be considered the worst days of their lives. The trend we’re seeing at this moment in Ohio is unsustainable, which is why now is the time for Ohioans to step up and become the hometown heroes our communities desperately need.”
In addition to the new awareness campaign, the Division of State Fire Marshal has made strides toward fulfilling other recommendations from the Task Force, including making training classes at the State Fire Marshal’s Ohio Fire Academy 100% free for volunteer firefighters and volunteer fire departments, increasing fire department grant funding to $7.5 million, and hiring a volunteer service coordinator to support the needs of Ohio’s volunteer fire service.
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Joe Lyons •
August 22, 2024
Ashland County, OH — A horrifying incident involving a 6-year-old child who was viciously attacked by a Pitbull has led to the arrest of three adults in Savannah, Ohio. The child, who was restrained with handcuffs on both his hands and feet, sustained severe injuries in the attack.
