Latest news with #OhioDepartmentofNaturalResources
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
More than 300 attend vigil honoring Morrow County sheriff's deputy killed on Memorial Day
Two and a half years ago, a woman said in an online post shared by a pastor, Morrow County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Weston Sherrer responded to a domestic violence call and saved the lives of four girls in the process. Sherrer again responded to a domestic violence call on Memorial Day, May 26, that would lead to him being fatally shot. More than 300 people — including police officers and deputies from several central Ohio law enforcement agencies— came together on the evening of May 29 at the Morrow County Sheriff's Office for a candlelight memorial to pay their respects and honor the life of Sherrer. Nearly all in attendance sported "thin blue line" shirts, flags and pins, while others wore custom T-shirts remembering Sherrer as a selfless person and law enforcement officer who was willing to put his life on the line for others. Others sported black armbands, a popular symbol to show mourning. Some also purchased blue and white signs saying, "We support Morrow County Law Enforcement." After sermons from two local pastors — one of whom told the story about Sherrer rescuing the four girls— the attendees received candles and lit them in honor of Sherrer. There was a brief moment of silence as blue and red lights from parked police vehicles glared in the background. The vigil also included an honor guard presentation from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, a bagpipe performance, and the singing of the U.S. national anthem. On the evening of Memorial Day, Sherrer responded to a domestic violence call and gunshots fired at a home in the 100 block of County Road 26 (Olive Green Marengo Fulton Road) at the intersection with County Road 15 (West Liberty-Mount Vernon Road), south of Marengo, according to the sheriff's office. On arrival, Sherrer went to the home and encountered Brian Michael Wilson, 53. Wilson threatened Sherrer several times before the two exchanged gunfire, killing Sherrer and injuring Wilson, according to an arrest affidavit. Sherrer was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died. Wilson was also transported to a local hospital in serious condition. He has been charged with aggravated murder in Sherrer's death. Attendees who spoke with The Dispatch at the vigil said their immediate reaction upon news of Sherrer's death was sadness and shock. Matthew Roshan, 31, is a police officer with the Galion Police Department, just north of Mt. Gilead, but started his law enforcement career at the Morrow County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and said that while he interacted with Sherrer only a handful of times, he doesn't recall ever not seeing a smile on Sherrer's face. "I came to show support for a brother," said Roshan. He also said that even with Sherrer's death, it wouldn't stop him from continuing to do his job as a police officer in Galion. "I was devastated, lost for words," said Lyndsey Wilcox, 38, who has lived in Morrow County since 2006. She noted that Sherrer's death was abnormal in Morrow County. She spearheaded the vigil and said she wanted to show support for the community and law enforcement. "This is what we do for our community," said Wilcox. "(Mt. Gilead) has a small-town feel, and we're all family here." Charles Johnson, a 74-year-old pastor at Friend's Church in Spencerville, Allen County, said he heard about the shooting over the radio and decided to make the nearly two-hour drive to show support for the MCSO. "I'm grieving, hoping, and praying," said Johnson, holding a Bible in his hands. Snyder Funeral Homes in Mount Gilead said that visitation for Sherrer will be held on June 3 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Northmoor High School, 7819 State Route 19, Galion. Funeral services will take place on June 4 at 11 a.m. at the same high school. Private graveside services will follow at Marion Cemetery. Sherrer was honored with a police escort procession from the Montgomery County Coroner's Office in Dayton to Mount Gilead on May 28, which attracted hundreds of attendees in downtown Mount Gilead. During a press conference the day after the shooting, Morrow County Sheriff John Hinton remembered Sherrer as a "godsend" for his office, the county, and the community. Sherrer is survived by his fiancée, his parents, a sister, and other family members, according to Sherrer's obituary. Dispatch reporter Nathan Hart contributed to this story. Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@ at ShahidMeighan on X, and at on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Morrow County hosts vigil for Daniel Sherrer
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bugging Ohio! Right now it's midges —what's next!?
CLEVELAND (WJW) – What's bugging Ohio? Well, right now, it's midges! But, bug-fearing northeast Ohioans better buckle up! Summer is just getting underway. Still ahead — cicadas, mayflies, and more! PHOTOS: Ohio insects so close — your eyes will bug. YIKES! Recently, swarms of midges have been spotted on cars, homes, light poles, and just about anything near Lake Erie. Even 'clouds' of the generally harmless insects have been seen flying across the sky. The good news? Midge season typically peaks in late May or early June, which means it'll be over soon. Swarms of noisy cicadas are expected to emerge soon in southwest Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that the periodical cicadas are a unique group and differ from annual cicadas. Swarms of the bugs can certainly be unsettling for some, but experts emphasize that cicadas are harmless to people and pets. They're expected to emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. The insects will remain active for three to four weeks as they search for a mate. CLICK HERE to learn more about what their names implies, Mayflies typically arrive in Northeast Ohio in late June. Communities along Lake Erie are already bracing for the mass arrival of the light-loving insects. Last week, FirstEnergy announced that to help deter the bugs and keep roads safe, streetlights in select communities will be temporarily turned off. In years past, huge swarms of mayflies have been captured on FOX 8 radar arriving on the shores of Lake Erie. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Two Game Wardens Who Cracked the CJ Alexander Poaching Case Finally Get to Tell Their Side of the Story
The criminal case surrounding the Christopher 'CJ' Alexander buck captivated deer hunters across the country last year. In late 2023, Alexander claimed to have killed a record-breaking buck on his sister's small property in Ohio. Shortly after he started sharing this made-up story with OL and other hunting outlets, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources opened a poaching investigation. Then the agency went silent. A year passed before the agency released more details. And in that time, Alexander wove a compelling story in which he publicly accused the DNR of trying to undermine his accomplishment. Many social media users were persuaded by his story, and even donated to his GoFundMe account. Meanwhile, the two officers investigating his case couldn't say a word. Now that the case is closed — Alexander to pled guilty to 14 charges and was sentenced to fines and jail time — they're able to go on the record about how the investigation played out, and why it took so long for them to share those details with the public. So this week on the Outdoor Life Podcast, we sat down with those two Ohio game wardens: Officers Matt Roberts and Isaiah Gifford. We spoke with Roberts and Gifford after they received the Pope and Young Club's Wildlife Law Enforcement Award last month for their work on the case. 'You know, [Alexander] can tell a very good story, and he ultimately got a lot of the country to believe his story,' Gifford tells Outdoor Life. 'It was our job to kind of pick apart that story and figure out the facts from lies.' Roberts and Gifford explain how Alexander's story initially seemed credible, the clues they found that led them to believe otherwise, and how the DNR's investigation evolved over the course of 20245. We also discuss what it was like building a case against Alexander with all that added attention he generated online. 'I know there were a lot of people online and on social media thinking we were out to get [Alexander] and we set him up … and it's hard to sit back when you know that he's already confessed to all this, and you can't tell people why it's taken so long to do this investigation,' Roberts explained. 'Especially on a big deer case like this, when the whole world's watching.' Read Next: The Five Most Controversial Bucks in Recent History Their quiet dedication paid off. And now that the truth is out, the two game wardens can speak freely about how they cracked one of the biggest poaching cases of the century. Listen to this week's episode on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Muskingum River reopens to navigation; May 31 celebration includes free rides, family fun
COLUMBUS — The Muskingum River Parkway is set to fully reopen for navigation for the first time since 2020. According to an announcement from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the reopening of Rokeby Lock No. 8 will restore full navigational access from Marietta to Zanesville. A celebration is planned for 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 31 at McConnelsville Lock No. 7, 698 E. Riverside Drive, McConnelsville. The event will feature free pontoon boat rides, offered by ODNR's Division of Parks and Watercraft staff. Pontoon boat rides are weather and water-level dependent. In the event of high river levels due to recent rainfall, rides may be canceled for safety. 'Restoring navigation to the entire length of the Muskingum is about more than boats on the water,' said ODNR Director Mary Mertz in the release. 'It's about preserving a remarkable piece of our heritage and celebrating the communities and families who've cherished this river for generations.' The Muskingum River State Park is home to one of the nation's last remaining systems of hand-operated locks, according to the announcement. Ten of the 11 original locks remain in operation, allowing recreational boaters to travel from Marietta to Zanesville. The locks and dams were constructed in the 1800s under the direction of West Point graduate Major Samuel Curtis. By 1841, the system connected to the Ohio and Erie Canal, ushering in an era of prosperity for towns along the waterway. Stockport Lock #6 is another stop along the Muskingum River that is open to boaters. In 2001, the system was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, placing it alongside American engineering marvels like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building and Hoover Dam, according to the announcement. With navigation from the Ohio River through Zanesville Lock #10 restored, ODNR invites Ohioans to rediscover this historic waterway and experience the same scenic beauty and cultural richness that once drew settlers, traders and riverboat pilots to its banks nearly two centuries ago. This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Restoration of lock will allow boaters to travel Muskingum River again
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cicadas attract pests, nearly invisible mites that bite and can cause a rash. What to know
The latest 17-year brood of cicadas is invading, bringing millions if not billions of the noisy insects to Cincinnati and southwest Ohio. While cicadas may be annoying — they're loud, they leave their nymph shells everywhere after molting and they may upset your pet's stomach if your dog gorges on them — the insects are harmless, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They're even beneficial: They're a valuable food source for native wildlife, per ODNR, and the nymphs emerging from underground can help your lawn, according to The Nature Conservancy. However, cicadas can attract a pest, the oak leaf itch mite. And as the name suggests, these mites can cause an irritating rash in humans. Here's what to know. According to WebMD, these mites are nearly invisible to the naked eye, being about 0.2 mm long. They commonly feed on larvae of an oak gall midge, a type of fly, that lives on pin oak leaves. Starting in late July, these mites drop from the tree or are blown on the wind, landing on animals and humans. Their bites can cause an itchy rash of small red bumps that can be painful to scratch. The rashes can be intense. They're also known to feed on cicada eggs, per WebMD, and were linked to a 2007 outbreak of rashes in Chicago, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, where the mites were feeding on 17-year cicada eggs. In 2021, the University of Maryland Extension found it likely that Brood X cicada eggs were likely the mite's food source for an outbreak of rashes in the Washington D.C. area, as reported by the Washington Post. If you develop a rash, an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion as well as antihistamines may help with the itch, per WebMD. Don't scratch; that may cause a bacterial infection. Controlling the mites on the trees is difficult, according to the PennState Extension. Sprays aren't effective because the mites are protected and hidden in leaf folds or galls. The use of insect repellent containing DEET has shown mixed results. "People can best protect themselves by limiting their time from under infested trees and by immediately removing and laundering clothing and then showering," PennState Extension writes. After 17 years underground, Brood XIV is emerging, and it will bring millions if not billions of the noisy insects to Southwest Ohio and a dozen other states this spring. Brood XIV is one of 15 recognized broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, and one of four that appear in the Buckeye State, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. Annual cicadas emerge worldwide each year, but periodical cicadas are found only in eastern North America. They live underground as nymphs for either 13 or 17 years before emerging above ground in massive numbers. Different populations of periodical cicadas are called 'broods' and are numbered with Roman numerals. Brood XIV cicadas will stretch from northern Georgia to Massachusetts. In Ohio, they will emerge in a more than dozen counties, per ODNR, mostly in Southwest Ohio: Adams Brown Butler Champaign Clermont Clinton Gallia Greene Hamilton Highland Jackson Lawrence Pike Ross Scioto Warren Washington They are active for three to four weeks as they focus on mating and reproduction, per ODNR. Male periodical cicadas produce a deafening chorus of calls to attract females. Once mated, female cicadas deposit their eggs into the branches of trees and shrubs. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cicadas invading Ohio in 2025 bring an itchy pest. Here's what to know
