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State Rep. Sharon Ray honors Wadsworth officer with flag flown over Ohio State Capitol
Summary
State Representative Sharon Ray presented a flag flown over the Ohio State Capitol to Officer Anthony Merlene for his January 30, 2026 rescue of a resident from a condominium fire; the presentation took place during the Public Safety Committee meeting and drew applause.
State Representative Sharon Ray presented a flag flown over the Ohio State Capitol to Wadsworth Police Officer Anthony Merlene during the Public Safety Committee meeting on April 8, 2026, in recognition of Merlene’s role in rescuing a resident from a condominium fire on January 30. Representative Ray told the committee she was honored to attend and praised the team response from Wadsworth Police and Fire.
"It was an honor to be at this meeting tonight, and to have been lucky enough to serve on Wadsworth City Council when the current facility was built," Representative Ray said during the presentation, adding that Officer Merlene’s actions on a cold January morning were "flawless" and without hesitation. Officer Merlene accepted the flag at the podium and was acknowledged by Council Chair Jon Yurchiak.
The presentation recognized coordinated first-responder activity between Wadsworth Police and Wadsworth Fire and underscored the committee’s emphasis on mutual support among safety forces. Applause followed the brief ceremony, and Representative Ray thanked the department "very much for everything done in the line of duty."
