Hi, Mdisbrow.
Here's some advice from someone who learned the hard way: me.
I, too, live in Pickerington. I wasted money on units that could not properly receive MARCS from the Columbus site. The Whistler TRX-1 can do an OK job as long as you are only wanting Pickerington Police and Fairfield County Sherriff/Fire/EMS. This requires an antenna (I had to use a yagi) powerful enough to bring in the far away Lancaster site. I reside in Violet Township (Huntington Hills) and I cannot reliably pick up the Lancaster site with anything less than the yagi. Also, a TRX-1, even with the directional antenna, will struggle if you try to receive any simulcast sites from Columbus (in case your interest in the hobby increases to the point of wanting to listen to CPD, etc.)
If I were you, I would save up for either the Uniden SDS100 or Unication G5. Both units can easily receive anything you want to hear in Central Ohio with the stock antenna that ships with either unit. I have both and can confirm this. If you live anywhere near me, you'll have trouble with the Lancaster site with any of the radios listed above if you don't have a serious antenna solution. The Uniden SDS100 and Unication can monitor Pick PD, Fairfield County SO and MECC fire/EMC from the Columbus site. Some Eastern Fairfield County fire talkgroups may ONLY broadcast from the Lancaster site, but anything close to Pickerington will be on MECC.