by Dan Starcher | Sep 7, 2023 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Sep. 6, 2023 — The Wayne County Fair is a bustling and vibrant event where people come together to enjoy thrilling rides, indulge in fair food, and experience the excitement of live entertainment. However, one safety issue often arises amidst the fun and festivities – the lack of reliable cellular phone service.
The lack of reliable cellular phone service has been addressed on multiple occasions. Last spring, representatives from the Wayne County Senior Fair Board, Wayne County Emergency Management, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Wooster Police and Fire, and 911 dispatch services met with one of the area’s popular cellular phone service providers to discuss the issue. In July, the company contacted the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency Director Barb Pittard and said they have chosen not to address the issue at this time.
“We encourage all cellular phone customers experiencing a lack of service to contact the company directly with any concerns,” Pittard said. “Because this is beyond our control, we ask that you make prior meeting arrangements with your family and friends while visiting the fair.”
With the fairgrounds sprawling over a vast area, it is not uncommon for visitors to face spotty or no reception on their cell phones, leading to potential safety concerns. The lack of communication can be worrisome at a time when staying connected is crucial, especially in crowded public spaces.
“If you are coming to pick up a child, you may not be able to contact them by cell phone, so it is essential to establish a pre-determined meeting place and time,” Pittard continued. “You also want to establish a planned meeting place with your children if you become separated while enjoying the fair.”
Safety officials in Wayne County also recommend that fairgoers with allergies or medical conditions bring things like Epi-pens and inhalers and know where the Red Cross building is located (immediately west of the grandstands) for any medical issues that may arise while at the fair.
For additional information, visit waynecountyfairohio.com.
by Wayne Ohio | Mar 30, 2020 | Blog
COLUMBUS, OH, MAR. 30, 2020 — The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) is receiving reports of spam calls to Ohioans from individuals claiming to be from the Ohio EMA and requesting personal protected information, such as a Social Security number.
“The Ohio Emergency Management Agency is not calling Ohioans and asking for their protected personal information,” said Executive Director Sima Merick. “If you receive such a call, it is a scam. Please hang up the phone.”
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Ohio Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield offer these tips to protect yourself from other scams:
· Watch out for emails claiming to be from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other expert sources offering special advice or information about coronavirus disease 2019. Legitimate information is available for free from the CDC coronavirus.gov or from the Ohio Department of Health at coronavirus.ohio.gov.
· Ignore advertisements promoting cures for COVID-19. There currently are no vaccines, prescription medications, or over-the-counter products available to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19.
· Refrain from investing in businesses touting products, services or cures for COVID-19. Scam artists try to use the market downturn and the pandemic to scare investors into so-called “safer, guaranteed investments.”
· Research nonprofit organizations and crowdfunding campaigns before donating. A database of registered charities is available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website. Avoid groups that pressure you into donating and never donate via cash, gift cards, wire transfer, or prepaid money card. These are the preferred payment methods of scammers.
· Be watchful of anyone going door to door offering coronavirus testing or temperature readings and/or requesting personal information. Call law enforcement immediately if you see a suspicious person. Never let strangers into your home.
· Beware of emails and other attempts to “phish” for your personal, financial, and/or medical information. When in doubt, do not share. If the source claims to be your bank or a government agency, confirm they are legitimate by calling the organization at a phone number you have verified.
For information on government stimulus checks, visit the Federal Trade Commission website and stay tuned for updates from reliable news sources. The government will not ask you to pay anything to receive this money and will never ask for your Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card number. Never give this information out.
· When online, avoid clicking on unknown links or pop-ups and never download any suspicious email attachment. Doing so could infect your devices with malicious software designed to steal your personal information or lock your computer until you pay a ransom.
The Department of Commerce asks consumers to ask yourself these questions to help spot red flags:
· Has someone contacted you unexpectedly about an investment opportunity or asked for payment on an unfamiliar account? If you weren’t expecting a phone call or didn’t initiate the contact, hang up. If you can put a block on the incoming phone number, do so to avoid additional calls.
· Has someone promised you something? If you are offered something that seems too good to be true, it probably is.
· Has someone asked you to do something? Were you asked for banking, credit card, or other financial account information? If you didn’t initiate the conversation, don’t provide it.
· Is an investment being offered with a guaranteed high return with little or no risk? All investments carry risk. No one can guarantee an investment return.
· Is there a sense of urgency or limited availability surrounding an investment? If the offer is legitimate, it will be there later. If someone offers you a “can’t miss” investment opportunity and puts you on the spot, don’t be afraid to walk away.
· Is the person offering the investment, and the investment itself, properly licensed or registered? For the same reasons you wouldn’t go to an unlicensed doctor or dentist, you should avoid unregistered investment salespeople and their products.
· Consumers who suspect an unfair or deceptive sales practice should contact the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost at www.OhioProtects.org or 1-800-282-0515.
Attorney General Yost’s Consumer Protection Section is receiving complaints of price gouging for items such as surgical masks and toilet paper. State law bans unconscionable sales practices, which could include dramatically increasing the price products solely in response to current events.
For answers to your COVID-19 questions, call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic, help is available. Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 (1-800-846-8517 TTY); connect with a trained counselor through the Ohio Crisis Text Line by texting the keyword “4HOPE” to 741 741, or call the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services helpline at 1-877-275-6364 to find resources in your community.
Ohio Emergency Management Agency Will NOT Call You Asking for Personal Information.
Posted by Dan Starcher, public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.
by Wayne Ohio | Oct 1, 2019 | Uncategorized
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Sep. 2019 — It’s almost here! The opening day of the 170th annual Wayne County Fair is this Saturday, Sept. 7th. This year’s edition of the annual event gets “techie” thanks to a grant and the efforts of the OSU Extension Wayne County.
Earlier this month, Extension Educator Doug Foxx and his team unveiled the Wayne County 4-H application for mobile devices in both the Apple and Android stores. According to Foxx, people are visiting the fairgrounds early to check out the new Event Center and get a feel for the new layout. And, as fairgoers get their bearings, there is a new piece of technology available for free that can help.
“We are really excited about this app,” Foxx said. “It was created just in time for the Wayne County Fair. It has the fair schedule, the 4-H calendar of events for the entire year. It will really be helpful to people during the fair. The show books, auction programs, show results — all of the information that people are looking for at the fair — will be right at their fingertips.”
The application also features maps and a video section. Foxx explained that Jr. Fair Board members will be roaming around the grounds recording video to be featured in the app. “They will be like roving reporters during the fair,” he said. “They have a video camera and will be conducting interviews and capturing some of the stories that people have. Whether it will be a Grand Champion winner or a long-time 4-H volunteer, we want to share those stories.”
Although it is the first iteration of the application, it is fairly robust. And, Foxx maintains, it will continue to be upgraded. “We would like to expand the video features more in the future,” he said. “And maybe offer a password-protected area for our committee members to store documents.
Currently, Foxx said, there are more than 500 active users of the application, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “We will learn some things from this year’s fair,” he continued. “There will be things that we want to tweak.”
The application is free and there is no need to enter an email or password. According to Foxx, the app is ready to go as soon as it is downloaded and it even features a photo booth. Visit Wayne County 4-H on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WayneCty4H and the Wayne County Extension Office at www.facebook.com/OSUEWayne.
OSU Extension Wayne County is funded, in part, by the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, State and Federal Government, private donations, and grants.
By Dan Starcher, public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.
