THREE WEEKS REMAIN UNTIL ELECTION DAY AND SOME LOCAL COUNTIES SAY THE VOLUME OF EARLY VOTING IS AHEAD OF PREVIOUS YEARS. IN THE FIRST EIGHT VOTING DAYS, MORE THAN 45,000 PEOPLE VOTED EARLY IN MONTGOMERY, GREENE, MIAMI, WARREN, CLARK, CHAMPAIGN, AND BUTLER COUNTIES. IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING FOR THE NOVEMBER 6TH ELECTION CONTINUES THIS WEEK, WITH ALL COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTION OPEN FROM 8AM-5PM THROUGH FRIDAY. THE FINAL TWO WEEKS OF VOTING STARTING MONDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, WITH HOURS OF 8AM-7PM WEEKDAYS.
THE STATE OF OHIO IS TAKING NEW MEASURES TO HELP PEOPLE WITH AUTISM LEAD MEANINGFUL AND SUCCESSFUL LIVES. THE OHIO CENTER FOR AUTISM AND LOW INCIDENCE RELEASED NEW OHIO AUTISM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2012 THAT FOCUS ON EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND DIAGNOSIS, SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT, AND SUSTAINED SERVICES FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. BARB YAVORCIK WITH THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF OHIO SAYS THE RECOMMENDATIONS SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR THE FUTURE OF SERVICES IN THE STATE. AS A RESULT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE GOVERNOR HAS ANNOUNCED MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION TO FUND CURRENTLY SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS, AS WELL AS NEW INITIATIVES TO HELP IMPROVE EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM. ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, AUTISM AFFECTS 1 IN EVERY 88 CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES AND IS THE FASTEST GROWING DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY IN THE NATION.
A MAINTENANCE WORKER ON A TELEVISION TOWER HAD TO BE RESCUED YESTERDAY MORNING AFTER HE SUFFERED A MEDICAL ISSUE WHILE ON THE TOWER, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BELONG TO CHANNEL 16. MEDICS AND FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO HELP GET THE MAN DOWN FROM THE 1,000 FOOT TOWER ON GUTHRIE ROAD IN DAYTON. CO-WORKERS ALSO HELPED WITH THAT RESCUE.
WE HAVE TWO CASES TO REPORT TO YOU WHERE SOMEONE WENT MISSING WITH A SAD OUTCOME IN EACH. THE BODY OF 17 YEAR OLD JACOB HANEY WHO WAS MISSING FOR NEARLY A MONTH WAS FOUND MONDAY EVENING IN A WOODED AREA ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF NEW CARLISLE. NO FOUL PLAY IS SUSPECTED, ACCORDING TO CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF LT. CHRIS CLARK. THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION WITH THE CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE CLARK COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE. HANEY WAS LAST SEEN THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 18TH PLAYING BASKETBALL IN SMITH PARK IN NEW CARLISLE. THE AREA WAS SEARCHED IN LATE SEPTEMBER, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND AT THAT TIME.
IN TROY, 55 YEAR OLD THOMAS JAMES WHO WAS LAST SEEN SUNDAY AROUND 11:40 IN THE MORNING HAS BEEN FOUND DECEASED. HIS CAR WAS FOUND IN MIAMI COUNTY AND HIS BODY WAS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA CLOSE TO WHERE HIS CAR WAS FOUND. FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED. DEPUTIES AND FOUR K-9 UNITS SEARCHED FOR JAMES.
THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS REPORTS THAT AREA RESIDENTS HAVE UNWITTINGLY TAKEN PART IN A SCAM BELIEVING THEY WERE “MYSTERY SHOPPERS” ACCORDING TO THE FBI. “MYSTERY SHOPPING ASSISTANTS” WERE HIRED TO SHIP MERCHANDISE TO RUSSIA. THE NEWS RELEASE FROM THE FBI SAYS “SUBJECTS ILLEGALLY OBTAINED CREDIT CARD INFORMATION FROM VICTIMS.” THE RELEASE CONTINUES, “USING THIS STOLEN CREDIT CARD INFORMATION, THEY ORDERED MERCHANDISE FROM VARIOUS RETAILERS AND HAD IT SHIPPED TO THE MYSTERY SHOPPER ASSISTANTS. THESE MYSTERY SHOPPER ASSISTANTS REPACKAGED THE MERCHANDISE AND SENT IT TO RUSSIA, UNKNOWINGLY ACTING AS AN INTERMEDIARY IN A CRIMINAL FRAUD SCHEME.” OTHERS WERE CONTACTED BY EMAIL AND POSTAL MAIL TO APPLY TO BE A MYSTERY SHOPPER AND ASKED TO SEND RESUMES FOR AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECK. THESE MYSTERY SHOPPERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO DEPOSIT A CHECK, NOT KNOWING IT WAS COUNTERFEIT AND A PORTION WENT BACK TO THE “EMPLOYER” WHILE THE MYSTERY SHOPPER KEPT A PORTION AS THEIR PAYMENT. ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THEY ARE A VICTIM OF A MYSTERY SHOPPER SCAM IS ASKED TO GO TO THE WEBSITE: WWW.IC3.GOV .
ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE DeWINE IS URGING OHIOANS TO STAY PROACTIVE IN STAYING SAFE IN CYBER SPACE. HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR ON-LINE CONSUMER PROTECTION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE:
1) WATCH OUT FOR “PHISHING” WHERE SCAMMERS PRETEND TO BE A BANK OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND IN AN EMAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE ASK YOU TO PROVIDE YOUR ACCOUNT INFORMATION. NEVER RESPOND TO UNEXPECTED REQUESTS FOR PERSONAL OR PRIVATE INFORMATION.
2) IF YOU RECEIVE A TEXT MESSAGE THAT YOU’VE WON A PRIZE OR A GIFT CARD, EVEN FROM WELL-KNOWN COMPANIES, THEY ARE LIKELY SCAMS. DO NOT RESPOND.
3) ANYTIME A WEB PAGE ASKS YOU FOR SENSITIVE INFORMATION, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY IF THE PAGE IS SECURE. NORMALLY A WEB PAGE ADDRESS WILL BEGIN WITH THE LETTERS “HTTP”. HOWEVER A SECURE CONNECTION’S ADDRESS SHOULD BEGIN WITH “HTTPS”…WITH THAT “S” AT THE END. YOU COULD ALSO SEE A “LOCK” ICON AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
4) MAKE SURE YOUR ANTI-VIRUS, FIREWALL, AND OTHER PERSONAL COMPUTER SECURITY APPLICATIONS ARE UP-TO-DATE AND CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS REGULARLY.
5) DO NOT TRUST CALLER ID. SCAMMERS CAN USE THE INTERNET TO TRICK CALLER ID INTO SHOWING ANY NUMBER OR AREA CODE.
6) IF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN STOLEN AND YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT, FIRST FILE A POLICE REPORT. YOU CAN ALSO VISIT ON-LINE: WWW.OHIOATTORNEYGENERAL.GOV OR CALL TOLL-FREE: 1/800-282-0515 TO LEARN ABOUT SCAMS AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO HELP RESTORE CREDIT HARMED BY IDENTITY THEFT.
THE CHILLY AUTUMN AIR HAS MANY OHIOANS READY TO GET THE HEAT GOING IN THEIR HOMES. THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF OHIO’S WINTER RECONNECT PROGRAM IS NOW IN EFFECT TO HELP RESIDENTS STAY WARM. UNDER THE PROGRAM CUSTOMERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH DISCONNECTION CAN HAVE THEIR SERVICE RESTORED OR MAINTAINED IF THEY PAY THE AMOUNT OWED OR $175, WHICHEVER IS LESS, PLUS THEIR UTILITY’S SERVICE RECONNECTION FEE. MICHELE LUCAS SAYS ASSISTANCE IS REALLY NECESSARY FOR MANY FAMILIES. THERE ARE NO INCOME-ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. ANY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WHO IS SERVED BY A REGULATED UTILITY COMPANY MAY USE THE WINTER RECONNECT ORDER ONE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND APRIL 15TH. THE PLAN DOES REQUIRE THEM TO SET UP PAYMENTS WITH THEIR UTILITY TOWARD THE REMAINING BALANCE ON THEIR BILL. LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 316,000 OHIO UTLITY CUSTOMERS USED THE WINTER RECONNECT PROGRAM. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT: WWW.PUCO.OHIO.GOV .
EXPECT RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO BEGIN OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH LOWS DROPPING TO 53 DEGREES. THAT 80 PERCENT PROBABILITY WILL TURN INTO 100 PERCENT FOR THURSDAY WITH TEMPERATURES RISING TO 62. CLOUDY SKIES ARE EXPECTED THURSDAY NIGHT WITH LOWS AROUND 42. THERE IS A 40 PERCENT CHANCE FOR SOME RAIN ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY THOUGH SHOULD BE SUNNY WITH HIGHS ON SATURDAY AROUND 57 DEGREES, GOING UP TO 65 ON SUNDAY.
