Drivers may soon see automated vehicles on rural roadways in central and southeast Ohio as DriveOhio's Rural Automated Driving Systems (ADS) project begins two deployments to gather data that will help define future technology needs.

Automated vehicle technology is revolutionizing the transportation industry, including the way that goods move, and people travel. While most automated driving systems have been tested in urban areas, there’s still much to learn about how automated vehicles operate in rural areas when navigating around curves, over hills, and in and out of shaded areas.

Automated vehicles have already been tested at the Transportation Research Center Inc.'s (TRC) 4,500-acre proving grounds in East Liberty, Ohio.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, "There are just two weeks left to let the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) know what you want to see more of in the great outdoors. The statewide survey to contribute to Ohio’s State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is available through the end of this month.

"Feedback from the survey will help determine outdoor recreation priorities of Ohioans. The survey results will be included in the five-year SCORP, which provides information on recreation trends and serves as a reference document for state officials distributing federal and state grants for public park facilities around the state."

The survey closes January 31 and can be found at https://ohio.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0jMMPPHUcrL9W86

Sharetta Smith, mayor of Lima, Ohio, will present the Forum “Journey to Leadership,” at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24 in Yoder Recital Hall.

During the presentation, Smith will share her personal experience of achieving her goals through determination. 

Landowners in Allen County may apply from January 12-February 24, 2023. 

The West Central Ohio Land Conservancy (WCOLC) is in the process of selecting interested landowners who meet the qualifications for the Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) in Allen County.

Interested agricultural landowners are encouraged to call or email WCOLC ([email protected]) for additional information. The WCOLC will complete a pre-certification scoring of qualified applicants. The WCOLC will select the landowners with the highest pre-certification scores and aid them in completing an application to be submitted to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) for purchase of their agricultural easement. 

The Putnam County District Library is offering free technology help for individuals who need assistance with their smartphone, tablet, iPad etc. Call and set up a 30-minute session with the technology trainers. 

They are available at the Pandora library on Wednesdays from 12:30-4:30; call 419-384-3232 for an appointment.

FINDLAY- Winter is coming. Can you find the signs that show where animals are spending the winter or how they will survive the cold winter days ahead. We will be taking a look up in the trees and on the ground for anything that can be found. In the winter, life becomes a mystery in the woodlands. 

Blue Rock Nature Preserve, Edgar Avenue parking lot. 2:00 p.m. All ages are welcome. Free; registration is not required. 

In December 2022, a Bluffton Icon reader inquired about an accident that had occurred on Bentley Rd. near Bixel in mid-November. He had picked up pieces from a vehicle in his field and seen utility pole damage–so he was surprised that no local news outlets had reported the incident.

The Icon’s inquiries at that time yielded no information. Recently, we have become more familiar with the Ohio Department of Public Safety crash statistics services, which include the opportunity to search for reports by county. 

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of ONU Healthwise Pharmacy

The idiom "under the radar" means the ability to go without attracting attention or to go undetected. In education circles, they may refer to a student who is under the radar as someone who follows instructions, completes their work on time, but may not fully comprehend the subject. They may not be recognized as falling behind in their understanding of the material. The education literature offers tips on how to identify these students and to improve their understanding.

One website offers tips to students who want to stay under the radar meaning they do not want to get called on in class. The advice from the website is to look pensive, engaged, and scribbling notes when the teacher looks at you. The theory is the teacher is less likely to call on someone thinking so hard and actively engaged. I find this ironic, since this is the type of student I am often looking to call upon—one engaged in class!