Gas card? STD Test?
Those four words were included in news reports last about a walk-in clinic at the Barnesville Library Annex scheduled for this Wednesday between 12-4 p.m. Pee in a cup, allow the urine to be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and receive a $25 Kroger Gas Card.
Simple, right?
And, because of the key words – sex and gas – most news seekers in the Upper Ohio Valley paid special attention to the particular news item because of the price at the pump and, well, human nature.
The same is true when Belmont County Chief Deputy James Zusak posts to social media updates on road conditions during winter snow events. The county has three levels it reports with ONE representing the worst, and Zusack informs area residents with humous-yet-effective poses.
“When you are delivering information that people need to pay attention to, these days you have to think of new, clever ways to get people to notice,” said J.P. Dutton, one of three Belmont County commissioners. “We all know a person’s attention span is shorter now than it has ever been.
“I’ve never been a fan of ‘well, we’ve always done it that way,’ and that’s because I believe there can be more than one way to do something and do it very well,” he said. “There are always new ways to accomplish our goals, and we have to roll with the changes that have taken place over the years. I believe that’s very important when it comes to government on any level, and I think our people do a great job.”
According to deputy health commissioner Rob Sproul, the health department released a news release with limited details about Wednesday’s testing clinic in Barnesville. The event was quickly promoted on air and in print. The reasons for the clinic, though, are in reaction to reported STD cases and not in an effort to raise awareness about sexually transmitted diseases.
“There has been an uptick, and that is why we decided it was time to offer the free testing along with an incentive to show up,” Sproul said. “We are not sure why there has been a recent increase. That’s what we are trying to figure out.
“If there are people out there who don’t have the money to go to a doctor for a test, they can come to the clinic on Wednesday and be tested for free,” he said. “The testing is available and so are the $25 gas cards, so I hope people take advantage of the opportunity.”
Be My Valentine
The Valentine’s Day Special promoted on Facebook by the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office beginning on February 1 stated, “(It) starts off with a set of limited-edition platinum bracelets, free transportation with a chauffeur, a one-night minimum stay in a luxurious (5-star) accommodations and professional glamour shots that will be posted online for all to enjoy. This special is capped off with a special Valentine’s dinner.”
The sheriff’s office also stated the promotion was copied from the Boyle County, Tenn., Sheriff’s Office because it “seems like an excellent program.”
Now, according to Zusak, no former Valentine turned in the other, but the chatter the posting created was healthy for the law enforcement agency.
“There were a lot of posts on that thread that were pretty funny,” the chief deputy said with a smile. “Even though we didn’t get anyone with a warrant, that’s something we’ll continue to do in the future.”
Dutton agreed.
“I think Sheriff (Dave) Lucas does a great job getting information out to the public. He always has, and that initiative is an example of his success,” Dutton said. “It was a very clever way to seek out people who have warrants for their arrest, and people do break up every day, right?
“I know it got a lot of people talking because I heard about it from several people soon after the first one was posted,” he said. “I thought they might serve at least one warrant because of the idea, but I’m sure it made a lot of people and a lot of people think real hard.”
Weather Outside Is Frightful
LEVEL 1: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy. Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously.
LEVEL 2: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be very icy. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roads. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work. Motorists should use extreme caution.
LEVEL 3: All roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be driving during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel or a personal emergency exists. All employees should contact their employer to see if they should report to work. Those traveling on the roads may subject themselves to arrest.
Those are the three levels developed by the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness to let local motorists know the driving conditions on Interstate 70, I-470, and U.S. Route 40.
“And I hope everyone in Belmont County has had the chance to follow Chief (James) Zusack’s road reports during the wintertime because he manages to make us laugh when we’re all pretty tense about the weather,” Dutton said. “Belmont County has three levels, and the chief deputy comes up with different photos for each level for every snowfall we have.
“It’s creative, always funny, and it lets you know exactly where we are concerning the condition of the interstate and state roads in the county,” he said. “I know the people across the river appreciate them, too, because most of us that live here in the valley go back and forth between Ohio and West Virginia without even thinking about it.”
Dutton, in fact, hopes the mindset is contagious.
“I feel we, as commissioners, are open to any suggestions about how to best communicate to the residents of the county because we recognize there is more than one way to accomplish goals,” Dutton said. “I feel we give a lot of leeway to our department heads, and that’s because we want them to be creative, and it’s usually them who bring up those creative ideas so they can reach as many people as possible.”
