Article from the Ohio Public Private Partnership (OP3) – March 2025 Quarterly Newsletter – Spring Edition – homelandsecurity.ohio.gov

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Ohio Utilities Protection Service (dba OHIO811), established in 1972, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization serving as Ohio’s “Call Before You Dig” notification
center. OHIO811 serves as the communication link between those who intend to dig
and those who own, operate, and/or maintain underground utility facilities. Each
year, OHIO811 processes approximately 1.5 million excavation notifications which
identify 10.5 million potential critical infrastructure sites near excavation locations.

As a public safety organization, OHIO811 provides expertise on underground utility
damage prevention and leads Ohio’s efforts to protect its critical infrastructure
through statewide messaging. Their decade-long partnership with Ohio Homeland
Security (OHS) bolsters protections for the state’s 11.8 million residents. Discover
more at www.OHIO811.org.

Jaime Gillen is the Director of Public Relations and Communications with OHIO811 and
became an OP3 Ambassador in January of 2025. OP3 Ambassadors support the
program’s growth by guiding its development and acting as a “force-multiplier.” They
assist with workshops, conferences, networking, offer suggestions, advocate for the
program and represent OP3 during EOC activations. Ambassadors meet once a
month and help manage their Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) region. If you are
interested in becoming an ambassador reach out to Gary Lehman at:
OP3@dps.ohio.gov or call 614-915-8870.

Crews rescue dog stuck in drain pipe in Brown County

Updated: 4:39 PM EDT May 21, 2024 By Emily Sanderson

FAYETTEVILLE, Ohio —
A dog is back with his owners after getting stuck inside a drain pipe, prompting a rescue in Brown County.

Fayetteville Fire and EMS posted to their Facebook page, sharing details about the rescue Monday morning.

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They said crews were notified about a dog stuck in a drain pipe and once they got on scene, they were able to hear the dog crying out from a distance.

Employees with Tele-Vac Environmental were able to use their camera to locate how far in the drain pipe the dog was.

Crews also called on, Zach’s Towing, a local towing company, and Ohio 811, a nonprofit utility protection service, to dig up the area where the dog was seen in the pipe.

After rescuing the dog, crews took him to Route 50 vet care where the Brown County Humane Society helped locate his owners.

“Even in urgent situations like this, knowing where it’s safe to dig can prevent turning an emergency into a tragedy. OHIO811 is grateful to the First Responders and excavation professionals who called before they started digging to rescue this pup. Contact OHIO811 before every dig by dialing 8-1-1 or visiting www.OHIO811.org,” Ohio 811 said in a statement.

City Paid Company to Relocate Utilities at Explosion Site

By Denise Dick | Friday, May 31, 2024

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The city paid the company working in the Realty Tower basement at the time of this week’s explosion $140,133 for utility relocation.

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Zoo’s Party for the Planet to include recycling, special events

Published by twalro@presspub… on Mon, 04/15/2024 – 7:11am
By: Press Staff Writer

Join the Toledo Zoo at a celebration of Mother Earth and its mission of advocating for wildlife and conserving the natural world during a Party for the Planet, set for Saturday, April 20.

Drop off recyclable goods – including hard-to-recycle items – between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Anthony Wayne Trail parking lot. Parking charges do not apply for those just dropping off recyclables.

For a complete list of items that will be accepted, visit toledozoo.org/docs/2024-recycling-items-list.

The Zoo is a perfect place to spend a “green” day with family and friends. Visitors can deliver their recyclable items, then stay and learn about environmentally-friendly initiatives and conservation efforts and enjoy animal demonstrations and activities.

The Northwest Ohio Damage Prevention Council is partnering with OHIO811 and Columbia Gas of Ohio for this year’s event. The council will donate and plant a tree to help kick-off and celebrate Earth Day. Visitors can check out OHIO811’s interactive educational trailer and learn about the utility lines located underground, in their own backyards. Meet their mascots and pick up some fun giveaways as a reminder to “Contact OHIO811 Before You Dig.”

The schedule of events for Party for the Planet includes:
• 10:30 a.m. – Kwisha’s Earth Day birthday celebration, Kingdom of the Apes.
• 11 a.m. – Primate enrichment, Primate Forest.
• 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Meet an animal, ProMedica Museum of Natural History.
• 1:30 p.m. – Elephant training demo, Tembo Trail.
• 2 p.m. – Red panda training, Primate Forest; Komodo dragon feed, ProMedica Museum of Natural History.
• 2:30 p.m. – Sea lion training demo, Arctic Encounter.
• 3 p.m. – Gulf of Mexico tank feed, Aquarium lobby.

Learn more at toledozoo.org/events/party-for-the-planet.