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Trust What You Know

Rural Eyes, Regional Safety: Why What You See in Clinton County Still Matters


Posted: June 23, 2025


The federal government recently released a new National Terrorism Advisory System

(NTAS) Bulletin citing a heightened risk environment across the country. These warnings come as tensions overseas escalate, especially following U.S. military activity involving Iran. While most of the attention is focused on big cities, crowded venues, and high-profile cyber targets, the question becomes—what does that have to do with Clinton County, or our rural neighbors?


More than you might think.


We’re Not the Target… But We’re On the Map


Let’s be honest: Clinton County isn’t high on any terrorist’s hit list. We’re not home to skyscrapers, national monuments, or large synagogues that might attract high-profile attention. But what we do have is something just as critical: intersections—of highways, of rail lines, of people moving between bigger places.


Major routes like I‑71, U.S. 68, U.S. 22, and State Routes 72 and 134 run straight through our towns, past our farms, and into the broader Midwest. That means people on the move—some of them ordinary travelers, some of them maybe not.


And that makes us a sentry post—not because we’re a target, but because we’re observant, close-knit, and grounded in common sense. We notice when something just doesn’t add up.



This Isn’t About Fear. It’s About Familiarity.


We're not asking you to spy on your neighbors or “profile” anyone. That’s not what this is about. This is about knowing what belongs and speaking up when it doesn’t.

  • A delivery showing up at 2 AM where no one lives?

  • A car parked day after day on a back road but never seen in town?

  • Someone asking oddly specific questions about airport access gates or fuel storage at the Air Park?


These are behaviors, not backgrounds. It’s not about who someone is—it’s about what they’re doing that doesn’t make sense in our communities.



Local Knowledge Is National Security


In small towns like ours, we don’t wait for Washington to knock on the door. We lean on each other. We talk things out. We keep our eyes open. That’s real security—and it starts here, not somewhere else.


Here’s how you can help:


👀 Trust Your Gut

You know this area. If something seems off, it probably is.


📞 Report Without Fear

Incase of an emergency, call 911. If it’s not, Submit a Tip or call your local law enforcement. You’re not making an accusation—you’re giving professionals a heads-up to check it out.


💻 Protect Your Systems

This threat environment includes cyber risks too. If you run a business, farm, or utility operation, now is the time to:

  • Use strong passwords

  • Enable two-factor authentication

  • Update your software and backups


These steps matter even in a county with more acres of corn than computers.


What We’re Doing

The Clinton County Emergency Management Agency is staying connected with:

  • The Ohio Homeland Security Fusion Center

  • Regional law enforcement partners

  • Federal intelligence updates from DHS and FEMA


We’ll keep our boots on the ground, our ears to the rail, and our message clear: We’re not afraid. We’re just ready.


Final Word: We Watch Out Because We Care


This isn’t about paranoia. It’s about preserving the peace we already have. The same way you’d tell a neighbor if their dog were loose, or a tree was down in their driveway—if something doesn’t look right, say something.


It’s not about race. It’s not about politics. It’s about rural vigilance—the kind that’s kept this county safe for generations.


Because out here, we know what belongs. And we know when it doesn’t.

–For questions or non-urgent concerns, contact:

📞 Your local law enforcement agency

 
 
 
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