Visitors Bureau unveils Highland County Summer Scavenger Hunt at county commission meeting

Visitors Bureau of Highland County executive director Jamie Wheeler announced the Highland County Summer Scavenger Hunt, a fun and interactive challenge for families this summer, during the Wednesday, May 7 Highland County commission meeting.

The scavenger hunt, which kicked off May 1 and is running until Sept. 15, “is your ticket to explore the best our community has to offer,” according to Wheeler. The challenge includes visiting a number of businesses and landmarks throughout the county, with points awarded for each mission completed.

The challenge can be completed by downloading a free smartphone app, GooseChase, and joining the scavenger hunt there, or by submitting a printable checklist. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the contest, as Wheeler said those who complete 10 or more missions will be entered in the giveaway.

“It’s a countywide adventure, open to all residents and visitors, and runs May through September because we wanted to include the Highland County Fair into it,” Wheeler said. “There are over 30 fun and interactive missions. Probably by the time it's done, I would think that's close to 40 or 50, because we're able to keep adding as we go.

“We wanted to just encourage exploration of our businesses, our landmarks, kind of the hidden gems, and really promote some tourism, community pride, free family fun and just kind of drive some adventures this summer.”

Wheeler added that although some of the missions are for specific areas — such as visiting the Highland County Courthouse, a state park or local restaurant — several can be completed at participants’ own homes, such as camping or having a picnic.

“There's lots of things, and I will keep adding as we go,” Wheeler said.  

Some of the missions involve submitting photos, and Wheeler said the Visitors Bureau will share some of their best submissions on social media throughout the summer.

Wheeler encouraged commissioners to promote this activity this summer and to participate with their families, to "join in the fun.” She added that they can also let her know of any ideas for new missions to add, as commissioner Brad Roades suggested selfies with first responders as a possibility.

“This would be a great family event to go out and try to do these things,” commissioner Terry Britton said. “I think this is really neat.”

“It's a game, and you can either do it all as one family [on the app], or if you've got enough devices and everybody wants to do it, you can turn it into your own competition amongst your family members,” Wheeler added.

For more information, including links to download the GooseChase app, go to https://www.visithighlandcounty.com/eat-shop-play/summer-scavenger-hunt….

In other updates, Wheeler said she and other local committee members — including Roades and commission clerk Ashleigh Willey — are working on plans for the county’s America-250 celebration in July 2026, while the Chamber of Commerce was set to host their annual dinner and celebrate their 35th anniversary May 8.

“We have four or five founding members coming, and we want to honor them for their contributions and what has set us up for a great 35 years,” Wheeler said. “After the annual dinner, we move on to our golf outing and STEEL Conference.”

She also encouraged anyone interested in planning “summer adventures” in Ohio this year to visit the Ohio Statehouse May 13.

“State Tourism Day is next Tuesday the 13th on the Statehouse lawn,” Wheeler said. “Visitors Bureaus and attractions from all over the state set up.”

Commissioner David Daniels thanked Wheeler “for wearing two hats and all the work you're doing” as director of both the Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce.

“The Chamber and the tourism department are doing good work,” he said.

In other discussion:

• Daniels spoke about the need for Environmental Engineering Services to perform an analysis of the campgrounds at Rocky Fork Lake for potential fee increases among ongoing system upgrades in the area.

“We've got four or five operating campgrounds out there that we have not done assessments on since the system was put in,” Daniels said. “We've got a system out there that's got I&I [inflow and infiltration] in it that we’re treating. We've got campgrounds out there that have added space since we opened up.

“We need to go out and do an evaluation of the number of EDUs [Equivalent Dwelling Units] they're being charged, and how they're being charged.”

Daniels added that once engineers investigate further, commissioners will meet with those affected to “let them know what we found out and talk to them before we implement any changes that might be necessary.

“We were talking about one area in particular, and talked with our contractor, and they can go out and do some smoke testing and things like that, to see if they can't find some sources of I&I, and maybe that operator can close some of those down,” Daniels said. “It doesn't do the system any good for us to be treating rainwater. It’s a cost to us, and it's a cost to them as well. Those are just some things that we need to be working on.”

• Commissioners approved an IT service agreement contract between the Sheriff’s Office and Fortress Technologies, LLC.

“We have to replace nine computers this year,” Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders said. “This is constant updates. We're trying to stay up with the CJIS [Criminal Justice Information Services] stuff. We're trying to keep our security up on everything.”

Sanders added that in a change from their previous operations, the Sheriff’s Office will now be “ordering all of our equipment through the county’s supplier” instead of through their IT provider.

• Commissioners authorized the execution of a letter of support to State Senator Shane Wilkin regarding a proposed increase to the Next Generation 911 access fee.

According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, the current fee is 40 cents per month, and at this time it is slated to decrease to 25 cents per month in October. The County Commissioners Association of Ohio is advocating for the repeal of the decrease in October and an increase of the fee from 40 cents to $1.25, according to CCAO communications.

“911 upgrades are expensive, and this fee goes directly for that, and nothing else,” Daniels said. “It's necessary in order for the sheriff and 911 services to maintain their readiness status.”

• Commissioners discussed, but did not take action on, a request from the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer Plant regarding use of the old dog pound building for storage.

“We were going to use that as a quarantine area for animals that might be sick that we pick up and bring in,” Daniels said. “I don't want to see us lose the ability to segregate out sick animals so that we don't bring disease into the facility that we’ve got.

“I guess I'd like to have more conversation with them about what they want to store in there. I mean, there's a couple side rooms in that old facility that used to be where you kept dog food and supplies. Maybe, if it's just simply putting things like that in there, that would be fine, I would think.”

Britton also pointed out that the plant has its own building and that they may need to look at spacing issues there. Roades suggested that they schedule an appointment with the plant staff at a future meeting.

• Commissioners approved a renewal of a consulting services agreement contract between the Auditor’s Office and Local Government Services, LLC.

• At the beginning of the meeting, Roades thanked “all the poll workers and any other volunteers” who assisted with the May 6 primary election.

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