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  • Public Safety
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    Two Wanted Men Nabbed at Portsmouth Homeless Shelter in Back-to-Back Weeks 

    HEROES KICK DOWN DOOR TO SAVE ELDERLY MAN 

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    Two-for-One Arrest in West Portsmouth 

    Man Reported Hiding in Bushes, Peeking in Windows at Portsmouth Apartments 

    Grand Jury

    Lucasville Pair Indicted on Child Sex-Related Charges 

    Union Township EMS

    Union Township Cuts Off EMS to Rarden – Here’s Why 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 10/02/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

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    Semi Smashes Pole on Marshall Avenue, Flees Scene 

    BAD BEHAVIOR

    Man Pops a Squat in Church Fountain as Portsmouth Police Confront Wave of Trouble 

    Shots Fired at Teen Near 16th Street: Juvenile Suspect Detained 

    arrested man arrest

    Sharp-Eyed Deputies Spot Stolen Truck in Wheelersburg Lot 

    Rehab

    Man Leaves Rehab, Makes Threats: Another Glimpse at Scioto County’s Treatment Struggles 

    Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost

    135 Arrested in Statewide Human Trafficking Crackdown — Southern Ohio at the Center 

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    Fence-Jumping Fugitive: McDermott Man Bolts From Grandma’s, Busted After Wild Chase 

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    CPS Raises Alarm Over Child Bruises, Police Called to Investigate 

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    “I Bet It’ll Cut Through You Guys”: Sam’s Club Worker’s Knife Talk Terrifies Co-Workers 

    trespasser

    Deer Stand Surprise: Half-Naked Man Sparks Two-Hour Search in West Portsmouth Woods 

    Mark Craycraft

    SCDN Names First Suspect in Explosive Human Trafficking Case: Attorney Gene Meadows 

    Bad Mom

    Portsmouth Mom Accused of Stirring Chaos Again After Summer Sports Feud 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    Democrats Blast Bryan Davis: “Quit Collecting a Paycheck You’re Not Earning” 

    Robert Horton

    Update in Robert Horton Corruption Case 

    Davis Commish

    No Updates, Just an Empty Seat: Powell and Smith Say Davis Drama is Out of Their Hands

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    Parking, Murals, and an Indicted Commissioner: Sparks Fly at Portsmouth City Manager’s Conference 

    Bryan Davis Due Back In Court October 21 

    Sean Dunne Next Mayor of Portsmouth?

    Dunne: “It’s Time for Portsmouth to Speak Up” on Davis Resignation 

    confused woman

    Portsmouth Council Weighs Asking Davis to Resign 

    Turning Point USA

    Student Democrats Deny Role in Petition to Ban Turning Point USA at SSU 

    Turning Point USA

    Portsmouth Politics Escalate: SSU Students Petition to Ban Turning Point USA

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder’s Office Increases Fees 

    Scottie Powell

    Commissioner Powell Responds to Conflict of Interest Questions 

    FOP Endorses Malone, Neff in Portsmouth City Election 

    Bryan Davis

    Where’s Bryan Davis? GOP Says Step Down — Court Says Suspended

    SCDN File Photo

    Where’s Bryan Davis? After Two Missed Meetings, GOP Says It’s Time to Step Down 

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    Exclusive: The Bench Is Back — But the Political Drama Isn’t Over 

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    Where’s Bryan Davis? Commissioners, Citizens Ask the Same Question 

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    Bryan Davis Arraignment Set, New Judge Assigned 

    Bryan Davis

    Why Commissioner Davis Staying in Office Raises Big Problems 

    Scottie Powell

    Powell Calls on Commissioner Davis to Resign 

    Scioto County Bryan Davis Scandal

    🗓 Timeline of a Scandal: How Scioto County’s Economic Development Crisis Unfolded 

  • Feel Good
    A sleek blue sedan parked on concrete. Behind the vehicle is a view of the sky with a setting sun over a body of water.

    How To Make Your Daily Driver Feel Like a Sports Car

    A person's hand is holding a miniature wooden house with a green roof and a budding plant on top against a green background.

    How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home

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    Tips for Staying Calm During Police Encounters

    Cyn Mackley

    Cyn Mackley Channels Haunted Appalachia

    A group of friends stand around a table, smiling, laughing, and drinking. There are plates of food on the table.

    Creative Ways To Host Outdoor Events This Summer

    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

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    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

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    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

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    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

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    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

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    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

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    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

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    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

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    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

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  • Obituaries
    Barbara Williams

    Beth Ann Fite, 68 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Linda Kay Percell, 77 of Wheelersburg,

    William Emanuel Redoutey Sr

    William Emanuel Redoutey Sr., 80 of Portsmouth

    R. Eugene O. Collins

    R. Eugene O. Collins, 93 of West Portsmouth

    James E. Armstrong

    James E. Armstrong, 81 of Russell

    Leander Workman, Sr.

    Leander Workman, Sr., age 90, of South Portsmouth

    Phyllis Ann Murphy Picklesimer

    Phyllis Ann Murphy Picklesimer, 70 formerly of Lafollette

    Barbara Williams

    Deborah Sue Arnett, 73 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Phyllis Jean Porter, 81 of Wheelersburg

    James Taylor

    James Franklin Taylor, 94 of Wheelersburg

    Brian Keith Cogar, 68 of South Webster

    Patricia Salmons Smith 78 of McDermott

    Billy Ray White

    Billy Ray White, 66 of Portsmouth

    Leatha S. Queen

    Leatha S. Queen, 67 of Rosemount

    Timothy Eugene Coldiron

    Timothy Eugene Coldiron, 55 of Wheelersburg

    Penny Sue (Scaggs) Henthorn

    Penny Sue Henthorn

    Eric Vaughn “Bubba” Kratzer II

    Eric Vaughn “Bubba” Kratzer II, 35, of Otway

    Richard L. Phillips

    Richard L. Phillips, 88 of McDermott

    Barbara Williams

    Diana Marie Clark, 43 of Lucasville

    The Reverend Donald Henry Moeser” 90 of Powellsville,

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5 Tips For A Safe Thanksgiving During COVID

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
5 years ago
in National
safe Thanksgiving dinner COVID
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We’ve got 5 tips for a safe Thanksgiving during the COVID pandemic. Experts say that at-home gatherings are behind rising COVID-19 rates but many families don’t want to miss out on spending the holiday together. We’ll break down 5 ways to hold a Thanksgiving celebration and still keep your family safe from COVID.

Go Outside This Thanksgiving

outdoor Thanksgiving

Take a clue from the Pilgrims and hold your Thanksgiving dinner outside. If you live somewhere weather permits, an outdoor feast allows for plenty of social distance.  Experts say you’re far less likely to be exposed to a sufficient dose of the respiratory droplets that spread COVID when you’re in the great outdoors.  Plus you should have room to spread out tables and chairs.

Consider putting up a canopy to shelter you from the weather but think twice about an enclosed tent. Outdoor fireplaces or heaters can provide warmth in cooler climates. You might even consider cooking the turkey outside on the grill or in a smoker to turn it all into an outdoor feast. Make sure to offer blankets and hot drinks to help everyone stay warm.

To Stay Safe

disposable thanksgiving plates

Normally, Thanksgiving is the time to bring out your best dishes and silverware but this year, think about paper plates and plastic forks. According to the CDC, disposable dinnerware is the safest option.

Make things feel a little more festive by purchasing Thanksgiving-themed paper plates and napkins with color-coordinated plastic forks. Don’t forget about plastic cups.  Think about decorating your tables with disposable plastic or paper tablecloths.

Save the good china, wine glasses, and linen for next year’s celebration.

Bring Your Own Thanksgiving Food

Thanksgiving Food container

Bring-your-own-bottle celebrations are nothing new. However, experts say a great way to stay safe at Thanksgiving during COVID is to bring your own food. They’re not talking about a potluck where each person brings a dish to share. They mean each family packs up individual servings just for the people in their household and brings it to the gathering in separate containers.

Everyone dines together. You’ll enjoy each other’s company but not each other’s cooking. If you need to heat up the food, make sure you go in the kitchen area one family at a time and sanitize afterward to minimize contact.

Individual servings of drinks are a better idea than filling glasses from bottles of wine or soda. But make sure everyone brings their own cooler to minimize contact. Use single-serving packets of items like salad dressing, condiments, or butter.

Keep Your Distance

social distance thanksgiving

It’s important not to drop your guard just because you’re around family members. Wear masks and stay as far away from people who aren’t part of your household as possible. That may mean setting up smaller separate dining areas in other rooms of your home or out on the porch. Be especially careful to create a safe space for elderly people or those at high risk for COVID complications.

Other safety steps include:

        • When you take your mask off to eat, store it next to you in a paper bag. Bring along extra masks and put any that become wet or dirty into a plastic bag to take home with you.
        • Make sure to regularly sanitize your hands and be very careful not to touch your face.  Hosts should have plenty of hand sanitizer available for guests.
        • Keep as many windows open as the weather permits to encourage good ventilation.
        • Check with your guests to see if they have any symptoms or have recently been exposed to COVID-19.

      Go Virtual

      virtual Thanksgiving

      The safest option is to skip the in-person gathering completely and go for a virtual celebration. Consider celebrating Zooms-giving by hosting a virtual family get-together on Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or Facebook Messenger.

      Set your device up at the table and all eat at the same time. Make it fun by sharing favorite recipes with each other and all preparing the same dishes. Maybe even do a little virtual cooking together the night before.  Drop off prepared meals for relatives and friends who can’t cook for themselves. Tech-savvy family members can help those who aren’t that comfortable with video chatting get set up before the big day.

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