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Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety

    Toddler in the House, Woman in Crisis: Officers Step In to Help Family in Distress in West Portsmouth 

    🍔 Booze & Burgers: Sonic Supper Rush Turns to Chaos in 3-Car Crash 

    Music, Friendship, and a Lifeline: Crisis Averted Thanks to Quick Thinking Daughter, Loyal Friends, and Compassionate Cops 

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    Shirtless Shenanigans! Tattooed Troublemaker Jumps on Truck in South Webster 

    “Backpack Bandit” Causes Stir at Wheelersburg School — But Mom Says ‘Never Mind’ 

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    Midnight Possum Drama Ends in Arrest — But the Critter Escapes! 

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    “Crime Doesn’t Quit”: Portsmouth Man Racks Up More Felonies Behind Bars 

    DUI Driver Arrested After Wreck at Elementary School

    Too Drunk to Drive… or Sit Behind the Wheel: Woman Busted at Kroger Gas Station 

    Runaway Ruckus: Teen Sparks Wild Hunt Across Portsmouth PMHA Apartments 

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    👊🚨 Two Brawls, Two Ambulances: Violence Erupts on Both Sides of Scioto County 

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    Tragic Discovery: Son Finds Father Dead at Front Door — Possible Overdose Under Investigation 

    🚔 Round and Round She Goes: Mentally Ill Woman Arrested Twice in One Day… Then Set Free Again 

    🚨 Domestic Drama Ends in Double Arrest 

    Fight Breaks Out at Juvenile Group Home — Ambulance Called, Kid Hauled Back In 

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    Corpse Abuse Shock: Woman Indicted After Man’s Death

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    🚔 Calm Over Cuffs: Deputies Defuse Two Domestic Disturbances Without Arrests 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    ‘A Great Addition to Heaven’: Commissioners Honor Cathy Coleman, Reflect on Her Legacy and Who Might Carry It Forward 

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    Scioto County Mourns Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    🚨TRIAL TWIST! Horton Corruption Case on Ice—For Now 

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    Remembering Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman

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    Cathy Coleman Still Fighting: Family Shuts Down Hospice Rumors, Says Recovery Still Underway

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    ‘Small Steps, Big Faith’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Edges Closer to Recovery 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Praise God!’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Remarkable Progress After Harrowing Weeks

    Cathy Coleman

    Cautious Hope and Harsh Realities: New Details Emerge on Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Condition 

    Scioto County Commissioners Cancel This Week’s Meeting 

    Robert Horton

    Sudden Twist: Horton Court Dates Scrapped Ahead of Trial 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘A Sign of Hope’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Small Improvements Amid Ongoing Critical Condition 

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

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    Cathy Coleman

    Community Urged to Pray For Cathy Coleman as Family Faces Devastating Update 

    Scottie Powell

    Commissioner Scottie Powell on Trans Sanctuary Resolution: “Symbolic, Not Substantive” 

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  • Feel Good
    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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  • Obituaries
    Wayne Pace

    Wayne Franklin Pace, 43 of Wheelersburg

    Yani Marcellus White

    Yani Marcellus White, 28 of Portsmouth

    Wade Donahue III

    Wade Donahue III, 74 of Columbus

    Michael Lee Milliron

    Michael Lee Milliron, 79, of Piketon

    Bailey Thon

    Bailey Thon, age 1, of South Shore

    Charles Sowards

    Charles Sowards, 68 of South Shore

    Monnie Jean Willis, 101 of New Albany

    Phillip Alan Hicks 64 of Chillicothe

    Beverly Sue Mcguinnis

    Beverly Sue McGinnis, 70 of Columbus

    Gary Stephen Doerr

    Gary Stephen Doerr,76 of Wheelersburg

    Kimberlee Hope Bradley, 67 of Portsmouth

    Mark Lee Adams, 65 of Lucasville

    Glenda Watts

    Glenda Renee Watts, 56 of Portsmouth

    Chandler Preston

    Chandler Elizabeth Preston 22 of Minford

    Barbara Williams

    Brenda Sue Morman

    Harry Gale Smith

    Harry Gale Smith, 77 of McDermott

     William Ryan Lee Comer

     William Ryan Lee Comer, 42 of Portsmouth

    Linda Hutchens

    Linda Hutchens, 86 of Portsmouth

    Dr. Steven Wylie Binns

    Dr. Steven Wylie Binns, 64 of Portsmouth

    Beverly Sue Decamp

    Beverly Sue Decamp 85 of Wheelersburg

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Gina Collingsworth: Top Priorities are the Internet, Tourism, and Rural Industry 

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
2 years ago
in Politics
Gina Collingsworth Ohio House of Representatives

Photo by Betty Smith

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SCDN sat down with District 90 State Representative candidate Gina Collingsworth to talk about what inspired her run for the seat formerly held by Bryan Baldridge. The 90th District includes Scioto, Adams, and part of Brown Counties.  The lifelong Scioto County resident describes herself as a Conservative Republican, America-First patriot, and faithful Christian.  

Collingsworth said the beauty of coming from a small town is that you hardly ever see a stranger. Her family ran Bridwell’s general store. “They had food and shoes and seed and lawnmowers. That was my first job. I would clean and check people out. I think that job heightened my awareness between people who had opportunities and people who didn’t have opportunities.” 

“The difference between then and now,” Collingsworth said, “is that back then you were very protected. You could go out all day and play in your yard or ride your bike and go in when you got hungry. You could explore everything, and the community kept an eye on you. For the most part, that’s changed. Everybody keeps a closer watch on their kids.”   

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Collingsworth said she worries that all of the access to the world kids have on smartphones and other devices without filters is detrimental to children. “I still think that in today’s world, you have teachers that care and church family and organizations like 4-H.” She says she’s optimistic about today’s youth despite the challenges. “Our community will overcome.” 

Collingsworth has also been involved in various forms of media since she was 12. “I auditioned for a show called ‘Kids Mag’ at WOWK in Huntington. “I was a news girl at 12 years old. We got to meet a lot of people. I met Governor Jay Rockefeller.” 

Gina says music is a huge part of her and her musician husband’s life as well since they work together in a music publishing company. “Communications are the heart of everything I do. I did USO tours when I was in college, but I always wanted to come home.”  

Collingsworth ran for the same office back in 2018 and lost the race despite winning the vote in Scioto County.  She says that experience taught her not to give up and to prepare for the next opportunity. “I never gave up on the idea of running again.” 

She says her job working as the public information coordinator for the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission has given her valuable experience that will help her in office.  “Economic and community development, infrastructure, transportation planning… It’s a job that connects federal and state dollars to local and regional planning. It’s been eye-opening and helped me grow. I have contacts all over the state. I know where the money is. I know the programs you can connect to.” 

Collingsworth says she wants to avoid being part of the political machine.  “I’m an outsider. I’m not connected politically. It’s just an extension of what I’ve been doing in the community. I just want to show people my heart. I’m taking it to the voters.” 

Gina Collingsworth will have six months until the March 2024 primary election to convince voters that she’s the person to unite the district’s contentious Republican party.  

If she wins the primary and goes on to win the November election for the seat, Collingsworth says better Internet access is one of her top priorities.  

“I see broadband access as an equalizer for Appalachia. We all know that Appalachia has been left behind. If we can get broadband, we can build our economy and keep our young people here.“  She says her husband’s experience of spending hours trying to upload music files as part of their business made her keenly aware of the issue.  She says providing broadband is just as important as the push to electrify rural areas back in the 1930s.  

Tourism is also near the top of her priority list. “We have a fantastic natural beauty. Hocking Hills has millions of visitors a year, and it’s stressing the park. The organizers are saying, ‘Let’s push them down to Shawnee.’  There’s lots of opportunity for tourism.” 

Collingsworth will also focus on the rural industrial park loan program that helps communities bring manufacturing to rural areas.  “You pipe in the water and the gas lines that industry needs. You even build spec buildings. Then industry comes here and employs people.”  

Gina Collingsworth says she remains optimistic. “I believe our best days are ahead. That’s why I’m investing my time and energy into running for office.” 

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