• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, June 10
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety

    “Next Time, I Won’t Call Police” 

    good cops

    🚓 From Disturbance to Compassion: Portsmouth Police Step Up to Help Woman in Need 

    scam alert

    🚨 SCAM ALERT: Fake Cop Wants Your Cash – Don’t Fall for It! 🚨 

    Sheriff sticker

    Domestic Disputes, Prowlers, and Pileups: Busy Sunday for Scioto County First Responders 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 06/09/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Illustrative Photo

    🔥“I’ll Burn It Down!” — Landlord Reports Scary Comment After Eviction Hearing 

    Death investigation

    Tragedy on the Trail: UTV Rollover Claims Life of Kentucky Woman 

    CREEPY KISSES & SHIRTLESS STRANGER: Nervous Grandma Calls Cops on Suspicious Men 

    🚨 BUSTED WIRES & BREAK-IN BLUNDERS: THIEVES ON THE LOOSE IN PORTSMOUTH! 

    Holiday Inn

    Holiday Inn or Homeless Hub? Ongoing Incidents at Downtown Hotel Raise Big Questions for Portsmouth’s Future

    🔥Pizza Parlor Feud Explodes: Alleged Threats, Health Complaints, and a Slice of Retaliation 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 06/07/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    scioto county rehabs in the news

    Kicked Out, Nowhere to Go: Rehab Discharges Fuel Homeless Crisis in Portsmouth 

    Mental Health

    🚨 MENTAL HEALTH MELTDOWN: Rehab Chaos, 911 Calls, and a Woman Hiding in an Ambulance 

    Fentanyl

    Ice Cream, Advil, and Fentanyl: Busted at Speedway with Knife and Drugs

    Stranger in the Bed? Portsmouth Man Calls 911 Over Bizarre Break-In — But There’s a Twist 

    good cops

    🚬 Cigs and Sanity: Portsmouth Cops Defuse Late-Night Mayhem with a Pack of Smokes 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 06/06/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    “STRANGER IN BLACK” RETURNS TO HISLE PARK — RESIDENTS STILL ON EDGE AFTER BREAK-IN, GUNSHOTS, AND SECOND ENCOUNTER 

    Scioto County Court Coverage 08

    🚨 TODDLER FOUND WANDERING — Woman Arrested, Sentenced in Disturbing Case 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    Cathy Coleman

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

    ‘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 

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

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder Gary Jenkins Unveils New Office Website 

    Staggering 236 Recovery Houses in Area — and the Fight for Reform Faces Pushback 

    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” 

    Cathy Coleman

    Update from the Scioto County Commissioners on Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    What Did Portsmouth’s LGBTQ+ Sanctuary Resolution Really Say? 

    Portsmouth Rehab

    Portsmouth Rejects LGBTQ+ Sanctuary City Status in Heated Council Vote 

    Cathy Coleman

    It’s a Miracle! – Scioto County Rallies Around Commissioner Cathy Coleman After Medical Crisis Turnaround 

    Scioto County Rallies in Prayer for Commissioner Cathy Coleman After Tragic Crash 

    Risky Business? City Wants to Sell $4.5 Million in Bonds

    Portsmouth LGBT Sanctuary City Proposal Scrapped – New Resolution Coming

    Portsmouth Council Takes First Step Toward Homelessness Task Force 

    Scioto County Commissioners Cancel Without Explanation 

    Davis Ready for Flying Cars: Scioto Commissioner Eyes Future of Air Mobility at County Airport 

  • Feel Good

    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 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

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

    good cops

    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

    good cops

    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

    good cops

    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    A man approaching the bowling lane with a red bowling ball as his three friends in the background cheer him on.

    How Bowling Can Improve Your Mental Health

    good cops

    Lost Kid Calls Cops for Help 

    Backyard camping

    Backyard Adventure: Unforgettable Family Camping

    Sunshine or Snowflakes: Which Season Wins America’s Heart?

    Best Party Lakes in North America To Visit This Summer

    Best Party Lakes in North America To Visit This Summer

  • Obituaries
    William McGinnis

    William McGinnis, Jr., 84, of Wheelersburg

    Harvey A. Ruel

    Harvey A. Ruel, 75 of Portsmouth

    Patricia A. Lewis

    Patricia A. Lewis, 72 of West Portsmouth

    Martha Byers Yost

    Martha Byers Yost, 84, of Portsmouth

    Patricia Ann Burchett

    Patricia Ann Burchett, 83 of Hillsboro

    Constance V. McQuay

    Constance V. McQuay, 89, of Waverly

    Jerry Paul Igaz

    Jerry Paul Igaz Sr. 55, of West Portsmouth

    Barbara Williams

    Lori Smith, 56 of McDermott

    Tina Marie Gollihue

    Tina Marie Gollihue, 61 of Franklin Furnace,

    Nichole Leigh Blanton

    Nichole Leigh Blanton, 41 of Portsmouth

    Deborah Sue Ratliff Bell

    Deborah Sue Ratliff Bell, 66 of Portsmouth

    Brenda K. Bentley

    Brenda K. Bentley 75 of West Portsmouth

    Rex Fitzgerald

    Rex Fitzgerald, 67 of Portsmouth

    Diana Lynn Redden

    Diana Lynn Redden, 57 of Vanceburg

    Richard Lee Biggers jjr

    Richard Lee Biggers, Jr.75 of Wheelersburg

    Ruth Evelyn Burns

    Ruth Evelyn Burns, 83 of Grove City

    Carolyn Sue Martin

    Carolyn Sue Martin, 77 of Portsmouth

    William McGinnis

    Paul White Wagner, 99 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Lola Rawlins Ferrell, 74, of South Webster

    David Allen Belveal

    David Allen Belveal, 28, of Sciotoville

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Governor’s Office Gives Update on East Palestine

Staff Report by Staff Report
2 years ago
in Ohio
AP Photo

AP Photo

ShareTweetEmail

The following is an update from the State of Ohio regarding the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that occurred six months ago.  Future updates from the State will be provided on an as-needed basis.

Ohio EPA Monitoring and Cleanup

Ohio EPA oversees ongoing monitoring of the village drinking water sources, ensuring the health and safety of East Palestine residents. Ohio EPA and the Village Municipal Water System continue to collect 25 rounds of samples weekly from the village wells, drinking water treatment plant, and sentinel monitoring wells located between the derailment site and the wellfield. Drinking water sampling results from the East Palestine Municipal Water System show no indication of contaminants associated with the derailment.

RELATED POSTS

Harvey A. Ruel, 75 of Portsmouth

“Next Time, I Won’t Call Police” 

🚓 From Disturbance to Compassion: Portsmouth Police Step Up to Help Woman in Need 

Please Support This Local Business

The Ohio EPA has been assisting the Village to expedite the installation of carbon filtration treatment, providing an additional layer of safety and long-term resilience for the drinking water supply.

Under Ohio EPA oversight, Norfolk Southern contractors have completed the following excavation & remediation work:

  • Removal and disposal of 88,500 tons of hazardous and solid waste.
  • More than 1,900 confirmation soil samples, ensuring complete removal of contamination.
  • Collection and disposal of more than 28 million gallons of surface and groundwater categorized as hazardous waste.

Ohio EPA continues to evaluate water quality in the local streams through a network, including more than 20 monitoring stations that are reviewed daily, beginning at the site of the derailment all the way down to the Ohio River.

Currently, detections of compounds associated with the derailment are infrequent and generally limited to Sulphur Run. As clean-up activities progress, detections of chemicals in the spill, such as acrylates and vinyl chloride, have become infrequent. To address low levels of continuing contamination, Sulphur Run continues to be mitigated with sediment washing.

East Palestine Emergency Support Program Application Now Available

The Ohio Department of Development today announced eligible businesses can now access the application for the East Palestine Emergency Support Program.

The program can provide 0% interest, forgivable loans to businesses to assist with ongoing expenses and recovery efforts associated with the train derailment. For-profit and nonprofit Ohio businesses located within a two-mile radius of East Palestine that were operational on or prior to December 1, 2022, are eligible to apply for loans ranging from $10,000 to $1 million. In total, $5 million in loans will be available. Funds will be eligible for forgiveness if used for payroll, employee benefits, rent or mortgage payments, utility expenses, worker protections related to the train derailment, and inventory replacement expenses associated with the train derailment. 

Businesses can now view, complete, and save their application; official submission of applications will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 24. Funding through the program will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The East Palestine Emergency Support Program was created in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly with funds from the Controlling Board Emergency Purposes/Contingencies Fund.

Additional details on the program are available at development.ohio.gov/eastpalestine.

Applicants are encouraged to work with local partners for assistance on completing the application: the Columbiana County Port Authority, Small Business Development Center at Kent State Tuscarawas, and Small Business Development Center at Youngstown State University. Partner contact information can be found on the program webpage.

Crop Conditions

The crops in the East Palestine area are in good condition, according to Columbiana County reports, six months following the train derailment.

Plant tissue sampling results released in May by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences showed no contamination of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) related to the train derailment.

Analysis of scientific data by OSU shows plant materials from agricultural sites in the East Palestine area were not contaminated with SVOCs associated with the train derailment.

Using U.S. EPA-approved methods, ODA’s plant health inspectors collected plant tissue samples from 16 agricultural areas in Columbiana County in April. All samples — including winter wheat, pasture grasses, malting barley, and forage covers — were taken within a five-mile radius of the train derailment site. Samples collected and tested closest to the derailment site (inner radius) were considered the most likely for potential contamination, and plant tissue samples collected farther from the derailment site (background radius) were tested to serve as a baseline comparison. OSU’s analysis did not find reportable levels of SVOCs in the inner or background radius zones attributable to the train derailment.

All samples were analyzed for the same 26 selected SVOCs the U.S. EPA had been testing for in soil samples. OSU scientists used an EPA-approved method (8270e) routinely used to identify and quantify SVOCs in materials. Corn and soybean crops will be harvested in late August and into September.

Wildlife Monitoring

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has been monitoring the local waterways since the train derailment. An ODNR investigation found that 43,701 wild animals were killed by the event. That includes small fish, crayfish, amphibians, and macroinvertebrates. The number of wildlife killed totals more than $15,000 in wildlife restitution. Since that investigation, ODNR has continued to monitor the rivers and streams for any long-term consequences on aquatic wildlife species and has not discovered any significant impacts.

East Liverpool Hospital Clinic Update

The East Liverpool Hospital East Palestine Health Clinic offers traditional comprehensive primary care, including treatment, prescriptions, lab testing, and consultation with specialists where appropriate. Physicians, registered nurses, and mental health specialists are on hand to provide services. Referrals are made if needed.

Through July 20, the East Liverpool Hospital Clinic had seen more than 600 area residents. Additionally, 71 first responders have visited the clinic to receive the same care. The clinic not only offers ongoing care for the community, but a way to provide long-term monitoring and health surveillance on the population that could lead to further public health actions.   

The clinic is free for those without insurance coverage. The Ohio Department of Health has provided technical and financial support.

Private Well Testing

The Ohio Department of Health, working with the Columbiana County Health District, has received verified laboratory results from 667 samples from private water systems as of Tuesday afternoon. Of those, 565 showed no detectable contaminants. One hundred samples have had trace detections at levels below safe drinking-water standards. There is no evidence that these trace detections are linked to the train derailment.

Since the sampling program began, two wells have exceeded safe standards: One for disinfection byproducts and one for dinitrotoluene, which is not suspected to be related to the derailment. Both wells were later re-sampled and had no detections.

Ongoing Wellness and Resilience Efforts

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (Ohio MHAS) has applied for an $879,509 Intermediate SAMHSA Emergency Response Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support ongoing community wellness and resilience efforts. If awarded, this additional grant would bring the total SERG funding award for East Palestine and surrounding communities to $1,088,911. In March, SAMHSA awarded $209,402 to help with immediate behavioral health care needs following the derailment.

The new funding will:

  • Support the ongoing behavioral health needs of the community related to the initial incident and subsequent traumatic experiences.
  • Minimize the long-term impacts and foster resilience in the community.
  • Expand and enhance the capacity of the local crisis response system to ensure adequate and effective intervention in situations of crisis.
  • Support training, equipment, and activities that will take place at Camp Braveheart — a retreat for local first responders that will offer adventure therapy and camping alongside traditional counseling/resiliency therapies to help area first responders heal from trauma.
  • Support a certified peer supporter for the East Palestine Police Department.
  • Further expand a community garden run by Threshold Residential Services for individuals with disabilities and open it to the entire East Palestine Community.

Services will be offered to all East Palestine residents. The Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board will also coordinate targeted outreach for older adults, youth, veterans, racial/ethnic minority groups, and community members with serious mental illness diagnoses and/or substance use disorders. Local officials anticipate the intermediate grant would serve between 3,000 and 4,200 residents over the 12-month grant period.

Permanent East Palestine Community Resiliency Center

Norfolk Southern provided funding to the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board to purchase a former doctor’s office located at 50410 State Route 14 in Unity Township that will be transformed into a permanent Community Resiliency Center. The facility, which is currently undergoing a series of improvements — including a new roof and interior renovations — will provide an array of outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services supported by the federal grant funding. The center will offer residents traditional counseling, support groups and 12-Step meetings, and non-traditional programming, such as trauma-focused yoga classes, creative arts, and animal therapy. While the Resiliency center is under renovation, services will be provided in other locations in the community. The addition of this center will help make behavioral health services more accessible and closer to home for residents in need of mental health or substance use disorder care. Local officials hope to complete renovations and open the facility to residents in November.

State of Ohio Updates
For more information and previous updates from the State of Ohio, visit ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine.

Tags: HealthinvestigationMental HealthODNROhiosafetyVeterans
Please Support This Local Business

TRENDING NOW

Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 05/27/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

May 27, 2025
Christopher Ryan Bond

Christopher Ryan Bond, 43 of Lucasville

May 27, 2025
Tragic Discovery

Tragedy on Elliott Road: Authorities Respond to Apparent Self-Inflicted Gunshot Death 

May 27, 2025
Walmart Heist

Flaming-Red Heist! Tattooed Thief Caught on Cam in Walmart Rip-Off

May 27, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 05/24/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

May 24, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.