Gunshots, mysterious window knocking, and frightened residents—another night of chaos unfolded at the Land of Goshen Recovery facility, the latest flashpoint in a growing battle between recovery homes and fed-up neighbors in southern Ohio.
Just after 9 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the Land of Goshen Recovery Center following reports of gunfire and possible harassment. Four women living at the facility reported hearing persistent knocking on windows and multiple rounds of gunfire, some of which sounded “super close.”
One resident said she had just stepped outside for a cigarette when she heard shots ring out and ran back inside. Others reported waking up to loud banging on their bedroom windows, though in at least one case, the layout of the building made that physically impossible—raising even more concern over who (or what) was causing the disturbance.
When police arrived, the facility owner joined the call via speakerphone and confirmed there had been a long-running dispute with a neighbor across the street, who was already involved in a civil lawsuit with the rehab.
🐷 THIS ISN’T THE FIRST INCIDENT
The bad blood runs deep. Just months ago, deputies were called to the same location after a neighbor allegedly used a tractor to block the facility’s driveway with boulders. The rehab claimed he damaged their recently resurfaced drive. The neighbor? He told deputies the facility was dumping raw sewage into a nearby creek.
And then came the pig poop drama.
Yes, you read that right. A Land of Goshen staffer admitted to shoveling manure away from the neighbor’s property because it was bothering a resident with autism. The neighbor allegedly retaliated by yelling at residents and threatening to harm anyone who touched his pigs.
According to the facility, the man and his family have made repeated threats against the residents and staff, including one chilling line from a relative:
“If something happens to my kids, none of you will leave this holler alive.”
🏚️ A Bigger Problem Than Just One Feud
This isn’t just a case of neighborly squabbling — it’s part of a larger, simmering crisis in southern Ohio. Between Scioto, Lawrence, and Adams counties, there are now over 230 recovery facilities, and the pressure is mounting.
While these homes offer critical support for people in recovery, their unregulated growth, combined with a lack of oversight and neighborhood communication, has sparked a wave of complaints, clashes, and safety concerns.
Local leaders say there needs to be a better balance — protecting both the rights of those in recovery and the peace of the surrounding communities.
🛑 What’s Being Done?
State lawmakers have proposed measures to require more transparency, zoning rules, and discharge plans to avoid overwhelming small towns with more facilities than they can support.
Until then, first responders will remain caught in the middle, juggling recovery housing calls that blur the line between social service, civil dispute, and criminal threat.
Bottom Line:
The recovery community deserves safety. So do the neighbors. But unless Ohio figures out how to better manage this flood of facilities, these late-night calls won’t stop — and the next one might not end with just a knock.