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Monday, October 13
Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety
    Mike Mearan Gene Meadows

    Special Edition: Unmasking Southern Ohio’s Human Trafficking Scandal 

    Gene Meadows Mike Mearan

    Gene Meadows: Attorney Turned Alleged Predator 

    Mike Mearan

    The Florida Connection: Who is Albert Schaub? 

    Mike Mearan

    The Kentucky Link: Daren Biggs 

    Mike Mearan

    From Courtrooms to Football Fields: Marc Rash 

    Mike Mearan

    The Keeper of Secrets: Who Hid the Files? 

    Mike Mearan

    To the Victims: We Believe You 

    Sovereign Citizen

    Portsmouth Woman Tries “Sovereign Citizen” Defense — Ends Up in Jail Anyway 

    Weird strange news

    TV Fight at Rehab Center Ends With Blood, Broken Glasses, and an Arrest 

    Portsmouth Family Indicted for Shocking Abuse of Corpse Case 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

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

    ambulance

    No Ambulance Available: Nursing Home Call Highlights Ongoing EMS Crisis 

    BAD BEHAVIOR

    Family Feud Turns Ugly: Grandma and Grandson Both Arrested  

    Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    19 New Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    Sheriff night 1

    Deputies Step In as Teen Meltdown Escalates in West Portsmouth 

    Southern Ohio Medical Center

    Shove at SOMC: Dad Walks Out With Child, Staff Calls Police 

    SCDN File Photo

    Flying Object From SUV Strikes Woman in Farley Square 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 10/09/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    SCDN File Photo

    Bloody Scene at Dollar General Ends With Hospital Trip 

    Handcuffed and On the Run: Foot Pursuit on Gallia Street 

  • 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

    weird strange absurd

    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 

    This bench is a different bench located near Jim Dandy's

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

    crisis question

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

    Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis

    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

    Honoring Scioto County’s First Town — and Its First People: New Heritage Trail Sign Dedicated at Earl Thomas Conley Park 

    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

    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

    A man sitting in a vehicle is handing over an ID card to a female police officer standing by his window.

    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

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    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 

    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 

  • Obituaries
    Mary Lou Ratliff

    Mary Lou Ratliff, 90 of Portsmouth

    Gerry Conchita Kazee Mershon Osborne

    Gerry Conchita Kazee Mershon Osborne, 72, of West Portsmouth

    Thomas Marshall Redmon

    Thomas Marshall Redmon, 90 of Portsmouth,

     Larry Randall Williams

     Larry Randall Williams, 82 of West Portsmouth

    Marilyn Rosemary Bailey, 62 of Ironton

    Julia Mae Duke

    Julia Mae Duke, 83 of Piketon

    Dana LaMonte Messer

    Dana LaMonte Messer, 68 of Portsmouth

    Heath Aaron Pollard

    Heath Aaron Pollard, 43 Jackson

    Betty Kathleen Rowe

    Betty Kathleen Rowe, aged 91 of Wheelersburg

    Diana J. Todd

    Diana J. Todd, 81 of Sciotoville

    David W. Bauer

    David W. Bauer, 94 of Wheelersburg

    Dorothy Sue Stringfield

    Dorothy Sue Stringfield, 62 of Portsmouth

    Garry Arnett Hurless

    Garry Arnett Hurless, 83 of Piketon

    William Ratliff

    William C. Ratliff 72, of Portsmouth

    Annetta Collins

    Annetta Collins, 68 of South Webster

    Elizabeth Ann Smith

    Elizabeth Ann Smith, age 62 of New Boston

    Judith Phipps

    Judith Ann (Tackett) Phipps, 84 of Mt. Perry

    Patricia Aileen (White) Attaway

    Patricia Aileen (White) Attaway of Georgia

    Bonnie Lafrida Riddlebarger

    Bonnie Lafrida Riddlebarger, 88 of New Boston

    Fontella Munn

    Fontella Munn, 87 of Lucasville

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“It’s a Witch Hunt” – Davis Speaks Out on Horton Investigation 

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
1 year ago
in Politics
Bryan Davis
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“Not everything that comes out of a grand jury is factual. In my personal opinion, it’s a witch hunt.”  Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis says there are multiple reasons that Robert Horton still has his position with SOPA despite a state investigation.  

Even though Robert Horton is currently suspended with pay from his job as Scioto County’s Economic Development Director while the State Auditor investigates criminal allegations, he’s still the Director of the Southern Ohio Port Authority. That has a lot of people asking why he’s not suspended from that very important position as well.  

Scioto County Commissioners maintain there’s not much they can do because the Port Authority is a separate entity from the county.  However, WNXT’s Bill Shope put the commissioners on the hot seat during Thursday’s meeting by pointing out that the two agencies have the same phone number and contact email address. 

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Mary Lou Ratliff, 90 of Portsmouth

Special Edition: Unmasking Southern Ohio’s Human Trafficking Scandal 

Gene Meadows: Attorney Turned Alleged Predator 

Commissioner Bryan Davis said, “Economic development utilizes multiple tools in order to accomplish a job.” Davis likened it to a toolbox where you have multiple types of screwdrivers in your toolbox. He said there was money available for development that you could only get from certain agencies like Jobs Ohio and JEDISO. He said the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) was another tool in that toolbox. “Port authorities have the ability to exercise functions other agencies cannot.”  He said that port authorities can do things like buy building materials tax-free.  “So if you have a private entity and the port authority is the construction manager, then they can provide the ability for a company to build tax-free. That’s what happened with PureCycle. It’s a tool.” 

(See our reporting on Purecycle here: Scioto County Residents Concerned: Experts Have Doubts About PureCycle)

Davis said that when commissioners set up the board seven years ago, they changed the way things worked. “They are definitely symbiotic beings. They work in the same space. They complement each other. About 90% of what economic development is doing right now is SOPA-related.  I can understand why there would be confusion.” 

When asked if Horton’s suspension carried any real weight due to the fact he was continuing to head  SOPA, Davis replied. “What everyone needs to understand, the Board of Scioto County Commissioners cannot interfere with the workings of the Southern Ohio Port Authority. They are a separate board governed by its members.”   

Davis said that the commission is only involved in appointing members to SOPA. That is the end of our jurisdiction. We can remove members for malfeasance but that has not been considered.  You have an employee who has been put on a leave of absence. To my knowledge, he has not been indicted. Not everything that comes out of a grand jury is factual. A lot of times there are things that have been leaked.” 

He said that the amount of information that had been leaked about the investigation was egregious and that, in his opinion, “It’s a witch hunt. He’s been exposed to egregious acts by people who would love to destroy economic development in Scioto County.  We’re talking about a man who has brought millions and millions of dollars to the county and throwing that way. I, for one, do not want to see the work of the county suspended in any way.”  

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Davis called the investigation a distraction from important economic development work. He said the commissioners hadn’t heard anything about the investigation in weeks.  He said the Attorney General’s Officer appeared to have pulled out of the investigation. “It’s my understanding the State Auditor’s Office doesn’t know where they went. They apparently called no joy and walked away. There’s a lot of things I could say that I probably shouldn’t. say. My concern is our economic development efforts are being severely hampered.” 

Get caught up on our previous reporting on this crucial issue.

County Commissioners “Fully Cooperating” with Investigators After Search Warrants Served 

Commissioners Skip Meeting, Investigation Continues 

Commissioners Don’t Know What Search Warrants Are About Either 

Commissioners Grapple With “Clearly Criminal” Economic Development Investigations 

“We’re Not Lawyers” – Commissioners Respond to Shocking Horton Revelations 

 

Tags: County CommissionersFeaturedNewsletterScioto County
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