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Tuesday, October 7
Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety
    OSP 22

    Scioto County Man Involved in Fatal Gallia County Crash 

    Suspect arrested

    CHEATING CLAIM ERUPTS INTO VIOLENCE — HUSBAND CUFFED AFTER WIFE CALLS 911 FROM SHOWER 

    He Just Kept Coming Back: Bizarre Stranger Terrifies Carlyle Avenue Resident 

    CNA Punched in the Face at Wheelersburg Nursing Home

    911 dispatcher

    Trailer Drama in West Portsmouth Prompts 911 Call 

    Gun Spotted in Wheelersburg SUV: Deputies Nab Suspect on Menacing Charge 

    Marcus Riley

    Parolee Back Behind Bars: Man Once Convicted of Drunk Driving with Children Arrested Again 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 10/06/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    ‘Tweaking’ or Troubled? Always Check on Drivers in Distress 

    drug crisis

    Overdoses, False Alarms, and Needle Sightings: Drug Crisis Keeps Portsmouth Police Busy 

    Hot iPhone Drama: SOMC Theft Leads Cops Straight to Summit Street Bust 

    FROM REHAB TO RANSACK: MAN TURNS MICKEY D’s LOT INTO MADHOUSE 

    Wayne hills

    Wanted Men Nabbed in Wayne Hills: Warrants Catch Up With Harr and Hummel 

    Good Kids CPS

    Kids Caught Walking on US 23: Deputies Step In Before Tragedy 

    Woodbine Apartments

    Late-Night Disturbance at Woodbine Apartments Raises Concerns for Kids in the Home 

    Family Dollar

    Family Dollar Employee Foils Shoplifters  

    Southern Ohio Human Trafficking

    Another Arrest Tied to Southern Ohio’s Ongoing Human Trafficking Crackdown 

    Pit Bull Bites Baby’s Face & Other Cases Highlights Strain on Animal Control 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Man on Dating App Does the Right Thing — Calls Deputies After Suspecting Teen Contact 

    SCDN File Photo

    Mound Park Complaints Pile Up: Fights, Threats, and False Alarms 

  • 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
    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

    Beverly Jane Kessinger

    Beverly Jane Kessinger, 82 of Friendship

    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

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Main Street Portsmouth: What Do They Do?

SCDN Exclusive

Mark Craycraft by Mark Craycraft
5 years ago
in Feel Good
Main Street Portsmouth
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Main Street Portsmouth: What Do They Do?

Joseph Pratt of Main Street Portsmouth took some time out of his day to speak to us about their involvement in the community. I will give you the conversation starter I asked and then his detailed response. You will find this information compelling and eye-opening.

Under your Building Improvement Grant section, Main Street vows to award “a minimum of $25,000” each year “to improve the structural integrity, longevity, and overall physical appearance of commercial buildings”, what grants and amounts have been approved in the last 12 months?

RELATED POSTS

West Virginia Cracks Down on Immigrants

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

CHEATING CLAIM ERUPTS INTO VIOLENCE — HUSBAND CUFFED AFTER WIFE CALLS 911 FROM SHOWER 

535 2nd Street Courtyard

We took a very dangerous space, preserved the historic facade after the building collapsed 10 years ago and it went wild and we developed Portsmouth’s first pocket park. It was about $70,000 and much, much donated time and labor. The city gave the property to us, but it was worth very little and the tax base wasn’t worth keeping private. We took ownership, made it public, and established a park without the city spending one dime. We even paid for legal fees to transfer.

This year’s recipients of the Building Improvement Grant

  • Bill and Marcia Spradlin, who received $6,500 for a roof and work valued at $18,675
  • Jeremy and Maddie Burnside, for steel reinforcements at $7,000, when the overall project is $50,000 (not counting the complete building renovation cost)
  • Trent Millison, for $5,000, for a roof valued at $10,750
  • 440 Group, for $6,500 to assist in a $25,800 roofing job

We do 55+ events a year

Everything from the Chocolate Walk to Wine and Dine, Farmers Market to Street Sales, Cut-Throat Karaoke to Tour of Lofts, Farm to Table to Celebrate Portsmouth. We do A LOT in the event category, too. Plus, we plan on bringing 3+ events next year to the calendar that includes a cookie crawl around Winterfest time, a big-budget Halloween dance called Glamour and Gore, and we are looking at turning a hit television show into a local event.


Christmas Lights

We took an extra $10,000 from the city this year and used it on Christmas lights, but leveraged it to get two other foundations to donate and dozens of businesses. We ended up providing the Tracy Park light show and the pole lights, valued at over $40,000 for just $10,000 invested by the city.

Main Street Portsmouth manages nearly every flower and decorative element downtown

The group developed the latest Alexandria Park design and continues to maintain it, assists the Portsmouth Shade Tree Commission in maintaining the city tree population, assists in odd jobs circled around Tracy Park, and oversees the maintenance of the Roy Roger’s Esplanade. They also maintain public hotspots, such as the Front Street pots along the floodwall, the City Building, and flower pots around the County Courthouse. Their work also includes the planting and maintenance of 64 hanging baskets; 63 flower pots and urns in public spaces, another 47 floral pots in front of local businesses; tree wells; parks, and hotspots. There are seasonal holiday displays on the Esplanade, Tracy Park, and in front of the City Building.

All of this works towards a beautiful and inviting downtown Portsmouth and made possible due to donors and volunteers.

Please Support This Local Business

What’s Next?

We also just received $60,000 to build a new public gym on the riverfront next year. The city will assist us in installation, but it, also, will cost taxpayers nothing, since we manage the project and received a grant to fund it from the Scioto Foundation. After that, we are looking at developing a public classroom on the riverfront for people to meet, churches to have bible study, schools to take children, counseling centers, and clinics to meet and have therapy sessions, etc.

Cost does not equal value

We get a set amount from the city, and we then utilize that budget to leverage more funding. We accomplish work with volunteer labor, to provide something of far greater value than the cost.

Tags: Choose Your PortsmouthexclusiveFeaturedLawNewsletterPortsmouth Ohio
Please Support This Local Business

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