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Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety

    Bridge Fight Turns into Mental Health Crisis—Quick Action by Officers Gets Man Help

    BURGLAR BUSTED: WILD FOOT CHASE-SUSPECT @ GUNPOINT 

    PPD Night

    Midnight Mayhem: Car Crashes into Power Poles, Knocks Out Lights from Clay to Grandview 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/24/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    SCDN File Photo

    Teen’s Tall Tale Unravels: Bizarre 911 Call Leads Deputies to Franklin Furnace 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor Nabs Wanted Man: Deputies Bust Suspicious Visitor at Vacant Home 

    Man Missing for 24 Hours Found on Stranger’s Porch

    DRUNK SON FIRES GUN AT DAD IN LATE-NIGHT DOMESTIC MELTDOWN  

    “Someone Out There Got Away With It” 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/23/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Sheriff night 1

    Stranger on the Porch: Midnight Door Jiggle Lands Minford Woman in Jail 

    body found

    Double Tragedy Strikes Portsmouth as Two Found Dead Just Hours Apart 

    Portsmouth Boy Punches Dog In Stomach

    🐾 DOG DRAMA AT THE POUND! 

    chase police chase

    High-Speed Chase Ends in the Woods — Suspect Now Tied to Another Stolen Car at Speedway 

    Ryan Joseph Miller

    “Didn’t Take the Hint!” – Man Busted After Allegedly Trying to Kick In Door in South Webster 

    Elder Safety

    🚨 “Mom Needs Protection” — West Portsmouth Man Busted for Violating Protective Order Meant to Shield Elderly Mother 

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    Busted! 07/22/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

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    The Gallia Street Incident — One Mom’s Love Shines Through 

    🚨 ‘She Hits Us With Sticks’ — Brave Girls Speak Out About Alleged Abuse 

    Forgotten Firepower: Loaded Gun Left in Rental Car Prompts Police Response 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    🌿 Bamboo Gets Fast-Tracked at City Hall — But the Homeless Crisis? Still Stuck in Neutral 

    Who Will Carry Cathy’s Torch? GOP to Choose Coleman’s Replacement July 29 

    Cathy Coleman

    Commissioners Back Senior Housing Project Championed by Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    “Bad and Quirky” Lucasville House Targeted for Demolition as County Cracks Down on Blighted Properties 

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

    Cathy Coleman

    Scioto County Mourns Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

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

    Cathy Coleman

    Remembering Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman

    somc 2

    🏥 Scioto County Approves Hospital Tax to Keep Medicaid Dollars Local 

    No Kings

    Scioto Dems Snort at “Well-Funded” No Kings Protest Claim

    Cathy Coleman

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

    County May Tap Opioid Settlement Funds to Finish MARCS Tower Project 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘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

    Scioto County Recorder Gary Jenkins Unveils New Office Website 

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

  • Feel Good
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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
    Ricky Edwin Johnson

    Ricky Edwin Johnson 72 of Portsmouth

    Alana Dustianna Meshelle Greene

    Alana Dustianna Meshelle Greene, 32 of Portsmouth

    Estel C. Harr, 68 of Portsmouth

    James L. Slone, 86, of South Webster

    James L. Slone, 86 of South Webster

    Gary Lee Meade,70 of West Portsmouth

    Lilly Ann Elliott

    Lilly Ann Elliott, 53 of Portsmouth

    James D. Hannah

    James D. Hannah, 60 of Greenup

    obit-infant-small

    Bristol Rafalowski, 3, of Wheelersburg

    Walter Logan

    Walter Logan 56 of Portsmouth

    Paul H. Parker

    Paul H. Parker 85 of Portsmouth

    Ralph Burton Speck

    Ralph Burton Speck, 90 of West Portsmouth

    Barbara Williams

    Betty Lou Little Mullins, 91 of Franklin Furnace

    Shirley Ann Wheeler

    Shirley Ann Wheeler, 88, of Minford

    Betty Lou Ratliff

    Betty Lou Ratliff, 82 of South Shore

    Katherine Kay Bates

    Katherine Kay Bates, 76, formerly of Sciotoville

    Carl D. Cook

    Carl D. “Pork” Cook, 64 of South Webster

    Rachele Lynne McLaughlin, 44 of Minford

    Carol Lorraine Schmid

    Carol Lorraine (Meenach) Schmid 88 of Wheelersburg

    Darrell Kevin Lore

    Darrell Kevin Lore, age 69 of Portsmouth

    Helen Waughtel

    Helen F. Waughtel, 84 of Portsmouth

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No Captain, No Course: Scioto County Calls for Bold New Vision After Economic Scandal 

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
3 months ago
in Economy
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Scioto County is at a crossroads—and local leaders say it’s time to grab the wheel and steer economic development back on track. 

At Thursday’s Commissioners Meeting, Commissioner Bryan Davis didn’t mince words.
“Our economic development has been nonexistent for two months,” he said. “I know SOPA is reorganizing, but we don’t have a ship or a captain. I feel like we need to develop a plan.” 

The county’s economic growth has been stalled in the wake of the Robert Horton scandal that rocked the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) and shook public trust. With no economic development director and SOPA only beginning to pick up the pieces after nearly a year of dormancy, the path forward remains uncertain. 

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Commissioner Scottie Powell echoed the concern.
“I wish I had an update,” he said at the March 27 meeting. “It’s a tough proposition when there’s still potentially other things coming down the road. The last thing we want to do is build a system around something that could fall apart because of new news. That gives me pause.” 

Still, Powell is hopeful. He’s been researching what economic development looks like in other counties and thinking about how Scioto County might create a model that’s built to last.
“A lot of organizations are willing to move forward,” he said. “I’ve been spending this time researching what it could and should look like.” 

At Thursday’s meeting, Davis called on Powell and fellow Commissioner Cathy Coleman to share their visions for the future. He stressed the urgency of the moment, noting regional economic concerns like the closing of the Pixelle paper mill in Ross County.
“Now is not the time to retract on economic development. We need to make sure we have someone at the helm,” Davis said. “Yes, we work with regional partners, but we can’t depend on them to do what we should do for ourselves.” 

He also expressed concerns about the county operating on a “barebones” structure and called for teamwork to address internal loss control issues. 

Powell suggested holding a summit to “reimagine what economic development looks like in Scioto County,” bringing all the key stakeholders to the table.
“How do we pull in Shawnee State, the Technical School, and Community Action?” he asked. “We’re going to get another shot at this. What should it look like?” 

Powell acknowledged that SOPA’s reputation has taken a hit and questioned whether it should continue to be the county’s economic engine.
“Throwing things back together the way they were won’t restore public confidence,” he said. “There’s no value in reliving the past.” 

He floated the idea of either a public meeting or smaller, private discussions with stakeholders.
“When the cameras are on, people tend to pull their comments. I’m open to both,” he said. 

Commissioner Cathy Coleman was on board with the idea of a summit.
“I like the idea of getting different opinions,” she said. “Would we host the meeting? It has to start somewhere.” 

Davis agreed, but emphasized that action must follow discussion.
“I’m fully in support of gaining input from the community. But at the end of the day, we have to lead,” he said. “We gotta move fast. There are companies looking to invest in our community right now, and we gotta lead that charge. SOPA is not able to do that right now. They are working hard to get things rolling. We do have two seats to fill on the board.” 

The Scandal That Stalled Growth 

The Robert Horton corruption case sent shockwaves through Scioto County and brought economic development to a grinding halt. Horton, the county’s former economic development director and SOPA head, was indicted on 15 counts on Valentine’s Day. His wife, Lioubov Horton, faces 12 charges of her own. 

The list of charges reads like a true crime headline: 

  • Theft in office 
  • Aggravated theft 
  • Money laundering 
  • Bribery 
  • Tampering with public records 

Prosecutors say the couple and three unnamed co-conspirators created a fake business to siphon funds from SOPA and the Minford Emergency Ambulance Service. Horton allegedly funneled bribes through his wife, disguised as commission payments, and later instructed businesses to destroy evidence when the Ohio State Auditor began digging. 

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The fallout has left a leadership vacuum and a serious trust deficit—one that Scioto County officials now hope to overcome with transparency, collaboration, and a long-term vision for sustainable growth. 

Next Steps: A Summit for Solutions?
Will a county-wide summit lead to a bold new strategy—or more delays? The commissioners seem aligned on one thing: the time for waiting is over. 

“We gotta move fast,” Davis said. “It’s time to lead.” 

Tags: Bryan DavisCathy ColemanCommunity ActionCrimedifferentFeaturedMinfordNewsletterOhioRoss CountyScioto CountyScottie PowellSouthern Ohio
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