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Tuesday, October 14
Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety
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    NOT AGAIN: Bench Bandits Strike Portsmouth as Two More Seats Vanish 

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    KFC Chaos: Woman Arrested After Threatening to Kill Trump 

    Officers Step In to Save Lives on the Front Lines of Mental Health Crisis 

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    New Details Emerge in Portsmouth Family’s Gross Abuse of a Corpse Case 

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    The Kentucky Link: Daren Biggs 

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    From Courtrooms to Football Fields: Marc Rash 

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    To the Victims: We Believe You 

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  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    Democrats Blast Bryan Davis: “Quit Collecting a Paycheck You’re Not Earning” 

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    Davis Commish

    No Updates, Just an Empty Seat: Powell and Smith Say Davis Drama is Out of Their Hands

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    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder’s Office Increases Fees 

    Scottie Powell

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    Bryan Davis

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  • Obituaries
    Ashley Nicole Lavey

    Ashley Nicole Lavey, 30 of Portsmouth

    Michael Van Swearingen

    Michael Van Swearingen, 89, of Portsmouth

    Donald H. Adkins

    Donald H. Adkins, 79 of South Shore,

    Suzi Bumgardner, 85 of Peebles

    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

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

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
6 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. 

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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