• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Monday, July 14
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety
    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/14/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Standing Guard for the Vulnerable: CPS and Portsmouth Police Team Up on Child Abuse Investigations 

    SCDN File Photo

    Midnight Scare: Teen with Autism Jumps from Car, Sparks Search — Found Safe Thanks to Officers’ Quick Action 

    West Portsmouth Shooting Under Investigation After Woman Found Shot in the Chest 

    Manhunt

    Rehab Runner Nabbed Near School: Fugitive Probationer Caught After Fleeing Scioto County Facility 

    BAD BEHAVIOR

    “He Dropped His Pants!” Lucasville Grandpa Calls Cops After Shocking Incident Involving 5-Year-Old 

    Test Drive Turns Terrifying: Man Follows Woman Home, Allegedly Pulls Gun on Her Father-in-Law 

    Gage Smith

    🚨 60 Years to Life: Drugged Driver Who Killed 3 Kids and Girlfriend Sentenced in Horror Crash 🚨 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/11/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    drugs 1

    🚨 Needle Nightmare at Jail: Corrections Officer Stuck During Search of “Tweaking” Suspect 

    🔥 Heat Stroke Horror: Man Suffers Mental Crisis with Loaded Gun After Mowing Lawn in Scorching Temps 🔥 

    “She Took My Leg!” Shocking 911 Call Leads to Domestic Violence Charges 

    🚨 RIPPED TOES & RAGING MUTTS: Loose Dogs Leave Trail of Chaos in Portsmouth 

    Clayton Pender

    9 Child Predator Busts in Southern Ohio: Authorities Warn ‘The Danger Is Real’ 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/10/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    chase police chase

    Grand Theft Camry! Stolen Car Tracked and Recovered in Late-Night Chase Across Portsmouth 

    Pitchfork Panic: Officers Step In to Help Elderly Woman in Mental Health Crisis 

    woman arrested handcuffs

    ATV OUTLAW! Late-Night Chase Through South Webster Ends in Tumble, Arrest, and a Ride to the ER

    “I Want Him Dead!” Family Horror as Daughter and Boyfriend Allegedly Plot Poisoning Under Mom’s Roof

    dog animal cruelty

    🔥 Hot Car Horror at Walmart! Dog Rescued Just in Time — Owner Charged with Animal Cruelty 🐶🚨 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    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 

    Cathy Coleman

    Community Urged to Pray For Cathy Coleman as Family Faces Devastating Update 

    Scottie Powell

    Commissioner Scottie Powell on Trans Sanctuary Resolution: “Symbolic, Not Substantive” 

    Cathy Coleman

    Update from the Scioto County Commissioners on Commissioner Cathy Coleman 

    What Did Portsmouth’s LGBTQ+ Sanctuary Resolution Really Say? 

    Portsmouth Rehab

    Portsmouth Rejects LGBTQ+ Sanctuary City Status in Heated Council Vote 

  • Feel Good

    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 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

    A bearded man is sitting on the floor and comforting his dog in a wheelchair. The dog has his ears pinned back.

    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

    U.S. housing market

    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    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

    good cops

    Lost Kid Calls Cops for Help 

    Backyard camping

    Backyard Adventure: Unforgettable Family Camping

    Sunshine or Snowflakes: Which Season Wins America’s Heart?

  • Obituaries
     William Ryan Lee Comer

     William Ryan Lee Comer, 42 of Portsmouth

    Linda Hutchens

    Linda Hutchens, 86 of Portsmouth

    Dr. Steven Wylie Binns

    Dr. Steven Wylie Binns, 64 of Portsmouth

    Beverly Sue Decamp

    Beverly Sue Decamp 85 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Jacqueline Marie Nolan-Hensley, 79 of Portsmouth

    Chester L. Galloway

    Chester L. Galloway, 79 of Stout

    Ted Birkhimer

    Ted Birkhimer, 79 of Portsmouth

    Charles Adkins

    Charles Adkins, 70 of South Shore,

    Christine Elizabeth Danner 84

    Jessica Marie Swick, 31, of Lexington, KY

    Jessica Marie Swick, 31 of Lexington, KY

    Sharon Kay Hannah, 68 of Portsmouth

    Kathy Sturgell, 70 of Waverly

    Kathy Sturgell, 70 of Waverly

    Barbara Williams

    Karen Sue Peyton, 85 of South Webster

    Cathy Elaine Coleman

    Cathy Elaine Coleman, 71 of West Portsmouth

    Everett William Cook

    Everett William Cook, age 62 of Portsmouth

    Kim Gutierrez

    Kim Isabella Guttierrez 74 of Portsmouth

    Jeanne Szura

    Jeanne Szura 95 of Cary NC

    Barbara Williams

    Nancy Anne Sheets 92 of Portsmouth

    James Vernon Hicks Jr

    James Vernon Hicks Jr. 71 of Portsmouth

    Sonya Stapleton

    Sonya Lee Stapleton 66 of Portsmouth

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Ohio COVID Funeral Restrictions ‘Heartbreaking’

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
5 years ago
in Public Safety
Funeral
ShareTweetEmail




(Portsmouth, Ohio) The restrictions on funeral services during COVID in Ohio and around the country are ‘heartbreaking’ for a Portsmouth funeral director. Dawn Scott said it’s painful to see families deprived of their traditional outlets for grief.  “It’s heartbreaking because we want to help people. Part of what we do is bring people together, and we can’t do it.”

Grief expert  Amy Szatanek agreed. “These times have been difficult for patients and families for sure. Historically, people have utilized funerals and services as a way to formally say goodbye to a loved one. I do believe that all of these changes have affected people’s ability to process their grief, especially if they were not able to be with their loved ones when they died.”

Dawn Scott, vice president of the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home, said it was especially difficult at the beginning of the pandemic. Many grieving families chose to postpone memorial services. “They had a family ceremony or they just came in for a few minutes and went to the cemetery.  They put it in the paper that they’d have a memorial service at a later date.”

RELATED POSTS

What Scioto County Locals Should Know About Neurological Symptoms 

Linda Hutchens, 86 of Portsmouth

Dr. Steven Wylie Binns, 64 of Portsmouth

She said there were some cases where people were afraid to even go to the cemetery. Scott said it happened more often during the pandemic than in her entire 30 plus years as a funeral director. “When I do that, I take pictures of the internment, so they can see what happened. I don’t want them to have questions down the road.”


Extra Safety Measures

Scott said that while funerals were exempted from COVID crowd restrictions, many families aren’t comfortable with larger groups and some mourners hesitate to show up. “We’re having more traditional services now.  It just depends on the family and their comfort level.  They are very conscious of asking what we are requiring and allowing.”

As required by state law, all employees of the funeral home wear masks and there is plenty of hand sanitizer available. “We took out a lot of the chairs and moved them farther apart,”  Scott said they clean often. “I know have an industrial-sized sprayer that every chair and every surface is cleaned.”

Please Support This Local Business

One change is the way guest books are handled. At first, not many mourners were attending services, so the skipped the keepsake due to concerns handling the pen could spread the virus. Now, a staff member signs in guests.

More families have requested Facebook live streams. “I think in the future we’re going to see more of it. We had people from Australia and California watching funerals.  I went around to all of the people who were there and had them say hello to the families and watched all of the streaming comments.”

The extra safety measures don’t bother Scott. ” It’s not that it’s so difficult. It just hurts that these families aren’t getting the support that they need. I like to personalize funeral services. Thinking outside the box is kind of what I enjoy.  This is a profession where you have to make split-second decisions. I enjoy knowing that I’m making these funerals as safe and as healing as possible.”

Tags: CoronavirusCOVID-19FeaturedOhioPortsmouth Ohio
Please Support This Local Business

TRENDING NOW

Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 07/11/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

July 11, 2025
Gage Smith

🚨 60 Years to Life: Drugged Driver Who Killed 3 Kids and Girlfriend Sentenced in Horror Crash 🚨 

July 11, 2025

West Portsmouth Shooting Under Investigation After Woman Found Shot in the Chest 

July 11, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 07/09/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

July 9, 2025
Manhunt

Rehab Runner Nabbed Near School: Fugitive Probationer Caught After Fleeing Scioto County Facility 

July 11, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.