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Tuesday, September 23
Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety

    Two Rollover Crashes Keep Scioto County First Responders Busy 

    Ohio House Bill 247

    DOG DAYS & DISPUTES: Wave of Incidents Highlights Strain on Scioto County Animal Control 

    Southern Ohio Medical Center

    Crisis in the Parking Lot: Officers Help Escort Woman Into Treatment 

    From Buffalo Wild Wings to a Machete at the Campground: Portsmouth Police Handle Day of Madness 

    Assault at Scioto County CTC: Why School Safety Matters 

    Alex Ivan Ortiz Morales

    Deputy Rescues Trafficking Victim: But Suspect Walks Free on Bond???? 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/23/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Ohio Board of Pharmacy Steps Up Crackdown on Medi-Spas: What’s Legit — and What’s Risky

    Sheriff night 1

    Parolee’s Four-Wheeler Joyride Ends in Jail

    Shots Fired Over Stolen Truck: The Dangerous World of Tow Drivers 

    Haley Schackart Borders

    $90,000 Fine, License Revoked: New Details Emerge in Pike County Spa “Skincare” Shot Case 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/22/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Shots Fired Into Wheelersburg Home Leave Residents Shaken 

    “I’ve Got a Gun”: Yelling on Dorman Drive Ends in Arrest 

    handcuffs jail arrest

    Convicted Killer Arrested at Portsmouth Homeless Shelter

    Haley Borders Schackart

    New Indictments Revealed in Pike County Spa ‘Black-Market’ Weight Loss Shot Bust 

    Scioto County

    Mugshots and Press Releases: Why Was Haley Borders Treated Differently Than Scioto County Commissioner? 

    Michael Jenkins Ironton

    Drugs, Guns, and a Laundry List of Charges Land Pair in Scioto County Jail

    SCDN File Photo

    Eagle-Eyed Officer Spots Missing Woman at Speedway 

    Fingerprinted and Freed: Commissioner Bryan Davis Out on Bond 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    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 

    Bryan Davis

    Commissioner Bryan Davis and Wife Indicted in Scioto Scandal 

    Joey Sandlin

    Joey Sandlin Announces Inauguration Ceremony  

    Erie Canal Lock 50

    After Nearly a Decade of Talk, Scioto County Moves Closer to Restoring Historic Lock 50 

  • Feel Good
    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 

    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

  • Obituaries
    Gary Ray Pyles,

    Randall Eugene Herdman 66, of New Boston

    Anna Elizabeth McClintic

    Anna Elizabeth McClintic, 92 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Betty Ruth Childers, 98 of Lucasville,

    Paul R. Humphrey, 87 of Wheelersburg

    Robert Lee Barbee

    Robert Lee Barbee, 83, of Waverly

    Sherman L. Munn

    Sherman L. Munn, 91 of Maloneton

    Cynthia Youck 70 Sciotoville

    Ronald Floyd

    Ronald Floyd 81 of Grayson

    Michael Ward Mills

    Michael Ward Mills 70 of New Boston

    Gary Ray Pyles,

    Robert O. Payne, 82 of Minford

    Debra Lee Risner

    Debra Lee Risner, 66, of South Webster

    Deborah Scaff Rice

    Deborah Scaff Rice, 64 of McDermott

    Gary Ray Pyles,

    Terry Groh, 78 of Lake City

    Melissa Joy Davida Kessler

    Melissa Joy Davida Kessler, 25 of Portsmouth

    Theresa Gale Tumbleson

    Theresa Gale Tumbleson, 68 of South Shore

    Jerry Lee Ruby

    Jerry Lee Ruby, 84 of Wheelersburg

    Gregory Denning

    Gregory S. Denning, 62 of West Portsmouth

    Joy Wilson-Brown

    Joy Elaine Brown 77 of Portsmouth

    Jerry Robert Rockwell

    Jerry Robert Rockwell, 68 of Londonderry

    Michelle E. Workman

    Michelle E. Workman, 30, of Wheelersburg

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Portsmouth Council Takes First Step Toward Homelessness Task Force 

Unanimous Vote Launches Effort to Tackle Growing Crisis 

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
5 months ago
in Politics
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Portsmouth City Council took its first formal step toward creating a citywide homelessness task force during its April 28th meeting, voting unanimously to advance legislation aimed at coordinating a community-wide response. 

The proposed “Resolution Supporting the Establishment of a Homelessness Task Force” will have two more readings before final approval. If passed, it would pull together local service agencies, first responders, healthcare providers, and community leaders to develop a strategic plan for addressing the escalating issue. 

Notably, while the council chambers were packed with residents eager to weigh in on a separate proposal to make Portsmouth a transgender healthcare sanctuary city, no citizens spoke either for or against the task force initiative. 

RELATED POSTS

Two Rollover Crashes Keep Scioto County First Responders Busy 

DOG DAYS & DISPUTES: Wave of Incidents Highlights Strain on Scioto County Animal Control 

Crisis in the Parking Lot: Officers Help Escort Woman Into Treatment 

What the Resolution Proposes 

Introduced by Sixth Ward Councilperson D. Packard, the resolution envisions a task force made up of representatives from: 

  • The Counseling Center 
  • Community Action Organization (CAO) 
  • Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments 
  • Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) 
  • Scioto Christian Ministries 
  • The Salvation Army 
  • Shawnee State University 
  • The ADAMHS Board 
  • Local churches and shelters 

According to the resolution, these groups already work to support unhoused individuals, but “do not have an official blueprint, resources, capacity, or all tools needed to fully address this complex challenge separately.” 

The task force would aim to create a coordinated plan to address homelessness as a social, economic, and health crisis, with the long-term goal of sharing its strategy with state leaders, including Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health. 

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Why Now? 

The council’s move follows months of heated debate over how to manage growing concerns about public encampments, sanitation issues, and health risks. 

Last December, members debated—but ultimately rejected—a proposal to ban tent habitation within city limits. That conversation exposed just how complex the issue is, with city officials citing cases like a Fourth Street backyard encampment where a five-gallon bucket was reportedly used as a toilet and dumped in an alley. 

City Manager Sam Sutherland stressed that the city doesn’t want to criminalize homelessness. However, he pointed to past cleanup efforts, such as the removal of 600 tons of trash from a viaduct encampment, as evidence of the urgent need for a coordinated solution. Residents have expressed growing concerns about safety, disease, and environmental impacts from unmanaged camps. 

What’s Next? 

City Council now faces a few options: 

  • Approve the resolution and formally establish the task force 
  • Modify the language or scope of the resolution 
  • Reject it altogether 
  • Delay the issue by taking no action 

If approved, the task force would represent Portsmouth’s first formal step toward a unified, data-driven approach to homelessness, signaling to state and local partners that the city is serious about tackling the crisis. 

The Bigger Picture 

Shelters and nonprofits across Portsmouth, led by people like Maureen Cadogan, continue to do vital work—but often at full capacity and without a cohesive citywide strategy. Experts warn that without coordinated action, the community risks greater public health emergencies, strain on emergency services, and missed opportunities for long-term rehabilitation. 

A dedicated task force could bridge these gaps, bringing together health experts, social workers, law enforcement, housing advocates, and faith-based groups to design solutions rooted in compassion, data, and sustainability. 

Tags: Community ActionFeaturedHealthLawMike DeWineNewsletterOhioPolicePortsmouthPortsmouth City CouncilsafetySOMCSouthern Ohio
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