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Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety

    🚨 Michigan Avenue Family Crisis Highlights Ongoing Struggles to Protect Children 

    West Portsmouth Shooting

    Gunfire Panic at Trailer Park: Deputies Swarm Shots Fired Call 

    🏈 Locker Room Bullying Turns Violent — Mom Demands Justice  

    Police Officer Killed After Golf Cart Hit by Young Driver 

    Portsmouth

    Who Stole the Democrats’ Seat? Exclusive NEW Details on Portsmouth’s Missing Bench 

    Gun Scare at Mound Park: Call Leads Police on Evening Hunt 

    SCDN File Photo

    From Classroom to Courtroom? Portsmouth Parents Call Police Over School Clashes 

    DUI Driver Arrested After Wreck at Elementary School

    🚨 From Crash Site to Cell Block: Woman Busted for OVI in Portsmouth 

    Fired Trucker Takes Company Rig on Wild Ride Across State Lines  

    Dog on chain outside

    🐾 Price of a Pup Tag Set to Climb — Scioto County to Raise Dog License Fees Amid Worsening Shelter Crisis 

    Family & First Responders Save the Day in Wheelersburg Scare  

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 08/28/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Timmy’s Terror: Loose Pit Bull Sparks Dogfight, Death Threats, and Arrest 

    Police Activity

    Midnight Round-Up: Wanted Locals Learn the Hard Way

    Joseph Coby Portsmouth SWAT

    🚨 SWAT Roll-Out Over Missed Court Date: When Skipping Court Goes Too Far 

    Suspect arrested

    Suspect Busted at Mike’s Auto Sales: Drugs, Damage & a Rap Sheet a Mile Long 

    good cops

    Across Two States, First Responders Race to Protect Woman and Child Near Greenup Dam

    police car from the back seat

    Drunk, Armed & on a Lawn Mower: Lucasville Man Arrested After Wild Claim 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 08/27/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    💔 Heartbreak in Wheelersburg: First Responders Face Sensitive Task After Child Finds Deceased Woman 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    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 

    Portsmouth City Council 2023

    Portsmouth City Council Considers More Cash for Lawsuit Defense 

    West Virginia SNAP

    🚨No More Free Pop? West Virginia Bans Soda from SNAP—Should Ohio Be Next?🚨 

    We Don’t Do Roads!: Scioto Commissioners Clarify Who’s Really in Charge of Road Repairs 

    “I’m Not Here to Replace Cathy”: New Commissioner Merit Smith Says He’ll Lead with Life Experience 

    Merit Smith

    Merit Smith Chosen to Fill Late Commissioner Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    Scottie Powell

    “Run on Vision, Not Attacks”: Powell Offers Advice to Candidates Vying for Cathy Coleman’s Seat 

    🌿 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 

  • 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
    Janet Forbes

    Janet Forbes, 88 of South Shore

    Robert David Dean

    Robert David Dean, 75 of Piketon

    John Kenneth Kellerman, Jr

    John Kenneth Kellerman, Jr., 67 of Portsmouth

    Blenda Sue Forester Fitch

    Blenda Sue Forester Fitch, 76 of Waverly

    Barbara Williams

    Charlotte Pollitt, 79, of Piketon

    Ms. Shannon Renee Wyatt

    Ms. Shannon Renee Wyatt, 46 of Charleston

    James Collins

    James Collins 82 0f Portsmouth

    Rick L. Newsome 57 of Wheelersburg

    Anthony Carl White

    Anthony Carl White, 67 of Stout

    Samantha Kay Carver-Lattimore

    Samantha Kay Carver-Lattimore 42 of Portsmouth,

     Mildred Jean Sullivan

     Mildred Jean Sullivan, 81 of Portsmouth

    William McGinnis

    Jonathon Robert Chanti, 69 of Gallipolis

    Harold Richard Smith, Jr. , 45, of Waverly

    Barbara Williams

    Betty Jane Bowman, 83 of Portsmouth

    Kay Kelly

     Kay Kelly, 73 of Portsmouth

      Jeffrey Paul Steele

      Jeffrey Paul Steele, 49 of Portsmouth

    Zackery Hatfield

    Zackery Hatfield, 42 of Lexington

    Anthony Wayne

    Anthony Wayne Payne, 48 of Portsmouth

    James M. Lewis

    James M. Lewis, of Stout

    Barbara Williams

    Laura Frances Benner, 89 of Lucasville

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Scioto County Drawback Amid COVID Surge?

Mark Craycraft by Mark Craycraft
5 years ago
in Public Safety
Scioto County Drawback Amid COVID Surge
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Will Scioto County drawback amid the recent COVID surge? Starting Monday the Portsmouth City Building and Portsmouth Municipal Court will be closing at 2 pm. Courtroom attendance will be curtailed to just those scheduled for an appearance. They ask that anyone entering the City Building to do so only to conduct “pertinent business”. Everyone is required to wear masks at all times.

We reached out to several local leaders with two questions.

  1. With the courthouse drawing back on hours and limits on participants in court proceedings, would you expect the private sector to begin to tighten restraints?
  2. Everyone has shown frustration with State Mandates that affect our local economy. It has been said publically that we should be allowed to regulate our own County. Would you encourage businesses, like restaurants, to re-consider some of their open seating and dining options?

Here are the responses we received:

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John K McHenry, Candidate for County Commissioner: “I would hope the private sector, including restaurants and bars to reconsider their open seating and dining facilities. At this point in the virus crisis, it would be better to overreact than under react. There is no middle ground.”

Kevin E Johnson, Mayor of Portsmouth: “At this time I’m in a listening mode. I have mixed feelings about many issues we’re facing regarding this pandemic. I look for Council to have a discussion on that particular subject at our next meeting,(7-13-20)”

In addition, the Mayor would like to hear from local business owners.

“I would like to hear from local business owners on their thoughts as well.”  Contact [email protected]

Mayor Johnson encouraged citizens to submit their questions or comments to be addressed in Council Meetings. Council meetings will be live-streamed until further notice “Those participating will be Council, Clerk, City Manager, City Solicitor, City Auditor”. If you would like to communicate with Portsmouth City Council, simply email the City Clerk [email protected]. To have your questions or commits read in this upcoming meeting, they need to be received by 2:00 pm on 7-13-20.

Larry Mullins, Director of Scioto County EMA: “The courthouse will remain open regular hours however individual offices holders will set their own hours. The Recorder’s Office closed one day because of a possible exposure but, will reopen since the employee’s test came back negative.”

Director Mullins went on to say “We are trying not to become a Red Level 3 County. The local government had no input or say in the placement in the Governor and ODH Public Health Advisory System. “

“My understanding is that the counties that have been placed in the Red Level had as little as two hours warning that it was happening. We need to do everything we can to slow the spread again so we don’t end up being ordered to wear masks in public by the state. Young and old alike need to work to slow down the spread.”

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Sean Dunne, City Council Vice President: “We are voting on a mandatory mask ordinance for Portsmouth on Monday”

Tim Wolfe, a business developer and member of the Ohio Restaurant Advisory Group has two perspectives to share with us. As a local business owner, he had this to say. “I think we have already seen some folks in the private sector require more preventive actions than mandated by the state. I think we will continue to see this. No one wants to assist in spreading the virus.”

The biggest concern, for me, is most small businesses are operating at unsustainable levels of revenue. My fear is that closing their doors may be the only viable option.

As a member of the Ohio Restaurant Advisory Group, he shared these findings that were provided to Governer Dewine. Given this discussion, we support our recommendation that restaurants and bars should be treated similarly AND must comply in full with the guidelines. “Butts must be in seats” and “seats must be appropriately distanced” remain the cornerstone recommendations. No open congregate areas for socializing should be permitted. It is important to note, that there are members of the board that believe we should be taking more stringent action with bars as a subset.

5 Key takeaways: (Over 70% agree/strongly agree) from the Advisory Group

  1. Continued communication: education; positive press; “negative” press; ORA promise – press conference coverage; etc all received strong support from the board.
  2. Enforcement – While most owners are being diligent with their actions, there are outliers, “bad actors”, that must be addressed. As a whole, the ad board does not support the idea of targeting bars; but rather there is a strong agreement for and support of the guidelines that have been implemented. Whether it is a bar, restaurant, tavern, etc if they are not in compliance with the guidelines established, we need to proceed with punitive action if necessary, up to and including a suspension of liquor licenses. It was reinforced from the health department that the violations are not limited to bars, but rather span a variety of venues.
  3. Limit hours for alcohol consumption to midnight.
  4. The use of the color-coded system should be considered when applying further restrictions.
  5. Require patrons to wear masks in public areas in those counties that are RED.

Bryan Davis, Scioto County Commissioner: “The courthouse elected officials have been monitoring and making decisions for their departments individually in the interest of public and employee safety. The courts are also receiving guidance from the Ohio Supreme Court. We have been in close consultation with our Health Department and we are taking advice from them.”

“While we believe we should have more local control, we must legally follow the guidelines as presented by ODH and our local health departments. We would recommend all local businesses do the same. The situation is very fluid and we must do all we can to keep our citizens and employees safe. ” 

As we get more responses, we will update this article.

Since we don’t do news in the same old way, I will now stop the narrative and insert a publisher’s note: Thank you to those that took time out of a family day to help us communicate your positions to the public. In times like this, hearing from the insiders and decision-makers is paramount. An informed public is a safer public.

People want it from the “horse’s mouth”. So, we rattled the barn doors and got the horses talking for you. A sincere thank you to our local horses.

Tags: Choose Your PortsmouthCoronavirusFeaturedHealthLocal BusinessesNewsletterScioto County
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