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Wednesday, September 24
Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety
    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/24/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    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

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

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    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 

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    Shots Fired Into Wheelersburg Home Leave Residents Shaken 

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

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    Convicted Killer Arrested at Portsmouth Homeless Shelter

    Haley Borders Schackart

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    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

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    Eagle-Eyed Officer Spots Missing Woman at Speedway 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
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    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 

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    Portsmouth Council Weighs Asking Davis to Resign 

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    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

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    Where’s Bryan Davis? After Two Missed Meetings, GOP Says It’s Time to Step Down 

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    Bryan Davis Arraignment Set, New Judge Assigned 

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    Scottie Powell

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    Joey Sandlin

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  • Feel Good
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    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

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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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    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

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    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

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  • Obituaries

    The Reverend Donald Henry Moeser” 90 of Powellsville,

    Barbara Williams

    Diana Marie Clark, 43 of Lucasville

    Cheryl Lynne Porter

    Cheryl Lynne Porter, aged 67 of Sciotoville

    Angela Flores-Kelly

    Angela Flores-Kelly, 57 of Blue Creek

    Bobby Nelson Sparks

    Bobby Nelson Sparks, 76 of West Portsmouth

    Ralph Arelious Fordyce of Charleston

    Alice Ann Newman

    Alice Ann Newman, 81 of Rarden

    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

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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.

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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.”

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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