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Wednesday, September 3
Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety
    Troubled Bad Youth Kids

    Gun Scare at High School Football Game Ends With Kid in Custody 

    Murder Scioto County

    Arrest Made in Scioto County Murder and Arson Case 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/03/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Shoplifter Drops the Ball… and Her Diary 

    Buckeye Towers’ “Masked Bandit” Nabbed by New Boston Police 

    Scioto County Murder

    Murder Investigation Underway on Millers Run Fallen Timber Road 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/02/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Marquise A Poore

    Manhunt Madness: Portsmouth Police Track Down Wanted Suspects 

    dollar general 2

    Man at Dollar General Claims Boss Wants to Kill Him  

    Trash, Tears & Trouble: Portsmouth’s Weekend of Homeless Encounters 

    Pike County

    Woman Dies, Child Injured in Wreck

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/01/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    🚨 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 

  • 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
    Devon Shad Holsinger

    Devon Shad Holsinger 27 of SouthShore

    Frances J. Williamson

    Frances J. Williamson, 83 of West Portsmouth

    George Angelo Torres, 21 of Waverly

    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

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Shawnee State Helps Locals Climb Out of Poverty, Earns “Opportunity University” Honor 

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
18 hours ago
in Education
Shawnee State University SSU

Photo by SSU

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For years, Scioto County has battled tough odds—high poverty, low wages, and the lingering effects of the opioid crisis. Now, Shawnee State University is being recognized for helping local families beat those odds. 

In the latest report from the Carnegie Commission for Higher Education, SSU was named an Opportunity College and University—the only open access public university in Ohio to earn the title. The honor highlights the school’s success in opening doors for students from struggling communities and helping them build brighter futures. 

A County That’s Struggled 

Scioto County is the third poorest county in Ohio, with a median household income of just $46,360, compared to the state average of $65,720. Nearly one in four residents live below the poverty line. Many families here have also been hit hard by the opioid epidemic, making the dream of college—and the promise of higher wages—seem out of reach. 

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That’s where Shawnee State comes in. With its open admissions policy and career-focused programs, the university gives students from all backgrounds a shot at degrees that can change their lives. Many SSU graduates move from low-income households into the top 40% of earners nationwide. 

“Being classified as an Opportunity College and University is an external verifier of the deeply held mission of Shawnee State University to provide access to college to the people of south-central Ohio,” said Dr. Kimberly Inman, SSU Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs. 

Changing Lives Through Education 

Shawnee State is one of only two public universities in Ohio to receive this designation, and the only one with an open access mission. The recognition reflects how many SSU students qualify for federal financial aid—and how many of them still go on to land good-paying jobs. 

The university has also been recognized nationally as a Top Performer on Social Mobility by U.S. News & World Report. SSU grads often step straight into careers in health care, business, education, engineering technologies, and other high-demand fields. More than 64% of SSU graduates earn bachelor’s degrees tied directly to these professions. 

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Hands-on training, internships, and clinical experience help make students job-ready before they even graduate. 

A Way Forward for Scioto County 

In a community that’s seen its share of heartbreak, Shawnee State University stands out as a way forward—a place where locals can turn hard work in the classroom into a better life for themselves and their families. 

Tags: EducationFinancialHealthJobsNewsletterOhioopioid crisisScioto CountySSU
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