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  • Public Safety

    🔥 Rehab Rage: Neighbors Say Enough is Enough! 🔥 

    Earl Evans

    🚨”Menace on the Move!” Career Criminal Busted After Wild Night of Window-Banging and Warrants🚨

    Three Child Sexual Abuse Cases Reported 

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    Busy Day in Scioto County: First Responders on Their Toes 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 06/13/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Bryan Pollard

    Man Jailed After Assault

    Formula Heist Strikes Again: Thieves Target Baby Formula in Growing Retail Crime Trend 

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    “Where’s My Husband?” Portsmouth Woman Panics—The Answer Highlights the Importance of Communication and Compassionate Care 

    Danger in a Can: Teen Reported ‘Huffing’ on Ruhlman Avenue Amid Viral ‘Dusting’ Trend

    Commissioners Warn of Budget Crisis if Property Taxes Vanish: Could Ohio’s Rural Counties Pay the Price?

    Portsmouth Man Indicted for Rape, Threatened Victim With Force, Prosecutors Say

    Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    20 New Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

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    Busted! 06/12/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    BAD BEHAVIOR

    Neighbor Accuses Boy of Torturing Cats

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    Police Investigate Multiple Reports of Sexual Assault 

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    Fired and Flustered: Man Refuses to Leave Tim Hortons After Getting the Boot 

    Hot Wheels: Truck Catches Fire—Twice—After Driver Tries to Restart It 

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    Buck-Naked and Breaking Point: Wild Morning at Four Keys Inn 

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    Busy Day for First Responders in Scioto County: EMS Runs High, Crime Stays Steady 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    County May Tap Opioid Settlement Funds to Finish MARCS Tower Project 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘Small Steps, Big Faith’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Edges Closer to Recovery 

    ‘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 

    ‘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 

    Cathy Coleman

    It’s a Miracle! – Scioto County Rallies Around Commissioner Cathy Coleman After Medical Crisis Turnaround 

    Scioto County Rallies in Prayer for Commissioner Cathy Coleman After Tragic Crash 

    Risky Business? City Wants to Sell $4.5 Million in Bonds

    Portsmouth LGBT Sanctuary City Proposal Scrapped – New Resolution Coming

    Portsmouth Council Takes First Step Toward Homelessness Task Force 

    Scioto County Commissioners Cancel Without Explanation 

  • 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?

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    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

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    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

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    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

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    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

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    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

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    Lost Kid Calls Cops for Help 

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    Backyard Adventure: Unforgettable Family Camping

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

  • Obituaries
    Leon Ernest Blackburn

    Leon Ernest Blackburn, 84 of Minford

    Jean Powell

    Jean Powell, 83 of Lucasville

    Barbara Hannah

    Barbara Hannah, 78 of West Portsmouth

    James Scott Smith

    James Scott Smith, 70 of West Portsmouth

    Dallas Clayton Bales

    Dallas Clayton Bales, 79 of Waverly

    Jerome Tomasheski

    Jerome Tomasheski 65 of McDermott

    Fredrick Grant Salisbury

    Fredrick Grant Salisbury, 82 of Stockdale

    Barbara Williams

    Janet Ruth Nance, 100 of Portsmouth

    Roy Harold Arthur Sr.

    Roy Harold Arthur Sr., 83 of Friendship

    Barbara Williams

    Julie Kay Johnson, 50 of Portsmouth

    Lloyd Logan

    Lloyd Logan, 98 of South Shore

    William McGinnis

    William McGinnis, Jr., 84, of Wheelersburg

    Harvey A. Ruel

    Harvey A. Ruel, 75 of Portsmouth

    Patricia A. Lewis

    Patricia A. Lewis, 72 of West Portsmouth

    Martha Byers Yost

    Martha Byers Yost, 84, of Portsmouth

    Patricia Ann Burchett

    Patricia Ann Burchett, 83 of Hillsboro

    Constance V. McQuay

    Constance V. McQuay, 89, of Waverly

    Jerry Paul Igaz

    Jerry Paul Igaz Sr. 55, of West Portsmouth

    Barbara Williams

    Lori Smith, 56 of McDermott

    Tina Marie Gollihue

    Tina Marie Gollihue, 61 of Franklin Furnace,

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What My Pets Teach Me About Love, Loyalty, and Living in the Moment

Mark Craycraft by Mark Craycraft
6 months ago
in Opinion
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There’s a kind of wisdom in the way animals live their lives. It’s quiet, unassuming, and so often overlooked. But for me, it’s been a lifeline—these small, steady reminders that even amid the chaos of my own existence, there are lessons to be learned from the simple, steadfast companionship of my pets.

Love, for them, is never conditional. My pets don’t care about my past mistakes or the days when I feel too worn down to be my best self. They greet me the same way every morning—with wagging tails, expectant eyes, and the unshakable belief that I am worthy of their affection. That kind of loyalty is humbling. It strips away the layers of self-doubt and regret that often cloud my mind, leaving me with one undeniable truth: I am enough.

There’s also something profoundly grounding in the way animals live in the moment. They don’t worry about tomorrow or dwell on yesterday. A warm patch of sunlight, a familiar voice, the sound of the food bowl filling—these are their joys, and they are unashamed to embrace them fully. Watching them, I’m reminded that life is made up of these small moments, the ones we so often overlook in our rush to do and be more.

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Of course, my pets also teach me patience. They remind me to slow down, to meet their needs, and, in doing so, recognize my own. A simple walk or the act of brushing their fur becomes an exercise in mindfulness, a chance to connect with another living being in a way that feels both grounding and restorative.

Then, there’s the lesson of presence. Pets don’t perform or pretend. They exist as they are, unapologetically themselves. In a world that often demands masks and filters, their authenticity is a breath of fresh air. They remind me that the best thing I can offer—whether to others or to myself—is my true, unvarnished self.

As I navigate the complexities of my own life—the challenges of illness, the weight of grief, and the struggle to find joy—my pets are a constant source of light. They don’t fix anything, and they don’t try to. What they offer instead is far more valuable: a reminder that love is simple, loyalty is sacred, and living in the moment is the greatest gift we can give ourselves.

So when I see them curled up at my feet or waiting patiently by the door, I don’t just see pets. I see teachers, companions, and quiet examples of how to live a life that, despite its challenges, is still full of meaning. In their eyes, I am enough. In their presence, I find a reason to believe it.

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