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Friday, July 25
Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety

    Bridge Fight Turns into Mental Health Crisis—Quick Action by Officers Gets Man Help

    BURGLAR BUSTED: WILD FOOT CHASE-SUSPECT @ GUNPOINT 

    PPD Night

    Midnight Mayhem: Car Crashes into Power Poles, Knocks Out Lights from Clay to Grandview 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 07/24/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

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    Teen’s Tall Tale Unravels: Bizarre 911 Call Leads Deputies to Franklin Furnace 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor Nabs Wanted Man: Deputies Bust Suspicious Visitor at Vacant Home 

    Man Missing for 24 Hours Found on Stranger’s Porch

    DRUNK SON FIRES GUN AT DAD IN LATE-NIGHT DOMESTIC MELTDOWN  

    “Someone Out There Got Away With It” 

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    Busted! 07/23/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

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    Stranger on the Porch: Midnight Door Jiggle Lands Minford Woman in Jail 

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    Double Tragedy Strikes Portsmouth as Two Found Dead Just Hours Apart 

    Portsmouth Boy Punches Dog In Stomach

    🐾 DOG DRAMA AT THE POUND! 

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    High-Speed Chase Ends in the Woods — Suspect Now Tied to Another Stolen Car at Speedway 

    Ryan Joseph Miller

    “Didn’t Take the Hint!” – Man Busted After Allegedly Trying to Kick In Door in South Webster 

    Elder Safety

    🚨 “Mom Needs Protection” — West Portsmouth Man Busted for Violating Protective Order Meant to Shield Elderly Mother 

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    The Gallia Street Incident — One Mom’s Love Shines Through 

    🚨 ‘She Hits Us With Sticks’ — Brave Girls Speak Out About Alleged Abuse 

    Forgotten Firepower: Loaded Gun Left in Rental Car Prompts Police Response 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    🌿 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 

    Cathy Coleman

    Remembering Scioto County Commissioner Cathy Coleman

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    🏥 Scioto County Approves Hospital Tax to Keep Medicaid Dollars Local 

    No Kings

    Scioto Dems Snort at “Well-Funded” No Kings Protest Claim

    Cathy Coleman

    Cathy Coleman Still Fighting: Family Shuts Down Hospice Rumors, Says Recovery Still Underway

    County May Tap Opioid Settlement Funds to Finish MARCS Tower Project 

    Cathy Coleman

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

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘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 

    Cathy Coleman

    ‘A Sign of Hope’: Commissioner Cathy Coleman Shows Small Improvements Amid Ongoing Critical Condition 

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

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    Staggering 236 Recovery Houses in Area — and the Fight for Reform Faces Pushback 

  • Feel Good
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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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    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 

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    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

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    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

    The Best Freshwater Fish To Catch This Summer

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    Lost Kid Calls Cops for Help 

  • Obituaries
    Ricky Edwin Johnson

    Ricky Edwin Johnson 72 of Portsmouth

    Alana Dustianna Meshelle Greene

    Alana Dustianna Meshelle Greene, 32 of Portsmouth

    Estel C. Harr, 68 of Portsmouth

    James L. Slone, 86, of South Webster

    James L. Slone, 86 of South Webster

    Gary Lee Meade,70 of West Portsmouth

    Lilly Ann Elliott

    Lilly Ann Elliott, 53 of Portsmouth

    James D. Hannah

    James D. Hannah, 60 of Greenup

    obit-infant-small

    Bristol Rafalowski, 3, of Wheelersburg

    Walter Logan

    Walter Logan 56 of Portsmouth

    Paul H. Parker

    Paul H. Parker 85 of Portsmouth

    Ralph Burton Speck

    Ralph Burton Speck, 90 of West Portsmouth

    Barbara Williams

    Betty Lou Little Mullins, 91 of Franklin Furnace

    Shirley Ann Wheeler

    Shirley Ann Wheeler, 88, of Minford

    Betty Lou Ratliff

    Betty Lou Ratliff, 82 of South Shore

    Katherine Kay Bates

    Katherine Kay Bates, 76, formerly of Sciotoville

    Carl D. Cook

    Carl D. “Pork” Cook, 64 of South Webster

    Rachele Lynne McLaughlin, 44 of Minford

    Carol Lorraine Schmid

    Carol Lorraine (Meenach) Schmid 88 of Wheelersburg

    Darrell Kevin Lore

    Darrell Kevin Lore, age 69 of Portsmouth

    Helen Waughtel

    Helen F. Waughtel, 84 of Portsmouth

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Why Missing Teen Runaways in Scioto County Are in Real Danger 

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
3 months ago
in Public Safety
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There’s been a lot of conversation on the Scioto County Daily News Facebook page lately about the number of missing teens. Some people are asking, “What’s the big deal?” or saying, “They’re probably just runaways, not really missing.” But here’s the truth: when a teenager runs away in southern Ohio—especially in Scioto County—they are at serious risk, and it’s not something we should brush off.  

Just Because They’re Teenagers Doesn’t Mean They’re Safe 

Some folks think, “Well, they’re 15 or 16—not little kids.” But that doesn’t mean they’re safe. In fact, older teens are often more heavily targeted by predators—especially human traffickers. These criminals know that teens who run away, especially those without a stable home or family support, are easier to lure in.  

In Scioto County, we sit at the crossroads of major highways like U.S. 23 and U.S. 52. That makes it a prime location for traffickers to travel through—and to pick up vulnerable youth. Some teens are groomed and convinced they’ve met a friend or someone who cares, when really they’re being set up for exploitation. This happens fast. The first 48 hours after a teen disappears are critical.  

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Group Homes Are Part of the Story 

It’s no secret that Scioto County has several group homes and foster placements for youth. A lot of the missing teens reported here are from those facilities. These kids may run away for different reasons—they could be trying to get back to family, escaping a bad situation, or just looking for independence. But once they’re gone, they often don’t have a safe place to go. And without support, they’re at the mercy of people who might want to take advantage of them.  

Ohio has been struggling with an overwhelmed foster care system, and group homes in counties like ours are dealing with high turnover, limited staff, and not enough mental health support. These issues make it harder to keep kids safe—and easier for them to slip through the cracks.  

Scioto County Has a Track Record 

This isn’t just hypothetical. Law enforcement and advocacy groups in Scioto County have confirmed that missing teens from our area have been found in other states, caught up in trafficking situations. In some cases, they’re moved across state lines within days of going missing. That’s not exaggeration—it’s what’s actually happening. 

Sheriff’s departments, juvenile officers, and child protective services in southern Ohio are working hard—but they’re also overwhelmed. What they need is public support, not skepticism.  

Let’s Take It Seriously 

Saying “it’s just another runaway” is dangerous thinking. Every child who disappears deserves our full attention—whether they’re 5, 15, or 17. They are someone’s son, daughter, sibling, or friend. Dismissing their case could mean missing the chance to get them help before it’s too late.  

If you see a missing teen posted on a local page, don’t scroll past. Share it. Say a prayer. Keep your eyes open. And above all—take it seriously. One share could bring a child home. 

Tags: differentFacebookFamilyFeaturedHealthLawMental HealthmissingNewsletterOhioScioto CountySheriffSouthern OhioTravel
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