SOMC: DEATH TRAP FOR PATIENTS WHILE CEO GETS RICH!

Figures released this past week indicate that Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) is one of the worst hospitals to be taken to if you are suffering a heart attack. SOMC is ranked as one the worst hospitals in the nation from the period of July 2005 through June 2006. SOMC Chief Operating Officer Randy Arnett says this information is not accurate because the information submitted is from the United States Medicare/Medicaid Programs. Well the information is from the months indicated so it is information from cases within the last twenty four months and that is pretty good for government work.

Remember this is just for heart attack patients. The big problem is the rest of the patients. How many people have had family members taken to SOMC only to be told the patient was transferred to another hospital out of the area for "better treatment"? This is the norm for any patient that has serious medical needs. SOMC doesn't have competent doctors to handle tough cases.

Many of our qualified doctors have left the area claiming that SOMC is not willing to pay a competitive salary because SOMC CEO Randy Arnett is willing to pay less money to foreign doctors willing to come to Portsmouth for lower salaries. This has a direct impact on patient care. Patients are being treated by low paid doctors who may not be able to find work in other hospitals across the nation.

While CEO Randy Arnett is unwilling to pay high wages for quality doctors he seems to be doing quite well for his personal bank account. The salary ranges for hospital CEO's in the State of Ohio was a low of $105,542 through a high of $2.14 million. (This includes salary and benefits.) The average salary for all CEO's was $474,167.00. SOMC CEO Randy Arnett was paid $513,220 as of June 2005 with a whopping 28.1% increase in his pay.

Can anyone tell me where a CEO who has their hospital ranked in the bottom of the country in medical care for patients receiving a 28.1% pay increase?? What's wrong with this picture??

SOMC is a major player in the Southern Ohio Growth Partnership Gang (SOGP)! These two organizations work hand in hand putting their people to work in high salary jobs while floating millions of dollars in tax moneys through their organizations. This is white collar crime at its best!

The best thing to happen for patients is the arrival of Kings Daughter Hospital to the area. Maybe this hospital will put patient care first and CEO Randy Arnett and SOMC can fold up shop! Maybe Kings Daughter Hospital will higher qualified American doctors to take care of the patients and forbid the highering of foreign nationals just looking for American paychecks with no regard for the patients actual health care.

The report speaks for itself. SOMC stinks! The following was written in an article for USA Today!

"A look at how medical centers across the USA rate

These hospitals made the government's roster of the best and worst in America, as measured by patients' heart-attack and heart-failure death rates in 2005 and 2006. Hospitals that were worse than the national average for patient heart-attack mortality:

• Sparks Regional Medical Center, Fort Smith, Ark.
• Yuma Regional Medical Center, Yuma, Ariz.
• Kingman Regional Medical Center, Kingman, Ariz.
• SVCMC-Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn-Queens, New York City
• Southern Ohio Medical Center, Portsmouth, Ohio
• Christus St. Michael Health System, Texarkana, Texas
• Danville Regional Medical Center, Danville, Va.

SOMC is the only hospital in Ohio performing so poorly in heart attack and heart failure results – the most common cause of death."

Do you feel safe taking your family member to SOMC now?????

John Welton (DD)

FORMER NEW BOSTON POLICEMAN MATT POWELL MAY HAVE GOOD CASE FOR NEW TRIAL!

The Ohio Supreme Court has received the merit brief for a new trial filed by former New Boston Police Sgt. Matt Powell requesting a new trial from his conviction for tampering with evidence a couple of years ago. The reasons cited in the Powell brief include: 1. The judge assigned to the case should not have been allowed to preside in the trial because he was a retired judge still practicing law in the State of Ohio. 2. The judge was to old to be the judge when the case took place. The judge that heard Powell's case is Judge Richard Markus, retired. (Picture above.)

According to new law established within the last couple of years by the Ohio Supreme Court a retired judge can not hear a jury trial if he is retired and continues to practice law or acts as a retired judge in civil cases as a judge or mediator. Retired judges still in the practice of law can not preside over jury trials such as Powell's case.

Judge Richard Markus's resume states as follows:

PRESENT POSITIONS:
Retired Ohio Common Pleas and Court of Appeals Judge Recalled to Service (recently serving as visiting judge in 30 Ohio counties)
President, Private Judicial Services, Inc. (mediation, arbitration, and private judging)

With this information Sgt. Powell has an excellent chance of getting his conviction overturned.

I'm not a big supporter of age discrimination but the Ohio State Constitution states that a judge can not preside over trials after he/she reaches the age of 70. At the time Powell was tried Judge Markus was almost 80 years old. I sat through most of the Powell trial and Judge Markus did a pretty good job but I'm still baffled as to why he refused to allow Powell's attorney Jim Banks to call Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner to the witness stand. Chief Horner started the Powell investigation but was never put under oath to find out why?

I believe Chief Horner fought to stay off the witness chair to prevent from having to testify that Powell was investigating Horner's son, David, for drug dealing in New Boston. With the possibility of a new trial on the horizon, we may still get to see Horner testify. Chief Horner's son was convicted of drug abuse a few years ago. We printed that information in many stories before and Chief Horner went ballistic when I got his sons sealed records and published them for the public to see. Chief Horner laughed at me in the early 2000's saying I may know his son had a dope conviction but I could never prove it. Boy, was that a big mistake, challenging me to find that information. Chief Horner falsely accused many people of leaking the information to me including Attorney Joe Hale and the Portsmouth Municipal Court Clerk Leroy Kegley. As in most Chief Horner investigations, he was wrong!

You can read the Powell brief at the following link:

http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/clerk_of_court/ecms/default.asp When you go to this link simply go to party name, type in Powell, Matt, and then scroll to the last ADOBE view link to read the brief.

I will bring you more on this story as it unfolds.

John Welton (DD)

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL FINDS SOLUTION FOR MARTINGS BUILDING! MARTINGS NAME TO GO BACK UP IN LIGHTS!

It appears that the Portsmouth City Council and Martings Foundation may have come up with a win/win solution to the Martings debacle if rumors are correct! The solution was so easy and I can't believe nobody thought of this sooner. The taxpayers were screwed out of $2,000,000 of illegally obtained money by Portsmouth City Auditor Trent Williams and this solution gets the money back to the taxpayers using the "screwing mentality." The answer to this headache is to build a "MARTINGS BROTHEL" !

It is my understanding that plans are in the works that will result in usage of all three floors of the old Martings Building. The first floor will be a bar and casino. The second floor will be rooms for hooker services. The third floor will be for the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics. Now don't worry, City Council will be passing new city ordinances legalizing all of this activity under the home rule charter so the taxpayers will reap the benefit of millions of dollars in sales and tax revenue generated by this new business that will revitalize the Portsmouth Downtown area.

Just think about it. This solution will get the hookers off the street, the drug dealers and abusers all confined to one small area of the city, and generate enough money to repay the property owners their stolen tax money. Since this business venture shall be considered a retail business, the Martings Foundation will be legally forced to give back the $1.4 million dollars that was stolen from the taxpayers. See, it is a win/win for everyone. But, it gets better!

Security will be provided free of charge. The Portsmouth Police Chief and Scioto County Sheriff will simply post officers/deputies at the building since all the criminal activity that now operates around the county and city will be confined to this one building.

First Ward City Councilman says he loves "pussy" so he can be in charge of marketing for the Martings Brothel. He claims he knows most of the hookers in town anyway so he can now get them off the street and I'm sure his buddy named Lester would be willing to provide limo service for the high rollers who will be coming to Portsmouth to visit his female employees. The hookers will be paid a nice wage but also pay city income tax, another revenue source for the city coffers. I'm also confident the First Ward Councilman's insurance buddy would be willing to provide health care to the hookers that have been servicing him for many years! Maybe we can get a city discount on their health care plan if he gets some freebies at the brothel!!

Sixth Ward City Councilman can provide the musical services for the building. I'm sure he will do this free of charge so he can get some free publicity for his private business. Plus his church should love the donation to help the city.

Second Ward City Councilman would surely provide religious help for those people that believe their prayers were not answered when the spinning wheels on the one armed bandits comes up with something other than those three 7's!!

Our friend from Westerville, Ohio, Lookdeeper, aka Gary Daniels, I'm sure would be willing to use his knowledge of computer networking and webhosting to set up the Martings Brothel Website! Finally, something to give this guy that might just shut him up! Many people believe he's a sexual pervert anyway, so why not let him take pictures of the city hookers!

I'm postive that the guy that lives on Front Street and operates a local internet forum would be more than willing to use his drug expertise to run the third floor drug operation in the brothel. This man is connected with all the local, state, and possibly national drug dealers and we all know his connections with local druggies, so lets put that knowledge to work. He can get himself off of that illegal SSI and earn a real honest living doing what he does best! Selling dope! See, unemployment drops again! I'm sure with his knowledge of the dope business, Portsmouth will only be selling the high grade stuff! Right Moezie!!

The city can put in a courtroom in the building and any crimes that goes on in the brothel can be handled right on the spot. I'm sure there will be some judges visiting the brothel at least a few nights a week! Remember, it is the judges that keep putting the hookers and drug dealers back out on the streets so why not let the judges keep an eye on them inside the brothel! Again, it cuts back on the number of people in our county jail and eliminates most of the cases in our courtrooms right now!

This is definately a win/win for everyone. The Martings Foundation should be pleased with this solution. They get their wish, a retail business in the old Martings Building but what they should be most proud of is the spin-off this will have on the City of Portsmouth. No longer will travelers have to see prostitutes on our street corners. No longer will drug dealers be on the street corners. Unemployment will drop dramatically. Revenues generated at the Martings Brothel will fill up the city coffers until money is running over and City Council won't know what to do with all that money! Citizens might even give them a pay raise!

So, what do you think people? Do you agree? Shouldn't the taxpayers get involved in the screwing process? At least we might get a kiss on the cheek this time! Remember to thank the people in the picture above. They are the ones that made it possible for the Martings Brothel to come to Portsmouth. I'm glad we found out that their specialty was "screwing the public". So next time you see them, give them a big THANK YOU!

John Welton (DD)

BACKGROUNDS OF LOCAL POLITICIANS SHOWS WHY SCIOTO COUNTY AND PORTSMOUTH ARE FAILING ECONOMICALLY!!

Uncle Sam made a visit to Portsmouth, Ohio the other day and what he saw made him feel ill. He was so upset he couldn't give us his familiar "I want you!" He was so distraught at what he saw in our local community he had to sit down in a chair.

Uncle Sam asked why Scioto County and Portsmouth are failing economically? He stated he provided us with have four lane highways, the railroad, and the Ohio River yet the area can't attract any type of national business to come to the area to employee the residents in this region. All Uncle Sam kept saying was, why?

My response to Uncle Sam was simple. Look at the people the voters elected or the people that have been appointed to elected office and checkout their backgrounds. There is the problem!

Former Mayor Greg Bauer bankrupt his personal business. Bauer climbed in bed with a well known gangster from New Jersey named Rocco Castollano. Rocco was going to be the savior of the city until he got nailed with a DUI by an honest highway patrolwoman. Then he got angry and went back down the river to sulk.

The current Mayor of Portsmouth, Jim Kalb, was arrested for marijuana and has approximately 15 traffic citations after the age of 18. His rise to the highest elected office in Portsmouth comes at the peak of his personal career, making it to a department manager/cashier at our local Krogers!

The sitting Portsmouth City Council President bankrupt his personal business. With this excellent background in business he was the perfect man to put in charge of the city budget. Look what he gave us! A delapidated department building that sits vacant, all for the low price of $2,000,000 tax dollars. Now that's a deal!

The Portsmouth Sixth Ward Councilman and one of the Scioto County Commissioners are both accused of having children out of wed lock. Both men sit silent without denying the allegations and both of these men claim that God is on their side and are outraged that their families have to read such things about them on the internet.

Let me not forget Portsmouth Second Ward City Councilman and local preacher in our discussion. While he seems to like the companionship of local blonde haired ladies, he really hasn't held any labor intensive job. He claims to be a God fearing man yet he sits at City Council Meetings passing illegal ordiances at the behest of his gangster friends and allies.

The Chief of Police of Portsmouth says he is fighting the drug problem in Portsmouth yet his own son was arrested and convicted of being a drug abuser. While the citizens of Portsmouth pay for 44 cops, the same number we had when the town had over 30,000 citizens, the crime rate in the city has skyrocketed under the current Chief's administration. The Chief takes pain killers for his back (a statement direct from the Chief) and I've always wondered why he drives while taking such narcotics?

The Scioto County Sheriff is a convicted criminal. He is actually in office illegally due to the fact that one of his same political party judges illegally sealed up his criminal records through the use of the expungement process to make the Sheriff legal to run for office. The Sheriff allowed his deputy to have sex with a female inmate, and then allowed a special female deputy to wreck his private car without having a drivers license. The Sheriff also works deals out with judges to cover up crimes for his officers, remember Hughie??? Hughie Blair was being chased for criminal charges by former Scioto County Judge Walter Lytten until the Sheriff gave a deputy badge to Lytten's special drug bailiff, Mark Darby! Now, that's what we need for a law enforcement leader isn't it.

A couple years ago, on two different occasions, we delivered documentation and audio recordings of felony criminal activity of Ohio Highway Patrol Post 23 Commander Robert Woodford. Commander Woodford hid a car being driven by his girlfriend behind the OHP office building on Rt. 23 to prevent the woman's husband from getting access to it. The car was reported stolen yet Woodford kept the car hid on a public parking lot and dared the husband of his girlfriend to try to get the car. Woodford is very well known for having sexual affairs with married women in the area! Just ask the man who Woodford helped hide the stolen car! Woodford also admitted under oath and on audio tape to fixing tickets for his friends in the local area. A female OHP officer testified against Woodford that she was forced to give him all copies of tickets for his friend that had been cited for speeding. Woodford destroyed the ticket and it never went to court. With our documented proof Sheriff Donini did the right thing! He hired Woodford as a Captain for the Scioto County Sheriff Office! What else could he do? Woodford met the highest qualification to be a law enforcement officer in this area; his willingness to commit felonies! Remember, Donini is a convicted criminal, so who better to serve him than fellow cons!!!!

A Muncipal Court Judge loves his alcohol. He loves it so much that Portsmouth City Cops provide cab service for him when he gets drunk at local bars. But that pales when compared to some of our other judges who were heavy drug users in their early adult life.

Then we have a City Auditor that pays bills without having documentation to back up why he is paying the bills. A Sentinel reporter has repeatedly asked for actual gasoline payment backup which is not kept in the auditors office. The auditor can not tell you why he pays a bill other than to say the department head said pay it. That's why he sent a check for a couple million to a local attorney to pay a contract debt which didn't involve the attorney. Now that's good accounting, right?? I don't think so! But then again, they say he is pretty good with video games there in his office!

Now with these type of individuals running the City of Portsmouth and Scioto County why do you think the area is in economic depression??? Could it be that these individuals might not be qualified to do their jobs???

Uncle Sam picked up his hat and said as he walked out the door, "You get what you vote in! So, Don't blame Uncle Sam!"

John Welton (DD)

PRODUCERS OF FOX NEWS OREILLY FACTOR INTERESTED IN POSSIBLE RELEASE OF RAPIST JOHN MICHAEL SCHMIDT!!

On June 11, 2007 I sent an email to the Fox News Show, The O'Reilly Factor, informing them that we have a situation brewing in Scioto County Common Pleas Court concerning the possible release of a convicted child rapist. The O'Reilly Factor host, Bill O'Reilly has been doing stories on judges in Ohio and other states that have been "soft" of sentencing rapists, including releasing men/women imprisoned for rape, yet released before completing their entire sentence.

When I saw this network was doing these stories I forwarded them information about the former Wheelersburg Football Coach/Teacher, who raped his own daughter. The case involves John Michael Schmidt. Schmidt was sentenced to serve 7 years for raping his daughter at least twice but sources claim it was over 100 times. Individuals that claim to have been on the Scioto County Grand Jury have stated that a diary was kept with each incident, so Schmidt was given a "slap on the wrist" based on this information.

Bill O'Reilly has done numerous stories on judges that have been soft on rape and his producers are watching this case in Scioto County Common Pleas Court with high interest. Why would a judge release a former educator back into society before doing his entire sentence? Was there some type of secret deal worked out with Judge Howard Harcha III and Schmidt's attorney, Mike Mearan for Schmidt to do his first 3 year sentence and be let free on his second sentence? Only time will tell.

If not for the Shawnee Sentinel, Schmidt would have been released on probation and done no prison time. Attorney Mearan was angered and outraged that his client was going to prison because we published the truth. People in the courtroom the day Mearan exploded emailed the O'Reilley Factor producers to back our story.

Maybe if we can get some national news media attention on these judges who work out secret deals behind closed doors instead of coming out in the public domain for citizens to watch, just maybe our justice system can change for the better. And maybe these judges will be held accountable for their dirty deals.

More on this story when Judge Harcha III makes his ruling whether or not to release this sexual pedophile on the public!

John Welton (DD)

FIRST WARD PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCILMAN PUSHES $10 MILLION DOLLAR CITY BUILDING WHILE HE HAS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PERSONAL TAX LIENS ON HIS PROPERTY!

First Ward Portsmouth City Councilman Mike Mearan is pushing a $10 million dollar new city building down the throats of the citizens of Portsmouth for his personal client, yet Councilman Mearan currently has thousands of dollars of personal tax liens on his own property. Why should the people of Portsmouth, Ohio take the advice of this man who refuses to pay his personal state taxes and forces the State of Ohio to put liens on his personal property?

Here are court cases filed against Councilman Mearan and if you scroll down to the bottom of the page you will see the amount of tax lien on the property in question owed by Councilman Mearan: (You need to type in the case number after clicking on the "quick index" link.)

http://www.sciotocountycpcourt.org/

92TA000094

92TA000365

93TA000187

97TA000105

97TA000106

According to the case files above these are active tax liens on property owned by Councilman Mearan. The taxes are still owed and have not been paid based on these public records maintained in the Scioto County Common Pleas Court Clerk Office.

The State of Ohio even tried to garnish money from a bank account of Councilman Mearan to satisfy one judgment but the bank account had been closed. Here is the link where the State of Ohio tried to get money from an account at JP Morgan Chase Bank where they believed Councilman Mearan had money.

http://www.sciotocountycpcourt.org/

97TA000267

Shouldn't the people of Portsmouth, Ohio be aware of the personal financial matters of their City Councilmen that are trying to push millions of dollars in tax debt on them? If a Councilman refuses to pay his personal debts, or have insurance to cover his debts if he for some reason can't afford to pay his debts, is this type of individual in a position to make financial decisions for taxpayers? I don't think so.

It is an embarassment to find such debt owed by a public official. Councilman Mearan proudly announces at Portsmouth City Council Meetings that he is giving money to help assist kids get into the city pool this year while he leaves his debtors high and dry with their debt.

I have sent an email to the State of Ohio Department of Taxation with copies of the Portsmouth Daily Times article where Councilman Mearan announced his decision to give the kids this money so the State of Ohio can possibly start garnishment on Councilman Mearan's state owed debt for back taxes.

I would be worried allowing such a man to have control of my taxes! Maybe this issue should be addressed by Councilman Mearan at the upcoming Portsmouth City Council Meeting. I wonder if this is why Councilman Mearan is trying to force an elderly woman from her property in Wheelersburg? Who else does Councilman Mearan owe money too?? Maybe some local thugs???

More on this story when I hear back from the State of Ohio Department of Taxation.

John Welton (DD)

CORRUPTION IN NORTH CAROLINA COURT IS MINOR COMPARED TO CORRUPTION IN SCIOTO COUNTY OHIO COURTS!

Over the weekend the people of Raleigh, North Carolina saw justice work as it is suppose to work under their state and federal constitutions. A rogue prosecutor named Mike Nifong was disbarred for corruption within the Duke Lacrosse case. In hearings that lasted for almost a week, the North Carolina Bar found that Nifong committed approximately 17 ethical and legal violations of the North Carolina Code of Professional Conduct. For his actions Nifong was disbarred.

Most people have heard about the three college students at Duke University that were falsely accused by Prosecutor Nifong of raping a young African American woman. The three students begged this prosecutor to allow them to come in and show him evidence that would prove their innocence but the prosecutor refused to allow them to come show him what they had. The North Carolina Bar Association decided that Prosecutor Nifong did what he did to ensure that he "received the black vote in the May 2006 election for Raleigh district attorney."

This prosecutor, Mike Nifong, destroyed the lives of these three men and almost cost them their lives. The new Black Panthers came to Raleigh North Carolina to kill these men. Wanted posters were put up on these men to destroy their reputations. It kind of reminds me of what happened to three Portsmouth City Councilmen back in the early 1980's in Portsmouth, Ohio.

The big difference in these two cases was that a free press began to investigate the district attorney's action in North Carolina. In Portsmouth, Ohio there was no such free press to do such investigation in the 1980's. The press in Portsmouth was sold out to a gang of thugs who were party to the destruction of the councilmen.

The judge in the Duke Lacrosse case asked the North Carolina Bar to get involved in the case. Have you ever heard of something like that happening in Portsmouth, Ohio? It never has! In fact, the judges in Portsmouth and Scioto County courts have established an illegal rule to prevent anyone from seeking justice outside an illegal scheme they set up to stifle justice in this region of the country. This is called Rule 28. This rule demands that all residents take their problems to the City Prosecutor, and only the City Prosecutor, for a legal decision. Judges have removed themselves from access to the people of Portsmouth and Scioto County.

The reason for this illegal rule is that judges, prosecutors, and local attorneys all three work hand in hand to thwart justice in Portsmouth and Scioto County. No judge, prosecutor, or attorney, with the exception of Joe Hale has ever made an attempt to get outside agencies to come in and investigate such corruption in our local courts. Attorney Hale is now an Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor yet even he with his new found power continues to let corruption flow through the courts. (This is sad because I have the documents Attorney Hale sent to the United States Attorney, Ohio Attorney General, and Ohio Inspector General asking for help in uncovering corruption in Scioto County courts.)

The reason Scioto County and Portsmouth, Ohio remains in economic ruins is due in part to the fact we have corrupt judges, prosecutors, and lawyers. Men have become wealthy by selling out their official offices. One case I'm aware of involves a now deceased judge that took $10,000 to let out a rapist after 6 months in prison. The inmate stated to guards and fellow inmates that his father and attorney had been told by the judge if he received $10,000 cash that the inmate, a Donnie Tomlison, would be released from prison after serving about 6 months. Go check the court records. This man was released as he said he would be.

Look at the Adrian Rawlins case. Attorney Mike Mearan got a local judge to release his client by snookering the judge by claiming that the trial court judge didn't give a lighter sentence option to the jury when at time of the first trial, Attorney Mearan didn't want the lesser charge. If not for the State Attorney General stepping in and getting this decision overturned, Rawlins would be a free man today. Many cases involving Attorney Mike Mearan smell like rotten fish.

Attorney Mearan had a plea deal all worked out for rapist Mike Schmidt. Mearan worked secretly with Judge Howard Harcha III and had a 7:30 a.m. court time scheduled to bring in this rapist and let him go home on probation. This would have happened until the Sentinel found out about this secret deal and reported it to the public.

This is why it is so important for internet websites to rise up in Portsmouth and Scioto County. the local paper, the Portsmouth Daily Times is part of the corruption. They refuse to print the corrupt acts in our courts. Without the internet sites the public will never rise up in revolt. Over the last few years we have made improvements in getting facts out to the public but we still have lots of work to do.

We need a full investigation on our local courts. Until we end the corruption in those buildings we will never see prosperity again. Thank God for the falsely accused men at Duke. They were lucky. Their state got involved. Now it's time for the State of Ohio to start digging in Portsmouth and Scioto County Ohio. The dirt in these courts makes the Duke case look like a minor error in comparison. That is so sad for all of us.

John Welton (DD)

WHO HAS DONE MORE FOR SCIOTO COUNTY: TED STRICKLAND VS. VERN RIFFE

In just six months in office as Governor of the State of Ohio Scioto County has seen two companies preparing to move in and open or reopen shops in Portsmouth. The first company is Norfolk Southern Railroad bringing back the car repair shop that left many years ago. The second is a new electric company preparing a new building on the old Harbison Walker brickyard on Eight Street.

In the decades that Vern Riffe was the Ohio House Speaker, how many jobs did he bring to Scioto County? I can't think of nothing really big like Governor Strickland has done. With the exception of creating Shawnee State University to put up buildings as his personal legacy what did Vern Riffe do for the community? Even the floodwall mural shows Riffe with his personal legacy, Shawnee State University. Riffe should be shown as the man that did nothing to save our industrial base. Look at all the pictures on the floodwall that left the area under Riffe's watch at the helm in Columbus. It's not a pretty legacy to leave behind. He was really a disgrace for the entire community. I wonder why the floodwall mural doesn't say "convicted criminal, resigned in disgrace!"

Some may say that its because Strickland is the governor and he has more power. That is not true. The real power is with the Ohio House Speaker. No bill moves without the Speaker of the House giving it his blessing. So why did Riffe neglect his hometown area? It appears he did it to line his personal pocket.

Remember Riffe was one of the gang that was caught making deals that put illegal finances in his war chest. Riffe was indicted and pled out his case and then resigned in disgrace. Governor Strickland has had a reputation of working for the people and not for his personal glory. That's a big difference. Governor Strickland has not let power go to his head. Strickland has remembered his roots and openly embraced the impoverished few that still remain in the area.

Close to 200 jobs coming to the local area in the new governors first six months in office. So I believe it is obvious who cares more for the area: Governor Ted Strickland.

When you get a chance, send a note, email, letter or some form of communication to our new governor and say thank you. He deserves the support of the people! He truly is one of the people!!!! I think the Vern Riffe Country signs welcoming people to this area should be removed and replaced with Strickland Country. Remember, Riffe is a convicted criminal. We get bashed because of our criminal records even though we are just pointing out corruption in the area.

It is hypocritical to leave the Vern Riffe Country up knowing the welcome sign is from a well known convicted criminal. Then again, Portsmouth and Scioto County are controlled by unindicted felons so maybe the Riffe sign is appropriate.

John Welton (DD)

FORMER NEW BOSTON POLICE SGT. MATT POWELL SEEKS REVERSAL OF CONVICTION AT SUPREME COURT! Chief Horner may testify after all!

Will the citizens of Scioto County finally get to hear Portsmouth Police Chief under oath in the Matt Powell case? If the Ohio Supreme Court throws out the Powell conviction, we might get that day, the day when Chief Horner is forced to tell his reasons why he went after Powell back in 2003 and 2004.

Former New Boston Police Sgt. Matt Powell is seeking to have his criminal conviction for tampering with evidence thrown out at the Ohio Supreme Court. In motions filed within the last month, Sgt. Powell's attorney, James Banks, of Dublin, Ohio claims that the judge that was sent in to hear the case was without standing to hold a jury trial in the State of Ohio.

According to Attorney Banks, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that a "private judge" can not be sent in to do jury trials. The judge that the Ohio Supreme Court sent in to preside over the State of Ohio vs. Matt Powell was Judge Richard Markus, a retired judge. Does this make Judge Markus a "private judge" as defined by the Ohio Supreme Court? It sounds like it does to me.

In rulings passed down by the Ohio Supreme Court in the last few months the Supreme Court Justices stated that private judges can only preside over "bench trials" which means their is no jury present to hear a case. The judge is the decision maker in the case. This case could set precedence in state law if the Powell case is reversed.

Powell was convicted of tampering with evidence. The Powell case originated because of a feud started by Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner. Chief Horner was upset with Powell because Powell and officers of the Portsmouth Police Department chased a suspect into Kentucky and then returned the man to Ohio without proper extradition papers from Kentucky.

Chief Horner became annal retentive against Sgt. Powell and started a secret investigation against Powell, his girlfriend Teresa Blankenship, and their friend, Attorney Eric Wrage. Chief Horner issued secret memos ordering that any of his officers that had any contact with Powell to write a memo and send it to Horner.

Chief Horner fought to stay off the witness stand during Powell's first trial. I believe this was judicial error. Chief Horner caused the investigation and then hid like a coward refusing to testify, fighting at every turn to not get on the stand. I believe the big reason Chief Horner didn't want to testify was because he would have had to admit under oath that his son was a drug abuser/dealer in Scioto County area. Sgt. Powell claims he was investigating the actions of Chief Horner's son at the time he was put under investigation by Horner up to and including the day Powell was arrested.

It is unclear when the Ohio Supreme Court will decide the case. If you want to monitor the filings in the appeal click on the following link and scroll down to the pleadings. If a document has been scanned in you can open it up and read it.

http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/clerk_of_court/ecms/resultsbycasenumber.asp?type=3&year=2007&number=0851&myPage=searchbypartyname.asp

More on this story later.

John Welton (DD)

WOMAN WANTS OUR HELP TO SMEAR LOCAL POLITICIAN! SEEMS THIS WOMAN LIKES SLEEPING AROUND THEN CAUSING TROUBLE!

I have received emails and telephone calls from a woman named Olivia Kelly (picture above)seeking my help and the help of others to smear/expose a local politician that she claims she had a baby with. This individual allegedly is a Scioto County Commissioner who Olivia claims she has had a romance with for quite some time. This woman seems to be, in my opinion, "weird", to put it mildly. Some of the phone calls from this woman to me have stated, "I need your help finding someone but I can't tell you who the person is." Then within a couple of minutes I get an angry return call claiming I'm ignoring her because she somehow learned I'm friends with the politician she claims fathered her child. I have saved the phone call messages and emails she sent me so she can not state that she did not contact me asking me for help. This woman has also been writing on local internet forums about her trist with this local politician.

Now I find on the internet another story about Olivia Kelly. This story states that she has another child out of wedlock and that she and that son have filed a case for her son to have visitation with his father's other children. What strikes me with this new story is how this woman claims that she wants to "keep her kids out of the public eye." Her public action makes me doubt her private statements. For those of you that have had contact with this woman in the past, I wonder if you knew this was going on in a county up north? Here is that story for you to read:

Teen suing father for visitation rights Friday, May 5, 2006 BY Shane Hoover REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER
BOB ROSSITER


Mark Brigham and his mother, Olivia Kelly, show pictures of Mark with his half sisters. The Washington Township teen is suing his father in Columbiana County for visitation rights with the girls.


WASHINGTON TWP. - Mark Brigham wants to see his half sisters, so the 14-year-old Washington Township boy is taking the bold step of taking his father to court in an attempt to make it happen. Brigham is a freshman at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He runs track and is hoping to play football next year.


What he wants most, he said, is to be able to visit his two half sisters who live in Minerva.
“I’m asking to see them on weekends and on holidays,” Brigham said. “Just normal brother-sister stuff. To be able to hang out together.”



Brigham was born after his father — who also is named Mark Brigham — had an affair with a woman, Olivia Kelly. The teen said he first learned he had three half sisters — one is an adult, the other two are teens — a few years ago. Kelly introduced him to one of the girls at a soccer game. “Mark could tell who his sisters were,” Kelly said, flipping through a photo album with pictures of her son with the girls. “They all look alike.”


For a while, Brigham had contact with his sisters, but that ended after a dispute between Kelly and the elder Mark Brigham over child support, Kelly said.
Brigham and the girls now keep in touch through meetings at high school sporting events and e-mail. If the girls’ parents find out, they get grounded, she said.


“I don’t understand why they can’t let these kids be together,” Kelly said.
The girls’ parents, Mark and Mary Brigham, could not be reached for comment. Messages were left at a phone listing for the couple. Both sides will meet before a Columbiana County judge next week in Lisbon for a hearing.


“I’ve never heard of a case like this,” the boy’s attorney, Thomas J. Tangi, said.
The attorney said he took the case because it presents a chance to expand the limits of the law, “and he’s a nice kid.” Dick W. Mount Jr., attorney for Mark and Mary Brigham, said the case brings up an interesting issue, but declined to comment further with the case pending.
Reach Repository writer Shane Hoover at (330) 580-8338 or e-mail: http://us.f379.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=shane.hoover@cantonrep.com

If the local politician is the father of this woman's second child then he should step up and take care of the baby. It's my understanding this woman was around the Scioto County Area right before the November 2006 elections. She claims that the elected official told her to stay quiet until after the election and that he would then take care of her. If this is true, the Commissioner should resign his office.

My question to Olivia is: What does she want from this married man?? What happened, if true, was wrong by both of them. Looking at what this woman is doing up north leads me to believe that this politician should step forward soon and explain this story. If not, I expect we will see this woman, her baby, and a story in the local press very soon. Seems she knows how to play the game! Especially the political game!

Just for the record: The Scioto County Commissioner is NOT Commissioner Mike Crabtree! (Thought I would ensure Crabtree's wife/family doesn't accuse him!) Oh well, as much as I hat to clear him, it's not Tom Reiser either.

So, can you figure it out now??? There's only 3 of them!

John Welton (DD)

FIRST WARD CITY COUNCILMAN MIKE MEARAN LIES TO PUBLIC! HIS CLIENT HAS VESTED INTEREST IN ADELPHIA BUILDING!

Why would First Ward Portsmouth City Councilman Mike Mearan tell a bold face lie to the citizens that attended the Portsmouth City Council Meeting last night, June 11, 2007? Councilman Mearan was questioned by a local citizen as to why he did not recuse from the vote on placing the new city building at the Adelphia site due to his representation of the man seeking a 10 year tax deduction on the property if it is used by the City of Portsmouth.

Councilman Mearan stated that "he" doesn't have an interest in the Adelphia building therefore he could vote on the matter. The problem with that statement is that he is the "agent" of the man that does own the property therefore he does have a vested interest in seeing that his "agent" is taken care of. So, First Ward Councilman Mearan is a liar! But we all knew that anyway didn't we.

Let's look at the entire background on the Adelphia building and I think you will see the truth behind Mike Mearan. First, Attorney Mike Mearan appeared at Portsmouth City Council offering the building to City Council for the fee of $1.00 with the one condition that the building be used for 10 years so his client could get a tax abatement/break/refund, etc. on the building.

The Adelphia building had been on the local market for sale for many years by local realtor Neal Hatcher but no buyers came forward to purchase the building. It appeared that City Council had no interest in the building either.

So, what happened next?

Second, the First Ward City Council Seat became vacant. Step into the picture, Attorney Mike Mearan. Mearan had not attended City Council Meetings (at least not more than once or twice in the times I had attended the meetings since 2003) but now he wants to become a City Councilman. Attorney Mearan is blessed by City Council President Howard Baughman and welcomed on board.

Third, First Ward Councilman Mearan actively persued being placed on the Portsmouth Building/Planning Committee. One of their first actions was to choose a site for the new City Building. The choice made was the Adelphia Building. Any big surprise? Not to me. The moment Councilman Mearan took his seat on City Council I could see the writing on the wall.

So, now Councilman Mearan, the agent of a Californian, has completed his job for his personal client. This decision is one of the dirtiest ever perpetuated on the citizens of Portsmouth but nothing appears to be happening to force Councilman Mearan to come clean with his true reason for pushing the Adelphia Building.

Councilman Mearan is known for getting behind closed doors and getting his way. Many court cases have been decided on Mearan's behalf by local judges only to be overturned as illegal by the 4th Court of Appeals.

Then again, what else could we expect when Attorney Mearan is willing to work one of his personal clients against the other to take away personal property of one to give to the other. That's exactly what Attorney Mearan did to a man and his mother in Wheelersburg. Mearan got his personal and former business partner to give a small loan (around $3,000 to another client of Mearan's) and forced the client to sign a note using his and his mother's home as collateral. The home is valued at around $50,000. When the young man and his mother couldn't come up with the money, Attorney Mearan moved in for the kill and took over the house.

With actions such as this why would it surprise anyone that Councilman Mearan would act unethically in the city building decision? It didn't surprise me one bit.

Maybe people should take notice. A guy picking his nose as much as Councilman Mearan isn't trustworthy. He has something to hide!

John Welton (DD)

FORMER SCIOTO COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY CHARGED WITH SEX CRIME GIVEN OKAY BY JUDGE TO GET EMT LICENSE! 4th Court of Appeals Says No-way!

A couple of years ago Scioto County Deputy Sheriff Billy J. Cantrell pled guilty to having sex with a female inmate at the Scioto County Jail. Deputy Cantrell claimed that the sex was consensual but after pressure was put on by local internet site owners, including the Sentinel and Dougdeepe, Deputy Cantrell was eventually charged with the crime of sexual imposition.

With this conviction Deputy Cantrell lost his job as a deputy sheriff but Sheriff Marti Donini paid this sex offender unemployment compensation. While serving his jail time Cantrell was observed in his jail jumpsuit sitting behind the desk of Sheriff Donini with his feet up on top of the desk. It appeared Cantrell was receiving special treatment inside the jail. Was this because Cantrell was not the only deputy having sex with female inmates? Or was he just the only one we have caught so far?

On May 26, 2000 Billy Cantrell filed a motion with the State of Ohio in an attempt to get his EMT license reinstated. Cantrell was a certified EMT when he was found guilty of the sex case and lost his license as an EMT.

In his application for his licensure as an EMT Cantrell stated that he had never been convicted of a crime that involved "moral turpitude". Cantrell was granted his EMT license back in 2000. Then on August 30, 2004, Cantrell was required to file an application for re certification for his state EMT license. On this renewal certification Cantrell admitted he had been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor which initiated an investigation by the Ohio State Board of Emergency Medical Services. The hearing officer ruled that Cantrell's sex conviction was a conviction involving "moral turpitude" and Cantrell's EMT license was revoked. The hearing officer tried to give Cantrell a 90 day suspension of his license but the full board revoked his license permanently.

On May 17, 2006 Cantrell went in to Scioto County Common Pleas Court seeking a reversal of the EMS Board decision. It is unclear at this point which judge handled the case. Unbelievably, the judge presiding over this case ruled that having sex with an inmate in custody did not reach the level of "moral turpitude" and ordered Cantrell to be reinstated as an EMT putting the public at risk with a sex offender possibly arriving on the scene of an emergency call.

The Ohio 4th District Court of Appeals disagreed with the judge. On January 5, 2007 the 4th District Court of Appeals issued an order reversing this crazy decision by one of the Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judges. The court of appeals justices cited that while Cantrell's sex with the woman may have been consensual, it put the Scioto County Sheriff and the judicial system in a bad public perception. The justices were not convinced that Cantrell didn't use his position as the jailer of the woman to get sex with her.

Why would local judges consider giving a license to such an individual as this former Scioto County Deputy? This man violated the public's trust as a law enforcement officer. Why would he be given another chance with the public trust? That should never have been an option. Did Cantrell have something on the judge that heard his case? Something smells in this case! Cantrell had free reign of the jail while incarcerated and then was being helped to obtain a high paying job! In fact, his criminal record is no longer in the judicial files. Did the judges expunge this record as was done with Sheriff Marti Donini's criminal record? Judge Harcha illegally sealed up Donini's criminal past to make Donini eligible to run for Scioto County Sheriff. It seems like the same thing is happening with Billy Cantrell. We will find out what judge sealed up Cantrell's record and publish it sometime next week.

More on this story later!

John Welton (DD)

WHY DID JUDGE HOWARD HARCHA III SEAL UP THE JANUARY HEARING FOR IMPRISONED MURDERER JOHN ADAM'S EVIDENTIARY HEARING? Is he hiding something?

Is Judge Howard Harcha III hiding information from the citizens of Portsmouth concerning the evidentiary hearing of convicted murderer John Martin Adams? Judge Harcha held an evidentiary hearing in January 2007 trying to see why his court reporter (I believe it is a woman named Connie Porter) can't seem to get the original trial transcript in order.

The 4th Court of Appeals ordered this evidentiary hearing and has threatened to give John Martin Adams a new trial if the trial record is not properly corrected. Adams was convicted of the murder of Portsmouth Community Development Director Bob Burns a couple years ago. Adam's attorney James Banks has been fighting for an appeal for his client but can not get a true and accurate transcript from Judge Harcha's court reporter. The court reporter normally sits in the courtroom and takes her information using shorthand. Many people that witness this in the courtroom complain that there is no way her hand can get all the information down with 2 or 3 or more people talking at one time.

Why would Judge Harcha III allow such an error to occur? Now why has he sealed up the transcript of the hearing in January 2007 to prevent the public from reviewing what went on in the hearing? What is Judge Harcha III hiding?

We will eventually get that record and report to you what we find. Until then Judge Harcha's courtroom should be scrutinized by anyone that enters the doors! Are fair trials being ran in that courtroom? Evidently, NOT!

John Welton (DD)

PORTSMOUTH PASTOR SCOTT RAWLINGS BLASTS LOCAL FELONS BUT SUPPORTS NATIONAL FELON IN HIS NEWSPAPER!

The other day I learned that Portsmouth Pastor Scott Rawlings was publishing a weekly newspaper in the Portsmouth area and that myself and other internet writers were the target of one of his stories. It seems that Pastor Rawlings had a problem with local felons such as myself, Lee Scott (now owner of the Columbia Music Hall), and Danny Baker leading the charge for change in the Portsmouth City Government. Pastor Rawlings (and I use the term Pastor with serious reservation) believes that it was our purpose to somehow take over the City of Portsmouth when in fact our goal was to simply bring out the facts as to why Portsmouth remains in the terrible financial condition because of some local mafiaosa type individuals.

Then I find out that under the article where Pastor Rawlings is attacking us, in his own newspaper, titled "Battle Strategies, How to Win The Culture War", authored by a man named Charles Colson. How many of you remember "Chuckie" Colson? If you forgot let me remind you. (A copy of his story is at the left of the screen.)

HE IS A CONVICTED FELON THAT HELPED PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON COVERUP THE CRIME CONCERNING WATERGATE!

Oh my, Pastor Rawlings newspaper supporting a convicted felon. Now how hypocritical is that? Or, is the fact that Chuckie Colson is a fellow "Republican", right wing moral majority believer, that gives him special favors of Pastor Scott Rawlings? Once again we have a so called pastor speaking out of both sides of his mouth. What Rawlings and his newspaper are all about is the continuation of the Right Wing Moral Majority Cause. Rawlings wants to become a force in that movement. The movement has some just causes but many of the leaders of that group are pure loony tunes! What better example of how crazy many of the leaders in that group are than to see Rawlings yapping about felons yet publishing stories by a national felon.

Look around Portsmouth. The SOGP gangsters are a mixture of both Democrats and Republicans. Both groups are stealing the citizens blind, not just one of the parties, both are doing it. They have joined forces to keep Portsmouth and Scioto County in a blight condition so they can control multi million dollars in federal grant money which ends up in their collective pockets. There really is a mafia group in the City of Portsmouth and its name is the Southern Ohio Growth Partnership. The majority of the loans are to members of the gang. They make you swear an oath of silence to keep membership business quiet. If that's not the MOB, then what is? Now we learn Scott Rawlings is a mouthpiece for the mob. What better cover than having a pastor in the pulpit doing your bidding? A fox in sheep's clothing, Scott Rawlings. Read his paper with this in mind and it comes into a clear picture. Rawlings is trying to pollute the public through his religious affiliation but in reality it is just another political plot.

It appears that Rawlings believes that it is okay to support a "national felon" who happens to find religion in prison. I'm not doubting Colson's claim to finding the Lord in prison. Many people inside the prison walls do find their way to Christ in prison. That's about the only rehabilitation that goes on inside the walls of most prisons inside this country. The problem is that just because a man claims he has found the Lord doesn't clean his slate from being a convicted felon. Chuckie Colson is still and will always remain a convicted felon.

Colson's crime involved helping the President of the United States Richard M. Nixon attempt to cover up the crimes of the Watergate breakin. Colson worked closely with the Watergate burglars such as G. Gordon Liddy and helped facilitate illegal cash payments to these men to keep them quiet. Colson was involved in a situation that went to the core values of this country. Colson obstructed the law at the highest levels of government which eventually led to the demise of a sitting U.S. President.

Rawlings seems to overlook these facts and helps publicize Colson's attempt to tell others how to win future battles. I find this amazing coming from a supposed man of God like Rawlings.

A felon is a felon, no matter what type of new wrapper you put around him. So where does Rawlings come off attacking us claiming that because we are prior felons that we don't have a right to expose corruption in the City of Portsmouth and Scioto County? Is Rawlings afraid that sometime the path of corruption may lead us to the doors of his church???? Usually those that come out and yap about us believe we are getting very close to uncovering something about them. I expect to start receiving more emails about Rawlings church and Rawlings the man once my readers see he is now on our radar screen.

Well, another hypocrite exposed. Does it really surprise you?

John Welton (DD)

IS LOCAL PASTOR YAPPING AT INTERNET SITES SURE HIS OWN CLOSET IS CLEAN??

I was just sent a story written by one of Portsmouth's local pastors complaining that local internet sites are the problem in Portsmouth. This local pastor claims that felons tried to take over the town. I found this a little funny considering many of the people involved in the Southern Ohio Partnership Group (SOGP gansters) attend this pastor's church. At least one Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge attends this church too.

I guess if you attend this man's church and donate a few bucks to the collection plate he overlooks his congregations transgressions to their fellow citizens.

Rawlings writes in his letter to the public that we felons tried to take over the city. When did any of us try to run for office? How does he justify his statement? It's a lie! Does that surprise anyone, a lie coming from a man of God? It shouldn't because in todays realm of religion most pastors lie everyday to try to persuade people to provide them the true God of religion, the almight dollar! Rawlings is no different! Is he afraid if the truth about the corruption in the City of Portsmouth comes out that the town may prosper again and other churches may come into the area that will challenge his religious domination? Why else would he interject himself into "politics"? The answer is simple.

Scott Rawlings is a telewannabe pastor. He fits the mold of Jimmy Swaggert and Jim Baker, two men that were brought down from corruption within. Many rumors that swirl around Rawlings brought down these other pastors. Right Scotty??

Pastors that don't have clean closets shouldn't be out casting stones at people trying to uncover corruption. I have received numerous emails about accusations concerning Pastor Rawlings that we are continuing to check out. If any of them turn out to be true, I think we need to send "the rest of the story" to Larry Flynt to possibly put on display as he did with Jerry Falwell.

The problem with pastors such as Rawlings is that they believe that because they cloak themselves behind the Bible that people will believe whatever they write. The truth is that many of these so called pastors are not called by God, but called by greed for their own pockets. For Rawlings to get on his high horse and complain that just because "felons" are pointing out that there is corruption in Portsmouth is comparable to Judas giving up Jesus to the Romans. In fact, may of Jesus's followers in the Bible would have been labeled "convicted felons" in today's legal system. So where does this so called man of God come off making allegations against people who served their time and are now exposing corruption to better the city? None of us put our stories behind religious cloaking but when Rawlings comes out cloaked as a man of God we must point out that he is simply doing the bidding of the devilish people he truly seeks the support of, the money scoundrels of the SOGP gang. Rawlings seems more like a fox in sheeps clothing.

Scott Rawlings needs to sit down and shut up. Stay in your pulpit and line your pockets with your true savior, the almighty dollar. You did the bidding of your buddies but it didn't work. Once we get our confirmation from the ladies that sent us emails, we will post the rest of our story!

John Welton (DD)

JUDGE HOWARD HARCHA III EXPECTED TO RELEASE RAPIST SCHOOL TEACHER MIKE SCHMIDT! Corruption Continues!!

I just received word this morning, Saturday June 2, 2007, that Scioto County Judge Howard Harcha III is set to release admitted sexual predator, John Michael Schmidt, from prison after serving only 3 years of a 7 year sentence for rape. Schmidt pled guilty in September 2003 on a bill of information to save him the possibility of more charges being imposed by the Scioto County Grand Jury.

Schmidt a former teacher and football coach at Wheelerburg High School was accused in a bill of information for two counts of rape against his own daughter. Sources close to that investigation, including former members of the Scioto County Grand Jury that reviewed this matter in September of 2003, claim that Schmidt's daughter kept a running diary of the rapes and that over 100 accounts were written about by the young girl in her diary.

At the time Schmidt's case was heard by Judge Howard Harcha III, Judge Harcha set the time for the initial hearing for 7:30 a.m. to try to slip this case by the public. I was notified of the hearing the night before and publicized what was going on and a small crowd gathered to hear what was being attempted in the wee early hour. It was at that time that Judge Harcha III allowed Schmidt to be released and go back out into the public until a pre-sentence investigation could be performed on Schmidt by the Scioto County Probation Department. This angered many in the crowd as most sexual predators are kept in jail or sent off to prison immediately after they enter a guilty plea for such a heinous crime. The Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor Anita Matthews objected to Schmidt's release but Judge Harcha III let Schmidt go.

At his sentencing a few weeks later, Schmidt's lawyer Michael Mearan, gave a lengthy speech to the court blaming writers on local websites for interfering in the case claiming "I know your honor can no longer grant my client (Mr. Schmidt) probation because of all the adverse publicity generated by local websites but please have some leniency on my client because he has admitted he has an alcohol problem and is sorry for his crimes." Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor Anita Matthews then rose and stated to Judge Harcha III, "Your honor, Mr. Schmidt used his alcohol problem a few years ago when he had a traffic accident and was given diversion program in lieu of conviction. It appears he didn't learn his lesson. Also your honor, I know many alcoholics that get drunk every Friday night but they don't go home and rape their daughter! To release this man would be a travesty."

Judge Harcha III took a few minutes leaning back in his chair staring at the ceiling and then stated, "I have men and women come through this courtroom everyday that I send off to prison for a lot less than what we see in this case. Your client, Mr. Mearan, had the financial means to seek treatment and he did not take steps to clean up his act. Therefore, it will be the finding of this court that Mr. Schmidt on count 1 will serve 3 years and on count 2 a four year sentence will be imposed. These sentences are to be served consecutively to each other resulting in a total of 7 years with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction."

Attorney Mearan asked the court to stay the execution of Schmidt's prison sentence to allow him (Schmidt) time to organize his affairs before being locked up. Judge Harcha III denied that request.

Now we see that it has been two weeks since Schmidt filed his motion for judicial release. The first time Schmidt filed a motion for release Judge Harcha III immediately denied the request. This time Judge Harcha III, according to sources around the courthouse, is being pressured by Attorney Mike Mearan to release Schmidt. This is such a travesty.

Schmidt's child was raped not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, but over 100 times according to her own diary. Maybe Judge Harcha III should get the diary and read it before making his ruling. Men and women have been imprisoned for over 14 years for picture taking of nude children and never been released early. Why should a man that has raped his own daughter over 100 times have his sentence cut one second? He should not! If anything, Judge Harcha III did Schmidt a favor in September of 2003. Judge Harcha III did not impose the maximum penalty on either charge. How dare Judge Harcha III release this man early. To release him back on the public will stain the judicial system worse than it already is in Scioto County. Judges that don't protect the children should not be on the bench!

More on this story when Judge Harcha III makes his final ruling!

John Welton (DD)

Portsmouth Mayor Jim Kalb Raised In A Racist Gang!

I read with amusement comments on forums and in the Portsmouth Daily Times that a Mr. Carlton Cave came to Portsmouth City Council and stated that he didn't believe that Portsmouth Mayor Jim Kalb was a racist but rather someone who didn't care about the black community in Portsmouth. How wrong you are Mr. Cave.

Portsmouth Mayor Jim Kalb was raised on Jackson Avenue in Portsmouth, Ohio. During his teenage years and into his early adult life, Mayor Kalb was a member of a gang called the Jackson Street Gang. This gang consisted of racist individuals that lived on or about Jackson Avenue in Portsmouth, Ohio. This gang swore a "lifetime oath" that they would do everything in their power to impair or destroy the lives of members of the African American Community in the Portsmouth area.

Members of the Jackson Street Gang included Jim Kalb, Bruce Kalb, (brother of the Mayor), Ron Feazell, Gary Shepherd, Larry Shepherd, Larry Huffman, Carl Bias, Scott Briggs, Ted Baer and other individuals that lived in this area of Portsmouth. These individuals would hang out around the corner of Jackson and Brown Streets on many Friday nights when football season was going on and attack automobiles driven by individuals that lived in Farley Square. Many African Americans were physically assaulted in their attempts to travel on foot to watch football games thanks to these thugs.

A review of the criminal court records in Portsmouth and Scioto County will reveal that many of these men were charged with criminal activity on numerous occasions as juveniles, teenagers, and young adults. Mayor Kalb has many arrests on his record.

How many African Americans have been hired by Mayor Kalb? It won't take long to count them up because we can't find anyone. Even contracts for minorities are contracts that were rolled over from former Mayor Greg Bauer's administration. Mayor Kalb is still honoring his lifetime commitment to his gang affiliation. While this gang was not the Bloods or the Crips they had similar values of hatred that they live by.

Is it any wonder why Mayor Kalb took back McKinley Pool and now wants to sell it off? He is honoring his commitment to his gang affiliation. What would be better than ensuring that the youth of the African American Community had no where to play this summer? Maybe Mayor Kalb is hoping that this would infuriate many of the folks that live in and around Farley Square to the point that they would move out of Portsmouth. That would be a big feather in the cap of this racist mayor.

More on Mayor Kalb's gang affiliation later.

John Welton (Doug Deepe)

Judge Harcha III Backs Illegal Rule 28 Blocking Citizens From Filing Criminal Charges! Court of Appeals Bangs Judge Harcha Again!

MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES SET UP ILLEGAL RULE TO PREVENT LOCAL CITIZENS FROM FILING CRIMINAL CHARGES

Illegal Rule approved and enforced by Scioto County Common Pleas Court
Judge Howard H. Harcha III

May 30, 2007

Many residents of Scioto County are unaware of an illegal rule that is in place at the Portsmouth Municipal Court that prevents citizens of this county from filing criminal complaints without the special approval of the Portsmouth City Solicitor. This rule is called Rule 28 and was written by Portsmouth Municipal Court Judges William Marshall (now a Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge) and Judge Richard T. Schisler. The rule was established a few years ago when citizens found out that they had a right to go to either a Clerk of Court, a Magistrate, a Prosecutor, or a Judge and file a criminal complaint with the full power of the Ohio Revised Code backing the citizen.

Citizens filed criminal complaints against numerous public officials through Scioto County Common Pleas Court Clerk Mildred Thompson who agreed that there was enough evidence presented to her to warrant acceptance of the charges filed by the citizens. The citizens deliberately filed their complaints when then Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge Walter Lytten was on vacation in order to force Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge Howard Harcha III to make the ruling on the charges. According to the Ohio Revised Code once the complaints were filed and submitted to Judge Harcha III by Clerk Thompson, Judge Harcha III should have either issued arrest warrants or brought witnesses into his courtroom to gather more evidence before issuing the arrest warrant.

Judge Harcha III followed the pattern of the prior SOGP gangster judges and waited for Scioto County Judge Walter Lytten to return from vacation and both judges issued an order sending the citizens over to the Portsmouth Municipal Court claiming that the citizens were in the “wrong court” to begin criminal charges. The sad part about this matter is that the citizens were in the court that handles felony charges and had the full authority to act on the criminal complaints but Judge Harcha III was following the illegal Rule 28.When confronted with Rule 28 Judge Harcha III told me that the rule was “probably illegal” but said until someone challenged it in court he couldn’t do anything about it. (This is on audio tape.) Judge Harcha III has made it clear that he is willing to break the laws of the State of Ohio. He is a disgrace to the honest judges serving in this great state.

Rule 28 clearly sets up a situation where one man determines the fate of all criminal charges in the county, right? Wrong. Every week the Scioto County Prosecutors Office takes criminal allegations to the Scioto County Grand Jury and receives indictments on citizens without going through the Portsmouth Municipal Court. Rule 28 is only used when crooked judges such as Howard Harcha III wants to help cover up crimes by public officials. Judge Harcha III knows he can’t be sued because of his immunity as a sitting judge and he now is going down the path other judges have taken when they become power hungry. Judge Harcha III admitted during the sentencing phase of John Michael Schmidt that he was about to give Schmidt who had admitted raping his own daughter on numerous occasions probation. Judge Harcha III leaned back in his chair and stated, “I have reflected on this case and now realize that there are people coming through here everyday that I send to prison for less than what this man has done.” That statement came after Scioto County Assistant County Prosecutor Anita Matthew stood before Judge Harcha III and stated probation is not what this case deserves. That was said after Schmidt’s attorney, Mike Mearan told Judge Harcha III, “I know you can’t give my client probation after what has been written by local websites.” That’s right people, the only reason Judge Harcha III sent Schmidt to prison was because of our publicity.

Well maybe it’s going to take publicity on Judge Harcha III’s illegal actions enforcing Rule 28 to get the citizens rights to access to the courts back. Why are citizens in the county being forced to go to an office where they are not allowed to vote on the person that holds that office begging for help? County residents are not allowed to vote on the person that holds the City Prosecutors job. Isn’t that a little unfair? It’s also immoral and illegal.

Judge Harcha III has covered up numerous crimes that have been brought to his attention. He uses Rule 28 to back up his actions especially when it comes to helping out public officials. In 1995 Judge Harcha III was shown sworn testimony of a Ohio Highway Patrolman who went to Judge Harcha III’s home to get a search warrant and lied to Judge Harcha III. In court this trooper was confronted with his lies and admitted that he had lied to get the search warrant. When confronted with this information Judge Harcha III took no action. Judge Harcha III didn’t ask anyone in the County or City Prosecutors Offices to investigate the perjury committed by the Ohio Highway Patrolman.

Why? In Scioto County cops are allowed to lie under oath and they are protected by many judges including Judge Howard Harcha III.

In a recent civil case Judge Harcha III through out a lawsuit filed by David Newman who charged his lawyer with misconduct. Newman was seeking a judgment against Portsmouth Attorney Enrickez when Judge Harcha III used his power to initially deny David Newman his day in court. But the Ohio 4th District Court of Appeals overturned Judge Harcha III’s ruling. In fact, David Newman’s new lawyer, D. Joe Griffith, filed his appeal citing five areas where Judge Harcha III ruled illegally. The 4th District Court of Appeals agreed with four of the five areas and ordered Judge Harcha III to reinstate the civil case. In a round about way the Newman case involves activity by Portsmouth City Solicitor David Kuhn who was acting as a hearing officer for the federal bankruptcy court. Once again, Judge Harcha III was found covering up for his buddies.Read the Ohio 4th Court of Appeals decision against Judge Harcha III by following this link.

http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/newpdf/4/2007/2007-ohio-1934.pdf

Judge Harcha III needs to either step up and stop the injustices of Rule 28 or resign his office. He is a disgrace to the bench and until such activities he allows to continue are stopped no citizen of Scioto County is safe.

More on Judge Harcha III is coming.

John Welton (Doug Deepe) Sentinel Reporter/Opinion Columnist

WHAT'S GOING ON IN JUDGE HARCHA'S COURTROOM? DECISIONS AND ORDERS QUESTION INTEGRITY OF HIS COURTROOM OPERATIONS!

IS SCIOTO COUNTY COMMON PLEAS COURT JUDGE HOWARD HARCHA III RUNNING A FAIR COURT? SOME SAY NO! I AGREE!

May 29, 2007

John Welton (Doug Deepe) Sentinel Reporter

Over the last year there have been some mysterious decisions and hearings being rendered in the courtroom of Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge Howard Harcha III. We have learned that the 4th District Court of Appeals has stated that trial court transcripts of the case of murderer John Martin Adams has been doctored and/or altered, Judge Harcha III dismisses a policeman’s lawsuit who is being represented by the same attorney in the Adams case, and finally Judge Harcha III banned a local citizen from audio or video taping the hearing for the residents of Grandview Avenue to ensure the public could be fully informed of the court hearing. Does this sound more like Nazi Germany in the 1940’s than what our forefathers set up for an open judicial system for the people?

I wrote a story over the weekend about the 4th District Court of Appeals issuing an order to Judge Harcha III demanding that he hold an evidentiary hearing to find out why four different trial court transcripts have been sent to the Court of Appeal in the Adams murder trial. Why would Judge Harcha III allow not 1, nor 2, nor 3, but 4 different trial transcripts to go up to the Appeals Court by an employee of his?

Maybe Judge Harcha III’s decision in the Grandview case sheds a little light on this matter. Judge Harcha III ordered Teresa Mollette to not take a tape recorder and/or video recorder into his courtroom for the Grandview Street residents hearing against the City of Portsmouth a few months ago. Mollette filed a paper with Judge Harcha III asking permission to video and audio record the hearing. Her request was not just denied but Mollette had her equipment seized by the judge until after the hearing was completed. Click on the following link to read the posting Mollette put up on her website concerning her attempt to record the Grandview hearing:

http://portsmouthcitizens.info/blog/?page_id=19

The reporters from other media sources were allowed to take their equipment into the courtroom. In other words, Judge Howard Harcha III allowed the SOGP gangster reporters to bring their equipment into the courtroom, but denied Mollette who owns a website that publishes public information for free for her readers the right to capture the hearing with her equipment.

I now believe that maybe Judge Harcha III didn’t want Teresa Mollette to video or audio the hearing because he wouldn’t be allowed to alter the hearings transcript if he knew that Mollette would publish the hearing on her website. Judge Harcha III knows the local press never prints negative activity by local judges so he doesn’t mind having them in the courtroom with their equipment. Do you smell something funny hear people?Now we just learned this weekend that Judge Harcha III dismissed a case filed by Portsmouth Police Officer Steven Nagel against the City of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner. Officer Nagel complained that he was forced to provide information to Chief Charles Horner about Nagel’s association with former New Boston Police Officer Matt Powell and when Nagel refused to do so, Chief Horner retaliated against him and eventually fired him from his job. An arbitration hearing was held and the administrative officer ordered Nagel back to work but Chief Horner and Mayor Kalb has refused to put Nagel back to work.

Judge Harcha III gave a summary judgment for Chief Horner and the City of Portsmouth claiming no material fact was left in the case for a jury to be impaneled to hear testimony. This order disputes a prior decision by Judge Harcha III in which he stated material facts did exist and the case would go to trial. The attorney for Officer Nagel is Jim Banks from Dublin, Ohio. Attorney Banks is also the attorney for John Adams.

Is it coincidental clients of Attorney Banks are being thrown out of court now? Attorney Banks was fortunate to have a client like John Adams who had the financial resources to fight Judge Harcha III at the Court of Appeals. This forced the hand of Judge Harcha III and his immoral scheme to allow altered transcripts to go up against an individual seeking justice at the Court of Appeals. While I’m not saying Adams did or didn’t commit murder, he deserves to have his case heard fairly at the Court of Appeals.

How many other false transcripts have been submitted by Judge Harcha III’s court reporters to Courts of Appeal? How many men or women are aware that their court appointed lawyer may have not had the funds to fight like Attorney Banks has done to prove false information may have kept them in prison?

This activity by Judge Howard Harcha III appears to take us back to the 1940’s when altered information was used by Nazi Germany to slaughter innocent people using the courts to do the dirty work. What has been uncovered by Attorney Banks against this sitting judge is not just illegal, it is immoral!

Maybe if enough pressure is put on justices at the Court of Appeals a full investigation will occur on Judge Howard Harcha III and we can find out how long this illegal action has been going on.

We at the Sentinel sat in the courtroom of Judge Harcha III in 2003 when Attorney Mike Mearan stood up and stated that “he knew the deal that had been worked out for his client (rapist John Michael Schmidt) couldn’t be followed through with because of the public disclosure of the deal by certain websites.” It seems that Judge Harcha III learned to shut down website owners after we revealed his dirty deal back in 2003. Why else would a judge shut down the public from hearing what he says from the bench of his courtroom?

Finally, Judge Howard Harcha III was the Portsmouth Municipal Court Judge that illegally expunged the criminal record of now Scioto County Sheriff Marty Donini. Judge Harcha III was fully aware that he illegally expunged two criminal records for Donini to make him eligible to run for Scioto County Sheriff. It was then Judge Harcha III that signed the illegal affidavit for Donini claiming that Donini had no criminal record that would prevent him from running for the office of Scioto County Sheriff.

These revelations should scare the people of Scioto County and make them reconsider putting Judge Harcha III back on the bench when his term expires. Judge Harcha III’s record proves he will cover up crimes and now maybe he is party to committing the crime of submitting false information to a higher court. Do you or your loved ones think you will get a fair hearing with this judge? You better think again.

John Welton (Doug Deepe)