The Kiwanis Club of Portsmouth sponsors seven high school Key Clubs in Scioto Countyat Clay, Portsmouth, Notre Dame, East, Wheelersburg, West, and Green. We also sponsor a Builders Club at Notre Dame Junior High. Click HERE to find out about our Circle K Club at Shawnee State University.
We appreciate their support of our Cool Kids Read campaign to promote literacy in our area, as well as our annual Kids Day event, Pancake Day, and Fall Ribfest.
Find out more about the community service our clubs provided to our local community during the 2024-25 school year below.
Key Club celebrated its 100th Birthday on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Our local clubs marked the occasion with a charity walk/run fundraiser at Turkey Creek Lake in Shawnee State Forest. Thanks to Charli Montavon, Notre Dame Key Club advisor, for organizing this event! Key Club members from Notre Dame, Clay, and Wheelersburg participated as well as Kiwanis President Dan DeLotell (PHS club advisor) and Treasurer Todd Medley (Notre Dame club advisor).
Clay Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Crystal Everman
Kiwanis Advisor: Jamie Colley
Pictured above from left are: Crystal Everman, Clay Key Club Advisor; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Tristan Large, President; Kara Tieman, Kiwanis President-Elect; Marley Fraback, Media Coordinator; Laney Fife, Secretary; Macyn Johnson, Treasurer; and Jamie Colley, Kiwanis Club Advisor for Clay. Sarah Cassidy, Vice President, is not pictured. Members are pictured below during Cool Kids Read.
Portsmouth Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Angel King
Kiwanis Advisor: Dan DeLotell
The Portsmouth High School Key Club tutored students this year at the Portsmouth Elementary School, sponsored a bake sale, worked during Kiwanis Pancake Day, participated in Cool Kids Read at the elementary schools in Portsmouth and Sciotoville, and served at the PHS Senior Breakfast. They also honored our local veterans by flagging Soldier’s Circle in Greenlawn Cemetery on Memorial Day Weekend.
Pictured from left are Angel King, PHS Principal and Key Club Advisor; Salem Allen; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Skye Mays; and Ava Kirby, PHS Key Club President.
Club members are also pictured below during Cool Kids Read at Portsmouth Elementary.
Notre Dame Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Charli Montavon
Kiwanis Advisor: Todd Medley
The Notre Dame Key Club is 57 members strong and meets weekly to plan their activities. Pictured above from left are Todd Medley, Kiwanis Club Advisor; Maddie Entler, Senior Class Representative; Taylor Lasswell, Vice President; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Addie West, President; Billy Shannon, Freshman Class Representative; Lyndsey Shaefer, Junior Class Representative; and Charli Montavon, Notre Dame Advisor.
The club’s projects this year included a canned food drive with 1,113 items donated to St. Francis, a bake sale to raise money for a scholarship fund, and a bake sale to raise money for a summer missionary. Members volunteered to work at fall and winter sports concession stands, Kids Day, St. Mary’s International festival, Trick or Trunk, the Notre Dame Elementary Preschool Fall Festival, and Winterfest where they dressed up like characters for the Candyland Museum.
In addition to a blanket drive for Sierra’s Haven, they participated in their annual Lock-In to make blankets for rest homes, and they also created a t-shirt blanket to auction at Notre Dame’s annual fundraiser, Bid Your Heart Out (see below).
Sciotoville Community (East) Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Hannah Newman
Kiwanis Advisor: Misty Simco
Club members are pictured below with East second-graders during Cool Kids Read.
Wheelersburg Key Club
Faculty Advisors: Christina Thomas & Linda Oppy
Kiwanis Advisor: Kara Tieman
Pictured above, front row, from left: Linda Oppy, Key Club Advisor; Olivia Stevenson, Treasurer; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Rudra Patel, President; Kara Tieman, Kiwanis President-Elect; Brooklynn Arthur, Vice President; Maddi Reed, Board Chairman; and Christina Thomas, Key Club Advisor.
They are 81 members strong, and this past year they conducted a blood drive, participated in Cool Kids Read, conducted a hygiene drive for kids in need, created and displayed motivational posters, sent items to hurricane victims, and they painted pumpkins and wrote letters for nursing home residents. They also helped out at the Wheelersburg Community Partnership’s Spooky Saturday event and gave out food baskets to families in need during the Thanksgiving season. They also participated in Salvation Army bell ringing, Winterfest, and purse bingo, and they raised donations for the Cradle Pregnancy Care Center. They are pictured below during Cool Kids Read.
West Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Callihan
Kiwanis Advisor: Sharon Carver
Pictured above from left are (front row) Eliza Arthur, Treasurer; Ryan Bishop, Secretary; Kayden Bentley, President; and Sharon Carver, Kiwanis Club Advisor; (back row) Carolyn Callihan, Key Club School Advisor; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Kara Tieman, Kiwanis President-Elect; and Rylee Fuller, Vice President.
This past year, the West Key Club participated in Cool Kids Read and Operation Christmas Child. They also raised money for Christmas presents for children, worked in the high school concession stands, coached peewee cheerleaders, participated in the fall carnival at the elementary schools, and volunteered at a local church. They also participated in the Bible School Outdoor Day, assisted with hurricane relief, worked on a house for Habitat for Humanity, participated in Trick or Treat at the Nile Fire Station, passed out candy at the Shawnee State Forest, and participated in a Veterans Day assembly.
Club members are pictured below participating in Cool Kids Read, and they also helped out at the Special Olympics Track and Field Day held at their school stadium during the spring.
Green Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Sara Fannin
Kiwanis Advisor: Ginny Dyer
Pictured above from left to right are Taylor Patten, Junior member; Lexy Gullett, Treasurer; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Bella Fannin, President; and Sydney Little, Secretary. This year, the club has 60 members.
Green High School Key Club members participated this year in Green Alumni and local events such as the Alumni Association’s Fall Festival in October and the Galentine’s Purse Bingo to raise money for After Prom. They also helped clean, sort items, and work shifts for the new Bobcat Boutique. They also hosted and coordinated American Red Cross blood drives in November and April.
The club’s signature project was its White Christmas event to help community members and families during the holiday season. They used more than $6,600 in donations to shop and wrap gifts. This included financial support from local businesses as well as nearly $3,000 raised by two seniors from their Senior Initiative projects. The program served 37 Green local students to give them the best Christmas to remember.
This year, the club established the Impact Prevention crew, which sponsored events such as Red Ribbon Week, to highlight drug awareness, and Kindness Week. Two club members also served as camp counselors for a weekend trip to Hocking Hills for fifth and sixth-graders from the local area.
Green Key Club members performed more than 770 hours of community service this year! Club members are also pictured below during Cool Kids Read activities at Green Elementary.
Notre Dame Builders Club
Faculty Advisor: Melissa Martin
Kiwanis Advisor: Todd Medley
Pictured above from left are: Todd Medley, Kiwanis Club Advisor for Notre Dame; Melissa Martin, Notre Dame Builders Club Advisor; Juan Fuentes, Vice President; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Carson Bowling, President; Kara Tieman, Kiwanis President-Elect; Eli Bowling (Treasurer), and Lily Kielmar (Secretary).
This year’s club tripled its membership from last year to 37 members. They painted their school cafeteria, participated in Winterfest, and participated in Cool Kids Read (see below).
Our guest speaker this week was Tammy Moore Morton, Director of the Scioto County Job & Family Services office. She spoke about elder abuse, which impacts individuals aged 60 or older. Our local office receives more than 30 referrals every month. Sadly, much of this abuse occurs at the hands of family members.
Exploitation is the #1 type of elderly abuse, followed by self-neglect, neglect, and physical abuse. Women are victims more often than men, and older adults without family or friends nearby are often exploited, as well as people with dementia. Fire is also a risk, as many fatal fires in the state are caused by people smoking while they are on oxygen. A simple $4 thermal fuse coupling that will fit on the hose and turn off the oxygen is a lifesaver for these individuals.
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. SCDJFS will be participating in this day by wearing PURPLE on Friday, June 13, to bring awareness to the challenges that this vulnerable population faces. What can you do? Observe, listen, and check on your elderly family and neighbors. Report suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation by calling 1-855-Ohio-APS or 1-855-644-6277.
In other news: - The department's five child support investigators collected $8.3 million for kids in Scioto County in 2024, and August is Child Support Awareness Month. - JFS is working with Community Action on the Dads Matter program, a fatherhood initiative. - In April, JFS was providing public assistance (cash, food, and medical support) to 17,251 people in the county. There were nearly 30,000 Medicaid recipients and 711 cash assistance recipients. The criteria for cash assistance are stronger, and recipients can only receive it now for a total of 36 months. - Our county JFS won a Top award from the state. They have a 95% response rate to SNAP requests (higher than the state average), and their fraud department has recovered over $100,000 over the past year for fraudulent use of SNAP cards. -- There are currently 223 children in custody, nearly a 50% decrease from when JFS took over Children Services three years ago. However, placement costs are astronomical, especially for special needs children. - JFS is working with eight other counties in Southeast Ohio to establish a wellness campus in Gallia County, a 16-bed facility where children can go for short-term stays. - JFS is working with Community Action to establish a child advocacy center where abuse cases can be discussed and investigated in a safe space, and supervised visitation will be provided.
Service Leadership Clubs
The Kiwanis Club of Portsmouth sponsors seven high school Key Clubs in Scioto County at Clay, Portsmouth, Notre Dame, East, Wheelersburg, West, and Green. We also sponsor a Builders Club at Notre Dame Junior High. Click HERE to find out about our Circle K Club at Shawnee State University.
We appreciate their support of our Cool Kids Read campaign to promote literacy in our area, as well as our annual Kids Day event, Pancake Day, and Fall Ribfest.
Find out more about the community service our clubs provided to our local community during the 2024-25 school year below.
If your school district is interested in forming a Key Club, Builders Club, or K-Kids Club, email us at [email protected].
Key Club Turns 100!
Key Club celebrated its 100th Birthday on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Our local clubs marked the occasion with a charity walk/run fundraiser at Turkey Creek Lake in Shawnee State Forest. Thanks to Charli Montavon, Notre Dame Key Club advisor, for organizing this event! Key Club members from Notre Dame, Clay, and Wheelersburg participated as well as Kiwanis President Dan DeLotell (PHS club advisor) and Treasurer Todd Medley (Notre Dame club advisor).
Clay Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Crystal Everman
Kiwanis Advisor: Jamie Colley
Pictured above from left are: Crystal Everman, Clay Key Club Advisor; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Tristan Large, President; Kara Tieman, Kiwanis President-Elect; Marley Fraback, Media Coordinator; Laney Fife, Secretary; Macyn Johnson, Treasurer; and Jamie Colley, Kiwanis Club Advisor for Clay. Sarah Cassidy, Vice President, is not pictured. Members are pictured below during Cool Kids Read.
Portsmouth Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Angel King
Kiwanis Advisor: Dan DeLotell
The Portsmouth High School Key Club tutored students this year at the Portsmouth Elementary School, sponsored a bake sale, worked during Kiwanis Pancake Day, participated in Cool Kids Read at the elementary schools in Portsmouth and Sciotoville, and served at the PHS Senior Breakfast. They also honored our local veterans by flagging Soldier’s Circle in Greenlawn Cemetery on Memorial Day Weekend.
Pictured from left are Angel King, PHS Principal and Key Club Advisor; Salem Allen; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Skye Mays; and Ava Kirby, PHS Key Club President.
Club members are also pictured below during Cool Kids Read at Portsmouth Elementary.
Notre Dame Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Charli Montavon
Kiwanis Advisor: Todd Medley
The Notre Dame Key Club is 57 members strong and meets weekly to plan their activities. Pictured above from left are Todd Medley, Kiwanis Club Advisor; Maddie Entler, Senior Class Representative; Taylor Lasswell, Vice President; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Addie West, President; Billy Shannon, Freshman Class Representative; Lyndsey Shaefer, Junior Class Representative; and Charli Montavon, Notre Dame Advisor.
The club’s projects this year included a canned food drive with 1,113 items donated to St. Francis, a bake sale to raise money for a scholarship fund, and a bake sale to raise money for a summer missionary. Members volunteered to work at fall and winter sports concession stands, Kids Day, St. Mary’s International festival, Trick or Trunk, the Notre Dame Elementary Preschool Fall Festival, and Winterfest where they dressed up like characters for the Candyland Museum.
In addition to a blanket drive for Sierra’s Haven, they participated in their annual Lock-In to make blankets for rest homes, and they also created a t-shirt blanket to auction at Notre Dame’s annual fundraiser, Bid Your Heart Out (see below).
Sciotoville Community (East) Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Hannah Newman
Kiwanis Advisor: Misty Simco
Club members are pictured below with East second-graders during Cool Kids Read.
Wheelersburg Key Club
Faculty Advisors: Christina Thomas & Linda Oppy
Kiwanis Advisor: Kara Tieman
Pictured above, front row, from left: Linda Oppy, Key Club Advisor; Olivia Stevenson, Treasurer; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Rudra Patel, President; Kara Tieman, Kiwanis President-Elect; Brooklynn Arthur, Vice President; Maddi Reed, Board Chairman; and Christina Thomas, Key Club Advisor.
They are 81 members strong, and this past year they conducted a blood drive, participated in Cool Kids Read, conducted a hygiene drive for kids in need, created and displayed motivational posters, sent items to hurricane victims, and they painted pumpkins and wrote letters for nursing home residents. They also helped out at the Wheelersburg Community Partnership’s Spooky Saturday event and gave out food baskets to families in need during the Thanksgiving season. They also participated in Salvation Army bell ringing, Winterfest, and purse bingo, and they raised donations for the Cradle Pregnancy Care Center. They are pictured below during Cool Kids Read.
West Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Callihan
Kiwanis Advisor: Sharon Carver
Pictured above from left are (front row) Eliza Arthur, Treasurer; Ryan Bishop, Secretary; Kayden Bentley, President; and Sharon Carver, Kiwanis Club Advisor; (back row) Carolyn Callihan, Key Club School Advisor; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Kara Tieman, Kiwanis President-Elect; and Rylee Fuller, Vice President.
This past year, the West Key Club participated in Cool Kids Read and Operation Christmas Child. They also raised money for Christmas presents for children, worked in the high school concession stands, coached peewee cheerleaders, participated in the fall carnival at the elementary schools, and volunteered at a local church. They also participated in the Bible School Outdoor Day, assisted with hurricane relief, worked on a house for Habitat for Humanity, participated in Trick or Treat at the Nile Fire Station, passed out candy at the Shawnee State Forest, and participated in a Veterans Day assembly.
Club members are pictured below participating in Cool Kids Read, and they also helped out at the Special Olympics Track and Field Day held at their school stadium during the spring.
Green Key Club
Faculty Advisor: Sara Fannin
Kiwanis Advisor: Ginny Dyer
Pictured above from left to right are Taylor Patten, Junior member; Lexy Gullett, Treasurer; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Bella Fannin, President; and Sydney Little, Secretary. This year, the club has 60 members.
Green High School Key Club members participated this year in Green Alumni and local events such as the Alumni Association’s Fall Festival in October and the Galentine’s Purse Bingo to raise money for After Prom. They also helped clean, sort items, and work shifts for the new Bobcat Boutique. They also hosted and coordinated American Red Cross blood drives in November and April.
The club’s signature project was its White Christmas event to help community members and families during the holiday season. They used more than $6,600 in donations to shop and wrap gifts. This included financial support from local businesses as well as nearly $3,000 raised by two seniors from their Senior Initiative projects. The program served 37 Green local students to give them the best Christmas to remember.
This year, the club established the Impact Prevention crew, which sponsored events such as Red Ribbon Week, to highlight drug awareness, and Kindness Week. Two club members also served as camp counselors for a weekend trip to Hocking Hills for fifth and sixth-graders from the local area.
Green Key Club members performed more than 770 hours of community service this year! Club members are also pictured below during Cool Kids Read activities at Green Elementary.
Notre Dame Builders Club
Faculty Advisor: Melissa Martin
Kiwanis Advisor: Todd Medley
Pictured above from left are: Todd Medley, Kiwanis Club Advisor for Notre Dame; Melissa Martin, Notre Dame Builders Club Advisor; Juan Fuentes, Vice President; Dan DeLotell, Kiwanis President; Carson Bowling, President; Kara Tieman, Kiwanis President-Elect; Eli Bowling (Treasurer), and Lily Kielmar (Secretary).
This year’s club tripled its membership from last year to 37 members. They painted their school cafeteria, participated in Winterfest, and participated in Cool Kids Read (see below).
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Our guest speaker this week was Tammy Moore Morton, Director of the Scioto County Job & Family Services office. She spoke about elder abuse, which impacts individuals aged 60 or older. Our local office receives more than 30 referrals every month. Sadly, much of this abuse occurs at the hands of family members.
Exploitation is the #1 type of elderly abuse, followed by self-neglect, neglect, and physical abuse. Women are victims more often than men, and older adults without family or friends nearby are often exploited, as well as people with dementia. Fire is also a risk, as many fatal fires in the state are caused by people smoking while they are on oxygen. A simple $4 thermal fuse coupling that will fit on the hose and turn off the oxygen is a lifesaver for these individuals.
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. SCDJFS will be participating in this day by wearing PURPLE on Friday, June 13, to bring awareness to the challenges that this vulnerable population faces. What can you do? Observe, listen, and check on your elderly family and neighbors. Report suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation by calling 1-855-Ohio-APS or 1-855-644-6277.
In other news:
- The department's five child support investigators collected $8.3 million for kids in Scioto County in 2024, and August is Child Support Awareness Month.
- JFS is working with Community Action on the Dads Matter program, a fatherhood initiative.
- In April, JFS was providing public assistance (cash, food, and medical support) to 17,251 people in the county. There were nearly 30,000 Medicaid recipients and 711 cash assistance recipients. The criteria for cash assistance are stronger, and recipients can only receive it now for a total of 36 months.
- Our county JFS won a Top award from the state. They have a 95% response rate to SNAP requests (higher than the state average), and their fraud department has recovered over $100,000 over the past year for fraudulent use of SNAP cards.
-- There are currently 223 children in custody, nearly a 50% decrease from when JFS took over Children Services three years ago. However, placement costs are astronomical, especially for special needs children.
- JFS is working with eight other counties in Southeast Ohio to establish a wellness campus in Gallia County, a 16-bed facility where children can go for short-term stays.
- JFS is working with Community Action to establish a child advocacy center where abuse cases can be discussed and investigated in a safe space, and supervised visitation will be provided.
Stay updated on Scioto County JFS online at www.sciotocountyjfs.com/ or follow them on Facebook-- Scioto County Job & Family Services. ... See MoreSee Less
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