While there were no state titles in 2017, Hardin County teams and individual athletes still shined throughout the year. Highlighting area teams in the county in 2017 were the Kenton boys soccer and the Ada volleyball teams. The Wildcat boys, playing their season in honor of deceases teammate Layton Rogers, had the most successful season in school history, finishing at 16-2-1 and at second in the WBL and in the district, losing only to regional runner-up Elida.

DOLA — Four of Riverdale’s eight losses on the season have been by less than 10 points. So in the Falcons’ boys basketball contest against Hardin Northern on Wednesday, a 16-point halftime lead gave them the opportunity to finally put their foot down and get their first win.

Kaison Spriggs, 10, Wyatt McKenzie, 9 and Taven Spriggs, 8, braved the frigid temperatures Tuesday afternoon to sled on the hills outside the Kenton Middle School.

Antwilla Davis has been a licensed realtor since 2009 and considered “fairly young” in the game of real estate. That’s why when she found out she was nominated for and subsequently awarded the Realtor of the Year honor through the West Central Association of Realtors, she was taken by surprise.

BUCYRUS — It looked like another slow start may doom Riverdale’s girls basketball team. Then it didn’t and then it did again, but it in the end, the Falcons topped Bucyrus, 54-49, in a nonconference game of huge momentum shifts.

MCGUFFEY — Ben Logan used its pressure to spark a quick start and the Raiders never looked back on the way to an 85-45 victory over Upper Scioto Valley in a non-league girls basketball game on Saturday. Led by Nikki Current’s 24 point and 9 rebounds, the Raiders opened with a 13-0 run in the first two minutes of the game.

In late November each year, Neil Hipsher puts on his bright red suit, pulls on his boots and becomes Santa Claus. The transformation from a retired Rockwell employee to the spirit of Christmas is instant.

MARION — Playing 14 minutes without leading scorer Jaron Sharp because of foul trouble, Kenton struggled to get it’s offense on track, scoring just seven points during the first half against Marion Harding on Friday night.

A snowy owl perches on top of a utility pole near Byhalia in northern Union County on Friday afternoon and seems to be watching the holiday shoppers scurrying by on Ohio 31. The weather is expected to turn cold with snow over the holiday weekend, which may be more to the liking of the wise, white bird. Times photo/Dan Robinson

The Lake of Lights Christmas Celebration continues at Kenton’s Saulisberry Park through Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. The lighting display has been expanded again this year with the support of several area businesses and other organizations.