With a divided vote, Kenton City Council went forward with the first phase of the revitalization project it has been considering for several years. Aaron Domini and Sean Gillilan of OHM updated council on progress made on the initial phase of the revitalization plan for the downtown water and sewer infrastructure.

While there are no plans to increase the water or sewer rates in the city of Kenton in the near future, council discussed the need to keep up with current expenses in those areas Monday night. Sean Gillilan of OHM reminded council the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) had suggested five years ago that the city increase the rates slowly to set aside funding for major projects such as needs in the waste water and water plants.

Young Maverick LaRue (right), age 1 1/2, was crowned the 2018 Farmers and Merchants Picnic prince, but was less than thrilled with the honor during the opening ceremonies Saturday. He sold 1,246 tickets to win the honor.

As Dennis Jesse was finishing his high school years at Riverdale in the 1980s, he expected to have a future in technology. The idea that he would become an opera singer and perform internationally would have been a joke to Jesse at that age, but it is his reality today and the Forest native wouldn't change it for the world.

FOREST — The roadway which the Forest council has been working on for several years is now officially called Buckeye Street. The street connects Lima Street with Sandusky Avenue just east of Buckeye Machine Fabricators.

The Kenton Little League will be presenting a day of “tributes” during its first ever Outdoor Concert fundraiser from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18 at Home Run Memorial Park. On the bill for the eight-hour show will be five bands - all hailing from the North Central Ohio and Columbus areas - headlined by New Frontiers, a quintet that is billed as the “definitive” Journey tribute band.

MOUNT VICTORY — The southern entrance to the village of Mount Victory will look a little more colorful in the future. At its regular meeting on Thursday, the Mount Victory Village Council approved a contribution to an Eagle Scout project that will see the planting of 12-15 Hawthorne trees along the 400 block of South Main Street in the area of Dollar General.

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Kenton will celebrate summer with its annual festival on Sunday. As usual, there will be a selection of donated baskets to raffle off.

An issue which at one time looked like a legal standoff between the state and local health departments and the Amish community has been resolved. At a hearing Wednesday morning in Hardin County Common Pleas Court, Prosecutor Brad Bailey reported Perry and Wilma Glick, of rural Ridgeway, had corrected the conditions which prompted the contempt charges and complied with the orders of the health board.

ADA — The 105th Farmers and Merchants Picnic is set to provide family entertainment all day Saturday at War Memorial Park in Ada. The first activities of the day will be the Ohio Western Horse Association show beginning at 8 a.m.