Enrollment is underway for the Hardin Leadership 2018 program. Hardin Leadership, according to this year’s program brochure, is committed to developing positive leaders within Hardin County through providing personal enrichment, expanding community networks and recognizing future leaders.

A suspicious incident at a Hardin County business is prompting Sheriff Keith Everhart to remind the public to be vigilant regarding strangers. A commercial truck driver had stopped at Mr. Cheezy's of Dunkirk on Saturday night and began questioning a young employee about other workers and visitors to the store as he purchased food, said the sheriff.

ADA —The expense of expanding the Ada Municipal Building is a major concern for the village council and its building and grounds committee agreed to consider paring down the project during a meeting Tuesday night. Originally the plans included expanding the police department, installing an elevator, constructing a drive-thru window and remodeling the building’s lobby.

The City of Kenton’s credit rating for future borrowing projects has been downgraded. Auditor Brian Hattery reported to City Council’s Finance Committee on Tuesday evening that the city’s bond rating has been lowered from A1 to A2 by Moody’s Investors Service.

Information on the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center’s request for a .6-mill permanent improvement levy was presented at the Kenton Board of Education meeting Monday night. Dr. Rick Smith, Hi-Point superintendent, said the tax request will enable the district to renovate the career center’s 43-year-old building to provide students with advanced technical training for 21st century jobs.

The Kenton Board of Education likely will be presented a plan this spring to implement a random drug testing policy for students for the 2018-2019 school year. Mark Rush, board president and a member of its policy committee, along with Doug Carmean, reported at Monday’s monthly board meeting that the committee hopes to develop a random drug testing policy and have it before the board at its March or April meeting.

ADA — Since the age of 7 when she would volunteer on Bingo night each Wednesday at the St. Marys Living Center, Sara Vordermark has had a desire to work with the elderly. She turned that desire into a career she truly loves, interacting with senior residents on a daily basis as the assistant administrator at Vancrest of Ada.

Hardin County Democrats heard from five candidates during their Presidents’ Day Luncheon on Saturday in Kenton. The keynote speaker was Michael Galbraith of Maumee, who is running for the Fifth District seat in Congress now held by Republican Bob Latta.

FOREST — The connection between Hempy Water and Miss Ohio Sarah Clapper got off to a rocky start, but has developed into a partnership which has brought Clapper’s inspirational message to hundreds of area students.

MOUNT VICTORY — Not too many life events can be more intimidating than purchasing your first vehicle on your own. But with some first-hand knowledge about the process from Nelson Auto Group owner Greg Nelson, Ridgemont FFA students may now feel more comfortable when they buy their first vehicle.