A Hardin County judge has rejected the attempt to claim freedom of speech as a defense by a former high school music teacher accused of requesting photos of a student’s genitals. Common Pleas Judge Scott Barrett denied the defense motion in a decision released late Tuesday and a pretrial in the case was scheduled for today.

DOLA — An Ohio Senate bill that proposes to give power back to local school boards received the endorsement of the Hardin Northern Board of Education at its meeting Wednesday night. The board voted unanimously to support Senate Bill 216, the Ohio Public School Deregulation Act.

More than $13,000 has been spent this year on 428 pairs of shoes for Hardin County students through the Helen Mabrey Shoe Fund. The fund is part of the Hardin County Business and Professional Women's Club and Director Sandra Moore is in charge of processing the applications.

Ohio U.S. Senator Rob Portman sent members of his staff to meet with Hardin County officials on Tuesday afternoon to update them on federal grants and programs available to combat the community’s opiates crisis. “Our goal is to help communities understand what resources are available in the federal battle on opiates. We want to make sure the money at the federal level gets to Hardin County,” said Central District Director Stephen White.

RIDGEWAY — After the start of the new year, those residents of Ridgeway who are not hooked into the village’s central sewer system will face possible legal action. Council announced at its meeting Tuesday night that the regulations adopted by the village when it constructed the system in 2009 continue to be ignored by some property owners.

Kenton City Council adopted two ordinances at its meeting Monday night to pave the way for the city to seek more than $800,000 in Issue II funds for street resurfacing and a sewer project. The city will apply for a $500,000 grant – and contribute another $60,000 – toward the paving of a projected eight streets in various parts of Kenton.

There could be more news soon on the retail development front in Kenton. Jon Cross, president and CEO of the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance, told Kenton City Council on Monday night that the office has been fielding calls about locating retail establishments in Kenton.

McGUFFEY — There are people living in campers in McGuffey and the town council is considering ways of stopping them. Solicitor Patrick Potts told council Monday night he had examined established ordinances in the village records and had found local laws addressing mobile homes, but nothing specifically regulating residents making their homes in camping trailers.

Years ago, Libby Wolgamot, activities director at Hardin Hills Health Center in Kenton, was told by a resident that if she found a job she loved, she’d never work again. The sage wisdom has proven true for Libby, who said her work is “one of those jobs.”

ADA — Missing the brotherhood he found in the military, Ohio Northern University student Max Roberts discovered that bond as a volunteer firefighter with the Ada-Liberty Township Fire Department.