MOUNT VICTORY — Water and sewer service rates for the Village of Mount Victory will remain the same for 2016. At the monthly Mount Victory Council meeting on Jan. 7, council approved an ordinance establishing the rates of service for water and sewage services in the village.

Hardin County had a record year for sales tax collection in 2015. Auditor Mike Bacon said sales tax revenue was $4,360,595, up more than $300,000 from 2014 when the total collected was $4,049,044. In 2013, the tax brought in just under $4 million.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sears Holdings Corp. is confirming it’s closing a handful of Kmart stores across the country by mid-April as it continues to trim its ailing fleet.

The Hardin County Commissioners unanimously approved the annexation of two acres into the city of Kenton on Thursday. The land is located at the southeast corner of Ohio 31 and Bales Road on the southern edge of the city. Larry Leffel and Wes Grimm are planning to develop a building at that location which will house the Fastenal store and one other compatible business.

FOREST – The Richland Township trustees of Wyandot County have rejected Forest’s proposal to annex a section of property for economic development. But village officials, at Thursday’s council meeting, vowed to continue their search for a developer without the added land.

A Dunkirk man has been sent to prison for 41 months by Judge Scott Barrett of Hardin County Common Pleas Court. According to court records from Prosecutor Brad Bailey’s office, Rodney McKean, 14565 CR 30, Dunkirk, pleaded guilty to one charge each of possessing criminal tools, receiving stolen property and illegal cultivation of marijuana.

Kenton Mayor Randy Manns thinks it’s time the city consider operating its own garbage and recycling collection service. The mayor plans to outline his proposal during a public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the Kenton Municipal Building.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — Joan Beckwith will be leading the Riverdale Board of Education in 2016. Beckwith was elected to the position at the board’s re-organizational meeting on Monday.

DOLA — Tim Roby was elected president of the Hardin Northern Board of Education on Wednesday night. Kathy Schroeder was named vice president and Michelle Obenour was selected as treasurer pro tempore.

Those looking to develop businesses, move or just learn more about Hardin County will have a wealth of information available at their fingertips thanks to a new website launched Tuesday by the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance.