The Hardin County Community Foundation will accept requests for its 2016 grants during February. Applications are to be completed online at hardinfoundation.org from Feb. 1 to 29. Grant recipients will be announced at the foundation’s annual celebration in May.

THURSDAY, JAN. 21 Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District Board – 7:30 a.m., district office, 12751 Ohio 309, west of Kenton

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.

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.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14 Forest council – 7 p.m., chambers

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13 Hardin Northern Board of Education – 5:30 p.m., computer lab, Dola; reorganizational meeting followed by regular meeting

"The Power of Risk Taking for Women Leaders” will be the topic for next month’s Women L.E.A.D. speaker series, sponsored by the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance.