MOUNT VICTORY — Ridgemont scored the first 13 points of the game and was in control the rest of the way in a 56-32 win over Hardin Northern in Northwest Central Conference girls basketball action on Thursday night. The Gophers, winners of five straight, improve to 8-6 on the season and 4-1 in NWCC play. HN falls to 1-13, 0-5.

A crew from Brian Brothers Painting and Restoration of Piqua puts a protective plastic covering over the mural on the north wall of the third floor of the Hardin County Courthouse on Wednesday morning.

DUNKIRK — The Hardin Northern Public Library recognized Sex Trafficking Awareness Month with a program on the issue Wednesday evening. Julie Zaring, executive director of Heartbeat of Hardin County, and Deb Oestreich, program director for the Crossroads Crisis Center, told those who attended the session that traffickers prey on the insecurities of 12-14-year-old girls in drawing them into a life of sexual slavery.

ADA — With a smart board in every classroom, the Ada School District is now prepared to teach its students with some of the newest technology available. At the regular board meeting on Wednesday, Assistant Principal and Technology Coordinator Ben Thaxton demonstrated one of the smart boards for the board.

BELLEFONTAINE — The Ben Logan girls basketball team jumped to an early lead and then held off Mechanicsburg the rest of the way for a 57-49 victory in non-league action on Wednesday night.

For many years, Hardin County has reported local drug activity to the El Paso (Texas) Intelligence Center (EPIC). But it wasn’t until Sheriff Keith Everhart recently visited the center on the U.S.-Mexico border that he realized how much assistance the federal program can provide to his office.

Three Kenton police officers and a dispatcher received commendations for exemplary service during 2017 at Monday’s City Council meeting. Chief Dennis Musser presented the awards to Sgt. Ed McNamara, Officers Dan Foulk and Jen Brand, and Dispatcher Karen Harp.

Two newly appointed members of Kenton City Council were sworn into office at Monday’s council meeting. John McEntee is the new councilman for the First Ward serving southeast Kenton, while Tim Leffler will represent the Fourth Ward on the city’s southwest side.

Jessica Alger presents more than 300 books to Forest Police Chief Donnie Southward as part of the Pages of Hope program.