Hardin County Clerk of Courts, Carrie L Haudenschield, was recently presented with a commendation from the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association (OCCA) at the association's Annual Conference, held in Columbus. Haudenschield received the recognition for attending and participating in the education seminars and monthly educational opportunities offered by the association throughout 2017.

ALGER — At this time of the year, baking cookies is a holiday tradition with many families. But for those who want the sweet treats for their Christmas meals but don’t have time to bake, they can rely on the “Cookie Man” to provide them with creations sure to bring a smile to the harshest critics.

Kenton Elementary School students (from left) Annie Harpel, Mandy Lavassaur, LeLind Holland, Keegan Kirk and Katie Lowe, all students in Lindy Howard’s third grade, work on their Indian fire crackers Friday morning.

Trailing by 10 points late in the third quarter, the Kenton Wildcats knew something had to change if they wanted to win their Western Buckeye League opener with Celina on Friday night. So the Wildcats turned up the defensive heat on the visiting Bulldogs to create a more uptempo game.

McGUFFEY — The Upper Scioto Valley Rams came to play on both ends of the court in Friday night’s boys basketball contest, making quick work of Hardin Northern by forcing turnovers and controlling the glass. The starting five for the Rams all finished in double figures as they helped their team to a 73-21 win over the Polar Bears in their Northwest Central Conference opener.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — It didn't take the Riverdale boys basketball team long to figure out why Pandora-Gilboa leads the Blanchard Valley Conference in points per game, rebounds per game and allows the second-fewest points per game in the conference.

USV physics and chemistry students created lessons in their sciences to teach elementary students at the school on Thursday.

DOLA — Leading 13-12 with six minutes left in the first half, the Upper Scioto Valley girls basketball team turned up the heat on Hardin Northern. The Ram defense used its pressure to force the Polar Bears into turnovers on back-to-back possessions, sparking an 10-2 run that gave them control of the game and propelled them to a 50-30 victory in the Northwest Central Conference matchup.

In what he called “the most heinous” case to come before him, Hardin County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Barrett sent an Ada man to prison for the rest of his life on Wednesday. Albert Mast Sr. was originally charged with 123 counts in July of sexually abusing his children.

During a special session of “Cookies with a Cop” at the Vancrest Nursing Home in Ada on Wednesday afternoon, members of the Ada Police Department and a guest performed classic holiday songs for residents to sing and enjoy.