A worker with Maier Concrete Construction of Huntsville smooths out the new infield at Kenton’s Waterworks Park on Tuesday. Upgrades to the ballfield also include new fencing, dugouts, bleachers and a concession stand, all part of a $300,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Grant received by Kenton last year.

With classes scheduled to begin in Kenton City Schools on Thursday, the staff was invited to get the school year off to a positive start by a man known at “America’s Educator.”

Caleb Sullivan, 2, waves to the crowd during the Ada Farmers and Merchants Picnic parade on Saturday morning.

The perfect summer day drew a nice crowd to the event which featured activities for all ages.

DOLA — Among the corn and bean fields of Washington Township in northern Hardin County, a small city has sprung up this summer. Complete with a series of new gravel roads to transport the beehive of activity in the crowded parking lot of the trailer community, construction workers, electricians and engineers are hard at work preparing for the arrival of parts which will become the 30 turbines of the Hog Creek Wind Farm.

United Way of Hardin County board members Beth McKinley (left) and Deb Rall sell tickets for the annual United Way Football Drop to Steve Burggraf (center, left) and Skinny Russell outside the S&S Drive Thru in Kenton.

Young people went to the splash park at Murray Park in Kenton to cool off during one of the last days of summer vacation. Area schools are scheduled to reopen for classes in the coming weeks with Ada opening first on Tuesday and Kenton, Hardin Northern, Riverdale and USV all opening on Wednesday. Ridgemont’s first day of classes is slated …

ARLINGTON — Andrew Kuenzli fired a 41 to lead the way as Riverdale defeated Ridgemont 209-233 in a high school golf match on Thursday afternoon. Also for the Falcons, Curtis Tracy carded a 53, Mason Pickett a 57 and Justin Hartman a 58.

Swine flu and the safety of midway rides are concerns throughout Ohio as Hardin County prepares for its annual fair, to begin Sept. 5. But Fair Board President Howard Lyle said the board is taking steps to address those concerns and believes there are steps in place which will continue to make the fair safe for all its guests.

It is a tradition for there to be a summer celebration at the Immaculate Conception Church in Kenton. When the Sisters of Charity nuns were operating the San Antonio Hospital in the 1950s, they came up with a fundraiser called Lawn Fete which earned dollars for the operation of the hospital, said Dr. Kate Johnson.