COLUMBUS — Kyle Evans had the top regional time in the 400 dash and the top qualifying time in Friday’s preliminary heats. Saturday, he ran out of the gate a bit too hard.

During last month’s Mount Victory council session, Village Administrator Dan Stuck expressed concern that Ohio 31 between Kenton and his village will be closed most of the summer again this year. The closing involves repairs to bridges on Ohio 31 over Panther Creek just south of Township Road 206 and over Wolf Creek north of Township Road 265.

COLUMBUS — Riverdale’s Kyle Evans had a tough decision to make going into Friday’s Division III state track and field meet. Entering the meet with the top time in the 400 meter dash and also a part of the Falcons 3,200 meet relay team that had the 13th best qualifying time, the Riverdale senior needed to decide whether he wanted to run in both events or concentrate on just his individual event.

COLUMBUS — Ridgemont’s Meadow Cromer didn’t quite get to the 11-0 mark she was trying to reach in the pole vault at the Division III state track meet on Friday. However the Gopher junior did accomplish something no Ridgemont track athlete has done in 30 years – earning a state medal.

COLUMBUS — Riverdale senior thrower Carrol Pauley believes she has come a long way since her freshman year and she proved it with a second place Division III discus throw at the state meet on Friday.

Leadership development will play an increased role at colleges in the future, according to Dr. David Staley, associate professor of history at The Ohio State University. That is among the many changes he foresees in higher education, Staley told members of the Hardin County OSU Alumni Club at their annual banquet Thursday night in Kenton.

DOLA — Hardin Northern’s Nick Bame will be making his third and final appearance at the Division III state track and field meet when he competes in the 1,600 and 800 runs on Saturday morning in Columbus.

Four years ago, the executives of the International Paper Company were determining where to build their new expansion. Ohio U.S. Senator Rob Portman said he personally called the company and successfully sold them on the work force in Hardin County.

The man who managed the federal farm program in Hardin County for the past 33-plus years has retired. Doug Dyer’s last day as executive director of the county’s Farm Service Agency was Wednesday, ending a 39-year career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

MOUNT VICTORY — Ridgemont juniors Meadow Cromer and Sidney Richardson know what to expect when they walk into Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus to compete in the Division III state track meet on Friday. Cromer will be competing in the pole vault for the third consecutive year, while Richardson takes the track in the 200 dash for the second straight year.