BELLEFONTAINE — If someone had told Madison Manns at the beginning of the track season that she would be competing at the state meet, she wouldn’t have believed them. But the sophomore’s hard work has paid off as Manns will be representing Benjamin Logan at the Division II level in the high jump in Columbus on Friday.

Two national retailers are coming to Kenton and more businesses are being sought for the former Hardin Central School site. A Dollar Tree and O’Reilly Auto Parts are lined up for the project, located at the corner of East Columbus Street and Jacob Parrot Boulevard in the city’s east side business district, according to Christopher McFarland, senior associate with Anchor Cleveland.

A world separates the homes of Kenji Kobayashi and Lucas Rangel DeQuveira, but the two teenagers have spent a year living as “brothers” in Kenton. Kenji and Lucas have attended classes at Kenton High School and lived with George and Barb Wyndham.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — Riverdale’s Carrol Pauley and Kyle Evans are no strangers to the competition of the Division III state track and field meet. The Riverdale seniors both will be making their third appearances in Columbus this week when Pauley competes for the Falcons in the discus and shot put, and Evans puts on his running shoes in the 400 dash and as a member of the team’s 3,200 relay.

Hardin County residents celebrate Memorial Day 2017 by attending the many services held in honor of those that have fallen so that we could be free.

DOLA — Hardin Northern held its spring sports program recently, recognizing its boys and girls track, baseball and softball athletes. Members of the boys track team receiving special awards were Owen Bame, James Rickenbacher and Frank McCoy, Century Awards; Nick Bame, Duo Century Award and Most Valuable Runner; Samuel Diller, most improved; McCoy, most valuable field events; and Owen Bame, Polar Bear award.

For 90 of his 92 years of life, Eldon Sherman has lived on his family farm in Goshen Township. But the two years he spent away from home were an experience which is still vivid in his mind. The Ohio farm boy found himself fighting the German Army in the final days of World War II and was speeding his way to help invade Japan when the war came to an end.

While Robin Hughes may be moving on from teaching technology at Kenton Elementary School, she’s hoping it won’t be her last stop as an educator in the field. Hughes is retiring as the elementary school’s technology integration teacher, a role she has served in the district for the past five years. Her first two years on the job were at both Espy and Northwood prior to the new school’s construction.

TIFFIN — Seniors Nick Bame of Hardin Northern and Kyle Evans of Riverdale punched their tickets to the Division III state track meet in Columbus next week with regional championships at meet in Tiffin on Friday.