A large crowd counts down as the giant Wilson football drops from where it is suspended by a crane Saturday evening in downtown Ada. Participants in the football festival came from throughout the state and surrounding area to watch the ball drop at midnight and welcome the start of Super Bowl Sunday.

With Upper Scioto Valley’s Chase Rose on the bench after picking up his second foul late in the first quarter, the Kenton Wildcats took advantage of their good fortune on Saturday night. With the Ram senior sitting, the Wildcats outscored the USV by 14 points over the final 10 minutes of the first half to grab a commanding lead on the way to a 75-59 boys basketball victory in front of the largest crowd of the season in the KHS gymnasium.

DOLA — With just six seconds remaining in the game and looking to make it a two-score game, Ada’s Cade Mullins missed the first of two free throws, giving Hardin Northern life. Mullins hit the second shot to put his team up three.

A year ago, Terri Hites-Suter was unsure is she had much hope in her future. But today, she not only has a new lease on life, but a new life bond with long-time friend. As Hites-Suter reflects on the peaks and valleys of the past 12 months with Lori Lowery, the two women laugh, talk and share common memories and connections that flow from one to the other.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — When the sale ring is empty after the final day of the county fair in late summer and animals return home with their owners or are sent to market, not everyone is ready to sit back and wait for the next year’s fair. National livestock shows take place year-round and are meeting places for the best of the best showmen, and one local showman proved that he belongs in the conversation of being one of the best.

One thing teams are finding out against the Kenton boys basketball team this winter is that it’s never safe to let up against the Wildcats. Ottawa-Glandorf found that out on Friday night as they watched a 22-point fourth quarter lead evaporate to five before hanging on for a 71-64 Western Buckeye League victory.

McGUFFEY — In the final game on their home court, Upper Scioto Valley seniors Chase Rose and Trevor Dotson led their team to a 60-33 boys basketball win over Waynesfield-Goshen Friday night. Dotson recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Rose’s 17 points were a game-high as they helped improve the Rams’ record to 12-5 overall, 5-1 in the Northwest Central Conference. The Tigers drop to 1-15, 1-4.

BELLEFONTAINE — It is the science fair season. Young people are building belching volcanoes and comparing brands of laundry detergent to earn a chance to compete at a higher level and earn a good grade on their projects. But Benjamin Logan students may take the event more seriously than most. While other districts are known for their football or basketball programs, Ben Logan is recognized at a state, national and international level for its accomplishments in science fair competitions.

DUNKIRK — A new way of borrowing movies, music and e-books is now available to patrons of the Hardin Northern Public Library. Called Hoopla, it is offered to card holders at the library at no additional charge, said Librarian Becky Coker. The library pays for the membership fee for patrons to rent material from the company.

Hardin Northern students in grades 2-8 participated in the school’s spelling bee on Wednesday. The winners were (from left) junior high alternate Jadi Herrod-Gonzalez and champion Haylie Spearman, and at the elementary level, champion Kiree Carey and alternate Darrin Wilson. Haylie and Kiree will represent Hardin Northern at the regional spelling bee on March 11 at the Knights of Columbus …