ADA — Ada High School senior Libbie Milks participated in the 129th Rose Parade on Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Calif., as a flutist in the Bands of America Honor Band, and she could not believe how great the band sounded together. That sound did not come by accident, of course, with the group of students from all across the country holding rehearsals together prior to the performances. For Milks, those rehearsals were the most memorable part of her trip to Southern California.

The sixth-graders in Sarah Wood’s math class at Hardin Northern have been working on graphing points on the X,Y axis. They had a chance to have fun and apply their skills playing a large version of the popular game Battleship. Submitted photo    

MOUNT VICTORY — Ridgemont appeared to be on the verge of pulling away from Ada several times during the first half of the girls basketball contest between the Hardin County rivals on Monday night. However, the Bulldogs had answers from three-point range and were able to get back even every time. That was until the third quarter. Sparked by Meadow Cromer, the Gophers took control with decisive 14-0 run as they pulled away for the 65-55 non-conference victory.

Serving the public has been a lifelong endeavor for Hardin County Commissioner Brice Beaman, and it all began when he was a child sitting in church on Sundays. Back then, Beaman recalled, when the fire whistle would blow during church, the elders and those on the McGuffey Volunteer Fire Department would immediately respond.

A barn built more than 100 years ago is getting a new lease on life. The Burnison family constructed what is now the farm museum of the Hardin County Historical Museums after the original structure was destroyed in a fire in 1914.

Hardin Memorial Hospital is making changes to its endoscopy department which are designed to make the unit operate more smoothly and be more convenient for patients needing colonoscopies and other treatments.

Alma Whetsel remembers hearing the “I Have A Dream” speech Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made in 1963 and feeling hope things were going to change. The 81-year-old retired Ridgemont music teacher said her life has been filled with good memories, but “a lot of very hurtful things happened to me in my life.”

ADA — Sean and Samantha Beck of Ada are helping lead the way in aerospace education in northwest Ohio. Sean and Samantha, members of the Ohio Wing’s Hardin County Flight Civil Air Patrol, were officially promoted on Saturday, Jan. 7 to major and first lieutenant, respectively.

When Ben Vereen takes the Freed Center stage at Ohio Northern University later this month, he will take his fans on a journey. The star of TV, Broadway and movies calls the concert, set for Saturday, Jan. 28, his “gratified show.”