The man in charge of the annual Independence Day fireworks show at the Hardin County Fairgrounds enjoys thrilling the crowd with the display. Mike Comstock, a licensed pyrotechnician, is marking his 20th year as head of the show and his 34th year of involvement in the display.

After a mostly dry month of June, parts of Hardin County received nearly five inches of precipitation in two separate rainfall events last week. And while they would have preferred the rainfall to be spread out over a longer amount of time, the needed precipitation was good for the corn and soybean crops, several area farmers noted at the Hardin County Ag Council on Friday morning.

UPPER SANDUSKY — Rural Upper Sandusky resident Marie Frey had an extra reason to celebrate on her 86th birthday Sunday – or rather, 86 reasons. As Frey turned 86 years old, she also welcomed her 86th great-grandchild into the world. Frey and her husband, the late Gerald R. Frey, had 15 children of their own.

ADA — Jim Meyer never thought he’d be a village administrator, let alone retain the job in Ada for four-plus decades. But 43 years and countless projects later, he’s ready to hang it up.

Mark Rosenthal of Belleville, Mich., returned to the Hardin Northern Public Library on Tuesday afternoon with his Animal Magic show, introducing children and adults to a variety of animals from his sanctuary program.

FOREST — The Village of Forest will honor three people who have dedicated endless hours to the community during the Tree Town Festival parade on July 8.

More than a thousand people flocked to downtown Kenton on Friday night for the second Eats on the Street Food Truck Fest.

ADA — With a new wastewater treatment plant in place, the Village of Ada will be able to grow. Located on the east side of the village just off of County Road 44 (East Lincoln Avenue), the $15 million project is up and running and nearing 100 percent completion, with an estimated finish date of October.