Mike Simon lifts one of the 50 picnic tables which will be located throughout Ada's War Memorial Park for Saturday's 106th annual Farmers and Merchants Picnic.

McGUFFEY — As the new school year approaches, Upper Scioto Valley Schools' main focus will be to get students in classrooms. In the most recent data collected for the district, the attendance rate for the district is 93.3 percent. Superintendent Craig Hurley said that rate needs to improve.

ADA — The public is invited to the Ada Exempted Village School annual open house on Monday, Aug. 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The first day of school for students will be Wednesday, Aug. 21, with a full day planned for grades 1-12. School will begin each day at 8:35 a.m. for all students.

DUNKIRK — A property dispute involving an alley off of S. Buckeye Street in Dunkirk has been resolved. At Monday’s regular meeting, the Dunkirk Village Council was made aware of the dispute, which involved a resident in the 100 block of S. Buckeye Street blocking an alley with a post and rope, claiming it was his property.

TUESDAY, AUG. 6 Ada council – 6:30 p.m., Ada Depot Ridgemont Public Library Board – 7 p.m., Mount Victory branch

A report was taken of an intoxicated male driving a red Dodge leaving Village Pantry. Juveniles were reported hitting vehicles behind the post office.

To the editor: I am sickened by the mass killings in the United States. I read that our current Senator – Rob Portman – stated that there is "something deeper" behind the mass killings that recently occurred in Texas and Ohio.

For Laura Rogers, director of the Hardin County Child Support Enforcement Agency, the job can be a stressful one at times. But what makes it all worthwhile is getting the support for the children. Since 2008, Laura, a native and resident of Kenton, has served as the director for the agency, though she has been involved with it since 1992.

The Grand Champion Market Beef exhibited by Elizabeth Heintz of Hardin County was sold for $50,000 at the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions livestock auction on Sunday afternoon.

MONDAY, AUG. 5 Dunkirk council – 7 p.m., chambers Alger council – 6 p.m., village offices