BELLEFONTAINE – The Ohio Hi-Point Board of Education recognized two outgoing board members for their dedication to the students at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center during Wednesday evening’s regularly scheduled meeting.

ADA — Board member Thomas Dearth attended his final Ada School Board meeting on Thursday and was commended for his years of service. Dearth will have completed eight years on the school board, with his service beginning on Jan. 1, 2010 and officially ending on Dec. 31, 2017.

Ryan A. Deshazo, Upper Sandusky, reported a scam.

An Upper Sandusky woman was placed on community control for five years after being found guilty of drug charges in a case heard in Hardin County Common Pleas Court.

FOREST — Fire destroyed a two-story house near Forest on Wednesday night. The home of Dan Kemmere, 5102 CR 205, was fully engulfed in flames when the Forest Fire Department was paged out to the home at 5:15 p.m., according to Chief Doug Hankins.

The Hardin Northern FFA hosted its annual fruit sale again this year on Dec. 4. Instead of the traditional fruit baskets, HN FFA members sorted their fruit into 2, 3.5, and 5 gallon buckets, donated by CPS.

In what he called “the most heinous” case to come before him, Hardin County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Barrett sent an Ada man to prison for the rest of his life on Wednesday. Albert Mast Sr. was originally charged with 123 counts in July of sexually abusing his children.

During a special session of “Cookies with a Cop” at the Vancrest Nursing Home in Ada on Wednesday afternoon, members of the Ada Police Department and a guest performed classic holiday songs for residents to sing and enjoy.

A Hardin County judge has rejected the attempt to claim freedom of speech as a defense by a former high school music teacher accused of requesting photos of a student’s genitals. Common Pleas Judge Scott Barrett denied the defense motion in a decision released late Tuesday and a pretrial in the case was scheduled for today.

DOLA — An Ohio Senate bill that proposes to give power back to local school boards received the endorsement of the Hardin Northern Board of Education at its meeting Wednesday night. The board voted unanimously to support Senate Bill 216, the Ohio Public School Deregulation Act.