"The Power of Risk Taking for Women Leaders” will be the topic for next month’s Women L.E.A.D. speaker series, sponsored by the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance.

Heroin continues to be a problem in Hardin County and throughout Ohio. The state ranks second in the nation for drug overdose deaths, State Rep. Robert Sprague, R-Findlay, said Monday at a news conference at the Hardin County Courthouse. The heroin and prescription narcotic epidemic has now claimed more lives than the Vietnam War, he noted.

The reconstruction of Letson Avenue in Kenton has the potential of impacting the Hardin County Fair this fall. Mayor Randy Manns reported to council Monday it would be “challenging” to have the road completed prior to the fair’s opening in September. Letson Avenue is the street that runs in front of the fairgrounds between Ohio 31 and U.S. 68 on the city’s south side.

What could make youngsters anxiously await mail delivery? Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Hardin County. The early years book gifting program marked its 10th anniversary on Monday with a celebration at the Mary Lou Johnson-Hardin County District Library in Kenton.

The Kenton Board of Education is getting closer to closing out the elementary school building project. Superintendent Jennifer Penczarski reported at Monday’s regular board meeting that three issues remain to be completed by the contractor.

ADA — The drainage problems in the Ada School auditorium have been resolved. According to Mike Lenhart, head of maintenance and transportation, the work in the auditorium was done over break and finally completed last Friday, Jan. 8.

McGUFFEY — The Upper Scioto Valley Board of Education will begin its search for a new superintendent to replace the retiring Dennis Recker. Hired in April, 2012 to replace the fired Dr. Rick Ralston, Recker, who was in retirement then, agreed to lead the district until a replacement could be hired.

ADA — The Ada Board of Education will again be led by Tara Griffith, who was elected president at the board’s reorganizational meeting Monday night. Serving as the district’s vice president for 2016 will be Ron Fleming.

Mark McCullough was elected president of the Kenton Board of Education at its reorganizational meeting Monday night. Getting the nod for the post of vice president was David Haushalter. The board will continue to have its regular monthly meetings on the third Monday at 7 p.m. in the board office.

Randy Rogers was named the chairman of the Hardin County Commissioners on Monday morning. The vice president for the coming year will be Brice Beaman. Times photo/Dan Robinson