St. Rita’s Professional Services broke ground Monday on a new $1 million facility in Ada. Located across from the Ada school on Ohio 81, the new offices are expected to open in April.

McGUFFEY — Each year the Upper Scioto Valley Board of Education awards a lease contract to an area farmer to plant and harvest its farm land. The action is usually a routine item on the board’s agenda. But this year’s lessee has gotten the attention of the residents of Alger.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — Multiple projects in the Riverdale School District are reaching their completion. Superintendent Eric Hoffman updated the board on various projects around the district at its regular meeting Monday.

McGUFFEY — The Upper Scioto Valley School District is hoping to secure a grant which will allow students to leave their school career with an advantage in the marketplace. Superintendent Dennis Recker said he has applied for a Straight A Grant to establish a Certified Vision program.

ADA — The Ohio Northern University Center for Democratic Governance and Rule of Law and the College of Law’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) program will establish an Advanced Legal Education Program for Afghan Lawyers.

ALGER — The duties of Street Foreman Bill Shepherd have increased, as have his wages. Alger council voted to increase Shepherd’s hourly rate from $13 to $15 at its meeting Monday evening. The increase will come with added responsibilities after water plant worker Jason Dye resigned earlier this month.

A report was received of a theft of a purse and medication from a vehicle at 414 Chesney St. The theft of a wallet and cash from a vehicle was reported at 350 Barron St.

ADA — Growing up as a pastor’s daughter, Mary Jo Yeakel cherished her time in church, inspiring her to become a pastor herself. Reverend Yeakel has been pastor at the Ada First United Methodist Church since July of 2011. Since being ordained in upstate New York, she has also pastored in Ansonia, Dayton, Columbus, Worthington and Athens. She likes to call herself a “professional visitor.”

Kenton’s new chief of police will be named by the mayor without the need to pass an examination. After Kenton police officers failed twice to pass a civil service test to determine who would become chief, the city’s Civil Service Commission today agreed to waive the competitive test and allow the mayor to hire a member on the department....