MOUNT VICTORY — A new school with new food options means more students and staff eating lunch at Ridgemont Schools. “The new kitchen is a success with students and staff,” Bev Wasserbeck, food service coordinator, told Ridgemont Board of Education members at their monthly meeting Thursday evening.

The Hardin County Family YMCA has set a $30,000 goal for its 2015 Annual Support Campaign which kicked off Wednesday evening. The campaign supports the Y’s scholarship program which provides financial assistance to individuals, children and families who are not able to afford membership or programs.

COLUMBUS — Ohio State University President Michael V. Drake has named Bruce McPheron interim executive vice president and provost, effective Dec. 2. For the last three years, McPheron has served as the vice president for agricultural administration and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

FOREST — The introduction of a new doctor in Forest, the progress of securing a grant to construct a new office building and plans for a colorful Christmas season in the village were some of the highlights of Wednesday’s Forest Community Improvement Corp. meeting.

DOLA — The proposal to adopt a statewide school calendar and to eliminate pay-to-play programs is not popular with Hardin Northern’s top administrator. Superintendent Jeff Price told his board Wednesday that State Sen. Cliff Hite is considering proposing the state legislature adopt a common school calendar for all public schools.

The source of Tuesday morning’s fire at the Scioto Village Apartment’s B building may not be known for a few more days. A K-9 officer from the Columbus area trained to sniff out accelerants was brought to the scene of the fire shortly after noon Tuesday, but the results of that search wont’ be released until a final report is completed, said Kenton Fire Chief Russ Blue today.

ADA — The Ada Community Improvement Corporation was presented with a check for $1,500 because of its participation in an economic development program. Jon Cross, president and CEO of business development, and John Hohn, director of economic development, both with the Hardin County Chamber and Business Alliance, were present at Tuesday night’s village council meeting to present the check to village administrator Jim Meyer, who in turn will take the check with him to the Ada CIC.

Despite concerns about revenue projections and a general fund budget that exceeds that forecast by nearly $280,000, Kenton’s 2016 spending plan will be presented unchanged to City Council. Members of the Finance Committee on Tuesday night directed the 2016 budget be drafted as submitted by the administration.

Four people were taken to area hospitals from an early morning fire at the Scioto Village Apartments in Kenton, but, according to witnesses, things could have been much worse if not for the heroic acts of some residents. Kenton Fire Chief Russ Blue said his department was called to the apartment complex on the south side of the city at 5:38 a.m. today.

Kenton City Schools thought the $492,000 it received this year was its final reimbursement for the tangible personal property tax program eliminated by the state several years ago. However, a compromise plan being put together by Ohio lawmakers would reduce but extend the reimbursement for another two years, Treasurer Tracy Hiller reported at Monday’s board of education meeting.