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.

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.

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....

It has become commonplace for people to provide food for others at Christmas who may not have the means to pay for a meal. Toys are given to make the Christmas season happier for the young people of the community. But Dennis and Peg Wells are offering something unique this holiday season – live Christmas trees to those who might otherwise go without one.

FOREST — Residents of Forest will be given the chance to decide the fate of a proposed pond and splash park to replace their closed swimming pool in next November’s general election. The pool was closed in 2014 by the Kenton-Hardin Health Department due to safety concerns.

FOREST — Workers and volunteers in Forest who accumulate traffic tickets will find themselves banned from being behind the wheel of town vehicles. Council agreed Thursday night any member of the police department, fire department, EMS or village worker, who has six points or more against their driving record will be suspended from driving vehicles owned by the village.