ADA — In the past five years, Hardin County has taken strides in dealing with the opiate epidemic through treatment, yet there is still much to be done, a panel of local leaders told Ohio Northern University students on Friday. State Rep. Robert Cole Sprague, Hardin County Prosecutor Brad Bailey and Sheriff Keith Everhart presented their views on the local effort to curb the crisis in a program at the Pettit School of Law in the college’s moot courtroom.

Ruby Risner’s plunger was left behind as she tried to maneuver backwards in the plunger race at Upper Scioto Valley School’s Relay For Life kickoff assembly. The May 4 event is the tenth year for the fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

MOUNT VICTORY — The Mount Victory CIC and Friends of the Park are closing in on the completion of the Mount Victory Village Park project which was started in 2004. The design for the park was approved by the village and it included a golf green, lawn game area near the shelters and a splash pad which will be reviewed in the near future.

Chance Jacques had come through with hits in key situations for the Kenton baseball team at various times throughout the 2018 season. And on Friday, Jacques did it again as the senior ripped a pinch-hit single to right field that scored Seth Creamer in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Wildcats to a 2-1 win over St. Marys on Friday afternoon.

Ellie Miller has been a leader on the basketball floor and in the classroom during her four years at Kenton High School. The Wildcat senior will be taking her talents to Ohio Northern University in Ada after she graduates in the spring.

For the past four years, Kori Barrett has led the way for the Kenton Lady Wildcats when it comes to providing toughness, tenacity and grit on the basketball floor. Beginning this winter the Kenton senior is hoping to do more of the same at Capital University.

Ridgemont’s Kylie Turner smacks the ball in Friday’s Northwest Central Conference matchup against USV.

Backed up by USV teammate Dylan Thompson, shortstop Austin Lamb looks to make the throw to first base in the Rams’ Northwest Central Conference contest against Ridgemont on Friday afternoon.

The Kenton Tree Commission conducted an Arbor Day observance on Thursday with the distribution of 110 trees to city residents. The red oak and river birch trees were purchased through the annual tree sale at the Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District.

B.J. Hall (left) accepts the Resident of the Year award from Shawn Hoffner, manager of HardinCrest Apartments in Kenton, on Thursday morning.