Preparing for the annual Christmas Cookie Walk at the First United Methodist Church in Kenton are (from left, front) Mary Lou McNeal, Candy Callinan, Judy Leiberick, (back) Gladys Hamilton, Shirley Stauffer, Becky Craig and Cheryl Purcell. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Ada High School junior Miguel Jordan serves meals to Ada senior citizens Mary Bowden (left) and Julie Ludanyi during the school’s 26th annual Senior Citizen Christmas Luncheon on Wednesday afternoon.

Fourth graders at Hardin Northern Elementary had a visit from Olivia and Chris of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum. Teams of students designed balloon rockets and competed to see which one could carry the heaviest load.

BELLEFONTAINE — Jonathan Alder took control with a 17-7 first quarter advantage and pushed its lead to 16 points by halftime in pulling away to a 73-51 victory over Ben Logan in Central Buckeye Conference girls basketball action on Wednesday.

The Hardin County Council on Aging Senior Center had a cookie exchange with over 18 types of cookies made by the seniors.

An innovative family farmer, agricultural broadcaster and farm financier were inducted into the Hardin County Agriculture Hall of Fame at a banquet on Tuesday evening. Merritt Corbin, Joe Cornely and Jim Lyle were recognized for their contributions to agriculture during the annual induction ceremony at St. John’s Evangelical Church in Kenton.

Local agencies, including Helping Hands Outreach and Big Brothers Big Sisters, credit the assistance of the United Way of Hardin County for their continued success. The United Way is conducting its annual campaign with a goal of $220,000 to continue supporting some 20 programs in the county.

DOLA — Locked in a one-point game, the Hardin Northern and Ada girls basketball teams both got the looks at the basket they wanted to get in the final seconds of their annual early-season battle on Tuesday night. And both teams converted on those opportunities.

Jacob Butterfield of Troop 124, Ada received the rank of Eagle on Nov. 1. He was interviewed by four adult scouters at the Scout Shop in Lima. He was accompanied by his Scoutmaster, Jeff Kurtz, and his Assistant Scoutmaster and Project Manager, Tom Lehman.

Workers from V and R Construction put the finishing touches on the exterior of Kenton’s new Dollar Tree store, located at 1000 E. Columbus Street on the site of the former Hardin Central Elementary.