ADA — For 48 years, an Ada woman has been teaching a valuable life skill to area youngsters. Sandy Neely, known as “the swimming lady,” was recognized as the Distinguished Citizen of the Year at the 50th Town and Gown Banquet at Ohio Northern University on Monday night.

MOUNT VICTORY — The Mount Victory Tree Commission planted a tree for Arbor Day at Henry Martin Park on Oct. 30. Resident Pam Arnold and her sister, Patty, from Ashtabula, met the commission members for the tree planting.

A family is murdered in Kenton and an innocent man is executed for the crime. No, it’s not a local legend; it’s fiction and the plot for a new book written by a woman with family ties to Hardin County.

First and second place winners of the Dunkirk Halloween costume contest were: ages 0-4 creative – first place Tyson Bell, second place Anthony Bricker; 0-4 scariest – Valentina McCullough and Chance Alberding;5-8 creative – Lainey Thomas and Kaden Guinn; 5-8 scariest – Kruz Curtis; 9-13 creative – Zachary Spearman and

The top group in the Forest Halloween Parade was the “senior citizens” featuring (front) Kellen Mowery, 1; (from left, back) Abraham Loveridge, 3, Adel Mowery, 2 and Amelia Loveridge, 3.

The grandchildren of Dunkkirk Mayor Terry Cramer, (from left) Sawyer Weihrauch, Jyles Conley, Ollie Weihrauch, Hayden Williams and Kason Williams, are off to see the wizard in their Wizard of Oz costumes.

The judges selected several winners at Wednesday night’s Forest Halloween Parade.

There will be state and local issues for Hardin County voters to consider in Tuesday’s general election, but only one county-wide issue. The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties is seeking the renewal of a .5 mill levy and Director Michael Schoenhofer said Hardin County residents have many reasons to support the renewal.