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Mary Bowden was a Link Trainer Operator during WWII

Mary Frances Stambaugh Bowden, of Ada, Ohio passed away on January 30, 2023 at the age of 99. 

Mary was born October 19, 1923, in McGuffey, Ohio, to the late Jennings and Ellen Stambaugh. She graduated from Ada High School in 1941 and earned a two-year degree in Aviation Technology from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri in 1943. At Stephens she was chosen as the outstanding graduate from the Aviation Department. After college, she worked as a Link Trainer Operator in Brownsville, Texas, training Air Force pilots during WWII.

Hardin Leadership Class of 2023 planned

HARDIN COUNTY--Participants for the thirtieth annual Hardin Leadership class, a program designed for the development of informed and effective community leaders, are being recruited until March 1. 

Hardin Leadership is sponsored and conducted by the Hardin Leadership Steering Committee and Hardin Leadership Inc. Nine monthly sessions will focus on the knowledge/skills required by today's community leader, such as public speaking, conflict management, and marketing.

This year’s program will be offered in morning sessions, March through November. A tuition fee of $350.00 per person covers the expenses of the program.

Ada Schools suspend search for new superintendent following interview questions leak

On Monday, January 25, the Ada Exempted Village Schools issued the following announcement cancelling the current search for a new superintendent. The board has a closed door executive session scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on February 1. Members of the Board of Education are President Matt Gossman, Vice-President Amy Mullins, Ron Fleming, Ted Griffith and Steve Ramey.

"The Ada Exempted Village Schools Board of Education has decided to cancel the current search for a Superintendent who will replace Superintendent Robin Van Buskirk following her retirement. 

"The Board will select an interim Superintendent who will serve the District for the 2023-2024 school year. The Board made this decision following one candidate in the current search receiving a copy of the questions intended for the interview process. 

"The questions were delivered to the candidate anonymously and the Board has not been able to identify the source of the copy of the advance questions. 

"Board President Matt Gossman explained, 'How can we proceed with a Superintendent search when the credibility of the search has been irreparably damaged by someone who violated the trust and integrity of this search process.  Finding the next leader of our schools is a sacred responsibility and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that the process is transparent and fair to all candidates.'"

Current superintendent Robin VanBuskirk was hired in October 2021, having previously served the district as Director of Teaching and Learning and as K-12 Principal.

Larry Claypool served as interim superintendent from about September 2021-November 2021.

Meri Skilliter served as superintendent from January 2017- July 2021.

Dr. Suzanne Darmer served as superintendent from January 2007-December 2016.

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CANCELED Vaccine development to be discussed at Bluffton University forum

UPDATE This event has been cancelled.

Robert A. Lerch, Ph.D., head of lab and site management and business operations at Pfizer Vaccine Research and Development, will present the Forum “Vaccine Development During a Pandemic,” at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31 in Yoder Recital Hall on the campus of Bluffton University

As a member of the Pfizer team that developed the COVID mRNA vaccine, Lerch will discuss his research as a practice of Christian service.

This event is free and open to the public.

Area students named to Dean’s List at Ohio Northern University

The following students from Hardin County and from Bluffton and Rawson were named to the Dean’s List for fall semester 2022 at Ohio Northern University.

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must attain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and be enrolled full time.

Aleece Al-Olimat - Ada - Ada High School

Grace Allison - Ada - Ada High School

Jeffrey Bassitt - Ada - Ada High School

Griffin Broge - Ada - Home School

Rielyn Castle - Ada - Ada High School

Jacob Colwell - Ada - Ada High School

Avery Demland - Ada

Alizay Furtado - Ada

Abigail Gerding - Kenton Kenton - Senior High School

AHS girls basketball seeded 5th, to play New Bremen

By Cort Reynolds

The Ada girls basketball team was seeded fifth out of 11 teams in their Div. IV sectional drawing Sunday.

After receiving a first round bye, the 10-9 Lady Bulldogs will play fourth seed New Bremen (10-10) in a sectional final Thursday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Shawnee.

The Ada/NB winner advances to the Wapakoneta district semifinals, almost certainly against top seed Marion Local (17-2), on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.

Eschewing a round one bye, ML plays winless 11th seed Ridgemont Feb. 16 in the first round. The winner takes on 10th seed New Knoxville (1-19) in one sectional final.

Ninth-seeded USV (4-15) plays third seed St. Henry (11-7) in a first round matchup at Spencerville Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The winner faces seventh seed Perry (9-9) Feb. 18 at Spencerville.

SH passed on a bye, which Perry then received.

Hardin Northern (12-7) was seeded sixth and will play eighth seed Waynesfield (7-10) in Spencerville Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in first round action. 

The victor advances to take on second seed Minster (10-8) at Spencerville Feb. 18.

The top four seeds are all MAC teams. The district finals are set for Thursday, Feb. 25 in Wapak at 6 p.m.

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