Brandi Grant-Rigsby, new pastor of First United Methodist Church, will preach her first sermon in Ada on Sunday, June 25.
She already had an Ada connection as a 2005 Ohio Northern University graduate with a degree in psychology and youth ministry.
“I am thrilled to be moving back to Ada and having the opportunity to raise my kids in this town that has always felt like home to me,” she told The Icon.
Originally from Ayersville, the new pastor earned a master’s of divinity degree from Methodist Theological School of Ohio, Delaware, in 2011.
By Monty Siekerman
K9 Riley greets children at Ada War Memorial Park on Thursday during a week-long series of sessions about the duties and equipment of emergency responders.
Riley's handler for the past four years has been Sheriff Deputy Joe Carl. Youngsters meeting Riley are Gabyrel and Dylan Ford, Kiera Cash, and Jasmine and Gage Gibson.
Carl said Riley is very friendly. But the 8-year-canine wears different collars for what is expected of him. There is a collar that, when worn, tells the dog to track the scent of a person, another collar indicates that the dog should be aggressive, another tells him to search for drugs, etc.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office said the deaths of a male and female in a rural Ada house Monday night appear be drug related. The bodies have been sent to Lucas County for autopsy.
The Ada Church of Christ Disciples members have decided to have an outreach to bikers beginning Sunday, July 23. The first bikers chapel service will begin with a dinner at 5 p.m. and a service at 7 p.m. at the church, 316 S. Main.
Brett Walters said, "Come expecting the Lord to move within the fellowship of believers as we are showing Jesus love through fellowship."
Colors are welcome. Other meal/service sessions especially for bikers will be held monthly at the church. Those attending do no need to register ahead of time. For more information, call Walters at 419-233-4480.
New Leaf Garden Center will sponsor fairy garden workshops on Saturday in Ada and Kenton. Employees will teach how to make a miniature garden at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.at the Ada store on SR 235 north of Ada and at the same time at the Kenton store, 927 E. Columbus St.
Store owner Laurie Laird said, "Fairy gardens are popular and fun for people of all ages. It's a family thing with grandparents, parents, grandchildren and friends attending."
Ohio Northern track and field and cross country standout and junior Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) has been named a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American.
The junior is a Biochemistry major, and earned the honor for the first time in her career.
Richards, a 5-time track and field National Champion and cross country All-American has excelled both in the classroom and in competition.
The junior currently owns the Div. III record in the 800-meter run after posting a time of 2:00.62 at the Music City Distance Carnival in Nashville, Tenn.
Charles VanDyne of Ada and Rosalie Elliott of Mt. Victory have been named co-chairs for Hardin County of the Jon Cross campaign. Cross is the Republican candidate for state representative from the 83rd district to the Ohio House.
VanDyne, who lives in Alger, is a practicing attorney in Ada and a former chairman of the Hardin County Republican Party. He was elected to the Hardin County Republican Party Central Committee and serves on its executive committee.
Elliott is involved with the family business, which includes the Plaza Inn Restaurant and Elliott Farms. She is the wife of the late Edward Elliott II, a recent Hardin County commissioner, farmer and businessman.
The following students from Hardin County were named to the ONU Dean’s List for spring semester. 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.
Colten Lee Abbey, age 15, died on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at 4:24 a.m. at his residence.
He was born on February 11, 2002 in Lima, Ohio to Mike and Jessy (Reffitt) Abbey and they survive in Harrod.
Colten was a freshman at Allen East High School, where he was a member of the football team, track team, wrestling team and a member of the student council. He was a member of the Harrod Christian Church. Colten was a member of the Harrod Christian Youth Group. He was a member of the Auglaize Ag 4-H Club.
Victoria Knotts sports a Cadets sweatshirt to support her son AJ, who plays baritone for the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
She and her family travelled about 500 miles from eastern Pennsylvania to see the "Thank You Ada" performance put on by the corps on Sunday evening at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
This is AJ's second year with the corps. This fall he will be a junior at Penn State.
Many family members of the Cadets travel long distances to see the corps perform from coast to coast during the summer.
