FROM FACEBOOK__Join us for the West Central Ohio Land Conservancy Annual Meeting: a welcoming gathering for members, landowners, partners and anyone interested in learning more about land preservation in our community. Whether you've been involved with WCOLC for years or are completely new to the organization, this event is a great opportunity to connect, learn and be inspired.
FROM BHS TEXT ALERTS__The Ada High School girls soccer team will play the Bluffton Pirates at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 20 in a District Semi-Final game at Steinmetz Field in Bluffton.
There will be a 5 p.m. game between Continental and Columbus Grove. The Ada-Bluffton game will start approx. 30 minutes after the first game ends.
Happy Monday! Here are AdaIcon.com's top stories from the week that was, October 13-19 (a chronological look at all Icon content is at AdaIcon.com/archive). Below you'll find top stories from BlufftonIcon.com.
OCT 14 MEDIA RELEASE__Martha Evans-Nau, Executive Director of the United Way of Hardin County, joined a distinguished panel of leaders at the inaugural 2025 Ohio United Way ALICE Policy Summit, a statewide event dedicated to addressing the growing economic challenges faced by Ohio's working families.
MEDIA RELEASE__Ohio State University Extension in Hardin County will be holding a Master Gardener Volunteer training class in 2026. Classes will be taught using a hybrid model with in-person and online learning.
The time and location will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Ohio State University Extension Office in Hardin County located at 1021 West Lima Street, Suite 103, Kenton, OH 43326.
The cost of the class is $150.00, which includes instruction, training manual, name tag, shirt, snacks, and drinks. The deadline to sign-up for the 2026 class is Monday, December 1, 2025.
ADA – The Ada High School boys soccer team lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to visiting Riverdale in Div. V Northwest sectional final play at War Memorial Stadium on a warm and sunny Saturday, October 18.
Ada finishes its season with a fine 11-5-2 record after the loss. Riverdale improved to 6-13 after the upset victory.
“It’s a tough way to end what has been a positive season,” said Ada second-year head coach Aaron Acheson.
The Bulldogs had whipped visiting Riverdale 4-1 back on September 10 to help avenge a 2024 district semifinal loss to the Falcons. But Riverdale somehow managed to turn the tables at tournament time.
Joseph E. “Joey” Pope Sr., age 63, of Ada, passed away at his home on Friday, October 17, 2025, surrounded by his family.
He was born on April 12, 1962, in Bluffton, Ohio, to Joseph Pope and Marcene (Zimmerman) Pope. On August 23, 1980, Joey married Linda Downing and she survives in Ada.
Also surviving are his four children: Joseph “Joe” (Heather) Pope, Jr., Justin (Nicole) Pope, Jordan (Beatrice) Pope and Jarita (Adam) Badertscher all of Ada; nineteen grandchildren; two brothers: John Pope and Bradley Pope; a sister, Tammy (Bill) Downing; several step brothers and sisters; and several nieces and nephews.
PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen / CLICK gallery to enlarge and view at your own pace
By Cort Reynolds
AHS plays at 2nd place Leipsic in week 10
ADA__The Ada High School football team fell behind big by halftime and lost 41-6 to visiting Pandora-Gilboa in a Blanchard Valley Conference game to conclude their home schedule on Friday, October 17.
By Miguel Jordan, MD
Blanchard Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology
In recent years, robotic-assisted surgery has emerged as a powerful tool in treating various gynecologic conditions, offering patients and physicians a new level of precision, flexibility and confidence in surgical outcomes. With technological advancements and increasing expertise among surgeons, robotic surgery has redefined how complex gynecologic procedures are performed and how patients recover from them.
PHOTOS ABOVE) Top row, L-R David Allen, Ted Griffith, Kyle Poling; Lower row, Amanda Raines and Jay Saylor.
Compiled by Paula Pyzik Scott
On Wednesday, October 15, the Ada Rotary hosted a forum for the five candidates running for two seats on the Ada School Board. Host John Neville presented questions from the public and gave candidates an opportunity to present their backgrounds and reasons for running for office. Neville also reminded the audience in ONU’s Dicke Forum and watching live on Facebook of the Rotary’s mission to eradicate polio.
The five candidates for Ada School Board are David Allen, Ted Griffith, Kyle Poling, Amanda Raines and Jay Saylor. Griffith is running for reelection. A seat is opening with the expiration of the term filled by Ron Fleming, who has been a school board member since 1998.
