December 2025

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By Ryan McGuire, Student Pharmacist and Karen Kier, Pharmacist
ONU Healthwise Pharmacy 

The R&B Band Soul II Soul released their song "Keep on Movin’" on March 6, 1989. The song lyrics included to “keep on moving” and “finding your own way to stay.” Based on health-related research, keep on moving is good advice.  As we approach 2026, this could be sound advice as we make New Year's resolutions.

In today’s world, where comfort and entertainment are just a click away, many people are becoming more inactive. Inactivity can occur in many places, including at home while watching television, looking at our phones, or playing games. Another common environment for inactivity is the workplace, where we find ourselves sitting more often. 

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Expanding patient-centered, harm-reduction services through OneOhio funding 

MEDIA RELEASE__The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board (MHRSB) of Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin Counties is inviting eligible organizations to complete a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a one-time funding opportunity that supports substance use treatment services in Allen and/or Auglaize County. Eligible providers may submit proposals at wecarepeople.org/oneohio. Written questions are due by 5:00 p.m. on December 19, 2025, and all proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM on January 9, 2026. 

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Location and appearance of pole for new tornado siren reviewed on eve of installation

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The December 2 regular meeting of the Village of Ada Regular Council was conducted by Mayor Dave Retterer. Council excused the absence of Council member Jason Campbell. The meeting packet is provided on the Village website HERE.

RESOLUTIONS
A resolution was approved authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement for employment of legal counsel for the year 2026. The meeting packet shows that Village Legal Counsel Jane Napier shall receive an annual salary of $18,900.

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Ada First United Methodist Church is hosting a Christmas concert in partnership with the ONU chapel on Friday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m. 

The concert is open to the community. There's no cost, but organizers are asking for donations of non-perishable food items to benefit Beatitudes and the ONU Polar Cupboard.

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MEDIA RELEASE__The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) reports 11 deaths in eight fatal crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday reporting period, which began at midnight on Wednesday, November 26 and concluded at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 30.

According to preliminary Patrol statistics, at least two of the eight fatal crashes recorded during the reporting period were OVI-related. In a continued effort to lower that number to zero, troopers made 281 arrests for impaired driving and 38 for drug-related charges.

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PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen / CLICK to enlarge

By Cort Reynolds

DOLA__The visiting Ada High School girls basketball team lost 40-33 to county rival Hardin Northern in their annual non-conference battle on Tuesday, December 2.

The Polar Bears built a seven-point halftime lead, and the hosts were able to maintain that margin as both teams scored 16 points in a deadlocked second half. 

Ada dropped to 1-2 after suffering the defeat in their first road game. HN improved to 2-0 with the victory.

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MEDIA RELEASE__Fred Steiner, formerly of Bluffton and now of Cincinnati [and the founder of the Bluffton Icon and Ada Icon], presented a program in early November 2025 in a railroad club member meeting held in the Cincinnati Union Terminal. Steiner has presented the program about railroads in Bluffton several times; it is now available on YouTube.

The presentation titled “The life of my small town changed forever when the railroad arrived” is a narrative of the three railroads that once passed through Bluffton. Those include:

  • The abandoned Western Ohio Railway, an electric interurban, whose rails are still embedded in concrete under Main Street
  • The abandoned Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad, whose station remains today as a business on North Main Street near the community swimming pool
  • Norfolk Southern Railroad, which today has one local round-trip freight pass through town

115 years ahead of its time, or what are those rails during under Bluffton’s Main Street?

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FROM FACEBOOK__Bluffton-based Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Co. was excited to discover a large tin of their Classic Cheddar flavor prominently featured on an episode of the new Peacock TV comedy series, The Paper. The series is about a documentary crew covering attempts to revive a Toledo, Ohio newspaper. It has thematic and production links to The Office. 

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FROM FACEBOOK__Get in the holiday spirit by making Gingerbread Houses at Ada Public Library

There are two opportunities to participate, so come and join the festive fun!

• Thursday, Dec. 4 from 4 - 6  p.m. 
• Saturday, Dec. 6 from 1 - 2  p.m. 

Ada Public Library
320 N. Main Street
Ada, OH 45810
(419) 634-5246

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Sharon K. Lease, age 77, of Lima, passed away on Monday, December 1, 2025, at Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima. 

She was born on July 21, 1948, in Kenton, Ohio, to Waldo and Annis (Conley) Oglesbee. On July 1, 1966, Sharon married Arthur Lease, and he survives in Lima. 

Also surviving are her two sons: Darren (Sunny) Lease of North Lewisburg and Jeff (Lynn) Lease of Venice, FL; five grandchildren: Dalton, Batai, Savannah, Hershel and Larry; a sister-in-law, Dana Oglesbee; brother-in-law, Dana (Rhonda) Lease; and nephews: Kyle Oglesbee and Barry James Lease. 

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