January 2026

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PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen

By Cort Reynolds

ADA – The Ada High School girls basketball team stymied Lima Central Catholic 37-19 in a defensive non-league battle on Tuesday, January 6.

The Bulldog girls jumped out to an 11-2 first-period lead and extended the margin to 24-9 at intermission.  

Ada outscored LCC 13-10 in the second half to win going away by 18. 

Bulldog freshman Te’a Griffith tallied 13 points, and Ada senior post Anna Conley netted 11 markers to pace the victors.

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MEDIA RELEASE__Ada Exempted Village Schools and the Ada VFW have announced that they will collaborate to create an Ada High School Military Wall of Honor. The wall will pay homage to Ada High School graduates who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves. The recognition extends to those who have enlisted, commissioned as officers, or served in the National Guard or Reserves.

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By Paula Pyzik Scott

At 1:14 a.m. on Monday, January 5, the Ada-Liberty Fire Department responded to a fire at 569 E. Lincoln, where a storage building between lots 8 and 9 was totally destroyed by fire.

Chief Jay Epley reported that three apparatus and 11 firefighters were part of the response. There was also damage to nearby vinyl siding which melts at relatively low temperatures.

Epley noted that the Ohio Fire Marshall will determine the origin of the fire.

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CHP Home Care & Hospice, 1200 S. Main St., will host a Red Cross blood drive on January 12 from 11:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. Schedule an appointment online HERE.

The Red Cross has announced that winter weather is causing a decline in donations. With more severe weather predicted, type O blood donors are needed to give to prevent a shortage.

ON THE ICON CALENDAR

Find this event and more on AdaIcon.com/calendar.

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The January/February issue of Ohio Magazine highlights tours of the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada. The article introduces a "tiny college town" where all National Football League game balls are manufactured.

www.ohiomagazine.com/travel/article/wilson-factory-tour

The magazine is promoted as a source of Ohio travel inspiration and is published seven times per year.

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FROM FACEBOOK__Registration for Ada Youth Soccer spring season is open through January 31.

Player Registration Link: https://system.gotsport.com/programs/34883H304...

Coach Registration Link: https://system.gotsport.com/programs/1Q2119576...

The Ada Ohio Soccer Association shares information on the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/109277639116881/

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CLICK gallery to enlarge photos and view at your own pace

Jillian Allison receives 2025 Hall of Honor scholarship

By Alec Keller

Students, families, staff members and board of education officials gathered on Saturday evening, Jan. 3, in the Ada High School cafeteria to celebrate Mike Lenhart and David Lusk as the newest inductees into the alumni association’s Hall of Honor.

Two plaques were unveiled and placed along the wall inside the school’s south entrance, commemorating the men’s accomplishments and recognizing their years of outstanding service to the district.

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Pamela Diane Cavinder, age 76, of Harrod, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima.   

She was born on April 5, 1949, in Lima, Ohio, to the late Ernest F. and Elizabeth (Mason) Ackerman.  Diane was married to Johnny D. Cavinder.   

Diane is survived by her children: Steven (Michelle) Ackerman of Lima and Tracy Park of LaFayette; five grandchildren: Brooke, Brian, Brittany, Tiffany, and Skyler; eight great-grandchildren; and brother, Steven Frank (Nancy) Ackerman. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny D. Cavinder on July 17, 2025; and grandson, Chris. 

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CLICK calendar to enlarge

FROM FACEBOOK__The Ada Public Library, 320 N. Main, has announced the following activities for January 2026 and provided a full calendar (above). The library will be closed on Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Toddler & Preschool Storytime -- Thursdays @ 10 a.m. (New!)
Adult Book Group -- Tuesday, Jan. 6 @ 7  p.m. 
Friends of the Library meeting -- Wednesday, Jan. 14 @ 7  p.m. 
Closed for MLK Day -- Monday, Jan. 19
Amish Book Group -- Tuesday, Jan. 20 @ 1  p.m. 
Tween Art -- Thursday, Jan. 22 @ 3  p.m. 
Bingo with Officer Penny -- Tuesday, Jan. 27 @ 7  p.m. 
Tween Book Club -- Thursday, Jan. 29 @ 3  p.m. 

Stay up to date with library events at adalibrary.org/calendar/month

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Dear readers,

Linked below are 22 articles of lasting interest from among the 119 news items posted on AdaIcon.com during December 2025, selected for the print Ada Icon Highlights, which are distributed for in-house reading at the Ada Public Library, Beatitudes, Heterick Library at Ohio Northern University and Vancrest of Ada.

Included are obituaries for attorney Charles Van Dyne and former ONU president Kendall Baker, a 70th wedding anniversary announcement (more please!), and a partial changing of the guard on the Ada Council and Ada School Board, as several long-serving elected officials finished their terms.

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