The February 27 Ada Distinguished Awards, coordinated by the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce, celebrated those who went above and beyond in their businesses, jobs and volunteer work. More than 150 area residents, business leaders and officials gathered at Liberty Oaks to recognize three outstanding individuals for 2024:
Jamie Hall, Village of Ada Administrator, Citizen of the Year
Linda Mason, ONU senior financial aid specialist and council member, Chris Burns-DiBiasio Make a Difference Award
Buckeye East, owned by Amber and Nick Simon, Business of the Year
The evening was emceed by Ada High School student Jillian Allison, who introduced remarks by Mayor Dave Retterer, ONU Vice President for Financial Affairs Jason Broge, Ada Schools Superintendent Julie Simmons and Ohio Senate President Rob McColley who represents District 1.
Bluffton University was informed that the University of Findlay Board of Trustees voted on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, not to proceed with the joint application to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for merger approval and to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 19, 2024. This decision comes after nearly a year of collaboration and preparation for the proposed merger.
The university issued this statement:
The merger work has resulted in an invaluable reflective process for both campuses as we have examined our strengths, areas for growth and capacity to change. The due diligence of the past year will help each university move forward in important ways.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is offering training academies across the state for those interested in becoming hunter education instructors. The two-day academies certify instructors to teach Ohio’s Hunter Education Courses, which cover a range of topics from conservation, safety, ethics, and proper handling of hunting equipment.
Northwest Ohio
Saturday, August 9 through Sunday, August 10, 2025
Division of Wildlife District 2 Office, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840
My path regularly crosses with that of Apollo Career Center Superintendent Keith Horner when we attend Ada and Bluffton school board meetings. His invitation to visit the facility was a welcome opportunity to see what draws students from 11 different districts who chose an alternative to traditional high school for their junior and senior years.
As a nod to the Icon reader base, I was given the opportunity to meet Lauren Bowers, a welding student from Bluffton, and Ashley Hevlin, a sports exercise science (SES) student from Ada.
