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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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The Village of Ada issued a reminder on January 5 that Ordinance 521.06 requires owners and occupants to "keep the sidewalks, curbs or gutters in repair and free from snow, ice, or any nuisance. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.” Businesses and residences must have snow and ice removed from sidewalks to ensure public safety.

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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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STAY TUNED for coverage of the AHS Alumni Association Hall of Honors induction of Mike Lenhart and David Lusk, which included a reception and presentation at the basketball game.

By Cort Reynolds

ADA __The Ada High School boys basketball team rode a big second period to drub visiting non-conference foe Delphos Jefferson 68-44 on Saturday, January 3.

Ada trailed 15-13 after the first period. But the Bulldogs poured in 27 second-quarter points to forge ahead 40-27 at halftime, and were never threatened thereafter.

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