On a glorious October morning, a fence in downtown Ada was covered with Morning Glory vine, a mass of lush green leaves and vivid blue blooms. The Farmers' Almanac describes the annual vine as one that blooms until the first frost of fall.
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.
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.
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.
Pauline L. “Peg” Snyder, age 88, of Harrod, passed away on Friday, October 17, 2025, at her son’s home in Lima, with her family by her side.
She was born on January 4, 1937, in Lima, Ohio, to the late Wesley B. and Ida M. (Sweeney) Smith. On February 5, 1956, Peg married Donald E. Snyder and he preceded her in death on March 9, 2008.
