Steve Stratton of Stratton Greenhouses, Bluffton, was recognized during the 2018 America in Bloom award ceremony on Sept. 29 in Lexington, Kentucky.
He was among 16 candidates nominated by candidate communities for the John R. Holmes III Community Champion Award.
This award goes to a person who goes above and beyond for their community to make their town more livable. Steve launched the downtown Bluffton petunia flower pots project and several additional flower beautification activities in the community over the years.
This year's winner was a resident of Clyde, Ohio. Stratton was recognized at the symposium as being one of the 16 nominees.
Ada Kiwanis Club officers, who were elected in May, assumed their year-long duties today.
They include Joe Ferguson, president; Marlene Hoorman, vice president; Jon Umphress, secretary; and Bryan Marshall, treasurer. Harold Friesner and Jack Jeffery, immediate past president, will be board members along with the officers.
Joe Ferguson joined Kiwanis in 2003. He previously served as vice president and president of the club, which has as its motto, “Serving children of the world, one child at a time.”
The Ada High School Marching Band and Color Guard earned a superior rating and first place in Class C Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Buckeye Invitational.
In addition the group earned honors for Best Color Guard, Best General Effect, Best Marching, and Best Visual Effect in class C.
The Buckeye Invitational is a high school band competition sponsored by the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA). It is hosted by The Ohio State University Marching Band and takes place in historic Ohio Stadium.
Story by Monty Siekerman
There are two things about the beautiful home at 602 S. Johnson that you notice when you drive by. First, whoever lives there has good taste. The plantings seem to be the right sizes, in the right places, not overdone or understated. Secondly, how does all of this happen when you seldom see anyone gardening there?
Meet Karlen Waugh who lives in the big, yellow house with his two children, Mason, a freshman at ONU, and Alexis, a sophomore at Ada High School. The home recently received an Outstanding Beautification Award from Keep Hardin County Beautiful.
Story and photo by Monty Siekerman
The Wild Steelions and Northern Steel Drums #1 entertained at dinner last Thursday on the patio at The Inn on campus.
They banged out Caribbean music with their sticks on various kinds of drums in appropriate weather.
Steel drum music originated in Trinidad and Tobago. At 5 o’clock on Thursday it was 90 degrees in Ada, six degrees hotter than in Trinidad at that time. Nevertheless, the diners sat back and enjoyed the beat from the steelpans.
Dr. Sarah Waters has directed steel drums at ONU for several years. The Wild Steelions consist of junior and senior high school students from Ada and nearby towns.
