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HARDIN COUNTY--Life Skills project judging was held by Hardin County 4-H on Tuesday, July 11. Over 150 projects were evaluated by the judges. 

Awards announced for Ada Barnyard Farmers, Liberty Belles & Boys and Lynn Valley Farmers are listed below.

The State Award is given to the top member in each project, who goes on to  represent Hardin County at the Ohio State Fair judging. If a project does not have a class at the Ohio State Fair, the top project member is awarded the Best of Project Award.

The County Award is given to the alternate state fair delegate. The Outstanding Achievement Award is given to any other 4-H  member who went above and beyond expectations on their project and interview.

Ohio 4-H offers  over 200 Life Skills projects, formally known as still projects, in areas such as STEM, Creative Arts,  Shop, Natural Resources, Photography and Veterinary Science. 

Ada Barnyard Farmers members with awards:

  • Amelia Clemons
    • State Award - You and Your Dog, Designed by Me
    • Outstanding Achievement - Designed by Me
  • Waylon Clemons
    • State Award - Let's Start Cooking
  • Derek Dennis
    • Outstanding Achievement - Magic of Electricity: Level 1
    • Outstanding Achievement - Measuring Up: Level 1
  • Lillian Raines
    • State Award - My Favorite Thing
  • Mariah Franco Rangel
    • State Award - American Sign Language
  • Elliot Seeley
    •  Outstanding Achievement - Geology: Can You Dig It?

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The 2023 Ohio 4-H Achievement Awards were presented earlier this month at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus. Eleanor Curlis from Forest received the Food and Nutrition Achievement Award.

Curlis, 18, has received county and state recognition for the many food and nutrition projects she has completed. She has been a 4-H member for nine years in the Hardin Hi-Lighters 4-H Club. She is a senior at Hardin Northern High School and will attend college to study dietetics. Eleanor is the daughter of James and Sheri Curlis.

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By Paula Scott

The Village of Ada hosted a retirement celebration for Chief Michael Harnishfeger, who has led the Ada Police Department for 22 years; his full career in law enforcement has spanned 39 years. Friends, family and colleagues attended the event which included a proclamation by Mayor David Reterrer declaring June 22, 2023 Michael Harnishfeger Day in the Village of Ada.

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KENTON--The Hardin County Sports Hall of Fame held their 11th annual banquet on Saturday evening, June 17, 2023 at the St John's Church in Kenton.  Six individuals and one team were enshrined as members of the "Class of 2023."  The evening started with a catered dinner and two local student/athletes garnering scholarships for their work in the classroom, community and athletic achievements.

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CORRECTION: Brown taught 33 years at Bluffton High School.

By Bill Herr

What Bluffton High School teacher was most memorable and influenced students the most? As a graduate of BHS and later a teacher at my alma mater, my list would be great but I would narrow it down to include Lorain Basinger (Vocational Agriculture), Wilbur Howe (History and Government), Wilford Geiger (Biology), Margaret Weaver (Latin), Duane Bollenbacher (Mathematics), and my choice at the top of the list, Gary Brown.

Gary graduated from Ada High School in 1956, from Bluffton College in 1961 and received his Master's in Teaching from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1972. He taught high school science for 35 years: Physics, Chemistry, Advanced Biology, and Environmental Biology (for which he developed his own course of study). He taught 33 of those years at Bluffton High School where he was affectionately known as "Doc." He was an assistant coach in football at BHS for 10 years.

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Report provided by Soroptimist International of Kenton/Hardin County:

Soroptimist International of Kenton/Hardin County held the June meeting at the Kenton Elks Lodge. President Karen Kier called the meeting to order and welcomed guests Rebecca Diller and Madisen Jolliff. Attendees rose and recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Soroptimist grace. While club members enjoyed dinner, Speaker Rebecca Diller from Ohio Northern University spoke on “Effective Stress Management” and went through a few exercises that can easily be done on a regular basis.

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