Bellefontaine City Schools second-graders, from the left, Griffin Graham, Kirsten Hand and Braelyn Wilcoxon, react during one of the final rounds of Thursday’s Second Grade Reading Olympics at the Bellefontaine High School Distance Learning Center. Their team, the Awesome Readers, took second place in the competition, and first-place winners were the Olympic Superstars made up of Krista VanBuskirk, Joseph Boop, Katelyn Esh and Lucas Harrington. To qualify for the annual event, the 45 participants had to read at least seven advanced books from a list of 14 books and keep a journal on each one. Neil Kauffman, who read 12 books from a list of 14 advanced books, was recognized for reading the most books. (EXAMINER PHOTO | MANDY LOEHR)

FRONT PAGE PHOTO: Laney Mitchell, third grade, shows off her Chihuly-like glass artwork to her parents Bob and Laura Mitchell during the Thursday evening art show at Southeastern Elementary School. ABOVE: Kindergarten students Aeriana Sterango, left, and Kaydin Lenhart draw pictures as parents and their children mill about Thursday evening at Southeastern Elementary School’s art show. (EXAMINER PHOTOS | REUBEN MEES)

Bellefontaine Street Department employee C. Ray Eaton, left, and Jason Harman installed posts and signs this week to announce the traffic light at AGC Automotive Americas, 1465 W. Sandusky Ave. will begin operation May 29. The light and road widening were part of a state-funded project to improve access at the autoglass plant. (EXAMINER PHOTO | JOEL E. MAST)

The Ohio Hi-Point Career Center’s satellite Kenton FFA Chapter recently was awarded a $5,000 Helping Communities Grow grant after placing first in the state Nutrients for Life Foundation’s program competition.

The Kenton chapter spread the message of nourishing the world to over 500 elementary, junior high and high school students using newspaper, radio and hands-on science lessons. Other activities included a trip to the chapter’s land lab and the local farm museum. The FFA students also installed raised garden beds at a local homeless shelter.

Photo Identification L-R: Dee McKenna, Nutrients for Life representative; Kameron Kaylor, Kenton Land Lab Chair; Morgan Latham, Kenton FFA Grant Chairperson; Shelby Brammell, Ohio Hi-Point Kenton FFA Advisor

The student body, staff and community members took part in West Liberty Salem National Honor Society’s blood drive Wednesday, with the WL-S Red Cross Club supporting the blood drive by donating drinks for all blood donors.

Overall, 65 individuals went through the registration and screening process and 56 units were donated. From the 56 pints that were donated, 29 were from first time donors.

In other NHS news, members recently spent four days assisting the WL-S elementary with kindergarten screening. They also were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from Green Hills for 54 hours of service by NHS members.

NHS hosts a Powder Puff game May 24 to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis research.