The theme for this year’s African American History Month is “African Americans and the Civil War” honoring the efforts of people of African descent to destroy slavery and inaugurate universal freedom in the United States.

Hillsboro Rotary Club President Terry Collins has announced and released guidelines for the 2012 Hillsboro Rotary Club Four-Way Speech Contest.

The Shawnee State University Board of Trustees has endorsed a plan developed by Chancellor Jim Petro of the Ohio Board of Regents that ties funding received by SSU from the state to improved course completion, graduation rates, and service to the Appalachian region.

Hillsboro Middle School has announced its honor roll students for the second nine weeks grading period.

Reach Out and Read is a new program that helps students in grades kindergarten through fourth receive books to improve literacy skills.

Patch of Heaven Preschool and St. Mary Catholic School will be having an open house on Sunday, Jan. 29 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. They invite all prospective parents to come and visit the school and enjoy a chicken and noodle dinner. All faiths are welcome.

Radio Disney and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield have partnered to bring the Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge to schools throughout Ohio.

"One School, One Book" is a program designed to create a shared reading experience within a single elementary school community. A chapter book is chosen, every family in the elementary school receives a copy, and every family reads that book at home over the course of a single month.

The Lynchburg-Clay 2012 Homecoming will be held Friday, Feb. 3 at the high school.

Several area residents have been named to the Wilmington College Academic Merit List for the 2011 fall semester.

Each month, Laurel Oaks nominates a local employer who has played a vital role either in providing support to its programs. Debbi Neu, cosmetology instructor, nominated Saturday’s Salon in Washington Court House as the January Employer of the Month.

The Hillsboro FFA chapter had a very successful fruit sale this year. FFA members sold 7,400 pounds of apples and 31,600 pounds of different citrus fruits. Along with other items, their gross sales added up to $44,555.50.

Several area residents have been named to the Wilmington College Dean’s List for the 2011 fall semester.

Lynchburg-Clay Elementary has announced the honor roll for the 2nd nine weeks of the 2011-12 school year.

A reduced touring version of “Porgy and Bess” will be presented by the Cincinnati Opera 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Edward K. Daniels Auditorium on Southern State Community College’s Central Campus, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro.