April 2022

The Kent State Guardsmen Oral History Project, an award-winning endeavor that recently received grant funding, is continuing to seek former guardsmen who deployed to Kent in May 1970 when the shootings occurred.

“These men were castigated and vilified in the aftermath, and so understandably, they didn’t talk about it publicly,” says David Strittmatter, Ph.D., Ohio Northern University assistant professor of history and project organizer. “Time has a healing effect. We’re wanting to know: How has this followed you? How has it affected your life, if at all?”

The Icon has updated its calendar at www.AdaIcon.com/calendar; don't forget to update yours:

The Ada Aera Chamber of Commerce will not meet in the morning this month. Members will Mix and Mingle at The Cask Room, 127 S. Main, from 4:30-6 p.m. on April 20.

Larks and night owls should enjoy this meeting time!

Neal Young has been named the head men's basketball coach at Ohio Northern. Young comes to ONU after winning three USA South titles in five seasons as head coach at Covenant (Ga.) College.

"I would like to thank Dr. DiBiasio and Tom Simmons as well as the rest of the hiring committee for this incredible opportunity," Young said. "My family and I are excited to get to Ada and begin the process of integrating ourselves into this community and investing in Polar Bear basketball."

He guided the Scots to a 79-47 record (a winning percentage of .627) and USA South titles in 2019, 2020 and 2022.

Rita M. Rowe, age 79, passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 11:36 p.m. at Lima Memorial Health System.  

Rita was born March 12, 1943 in Burlington, KY to the late Forest and Ethel (Quicksall) Sexton.  On April 26, 1960, Rita married Kelly L. Rowe and he preceded her in death on July 15, 1988.