KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Doug Walton, owner/auctioneer of United Country Real Estate/Walton Realty Auction Co. LLC, Upper Sandusky, is following in his father’s footsteps as a leader in the auctioneer industry for the state of Ohio.

If you’ve made it to a point in life where you’re ready to start investing, or at least start thinking about investing, you may consider opening a brokerage account. But you’re not alone if the thought of choosing a brokerage firm is foreign to you.

CAREY — Willow Craft Gallery, formerly of Upper Sandusky, now is located at 205 S. Vance St., Carey. When her previous space in downtown Upper Sandusky was bought in the Kimmel Cleaners expansion, she soon was alerted by another Carey studio to the open space in town.

CAREY — Life comes at you fast — even in middle school. Carey eighth-graders participated in a class-wide Real Money, Real World program during school Friday.

PIQUA — Buckeye Insurance Group recently announced that Pahl and Associates, Sycamore, received the 2017 Premier Agency Award. The award is presented annually to select independent insurance agencies representing Buckeye Insurance that receive highest acclaim for personalized customer service and superior sales performance. “(Owners) Donn and Christy Pahl strive each year to meet all their clients’ needs and it paid …

FINDLAY — Blanchard Valley Health System recently made several key management changes in order to focus on organization-wide, strategic initiatives. Linda DeArment was named director of physician services and recruitment.

COLUMBUS — Outstanding client service, ethics and professionalism have elevated Chad S. Baker, of the Columbus General Office of New York Life, to qualify for the exclusive “Court of the Table,” of the Million Dollar Round Table, the premier association of financial professionals, a press release states.

Country Roads Photography, 16364 Ohio 37, Forest, independent artists/writers/performers. Urban Company, 214 W. Church St., Upper Sandusky, electronics stores.

CAREY — Forty-six Carey students were rewarded with district awards at the recent DECA District 3 Competitive Events Conference at Ohio Northern University. Of those 46, 34 qualified for the upcoming state DECA competition. “This is a very large number of state DECA qualifiers from district competition,” Carey DECA adviser Derek Cunningham said.

COLUMBUS — Grange Insurance has recognized the Reid Insurance Agency of Upper Sandusky as a leader in the insurance agency, awarding it Grange’s senior partner designation, according to a press release. Each year, Grange honors a select group of its independent agency partners by recognizing them with the title of senior partner.