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Catching Village crews in power wash and vacuum mode

What's that "hum" you hear on Bluffton streets? Could be a super-sized vacuum and power wash combo being applied to catch basins in your neighborhood. The Icon learned that some 450 catch basins are part of the system, with a few having seen 150 years of service.

Brendon Matthews named Chief Executive Officer at First National Bank

Section: Business

/ Apr 04, 2025

PANDORA – The Board of Directors of First National Bank has officially named Brendon Matthews as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank. Matthews has been serving as President of the bank since May, 2024. He succeeds Todd Mason who is retiring after 22 years at First National Bank and 40 years as a community banker. Mason will remain as a director on the board.

Matthews has worked in a variety of roles in his 23 years in banking, including teller, branch manager, small business lender, sales manager, Senior Lender, Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer and his most recent role as President. Brendon is originally from Bluffton and is a graduate of Bluffton High School. He received his undergraduate degree in English from Anderson University in Anderson, IN in 2002. After starting his banking career at Madison Community Bank in Anderson (now First Merchants Bank), Brendon earned his MBA from Anderson University and then moved back to Bluffton in 2006 and joined First National Bank.

BHS spring musical is Bringing Down the House

Section: Events

/ Apr 04, 2025

The Bluffton High School Drama Club will perform Bringing down the House, A Musical? on April 11, 12, 13. Directed by Kevin Gratz and Kara Zink, with student assistants Genesis Ochoa, Kaleigh Coffman and Aubrey Rieman.

Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Bluffton Middle School Cafetorium, 116 S. Jackson St. The Sunday performance begins at 2:00 p.m. Doors open one hour prior to curtain time.

General admission tickets are available at the door. Adults $5.00. Students $2.00

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Tornado in Putnam County on April 2

Regional news

/ April 4, 2025

UPDATE WTOL-11 reports that the Putnam county tornado near Dupont on Wednesday, April 2 had a rating of EF-2! Peak winds to 120 mph and a max width of 375 yards.

From Putnam County EMA, approximately 3:00 a.m. on April 3

Putnam County EMA, Putnam County Fire Departments, Putnam County Police Departments, and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office handled multiple calls for service related to the tornado warning issued late evening on 4-2-25.

There are lines down, trees down and big amounts of debris throughout Putnam County. There are multiple power outages throughout the county as well. There are several buildings and homes that are damaged and or destroyed.

The Dupont area was hit the hardest. Damage assessments will continue in the morning due to the dark conditions outside. The National Weather Service- Northern Indiana will be in the county at 11:00 a.m. for further assessment.

There were 3 civilian injuries that are non-life threatening.

There are multiple roads closed in the county. We remind people to not drive over power lines or get close to them. Also to not drive through closed roads.

More information will be passed on as it becomes available.