Over the decades Bluffton residents lift up several memorable individuals to a sacred list known as “Bluffton characters.” One of those special people was Lazarus “Lotzy” Basinger, (also known as Santa Claus) a familiar face in the Bluffton crowd over his 90-year life span.
These special people each developed a niche of their own calling, earning respect from the common citizen. Their traits and stories are recalled by many, although they are unknown by today’s younger and newer residents.
To us, their contributions to what makes Bluffton such an interesting and accepting community cannot be ignored.
Lazarus was probably one of the last people in Bluffton who experience way of life of the earliest Swiss immigrants. He was raised on his father’s farm near Pandora, Riley Township, Putnam County, Ohio.
Happy Holidays! The Bluffton Icon will be in holiday mode from Christmas Eve on Sunday, December 24 to New Year's Day on Monday, January 1. Content will be updated with breaking news including sports and obituaries, but our office will be closed. Please continue to send information 24/7 to [email protected] and leave messages at 567-400-4266.
The holidays are fast approaching and I would like to take a moment to thank each and every one for your patience and kindness as we dealt with many projects in Bluffton.
The Johnny Appleseed Park District is happy to announce that we will be offering additional days (with different times) for this popular program! The Park District will offer “Nature Pals: Winter is “snow” much fun!” on:
Fri., Jan. 5 at 11:00 a.m.
Sat., Jan. 6 at 11:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.
McElroy Environmental Education Center, 2355 Ada Rd., Lima, OH.
Tournament host Bluffton High School finished a strong third at the 10-team Allen County Invitational wrestling tournament Friday, December 22.
Shawnee narrowly won the team title with 256 points to edge Allen East by a single point.
The youthful Pirate wrestlers came in third with 179 points.
Mustang freshman wrestler Jordan Neal won the 144 lbs. weight class title and was named tournament MVP. He posted a 5-0 mark with three pins at the event.
Pirate senior Kyle Basil rose from the fourth seed to win the 175 lbs. crown. He pinned top seed Jameson Wicker of Lima Senior in the third round at 3:20 to win Pool A in preliminary action.
Basil pinned Allen East senior Nick Zellmann in the semifinals of the tournament to advance to the title match.
