March 2010

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Blanchard Valley Health System to Host Annual Meeting

Blanchard Valley Health System will host its annual Boards of Trustees meeting on Thursday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Marathon Oil Auditorium at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

The Boards of Trustees will approve their 2009 annual meeting minutes and review nominations for incoming board members.

In addition, BVHS will present information on awards and honors received in 2009, patient testimonials and upcoming news for 2010.

The meeting is open to the public.

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We challenged James Pannabecker to create a column for the Icon that mentions the names of 20 Bluffton residents. He met the challenge. Here is the result. You may find other columns by him on his blog.

By James Pannabecker
Two weeks with Wanda Pannabecker, who proved on 5 occasions that one plus one equal three (Phil, John, James, Tom, and Mary), drove me back to sites of my youth.

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Several contract agreements made up much of the March 15 Bluffton school board agenda, however the most important two items were the discussion of the Harmon Field stadium repair and the replacement of high school air conditioning chiller.

The board authorized the Bluffton firm of R.D. Neff & Associates to develop bid specifications, to advertise the project and oversee the bidding process for renovation of the stadium. The bid opening is April 6. The board set a special meeting for April 12 to accept the Harmon Field bid.

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You'd think it was spring. The Bluffton area experienced three straight days of 60+ degrees and none were a record high.The high and low temperatures for the last seven days are provided by Guy Verhoff, Pandora weather observer.

Date High Low Prec.

9th 56 27 .03

10th 62 42 .05

11th 63 43 .07

12th 65 44 .19

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The 2010 basketball season ended for the Seventh and Eighth Grade students at Trinity Lutheran School, Jenera, with the area Lutheran Elementary School Tournament at Huron Valley Lutheran High School in Westland, Mich.

The girls' team finished in second place and closed the season with 7 wins and 2 losses.

Members of the team are: Courtney Rettig, Kelsey Rettig, Kenna Schmehl, Lana Schmitzer, Mary Spears, Kenzie Alge, Anna Curth, Megan Ritter, Emily Heldman and Justine Mitchell. They were coached by Kris Alge and Bruce Ritter.

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Ruth Oyer Schumacher

Ruth Oyer Schumacher, age 91, died on March 13, 2010, in Aurora, Colo.

Mrs. Oyer was born on Jan, 16, 1919, to Amos and Phoebe (Steiner) Oyer in Waldron, Michn She married C. Edward Schumacher in 1943, who preceded her in death.

She graduated from Bluffton High School and received nurse's training in Chicago. She worked as a registered nurse and volunteered at several hospitals throughout her life.

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By Greg Denecker

Superintendent of Bluffton schools

There are two topics from the March 15 school board meeting on which I would like to provide updates.

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Tim Byers of Bluffton, is watching the Cleveland Indians in their spring training in Arizona. He provides Icon viewers a link to his blog. Click here for an update from Tim.

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Methel Benroth will celebrate her 90th birthday on Friday, March 26. A family celebration will be held in her honor. Cards may be sent to the Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 W. Elm St., Bluffton.

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Charles Swank

Charles F. Swank, 82, Bluffton, died at 2:55 p.m., Sunday, March 14, 2010, at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay.

He was born March 12, 1928, to George and Emma Bigler Swank in Bluffton. He married Helen Zuercher on Feb. 2, 1952, and she died Aug. 20, 1983.

Mr. Swank retired as a driver salesman from C&G Distributing, Lima. He was a lifetime member of the Bluffton Sportsmen's Club, a member of the American Legion Post 382, was a veteran of World War II, and was a Bluffton High School graduate.

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