Note: The Bluffton Athletic Boosters recently completed payment on the Ricky Matter Strength and Fitness Center. This story commemorates that event.
Photo and story by Josh Stallings, Icon university intern
The moment you step in the doors of the flawless weight room or enter the gate for a football game, the memory of a very talented and promising young man hits you like a sucker punch to the gut. The two structures are in remembrance of Ricky Matter, a Bluffton High School student who lost his life in a car accident six years ago.
A new pastor for St. John's United Church of Christ (UCC) preached in this Bluffton congregation for the first time on Sunday, Oct. 10.
Rev. Carol Clements, a graduate of the denomination's Lancaster (Pa.) Seminary, has long been active in heeding Jesus Christ's call for service to suffering humanity, even before her entering the Christian ministry as a second vocation.
As part of their learning about Veterans Day, the kindergarten classes at Bluffton Elementary made ornaments for Christmas trees that will be sent to military bases in Iraq.
Some of the kindergartners, their families, and teachers attended a ceremony at Kaleidoscope Farms on Sunday, Nov. 7. The kindergartners presented the ornaments to the veterans that selected the trees. The trees will be shipped as part of 300 trees from Ohio through Project Evergreen. FedEx provides the shipping.
Dr. Jim Zaffiro, professor of political science and coordinator of global sustainability education at Central College in Pella, Iowa, will discuss the building of global sustainability movements in communities at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, in Bluffton University's Yoder Recital Hall. The forum is free and open to the public.
Dr. George Lehman, Howard Raid professor of business at Bluffton University, will discuss economic changes in China over the last 20 years at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, in Stutzman Lecture Hall in Centennial Hall. The colloquium is free and open to the public.
Last June, Lehman was part of an eight-member Bluffton delegation that visited China for two weeks. "For a business professor, China is the place that has the most action right now," he said. "Our students had a great trip to China two years earlier, and I wanted to see it for myself."
Jerry Lewis, owner of 17 McDonald's restaurants in west central Ohio and recipient of the corporation's 2010 Golden Arch Award, will give Bluffton University's Presidential Leadership Lecture at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, in Yoder Recital Hall.
"A Labor of Love: Balancing God, Family, Friends and Work" is the title of Lewis' talk, which is free and open to the public. He will share his story-including his start at McDonald's as a crew person/manager and why he chose to stay with the company-as well as advice based on his 30 years of leadership.
Benjamin Ilnicki, a Bluffton University senior from Indianapolis, Ind., has been named Bluffton's 2010 recipient of the Financial Executives International (FEI) award, as voted by business faculty members.
Presented to an outstanding senior majoring in finance or accounting, the award recognizes a student "who has demonstrated a high level of academic achievement and intellectual honesty, and who possesses high promise for a successful career in business."
The Alzheimer's Association support group will meet at 3:30 p.m., the third month of each month (Nov. 15) and the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. (Nov. 9) at Mennonite Memorial Home.
For more information contact Tricia Herrmann or Emily Koogler at 419-358-1015.
Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services will hold a tree of remembrance memorial service on Sunday, Dec. 5, at The Centre, 601 N. Main St., Bluffton, according to Gordon Diller.The service is a special event we provide for all the families we have served throughout the year, according to Diller.
Dave Dobradenka is the Bluffton popcorn-eating champion of 2010. Dave won the Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn eating contest during Shirley's customer appreciation event on Nov. 6.
Dave managed to down one tub and one handful of popcorn in five minutes, beating out seven other contestants, according to Pete Suter of Shirley's.
With Dave are his team of supporters, Jessica Dobradenka, Debbie Wise, Dave, Tammy Cottle, Wynter Wise and Kortney Cottle.
Dave wins a one-year supply of popcorn from Shirley's.
