April 2011

This driver is a real Buckeye fan. Notice that the driver uses a "T" instead of an "I." Probably means someone with an "I" beat him to the punch, but a "T" as a substitute in this case works. The Icon spotted this plate in Lima.

The Friday, April 22, 2011, Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce newsletter is now available. It was e-mailed to members and is now avialable on the chamber's website at www.explorebluffton.com.

The Bluffton Area Ministerial Association invites residents to participate in its Cross Walk taking place today at 11:30 a.m. The Walk begins at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

The carrying of the cross to commemorate Jesus' passion will begin at:
o St. Mary's Catholic Church at 11:30 a.m. and proceed to
o First United Methodist Church,
o First Mennonite Church,
o Bluffton Presbyterian Church,
o English Lutheran Church,
o and ends at St. John United Church of Christ.

Anyone is welcome to join at any point along the route.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Examine this photo carefully. It's a model. The Bluffton Western Terminal Railroad (Dr. Boyd W. Travis) was an O gauge model railroad located in the Travis home on Kibler Street. Here is a close up of one of the coal cars on the railroad. (Collection of Fred Steiner)

Dewayne Amstutz

Dewane Francis Amstutz, 88, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at his home in Grangeville, Idaho.

Dwaine and his twin brother Wayne were born in Bluffton, Ohio, to Benjamin and Naomi Amstutz on Aug. 30, 1922. When he was 4 years old his mother died and in 1931 his father was remarried to Elma Diller.

The Bluffton University baseball team scored in just one inning, but a seven-run eighth was all the Beavers needed to take down Defiance on Thursday, April 21, 2011. Bluffton improved to 13-17 overall and 5-10 in the Heartland Conference, while Defiance fell to 5-25 on the season and 1-14 in the HCAC.

Jim Elwood went home from the Bluffton High School Athletic Boosters' reverse raffle on April 15 with $10,000 in his wallet.

While his entry was picked as drawing number 300, the last of the evening, several other players went home happy, too.

The final nine of the raffle follow:

Tina Anderson, number 299, won $2,000; Tom Bassett, number 298, won $1,000; Ben Sehlhorst, 297, $750; Ken Lugibihl, 296, $500; John Dailey, 295, $500; Ben Reineke, 294, $200; Heidi Wise, 293, $200; Scott Garmatter, 292, $200; and Randy Matter, 291, $200.

Fourth graders from Bluffton Elementary School got a dose of Japanese culture on April 19. But they also gave in return-$570 that they raised in just over a week is being donated to Mennonite Central Committee for disaster relief in Japan.

Making the donation is Louise Matthews, director of Bluffton University's Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center, in honor of the "Children to Children" program that 22 Japanese children on spring break from Findlay City Schools brought to their Bluffton peers at a meeting on the university campus.

Progress continues on the Bluffton Hospital construction project. Here's the latest report on work being completed.

Last Week:

Outside:

The plumbing was able to make the final switch to the new water supply system. On Thursday morning, the fire sprinkler system was switched to the new system and, at the same time, the gas system was switched over.

The designers were also able to resolve some elevation problems so that driveway grading can continue.

There's still time to form a team to enter this summer's Friends of the Bluffton Public Library golf scramble. Team registrations are due by May 25. The event is held at the Bluffton Golf Club on June 4.

To download a flyer on the event open the attachment at the bottom of this story.

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