There is a popular vote going on right now as part of the Miss American pageant and it allows supporters of Elissa McCracken to help her become Miss America. Elissa is a neice of Jay McCracken of Bluffton, and is a student at Ohio Northern University.
The winner of the popular vote becomes the People's Choice candidate and is automatically in the top 15 of the Miss America pageant.
Santa let a letter out of the bag for the Icon. Gabby writes:
Dear Santa,
My name is Gabby Scott and for Christmas I would like an American Girl horse stall and the horse to come with it. I would also like some new wii games like Mario games. I also wnat a dog for Christmas, a nice one like the stray dog that came to my house. A dog that is trained or an easy dog to train.
Santa provided the Icon access to some letters from Icon kids. Grant writes:
Dear Santa...
I would like some Power Rangers and some nerf guns with hot wheels and I want a lot of Lego's and I would like Iron Man action figure and a Star Wars spaceship. I will like an Ipad please or an Ipod 5 with a new case please and I wish I could have my own guitar or drums please and I really want a Xbox 360 and games and I want a board game and I would like to have some new wii num chucks for me and my sister.
Susie Stratton of Stratton Greenhouses, Bluffton, was recently recognized for design work involving plantings at the University of Findlay.
She was recognized on Dec. 2, for beautification efforts in the Findlay and greater Hancock County area by the Men's and Women's Garden Club of Findlay. The organization presented Stratton the Beautification Award, which is given to non-members of the club.
"The Bluffton Senior Center is starting a new tradition," Tonya Meyer, director, told the Icon.
With the help from Signature Health Services, the Senior Center hosts it's first ever Cookie Walk on Saturday, Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. until noon.
"The idea of a cookie walk is to have a wide variety of cookies available to purchase. The buyer can walk in with a little money and walk out with 12 different cookies or six of one kind, two of another and four of another." said Meyer.
Bluffton University’s Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), an educational program for retirees, is offering several classes led by local residents on Wednesdays, Jan. 23-Feb. 27, in the Kreider Room in Marbeck Center.
The winter term costs $60, which allows participants to take as many classes as they wish and to join in other ILR activities. The fee is due at the time of registration.
