Matt Gillett has joined Bluffton Family Recreation as its a sports coordinator and personal trainer. Gillett is a 2012 Bluffton High School graduate. In December he graduated from Anderson (Ind.) University with a degree in exercise science.
In is role as a personal trainer he will assist persons of all ages to focus on fitness goals. He will also lead agility clinics with middle school and high school athletes.
Wanda June (Suter) Pannabecker died at 2 p.m. Feb. 28, 2016, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. She was born June 18, 1922, in Leipsic to Harvey and Sylvia (Lugibihl) Suter. On June 16, 1945, she married Richard F. Pannabecker, who died Oct. 24, 1997.
She was a graduate of Columbus Grove High School and graduated from Bluffton College in 1944 with a major in English and minor in music. She taught at Middle Point High School from 1944-45, and taught private piano and guitar lessons for more than 50 years.
Seven area restaurants and businesses put their best soups on the table and 160 votes (by diners) later the winners were:
• First place - Luke’s Bar and Grill, ham and potato corn chowder
• Second place - Jeanne’s Kitchen, Michael’s cream of asparagus
• Third place - Larson’s Barbecue fire-roasted tomato
Cheryl Sue Freed, 51, of rural Jenera died at 3:38 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at the James Cancer Center in Columbus following three-year battle with sarcoma cancer.
She was born May 10, 1964, to Dwight and Norma J. (Weihrauch) Rader, they survive in rural Bluffton. On Oct. 19, 1991, she married Scott A. Freed and he survives. Also surviving are their three sons, Corey A.; Jordan A. and Matthew S., all of rural Jenera; brothers, Jeff (Julie) Rader of Westerville; Keith Rader of Middletown and sister, Annette (Nick) Stuckey of Rawson.
Turning 16 is always a birthday to remember. And celebrating it on Feb. 29 is a birthday few would forget.
Zoie Joseph, Bluffton High School freshman, will do just that. She’ll blow out either 4 or 16 candles on Feb. 29. That’s because she’s a leap year baby.
She hopes to celebrate this year, appropriately as any 4-year-old. She wants a Strawberry Short Cake with 4 candles and a bunch of toys gifts to open.
Bluffton will be hopping on the weekend of May 14-15.
As previously announced on the Icon, the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce's arts and crafts show is Saturday, May 14. Also, the farmers' market will be held on the morning of the 14th.
One other event bringing hundreds of people to Bluffton on May 14-15 is the Bluffton Soccer Club's annual tournament.
In recent years, this tournament has averaged over 50 teams. This event draws teams from around northwest and west central Ohio for a busy weekend of soccer.
