The opening of U.S. 68 within the village of Arlington occurred quietly Saturday morning, Sept. 5, ending the four-month closure to complete the two remaining phases the roadway reconstruction project.
The project includes curb and gutter, drainage and storm sewer from the south corporation limit to Liberty Street; and from Buck Run to just north of Wardwell Street.
The village and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) completed phase 1 in 2018 when the roadway between Liberty Street and Buck Run was reconstructed.
It appears that the Bluffton and Richland Township residents stepped up to their civic duty and have responded to calls to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census.
The accompanying map shows that between 86 and 95 percent of much of the county including local residents have responded.
In fact, Allen County’s response rate is now at 83 percent. Ohio’s overall rate is 72 percent and the national participation rate is only 67 percent.
It’s September and that means the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast meetings are on the calendar.
The first meeting of the new season is Friday morning. It features the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership and West Central Ohio Land Conservancy, according to Paula Scott, CEO of the chamber.
Ken Mauer (wcolc.org) and Lauren Sandhu (blanchardriver.org) are the featured. They will discuss a rescheduled water and land tour.
By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Visiting Allen East came back from an early 14-point deficit to defeat feisty county rival Bluffton 46-22 in a Northwest Conference battle on a pleasant Friday night at Harmon Field.
Defending league tri-champion AE improved to 2-0 (2-0 NWC East) with the come from behind victory. The Pirates fell to 0-2 overall and 0-2 in the NWC East with the defeat.
The upset-minded Pirates scored on ther first two drives to lead 14-0. But AE did not panic, and they rallied to score 33 unanswered points and take control.
By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The homestanding Bluffton boys soccer team whipped Jonathan Alder 6-1 Saturday evening at Steinmetz Field.
The Pirates improved to 4-0 with the lopsided win. Defending state runner-up Bluffton was ranked first in the first regional Northwest Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Div. III poll released this week.
Bluffton junior Jude Spallinger and senior Jonathan Schriner each scored two first-half goals to pace the Pirates to victory. Spallinger also doled out three assists, while Schriner dished out two assists.
By Cort Reynolds
LIMA - The Bluffton girls tennis team competed in the Elida Invitational tournament Saturday at the Denny Schwinnen Courts.
The four-team event included Bluffton, Celina, Elida and Van Wert. Van Wert was victorious at singles and "A" doubles, and narrowly captured the Invitational team title by one point over Celina.
This is a tough one for those under, say 55. It's a construction photograph of a Bluffton swimming pool that no longer exists.
The year is 1955 or '56. Paul Diller, father of Jim Diller, took this photo, originally as a color slide. Jim is in the process of transferring the slide into a easiler to view format.
We believe that Jim Benroth, brother of Gene and Bob, is the man watching the work on the far right, in the teal colored shirt.
This is the final installment in this series.
Summer is a great time to explore the art spread across the Bluffton community – especially for viewers unable to visit art galleries elsewhere in Ohio.
As a weekly series, The Icon has featured the art created by John Peter Klassen, a long-time Bluffton College art professor.
For some viewers, this series is familiar. For others, it may be a first-time experience.
Why are the words “Commercial Bank’ in capital letters above the John Wagner Nationwide Agency at 105 N. Main St.?
Here’s the answer: The Commercial Bank was Bluffton’s first bank. It was founded in 1887 as a private bank by Frank Scott, N.W. Cunningham purchased one-half interest in it in 1893.
Scott and Cunningham were the sole owners until June 3, 1902, when it was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio and became a state bank.
