Norval Don McClure, 95, passed away January 30, 2022 at his residence in Pandora. Don was born February 18, 1926 in Oakwood, Ohio to Norval and Katie (Whiting) McClure. He married Donna Ruth Bobenmyer who preceded him in death on in 2003.
Don graduated from Oakwood High School and was a veteran of the United States Air Force. He retired as a railroad agent at Norfolk-Western Railroad and attended at St. John Mennonite Church, Pandora. Don enjoyed woodworking, tinkering, traveling and gardening.
Bluffton Schools Alert issued by email at 3:42 p.m. on January 31, 2022:
The Ohio Department of Health has declared it impractical for schools to contact trace all students who had contact with a positive case [of COVID].
Therefore, our offices will no longer automatically call every parent of a student who was contact traced via seating charts of a positive case.
However, if a parent would still like to be called due to a close contact of a positive case with their child, then contact the office and you will continue to be called if contact traced.
The Bluffton Icon gets requests for newspaper subscriptions. While we can't provide you with a great big paper to enjoy with your breakfast or after dinner, we have created a new option.
The Bluffton Icon is introducing full length versions of our top stories that you can print on letter size paper and share with family and friends who are not online or don't use email. The stories are delivered by email on Mondays and Fridays.
The Allen County Ag Outlook and Agronomy Day will be held at the Allen County Fairgrounds beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
Morning sessions will focus on commodity market outlook and ag policy. Afternoon sessions will provide answers to agronomy questions and opportunities to obtain pesticide applicator and fertilizer recertification credits, and CCA education hours. The program will wrap up at 3:30 p.m.
E. Keith Brauen, 93, passed away January 29, 2022 at Bluffton Hospital. Keith was born December 24, 1928 north of Bluffton in Putnam County to Dennis and Cleo (Hauenstein) Brauen. On November 6, 1947, he married Esther L. Lugibihl who preceded him in death on April 5, 2018.
Keith was a 1947 graduate of Bluffton High School. He was a lifelong farmer. Keith had also been a commercial harvester, worked at Ex-Cello Corporation, Bluffton, Reichenbach Lumber, Bluffton. He also was a bus driver, welder and was a self-employed electrician/carpenter for 45 years.
Gary Lee McCarty, age 84, of Santa Ana, California, went home to be with Jesus on December 20, 2021 after an extended illness.
Gary was born in Bluffton, Ohio to the late Daniel and Ruby McCarty. He grew up on a farm in Beaverdam, Ohio where he graduated from high school in 1955. After high school, Gary served in the Army until his honorable discharge.
The streaking Bluffton High School boys basketball team defeated visiting neighbors Pandora-Gilboa 55-45 in a non-league battle Saturday night, January 29.
The Pirates improved to 14-1 with their 13th consecutive victory. Bluffton has not lost since Dec. 4 at Liberty-Benton.
Kyler Kinn led Bluffton with 22 points, 13 of which were tallied in the second half.
Trenton Donley contributed 15 markers, with 10 coming after intermission.
From the "files" of www.BlufftonForever.com, a story on some 30 years of Bluffton photographic history:
Most residents 65 and older once sat in the chair where this photo was taken. It was taken in 1971 in the Leland Gerber Photography Studio. The studio is now part of the parking lot of Citizens National Bank (north of the Post Office).
