April 2022

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The ODOT District 1 public information office has announced a highway construction update for the week of April 18, 2022:

State Route 12 between the city of Findlay to the Putnam County line will have lane restrictions for pavement repairs.

All outlined work is weather permitting.

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The Village of Bluffton has provided the following information on income tax returns. Want to go straight to tax forms? Visit https://www.bluffton-ohio.com/individual-forms.

It’s tax time again. Below you will find important information in regards to filing your 2021 Village of Bluffton income tax return. 

The Village of Bluffton income tax filing deadline date for tax year 2021 returns will be Monday, April 18, 2022, for all taxpayers, except fiscal year accounts or taxpayers on Federal extensions.  

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By Cort Reynolds

Playing in Ada, the Bluffton High School baseball team scored three two-out runs in the seventh inning to pull off a 3-2 comeback win over local rival Ada on the cool, windy evening of April 14.

Bluffton improved to 2-5 and 1-0 in the Northwest Conference after the improbable rally victory.

Ada dropped to 2-5 and 0-2 in the NWC with the difficult-to-swallow defeat. 

Bulldog senior hurler Kadin Phipps took a no-hit shutout into the seventh inning as Ada clung to a 2-0 lead. 

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By Cort Reynolds

Playing in Ada, the Bluffton High School varsity softball team was one out from defeat against Northwest Conference rival Ada on a windy Thursday evening, April 14. 

Then, behind 9-7 with two outs in the top of the seventh, Pirate senior Lauren Swartzlander slugged a game-saving, two-run home run well over the center field fence to tie it 9-9.

The teams battled into extra innings. In the top of the ninth, Bluffton sophomore Lauren Bassett smacked a home run to right field that proved to be the game-winner, 10-9.

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By Tricia Bell, Bluffton University

Bluffton University’s year-long exploration of the theme “Cultivating Modern Minimalism: Planet, People and Popular Culture” culminated on April 6 with Civic Engagement Day. The event, which had been shuttered for the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, returned with students attending in-person sessions based on the theme instead of their typical class schedules.

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On the afternoon of April 14, the man charged in the March 31 death of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis pleaded innocent to all charges in a ten-count indictment in Hancock County Common Pleas Court. The following details were reported in the Findlay Courier.

Emin R. Johnson, 20, of Euclid, is believed to be the driver of the car that struck officer Francis. 

Johnson is now being held in the Hancock County Justice Center. Judge Reginald Routson continued Johnson’s bond at $500,000. 

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Two Bluffton artists had their work selected for inclusion in the juried 70th Annual ArtSpace/Lima Spring Show on display through April 23 at ArtSpace/Lima, 65 Town Square, Lima.

Jon Sommer’s two nested bowls in which a ceramic bowl was nested in either a pine or a cedar bowl were selected by the juror. Anita Lehman had three two-dimensional pieces in chalk, pastel and ink selected by the juror. 

Nested Bowl #1, Pine/Ceramic

Nested Bowl #2,  Cedar/Ceramic

The Women Gather,\ chalk, pastel and ink

Grass with Daylilies, chalk, pastel and ink

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Raymond Messenger, 67, of Bluffton passed away April 12, 2022 at his residence. 

A memorial service will be held at a later date.  Arrangements are under the direction of Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

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Peter Strange, chairman emeritus of Messer, Inc., will address Bluffton University’s 2022 graduating class during the May 7 Commencement ceremony at Salzman Stadium.

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The Allen County Sheriff’s Office and Anytime Fitness Lima will host a new Band Of Mudders race event taking place in Lima, Ohio at the Allen County Fairgrounds at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2022.

This 2-mile race will be made up of 12 different obstacles that contestants must complete in teams of four, as a team of two, or as an individual. 

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