October 2022

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A public hearing will be held before the Bluffton Board of Zoning and Building Appeals on Tuesday November 8, 2022, at 7:00 pm.

The owners of 320 S. Main Street are requesting a variance from Chapter 153.082 Conditional use, section (D) Home occupation: The owners are asking for approval to convert the residential home into an office(s) for a small tax business.

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We live in an era when many churches have elected to remove their bells due to the expense of maintaining them.  Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church's bells at 301 North Main Street, Jenera, have sadly been silent for almost a year because they, too, needed serious repair.  The church council chose to restore them and they rang on Sunday to announce the beginning of the church services as they have for 133 years. 

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By Matt M. Stutz

The #9 seeded Pandora-Gilboa High School football team opened their 2022 playoff run on the road, overwhelming their hosts, the #8 seeded Upper Scioto Valley Rams (8-3), through the air and on the ground.  Following a low scoring first half, the Rockets flew away, winning by a final of 42-8 in OHSAA Division VII Region 26 football action. 

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The Bluffton University men’s soccer team will host Manchester University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Salzman Stadium for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament opener.

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Estée (Arend ’13) Hemphill, assistant director, service, for the Cleveland Guardians, will present the Forum “Impact Players: The Teammates Behind the Decisions,” at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8 in Yoder Recital Hall.

The 2013 Bluffton graduate will draw on her experience working with the Cleveland Guardians to describe the honest and diverse conversations required to prepare for a successful baseball season.

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By Bill Herr

What graduate in Bluffton High School (BHS) history has contributed more to athletics before and after his graduation than any other? My choice is Jim (Spike) Berry. This is his story. Today Spike lives with his wife Joyce in Bluffton. They have two children, Julie and Jay, and four grandchildren. Spike graduated from BHS in 1956. He was a good athlete in three sports: football, basketball and baseball.

Ron Lora played football and basketball with Spike and shared these reflections: "Spike and I were classmates in high school. We even roomed together at Bluffton University in Lincoln Hall. He was always upbeat, outgoing, and friendly–popular with all of our classmates and teammates. Spike understood the fundamentals of the sports he did. I asked him which sport he liked best. He said that whatever sport was in season, he liked that sport the best."

In high school Spike was a team leader. He played in memorable games. Bellefontaine was ranked either 1 or 2 in the state in basketball. There were two divisions then, A and B. They were in A and BHS in B. Bluffton defeated them. Willshire was undefeated and won the State tournament, but their closest game was with Bluffton, which was ahead 16 points at halftime. Willshire's 6 foot 11 inch center dominated in the second half and they won. Spike scored in double figures in both games.

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October 29 is a big day for Bluffton High School athletics with three post-season competitions in the works:

11:00 a.m. -- Cross Country Regional Finals at Tiffn

3:00 p.m. -- Girls Soccer District Finals vs. Riverdale

6:00 p.m. -- Boys Soccer District Finals vs. Mansfield Christian

Both the Bluffton High School girls soccer and boys soccer games will be played at home at Steinmetz Field.

Tickets must be purchased ahead of time online at https://www.ohsaa.org/tickets

The attached image includes Bluffton seniors competing in the three events.

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Harley R. Steiner went home to be with Jesus, his Lord and Savior, on Wednesday evening, October 26, 2022 at approximately 7:00 p.m. He was born November 24, 1927, in Bluffton, Ohio, to the late Philip and Elizabeth (Althaus) Steiner. 

On July 30, 1948, he married Donna Wingate who preceded him in death on December 27, 2014.  

Harley was a graduate of Bluffton High School in the class of 1945 and was their last surviving member. He attended Bluffton College. He worked at numerous jobs before he went to work at Westinghouse, Small Motors Division, in Upper Sandusky as an industrial methods engineer.  He spent over 30 years at Westinghouse, which near the end of his career became A. O. Smith. 

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A new location has been announced for the DIII district finals on Saturday, October 29. Both the Bluffton High School girls soccer and boys soccer games will be played at home at Steinmetz Field.

Tickets must be purchased ahead of time online at https://www.ohsaa.org/tickets

3:00 p.m. -- Girls Soccer District Finals vs. Riverdale

6:00 p.m. -- Boys Soccer District Finals vs. Mansfield Christian

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This weekend, October 29-30, is the deadline to register for indoor soccer at Bluffton Family Recreation. Limited spots available for each division (Oct 27 status below).

Visit www.bfronline.com for more details and to register.

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