October 2022

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BEAVERDAM--John H. Eckenwiler, 84, passed away October 11, 2022 at his residence.  John was born February 15, 1938 in Beaverdam to the late Roy and Georgine (Bishop) Eckenwiler. 

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Joanne Miriam Vercler Niswander, 93, of Bluffton passed away on October 8, 2022. Joanne was born September 24, 1929 on a farm in Meadows, Illinois to the late Elmer and Naomi (Claudon) Vercler.  Joanne graduated from Chenoa High School in Chenoa, Illinois and Bluffton College.

She met Dean Niswander at Bluffton College and they married on August 20, 1950.  She and her husband Dean lived in Bluffton where they enjoyed raising their six children, were active with the community, church, and school.  In 1964 they moved to Okemos, Michigan. While there, Joanne was a secretary at Okemos schools, and later served as secretary to Lansing District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church. In 1976, they moved to Gibsonburg, Ohio where Joanne was a docent at the Toledo Museum of Art until 1990.  In 1991, Dean and Joanne moved back to Bluffton where they both volunteered for Bluffton College, traveling across the country as Alumni Ambassadors for nine years.  They were honored as Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna of Bluffton College in 1996 and received the first Ray Ramseyer Philanthropy Award in 2003.  

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By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton boys soccer team was voted the second seed at the 12-team Tiffin Columbian Div. III sectional/district draw.

As such, Northwest Conference champion Bluffton (8-6-1) received a first round bye. The Pirates will host the Oct. 19 winner between fifth seed Milan Edison and 12th seed Mansfield St. Peter's Saturday, Oct. 22 at noon in one sectional final.

That sectional final winner then advances to the Tiffin district semifinals October 26 at 7 p.m. 

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By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School volleyball team won the first two sets, but visiting backyard rival Allen East rallied to take the final three to capture their Northwest Conference season finale showdown Tuesday evening, October 11.

The tough loss dropped the overall Bluffton record to 13-8, and they finished 4-4 in the league to end up fifth in the nine-team league.

AE came from behind to win the 18-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21, 16-14 thriller, clinching it in a tight fifth set.

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By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton girls soccer team scored all five of its goals in the second half to decisively defeat visiting local rival Cory-Rawson 5-0 Tuesday night.

The shutout non-league victory upped the Lady Pirate record to 13-2. It was Bluffton's seventh straight win since losing at Riverdale 1-0 on September 10.

Meanwhile, the Hornet girlss fell to 4-11-1 with the loss.

Pirate Karson Hauenstein netted the first goal 52 minutes into the fray on an assist from Sami Scoles.  

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Michael and Terry Downey celebrated 50 years of marriage with an anniversary party at the Jones Mansion, Findlay Ohio.

Downey is a former resident of Beaverdam Ohio, while the former Terry Chidester has always resided in Bluffton. They were joined in holy matrimony on Oct. 15, 1972 at the First Presbyterian Church, Monroe Michigan by Rev. Paul Markman.

They are the parents of three children, Michael (Heather) Downey II, of Shawnee, Christian (Jamie) Downey-Thompson, of Bluffton, and Nicholas (Caroline Eastman) Downey, of Louisville Kentucky. They have 2 grandchildren.

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The Village of Bluffton has announced the following public meetings:

Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow Open House - Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 3:30-7:30 p.m. @ Bluffton Middle School Cafetorium

Cemetery Board - Thursday, October 20 at 4:00 p.m.

Village Council – Monday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m.

All meetings are at the Town Hall, 154 N. Main St. unless otherwise noted.

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The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly breakfast meeting on Friday, October 14. The meeting is held on the third floor of the Town Hall, 154 N. Main St.

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The Bluffton High School student of the month for September 2022  is Hannah Davis, a senior with a 4.000 GPA. She is the daughter of Jane and Jon Inniger of Bluffton and Tim and Wendi Davis of Findlay. 

Hannah is a member of the National Honor Society and Latin Club. She received student of the year in Latin 1 her sophomore year and in CP English 11 her junior year.

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If Bluffton is a Swiss community, where are the mountains? is the topic of a presentation given by Fred Steiner at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17, at the Bluffton Public Library.

The talk explores the background of Swiss immigrants who settled the rural area between Bluffton, Pandora, Columbus Grove and Beaverdam, beginning in the 1830s.

In a PowerPoint presentation, Steiner will share stories and photographs of some of these first settlers. He will also provide some of the reasons that the Swiss left Europe for America.

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