February 2023

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The Village of Bluffton has announced a new meeting:

Utilities Committee - Friday, February 24 at 12:30 p.m.

Other upcoming public meetings are:

Joint Personnel Committee & Finance - Friday, February 24 at 11:30 a.m.

Council Meeting - Monday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m.

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

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By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys basketball team executed an epic fourth quarter rally to force an eventual double-overtime thriller against backyard rival Allen East in Div. III sectional semifinal action at the Elida Fieldhouse Wednesday night, February 22.

The Pirates then outscored AE in the second overtime 17-6, primarily from the foul line, to complete an improbable 78-67 comeback win, with the final margin of victory quite misleading.

Bluffton trailed by 16 points going into the fourth period, but rallied to tie it with a 27-11 flurry.

Including the overtimes, the Pirates outscored the Mustangs 50-23 after the third period. Bluffton scored 14 of its 17 points in the second OT at the charity stripe.

Both rivals came into the evenly-matched fray with identical 14-8 records.

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Twelve Bluffton High School students have artwork on display in the 2023 Kewpee High School Invitational Exhibit which runs through March 1 at Artspace/Lima, 65-67 Town Square, Lima.

Three Bluffton students received awards for their work:

  • Brookly Nance - 1st place in Jewelry for "City Star"
  • Hayden Dearth - 2nd place in Sculpture for “Cabin on the Lake”
  • Hope Miller - 3rd place in Digital for “My Baby”

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The League of Women Voters of the Lima Area will hold an informational meeting on the Aging Out of Children from Children’s Service on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Children’s Services Building at 123 W. Spring St. Lima.

The guest speaker will be Sarah Newland from Children’s Services. This meeting is open to the public. 

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The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first Business After Hours for 2023 on Tuesday, February 28 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Greenhorn, 112 Vine St.

This even is sponsored by Eikenbary Landscaping and Jazzercize Bluffton.

Business After Hours networking events help Chamber members share what they can do to help each other succeed. 

Trista Pollock from Trista Pollock Photography will be on hand to take professional headshots for social media accounts at no charge. 

Director Jim Enneking notes, "Come dressed for success! Hope to see you there."

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Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two reports shared in February 2023:

LAKE ERIE
In June 2022, State Wildlife Investigator Jason Hadsell contacted anglers who were returning from Lake Erie to the Fairport Port Authority boat launch. He contacted one vessel with five occupants who claimed to have reached their daily limit of six walleye per person. Officer Hadsell found that all five of the men had valid fishing licenses but counted 32 walleye in their cooler. He issued a summons to the boat’s owner for possessing more than the daily limit of walleye. The fisherman paid $165 for the violation and the two extra fish were forfeited. 

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A $150,000-plus gift from former student-athletes, fans and friends of Bluffton University ensures the naming rights to a new softball press box facility will recognize a female Bluffton Athletics Hall of Fame inductee. Construction for the Coach Kim Fischer Press Box will start in May 2023. The project, with a total cost of $300,000, also includes new restroom facilities and cement bases for spectator seating.

“We are grateful for the generosity of former students, players, and friends who have decided to honor Coach Fischer in this way,” said James Grandey, athletic director. “It is obvious that Kim has had a profound impact as a coach. The softball press box will be a great addition to our softball field.”

The 5,500 square foot, two-story building will feature two fully accessible, unisex restrooms on the ground floor with press facilities on the second floor which will enhance streaming abilities and media coverage. This is the first athletic building named after a woman on Bluffton’s campus and the only facility to be exclusively used for women’s sports. It will improve the game-day experience for both players and fans. The upgrades will allow Bluffton to host high school games which increases Bluffton’s support of the local community.

CONTINUES WITH REUNION PHOTO

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Andrea Nicole Setzer, 35, formerly of Thomasville, Georgia, passed away February 21, 2023, at her residence.

Andrea was born October 18, 1987 in Toledo, to Robert Setzer Jr. and Karin (Gardiner) Setzer who survive.

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Beverly Ann Moyer, 84, passed away February 21, 2023, at Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay.  Beverly was born June 20, 1938 in Bluffton to the late Dull and Natalie (Hollaway) Battles. On August 23, 1964, she married William "Bill" Moyer and he survives. 

Beverly graduated from Cory-Rawson High School. She was a teacher's aide at Cory-Rawson High School and worked as a secretary at the Midland Grocery in Findlay. Beverly attended the Mt. Cory United Methodist Church. She loved her pets, animals, ceramics, cooking and her flowers.  

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According to WTVG-13 Action News of Toledo, a suspect charged in connection to the March 2022 death of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis has taken a plea deal and been convicted of several charges in Hancock County.

Reports show that on Tuesday, February 21, Dante Tate pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property and complicity to receiving stolen property. 

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