March 2023

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Find more Beaver softball news at https://blufftonbeavers.com/sports/sball/index

The Bluffton University softball team more than doubled its win total from 2021 to 2022 and second-year head coach Paige Jansen is ready to push the victory column even higher in 2023. Bluffton battled umpire shortages and rainy weather but still managed to play eight of its 10 contests at 'The Spring Games' before downing regional-power Calvin on the opening weekend back in Ohio.

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By Ethan Stearns
For more Bluffton University sports coverage, visit www./blufftonbeavers.com/

DELAWARE--The Bluffton University baseball team dropped its first game of the season, 8-0, as the Beavers traveled to Ohio Wesleyan University on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Bluffton stands 0-1 while the Battling Bishops open up at 1-0.

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The S.H.A.N.N.O.N. (Sharing Hopes And Nourishing Needs Of Neighbors) Service Club of Bluffton is again offering up to 2 $1000 “Service to Humanity” Scholarships to graduating seniors at Bluffton High School. 

Seniors may pick up the scholarship application form in the high school guidance office. Applications must be returned to the guidance office by March 31.

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UPDATE: A period of moderate to heavy rainfall is expected later this morning through this evening (March 3). Storm total rainfall amounts of 1.5 to 2.25 inches are expected. Wet soil conditions from recent heavy rainfall will lead to a large amount of runoff from this additional heavy rainfall. This will lead to flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas, including small creeks and streams.

Issued March 2:

National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a flood watch for Friday, March 3 including Allen County and the cities of Dunkirk, Pandora, Bluffton and Lima.

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... *

WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. *

WHERE...Portions of northern Indiana and northwest Ohio, including in northwest Ohio, Allen OH, Defiance, Henry, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert.

WHEN...From Friday morning through Friday evening. *

IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. *

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By Paula Scott

Representatives of SumiRiko Ohio (SRK) and Sumitomo Riko Japan hosted Bluffton elected officials as well as those active in parks and recreation development for the company's 35th anniversary land donation ceremony and luncheon on Thursday, March 1.

Kazushi Shimizu, president of Sumitomo Riko Japan, presented several acres on Snider Rd. as a donation to be used for youth soccer fields. Shimizu explained that Bluffton was the company's first overseas production base and that thanks to its success, the company been able to grow to 100 production facilities for anti-vibration automotive products in over 20 countries.

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Andreas Baumgartner, associate professor of art at Bluffton University, will present the Colloquium, “From the Studio to Santiago: Finding Creative Renewal Through AI Imaging, RC Modeling and the Footpath of the Camino,” at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 17 in Centennial Hall’s Stutzman Lecture Hall. 

Baumgartner’s Colloquium presentation is based on interdisciplinary studies and experiences from his spring 2022 sabbatical. During his time on sabbatical, Baumgartner explored various means of computer-driven image making, implementing mixed media practices involving AI-based datasets, scripting languages and traditional paper marbling. Baumgartner will use artwork, photographs and drone footage to display his inspirational travels of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain. Involvement in radio-controlled modeling and competitive racing fuel Baumgartner’s passion to unite art, design and technology. 

This event is free and open to the public.

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Peter David Amstutz, 59, of Goshen died Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at his home.

He was born October 4, 1963 in Bluffton, Ohio to Frederick and Mary (Schmidt) Amstutz. On August 6, 1988, he married Portia Miller at Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville, Ohio.

Along with his mother and wife he is survived by a daughter, Christine (Shaun) Amstutz Moore of South Bend; two sons, Jeremy (Amber) Amstutz of Columbus Grove, Ohio and Ezra Amstutz of Bluffton, Ohio; two grandchildren, Ryan and Layne Amstutz and two brothers, James (Lorraine) Amstutz of Ephrata, Pennsylvania and Steven (Jana) Amstutz of Pandora, Ohio.

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Bluffton Boy Scout Troop #256 will be out Saturday morning, March 4 placing food collection tags on all the doors in Bluffton. 

They will be back out on Saturday morning, March 11 to pick up donations and take them to the Bluffton Food Pantry. Scouts will then help sort all the donations by type and date.   

Please have all donations placed outside by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 11. 

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By Cort Reynolds

LIMA–The Bluffton High School boys basketball team had its season ended by top seed Ottawa-Glandorf 63-42 in the Div. III district semifinals at Lima Senior Wednesday evening, March 1.

Bluffton ended its solid season 16-9 after the defeat. Top seed O-G improved to 21-3 with the win, and advances to the district finals vs. Spencerville (21-2).

The second-seeded Bearcats defeated three seed Liberty-Benton 44-39 in the second district semifinal Wednesday night at Lima Senior.

O-G shot extremely well overall from the field and from beyond the arc with 10 three-pointers to eliminate Bluffton.

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From our Ada counterpart, www.AdaIcon.com.

Dr. David Strittmatter, ONU Assistant Professor of History will present The Ray Brown Project at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 5 in the Allen County Museum’s Folsom Auditorium. 

Ray Brown (1908-65) was born in Alger in Hardin County. He pitched for the legendary Homestead Grays of the Negro Leagues and was posthumously inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2006.  He died in the 1960s and is buried in Dayton, Ohio.

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