July 2023

UPDATE: New link for subscribing. Thanks to a reader for letting us know the first one stopped working.

The Icon got a little present today. Our email subscription service passed along the good news that in the last 30 days, 44 Icon readers have signed up for the Bluffton Icon by email.

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A letter from Bluffton residents John and Jenny Pilarowski.

Our legislators in Columbus are spending our tax dollars to hold a special election on August 8, 2023 to vote on Issue 1 – to change the Constitution of Ohio.

Issue 1 would make it more difficult – nearly impossible – to bring any citizen initiative to a vote of the people. It would require signatures from 5% of all who voted in the last gubernatorial election from all 88 Ohio counties to get an initiative on the ballot and then require there to be 60% approval of all ballots cast to pass the initiative. Currently signatures from 44 counties are required plus a yes vote from 50% of all ballots voted plus one more yes ballot – a simple majority!

By Paula Scott, Icon editor

In recent weeks, the Bluffton and Ada Icons have received letters to the editor from near and far on a variety of topics. Here are our freshly updated requirements for these submissions:

COLUMBUS–Fall sports practices and the golf regular-season officially get underway on Monday, July 31, for member schools of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

This week, football teams are permitted to conduct their five acclimatization days, which include two days in helmets, two days in helmets and shoulder pads, and one day in full pads with no contact. When a student-athlete has completed the five-day acclimatization period, then full contact is permitted.

FALL SPORTS SEASON CALENDARS

  • Golf: Regular-Season Begins July 31. Sectional Tournaments Begin Sept. 25.
  • Girls Tennis: Regular-Season Begins Aug. 4. Sectional Tournaments Begin Oct. 2.
  • Cross Country: Regular-Season Begins Aug. 21. District Tournaments Are Oct. 21.
  • Soccer: Regular-Season Begins Aug. 11. Sectional Tournaments Begin Oct. 16.
  • Girls Volleyball: Regular-Season Begins Aug. 18. Sectional Tournaments Begin Oct. 16.
  • Football: Regular-Season Begins Aug. 14 (first Friday is Aug. 18). Regional Playoffs Begin Oct. 27.

Complete OHSAA 2023-24 Calendars: https://www.ohsaa.org/Calendar

HEAT ILLNESS PRECAUTIONS
Student-athletes and coaches are reminded to take precautions in hot and humid weather. The greater the humidity, the more difficult it is for the body to cool itself. The air should be tested prior to a practice or competition using a wet bulb, globe, temperature index (WBGT index), which is based on the combined effects of air temperature, relative humidity, radiant heat and air movement.

The Environmental Citizens Advisory Committee (ECAC), appointed by the Board of Health, currently has two vacancies: one for an Allen County resident and one for a Medical Doctor.ECAC meets quarterly with Ohio EPA, local chemical industries and other Allen County representatives to discuss issues such as safety, air quality and environmental issues.

Applicants for these volunteer positions should forward a cover letter/resume to: Allen County Health Commissioner, 219 E Market Street, PO Box 1503, Lima, Ohio 45802. Applications must be received no later than August 31, 2023.

Grave robbers were apparently seeking a valuable ring

By Fred Steiner
www.BlufftonForever.com

Grave robbers in LaFayette?

It occurred in October of 1938 and became headlines in many Ohio newspapers. This tale involves the grave in the LaFayette Cemetery of Tully Rumbaugh, a pioneer in the village who was born Aug. 6, 1875, and died Jan. 17, 1896.

One LaFayette story claimed that Rumbaugh, only 21 when he died, was buried with an expensive diamond ring. No one knows when or how that story took its roots. But, even in 1938, 42 years following his death, the story continued to spread.

The appraisal of the ring was simply described as “valuable.” Apparently, three young boys, or young men, overheard the Rumbaugh ring story being told in a LaFayette pool hall. Soon after hearing the story, but not knowing the exact location of the grave, the three took digging tools and matches and headed for the cemetery.

There they found the Rumbaugh grave. The story continues that they dug at the gravesite and after a few hours reached the top of the decayed coffin. In their exciting and no doubt frightening search of the corpse, they found a ring and took it.

Click HERE for the rest of the story.

Full results available HERE.

An Ohio Northern poll of likely Ohio voters examines Issue 1 on the August 8 Ohio special election, a proposed statewide constitutional amendment relating to abortion and contraception and current voter preferences for the 2024 Ohio Senate race.

August 10-12 marks the 19th annual Lincoln Highway Buy Way Yard Sales across the State of Ohio.

The historic Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental road for automobile travel in the United States, dedicated in 1913 and extending from New York City’s Times Square to San Francisco’s Lincoln Park. Combined, various routes across Ohio comprise over 400 miles today. 

Attached: NTIA’s Indicators of broadband need map

The Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation has announced six regional hubs that will help expand the efforts of Ohio’s Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership locally.

“In today’s economy and workforce, all Ohioans need access to high-speed internet,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “Establishing these regional hubs will regionalize the work of our statewide Broadband and 5G Sector Partnership, empowering local communities to help build the broadband and 5G workforce Ohio needs.”

As part of the implementation of Ohio's Broadband and 5G Workforce Strategy, the regional hubs will be placed across JobsOhio's six-region map and will provide resources to local communities so they can create the talent pipeline needed for local businesses.

The following entities will constitute each regional hub:

Northwest​ – Regional Growth Partnership JobsOhio Region

  • University of Findlay​
  • Terra State Community College​
  • Greater Ohio Workforce Board, Inc.​
  • Great Lakes Community Action Partnership ​

CONTINUES

James Reno Kiene, 93, passed away July 27, 2023 at The Meadows of Ottawa. Jim was born July 1, 1930 in Pandora to the late Joseph and Gertrude (Stechshulte) Kiene. On July 1, 1950 he married the love of his life, Catheryn (Diller) Kiene who preceded him in death on February 2, 2008. 

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