September 2023

Bluffton's newest Main St. business, 1861 Wine Lounge, is also the Icon's newest advertiser.

You'll find the ad on our home page and ther 1861 Wine Lounge menu on our Menu Page.

The lounge is open from 3:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursdays,  noon-9:00 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m.-9:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information, visit www.1861winelounge.com/

The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce encourages businesses to decorate the downtown area with a fall/scarecrow theme. Here are the guidelines:

These decorations would either be attached to the lamp posts along Main Street or storefront window decorations, but the overall requirement is that they be three-dimensional.

By Paula Scott

In September students go back to school and Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) members go back to monthly meetings. That means leaving the house a little earlier than usual to make it to a 7:00 a.m. breakfast meeting, but the coffee is hot and the breakfast is ready made.

For this BACC member meeting, Citizens National Bank was the sponsor and Kira’s Flipside Grill was the breakfast provider, featuring items from the restaurant’s new brunch menu.

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School football team seeks to stay undefeated atop the Northwest Conference when they invade War Memorial Stadium for their last league battle at Ada Friday night, September 22.

The Bulldogs are joining the Blanchard Valley Conference next season after being a NWC member since 1963. 

Ada (2-3, 0-2 NWC) has lost two in a row, including a 55-24 defeat to undefeated Leipsic last Friday in a game that they trailed just 28-24 in the third period.

The potent Pirates improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the NWC with a 56-0 blowout win over Spencerville last Friday. 

The Pirates have outscored their opponents 231-28 this season. Bluffton leads the NWC in points scored per game (46.2), and is also first in least points allowed per contest (5.4.).

By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

Billy Joel is a successful singer, pianist, and songwriter. He is referred to as the “piano man” after his first charting song. He has been nominated for 23 Grammy Awards and has won six. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2013, Joel was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors. 

In 1978, Joel released 52nd Street, which included his hit Big Shot. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The single only reached 14. The song describes someone behaving like a big shot and running their mouth all over town.

The news last week described the new “big shot” by the FDA and the CDC ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) for COVID-19. Is it important to spread the word all over town?

The Pandora-Gilboa Local Schools are celebrating Homecoming this week and have announced the following homecoming court members, pictured left-right, top-bottom:

Conner Gerten, freshman; Tyler Pugh, junior; Colin Harris, senior; Aidan Morris, senior; Tanner Liechty, senior; Camden Verhoff; sophomore

Laira Parkins, freshman; Anna Kempf, junior; Raegan Krohn, senior; Anna Parkins, senior; Eliana Hixen, senior; Claire Stall; sophomore

Every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the United States. Crashes at rail crossings can be more severe than other collisions and are more likely to result in death and injury.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) and the Ohio Department of Transportation are promoting Rail Safety Week, September 18-24. The week is dedicated as a reminder to Ohioans to practice safety around all rail crossings. This year’s awareness campaign focuses on the safety of pedestrians, joggers and bicyclists.

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School girls soccer team rallied to defeat Allen East 3-2 in a Northwest Conference first-place showdown Tuesday evening, September 19, at Goodwin Field in Harrod.

Pirate sophomore Aubrey Burkholder scored two goals and Blair Utendorf dished out three assists to pace the victors to the crucial victory.

The Pirate girls improved to 7-3-1 overall and 4-0 in the NWC with the win that propelled them into sole possession of first place.

AE fell to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the NWC after the tough loss.

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys soccer team defeated Allen East 2-1 in a key Northwest Conference battle Tuesday night, September 19, playing on home turf at Steinmetz Field.

The Pirates improved to 3-5-2 overall and 2-0 in NWC play with the win.

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School girls tennis team beat visiting Van Wert 3-2 Tuesday evening, September 19, by sweeping the doubles matches.

The Pirate netters  improved to 5-6 with their second win in as many nights.

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