October 2023

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The Bluffton High School student of the month for September 2023 is Caitlyn Couch, a senior with a 4.000 GPA. She is the daughter of Roy and Cathy Couch of Bluffton.  

Couch is involved in many activities at school including the marching band, pep band, concert band, jazz band, choir, "Four Guys and a Gal" quartet, Drama club, E-sports, Academic team and a member of the National Honor Society. She received an Academic Award in Spanish/9th grade, English/10th grade & Government/11th grade. This fall she was selected as one of the Senior Homecoming Attendants

She was a member of the Tennis team her Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years. She is employed at St. Mary's Catholic Church and Shirley's Popcorn.

The senior has taken CCP courses through Rhodes State University-Bluffton High School in College Algebra & Trigonometry.  

In her spare time Couch enjoys listening to music, playing the piano, reading, writing and watching movies. 

After graduation Caitlyn plans on attending Capital University and majoring in Music Technology.

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By Aaron Bain, MS
Medical Physicist, The Armes Family Cancer Care Center

You may have heard of an astrophysicist, nuclear physicist or theoretical physicist. Scientists like Einstein, Schrödinger and Newton revolutionized our understanding of the universe. But have you ever heard of a medical physicist? It is likely that you haven’t since there are only approximately 13,000 medical physicists in the United States. You may ask yourself, what role could someone who studies the physics of subatomic particles and planetary motions play in the medical field? 

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By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School volleyball team swept host Spencerville handily in a Northwest Conference match Thursday evening, October 5.

The Pirates improved to 16-4 overall and 5-2 in the NWC with the decisive 25-11, 25-14, 25-13 win. 

The Pirates maintained sole possession of third place in the league standings after the sweep. Crestview is first at 7-0, followed by Leipsic at 6-1.

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By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys soccer team lost 6-0 at perennial power Ottawa Hills Thursday night, October 5, in a non-league match.

Bluffton dropped to 5-8-2 overall after the loss, including 3-4-1 on the road this season.

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The Village of Bluffton has announced that leaf pick-up will begin at the end of October because the delivery of new equipment has been delayed until that time.

In the meantime:

  • Do not place leaves at the curb unless in biodegradable bags. Bags will be collected on Wednesdays with brush pick-up.
  • The Village brush dump is open 24/7. Residents may take leaves to this location.
  • Do not rake leaves to the curb until further notice is provided.

The Village administration notes, "Thank you for your cooperation with this delay as we work through conditions beyond our control and anxiously await new equipment."

Call 419-358-2066 and ask for Jesse with any questions.

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One of two council incumbents running as official write-in candidates

By Andy Chappell-Dick

This November, Bluffton voters will face three vacancies in Village government.  As it happens, Mayor Richard Johnson and Councillors Ben Stahl and Joe Sehlhort are all running unopposed for reelction. 

Johnson will appear on the ballot as the Republican nominee.  Stahl and Sehlhorst will NOT appear on the ballot, but are approved as official write-in candidates.  No other write-ins are approved. 

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From Chief Ryan M. Burkholder, Bluffton Police Department:

On October 5, 2023, in the early morning hours, the Bluffton Police Department responded to a well-being check at Bluffton University.

Responding officers located a deceased male in a parking lot.

The case is being investigated by Allen County Sheriff’s Department and Lucas County Corner's Office.

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William A. “Bill” Keeler, 78 of Mt Cory, Ohio passed away at 5:17 p.m. on October 2, 2023, at Flower Hospital, in Sylvania, Ohio. Bill was born on October 29, 1944 in Leipsic, Ohio to the late Floyd and Dorothy (Smith) Keeler.

On November 15, 1964, Bill married Laura M. Heldman and she preceded him in death on April 25, 1994. He is also preceded in death by a son Brent Keeler in 2004, a daughter Brenda Keeler in 2008, and a daughter-in-law Debra Keeler in 2023.

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Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is partnering with the DAISY Award, an international recognition program honoring nurses who have made a special difference in their patients’ lives.

In collaboration with BVHS Nursing Congress, Jessica Moore, RN, director of inpatient nursing, and Nikki Ballinger, RN, chair of Nursing Congress, will serve as co-coordinators of the program.

“We were brainstorming ways to enhance nurse engagement and celebrate nurses, while allowing our patients and families to express their gratitude for the wonderful care they received,” said Ballinger. “The DAISY Award was the obvious choice. It provides such a meaningful way for nurses to be celebrated for the care they provide and remind them why they became nurses in the first place.”

The DAISY Award was created to honor the late Patrick Barnes, who was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenia) at age 33 in 1999. Pat’s family was moved by the incredible kindness and compassion his nurses demonstrated throughout the eight weeks he was hospitalized. After his death, they created the award to honor him.

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A public hearing is scheduled for October 23, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. by the zoning appeals board to be held at the office of Richland Township at 8435 N. Dixie Hwy.

Contiguous property owners bordering 7100 N. Cool Rd. Columbus Grove, OH 45830 and interested general public are invited to attend.

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