December 2023

  • /

Columnist Bill Herr taught high school mathematics and science for 32 years before serving as a volunteer and then as a staff chaplain at two nursing homes. In this series of articles, he writes about his experiences with elderly residents. He does not use the residents’ real names.

By Bill Herr

Early in my time as chaplain I went into the room of a new lady resident.  I did not know that she had dementia.  As soon as she saw me, she began cursing me.  I tried to introduce myself but she continued cursing.  After a few uncomfortable moments, I excused myself and left the room.  

In the following days, I observed that her husband visited her every day.  She would sit up and he would sit beside her and gently massage the back of her neck and shoulders. One day I entered her room and she was crying softly.  I asked her what was the matter and she said, “I miss my husband.” I asked her if I could pray for her. She nodded and I prayed specifically that her husband would soon be there to see her. When I finished I looked at the doorway and there stood her husband. He had just arrived.  

  • /

The student of the month for November 2023 at Bluffton High School is Ian Rieman, a senior with a 4.000 GPA. Ian is the son of James and Jennifer Rieman of Bluffton. 

Ian is in the National Honor Society, Show Choir, 4 Guys and a Gal quartet, Chamber Choir and Drama club. He was an Academic All-NWC and a member of the varsity football team.

  • /

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls basketball team lost 66-42 to visiting traditional power Ottoville Saturday afternoon, December 9.

Ottoville outscored the Pirate girls 36-16 over the middle quarters to pave the way to victory. 

  • /

By Cort Reynolds

LIMA__The visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball squad dominated Lima Central Catholic 64-20 in a non-league mismatch Thursday night, December 7.

“We came out and played a full four quarters for the first time this year, and put a complete game together,” said head coach Adam Burris. 

  • /

The Board of Trustees of Bluffton Public Library will hold its annual organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. 

The purpose of the meeting is to elect officers, set the 2024 meeting schedule and approve temporary authorizations for 2024.  

  • /

Billy D. Hollar, 91, formerly of Bluffton, passed away December 7, 2023, at Promedica Flower Hospital in Sylvania. 

Billy was born April 27, 1932 in Lima, Ohio to Stanley and Loretta Jennivie (Worthington) Hollar who preceded him in death. On July 27, 1956 he married Bonnie (Parish) Hollar who preceded him in death on November 15, 2019. 

  • /

By Emily Koogler, LSW, CCM
Social Worker-Case Manager, Bluffton Hospital

What is a swing bed?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) grants approval to critical access hospitals to provide post-acute care in the hospital setting if the facility meets certain requirements. The swing bed concept allows a critical access facility to use its beds interchangeably for either acute care or post-acute care. The patient swings from receiving acute-care services and reimbursement to receiving skilled services and reimbursement while staying in the hospital setting.

What kinds of patients are seen in a swing bed unit?
Swing bed candidates are those who desire rehab in a post-acute care setting and have a daily skilled nursing need such as IV antibiotics, wound care, etc. or a skilled therapy need for five or more days a week with the goal of returning home after a rehab stay. Candidates also include those who are stable and no longer in the diagnostic phase or testing part of treatment.

  • /

By Fred Steiner
www.BlufftonForever.com

The Main Street Bluffton building housing today’s CVS Pharmacy served the community as a retail business for nearly 125 years. Originally the building housed two businesses, one on the north side and the other on the south.

  • /

By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa Rockets boys basketball team played host to the Arcadia Redskins in a Blanchard Valley Conference match-up Friday night Dec. 8.  In the season’s home opener, the Rockets (3-0, 1-0 BVC, 0-0 PCL) overwhelmed the Redskins by a final of 63-28.

  • /

Note from BHS athletic director Alex Hanna: 

“Both O-G and Bluffton participated in the Eli Jones student section theme, where we remembered the Bluffton sophomore who tragically lost his life this week. 

“His passing has left a hole in the heart of the Bluffton community. Eli was a son, a brother, and a friend to so many.  

“For those who didn't know Eli, there is one word we can use to describe him and that is "good," he was a good friend, good teammate, good student, from a good family. We lost a good one this week. 

“Huge thank you to the Titan Boys Basketball team for donating over $300 to the Eli Jones Memorial Fund.”

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton boys basketball team led much of the game, but a fourth quarter flurry by visiting perennial power Ottawa-Glandorf led to a 45-40 Titan victory Friday night, December 8.

Pages