Marilyn June Diller, 93, passed away August 20, 2024 at the Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay. Marilyn was born June 21, 1931 in Elida to the late Cecil and Fenella (Habegger) Flick. On February 24, 1951, she married Cleo Diller who preceded her in death on January 3, 1984.
The Bluffton High School boys golf team won a dual match Tuesday, August 20, handily over Bellefontaine. The Pirates triumphed by 31 strokes, 171-202.
Bluffton’s Nick Lovett was match medalist with a nine-hole round of 40. Pirates Evan Speicher and Ethan Fifer tied for second in the 12-player field with a score of 43.
Grady Coonfare was the fourth Pirate scorer as he registered a round of 45.
Michelle Ann Sherick, 40, passed away August 18, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Michelle was born December 16, 1983 in Findlay. On June 24, 2006 she married Tyson Sherick who preceded her in death on January 10, 2018.
In this series, the Icon presents the Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow comprehensive plan in eight segments, which can be found in full on the Village of Bluffton website HERE. The Bluffton Public Library has two print copies.
Housing
Municipalities across the nation are reviewing housing supply data as societal evolutions change requirements. The number of occupants per home is decreasing and the average home is growing in square footage. Our earliest pertinent data for Bluffton was collected in 1970. Just over 50 years ago, each resident averaged 325 square feet of living space with the mean home spanning 1,500 square feet. The most recent decennial census in 2020 identified the average home size in Bluffton as 2,465 square feet, raising the living space to resident ratio to 431 square feet to one resident (Allen County Auditor data).
Similar statistics could be tracked in most American municipalities. Denser populations are the goal because they are more efficient. Running utilities 2,000 feet to 10 homes returns less revenue than the same distance for 20 homes. Income tax on 20 homes returns far more capital to the municipality than property taxes on large lots with proportional homes.
The August 19 meeting of the Bluffton Exempted Village Schools Board of Education included the approval of supplemental contracts for coaches, advisors and substitute staff and teachers. The use of a therapy dog was approved in the schools.
The regular board meeting for the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District is cancelled for Tuesday, August 20, 2024 due to the lack of the required quorum.
Bluffton University has named Clay Quellhorst '23 as Interim Head Golf Coach.
Quellhorst is a 2023 graduate of Bluffton University. He has been serving as the graduate assistant, while earning his MBA from Bluffton, for the program for the past year. Last season, Quellhorst helped lead the women's team to a fourth-place finish and the men's team to a fifth-place finish at the HCAC tournament. Quellhorst was a member of the men's golf team for four years.
