December 2024

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By Cort Reynolds

KENTON – The Bluffton High School boys bowling team competed in the 12-team Kenton Holiday Baker Series tournament on December 30 at Hillcrest Lanes.

The Pirates finished sixth out of 12 teams in the 10-game Baker set, which served as the preliminary pool play round.

In a Baker Series game, five bowlers from each team roll two frames apiece: one and six, two and seven, three and eight, four and nine, and five and 10 (plus potentially 11 and 12).

The Pirates tallied 1,647 pins in their 10 Baker games, with a high score of 211 in the fourth contest. 

The Kenton A team finished first with a score of 1,904. 

Then in the eight-team Baker tournament, the sixth-seeded Pirates lost a three-set match to third seed Minster in the first round, two games to one. 

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Grandey sets rebound record

By Cort Reynolds

MILLER CITY – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team went on the road and defeated tough non-conference foe Miller City 38-28 on December 28.

The visitors outscored Miller City 22-12 in the second half to break away from a halftime tie and emerge victorious by 10.

Pirate 6-2 senior post Ayla Grandey also set the program record for career rebounds in the win.

Bluffton improved to 6-4 overall after the impressive road victory. MC dropped to 8-3 after the Pirates handed them their first loss in six home games this season.

The Pirates led 10-5 after the opening quarter. The Wildcat girls rallied in the second period to tie it 16-16 after a low-scoring first half. 

Bluffton then took a 25-20 lead into the final period following a 9-4 third quarter. The Pirates captured the fourth period 13-8 by hitting five of their six free throw tries to clinch the win.

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By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost a 55-53 nailbiter to Arlington in a clash of undefeated teams vying for the championship of the annual McDonald’s Holiday Classic on December 28 at Bluffton University's Sommer Center. 

The Pirates fell to 6-1 with their first defeat. Arlington improved to 9-0 after the championship win.

Pirate Blake Sommers scored a game-high 20 points, while Kain Wright tallied 13 markers. Guard Marek Donaldson added eight points. 

Bluffton led 10-7 after the first period, and maintained a 24-19 edge at halftime. Arlington turned the momentum around with a 20-13 third quarter that gave the Devils a 39-37 edge heading to the final stanza.

Arlington canned 10 of 16 foul shots in the fourth quarter to hold on and post the two-point win.

Wayne Trace defeated Emmanuel Christian 41-36 in the third-place consolation game earlier Saturday evening.

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The following 2024 highlights were shared with members of the Bluffton Council at their final meeting of the year.

By Joe Sehlhorst
Village of Bluffton Council Member

December 2023

• Brightspeed fiber installation: Brightspeed is installing fiber throughout the town. The project spans 13 miles, with 84% being aerial installations, targeting 1,840 service locations.

• Cemetery rate updates: Burial rates have increased from $500 to $600, and infant burial rates have increased from $300 to $400. Currently, 65 plots are available for purchase.

January 2024

• Building and Zoning updates: In 2023, $23.7 million was invested in commercial and residential improvements. GROB Industries is planning a 90,000 square foot expansion valued at $18 million.

• Sanitary Compliance: Compliance efforts are 74.3% complete, with 34 sump pumps removed and connected to the sanitary system.

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By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The tournament host Bluffton High School boys basketball team dispatched Emmanuel Christian 63-44 in the semifinals of their annual McDonald’s Holiday Classic on December 27 at the Sommer Center.

The undefeated Pirates improved to 6-0 with another lopsided win. The Warriors out of Toledo fell to 4-4 after the defeat.

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Bowlus wins 2 races, Downey 1

By Cort Reynolds

LIMA - The Pirate swim teams competed well in the annual 26-team Bluffton Holiday Invitational meet at the Lima YMCA on December 27.

The Pirates finished sixth in the combined boys/girls team standings with 286 points. 

Ottawa-Glandorf won the overall meet with 552 points. Shawnee was second with 490, followed by St. Marys (389.5), Bryan (347) and Bluffton (286).

The Bluffton boys finished a strong fifth with 164 points. Shawnee captured the boys team crown with 322 points, followed by Findlay with 266. 

The Pirate girls came in eighth with 122 points. O-G won the girls team title with 287 points. St. Marys was second with 230.

Pirate junior Jackson Bowlus won the boys 100 butterfly by 1.13 ticks in 55.52. He also touched first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.17, 3.98 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

Bluffton junior Jenna Downey touched first in the girls 50-yard freestyle in a time of 25.69. 

Downey also finished second in the girls 100 free in 57.1, 1.35 off the winning time.

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By Heather Schalk

Many of us consider our pets as family members. They are usually loving creatures who are great at lending an ear and keeping us company. But pets offer more benefits to our health than simply being good companions. Pets trained to be therapy animals have been scientifically proven to provide physical and mental benefits to owners, patients and even children. 

“Pet therapy” is the umbrella term used to describe animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. One of the increasingly popular ways to utilize therapy pets is in a healthcare setting. Pet therapy helps patients cope with physical health problems, anxiety or cancer. Specifically, for those in long-term care, pet therapy can reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation, encourage communication and socialization skills, and provide comfort during stressful times. Depression and anxiety levels usually decrease in patients who receive pet therapy. This is one reason utilizing therapy animals in extended care facilities has increased in popularity: the presence of therapy animals reduces stress and anxiety and increases happiness. 

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By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School boy’s basketball team hosted a tough non-conference match-up on December 27 against the undefeated Patrick Henry Patriots. The Rockets started fast, jumping ahead 7-2 early in quarter number one. The Patriots settled in and led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter. From there, the Patriots never looked back and P-G fell by a final of 66-41.

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PHOTOS of the Ream display. Click the gallery to enlarge and view at your own pace.

By Bill Herr

Thousands have seen the Ream Christmas display that originated on the Ream farm in 1938 and now is displayed each year at Christmastime on the Bluffton Presbyterian Church lawn. This story is about its founder, Harry Ream.

I first met Harry on October 22, 2001, when he had just become a resident at Richland Manor Nursing Home near Beaverdam. I was a volunteer there, meeting with men who were residents for a weekly meeting.

My wife and I had traveled each year to the Ream farm to see their Christmas display. We knew that Harry made the cut outs of the figures and that his wife Dorothy was an artist and painted them.

When I heard that Harry was to become a new resident at the nursing home, I was excited to meet him. When he came to our meeting room, I extended my right hand to Harry and was stunned to see that he didn't have his right hand. He smiled and put out his left hand. We shook hands and that began a friendship I will never forget. 

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The following meetings have been scheduled by the Village of Bluffton. The meetings will be at Bluffton Town Hall.

Parks & Recreation Committee on Friday, December 27 at noon.

Pathway Board Meeting on Thursday, January 2 at noon.

Planning Commission Meeting on Monday, January 6 at 7:00 p.m.

Cemetery Board on Thursday, January 9 at 11:00 a.m.

Council Meeting on Monday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m.

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