January 2025

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By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team overcame a frigid start to defeat visiting Northwest Conference rival Spencerville 43-35 Thursday, January 30.

The Pirates trailed 4-2 after a very low-scoring first period. But they outscored the Bearcats 16-8 in the second stanza to take an 18-12 lead at halftime.

Bluffton then outscored the visitors 25-23 in the second half to secure an eight-point victory. 

Bluffton improved to 12-8 overall and 4-2 in the NWC after recording their third straight victory.  

Spencerville fell to 10-9 overall and 2-4 in NWC play with the defeat.

Macy Schaadt scored five points in each of the final three periods to tally a game-high 15 markers for the victors.  

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey tallied a dozen points, including eight in the key second quarter.

Junior Blair Utendorf scored eight points, all in the second half. Maelee Miller contributed five markers. 

READ MORE       ***View HUDL Highlights Video***

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Cheri Lee Lones, 68, passed away January 29, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family.

Cheri was born April 10, 1956 in Lima, to Harvey and Hazel (Hill) O'Day who preceded her in death. On December 23, 1977 she married Rick Lones who survives. 

Cheri loved to read and adored spending time with her grandchildren. 

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The Blanchard Valley Health System Auxiliary scholarship application period is open and applications are available online to students in the Hancock County area planning to pursue a health-related career or field of study. 

The purpose of the Auxiliary Scholarship is to financially assist local high school seniors in pursuing a health-related career. Heather Schalk, volunteer services manager, said that profession could range from dental hygienist to nurse to physician.

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Bluffton Elementary School has released the following Honor Roll for the 2nd quarter of the 2024-2025. academic year. The Honor Roll is for students in grades 4-5.

4th Grade

All A:

Ellery Byers, Felix Combs, Sawyer Fruchey, Anna Hartzler, Hayden Hines, Kinley Jenkins, Riley Klausing, Lucy Long, Lena Macke, Eliana Rettig, Blake Spencer, Isaiah Thiel, Grace Warner, Persephone Weyer

A/B:

Gabbi Abraham, Jaxson Babcock, Wyatt Badertscher, Lucas Blackburn,  Benji Crow, Wyatt Donaldson, Westin Doty, Matthias Fought, Jocelyn Foust, Owen Gesler, Judah Glick, Paisley Glick, Makayla Hicks, Bowen Hochstetler, Eliana Holmes, Misa Kaiser, Kamea Kaufman, Madelyn King, Maddox Lambert, Claire LeBlanc, Kendyl Lloyd, Arya Lowry, Hayden Minch, Jacob Morales, Allison Polish, Killian Rausch, Deacon Recker, Charlotte Schedler, Brooks Shaurer, Tyler Shaw, Evan Sider, Breck Slager, Mason Stechschulte, Annie Steiner, Harlow Thompson, Brynlee Underwood, Spencer Wahl, Levi Zink

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Dean Robert Sommers, 94, passed away on January 30, 2025 at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton.  Dean was born on November 18, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio to the late Walter and Cora (Gratz) Sommers. At a young age, Dean moved with his parents to Bluffton where he resided most of his life. On March 14, 1953, he married Darlyn Rae Garmatter at the Ebenezer Mennonite Church.  They were married over 63 years and were blessed with four sons. Darlyn preceded Dean in death on March 20, 2016 in Bluffton.

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The following results are from January 22-28 of the Bluffton University 2025 athletics season:

Men's Basketball falls to Mount St. Joseph 78-65

Franklin cruises to 96-61 win over Men's Basketball

Women's Basketball rallies for 68-66 OT win at MSJ

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Look for the penguins hiding around the Bluffton Public Library and fill in the letters to answer the riddle.

Bring your completed paper to the Main Desk for a small prize!

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By Cort Reynolds

BLOOMDALE – The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team decisively defeated non-conference foe Elmwood 63-27 Wednesday, January 29, in a makeup game.

The Pirates nailed four three-pointers in the first period to build a 15-2 lead. Bluffton stretched the lead to a commanding 30-7 margin by halftime. Bluffton outscored Elmwood 33-20 after intermission.

Four Pirates scored 10 points apiece to pace the romp. 

Guard Marek Donaldson nailed two triples as he scored 10 points. Kain Wright tallied 10 points. Terron Boblitt canned three triples to score 10 markers. He netted seven points and two triples in the opening stanza.

Brody Sommers also netted 10 markers. Blake Sommers added nine points.
The Pirates improved to 12-4 overall with the blowout win. Elmwood fell to 4-11 after the defeat.

Owen Traxler led Elmwood with nine points.

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Bluffton's Shannon Theatre has announced a Wicked sing-along:

"We've had a lot of requests for a sing-along night for Wicked - if you want to sing along, please join us at 7:00 p.m., this Thursday, Jan 30!

"Please note - we kindly request that patrons refrain from singing along during other showtimes of Wicked." The film is currently scheduled to run through February 6.

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By Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist

Anne Murray sang Everything Old Is New Again on episode 415 of The Muppet Show, which aired on February 1, 1980 in the United Kingdom and March 10, 1980 in New York City.  Anne sings while different Muppet characters including Scooter are on skateboards going in and out of the sketch.  

In 1987, Anne Murray was the first female country artist to earn triple platinum for an album.  Anne is from Canada and first started recording her music in 1967.  She retired in 2008 and has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

Murray’s song is a good descriptor for the current news about the hMPV virus.  Why?

The human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is similar to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and most of us have been exposed to hMPV before the age of 5. Researchers have evaluated blood samples and have shown evidence of past infections. As with other viruses, we can get sick from this virus more than once. The hMPV virus is most likely to cause symptoms in infants, the elderly and those individuals with a weak immune system. 

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