January 2025

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The following results are from January 1-7 of the Bluffton University 2025 athletics season:

Men's Basketball cruises to 77-69 win over Hanover

Hanover stunts Women's Basketball in 61-38 win over Beavers

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Submitted by the Richland Township Zoning Board of Appeals

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

A public hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2025 AT 7:00 p.m. by the zoning appeals board to be held at the office of Richland Township at the address stated above.

Contiguous property owners bordering  Ebenezer Mennonite Church at 8905 Columbus Grove-Bluffton Road  Bluffton, OH 45817 and interested general public are invited to attend.

The property owner of 8905 Columbus Grove-Bluffton Road Bluffton, OH 45817 is requesting to install a new digital sign.

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Provided by the Bluffton Public Library

The Board of Trustees of Bluffton Public Library has announced its meeting schedule for 2025.  Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the library's Board Room at 145 South Main St., Bluffton. No meetings will take place in July or December.

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Bethny Ricks ‘06, Bluffton University trustee, senior executive, author and speaker, will present, “Decisive Decision Making: Moving from Stagnation to Action,” at 11 a.m. on Jan. 21 in Yoder Recital Hall.

During the presentation, Ricks will show how to overcome indecision, evaluate options and make impactful choices with confidence.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Forum at Bluffton University is free and open to the public.

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By Katie (Prater) Kirby, Student Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist

Jack of All Trades was released on March 6, 2012 by Bruce Springsteen. You may not be familiar with this song unless you are a true fan of “the Boss.” This song is considered in the folk-rock genre and was on his seventeenth album.

“Jack of all trades” is a saying implying someone who has skills in different areas. The newer GLP-1 medications may qualify as such.

The GLP-1s include semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and the combination of GLP-1/GIP drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Studies are evaluating their potential benefits beyond managing diabetes and weight loss. These areas include rheumatic disease, cancer and addiction. 

Rheumatic diseases include gout, varying types of arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia. The impact of rheumatic diseases has led researchers to look at new treatments.

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Dennis G. Marquart, 72, of Forest, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at home with his wife by his side. He was born April 7, 1952 in Bluffton, Ohio to the late Solomon and Margery (Shellenbarger) Marquart. On February 10, 1978, Dennis married Nancy Bishop and she survives.  Together they adopted three children and took care of thirty medical needs foster children over a twenty year period.

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Marjorie Janice Thomas (née Johns), 97, of Lima, Ohio, died on Sunday, December 29, after a brief stay at St. Rita’s Medical Center. 

Born on August 20, 1927, in Lima, Ohio, Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Clarice and Richard Johns of Lima, Ohio; her husband of 40 years, Roger Lee Thomas (d. 2003); and her daughter, Carol Ann (Dave) Siverling (d. 2013). 

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By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team stymied visiting non-conference foe Shawnee in the second half to post a 47-25 victory Tuesday, January 7.

The Bluffton defense held the Indians to just nine second-half points. The hosts outscored Shawnee 27-9 after intermission to win going away. 

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey led all players with 17 points.

Bluffton improved to 8-4 overall after the decisive win. Shawnee dropped to 4-8 after the road defeat.

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By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School boy’s basketball team hosted Putnam County League rival Miller City on January 7.

The physical Wildcats owned the first three quarters of play and grounded the Rockets by a final of 78-47. Miller City upped their record to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the PCL.

The Wildcats took a 3-0 lead to start the game and never trailed. The Rockets eventually found themselves down 21-11 at the end of the first quarter and then 41-21 at halftime.  

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By Paula Pyzik Scott

A developer’s proposal for triplexes on N. Main St. and a request to combine two undeveloped lots in the Parkview subdivision were considered by the Bluffton Planning Commission in a public meeting on January 6.

The Planning Commission is currently made up of appointees Mitch Agner, Roger Edwards, Tim Essinger, Mayor Rich Johnson and council member Mitch Kingsley.

Also present were Zoning Board of Appeals members Tom Downey, Deron Geiser (not present, member Tony Pinks), as well as Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn and Assistant Village Administrator Bryan Lloyd.

Blackburn presented a preliminary site plan for a five triplex development around a pond (which has already been dug) at 721 N. Main St. Discussion focused on how the plan could be modified to fit R-III zoning requirements or PUD (Planned Unit Development) requirements, as well as what variances might be considered by the commission. The developer was not present.

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