February 2025

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The Bluffton Lions Club is seeking nominees for the 2024 Citizen of the Year Award.  The award was established in 1981 to honor a person, couple, or person representing a group, who has selflessly given time, effort, and talent for the benefit of those in the Bluffton area, and whose dedication and achievements have profoundly improved the quality of life of the people in this area. 

The nominee may be living, or deceased within the last year. This year’s winner will be feted at a banquet on April 15, 2025. 

Anyone interested in making a nomination may obtain an application by contacting John Rich (419-358-5405) or visiting the Lions Club website at https://www.blufftonlions.org/citizen-year

Nominations will be accepted until February 28, 2025, and should be returned to Bluffton Lions Club, Box 223, Bluffton, Ohio 45817.

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By Cort Reynolds

VAN BUREN - The youthful Bluffton High School wrestling team won the 17-team Div. III sectional team title Saturday at Van Buren as a whopping five Pirates finished first in their respective weight classes.

Three of the Pirate champions are freshmen, while the other two are sophomores.

Bluffton claimed the crown with 175.5 points. Mohawk was second with 166, followed by Columbus Grove (136) and Carey (132).

Freshman Ronald Kaufman won the 106 lbs. title., and fellow freshman Alex Nance took first in the 113 lbs. division. Sophomore Branden Cross captured the 120 lbs. class crown.
Freshman Hephaestion Weyer took first in the 126 lbs. division. Sophomore Mason Shank dominated his competition to win the heavyweight crown.

Junior Evan Grothause took second at the 190 lbs. bracket. Senior Jett Blackburn was fourth at 150. 

A top-four finish at sectionals in any weight class confers district qualification. Thus the seven aforementioned Pirates will compete in the Div. III district meet at Rossford February 28-March 1.

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On Wednesday, February 26, a Community Coffee Klatsch will be held in the newly decorated banquet/party room at Campito Lindo, 142 N. Main Street, Bluffton.   The doors will open at 10:00 a.m. for coffee, with the actual program starting at 10:30. 

The speaker for this open gathering will be Christopher Gibbs, a Sidney area farmer who is president of the Shelby County, OH, Democrats.  Those attending will be able to purchase lunch, relax and spend time with old and new friends,  and  share  concerns about rapidly changing conditions we are facing. 

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By Cort Reynolds

CANTON – Bluffton High School junior Jackson Bowlus finished sixth at the 100-yard backstroke consolation finals in the state Div. II meet at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium Friday, February 21.

Bowlus ended up 14th overall in the 100 backstroke at state with a time of 53.57 Friday night. He improved his time by .21 in the B Finals over his preliminary heat showing on Thursday.

Those who finished nine through 16 in the preliminary heats qualified for the state B or consolation Finals. One through eight advanced to the A Finals.

Bowlus took 15th amidst a field of 32 boys in the 100 backstroke preliminary heats Thursday evening. He swam a 53.78 to advance to the B or consolation Finals. 

Hamilton Ross senior Cooper Burt captured first in the 100 back A Finals with a time of 48.28. Burt also finished first in the prelims in 48.94.

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James Arden Emmert, 76, died in his home in Houston, Texas on February 17, 2025.

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By Cort Reynolds

ROSSFORD - The Bluffton High School boys bowling team finished 13th in the 16-team Div. II district tournament at Rossford Interstate Lanes on February 20.

Only the top three teams advance to the state tournament.

Coldwater won the district crown with 4,416 total pins. St. Henry came in second (4,022), followed closely by Van Wert (4,011).

Bluffton finished with 3,476 total pins, which left them 535 pins and nine spots away from state qualification.

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By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The hot-shooting Bluffton High School boys basketball team convincingly defeated visiting Wayne Trace 66-43 in Div. V sectional final action Friday, February 21.

The Pirates outscored the Raiders 39-15 from beyond the arc by draining 13 three-point goals.

After a slow start, Bluffton out-pointed WT 52-21 over the middle quarters to blow the game wide open.

Pirate senior guard Marek Donaldson led all scorers with 22 points on eight baskets and six trifectas. Senior Blake Sommers netted 20 markers on seven baskets, including three treys, and three free throws.

The Pirates improved to 16-7 with their fourth consecutive victory. Bluffton plays a rematch vs. top seed Lima Central Catholic in the district semifinals at Elida Fieldhouse Wednesday, Feb. 26 at approximately 7:30 p.m.

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UPDATED with photos by Charles Wright on Feb. 22. CORRECTION Bowlus placed 21st in 50 freestyle.

By Cort Reynolds

CANTON – Bluffton High School junior Jackson Bowlus qualified to the state B finals in one event with a solid preliminary heat performance in the Ohio Div. II swimming meet at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium Thursday evening, February 20.

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Allen County Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health confirmed the first pediatric flu-related death of the 2024-2025 flu season occurred in Allen County. The deceased individual was a teenager under the age of 18 from Allen County. This tragic loss underscores the seriousness of the flu and the importance of prevention, especially with flu activity at very high levels at this time. 

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Bluffton University has announced the following March 2025 Arts and Events Calendar. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. All events are also posted on the Icon's Community Calendar.

March 9-23
Anabaptism Event: Anabaptism at 500, exhibit “Early Anabaptist Bibles in the Musselman Library Historical Collections,” 3-5 p.m., Musselman Library, Reading Room

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