February 2025

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UPDATED February 16

By Cort Reynolds

NAPOLEON __ The Bluffton High School boys bowling team finished a strong third at the River City Bowl-a-Way alley in Div. II sectional tournament action on February 14 in Napoleon.

Ottawa-Glandorf won the boys sectional team crown with 4,121 pins. Napoleon was second with 4,021 pins, exactly 100 pins behind O-G. 

The Pirates rolled a 3,999 total as their top four bowlers all finished in the top 20 individually. Bryan finished fourth with 3,929.

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By Cort Reynolds

Bluffton senior post Ayla Grandey was voted first team All-Northwest Conference recently in a vote of the league coaches. 

The 6-2 Grandey led the Pirate girls in points, rebounds, foul shooting and blocked shots. 

Pirate freshman guard Maelee Miller and junior wing Blair Utendorf were named honorable mention all-league. 

Lauryn Auchmuty of league champion Columbus Grove was voted NWC Player of the Year.
Grove mentor Brian Schroeder was tabbed NWC Coach of the Year. 

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Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main St., will host the following events and activities throughout the week of February 17-22. For further details and dates, visit https://blufftonpubliclibrary.org/library-events/

Monday, February 17

CLOSED FOR PRESIDENTS' DAY

Tuesday, February 18

Hot Tea Tuesday - 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Open Chess - 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 19

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Cole May, newly appointed Resident Preacher of Bluffton Presbyterian Church, will begin a series of sermons titled, “Profiles”, examining some of the great men and women of the Bible.  The message at the service Sunday February 16 at 10:15 will focus on Elijah. 

Cole is originally from Lima and has most recently lived in Harrod with his wife Janelle and four children, Greyson, Hudson, Emmree and October-Grace.  The older children attend Bluffton Schools.

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Through March 16, area Girl Scout entrepreneurs will be out and about the community at local businesses, holding drive-through cookie booths, setting up cookie stands in their neighborhood, and taking online orders to ensure cookie lovers can enjoy all their favorite Girl Scout Cookies®.

Saturday, Feb. 22 - Bluffton Community Markets and Wendy's on SR 103
Tuesday, Feb. 25 -  Wendy's on SR 103
Saturday, Mar. 1 - Cory-Rawson High School
Saturday, Mar. 8 - Bluffton Community Markets

This year’s lineup includes the perennially popular Thin Mints®, Caramel deLites®, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and the Lemonades® — and for the last time, the Toast-Yay!® variety, which will be retired after 2025.

Customers can plan their cookie shopping excursion by visiting www.gswo.org/findcookies and entering their ZIP code to find upcoming booths.

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Ayan A. Hersi was last seen on the afternoon of January 31, 2025 in Lima, Allen County, Ohio. She was wearing a long black winter coat, tan boots, and dark green sweatpants. Ayan is a 33 year old (DOB: 01-01-1992), black female with black hair and brown eyes. She is approximately 5’ 7” and 125 pounds.

If anyone has seen Ayan or has any information on her whereabouts please call the Allen County Sheriff’s Office at 419-227-3535.

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Grandey named 1st team All-NWC

By Cort Reynolds

DELTA – On February 13, the visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball team lost a Div. V sectional first round thriller at Delta, 47-42.

The second-seeded Panthers rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit with a 33-20 second half to avoid a minor upset. Delta closed the game on a 7-2 run to pull out the close victory.

Pirate junior Blair Utendorf drove left and banked in a fadeaway 

runner off one foot to tie the game 40-40 with a minute left.

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By Cort Reynolds

HARROD - The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team broke away late to beat local Northwest Conference rival Allen East 54-45 on February 14 in the league finale.

The Pirates improved to 14-7 overall and finished 3-4 in the NWC play after the big win. Columbus Grove and Spencerville shared the league title at 6-1. Bluffton came in fifth in the eight-team standings.

Allen East fell to 10-11 overall and ended up 2-5 in NWC action after the loss. Crestview and LCC tied for third in the league at 5-2.

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By Cort Reynolds

BOWLING GREEN – Several Bluffton swimmers competed in the Div. II district meet at Bowling Green State University on Friday, February 14, with one winning a title.

Pirate junior Jackson Bowlus captured the 100-yard backstroke in 53.21 by .20 to qualify for the state meet. Bowlus also touched seventh in the boys 50 freestyle.

Junior Jenna Downey took third in the 100 butterfly, and came home ninth in the 50 freestyle.

Senior Xavier Diller touched ninth in the 100 butterfly (57.2). Freshman Kari Diller came in ninth in the 100 backstroke.

The Pirate girls 200 medley relay team finished eighth. The Bluffton girls 400 free relay quartet came in 13th.

The Bluffton boys 200 medley relay finished a solid sixth. The Pirate 400 free relay quartet came in 10th. The boys 200 free relay foursome ended up 18th.

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Edward Diller '69 named board chair
Video introduction to Bluffton College Foundation

February 14 marked the official launch of Bluffton College Foundation, a newly established 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to supporting the long-term success and development of Bluffton University. 

"We are thrilled to announce the creation of Bluffton College Foundation, led by Edward Diller, 1969 alumnus and previous 20-year Bluffton board member, with 10 years as Chairman," said Cheryl Hacker, chairperson of the Bluffton University Board of Trustees. “We envision Bluffton College Foundation becoming a cornerstone of our institution’s future, and with Ed at the helm, we are confident this charitable organization will ensure the Bluffton campus remains vibrant and engaging.”

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