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Book Review: Our Missing Hearts

Posted by Staff on May 2, 2023 - 6:35am

Review by Robert McCool

Words can be weapons; whether written or spoken, or the more dangerous implied threat by authority.

Poetry has to be words too; a light illuminating the darkness in some human souls.

Such is the premise in the new masterwork by Celeste Ng, titled Our Missing Hearts ($34.00, Random House ISBN978-0-593-63267-3).

The story begins after the collapse of the United States economic system (which is blamed on the Chinese, of course). This is the time of PACT (Preserving American Culture and Traditions), a totalitarian authority that controls the whole country. PACT has the power to suppress any activity that is considered UN-American or seditious. PACT has the power to read all mail, wiretap any phone, or impose an ongoing curfew, which the breaking of brings down the law. Big time.

They also have the right to remove any child from its family if the parents do not follow PACT constraints faithfully to protect American values. These PACT laws were passed unilaterally by the House and Senate in an effort to bring America out of the Crises.

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Section: 
Columnists
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A golden May at the Senior Center

Posted by Paula Scott on May 1, 2023 - 7:52am

"Blooming flowers, graduations, fishing derbies, Memorial Day weekend. There is a lot to like about May. May this month bring you warm sunshine and happiness," opens the May 2023 Golden Age News, published monthly by the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center.

The newsletter is a monthly reminder of the activities and resources available at 132 N. Main St. Among special opportunities this month:

Section: 
Regional news
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Gallery 323 hosts BHS senior showcase

Posted by Paula Scott on May 1, 2023 - 7:31am

This week, through May 6, Gallery 323 is hosting the first showcase for senior artists from Bluffton High School. The exhibit kicked off with an opening reception on Friday, April 28. The exhibit is located at 323 N. Main St. and is open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. PHOTOS by Ellie Bergstrand.

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Van Atta and Greer selected as Buckeye Boys State representatives

Posted by Staff on May 1, 2023 - 7:16am

The Bluffton American Legion Post 382 and Bluffton Lions Club have selected Bluffton High School students Gage Van Atta and Riley Greer to attend the Ohio American Legion Buckeye Boys State Class of 2023 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from June 11-18.

The two young men have made a commitment to further their education on how the U.S. government works during the eight-day intensive education program.

Founded in 1936, Buckeye Boys State is the largest Boys State program in the nation with an attendance of over 1,200 young men annually, representing nearly 600 Ohio High Schools, several online high schools, and the home-schooled community.

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Section: 
People
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Remembering Mr. Brown

Posted by Staff on April 30, 2023 - 5:10am

Ada resident and former Bluffton High School teacher Gary Brown passed away on April 25; his obituary is HERE.

By Fred Steiner
www.blufftonforever.com

Pardon the following recollections. They may be hit-and-miss, because as M. Twain claimed “The older I get, the more clearly I remember things that didn’t happen.”

Funny how you continue to address your high school teachers as “Mr.”, “Mrs.,” or “Miss,” long after your own graduation in the world of adults.

Mr. Brown–also known as Gary Brown–is a perfect example. This past  winter I saw him in the bank, and said, “Hello, Mr. Brown,” as our conversation began. I’d never considered, “Hello, Gary.” That would have the broken unwritten rule number one between student and teacher. At least in my day.

Despite that, here’s what enters the adolescent caverns of my mind when recalling the “Mr. Brown file.”

First, he was unconventional. Junior high students appreciated that. He could joke with us, with a down-to-earth-like honesty.

He once told us that he’d prefer having a black snake in the house to keep the mice at bay rather than using mouse traps. That captured the class attention. Was he telling the truth? We believed so.

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Section: 
People
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Weekend Doctor: Strep throat

Posted by Staff on April 30, 2023 - 5:02am

By Ailing Chen, MD
Pediatrics, Caughman Health Center

Acute strep pharyngitis, commonly known as strep throat, is a bacterial infection that affects the throat and tonsils. It is caused by the group A Streptococcus bacterium that can be easily spread through contact with an infected person's saliva or nasal secretions. 

However, viruses are the most common cause of pharyngitis in all age groups. Experts estimate that group A strep, the most common bacterial cause, causes 20 to 30 percent of pharyngitis episodes in children. In comparison, experts estimate it causes approximately five to 15 percent of pharyngitis infections in adults.

What are the symptoms for strep throat?
The most common symptoms of strep throat include sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and white or yellow spots on the back of the throat or tonsils. Other symptoms may include headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting — especially among children. Rash on face or around the neck may be present with strep infection in some children, which is called scarlet fever. 

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Section: 
Health Services
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