Allen County, Ohio residents, policymakers and community organizations now have access to a comprehensive set of health data tools, including the latest County Health Rankings released March 19, as well as a newly released 2024 Community Health Assessment and Allen County Health Atlas. These resources aim to empower communities with valuable insights into health trends and disparities, guiding informed decision-making and targeted interventions.
County Health Rankings, published annually by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, provides a detailed look at the factors influencing health outcomes. New this year is an updated model of health that focuses on how power and rules – like laws, budgets, culture and worldviews – shape community conditions and health. MORE ▶︎
The Bluffton Public Library will host the following events and activities during the week of March 24-29. For further details and dates, visit www.blufftonpubliclibrary.org/library-events.
During Bluffton University’s Forum on Tuesday, March 18, Dr. John D. Roth, emeritus professor of history at Goshen College and project director of MennoMedia’s Anabaptism at 500 initiative reflected on what tradition teaches us about life's most challenging question: What is the Good Life?
As part of the university's yearlong commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement, Roth explored the core principles that have shaped the Anabaptist faith and how these values remain relevant in today’s world.
“Human beings are created for relationships,” said Roth. ”At the core of our view, we yearn to live in intimacy, harmony, transparency and trust with God, each other, and the natural world. That’s our deepest purpose in life, to live in love.” MORE ▶︎
A settlement was filed in the Hardin County Common Pleas Court on Friday, March 21 in a case between Scott Gerber, plaintiff, vs. Ohio Northern University, et al. Judge Jonathan P. Hein provided a report of pre-trial conference and Notice of Agreed Settlement.
Gerber was removed from his teaching position at the Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law in Spring 2023. A series of lawsuits have been filed by both Gerber and ONU in the intervening period.
The report says the Court heard a summary of the positions of each party with the plaintiff identifying “procedural defects” in Gerber’s removal and claiming “ breach-of-contract, retaliation, defamation, and false light.” Ohio Northern University asked the court to dismiss “claims based on public policy violations and emotional distress.” MORE ▶︎
Bluffton University will host a book celebration “Drawing Near,” with poets Dr. Jeff Gundy, Ruth Naylor, Obi Martin, Shannon McKeehan, Sheri Hostetler and others, at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 23, in the Musselman Library Reading Room. A full list of Anabaptism at 500 events can be found at www.bluffton.edu/anabaptism500/
