All Bluffton Icon News

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By Paula Pyzik Scott

Three Bluffton shops owned by the non-profit organization Et Cetera Shop, Inc. have been in the news throughout 2024. The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary with a series of events that celebrated and highlighted work supported by six area churches and over 100 volunteers at Book Reviews, Et Cetera Shop and Ten Thousand Villages.

The Et Cetera Shop board has also provided the following details on “where the money goes” in and beyond Bluffton. The board is currently comprised of Lori Nester, Beverly Armstrong, Nancy Neff, Tim Byers, Carolyn McDaniel, Linda Nelson, George Lehman and Dick McGarrity.

A percentage is designated by the board to be “tithed” for local efforts to combat the effects of poverty. This year, $6,000 was donated to the Bluffton Community Assistance Program as well as the benevolent funds of the supporting churches, which include English Lutheran, Bluffton Presbyterian, First Mennonite, Grace Mennonite, Lima Mennonite and Salem Mennonite.

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The Village of Bluffton has announced the following public meeting to be held at Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main St.

- Parks & Recreation Committee on Thursday, January 9 at 5:30 p.m.   

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Bluffton High School will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, January 9. To schedule an appointment or find other nearby events, visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=45817

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Provided by Scott Little, Bluffton Ohio Historical Society secretary

The January meeting of the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society will be Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in the History Room on the main floor of the Bluffton Public Library at 7:00 p.m. 

Agenda items include our first Show & Tell, Part 1 set for Wednesday, January 15, in the basement Community Room at the library at 6:00 p.m, and goal setting for 2025 and beyond. 

The meeting is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.

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The Bluffton Exempted Village Schools have announced a 2-hour delay on Monday, January 6 due to hazardous roads. Hancock County and Hardin County have announced Level 1 snow emergencies. Putnam County is under a Level 2 warning.

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Provided by Chief Jon Kinn, Bluffton Fire Department

The Bluffton Fire Department received 159 calls for service in 2024. This is higher than usual and shows an increase of 48 calls compared to 2023.  In 2022, the calls received were 117 and 93 calls for service in 2021. (See chart below.)

The increased call volume was a result of an increase in false alarm calls at various facilities and an increase in motor vehicle crashes.  There was also an increase in grass/field fires and also heavy equipment (i.e. combine and tractor) fires.

The Bluffton Fire Department covers an area of forty square miles.  The department is responsible for all of the Village of Bluffton and also portions of Richland and Orange Townships.

The entirely volunteer department also recorded a total of 149 of in-house training hours by the members of the department.  Additionally, many hours were spent maintaining vehicles, special events and regular business meetings monthly.  

Thank you to the residents of the Village of Bluffton and the surrounding areas for their continued support of the fire department and all of Bluffton’s Safety Services.

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