All Bluffton Icon News

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.

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.

The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly breakfast meeting at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, January 10.

Director Jim Enneking has announced that Circle U Waffle Co. will be catering the breakfast.

The 7:30 a.m. program will feature Jesse Blackburn and company, who will provide an update on 202 projects including a new roundabout on SR 103 and transitioning village EMS from a volunteer staff to a paid staff.

For more information, visit www.ExploreBluffton.com/

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By Cort Reynolds

VAN BUREN – The visiting Bluffton High School boys basketball team methodically whipped non-league foe Van Buren 58-40 on January 4.

The Pirates improved to 8-1 with the convincing road win. Van Buren fell to 4-5 after their second tough defeat in as many nights.

Pirate Blake Sommers scored 17 points to lead three Pirates in double figures. He canned five two-point goals and one triple, and sank four of six foul shots.

Terron Boblitt contributed 13 points with two triples. 

Grandey scores 1,000th

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team stymied non-conference local rival Pandora-Gilboa 51-29 on January 4.

The Bluffton defense limited the Rocket girls to just 14 points over the final three quarters to pave the way to victory. The hosts outscored P-G 26-5 over the middle periods to pull away and build a comfortable 18-point lead going into the fourth period. 

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey surpassed a career milestone when she scored her 1,000th point early in the third period.

Bluffton improved to 7-4 overall after the convincing win. Pandora-Gilboa dropped to 5-5 after the defeat.

The Pirates trailed 15-12 after the opening quarter as Rocket Savannah Knueven bombed in three of her four triples. But a 16-3 second period put Bluffton ahead 28-18 at the half. 

Bluffton stymied P-G 10-2 in the third quarter to build a 38-20 lead heading into the final period. The Pirates won the fourth stanza, 13-9.

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The Bluffton Ohio Historical Society is inviting history buffs to bring items of local interest to the first of multiple Show 'N Tell events--and to spread the word. 

All kinds of historic items are of interest, from ephemera (stuff that usually gets thrown away) to locally made products and household items. This first event will be on the lower level of Bluffton Public Library on Wednesday, January 15, starting at 6 p.m.

Please note, the society is asking for pieces of Bluffton's history; not trying to recreate the antique road show.

The BOHS January business meeting will be on Wednesday night, January 8 in the library's History Room at 7:00 p.m.

For more information on the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society, visit www.BlufftonForever.com and the BOHS Facebook page.

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