The Grace Albrecht Art Gallery at Bluffton University is hosting the Senior Exhibit “Outside The Lines” from March 10-April 4. Artists include: Sage Coker, Basil Gates, Kayleigh Michael, Meredith Myers, Zach Slone, Alyson Warnimont and Gabrielle Woolley.
Comment period runs through April 11
COLUMBUS __The Ohio Department of Transportation is accepting public comments on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) for 2026 through 2029. The plan identifies the multi-modal transportation improvement projects that are scheduled for some phase of implementation throughout the state over the next four years.
The draft documents will be available for public review and comment through April 11, 2025.
Donald M. Unterbrink, 83, passed away March 16, 2025. Donald was born October 3, 1941 in Leipsic, the only son of the late Amos and Ursula (Gerschutz) Unterbrink. On June 5, 1971, he married Rita Unterbrink who survives.
Don was five years old when his family moved to the farm in the Beaverdam area. Don retired from Ford Motor Company after forty-two years, farmed all of his life and raised hogs and a family on that farm. Don was a practicing Catholic his entire life and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bluffton.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Bluffton Community Dog Park on March 14 were a time for smiles, cheers and tears. The creation of a place for dogs to run safely off leash has been highly anticipated by area dog owners. That included Bluffton teacher and heart transplant recipient Katrina Riepenhoff, who passed away after a sudden illness in 2024. Her family has become a key supporter of the dog park.
Many at the well-attended event wore green t-shirts bearing the message “Live like Katrina Riepenhoff” and “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good”--and paw prints. Also in attendance were Baxter and Tilly, Riepenhoff’s two dogs and her parents, Becky and Joe Riepenhoff.
Some half of the guests were Riepenhoff’s students at Bluffton Middle School. MORE ▶︎
COLUMBUS– The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife confirmed that 24 white-tailed deer taken during the 2024-25 hunting season tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). A total of 5,783 deer were tested. Twenty-three deer were taken by hunters in Allen, Hardin, Marion, and Wyandot counties. For the first time, a deer harvested by a hunter in Morrow County also tested positive for CWD.
CWD is a neurological disease that is fatal to white-tailed deer and other similar species, including mule deer, elk and moose. Once an animal is infected, there is no cure for CWD. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no strong evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans. Find more information on CWD at www.ohiodnr.gov/cwd/ READ MORE
Alice Y. Rader, 102, of Wapakoneta, passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at her home. She was born on November 12, 1922 to the late William and May Sheppard.
She was a graduate of Lima South High School. She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Lima and the Bluffton Senior Center. She was a past member of the Tri-Ward Boosters, Bath Blue Star Mothers and the Ohio Polka Boosters.
