All Bluffton Icon News

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By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The tournament host Bluffton High School boys basketball team dispatched Emmanuel Christian 63-44 in the semifinals of their annual McDonald’s Holiday Classic on December 27 at the Sommer Center.

The undefeated Pirates improved to 6-0 with another lopsided win. The Warriors out of Toledo fell to 4-4 after the defeat.

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Bowlus wins 2 races, Downey 1

By Cort Reynolds

LIMA - The Pirate swim teams competed well in the annual 26-team Bluffton Holiday Invitational meet at the Lima YMCA on December 27.

The Pirates finished sixth in the combined boys/girls team standings with 286 points. 

Ottawa-Glandorf won the overall meet with 552 points. Shawnee was second with 490, followed by St. Marys (389.5), Bryan (347) and Bluffton (286).

The Bluffton boys finished a strong fifth with 164 points. Shawnee captured the boys team crown with 322 points, followed by Findlay with 266. 

The Pirate girls came in eighth with 122 points. O-G won the girls team title with 287 points. St. Marys was second with 230.

Pirate junior Jackson Bowlus won the boys 100 butterfly by 1.13 ticks in 55.52. He also touched first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.17, 3.98 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

Bluffton junior Jenna Downey touched first in the girls 50-yard freestyle in a time of 25.69. 

Downey also finished second in the girls 100 free in 57.1, 1.35 off the winning time.

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By Heather Schalk

Many of us consider our pets as family members. They are usually loving creatures who are great at lending an ear and keeping us company. But pets offer more benefits to our health than simply being good companions. Pets trained to be therapy animals have been scientifically proven to provide physical and mental benefits to owners, patients and even children. 

“Pet therapy” is the umbrella term used to describe animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. One of the increasingly popular ways to utilize therapy pets is in a healthcare setting. Pet therapy helps patients cope with physical health problems, anxiety or cancer. Specifically, for those in long-term care, pet therapy can reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation, encourage communication and socialization skills, and provide comfort during stressful times. Depression and anxiety levels usually decrease in patients who receive pet therapy. This is one reason utilizing therapy animals in extended care facilities has increased in popularity: the presence of therapy animals reduces stress and anxiety and increases happiness. 

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By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School boy’s basketball team hosted a tough non-conference match-up on December 27 against the undefeated Patrick Henry Patriots. The Rockets started fast, jumping ahead 7-2 early in quarter number one. The Patriots settled in and led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter. From there, the Patriots never looked back and P-G fell by a final of 66-41.

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PHOTOS of the Ream display. Click the gallery to enlarge and view at your own pace.

By Bill Herr

Thousands have seen the Ream Christmas display that originated on the Ream farm in 1938 and now is displayed each year at Christmastime on the Bluffton Presbyterian Church lawn. This story is about its founder, Harry Ream.

I first met Harry on October 22, 2001, when he had just become a resident at Richland Manor Nursing Home near Beaverdam. I was a volunteer there, meeting with men who were residents for a weekly meeting.

My wife and I had traveled each year to the Ream farm to see their Christmas display. We knew that Harry made the cut outs of the figures and that his wife Dorothy was an artist and painted them.

When I heard that Harry was to become a new resident at the nursing home, I was excited to meet him. When he came to our meeting room, I extended my right hand to Harry and was stunned to see that he didn't have his right hand. He smiled and put out his left hand. We shook hands and that began a friendship I will never forget. 

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Happy Holidays! The Ada Icon and Bluffton Icon will be in holiday mode through New Year's Day on Wednesday, January 1.

Content will be updated with breaking news including sports and obituaries, but our office will be closed. Please continue to send information 24/7 to [email protected] and leave messages at 567-400-4266.

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