All Bluffton Icon News

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The Bluffton High School string orchestra received a superior rating at the OMEA State Orchestra Adjudicated Event on February 21. The orchestra performed: ‘Dragon Fire’ by Susan Day, ‘Danse Infernale’ by Elliot del Borgo and ‘Prairie Trail’ by Jeffrey Bishop. The orchestra is directed by Rachael E. Lewis. Students: Liliana Liberato, Maia Gearing, Katie Bauman, Zoe Shank, Ethan Hoffman, Claire Phillips, Ellie Hartzler, Phoebe Edwards-Leeper, Eva McBrien, Kelsey Bauman, Georgia Hagen, Daphne Johnston, Leo Gearing, Emma Miller, Emmitt Kidd, Leah Shadle, Charlotte Kidd, Laney Kiene. (Not pictured: Rebekah Rehm.) PHOTO by Sarah Kidd.

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The Bluffton Lions Club inducted five new members in February and announced the March 4 Charter night for the Leo Club of Bluffton High School. (See attached February 2025 newsletter.)

Leo Charter Night will take place from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on March 4 at Bluffton Town Hall. Members will be inducted and officers will be installed.

March 18 Club Meeting: Speaker Dave Sycks will talk about the Bluffton Schools music program.

April 15 Citizen of the Year Program. If you have candidates, contact Lion John Rich.

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By Bill Herr

The greatest Pirate basketball game I ever witnessed in an away game was against Liberty-Benton on February 12, 2000. LB was 17-0 and ranked 3d in the state. Bluffton had a talented team that was 16-2 and led by 6 ft-7 in Kyle Lowry and Michael Kingsley, who still holds the record (1,162) for most points scored in school history. Coach Rich Shaner said the team had a good previous season and had high expectations for the 1999-2000 season. The experienced team had strong guard play, post play also, and there was good balance on the scoring. The team was speedy, quick, and could shoot well both in the paint or outside the 3-point line.

The game was played on a Saturday night. Twenty-four hours earlier, Bluffton defeated Crestview to win the Northwest Conference Championship outright with a 10-0 record. On that same Friday night LB had won a tough game as well. LB was strong on their home court and was favored. The Pirates had other ideas.

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The Bluffton Public Library will host the following events and activities during the week of February 24-March 1. For further details and dates, visit www.blufftonpubliclibrary.org/library-events/

Monday, February 24

Hummin’ & Strummin’ Song Circle - 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 25

Hot Tea Tuesday - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Open Chess - 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

"Daisies" Acrylic Paint Class - 6 to 7 p.m.

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The Bluffton Lions Club is seeking nominees for the 2024 Citizen of the Year Award.  The award was established in 1981 to honor a person, couple, or person representing a group, who has selflessly given time, effort, and talent for the benefit of those in the Bluffton area, and whose dedication and achievements have profoundly improved the quality of life of the people in this area. 

The nominee may be living, or deceased within the last year. This year’s winner will be feted at a banquet on April 15, 2025. 

Anyone interested in making a nomination may obtain an application by contacting John Rich (419-358-5405) or visiting the Lions Club website at https://www.blufftonlions.org/citizen-year

Nominations will be accepted until February 28, 2025, and should be returned to Bluffton Lions Club, Box 223, Bluffton, Ohio 45817.

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By Cort Reynolds

VAN BUREN - The youthful Bluffton High School wrestling team won the 17-team Div. III sectional team title Saturday at Van Buren as a whopping five Pirates finished first in their respective weight classes.

Three of the Pirate champions are freshmen, while the other two are sophomores.

Bluffton claimed the crown with 175.5 points. Mohawk was second with 166, followed by Columbus Grove (136) and Carey (132).

Freshman Ronald Kaufman won the 106 lbs. title., and fellow freshman Alex Nance took first in the 113 lbs. division. Sophomore Branden Cross captured the 120 lbs. class crown.
Freshman Hephaestion Weyer took first in the 126 lbs. division. Sophomore Mason Shank dominated his competition to win the heavyweight crown.

Junior Evan Grothause took second at the 190 lbs. bracket. Senior Jett Blackburn was fourth at 150. 

A top-four finish at sectionals in any weight class confers district qualification. Thus the seven aforementioned Pirates will compete in the Div. III district meet at Rossford February 28-March 1.

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