UPDATED MARCH 1 From Bluffton Fire Chief Jon Kinn: At 3:45 p.m., Friday the Bluffton Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a residential structure fire at 612 Lausanne Ave. Upon arrival, flames were showing and a second alarm was requested. The winds spread the fire to the neighboring residence. The primary structure was a total loss and the secondary exposure received moderate damage. There were no fatalities. A fireman was treated for minor injuries and was released. The Bluffton Fire Department was assisted on the scene by the Beaverdam Fire Department, Ada-Liberty Fire Department, Bluffton EMS and Bluffton Police. GoFundMe fundraisers have been created for both families.
Local Boy Scouts are distributing door tags on March 1 to notify Bluffton residents of the Scouting for Food program.
They are asking residents to "recycle an old grocery bag and place canned goods or non-perishable items inside it for pick up by one of your neighborhood scouts. Items collected will be donated to your local community food pantry. No glass items, please.
"Place bagged donations on your front step by 9:00 a.m. on the second Saturday in March for pickup [March 8].
Need tips on how to avoid scams? Bluffton Police Chief Ryan Burkholder recommends checking the February 2025 Consumer Advocate Newsletter distributed by the Ohio Attorney General.
March 1 is the start of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Allen County Board of Development Disabilities has announced:
We will be celebrating all month long. Our theme this year is "Step by Step: From Vision to Reality," which is a continuation of 2024's theme that focused on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant, accessibility and inclusion. Look for the billboards, connect on social media or find other ways to learn more about developmental disabilities during March.
