All Bluffton Icon News

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Pictured: Heart Healthy Kids Challenge participants Emery Basinger and Lillian Wehrly

By Betsi Werling

The March 17 meeting of the Bluffton Exempted Village Schools Board of Education included a special presentation by elementary school students, supplemental contract approvals and staff reports.

Resolution
The Board approved the 2025 tax year amounts and rates determined by the Budget committee, as attached.

Public Comments
Elementary teacher Ryan Dunlap presented on the Heart Healthy Kids Challenge. The Elementary school raised $8,664.00 and had over 100 participants. Emery Basinger, who is in Mrs Fritsch’s class, was the top fundraiser. Also shown was a video of Lillian Wehrly, who was born with heart challenges. She has applied to be a National Ambassador. Lillian is in First Grade with Mr. Staley. 

Contracts, Assignments and Resignations
New teachers who were hired and will begin in Fall of 2025 are: Amy Gratz, Middle School Art; Kristen White, Middle School Intervention Specialist; and Kathryn Slaughterbeck, third grade.  MORE ▶︎

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From the Ohio Division of Wildlife Officers
State Wildlife Officer Nolan Johnson, assigned to Van Wert County, donated 147 pounds of venison that had been seized as evidence to the Van Wert Cooperative Ministries. This was the first time the organization received a donation from the Ohio Division of Wildlife and they were very grateful. When possible, venison seized as evidence in white-tailed deer violation cases is donated to food pantries.

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Elvet Wendell Foulkes, 93 of Columbus Grove, died on the morning of March 15, 2025 at his home. He was born April 11, 1931 in Vaughnsville, Ohio to the late Thomas and Quartense (Thomas) Foulkes. On April 19, 1953 he married his childhood sweetheart, Reita Beemer, who preceded him in death on May 1, 2015.

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LIMA __The Awakenings Victim Outreach Program at Area Agency on Aging 3 was awarded a multi-year grant through the Health Path Foundation of Ohio to support older adults (60+).

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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.

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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.

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