Click here to view flooding at Triplett Drive and College, 11:45 a.m.
Click here for flooding at the Buckeye, 11:30 a.m.
The following was posted at 10 a.m. , Monday, Feb. 28:
Click here for Little Riley flooding on Elm Street, 11:30 a.m.
Click here for a video of Bluffton University flooding.
Click here for a video of Main Street shot at 9:30 a.m.
Rising waters from Riley Creek have created an island effect in Bluffton. The only bridge not covered by water is Grove Street over the Little Riley. All other bridges are covered and not safe to travel across.
Northbound Interstate 75 traffic is being routed through Bluffton from the Bentley Road exit to the State Route 103 exit. However, safety officials said at 9:45 a.m. that Jefferson Street bridge is now covered with water and it is likely that all traffic except for semis will not be able to cross at Jefferson Street.
At this writing, we are wondering if even semis can cross the Jefferson bridge. If not, traffic is literally at a halt as Main Street northbound is bumper-to-bumper stopped traffic.
Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, said that Bluffton University students filled 600 bags of sand yesterday, which are located at the EMS garage. These bags are available for any resident.
Jan Basinger, EMS chief, told The Icon that EMS and fire personnel were dispatched to both sides of the creek prior to the water's rising. That way, emergency personnel are on both sides of the stream.
The following was posted at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28:
If it's not snow it's high water.
Friday's heavy snowfall disappeared quickly Sunday evening as high temperatures melted the snow. The result in Bluffton on Monday is a quick-rising Riley Creek.
In the early hours of Monday morning the stream completely cut off the east side of the Bluffton University campus from the west. The old baseball diamond and lagoon area are covered with melted snow.
On the north side of town, Main Street is still passable at the Buckeye as is Jefferson Street. Cherry Street has roadblocks and is covered with water, however some vehicles are traveling across it.
Not so with East College Avenue. The Bluffton High School football field and softball fields and the Howe Tennis Courts are completely covered. East College is blocked to traffic and water is lapping near the top of the bridge.
The water level on Harmon Field has almost covered the fencing around the field.
Vance Street is not completely covered with water, however Bluffton police were checking on vehicles parked along the street and the street is blocked off from traffic.
Dan Bowden told The Icon that sand bags are available at the Bluffton EMS building for residents needing to block water from their houses.
Water has filled the yards of residences on the north side of Riley as the waters continue to rise.
Bluffton schools at first had a two-hour delay and then at 8:15 a.m. Greg Denecker, superintendent, cancelled school due to flooding in Richland Township.
