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Open house to be held on April 1

LIMA — The Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission (LACRPC) has announced that Rebecca Phillips is its new executive director. The vote was made official in a special board meeting with the organization’s executive committee on Feb. 20. Phillips’ new role became  effective immediately following the vote.

LACRPC is also the administrator for the newly designated West Central Ohio Rural  Planning Organization (WORPO), which came to fruition in December 2024.  “With our service area expanding from Allen County to now include seven additional  counties because of WORPO, I want to ensure we continue to meet the needs of all of our  stakeholders,” Phillips explained. “We have a lot of projects coming up, so I’m looking forward  to sharing and discussing them with the community.” 

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Blanchard Valley Hospital, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, is on Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Hospitals 2025. 

A repeat winner of this award, BVH received additional recognition this year in two categories, infection prevention and patient experience.

The award list was announced on February 26, 2025, and can be viewed on Newsweek’s website.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Village of Bluffton is among communities finding Klu Klux Klan recruiting flyers on the ground, according to Mayor Richard Johnson at the Monday, February 24 council meeting.

Johnson asked residents to turn in any flyers found to Town Hall. 

He characterized the flyers as an attempt to draw attention to an upcoming convention and “create fear and intimidation toward members of our village.” He stressed that “this is unacceptable and is not representative of our village. Hate is not to be tolerated in our village.”

News reports indicate that the flyers have been distributed in places including Ohio and Kentucky along I-75.

The Village of Bluffton has issued notice of a public hearing to be held before the Streets, Alleys, Lights and Sidewalks Committee to consider the proposed vacation of a portion of Vine Street between N. Jackson Street and N. Lawn Avenue.

Hearing Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Bluffton Town Hall – 3rd floor Community Room
154 N. Main St., Bluffton, Oh 45817

Annette "Sue" Sprunger, 86, passed into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus, on February 23, 2025. Sue was born May 6, 1938 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to the late Paul and Opal (Wasson) Berlien who preceded her in death. On August 26, 1961 she married Ben Sprunger and he survives.

A woman of deep faith, Sue dedicated her life to her family, church, and community.  She was a faithful wife, loyal helper and mother with distinction.

FINDLAY, OH—The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved  grants totaling $770,654.84 at the February board meeting. This total includes seven responsive  grants and 164 donor advised fund grants.  

Among grants of special interest to the Bluffton area, the West Ohio Land Conservancy was awarded $56,600 to support hiring a part-time  executive director. 

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