Photographer Jamie Nygaard had a perfect (if damp) poolside perspective on Bluffton High School swim team performances at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Northwest Division II district championship swim meet at Bowlng Green State University.
Junior Riley Verb advances to the OHSAA Ohio State High School Division II Swimming and Diving Championship, Feb. 23-26 in Canton, Ohio. He qualified in the 200 individual medley (IM) and 100 breaststroke events.
The Blanchard Valley Health System Auxiliary Scholarship application process is now open and available online to students in the Hancock County area, planning to pursue a health-related career or field of study.
The purpose of the Auxiliary Scholarship is to financially assist local high school seniors in pursuing a health-related career. Monies for the scholarship fund are derived from the annual membership dues of members of the Auxiliary. The number of scholarships awarded annually will depend on the amount contributed by Auxiliary members.
This week Fred Steiner's local history-focused website www.blufftonforever.com added links to 10 area history-related websites for viewer access. The addition was due to the interest in history from followers of the website.
History-related links now include:
• Bluffton Public Library
• Swiss Community Historical Society
• Bluffton University Mennonite Historical Archives
Local developer Bob Fett presented a revised set of drawings to the Village of Bluffton Planning Commission on February 21. The panel had called the public hearing to consider Fett's "Overall Development Plan" for a grouping of new residential duplexes he's calling Chestnut Lane. After a round of questions and answers, the Commission's three members approved the plan with conditions, which means Village Council will next evaluate the plan, probably in late March, in a meeting that will also be open to the public.
The Icon recently posted an article on the Pirate athlete with four Super Bowl rings, Neil Schmidt. Columnist Bill Herr has this first-hand account of Schmidt and his family.
During World War II, Neil Schmidt enlisted in the Navy before his senior year at Bluffton High School. After completing his service, he returned to Bluffton to complete his high school education. He starred on both the basketball and football teams in 1946. Those teams won the championship of the Western Buckeye League in each sport.
On February 20 two free throws by Bluffton University's Brianna Gillig (New Riegel) iced the 55-48 victory over Franklin College and landed her in a tie for the all-time scoring lead at Bluffton University. PHOTO blufftonbeavers.com
