The mysterious identity of a young Arab lesbian blogger who was apparently kidnapped last week in Syria has been revealed conclusively to be a hoax. The blogs were written not by a gay girl in Damascus, but a middle-aged American man based in Scotland.
Former Bluffton resident, Tom MacMaster, a 40-year-old Middle East activist studying for a masters at Edinburgh University, posted an update declaring that, rather than a 35-year-old feminist and lesbian called Amina Abdallah Araf al Omari, he was "the sole author of all posts on this blog".
"For me personally, it had a very similar feel to the bus accident in 2007."
Those are the thoughts of Allen Slabaugh, in an interview with the Associated Press concerning a second bus accident that he survived.
Slabaugh survived a 2007 bus crash that killed five Bluffton University baseball teammates and two other people. He told the AP of flashbacks this week when he went through another serious accident with another team - fellow cyclists he'll lead on a cross-country ride for charity.
BFR Sports and Fitness held a youth tennis camp June 13-15. Eleven youth ages 6-9 years learned tennis basics under the direction of teaching pro, Phil Newland. Middle School and High School players will participate in a camp June 20-23.
Quickstart tennis for youth will be held on Thursday nights 6-7:15 p.m. at the Howe Tennis Courts on East College Avenue from June 16 to July 28.
For more information, contact Carole Enneking at BFR 419-358-4150.
Samantha Shrider, Bluffton, received an Apollo Educational Foundation Tool Scholarship during Apollo Career Center's Senior Honors Night.
The scholarship is awarded to the top student in each Career Technical program. The $300 tool scholarship provides industry standard tools that the student can use to advance in her chosen career. Each scholarship is sponsored by local business and industry, or by a private individual.
Shrider's scholarship was sponsored by Bluffton Cosmetology, Ralf and Ruby Steiner and Fat Jack's Pizza.
Pavel Shekochikhin, Bluffton, received an Apollo Educational Foundation Tool Scholarship during Apollo Career Center's Senior Honors Night.
The scholarship is awarded to the top student in each Career Technical program. The $300 tool scholarship provides industry standard tools that the student can use to advance in his chosen career. Each scholarship is sponsored by local business and industry, or by a private individual.
His scholarship was sponsored by BlufftonWelding & Fabrication and by General Dynamics Land Systems Scholarship.
Meredith Bixel, 2011 Bluffton High School graduate, won a piano competition on Saturday, June 11, in Toledo.
She and two other student-musicians will be performing with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra in April, 2012, according to Rachael Lewis, Bluffton schools strings teacher.
Bixel is the daughter of Dean and Brenda Bixel. She will attend Bowling Green State University this fall.
