Samantha Harrod, senior, is the Bluffton High School student of the month for December.
She participates in BHS girls' basketball and was named honorable mention on last season's NWC team. She plans on attending Rhodes State College, Lima, where she will pursue a degree in nursing.
She is a BHS office club worker, was a stats keeper for football and works part-time at the Shawnee Country Club.
Her parents are Jim and Lisa Harrod, 7210 Mayberry Road, Elida.
Andrea Geesman is the Mennonite Memorial Home employee of the month. She has worked as on STNA at the Mennonite Memorial Home for over one year.
Andrea is an excellent co-worker who is courteous and never hesitate to help others when she can. She arrives ready to work, enjoys visiting with residents, and always has a positive attitude.
She has been praised for her clear thinking and actions during stressful situations as well as her encouraging personality. Congratulations Andrea.
Seventh grade Elizabeth Nisly correctly spelled "incendiary" and "malleable" after sixth grade Jason Bracy incorrectly switched the "e" and "I" on "variegated." Elizabeth's correct spellings earned her the Bluffton Middle School spelling bee crown of 2010.
She will represent Bluffton in the county spelling bee in February. Jason will be her alternate. Katie Scott, seventh grader, was third.
The bee, held Dec. 8, went 10 rounds before the final two competitors each spelled seven words correctly; then came "variegated."
On Friday at Trinity Lutheran School, Jenera, a special activity centered around the book "Charlotte's Web" was conducted.
Students in grades one through four enjoyed some "fun on the farm" activities with Mrs. Zerby and Dustin Frey, a student from Bowling Green State University.
Frey brought in live pigs for the students to observe. As a fun activity for the students to go along with the school service project, students had a "Kissing the Pig Contest."
Trinity Lutheran School has been doing a community service learning project. The students are collecting new books to be distributed to needy families in Hancock County.
An activity centered around the book "Charlotte's Web" is being conducted with the students in grades 1-4 with Mrs. Zerby and Mr. Dustin Frey, a grad-student from BGSU.
The Bluffton Icon has added a new blog to its list of bloggers. It's bluftonalumfoodies's blog, which by its title indicates it is about food and its contributors are Bluffton University alumni.
Meet the bloggers (descriptions taken directly from the blog site):
