The unseasonable warmth of this winter February and March. This means that spring wildflowers are beginning to appear in Northwest Ohio a little earlier than normal. Hancock Park District will begin this year’s Wildflower Monitoring season a week earlier than indicated in the HPD Spring 2017 HPD Seasonal Program & Event Guide.
The Village of Bluffton’s finances appear to be in good shape, based on its Dec. 31, 2016, cash basis net position, says Nancy Kindle, village fiscal officer.
At the end of 2016, the village’s total assets were $4,952,478 in the following funds: • Governmental activities
(general fund and other funds) $3,846,652 • Business-type activities
(things the village charges for: water, sewer, refuse) $1,105,826
These figures were part of the Feb. 27 council packet. The 2016 year-end figures are unaudited.
According to Audobon, this photograph shows a "charm" of house finches. That's when a group of them get together. This charm worked over the sunflower seeds on the Icon feeder. Then, they were joined by a female, which makes this series of photos even more charming (see photos below).
Long-time faculty member and administrator John-David “JD” Yoder, Ph.D., of Bluffton, has been named dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering at Ohio Northern University, effective June 19.
Yoder, who joined the ONU faculty in 2001, is currently professor of mechanical engineering and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
“I am confident that Dr. Yoder has the ideal professional and personal attributes to provide effective leadership for the College of Engineering,” said ONU President Daniel DiBiasio, Ph.D.
Former Bluffton resident, Phyllis Mary Bixel, 94, died Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Freeman S.D.
She was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., to Carlton and Erma (Sanford) Newton on Aug. 17, 1922.
Phyllis graduated from Western Michigan University in 1945 with a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy and spent her first years of employment working at the Kalamazoo State Hospital, where her husband-to-be, James W. Bixel, was also employed as musical director through Civilian Public Service.
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Junior Brittany Huff (Clayton/Northmont) has been named the Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week after leading Bluffton to a 6-2 mark over the final eight games from the Rebel Spring Games.
Huff blistered the opposition with a red-hot.522 batting average, going 12-of-23 at the plate. The two-sport standout put together a ridiculous 1.043 slugging percentage with six doubles and two home runs. She also contributed 11 RBI and scored nine time, finishing with a .593 on-base percentage.
