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By Liz Gordon-Hancock

The following eleven land transfers took place in the Bluffton Exempted Village School District for the month of December 2024 as reported on the websites of Allen County Auditor Rachael S. Gilroy and Hancock County Auditor Charity A. Rauschenberg.

Address - Sale Date - Sale Price - Land Use - Owner - From / To

Commercial

415 N MAIN ST - 12/12/2024 - $220,000 - Retail - From Jeffrey & Beth Boehr to Emmetts Rentals LLC

Residential

107 SALLY LN - 12/3/2024 - $206,000 - Condominium Residential Unit - From Kenneth & Evelyn Doris Samsal to HKS INVESTMENTS LLC

9740 N DIXIE HWY - 12/4/2024 - $400,000 - Single family dwelling unplatted - From Cindy Luginbhul & Stacy Allgire to Nathan & Heidi Cheney

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By Chayden Pitzer, Student Pharmacist and Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist

Elvis Presley released the song Stay Away in February of 1968 as part of the soundtrack for the movie Stay Away, Joe.  This song only hit number 67 on the top 100 hits in the United States. This was unusual for the King of Rock and Roll since he had 18 number one hits and 40 top ten songs during his career. 

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The following results are from December 18-31 of the Bluffton University 2024 athletics season:

Men's Basketball beats Berea in OT thriller

Hiram edges out Men's Basketball, 70-68

Men's Basketball falls at home to Kalamazoo, 84-78

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Diane Reichenbach is 2024 Bluffton Senior Center Volunteer of the Year

The January 2025 issue of Happenings, the Bluffton Senior Center newsletter, is a compendium of opportunities for members and the general public. The following excerpts include community meals, schedules for the Winter Farmers Market and annual garage sale, and information on membership.

COMMUNITY MEALS
January 2, Ebenezer Mennonite Church will provide the Community Meal and Bluffton First Methodist Church will be serving on January 16. All meals are served at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the public. A free will offering is taken to help the local food pantry.

DINNER MEETING
On Monday, January 13 at noon, the center will hold a potluck as the monthly dinner meeting. The Senior Center will provide soup. Members will bring a dish to share. The program will feature Janean Shannon, who will share her experiences competing in the heptathlon in the World Masters Athletics Championships and other competitions.  

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Before we dive into our 2025 resolutions and to-do lists, have you celebrated a 2024 done list? In the past 12 months, Bluffton has marked the 90th anniversary of the Bluffton Lions Club, the 50th anniversary of Et Cetera Inc., the construction of a Swiss Community Historical Society Heritage Center, groundbreaking on a new Village park and much more--including the April 8 total solar eclipse.

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Bluffton author Bur Shilling has been busy in retirement, penning five books that draw from his career of teaching and ministry work. Shilling was the featured speaker at 2024 Memorial Day ceremonies in Bluffton.

Q. What are the "stepping stones" of your adult life in reverse chronological order?

BGSU faculty – taught and online advisor for all online students

Winebrenner Seminary – taught New Testament/evangelism/discipleship, created and first director of Doctor of Ministry degree, began teaching in Israel (have continued that for past 32 years)

Bluffton University – Campus Pastor and Church Relations

Youth for Christ – Director of 12 staff and three ministry divisions

Q. How does the little boy Bur resemble the adult Bur?

As the oldest of five children, I often was “in charge.” I still like to create itineraries for my trips, plan the hotels and restaurants for meals, and teach at the sites we visit. 

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By Cort Reynolds

KENTON – The Bluffton High School boys bowling team competed in the 12-team Kenton Holiday Baker Series tournament on December 30 at Hillcrest Lanes.

The Pirates finished sixth out of 12 teams in the 10-game Baker set, which served as the preliminary pool play round.

In a Baker Series game, five bowlers from each team roll two frames apiece: one and six, two and seven, three and eight, four and nine, and five and 10 (plus potentially 11 and 12).

The Pirates tallied 1,647 pins in their 10 Baker games, with a high score of 211 in the fourth contest. 

The Kenton A team finished first with a score of 1,904. 

Then in the eight-team Baker tournament, the sixth-seeded Pirates lost a three-set match to third seed Minster in the first round, two games to one. 

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Grandey sets rebound record

By Cort Reynolds

MILLER CITY – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team went on the road and defeated tough non-conference foe Miller City 38-28 on December 28.

The visitors outscored Miller City 22-12 in the second half to break away from a halftime tie and emerge victorious by 10.

Pirate 6-2 senior post Ayla Grandey also set the program record for career rebounds in the win.

Bluffton improved to 6-4 overall after the impressive road victory. MC dropped to 8-3 after the Pirates handed them their first loss in six home games this season.

The Pirates led 10-5 after the opening quarter. The Wildcat girls rallied in the second period to tie it 16-16 after a low-scoring first half. 

Bluffton then took a 25-20 lead into the final period following a 9-4 third quarter. The Pirates captured the fourth period 13-8 by hitting five of their six free throw tries to clinch the win.

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By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School boys basketball team lost a 55-53 nailbiter to Arlington in a clash of undefeated teams vying for the championship of the annual McDonald’s Holiday Classic on December 28 at Bluffton University's Sommer Center. 

The Pirates fell to 6-1 with their first defeat. Arlington improved to 9-0 after the championship win.

Pirate Blake Sommers scored a game-high 20 points, while Kain Wright tallied 13 markers. Guard Marek Donaldson added eight points. 

Bluffton led 10-7 after the first period, and maintained a 24-19 edge at halftime. Arlington turned the momentum around with a 20-13 third quarter that gave the Devils a 39-37 edge heading to the final stanza.

Arlington canned 10 of 16 foul shots in the fourth quarter to hold on and post the two-point win.

Wayne Trace defeated Emmanuel Christian 41-36 in the third-place consolation game earlier Saturday evening.

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