Ohio EPA has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to adversely impact air quality.  The advisory is in effect through June 28-29. Ohio EPA expects the Air Quality Index to be in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “very unhealthy” ranges.

When air quality is in the very unhealthy range, all people may experience health effects and should limit outside exposure when possible. To see real-time air quality in your area, visit the AirNow website HERE.

Meet the BlufftonIcon.com and AdaIcon.com advertisers of the week: 

Vance Street Apartments, 137 Vance St, Bluffton, OH 45817, 419-358-7795

Sprunger Insurance Agency, 208 S Main St, Bluffton, OH 45817, 419-358-7585

Thanks to our advertisers, the Icons are free with no login and no story limit!

Call 567-400-4266 for advertising rates.

Southgate Lanes bowling alley is hosting a Gwin Girls Benefit sand volleyball tournament and charity event on July 7. Games start at 6:00 p.m., with a meeting at 5:00 p.m. All teams must be registered before 5:30 p.m. 

The preregistration cost is $100 per team and day-of registration is $120 per team. The winning team will receive $200. Each team must have 4 people, with at least one female player. To make a reservation, text 419-610-9043. Limited space is available.

By Lydia Gratz, 4-H news reporter

The Bluffton Cattle 4-H Club will be hosting their annual chicken BBQ fundraiser at the Bluffton Sportsmen’s Club (405 N. Spring St., Bluffton) on Sunday, July 16 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

The money raised benefits the Bluffton-Pandora-Beaverdam buyers group, who support the Bluffton area livestock exhibitors at the Allen County Fair. 

Tickets are $10.00 each which includes a 1/2 chicken, mac & cheese, green beans, and a roll, catered by Bubba C’s.

There will also be a bake sale by donation. Pre-sale tickets are available from any Bluffton Cattle Club member.

By Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

In 1974, The Longest Yard was released starring Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, and Mike Conrad. The plot involves a former NFL football player who is arrested and sent to prison. Ultimately, a game is played with the prisoners against the prison guards. The prisoners win the game. While celebrating, Reynolds’s character appears to be walking off the field as though he might escape. The warden (Albert) is shouting for the guards to shoot him. Reynolds was retrieving the game ball and not escaping. 

The picture was filmed at the Georgia State Prison in cooperation with the Office of the Governor. The Georgia governor was Jimmy Carter. The film won a Golden Globe for the Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy). 

Burt Reynolds had some serious injuries from Florida State University football and a car accident. He took time off from football and took junior college courses where he was discovered and started acting. He attempted to go back to football at Florida State, but his injuries deterred him from continuing. 

Overcoming adversity can be a struggle whether that be prison, injuries or long COVID. Over the last few months more information has been published on long COVID. 

Russ Gregory, 81, died unexpectedly on May 9, 2023 in Denver, Colorado due to complications following successful open-heart surgery.

Russ was born on January 8, 1942 in Wooster, Ohio.  After graduating from Dalton High School in 1960 he attended Bluffton College (now University), majoring in Music Education and Piano, later earning a Master’s Degree in Music History from Ohio State University in 1972.

The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the following winning numbers for the June 2023 Discovery Days prize drawing:

First Place - $100 Bluffton Bucks - 830946

Second Place - $50 Bluffton Bucks - 831000

Third Place - $25 Bluffton Bucks - 831242 

Prizes can be picked up at the Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main, after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.  Prizes must be picked up before July 21, 2023.

For your reference, these numbers are also listed on our Classifieds page.

On July 5, the Noon Book Group will talk about the book 'Ordinary Grace' by William Kent Krueger. The novel is set in a small town and is about a murder in 1961.

As the name suggests, the Noon Book Group meets every noon on the first Wednesday of each month at the Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main.

The full list of 2023 Noon Book Group titles can be found at the library and at www.blufftonpubliclibrary.org/