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The Village of Bluffton will hold a Regular Council Meet at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 22 on the third floor of Town Hall, 154 N. Main.

Items on the agenda in the attached 24-page packet include reports from the following committees:

Streets, Alleys, Lights & Sidewalks, Utilities, Parks & Recreation

LEGISLATION

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Matt Oglesbee for 10 years on Board of Directors

On May 18, Pre-K students at Bluffton Child Development Center were celebrated in graduation ceremonies at First United Methodist Church of Bluffton.

Those graduating were

Maxwell Lawrence Brinkman, Laiza Camille Burgos, Isabelle Taylor Dixon, Louis Pal Hager, Dakota Jacqueline Hay, Henry Arden Horn, Traxton Lee Jones, Zuriel Abraham McLaurin, James Edwin Riley, Shae Lawren Schimmoeller, Ella Marie Schroeder, Trey Michael Slaughterbeck, and Jaxon Richard Swisher.

The event also honoroed Matt Matt Oglesbee, who is retiring from the Board of Directors, for 10 years of service.

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Three separate grants make up The R.L. and Etta L. Triplett Foundation’s 2023 grant distribution, which totals $4,775, according to Tomm Triplett, foundation board president.

This year’s distribution includes $2,000 for a scholarship given to Amber Gladwell, $1,265 to Bluffton Family YMCA for soccer nets and balls and $1,510 to the Bluffton Child Development Center for a toddler sandbox and a cover for a second sandbox.

Amber Gladwell, a 2023 Bluffton High School graduate, will enroll at Bluffton University this fall intending to major in education as an intervention specialist. She is the daughter of Paul Gladwell, 7215 N Cool Road, Columbus Grove. 

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Bluffton University was recently awarded $25,000 in grant funding from Cenovus Energy for invasive species removal at the Bluffton University Nature Preserve,10625 Augsburger Rd.

Dr. Ben Dolan, associate professor of biology and director of natural areas & plant collection at the University of Findlay, will serve as the project lead. The project aims to protect and conserve natural habitat in northwest Ohio as well as the local watershed.

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John Robert Davis, age 71, of Ada, passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 9:58 a.m. at his residence, surrounded by his family. 

He was born on May 4, 1952, in Toledo, Ohio to the late Howard and Doris (Robertson) Davis.  On June 14, 1980, John married Theresa J. Phillians and she survives in Ada.  

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These Pirates don't say "cheese," they say "ARR!" Bluffton Elementary School students enjoyed field day events at Harmon Field on Friday, May 19. Note: they weren't ON the newly improved turf on the football field, they were playing around the football field. The Icon is a proud sponsor of field day t-shirts.

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Rita Jane Benroth, 65, passed away May 19, 2023 at her residence. Jane was born September 19, 1957 in Fostoria to Harry F.and Margaret M. (Ostrander) Swartz.  On July 13, 1990 she married Scott Benroth who preceded her in death on May 21, 2020. 

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By Loreen Morris, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Blanchard Valley Pain Management

Although cephalgia (headache) is considered one of the most prevalent health complaints, the substantial societal and individual burden associated with headaches is often overlooked.

In fact, it is estimated that headaches account for approximately 20 percent of lost workdays and cost an average of $100 million per year. 

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Tom Bell, member of the Bluffton High School class of 1965, wrote this story on how street painting in front of Bluffton High School first began. This story is included in the book, “A Good Place To Miss – Bluffton Stories 1900-1975.” Copies are available at the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center.

By Tom Bell

Ron “Gridley” Steiner actually masterminded the entire deployment. He recruited an unlikely group of artists to carry out his plan. Dick Herr, Larry Moser and I were selected for no obvious rhyme or reason.

We borrowed paint from our parents and mixed it all together. Barn white, porch gray and clothesline pole silver did the trick.

Security, or not getting caught, was a major concern. We knew that Carter Shisler of the police department would be on patrol. We also knew that he would cruise past the high school and use Maple Grove Cemetery as his turn around. We considered locking him in the cemetery, but since Wade Bechtel had experienced that, the police had been alternating the gates they entered.

Finally, after several creative plans were scuttled, it was decided that Larry Moser would be the lookout. He was to hide behind the ivy growing on the school.

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CORRECTION: The first posting of this artilce did not include Sam Derstine placing third in the boys 800m run.

By Cort Reynolds, photos by Marvin Foster
Additional photos available on Facebook HERE.

The Bluffton High School track and field teams competed well at the Div. III district meet Thursday and Saturday at Ada’s War Memorial Stadium.

The Pirate boys came in second in the standings among 14 teams, behind only champion Columbus Grove.

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