On Tue, March 21, the Bluffton Police Department issued two Nixle alerts:

9:38 PM SUSPECT is apprehended ! 

9:34 PM Alert: Pursuit north of Bluffton near SR 235 one suspect at large . Contact 911 if you see anything to assist law enforcement.

To sign up for text or email alerts, visit https://www.nixle.com/

WFIN.com has reported that the man charged with involuntary manslaughter in the March 31, 2022 death of Bluffton Police Officer Dominic Francis has pled guilty and been sentenced in Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

On Tuesday afternoon. March 21, 2023, Emin Johnson, 21, was sentenced to 21 to 26 and a half years in prison. The term is for consective sentences on six charges.

Colleen Ann Amstutz, 87, passed away March 21, 2023 at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. Colleen was born October 5, 1935 in Van Wert to the late Willis and Helen (Baum) Cummins who preceded her in death. On October 18, 1953 she married Lowell Amstutz who preceded her in death on October 31, 2013. 

Colleen was a 1953 graduate of Bluffton High School and retired from Bluffton Hospital where she was a medical transcriptionist for 30 years. She was a life-member of the First United Methodist Church in Bluffton. Colleen enjoyed knitting, sewing and especially spending time with her grandchildren.

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

Bluffton Senior Citizens Center, 132 N. Main, Bluffton, 419-358-8971

Country K9 Kennels, 1727 Rd L1, Ottawa, 419-604-1403

Program by Master Gardeners on March 25 at Findlay Hancock County Public Library 

Spring is here; time to get out in the yard! How can we do better this year?  Help for your landscaping and vegetable gardens is available Saturday, March 25 by the Master Gardeners of Hancock County. The program is free and open to the public, hosted by the Findlay Hancock County Public Library, at 10:00 a.m., to be held in the Lindamood Room.

The Pandora United Methodist Church Choir will present their Easter Cantata “Wondrous Love” written by Lloyd Larson on Sunday, April 2 at 9:30 a.m. during the worship service.

The church service and refreshments in the fellowship hall afterwards are open to the public. The choir is directed by Pat Basinger and accompanied by Kira Davis.

The church is located on State Route 12, address 108 E. Washington Street in Pandora.

St. Mary's Catholic Church hosts March 23 event from 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

As the seasons change, the American Red Cross is reminding the public that the need for blood doesn’t take a break.

Donors of all blood types, especially type O donors and platelet donors, are encouraged to make and keep appointments to donate. Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

When donors lend an arm this month, the Red Cross will lend a hand. All who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31, 2023,​​​​ will receive a $10 Visa® Prepaid Card by email. Plus, they'll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $3,000 Visa Prepaid Card – which could help toward expenses like gas or groceries. There will be five lucky winners. Details are available at rcblood.org/help.

St. Mary's Catholic Church, 160 North Spring Street
Thursday, March 23
11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Sommer Center, 1 University Drive
Friday, April 14
10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Bluffton High School, 106 W. College Ave
Tuesday, May 9

8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

END

Ohio honey production for 2022 totaled 1.25 million pounds, up 22 percent from 2021. This estimate included honey from producers with 5 or more colonies.

Yields from Ohio’s 19,000 honey producing colonies averaged 66 pounds in 2022, up 2 pounds from the previous year. Ohio honey price averaged $3.48 per pound, down 16 cents per pound from last year. Value  of production totaled $4.36 million, up 17 percent from 2021. Honey stocks totaled 464 thousand pounds, up 19 percent from 2021.