Rita Elizabeth Finn Gorman, 98, of Lima, died at 4:50 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, at St. Francis Home in Tiffin, where she had lived for the last several years.

She was born July 11, 1913, in Lima to Patrick and Molly Finn. On Oct. 12, 1933, she married Thomas J. Gorman and he preceded her in death on Nov. 1, 1978.

Mrs. Gorman was a member of the St. Rose Parish, Lima, and was a member of the altar Rosary Society.

She retired from St. Rita's Medical Center in 1978 where she had worked in housekeeping for 17 years.

By Jordan Marbaugh, sports information assistant

Stats: http://staging.bluffton.edu/sports/womensbasketball/2012/01-25-wb.htm

The Bluffton University women defeated Earlham College 69-61 on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. The Beavers improved to 7-11 and 5-6 in HCAC with their school-record fifth straight Heartland Conference win. Earlham slipped to 3-15 overall and 1-10 in the HCAC.

By Evan Skilliter, sports information assistant

Stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/mensbasketball/2012/01-25-mb.htm

Rita Gorman, 98, former resident of Bluffton and mother of Father Thomas Gorman, former chaplain at St. Mary Catholic Church, died Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Her funeral will be 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, at St. Rose Catholic Church in Lima.

Arrangements are incomplete at Harter & Schier Funeral Home, Delphos.

AARP Tax-Aide help will be available at the Bluffton Senior Center starting at 9 a.m., Thursday Feb. 2, according to Toyna Meyer, director.

AARP volunteers specialize in helping taxpayers with low and moderate-income, with special attention to those age 60 and older.

Appointment is required and may be made by calling 419-358-8971 or stop by the Bluffton Senior Center.

Please bring the following with you when you come for your appointment:

Tuesday, Jan. 31, (snow date Feb. 1) parents and students are invited to explore Apollo and its programs during an open house, 5:30-7 p.m.

This open house is for ninth and tenth grade students and their parents, but the open house is also open to the public, and anyone interested in learning more about Apollo.

Instructors and staff will be available to provide information and answer questions.

Ignore the calendar. It may be January, but the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce is already planning this year's downtown arts and crafts festival.

This year is the 41st annual festival. The event will be Saturday, May 12, on Main Street. Jerry Burkholder is the craft exhibit director.

Invitations are in the mail to last year's craft exhibitors. Including Bluffton businesses, who had booths, nearly 60 crafters and businesses were on Main Street.

Over 740 sophomores in Apollo Career Center's 11-member district will be visit Apollo during Hands-On Day, Friday, Jan. 27. A snow date is Monday, Jan. 31. Parents of sophomore students are also invited to attend.

Bath, Bluffton, Perry, Shawnee, Wapakoneta and open enrolled students are scheduled from 9-11 a.m.

Ada, Allen East, Columbus Grove, Elida, Hardin Northern, and Spencerville are scheduled for 12-2 p.m. Parents wishing to attend should meet their student in the main office at 9 a.m. or 12 p.m.

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Here's another photo from the 1955-56 Bluffton Business Men's Association dinner and program that welcomed Ex-Cell-O to town. We see Gerald "Tuffy" Swank on the far left, facing the camera. Paul Basinger is looking up at the speaker. Is that Mayor David Risser on the far end of the table.

We encourage Icon viewers to provide more identifications in this photo. The dinner was on the second floor of the town hall. Neu-Art Photo.