Give the gift of Fitness this holiday. BFR Sports & Fitness
remindsIcon viewers that gift certificates for memberships, indoor track
passes, fitness classes and Family Rec Passes are available for the
holidays.

In addition, BFR is selling Texas Roadhouse Restaurant Gift
Cards in $15 and $25 values. The gift cards may be used at any Texas
Roadhouse restaurant in the US. A percentage of each card remains with

"With 23 students participating this year, we were able to field two different teams for the Allen County Quiz Bowl competitions," said Dan Smith, Bluffton eighth grade math teacher.

The Bluffton Red team finished the season 23-5 including a record of 11-3 in the year-end tournament. This tied them with Shawnee for first place. Bluffton earned the first runner-up trophy based on total points scored during the tournament.

Members of this year's 7th and 8th grade academic team, front row: Katie Scott, Elizabeth Nisly, Cassidy Bush and Amy Warren.

Robert Bender

Robert F. Bender, 84, of Bluffton died at 3:10 p.m. Dec. 14, 2011 at his residence. He was born Sept. 24, 1927 in Wapakoneta to Frederick Ferdinand and Florence Elizabeth Lamley Bender. On Aug. 24, 1948 he married Jo Ann Brunn and she survives.

Robert and Jo Ann owned A-Z Portion Control Meats of Bluffton. He was a member of Bethel Church of Christ, Ada, and a former board member of the Lima Senior Citizens. He attended Lima Central High School and was a WWII Navy veteran.

The season of college football bowls is soon upon us. The Bluffton Icon will unveil its 2011-12 bowl contest this weekend.

The contest will consist of 29 football bowl games. Starting with the Hawaii Bowl played on Dec. 24 with Nevada versus Southern Mississippi and ending with the BCS National Championship on Jan. 9 with LSU versus Alabama, the contest will offer several Bluffton McDonald's Value Meals as prizes.

The contest will include four tie-breakers in the event of a tie at the end of the contest.

Our Blaze of Night

Bluffton's new holiday lights - 13 snowflakes and over 1,400 linear feet of lighted garland make Main Street sparkle this holiday season.

Here's an "it's a very small world" story, if there ever was one. Can any viewer identify what these two men have in common? The Icon spotted this conversation prior to Monday's all-elementary Christmas concert in the BHS gym.

Here's the story behind the photo:

On the left is George Denecker, father of Greg Denecker, Bluffton superintendent. He is talking with Dick Jordan of Bluffton.

Peg Murphy

When did you move to Bluffton?
1974

What brought you here?
Ed was hired as the first guidance counselor at Apollo Joint Vocational School. We had all of Allen Co to choose from and liked Bluffton. We found a house, bought it and still live in it.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Tiffin, Ohio.

Eric Fulcomer, Bluffton's next mayor

Meet Eric Fulcomer, Bluffton mayor-elect.

After a serving on Bluffton council since 2002 and as council president since 2004, Fulcomer, Ph. D., who is vice president for enrollment management and student life at Bluffton University, decided to seek the mayoral office of the village following Fred Rodabaugh's announcement last January that he would not seek reelection.

Robert Bender, of Bluffton died away at 3:10 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 at his residence. Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton.

Here's the seven-day report for December from Guy Verhoff, Pandora weather observer.

Date High Low Rain Snow

Dec. 6 32 31 0.01
Dec. 7 36 29
Dec. 8 35 24
Dec. 9 35 21 0.10 1.0
Dec. 10 28 15
Dec. 11 38 17
Dec. 12 43 20

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