It was pure madness in Founders Hall on Sunday night.

Bluffton University held its annual Midnight Madness event, launching the collegiate men's and women's NCAA Division III basketball seasons.

During the evening members of the men's and women's university basketball teams were introduced. And there was lots more.

Other events included dunk competitions and similar competitions. Bluffton Icon intern Jordan Howe captured the event on video.

It was an interesting way to launch the final season of intercollegiate basketball in Founders Hall.

Gospel gathering

About 200 voices came together at Bluffton University Nov. 12 for the finale of both a gospel music concert. Cick for more photos and details.

Peter Suter of Shannon Theatre announced that "Puss In Boots" (PG) and "Footloose" (PG-13) will be showing at the theatre from November 18 to 22.

Show times follow:

Puss In Boots (2D only) - Every evening at 7 PM with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM.

Footloose - Every evening at 9:30 PM only.

Premiering on Wednesday, November 23: The Muppets (PG)

You should soon be able to read a book on Main Street Bluffton at anytime after the sun goes down. Main Street will be bright enough.

This week, approximately 1,406 linear feet of new Christmas garland, 13 four-foot lighted snowflakes, and 19 lighted pole wraps are being hung by the Bluffton Fire Department. The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce spearheaded the project, which has taken over one year to complete.

The Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio Service Group will hold its fifth annual Thanksgiving bake sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18, in the Mennonite Memorial Home lobby, 410 W. Elm St., Bluffton.

The bake sale offers delicious cinnamon rolls, pies, cakes, cookies and breads ready for your holiday entertaining.

All proceeds from the sale go to The Service Group of Mennonite Home Communities Of Ohio.

The Icon's travel editors, Dan and Brenda Groman, filed this story and photos today on their visit to Bluffton Alberta.

We were traveling from Lloydminster to Calgary by way of Edmonton while in Alberta, Canada on business.

We set our Garmin for Bluffton, and headed two hours southwest of Edmonton and found Bluffton, right off of Route 20.

Arriving on the North side of town, we found the Bluffton School, home of the Bluffton "Stingers", where students from Kindergarten through 9th grade attend.

The winner of Week 10 of the Icon's NFL Contest is Jim Dillman . Jim accumulated 9 points this week.

About 200 voices came together at Bluffton University Nov. 12 for the finale of both a gospel music concert and a weeklong, campus celebration of gospel titled "Blended Voices: Music and Worship in the Gospel Tradition."

Participating choirs included the Bluffton University Gospel Choir, a 65-member group of community, as well as campus, representatives directed by Dr. Crystal Sellers, an assistant professor of music; three other campus choral groups; four choirs from area churches; and the Columbus, Ohio-based Raise Productions Choir, led by Dr. Raymond Wise.

Bluffton council dealt with several expenditures on Monday.

Those expenditures included:
o agreeing to advertise for annual asphalt and aggregate material bids for 2012,
o approval of a $16,862 bid from Beaverdam Contracting, Inc., for replacement of the waterline on Poplar Street, and
o payment of $17,878 for asphalt sealing work at the airport. The village will be reimbursed 95 percent of the amount from the FAA as part of a grant that was received for the project.

Quality control

Bob Bowersox makes certain that exactly one pound of the best peanut brittle in Ohio is in every bag. One pound costs $5 while supplies last. Click for a video.

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