You are correct. October was a wet month in Bluffton.

According to Guy Verhoff, Pandora weather observer, 4.26 inches of rain fell in October. The normal average October precipitation is 2.27 inches.

At the same time, October was warmer than normal. This year's October's average temperature was 54 degrees. The normal average is 52.1 degrees.

October's average maximum temperature was 64.5 degrees and the average minimum temperature was 43.5 degrees.

Jan Basinger, Bluffton EMS chief, provided The Icon with the October EMS log, which follows:

DATE TYPE OF CALL LOCATION
October 1 Medical Brookwood Drive
October 2 Medical C.R. 15
October 3 Medical Maplecrest Ct.
October 3 Medical Bentley Rd.
October 3 Medical Vance St.
October 4 Medical Maplecrest Ct.
October 5 Medical W. Elm St.
October 6 Transport Garau St.
October 6 Medical N. Jackson St.

The 48th annual Festival of Missions will be held Nov. 13-20 at Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Bluffton.

The theme this year is: "Jesus, You are Worthy,"based on Revelation 5:9."

"....You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."

By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

HCAC Pre-season Coaches Poll: http://staging.bluffton.edu/sports/womensbasketball/2012/hcacpoll.pdf

As the beginning of the season rapidly approaches, the Bluffton University women's basketball team is working diligently to prepare for their first game of the 2011-12 campaign.

Either I'm getting older or the cast of characters is getting younger. I do know that the candy gets smaller and the price seems to follow the trend of oil by the barrel.

It really doesn't matter. After all, what other evening of the year does an owl call my name, a wizard stops by to add an interesting spell (maybe my hair will grow back), a lady bug actually prefers to stay in her stroller, and I get to eat candy without thinking of the consequences?

How did you spend Halloween?

Bluffton Icon advertiser Drive Time Driving Instruction, with offices in Bluffton and Findlay, has a Bluffton class beginning November 6.

Drive Time Driving Instruction offers 24 hours of required classroom instruction, six sessions scheduled with your input, 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training, carefully chosen, highly-qualified instructors with classes in Bluffton and Findlay.

Drive Time's Bluffton office is at 505 E. Jefferson St.

Maple Crest Senior Living Village, Bluffton, will host a soup cook-off from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, featuring six area restaurants and caterers.

The event is in the Patio Room at Maple Crest, 700 Maple Crest Court, off Augsburger Road, Bluffton.

Soups include:
o Luke's Bar and Grill - Taco soup
o The Dough Hook - Chili
o LuLu's Diner and Catering - Stuffed green pepper
o Jeanne's Kitchen - Broccoli cheddar
o Bluffton University - Loaded baked potato
o Rossilli's - Corn and crab chowder

More football contest are coming.

The Bluffton Icon is offering a National Football League weekly contest starting this week. It replaces the high school football contest that ended on Friday. The NFL contest will continue all the way to the Super Bowl.

The college football contest will continue until the end of the regular college season. A college bowl contest will replace it in December.

Peter Suter of Shannon Theatre announced that "Puss In Boots" (PG) is showing at the theatre from October 28 - November 3.

Show times follow:

2D every evening at 7 PM with Saturday & Sunday matinees at 1:30 PM.
3D every evening at 9:30 PM with Saturday & Sunday matinees at 4 PM.