Nellie P. Harris, 90 died at 11:30 p.m., Sept. 15, 2011 at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. She was born Jan. 9, 1921 in Gilboa, Ohio to Rex and Ruth (Townsend) Ridge. On March 16, 1941 she married Donald Harris and he died August 13, 1988.

She was a farmer's wife. She was a member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Benton Ridge. She was a member of Order of Eastern Star, Rawson. She had volunteered for hospice and for Reach for Recovery. She was a former member of the Hancock County Farm Bureau. She was a 1937 graduate of Liberty High School, rural Findlay.

Robin Glick was named the Mennonite Memorial Home employee of the month for September.

The Icon spotted this Vietnam Vet's plate during the Hancock Handlebars visit to Bluffton on Sept. 18.

Bluffton Boy Scout Troop 256 held its most recent Court of Honor in the town hall on Aug. 28. Three scouts advanced in rank and 17 scouts received merit badges for their recent work and awards were presented from summer camp, according to Darrell Groman, assistant scoutmaster.

Scouts advancing in rank were: Scout Joseph Schumacher, First Class Scout Brice Metzger and Star Scout Misha Groman. Eagle Scout Taylor Steele was awarded his Bronze and Gold Eagle Palms for earning 10 merit badges beyond the original 21 merit badges required for his Eagle Award.

True, it's only mid-September. Even so, the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce Blaze of Lights committee is hard at work, planning Bluffton's favorite holiday event - this year on Saturday, Nov. 26.

To keep Icon viewers updated, here's an overview of this year's Blaze to date. The theme is "Winter Wonderland."

Allan Joseph Birchnaugh, 57, died Sept. 15, 2011 at his residence. He was born Feb. 8, 1954 in Bluffton to Joseph and Evelyn (Petty) Birchnaugh who preceded him in death. He had been married to Pam Brown Birchnaugh and she survives in Bluffton.

He worked for Securitas, Toledo. He was a graduate of Bluffton High School. He was an Army veteran.

Elizabeth A. Hauenstein, 78 of Lima, died at 12:10 a,m,, Sept. 16, 2011, at her residence. She was born March 4, 1933 in St. Marys, to Bernard and Bessie Arnett Lengerich, who preceded her in death.

On July 19, 1952, she married Charles D. Hauenstein, who died on March 15, 1991. Mrs. Hauenstein retired with 31 years from Ohio Department of Transportation.

She was a Life Member of OCSEA AFL-CIO Local 11 Allen Chapter-0200, AFSCME Retiree Chapter1184, UAW Local 1219, Retiree Member, PERI Ohio and Allen Chapter #8, Democrat Party of Ohio and Allen County.

Where did you grow up?

I was born and grew up in Parma, Ohio. I graduated from Valley Forge High School, which had at the time the best art program in the area. One of my art teachers, Dan Mihuta, went on to work in TV, in shows called The Art Chest, The Art Maker, and Return of the Art Maker.

Where did you go to college?

I went to Findlay College, BGSU, and the U. of Dayton. I try to attend at least one clay conference per year.

Did you always plan to be an artist and to teach art?

"Howard Raid: Man of Faith and Vision," is the title of a book about a former Bluffton community leader that will be available in a Saturday, Oct. 1, book launch in Bluffton.

Elizabeth Raid, Howard's daughter, who grew up in Bluffton, wrote the biography, which tells about her father, who was a Bluffton community businessman, Bluffton College professor and Mennonite Church leader.