The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly breakfast meeting on Friday, January 13.

Blanchard Valley Health System-Bluffton Hospital is the breakfast sponsor and Greenhorn will be providing the breakfast.

Breakfast will be served at 7 a.m.

Program begins at 7:30 a.m.

Presentation: Myron D Lewis, President and CEO of Blanchard Valley Health System, will give an update on the state of healthcare.

Chamber director Jim Enneking will also give an update on new member software.

How many Blufftonites have befriended this duck that stands out amongst the mallards on village waterways? Some call him George. Follower and photographer Lyle Henry notes that the duck has been a Bluffton resident for more than a year and a half, and that while his first Trout Derby was a little unsettling for George, he's gotten used to it.

The Bluffton Board of Zoning and Building Appeals will meet at 7:00 p.m. on January 10 in the third-floor Community Room at the Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main St.

Applicants Ryan and Jessica Meyer are asking the Village of Bluffton for permissions to convert the former True Word Tabernacle church at 104 East Elm St. into a multiple apartment facility. Allen County Assessor's records show the 9,844 square foot building was constructed in 1920 and renovated in 2004.

A packet for the January 9 regular meeting of the Bluffton Council has been issued. The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. on the third floor of Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main.

The 33-page document includes:

- Agenda

- Voucher Report

- Covid- 19 Report from Allen County Health Department (community risk level high)

- Proposed Ordinance No. 01-2023 regarding publishing changes to the Code of Ordinances

Kay L. Ziessler, 80, passed away January 9, 2023 at the Bridge Hospice Care Center, Findlay.  Kay was born August 19, 1942 in Bluffton to the late Denver and Olive (Schumacher) Zimmerly.  On May 11, 1963 she married Owen Ziessler and he survives.  

Larry F. Brunswick of Ormond Beach, Florida passed away peacefully at the age of 82 on December 16, 2022.  He was born in Burkettsville, Ohio to the late Raymond and Agnes (Jacobs) Brunswick.  

What 'cha doin' tonight? Care for a little Hummin' & Strummin'?

The Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main St. is hosting a laid-back song-circle style gathering every Monday the library is open in 2023.

You are invited to bring your instrument, voice or listening ears. Open to all ages.

The event is from 5:30-7:15 p.m. on the main level of the library.

For more information email [email protected].
www.blufftonpubliclibrary.org

Do you remember the news from December 2022? Play the Bluffton Icon crossword puzzle to find out!

Play the puzzle online or print and play HERE.

Here's a sampling:

ACROSS

11. Zoning meeting will review request to turn a church into _____

13. Happy ____ Year!

DOWN

1. Just like last year, the Bluffton Public Library did a "Home for the ____" fundraiser

2. Name of the winter storm that swept through Bluffton this December

Photos by Ellie Bergstrand

By Paula Scott

Door to door Girl Scout cookie sales have begun in Bluffton. On Friday, January 6, local troops parcipated in a rally where scouts were given a refresher course on product options, including a new cookie--the Raspberry Rally--which will be available in February.

At the rally, the scouts made posters, practiced their sales pitches, played games and sampled cookies.

» ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

By Cort Reynolds

The host Bluffton High School girls basketball team defeated Paulding 44-31 in a non-league outing Saturday afternoon, January 7.

The Pirate girls used tough defense to hold the Panthers to just seven combined points over the first and third periods.

Bluffton ran out to a 14-2 lead after the first quarter as Riley Eachus nailed two triples. Ayla Grandey also netted six points in the opening stanza.

Paulding rallied within 23-17 at halftime behind a 17-9 second quarter. 

Bluffton spurted back in front by 15 after responding with a 14-5 third quarter run. Paulding narrowly won the fourth period 9-7 but it was far too little, too late.

Bluffton improved to 8-4 with the win against their former NWC foe. The struggling Panther girls dropped to 1-10 with the loss.

» CONTINUES

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