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May 24, 2019

Strawberry fields forever

In a month or so, these green-leafed and white-flowered plants will include strawberries ready for picking. These plants are at the corner of Bixel and Pandora roads. When the Icon asked Jerry Suter for a specific picking date, his long explanation included several variables plus weather-related scenarios, which boils down to - we think, mid-June.
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138th Bluffton HS commencement on Saturday

Meet the BHS class of 2019

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 24, 2019 - 3:26pm

The 138th annual Bluffton High School commencement is Saturday, May 25, in the high school gym. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the ceremony takes place at 7 p.m.

This year’s valedictorians are Seth Andreas, Madeline Burghaze, Kennedy Coughlan, Rhett Donaldson, Amelia Mitchell, Katie Prater, Lily Shadle, Amanda Speicher and Hannah Yost. The class salutatorian is Jackson Steinmetz.

Members of the graduating class follow:

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News in Bluffton

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Excellent and Superior!

Fifth-sixth grade and junior high string orchstras score high at contest

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 24, 2019 - 3:42pm

• Junior high "Superior"
• Fifth-sixth grade "Excellent"
Photos at bottom of story

The Bluffton Junior High string orchestra earned a ‘Superior’ rating and the Bluffton fith-sixth grade string orchestra earned an ‘Excellent’ rating at Ohio Music Education Associate large group adjudicated event held at Parkway HS last week.

The junior high orchestra performed in class “A” with “An English Folksong” arranged by Terry McQuilkin, “Lullaby to the Moon” by Brian Balmages and “The Lumber Camp Song” arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle.

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People

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Latest Pirate sports stories

Two Pirates earn All-NWC baseball honors

By Cort Reynolds
DELPHOS - Bluffton had two baseball players earn All-Northwest Conference notice in voting conducted by the league coaches Monday night at Delphos.

Softball: Bluffton's season ends with impressive 20-2 mark

Lady Pirates ousted at districts by Carey
By Cort Reynolds
FINDLAY - Bluffton had its 19-game win streak ended by Carey 8-3 in Div. IV district semifinal softball action at Findlay's Marathon Diamonds Wednesday evening.

Bluffton softball ranked 5th in coaches state poll

Bluffton High School girls' softball team is ranked 5th in Division IV of the Ohio High School Softball Fastpick Coaches Association state poll for week 5. The top 10 teams in the division are listed here.

Pirate netters ousted in sectionals

By Cort Reynolds
LIMA - The Bluffton boys tennis team competed in the Div. II sectionals at UNOH Thursday.

Bluffton junior Drew Wilson posted a first round win over Bath's Derek Inskeep. He then lost to Ada junior Isaac Spar in the second round.

BHS boys' runners-up at NWC meet

Bluffton High School boys' track team finished second in the Northwest Conference meet over the weekend. It was the second consecutive year that the boys were runners-up. The girls' team finished fourth.

The Iconic Photo Gallery

History lesson

Niswander, Amstutz, Sprunger, Habeggar, Gerber, Ramseyer, Diller, Steiner and Bixel are among the familiar Bluffton and...

Previous historical photos

Icon video

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Dancers Elite performers 2 10 19

Dancers' Elite perform at chili cook-off 2-19-19

BFR dance 2 9 19

Who are J Denny and Jenny Beaver?

Rosengartner lights 12 18 No Music

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Newest Stories

Weather for May 14 to 20

Here is the weather report covering May 14 to 20.

Bluffton student graduates from Manchester University

Manchester University conferred undergraduate, professional and graduate degrees to 331 student on Saturday, May 18.

Mariah Fleming, of Bluffton, received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology.

Trinity Lutheran School graduation Sunday

Trinity Lutheran School’s graduation will be held Sunday, May 26, in the 10:30 a.m. service at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jenera.

Jacob Miles is the class speaker. The class members are: Zander Steven Mays, Jacob William Miles and Brandon Pierce Stuckey.

Yesterday's Top Story

Bluffton youth launches toy drive for a good cause

Braylon Simon's own experience at Nationwide Children's Hospital is the reason for the toy project

Posted by Fred Steiner on May 23, 2019 - 1:11pm

Eight-year-old Braylon Simon’s own experience at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, made him want to do something for other children who are patients there.

In April, 2018, Braylon, son of Jonathan and Kayla Simon of Bluffton, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Nodular Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

After four rounds of aggressive chemo, he is in his ninth month of remission.

To celebrate his first year of being cancer free – in August – he wants to have a toy drive for the Hematology and Oncology floors at Nationwide hospital, where he was treated.

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People