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Beaver and Pirate homecoming doubleheader

Events

/ Oct 01, 2026

During the weekend of October 2-4, Bluffton will celebrate both Bluffton University and Bluffton High School homecomings. The BHS Homecoming Parade will start at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 2. Pictures above include:

The Bluffton High School 2026 Homecoming Court:
Front Row Left to Right: Tessa Tarplee, Elinor Parrish, Jaegar Crawfis, Easton Dunifon
Middle Row Left to Right: Julia Dawdy, Eli Lehman, Declan Dunifon
Last Row Left to Right: David Di Gallo, Greta Myers, Ellie Bogart, Nora Matthews, Coby Dailey

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Can you bake a winning pie?

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/ Oct 02, 2026

By Paula Pyzik Scott

My Mom’s apple pie is definitely among the top five Pyzik family recipes that I continue to make for both flavor and nostalgia. So when Bluffton’s America 250 committee announced an apple pie-making contest, I was all in.

But when was the last time I made Mom’s apple pie? It had been a while. I was relieved to put my hands on the old paper copy of the pie crust recipe and the baking instructions from my older edition of the Joy of Cooking. I have both cookbooks because my favorite brownie recipe isn’t in the later edition.

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Library seeks Holiday Gift Auction donations

Bluffton Public Library

/ Oct 02, 2026

MEDIA RELEASE__The Bluffton Public Library is seeking donations for the 2026 Holiday Gift Silent Auction Fundraising Event in November.

Donations help raise funds to support library programming and services.

You can show your support of the library with tax-deductible donations in the form of gift baskets, gift cards, gift certificates, and more, accepted through October 17.

Please itemize and include fair market value and contact information when dropping off donations.

The auction will open November 2 and run through November 25.

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New Stories

John "Jack" Palte, 88, was a farmer

Obituaries

/ October 2, 2026

John "Jack" Palte, age 88, of Sevierville, TN, formerly of Bluffton, OH, passed away on September 30, 2026.

Nature walk at university Nature Preserve, Oct. 3

Bluffton University

/ October 2, 2026

Invasive plant removal continues with Friends of the Nature Preserve

ICYMI: September 2026 Bluffton Icon Highlights

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/ October 2, 2026

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Here in electronic form and soon to be available in print are the September 2026 Bluffton Icon Highlights. This issue includes 20 articles from the 172 items posted on BlufftonIcon.com during the past month.

Walking through Autumn series brings hikers to Bluffton

Living in Bluffton

/ October 2, 2026

By Marlena Ballinger

The Johnny Appleseed Park District hosted a group hike at Motter Park on Columbus Grove-Bluffton Road on Saturday, September 26. The hike was a commemorative event held for the park’s 20th Anniversary of the Walking Thru Autumn hiking series.

Pirate volleyball win vs. Spencerville

Sports

/ October 2, 2026

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School volleyball team swept visiting Spencerville in a Northwest Conference match to celebrate Senior Night on Thursday, October 1.

Pirate boys soccer ties Ottawa-Glandorf

Sports

/ October 2, 2026

By Cort Reynolds

OTTAWA__The visiting Bluffton High School boys soccer team tied Western Buckeye League foe Ottawa-Glandorf 1-1 in a non-conference match Thursday, Oct. 1.

The Pirate boys ran their record to 6-4-3 overall with the result.

Pirate girls soccer loss vs. Toledo St. Ursula

Sports

/ October 2, 2026

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The visiting Bluffton High School girls soccer team lost to visiting Toledo St. Ursula Academy 4-1 Thursday night, Oct. 1 at Steinmetz Field.

The Pirate girls dropped to 6-7 overall with the home defeat.