All Bluffton Icon News

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Boys cross country team finishes 10th 

By Cort Reynolds

Led by two top-four standout runners, the Bluffton boys squad finished a solid 10th at the 20-team Div. III state cross country meet late Saturday morning, November 5, at Fortress Obetz. 

Pirate senior Landon Armstrong crossed the finish line third out of 185 runners in 15:55.3 to pace the red and white in his last race.

Bluffton senior teammate Erik Nygaard finished right behind him in fourth at 15:59.2.

The speedy Pirate duo finished higher than any other tandem in the meet.

Brylan Holland of East Canton won the boys state crown with a time of 15:41.7, followed by Rittman's Luke Snyder in second at 15:50.8.

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As the seasons change, it may seem that the beauty around us is fleeting. However, area photographers have captured that beauty and the Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District has collected it.

The weekend the park district will unveil of the winning photographs from its 46th annual Nature Photography Contest, which had a record 315 photos entered this year.

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Two earlier structures burned; safe blowers ignited a 1901 fire

By Fred Steiner
www.BlufftonForever.com

A piece of Bluffton history disappeared this week with the demolition of the former Bluffton Farmers’ Grain mill.

The mill was among one of the longest continually operated businesses here. Joseph Deford, Shannon founder, operated a lime kiln and a grist mill in the 1830s. At the same time the Siddall family started a saw mill.

Both those businesses were operated thanks to the flowing water power of Riley Creek.

Here’s a history of the Bluffton Farmers Grain mill, roughly connected to that 1830s Deford enterprise. This history’s focus covers the business from 1886 until a 1934 fire.

Grist mill
The Bluffton grist mill, one of the successors of Deford’s grist mill, was purchased by Siddall and Son, and later purchased by the Steiner Brothers in 1870.

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The Allen County Health Department has issued this reminder:

Ohio law limits what and where you can open burn. Open burning can release many kinds of toxic fumes.

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A funny thing happened on the way to Bluffton University’s fall 2022 Spiritual Life Week. 2010 alumnus Andrea Flack-Wetherald, a social worker turned improv performer turned best-selling author, served as the guest speaker as students explored Ephesians 4:29-32 and the theme “Let’s Talk… About Building Each Other Up.”

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Community discussions generated by Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow activities revealed that not all villagers know we have an arboretum on Lake St. This photo was taken before the heavy winds of October 5; a visit today may look quite different. The survey will be open until November 9. Participate HERE.

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