First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, has cancelled this week's (Wednesday, Feb. 10) First Night activities, according to the church office. The First Night is a Wednesday evening dinner with a program, which follows.
Bluffton council learned on Feb. 8 that the village and school representatives have met with Eric Pfenning of Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to discuss the school zone flashers and the College-Main intersection.
Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, told council that he and Rick Skilliter, police chief, and Greg Denecker, school superintendent met with ODOT.
Bluffton officials asked ODOT to have school zone flashers activated from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The flashers are property of ODOT and under their control.
Be inspired. Read "Teach with Your Heart," by Erin Gruwell and join community members for a friendly, informal discussion at Common Grounds in Bluffton at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 3. Advance registration is requested. A limited number of discussion copies are available at the Bluffton Public Library.
Spring and summer baseball and softball sign-ups for Bluffton Diamond Sports are just around the corner.
Registration forms may be picked up at the elementary school or middle school offices. Forms are also available at the three dates where they are to be turned in. The forms are for boys ages 7 to 14 and girls ages 8 to 14.
James and Frieda Basinger of Bisbee, Ariz., kept up with the happenings in the Village of Bluffton, Ohio, but didn't get back to their hometown often.
But that didn't matter. James and Frieda left their estate, estimated to be valued at $1 million, to Bluffton University, their alma mater, and Mennonite Home Communities.
At a joint press conference held on Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Mennonite Memorial Home, a property of Mennonite Home Communities, Bluffton University President Dr. James M. Harder made the formal announcement about the gift.
Elvina E. Burkholder, 91, of Pandora died at 10:55 p.m. Feb. 7, 2010, at the Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Monday at the church.
Elvina Ellen (Burry) Burkholder was the seventh of nine children, born to Albert and Sarah (Hilty) Burry. She was born on Oct. 7, 1918, in Putnam County.
Oiler High School Invitational Indoor Track Meet
Feb. 7, 2010, Findlay, Ohio
Divisions I, II, III
By Hannah Chappell-Dick
Bluffton was very well represented at an indoor track meet on Sunday, Feb. 7. Participating were many high schoolers who were members of the 2009 Bluffton track team, and a few who are new to the sport.
The S.H.A.N.N.O.N. Service Club will hold its seventh annual community garage and craft sale from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26, and from 9 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Centre, 601 N. Main St.
"This annual huge garage sale event with 35 to 40 vendors has become a festive occasion for the residents of Bluffton and surrounding communities," said Duane Bollenbacher of the club. "You will find items and gadgets of every sort from A to Z, in addition to a variety of yummy food items."
Here's a poor quality, but important photo of Bluffton in the late 1940s or early 1950s. The scene is from Cherry Street looking south toward Railroad Street.
The Bluffton depot, which is now located at the Buckeye park, was alive with activity, servicing as a stop on the Nickel Plate Railroad. The depot served passengers and freight stops. The freight train heading north toward Bellevue is pulled by Lima-built Berkshire 703.
