July 2010

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Members of the Bluffton High School class of 1969 held its class reunion this past weekend.

Attending, front row: Karlyn Reichenbach Holt, Rita Reiman Teders, Beth Buist, Valerie Devier Eikenbary, Sue Neuenschwander Cupples, Shirley Brauen, Nancy Tripplett Swart, Rosemary Spinelli, Carolyn Neufeld Huffman

Second row: Mary Basinger Heyneman, Mary Hanthorn Gratz, Judy Sumney Dailey, Rene Shelley, Loretta Niedemire Bessette, Erika Gellert

The new Bluffton Hospital Emergency Department entrance is now open. The entrance used in the past is now closed. That's the official word this week on the hospital construction progress.

Other construction updates this week include:

Former Bluffton resident Marcia Travis Kilgore, born, July 20, 1945. died of a heart attack on July 4, 2010 at her home in Aurora, Colo. A memorial service was held July 10, in Aurora. She is survived by her husband, Jerry and children, Nicole Anderson and Brett Kilgore. Local survivors are brothers, John (Tony) and Dave Travis, and sister Betsey Angus of Bluffton.

Bluffton Icon Viewers:

We eagerly watch the numbers on the Icon. So when the odometer recently flipped over to 100,000 total views in just 10 months, we went into a bit of a tizzy. After all, 10 months ago, this whole project was an experiment filled with unknowns. All we really knew was that we wanted to continue to deliver small-town journalism in a way that would reach a variety of generations.

Ohio vanity license plates are now available for countless organizations. The Icon spotted this U.S. Armed Forces Veteran plate on Main Street.

The Bluffton Area Ministerial Association (BAMA) is planning a community worship service at 9 a.m., on Sunday Aug. 1.

This worship service comes at the end of a week of Vacation Bible School hosted this year at the First United Methodist Church. Children who attended Bible School will sing a few of the songs they learned during worship.

The community worship service will take place on the Presbyterian Church lawn. (In case of rain, the service will be held in the middle school cafetorium.)

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

It was 100 years ago when this photo was taken. It shows the Bluffton third grade during the 1910-11 school year. Perhaps you have a relative in this photo.

Front row from left, Fairy (Berry) Musselman, Edmond Althaus, Howard Augsburger, Florence Johns, Beatrice (Steth) Conaway.

Second row from left, Helen Basinger, Geraldine Bigler, Harold Kemp, Mae McGeorge, Ruth Murray, Lester Hahn, Robert Swick, Bernice (Althaus) Carder, Frances Geiger, Opal Betzner, Carl Lewis.

By Fred Steiner

In a manner of speaking, the Mennonite Home officially gained senior citizen status this summer. It's 55 years old. It may now join AARP.

My connection to 410 W. Elm St. is unusual: I've never lived there, but know it pretty well. My mother worked there for over a quarter of a century, first in the laundry, next as a nurse's aide, then as an LPN and finally as a resident herself.

Here's a plate you don't see every day, week or month in Bluffton. It's a Connecticut plate. The Icon spotted it on Main Street.

Pandora's Riley Creek Festival is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 13-14. For a complete schedule of events click here. Watch The Icon for more details in coming weeks.

Highlights of the Fest' include:

Friday

Car and antique tractor show

Carnival games for kids

Homemade ice cream

Musical "Wizard of Oz"

Saturday

5 K Run

Pancake breakfast

Bridenbaugh schoolhouse tour

Health fair

Pages