ICBA Independent Banker, the magazine of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and a national source for community banking news, recognized Citizens National Bank, Bluffton, as an outstanding "ICBA 400" community bank performer in its June issue. The ranking is based on Citizens National Bank's 2010 year-end earnings.
Imagine a 250-mile garage sale. It's the world's largest - or longest, or both - and it's in Bluffton's backyard this weekend. It's the fifth annual Lincoln Highway garage sale. Bluffton is just about mid-way on the sale map.
Check out The Icon's classified ads. We have countless garage sales listed between Cairo and Beaverdam, one listed on Main Street Beaverdam, five listed on Sugar Creek Road, just off the Lincoln Highway.
In honor of National Inventor's Month and the birth of Neil Armstrong, Bluffton Public Library will host a family Space Day at 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 18.
Special guest Dr. Eric Baumgartner, Dean of the T.J. Smull College of Engineering at Ohio Northern University, will begin the program by sharing his experiences working for the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio will host another in its continuing serries of seminars, "Embracing Aging with Knowledge" later this month.
The seminar is at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Bluffton Senior Center. This program is about researching family history and how to start becoming your family's genealogist.
Debbie Mayes, the speaker, will provide tips on to begin or expand your search for family records, stories and photos.
Mayes has served as historian, president, and vice-president of the Allen County Genealogical Society.
A successful fiscal year that ended June 30 helped Bluffton University to a groundbreaking start for 2011-12.
During the 2010-11 year, the university surpassed its goal of $30 million in gifts and pledges to Extending Our Reach-The Campaign for Bluffton, with nearly a year left to go.
The more than $30.5 million that has been raised to date during the multiyear campaign includes $14 million-plus for Bluffton's planned Health and Fitness Education Center (HFEC). Groundbreaking was celebrated on campus July 12, and construction is under way.
Bryant Miller attended Bluffton schools until eighth grade when his family moved into the Bath school system.
He returned to Bluffton this summer after a 15-year absence. In July he accepted the call as pastor of First United Methodist Church. His first preaching Sunday was July 3.
Miller is a seminary student working toward a master's of divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky. He enrolled in the spring of 2009 and continues to take classes toward that degree.
Bluffton University's Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), an educational program for retirees, is offering 10 courses between Sept. 19 and Nov. 10.
The fall term costs $80, which allows participants to take as many courses as they wish and to join in other ILR activities. Individuals may take one or two courses for $30 each. Registration and course fees, if applicable, are due at the time of registration.
Unless noted otherwise below, classes will meet in the ILR classroom, located in Shultz Hall of Riley Court on campus.
15 minutes with Noah, Sarah and Amanda Stratton (more like 30 minutes)
Icon: What was the first thing you remember wanting to be when you grew up? Noah: (thinking).
Icon: Okay, while you think, can you name your sister Amanda's eighth grade science project? Noah: Something to do with tasting jellybeans. Sarah: Something to do with memory.
Smith Realty Professionals has a new listing. It is a condominium at 110 Magnolia Lane, Bluffton. For details on the listing open the printer-friendly attachment at the bottom of this story.
Tonya Meyer, director of the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center, provides us with a minute-by-minute trip to Colorado taken by 40 area residents.
By Tonya Meyer
Bright-eyed and ready for adventure, 40 friends of Bluffton Senior Center boarded a Buckeye Charter bus the morning of July 20 heading for Chicago and parts West.
It was a sizzling hot day as Chicago greeted us with temps topping 100 degrees.
