Donna Badertscher, 88, of Bluffton died at 5:07 a.m. April 16, 2012, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. She was born June 19, 1923 in Hoytville to Floyd and Hester Boyer Dishong. On July 22, 1944 she married Lester Badertscher and he preceded her in death on Jan. 9, 1997.
Mrs. Badertscher was a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening and reading. She was a member of St. John Mennonite Church, Pandora and a graduate of Hoytville High School.
Bluffton residents Charles and Marjorie Binkley are the April residents of the month at Richland Manor, according to Barry Schneck, Richland Manor community service representative.
Mr. Binkley was born in 1929 to William and Mary Binkley. He is a graduate of Ada High School. He was employed at the OK Factory in Ada, then started at Triplett and eventually retired from Sylvania. His hobbies are playing the organ and accodion.
Bluffton Icon viewers should watch for rapidly changing weather conditions today (April 16).
According AEP Community Relations, the following storm advisor was issued this morning: Strong southwest winds will develop today behind a cold front crossing the region. Much of Ohio will see sustained winds increase to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph.
However...the highest winds will be over northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio where gusts may hit 50 mph this afternoon. Winds this strong are likely to cause minor to moderate problems for the utilities.
The churches of Pandora and Gilboa are offering food boxes for households in the Pandora-Gilboa School District.
The boxes are designed to provide nine meals for a family of four.
In order to pick up a box, you must register by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 23, by calling 419-384-3905. Boxes will be available for pickup on Saturday, April 28, at 11 a.m. at the Pandora United Methodist Church located on State Route 12.
Pianist Timothy Yoder will perform his Bluffton University senior recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, in Yoder Recital Hall.
The recital is free and open to the public; a reception will follow in the lobby.
Yoder, from Dalton, will present numbers by Haydn, George Gershwin, Bach and Schumann. He is a student of Dr. Lucia Unrau, professor and chair of music at Bluffton.
Stephanie Patterson and James Brake will present their senior recitals on Sunday, April 22, in Yoder Recital Hall.
Bluffton University will host its annual Academic Awards Forum at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, in Yoder Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Students to be honored include graduating seniors in the Honors Program, C. Henry Smith Scholars and Pi Delta inductees, as well as departmental award recipients, who are recognized as distinguished senior scholars.
Denise Durenberger, assistant professor of business at Bluffton University, will host a panel discussion on entrepreneurship and business incubation on Friday, April 20. Free and open to the public, the colloquium will begin at 4 p.m. in Stutzman Lecture Hall in Centennial Hall.
The Bluffton University Gospel Choir will present "A Night of Praise" beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21, in Yoder Recital Hall. The performance is free and open to the public; a free-will offering will be taken during intermission to help offset concert costs.
The 65-voice choir, which comprises campus and community members, will be accompanied by 21 instrumentalists. Among them is drummer Wesley Sellers, the brother of Dr. Crystal Sellers, the assistant professor of music at Bluffton who formed the choir in 2010 and remains its director.
A Rally Point youth center summer camp chicken barbecue dinner benefit is planned from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sunday, April 22, at the Pandora Community Center.
The menu includes one-half chicken, prepared by John Schlumbohm, green beans, apple sauce, butter roll and drinks. Desserts are extra.
Tickets are $7 and area available in advance or at the door. Contact Ruth Herron, 419-296-5550 for tickets.
The Bluffton Community Preschool will hold an open house from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, in its home at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton.
The Preschool is a kindergarten-ready program for 3 and 4 year olds. Classes are held two or three days a week for 2.5 hours each session.
The open house enables parents and caregivers to meet the director, teachers, aids and current parents.
Students in next year's program must be 3 or 4 by Aug. 1, 2012. The school is in the lower level of First Mennonite Church, at the corner of Jackson and Church streets.
