Here's a rare license plate. Nothing unusual about 45817 - Bluffton's zip code. But, did you catch the state name? Look again, closer. We know the owner of this plate. Do you?
Longtime Bluffton businessman and community leader Harold F. Balmer, 92, of Bluffton died at 12:50 a.m. April 28, 2012 at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima.
He was born March 15, 1920 in Bluffton to Henry and Emaline (Swaney) Balmer who preceded him in death. His stepmother Elizabeth Amstutz Balmer also preceded him in death.
Andrew Reynolds is the new store manager of Bluffton's Cellular Central, 142 E. Jefferson St. Reynolds is a six-year employee with the wireless retailer.
Prior to managing the Bluffton store, he was district manager over 11 Cellular Central stores. He helped open stores in Bluffton, Delphos and Fostoria. When he started with Cellular Central the company had eight stores. Today it has 42 and continues to expand.
In addition to Reynolds, Cellular Central Bluffton employees are Andy Walles, Kyle Roby and Jared Gesler, all account executives.
Bluffton University freshman Katie Clark (New Palestine, Ind.) is the second Beaver in as many weeks to be named the Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week. Junior Shelby Wade was recognized a week ago after going 6-of-8 at rival Defiance College.
Katie Clark led the Beavers to a 4-2 mark in HCAC play and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Hitter of the Week. The freshman slugger went 11-for-19 (.579) at the plate with eight runs scored, seven RBI, three home runs, two doubles, and a triple.
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy the Icon. I left Bluffton for good back in 1976, after my last summer working at the Beaverdam Truck Stop.
In the years that followed, I kept track of goings on in my home town through my parents and my brother John, who still lived there. With the passing of all three of them, I lost track of what was happening other than snippets I learned when I was in contact with old friends. How wonderful to be able to log onto the Icon and catch up.
Allen County Public Health remind Icon viewers that this is "National Childhood Immunization Week."
Most parents today have never seen first-hand the devastating consequences that vaccine-preventable diseases can have on a child, a family, or community.
Thanks to vaccines, many of these diseases are not common in the U.S., but they persist around the world.
"It's important to remind parents that immunizations are still the best way to protect their children from 14 vaccine-preventable diseases," says Kathy Luhn, Health Commissioner.
Editor's note: Bluffton University will present "The Music Man" Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 3-4-5) in Founders Hall. Dr. Steve Jacoby, retired Bluffton University music professor, suggested that the Icon interview the two Bluffton graduates who played the part of Harold Hill in previous campus productions of the "The Music Man." We thought Steve had a great idea, so we caught up with the two previous Harold Hills - Mark Thompson (1972) and Dan Basinger (1995).
Taylor Haggy (left), a first-year Bluffton University student and softball pitcher from South Charleston, accompanies her mother, Kellee, to the pitcher's circle on the Bluffton softball field April 17.
Kellee Haggy, who has been battling cancer for several years, threw out the ceremonial first pitch of her daughter's team's game against Anderson College, part of a Bluffton softball/baseball doubleheader to "Strike Out Cancer."
Lion and Lamb celebration part of May Day at Bluffton
Bluffton University will mark its annual May Day weekend May 3-6 with traditional alumni reunions, student activities and graduation events, as well as a celebration of The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center's 25th year.
