The Village of Bluffton will operate with a 2014 general fund budget of $3,525,454. Bluffton’s council approved the budget on Monday. The budget includes excess reserves of $1,192,371, which provides the village with an approximate six-month reserve.
Nancy Kindle, village fiscal officer, told council members that village income tax revenue in 2013 was higher than expected. She added that revenues in the water and sewer improvement fund were able to payback approximately $250,000 into the general fund.
Bluffton council hired two full-time police officers on Monday. With the new officers the department now had eight full-time officers, according to Rick Skilliter, police chief.
The two are Hope Hannah and Abigail Michael. Hannah has six years part-time experience with the Bluffton department. Michel has worked part-time for one year with the department.
They officially join the force on Jan. 5, 2014. Their pay is $13 an hour. Other members of the department are Matt Oglesbee and Ryan Burkholder, both sergeants, Tyler Hostettler, Chad Cupples, Lonny Kent and Skilliter.
Harold B. Bruhn, Indianapolis, Ind., died Monday, Dec. 9, 2013.
Mr. Bruhn of Indianapolis, Ind., and formerly of Dayton, was born Oct. 17, 1924, in Kiel, Germany. He was preceded in death by his parents Christian and Hertha Bruhn, brother, Arnold Bruhn, and grandson, Janson Bruhn.
New Leaf Garden Center, 0395 State Route 235 (north of Ada), has a wide selection of Christmas trees "and a whole lot more," says Laurie Laird of New Leaf.
The garden center offers fresh cut and ready-to-plant pine, fire and spruce trees, wreaths, roping, greenery and artifical trees.
Also available are traditional and unique decorations, peanut cluster candy, poinsettias, cemetery wrreaths, blankets and saddles.
Smith's Realty Professionals announces a new residential listing, according to Larry Smith. The listing is at 10085 Columbus Grove Road. The three-bedroom, 1 1/2 bath residence is listed at $139,000.
For complete details of the listing open the attachment at the bottom of this story.
The restored 1889 Bridenbaugh Schoolhouse, located at Roads 6 and M6 north of Pandora, will be open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 1 - 5 p.m., according to Dale Bridenbaugh.
When Fran Reese approached Executive Director, Joy Reichenbach, earlier this year about naming Hilty Home, Pandora, as the recipient of memorial gifts in honor of her late husband, Reichenbach was pleased.
Fran’s husband, Richard Reese, had lived at Hilty Home since June, 2010, and died Jan. 25, 2013. Fran wondered if the memorial gifts could be used to purchase a ceiling lift. A ceiling lift would have been beneficial to Richard and allowed him to stay in the Special Needs Unit where he had become comfortable and familiar.
Bluffton Family Practice officially opened its new medical office at 582 Harmon Road, near Bluffton Hospital, announced Dr. Darrel R. Hotmire, D.O.
“We have more space and more rooms, which will provide our practice with more efficiency serving our patients,” said Dr. Hotmire. “We are also accepting new patients.”
The new office includes five exam rooms and one additional room, plus expanded office space. Dr. Hotmire added that an important reason for the expansion is that the practice is hoping to add additional staff - either a physician or physician’s assistant.
Ten Thousand Villages, 115 S. Main St., Bluffton, has a special offer of silverburst vases handcrafted in India, according to Aphaphanhn Nussbaum, manager.
"The vases create a home that reflects your heart - aglow with holiday spirit, authentic and unforgettable," she said.
