Here's something for your holiday calendar. It's Bluffton's oldest annual tradition.
Traditional new year's caroling/serenading of the two David Rothen hymns of pre-1840s will again be sung on Dec. 31, 2015, led by the Swiss Historical Society.
Carolers will start at the lobby of Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 West Elm St., Bluffton, at 5 p.m.
For new singers, if any of you wish to come 15 minutes earlier, that's a chance for new folks to familiarize themselves with words and tunes of these traditional two
Swiss-German songs. Music sheets will be furnished.
An afternoon Christmas Eve service by the students of Trinity Lutheran Church and School, Jenera, called “Did You Know?” will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 1 p.m. in the church at 301 North Main Street, Jenera.
The students from pre-school through eighth grade will tell of the birth of Jesus through Word and Christmas hymns. High school students will be narrators and pre-service music by the youth will begin at 12:30 p.m. The Choir will sing “Mary, Did You Know?” A free DVD “My Son, My Savior” will be given to guests.
It's now longer "high noon" in Bluffton. The clock at the Bluffton Public Library once again tells the correct Bluffton Standard Time. Now there's no excuse for being late for a meeting.
Here's some news from the Bluffton Elementary School, taken from the school website:
CHRISTMAS CONCERT: The Bluffton Elementary Christmas concert will be held on Monday, Dec. 14, at 1:30 p.m. in the High School gymnasium.
ELEMENTARY SERVICE PROJECT: Our Christmas service project for Bluffton Elementary staff and students is “Coins for Kids.” We will hold a coin drive in cooperation with the Bluffton Food Pantry to “Adopt a Family” for Christmas. We hope to collect enough money to adopt a number of families.
Wayne E. Welch, 75, of Mt. Cory died 5:10 a.m. Dec. 12, 2015 at Bridge Hospice, Findlay. Wayne was born May 28, 1940, in Putnam County to the late Mearl E. and Elleen M. Campbell Welch. On July 18, 1970 he married Deborah Walters and she survives.
The Bluffton University women’s basketball team survived a bruising defensive battle, improving to 7-0 on the season with a 45-36 victory over the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Saturday, Dec. 12.
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men’s basketball team hosted the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Saturday, Dec. 12, in an HCAC matchup. The Beavers fought hard, but were unable to keep their perfect conference record intact, falling by a score of 66-62. Bluffton slipped to 5-2 (2-1 HCAC) on the season while Rose-Hulman improved to 5-3 (2-1 HCAC).
NerdWallet, an internet company has identified Bluffton school district as its 11th “Best School District in Ohio for Your Buck.” That ranking includes 608 Ohio school districts. Those top 11 districts are listed in an attachment at the bottom of this story.
Catherine Elizabeth "Libby" Schmenk, 86, died Dec. 11, 2015, at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. Libby was born Jan. 6, 1929 in Bluffton to the late Dave and Ethel (Owens) Fisher. On Sept. 27, 1952, she married Leo T. Schmenk who preceded her in death on April 21, 1986.
Libby was a homemaker. She had also worked at Triplett Corporation, Bluffton. Libby was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bluffton. She was a 1946 graduate of Pandora High School.
The Bluffton-based business will open a store south of Ada at 3032 State Route 309. The business is located at the intersection of 309 and State Route 235, in a former carpet warehouse.
Tom Dotson, owner of the tire sales, said that Ada store will offer all the services already available in Bluffton. That includes:
• passenger and light truck tires
• small farm tires
• all-steel carports –used for garages, utility and agriculture buildings
• trailers
