November 2020

The classes I took in high school opened the door for me to explore my interests and helped me decide on what I wanted to do with my career

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Interviewed by Derek Swartzlander
Icon: You graduated from Bluffton in 2019. What have you been doing since then?
Since graduating from BHS in 2019 I have been attending Goshen College in Indiana. I still spend my breaks back home in Bluffton and I work at Suter’s Produce while I’m in town. You can also see me running a lot! At Goshen I am studying Film Production and Communications and I am also running Cross-Country and Track. It keeps me very busy but it has been a really good experience.

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Doris J. Heldman, 72, formerly of Rawson, died at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, at the Hilty Memorial Home in Pandora.

Doris was born on Oct. 11, 1948, in Bluffton  to the late Elmer W. and Betty (Myers) Reichley.

She married Ralph Eugene Heldman on June 19, 1966, and he preceded her in death on March 13, 2003.

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Phyllis K. Born, 78, until recently of Circleville, Ohio, died on Nov. 5, 2020, at home in Bluffton.

She was born in Lima to Richard and Dorothy (Werking) Frail on Dec. 29, 1941. On July 30, 1968, she married Roger W. Born, who survives her. Her sister, Donna (John) Osborn and brother, Rev. Todd (Linda) Frail, live in Powell and Newark, respectively.

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Dorothy R. Hursey, 88, of Bluffton died Nov. 8, 2020, at Bridge Hospice Care Center in Findlay.  Arrangements are pending at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services – Bluffton.

Mike Hilty was the first Pirates to run at state - he did it in 1968 and 1969

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Thanks for information from Mike Hilty, the Icon can update more of Bluffton High School’s cross country state meet history.

Hilty was in fact Bluffton’s first athlete to qualify for the state meet. He qualified two years in a row in the Class A division (there were only two divisions at that time and the cross country course was 2 miles). 

Hilty's personal best time in the 2-mile was 9:45 in a dual meet in Michigan.

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1969 Bluffton High School cross country team, front row from left, Mike Hilty, Bill McKibben, Tim Boehr, James Pannabecker, Larry Diller, Ryan Hobley, Louis Burkholder.

Standing from left, Richard Corbett, coach, Bill Brauen, Charles Montgomery, Allan Birchnaugh, Ricky Lones, Carl Snare, Terry Huber, Larry Huber, Robert McCafferty and Robert Hilty, assistant coach.

Thanks for information from Mike Hilty, the Icon can update more of Bluffton High School’s cross country state meet history.

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Here are the results of last week's Bluffton Icon poll. This week's poll asks: "Which state's election results surprised you the most. 

Click here to take the new poll.

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Thomas Lynn Klingler, 67, died Nov. 6, 2020, at Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima. Tom was born Nov. 24, 1952, in Bluffton to the late Clyde and Alberta (Reams) Klingler.  

Tom was a graduate of Bluffton High School. He retired as a sergeant with the Delphos Police Department. Tom was a member of the Delphos Eagles Aerie #471 and the American Legion where he served as a past commander. He  served in U.S. National Guard and enjoyed boating.  

You'll find it along Riley Creek on Thurman Street

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What is the oldest structure in the village of Bluffton? And, what was its use?

The structure could pre-date Shannon, meaning it was here when the very first settlers called this area Croghan in the 1830s.

The structure is on the Riley Creek bank at the bend of Thurman Street, across from the EMS building.  

It is the remains of a lime kiln and ashery used in making soap.

First quarter elementary list

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Here's the Bluffton Elementary first-quarter honor roll for 2020-21 school year.

All A

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