December 2023

John-Paul Yoder named to 2023 All Tournament Team

Bluffton took home top honors at the 2023 Northwest Conference Scholastic Bowl Tournament held Friday, December 15, at The Ohio State University at Lima. Van Wert County rivals Crestview and Lincolnview tied for runner-up in the varsity division. Spencerville won the junior varsity division and Lincolnview took home runner-up.

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys basketball team built a 10-point halftime lead and rolled to a 76-58 win at Delphos Jefferson in the Northwest Conference opener Friday night, December 15.

Four Pirates scored in double figures to pace the victory. The well-balanced Pirates improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with the convincing win.

DJ fell to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in NWC play after the loss.

Bluffton led just 15-14 after the first period as Karder Agner scored 12 of the Wildcat points.Marek Donaldson splashed four triples in the second period to lead the Pirates to a 39-29 halftime lead.

Blake Sommers netted seven of his 17 points in the third quarter as the Pirates extended their lead to 57-42. Two Terron Boblitt treys in the final stanza helped the Pirates win by 18.

A Celebration of Life Service to jointly honor the lives of Lowell and Marjorie Standeford will take place on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church located in Ottawa at 137 North Pratt Street. 

Growth happens in a roundabout way

By Andy Chappel-Dick

Some people ridicule them. Others fear them. But they're becoming increasingly common on American roadways, and now Bluffton gets one. Drivers get ready:  it's our first roundabout.

Downey wins 2 races

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School boys and girls swim teams each finished a strong second in a six-team meet Wednesday evening, December 13, at the Bucyrus YMCA.

Upper Sandusky won the boys team title with 100 points, followed closely by Bluffton with 87.

The Rams also won the girls team crown with 153 points, while the Pirates were second with 88 points.

Upper won the combined boys/girls title with 253 points, while Bluffton was second with 175.

Sophomore Jenna Downey led the Pirates with two first-place finishes. She won the 100-yard freestyle and 200 individual medley races.

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School girls basketball team got doubled up 42-21 over the middle quarters and lost 74-43 at home to defending league champion Delphos Jefferson in their Northwest Conference opener Thursday night, December 14.

LIMA__Dr. Jane Wood, Bluffton University president, and Dr. Margaret Young, interim dean and director at The Ohio State University at Lima, signed a partnership agreement today at the Ohio State Lima Engineering Education and Manufacturing Center (EEMC). The partnership establishes a new pathway for incoming Bluffton students to study engineering using the resources of both universities. 

By Karen L. Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

Help! was the fifth album for the Beatles and included the song by the same name. John Lennon wrote the song and was quoted as indicating he needed help at the time he wrote it. The Beatles were the first rock band to be recognized in the category of Album of the Year at the Grammys in 1966. 

From Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District on Facebook:

Wondering how to strike a balance between screen time and outdoor fun for your kids?

Exciting news – we've got some awesome suggestions that make use of technology to inspire outdoor adventures!

Download your favorite app from this list and let's turn those digital moments into nature-packed memories! Let us know which one you're going to try!

Birds

  • AUDUBON BIRD GUIDE
  • SONG SLEUTH BIRD SONG ANALYZER
  • RAPTOR ID

The following December 2023 worship services have been announced by the Bluffton Area Ministerial Association:

Bluffton First Methodist Church

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Service 6:30 p.m.

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