December 2024

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In this series, the Icon presents the Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow comprehensive plan in eight segments, which can be found in full on the Village of Bluffton website HERE. The Bluffton Public Library has two print copies.

Improving an Asset 
Downtown Bluffton has an economic presence of its own. A mix of retail, banks, financial consultants, insurance, restaurants, and retail shops line Main Street. The majority of residential units above downtown businesses are currently occupied and are in high demand. 

Bluffton is known locally as one of the most charming villages in Northwest Ohio. Its downtown storefronts boast a near 100% occupancy rate, unlike American municipalities ravaged by suburbanization that suffer from underdeveloped parcels with empty storefronts and vacant lots. Bluffton has retail space, a movie theater, restaurants, library, post office, grocery store, primary healthcare, and other professional services downtown, a rarity in small-town Ohio.   CONTINUES ▶︎

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66 Years on Cherry Street

By Deb Beer

M & R stands for Bill McKibben and Harold Rau who originally began a partnership as McKibben and Rau at 118 Cherry St., Bluffton, working out of the garage at Bill McKibben’s home. This was 1958. The two men were brothers-in-law – Harold’s wife Ada is a sister to Bill’s wife Faye. According to Ada, they first did sheet metal work, roofing and plumbing and heating installation and repair.  The two couples were originally from the Continental, Ohio, area. McKibben had been working in the Findlay area and talked Harold into opening a shop in Bluffton.

In 1960 they opened a showroom in the former Dr. Munson Bixel office which was attached to the McKibben residence. This piece of real estate is now the Bluffton location of First National Bank of Pandora.

In 1962 the partners incorporated as M & R Plumbing and Heating. In 1973 Rau purchased McKibben’s half of the business and McKibben left to work for the Allen County Health Department as plumbing inspector. The following year, 1974, the business was moved to 212 Cherry St.  As part of the move, Rau installed an awning on the front of the building.   CONTINUES ▶︎

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Not so fast! The Bluffton Icon incorrectly listed the Riley Creek Strummers location on Tuesday, December 10 on our calendar.

They will be providing Holiday Music at Bluffton Public Library at 1:00 p.m. on the library main level. Thank you to a reader for this correction!

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Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly breakfast meeting on Friday, December 13. The meeting will be held on the third floor of the Town Hall.

Members who have membership announcements may email [email protected] by Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Please use subject line "Member Announcement".

Twisted Whisk Cafe will be providing the breakfast.

Breakfast will be served at 7 a.m.

Program begins at 7:30 a.m.

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The Allen Co. Agronomy Outlook is Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at the Allen Co Fairgrounds.

For Information, call 419-879-9108. Registration and additional information will be posted on https://www.facebook.com/allencountyextension/

Partial list of Presenters:

Barry Ward, OSU Extension - Crop Budgets and Tax Update

Bailey Elchinger, Stone X - Grain Market Outlooks

Brandon Kern, Ohio Soybean Council - Farm Policy Update

Stephanie Karhoff, OSU Extension- TBA

 

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Wednesday, December 11, 5-7:00 p.m, Mercy Health in the Physicians Conference Room, Health Cafe

Project | SEARCH is a year-long program offered by Apollo Career Center. This program is tailored for students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Its purpose is to provide both entry-level and more complex job experiences in a business environment. Project | SEARCH collaborates with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Apollo Career Center, Mercy Health/St. Rita's Medical Center Employment Services, and local school districts.

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The Village of Bluffton Council will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9. The agenda (attached HERE) includes the following legislation:

First reading by emergency of an ordinance that begins the process of authorizing the Lima Building Department as local authority for enforcing Ohio building codes, approving plans and specifications, and making inspections. 

In October, Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn reported that the Wood County services currently being used are getting busier and struggling to cover all jobs. He noted that the Village was working on ways to cover plumbing inspections in the portion of Bluffton in Hancock County.

Editor's note: The Lima Building Dept. is also known as the Lima/Allen County Building Department.

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From Scott Little
Bluffton Ohio Historical Society Secretary

The December meeting of the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society will be on Wednesday, December 11 at the Bluffton Public Library at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Shannon (History) Room on the main floor of the library. 

Committee reports and planning for 2025 will be on the agenda. Additionally, details will be ironed out for upcoming "Bluffton Show & Tell, Part 1" scheduled for Wednesday, January 15 in the basement community room in the library.

The public is invited.  Bring a story and a friend.

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By Cort Reynolds

OTTAWA- The Bluffton High School girls swim team dove into its season with a three-match sweep in a four-team meet at the Putnam County YMCA Thursday evening in Ottawa.

In its closest combined team result, Bluffton beat Ada 72-59. The Pirates stomped McComb 90-8, and defeated Bath 92-39 to go 3-0 in combined meet scoring.

The Bluffton girls went 3-0 on the evening. They beat the Ada Bulldogs, 53-28. The Pirate girls also shut out McComb 69-0, and whipped Bath 69-10.

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By Cort Reynolds

OTTOVILLE __The Bluffton High School girls basketball team lost 64-29 at Ottoville in a non-league contest Saturday afternoon, December 7.

    1 2 3 4   FINAL
BLUFFTON   4 11 7 7   29
OTTOVILLE   17 20 20 7   64

 

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