The Village of Bluffton is among communities finding Klu Klux Klan recruiting flyers on the ground, according to Mayor Richard Johnson at the Monday, February 24 council meeting.
Johnson asked residents to turn in any flyers found to Town Hall.
He characterized the flyers as an attempt to draw attention to an upcoming convention and “create fear and intimidation toward members of our village.” He stressed that “this is unacceptable and is not representative of our village. Hate is not to be tolerated in our village.”
News reports indicate that the flyers have been distributed in places including Ohio and Kentucky along I-75.
The Village of Bluffton has issued notice of a public hearing to be held before the Streets, Alleys, Lights and Sidewalks Committee to consider the proposed vacation of a portion of Vine Street between N. Jackson Street and N. Lawn Avenue.
Hearing Date: March 25, 2025
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Bluffton Town Hall – 3rd floor Community Room
154 N. Main St., Bluffton, Oh 45817
Annette "Sue" Sprunger, 86, passed into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus, on February 23, 2025. Sue was born May 6, 1938 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to the late Paul and Opal (Wasson) Berlien who preceded her in death. On August 26, 1961 she married Ben Sprunger and he survives.
A woman of deep faith, Sue dedicated her life to her family, church, and community. She was a faithful wife, loyal helper and mother with distinction.
FINDLAY, OH—The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $770,654.84 at the February board meeting. This total includes seven responsive grants and 164 donor advised fund grants.
Among grants of special interest to the Bluffton area, the West Ohio Land Conservancy was awarded $56,600 to support hiring a part-time executive director.
A history of "Sharing Hopes And Nourishing Needs Of Neighbors"
By Duane Bollenbacher and Patien Dulaney
Duane:
In 1997 a group of young couples and individuals in Bluffton formed the Bluffton Junior Chamber of Commerce (the Jaycees). After one year they decided they did not like paying big dues that were sent out of town. So in 1998 they formed a local service club--called the Bluffton Area Service Organization, or BASO. They existed for a couple years and they got busy, most of them with young children and disbanded. When the Exchange Club was formed, BASO gave them ideas for activities and turned over the money in their account.
There were 25 members when the Exchange Club officially started on April 25, 2003. The activities were dictated by International Headquarters and 90% of the expensive dues went out of town. As the President and other officers became busy elsewhere, our numbers dwindled extensively but we still tried to do all the nationally-dictated activities. We finally got down to a very small number, myself being the only remaining charter member from the Exchange Club just three years prior.
The Village of Bluffton has announced that the Parks & Recreation Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 25 has been moved to 5:30 p.m. (This is a time change from the original 6:00 p.m. time)
The Bluffton Lions Club inducted five new members in February and announced the March 4 Charter night for the Leo Club of Bluffton High School. (See attached February 2025 newsletter.)
Leo Charter Night will take place from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on March 4 at Bluffton Town Hall. Members will be inducted and officers will be installed.
March 18 Club Meeting: Speaker Dave Sycks will talk about the Bluffton Schools music program.
April 15 Citizen of the Year Program. If you have candidates, contact Lion John Rich.
The greatest Pirate basketball game I ever witnessed in an away game was against Liberty-Benton on February 12, 2000. LB was 17-0 and ranked 3d in the state. Bluffton had a talented team that was 16-2 and led by 6 ft-7 in Kyle Lowry and Michael Kingsley, who still holds the record (1,162) for most points scored in school history. Coach Rich Shaner said the team had a good previous season and had high expectations for the 1999-2000 season. The experienced team had strong guard play, post play also, and there was good balance on the scoring. The team was speedy, quick, and could shoot well both in the paint or outside the 3-point line.
The game was played on a Saturday night. Twenty-four hours earlier, Bluffton defeated Crestview to win the Northwest Conference Championship outright with a 10-0 record. On that same Friday night LB had won a tough game as well. LB was strong on their home court and was favored. The Pirates had other ideas.
The Bluffton Public Library will host the following events and activities during the week of February 24-March 1. For further details and dates, visit www.blufftonpubliclibrary.org/library-events/
