Sandra "Sandy" Kay Palte, 82, passed away February 18, 2025 at the Meadows of Delphos. Sandy was born July 13, 1942 in Bluffton to the late Franklin and Jeanette (Burkholder) Beach. She married Richard Palte and he survives.
Sandy graduated from Beaverdam High School and retired from the Beaverdam Elevator where she was a secretary. She enjoyed boating, traveling and bird watching.
The Bluffton High School boys basketball team have two players on the All-Northwest Conference teams following voting recently conducted by league coaches.
Senior guard Marek Donaldson was voted first team All-NWC. He led the team in three-point field goals made, and was one of the top Pirate scorers.
Senior Blake Sommers was named second team All-NWC. He was one of the top two Pirate scorers and rebounders.
Bluffton finished its regular season 15-7 overall against a tough schedule, and went 3-4 in the NWC.
The Bluffton Senior Center will hold its Annual Garage Sale will on February 27, 28 and March 1. The center is taking donations at this time. Please no clothing or shoes and only clean usable items.
For a complete list of items that are not accepted, please stop in the office at 132 N. Main St. or call 419-358-8971.
Asa Clingerman, Bluffton High School senior, has been named a finalist in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The announcement was made this week with finalists being notified of this designation. All Finalists will be considered for 6,870 National Merit Scholarship Awards to be offered in spring 2025.
Clingerman is the son of Gail and the late Forrest Clingerman.
Over 1.3 million high school juniors from 21,000 high schools entered the contest by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Semifinalists and Finalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout their high school career. Scholars must also be endorsed by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT or ACT scores to confirm their earlier performance on the qualifying test to advance to the semi-finalist round, according to scholarship rules.
The Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center of Bluffton University, University of Findlay and the Japan Foundation will be hosting a Taiko Japanese drumming workshop at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, in Burcky Gym.
In this workshop participants will get to practice the art of Taiko, an ancient tradition of drumming. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited.
BLUFFTON – The hot-shooting Bluffton boys basketball team pulled away late to defeat visiting non-conference foe Maumee Valley Country Day 81-71 to celebrate Senior Day well on February 15.
The Pirates outscored the Hawks 23-13 in the final quarter to break away from a 58-58 tie and win. Marek Donaldson poured in 16 fourth period points, including four triples, to lead the comeback victory.
The game was postponed from the previous Saturday due to icy roads, and switched to playing MVCD instead of Liberty Center.
William "Bill" J. Steiner, 81, passed away February 15, 2025, at Lima Memorial Health Systems.
William "Bill" was born September 4, 1943 in Bluffton, to Wilford and Mabel (Herr) Steiner who preceded him in death. On August 24, 1968 he married Joan (Kilper) Steiner who survives.
HARROD __ The well-balanced Bluffton High School wrestling team captured the annual eight-team Northwest Conference championship in a title meet hosted by Allen East on February 15.
The Pirates tallied 217.5 points to defeat perennial power host AE (207) by 10.5 points to win the crown. Defending champion Columbus Grove took third with 199 points.
It was the fourth NWC title won by Bluffton in wrestling.
Three Pirate wrestlers won individual league championships, and four others finished second.
