March 2025

  • /

LIMA __The Awakenings Victim Outreach Program at Area Agency on Aging 3 was awarded a multi-year grant through the Health Path Foundation of Ohio to support older adults (60+).

  • /

Comment period runs through April 11
COLUMBUS __The Ohio Department of Transportation is accepting public comments on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) for 2026 through 2029. The plan identifies the multi-modal transportation improvement projects that are scheduled for some phase of implementation throughout the state over the next four years.  

The draft documents will be available for public review and comment through April 11, 2025.

  • /

Donald M. Unterbrink, 83, passed away March 16, 2025. Donald was born October 3, 1941 in Leipsic, the only son of the late Amos and Ursula (Gerschutz) Unterbrink. On June 5, 1971, he married Rita Unterbrink who survives.

Don was five years old when his family moved to the farm in the Beaverdam area. Don retired from Ford Motor Company after forty-two years, farmed all of his life and raised hogs and a family on that farm. Don was a practicing Catholic his entire life and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bluffton.   

  • /

Click to enlarge photos and view at your own pace

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Bluffton Community Dog Park on March 14 were a time for smiles, cheers and tears. The creation of a place for dogs to run safely off leash has been highly anticipated by area dog owners. That included Bluffton teacher and heart transplant recipient Katrina Riepenhoff, who passed away after a sudden illness in 2024. Her family has become a key supporter of the dog park.

Many at the well-attended event wore green t-shirts bearing the message “Live like Katrina Riepenhoff” and “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good”--and paw prints. Also in attendance were Baxter and Tilly, Riepenhoff’s two dogs and her parents, Becky and Joe Riepenhoff.

Some half of the guests were Riepenhoff’s students at Bluffton Middle School. MORE ▶︎ 

  • /

 COLUMBUS– The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife confirmed that 24 white-tailed deer taken during the 2024-25 hunting season tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). A total of 5,783 deer were tested. Twenty-three deer were taken by hunters in Allen, Hardin, Marion, and Wyandot counties. For the first time, a deer harvested by a hunter in Morrow County also tested positive for CWD.
 
CWD is a neurological disease that is fatal to white-tailed deer and other similar species, including mule deer, elk and moose. Once an animal is infected, there is no cure for CWD. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no strong evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans. Find more information on CWD at www.ohiodnr.gov/cwd/  READ MORE

  • /

Alice Y. Rader, 102, of Wapakoneta, passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at her home. She was born on November 12, 1922 to the late William and May Sheppard.

She was a graduate of Lima South High School. She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Lima and the Bluffton Senior Center. She was a past member of the Tri-Ward Boosters, Bath Blue Star Mothers and the Ohio Polka Boosters.

  • /

March 29, 10:00 a.m.-noon Kick-off event at Bluffton Art Co., 105 E. Elm St.

The Bluffton Ohio Historical Society has announced a contest with youth and adult divisions that invites you to "reframe" Bluffton history in drawings, paintings, multi-media and photography.

A kick-off event will be held at Bluffton Art Company on Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m.-noon. Eight historic Bluffton photos will be on display to provide inspiration for entries.

There will be prizes for youth (18 & under) and adult winners.

Submissions must be 8.5 x 11 inches, in landscape (horizontal) orientation. Photos must be a minimum of 300 dpi.

The contest deadline is July 31, 2025.

For updates, visit the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society website, www.BlufftonForever.com or follow the society on Facebook.

  • /

Did you know Bluffton Public Library has a mini Seed and Garden Catalog Swap going on now?

It's simple: Bring some seed packets you don't need this year, and perhaps pick up a few from the basket. Same goes for current Garden Catalogs. The library recommends marking or cutting out any personal info before adding it to the basket.

There are also some plant starts from the generous library plants growing nearby. Keep an eye our for a possible plant swap this summer.

  • /

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Bluffton Soccer Club has issued an invitation to attend a Q&A session regarding the new soccer complex being built on Snider Rd. as part of the newly-named Legacy Park project, a cooperative effort of the soccer club, Bluffton Lions Club and the Village of Bluffton.

Join club representatives at Greenhorn restaurant, 112 Vine St., from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Sunday March 23 to hear the latest updates on the soccer complex, which includes seven fields for youth league practices and games.

On March 10, the Bluffton Soccer Club reported that $193,000 of the $250,000 fundraising goal had been raised for the soccer field phase of the park project. Donations are being accepted at https://blufftonsoccerohio.com/donation-page/

Light refreshments will be served. Guests are also encouraged to bring their old team pictures for a chance to win a prize. 

Businesses and families that have donated to the youth soccer fields construction are listed on https://www.facebook.com/BlufftonSoccerClub.

◾️

  • /

UPDATE at 6:27 p.m. AEP texted affected customers receiving notifications to respond if their power was still out.

853 customers impacted

AEP Ohio reported a power outage in part of Bluffton at 4:29 p.m. on Saturday, March 15:

"We're working to restore power by 7:00 PM 03/15. We'll update if the time changes."

The map legend shows that 101-1000 customers are affected by the Bluffton outage. 

Pages