The Bluffton Public Library will host the following events and activities during the week of March 10 to 15. For further details and dates, visit www.blufftonpubliclibrary.org/library-events.
Youth in Bluffton have formed a Leo Club with the sponsorship of the Bluffton Lions Club, joining some 7,700 Leo chapters across the world. Creating “Leadership, Experience, Opportunity” is the goal of these Lion-affiliated clubs.
On Tuesday, March 4, the Leo Club was formally established with a charter night that included induction of 31 members and installation of these officers:
BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL LEO CLUB
Charter Officers
President Ava Smallcombe
Vice President Keith Burkholder
Secretary Claire Phillips
Treasurer Lillian Dagani
Directors Nora Matthews, Macy Schaadt, Avery Ulrey
By Casey Heilman Allen SWCD District Administrator
Since 1982 the Allen Soil and Water Conservation District has been offering pond and lake owners the opportunity to stock their water conveniently and cheaply.
Stocking your pond is a great way to ensure a healthy food chain between plants, fish and other life. A healthy pond requires healthy fish to help keep a more balanced ecosystem. Not only do these fish help keep the pesky insect population down, but by eating the excess nutrients that aquatic plants give off, they are also working to keep water clear and balanced. READ MORE
COLUMBUS – Bluffton High School sophomore Mason Shank wrestled well in the Ohio Div. III state tournament at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University Friday, March 7.
The Pirate heavyweight posted a 1-1 record on the day to stay alive for day two of the double-elimination tournament with a season mark of 41-10.
In the first round of the 285 lbs. bracket Friday, Shank met the top seed in his quarter of the 16-man draw, undefeated Dalton senior Cohen Riggenbach.
Shank narrowly lost by a close 2-1 decision to fall into the consolation bracket.
In his first match there, he pinned Nelsonville-York junior Will Odenbach in a tiebreaker after the seven-minute bout was tied following overtime.
Competition resumes Saturday morning at the Schottenstein Center.
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine made the following appointments on March 7:
Allen W. Behnke of Lima (Allen Co.) has been reappointed to the State Emergency Response Commission for a term beginning March 7, 2025, and ending January 13, 2027.
Kathryn Wolfe Farmer of Bluffton (Allen Co.) has been reappointed to the Ohio AMBER Alert Advisory Committee for a term beginning March 7, 2025, and ending February 6, 2027.
By Lindsey Buddelmeyer, Leadership Education & Training Specialist
Falls are a common cause of injury, particularly for seniors. As we discussed in a previous column, the two primary reasons for falls are a decrease in strength and balance; and environmental factors. We previously focused on preventing falls outside your home. In this column, we will focus on preventing falls inside your home.
As we age, our balance, strength, and visual acuity naturally decline. According to the National Institute on Aging, common visual changes for older adults include struggling to see up close, difficulty with distinguishing colors, and needing additional time to adjust to changing levels of light. Certain conditions also contribute to a higher likelihood of falling. Let’s examine the inside of your home, determine if there are any unsafe spaces, and find strategies or modifications to make your home safer. READ MORE
The 2nd Midweek Lent service at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jenera will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12.
The reading is Luke 22:1-38. The sermon, by Pastor Kurtis Friemuth, Peace Lutheran Church, Deshler, is based on Psalm 51:5 under the theme "Revealing our Sinful Nature." The hymns are "Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain, Just as I am, Without One Plea, and By Grace I'm Saved."
The Bluffton Icon is approaching 7,000 Facebook fans! That makes us curious to know how many readers are new and how many have been reading for up to 16 years!
Edward Jones Financial Advisor Ryan P. DeMarco, ABFP™, CRPC™ of Bluffton recently qualified for the firm's Impact conference, which celebrates the contributions and achievements of 489 top financial advisors from among the firm's more than 20,000. The conference, which includes financial advisors from both the U.S. and Canada, will be held May 12-15 in Scottsdale, AZ.
"It's a real honor to be included in this conference. I'm always looking for ways to bring greater value into my practice," DeMarco said. "Given the time I'll have learning from and working with our firm's leaders and peers throughout North America, I have no doubt I'll come back with fresh ideas and new knowledge."
Achieving the level of success that qualifies for Impact involves the collective effort of the entire branch team. In addition to the May conference for financial advisors, a conference specifically designed for the Impact branches' client support teams is scheduled for September 2025.
