The Bluffton Board of Education held a regular meeting on May 19 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting agenda is available online HERE. Actions included approval of a Leo Club for students. The board also heard reports from the elementary school, buildings and grounds, and from the board's Apollo representative.
TREASURER’S TRANSACTIONS
Treasurer Paula Parish has completed the five-year forecast required by the State of Ohio. Parrish indicated that the forecast was created without the State Budget being set. (The Icon has requested a digital copy and will report on its findings.)
7:00-8:30 p.m. on June 20 - First Mennonite Church, 101 S Jackson St.
Bluffton University’s spring celebration of Anabaptism at 500 will be concluded on Friday, June 20 with “One Hundred Years of Mennonite Women through Story and Song.” This event will be held at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, Ohio from 7-8:30 p.m., conducted by Wendy Chappel-Dick, MBA ’08.
PHOTOS provided / CLICK to enlarge and view at your own pace.
MAY 19 MEDIA RELEASE__Cory-Rawson Elementary School hosted families on Friday, May 16 for its second annual "Habit Hop." The purpose of this event is to connect with our families and community while sharing and reinforcing the seven habits that are the foundation of the school's Leader in Me initiative.
MEDIA RELEASE__Bluffton High School proudly recognizes Mackay Tuttle as the Student of the Month for April 2025. Mackay is a dedicated senior with a 4.0 GPA. She is the daughter of Amanda Wischmeyer and Jonathan Tuttle of Bluffton.
Mackay serves as the founder and president of the Bluffton High School Volunteer Club, organizing and leading service projects in the school and community. She is the senior class president and actively participates in the League of Women Voters, advocating for civic engagement and encouraging public participation in the voting process. Tuttle received academic awards in American History, Public Speaking, and Introduction to Literature, and has completed CCP courses at Bluffton University, University of Findlay and Rhodes State College.
On June 14 the Fred Arnold Memorial Charitable Golf Outing will put the gas in the tank of Bluffton American Legion Post 382’s financial support for local organizations. Each year, the Legion makes contributions to local charities and nonprofit organizations–thanks to the support of golfers in June.
In August 2024, Post 382 gave a total of $6,000 to nine local organizations.
Major sponsors for the 2025 event are Bluffton Paving, Bluffton Stone and Stratton Auto Group.
James Michael Augsburger, 71, died at 2:40 a.m., May 19, 2025 at his home in Bluffton. He was born August 15, 1953 in Bluffton to Richard W. and Virginia (Roberts) Augsburger who preceded him in death. James married Deborah Driver.
James was a 1971 graduate of Bluffton High School. He retired in 2016 to spend time with family and friends, and to tinker on the farm. He worked most of his life as a machinist as a tool and die maker.
MAY 18 MEDIA RELEASE__Trinity Lutheran School’s graduation will be held on Sunday, May 25 in the 10:30 a.m. service at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 301 North Main Street, Jenera.
Olivia Siefker is the class speaker. The class members are: Miranda Lynn Achey, Isabella Jade Norway and Olivia Nicole Siefker.
The class verse is Romans 10:17: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Class colors are maroon, black and gold and the class flower is the white rose.
MAY 19 MEDIA RELEASE__A tradition which dates back more than 150 years continues to bring veterans and families together in Bluffton. The tradition: decorating the graves of America’s war veterans, known now as Memorial Day.
The members of Bluffton American Legion Post # 382 understand the bond and tradition: “We invite citizens of Bluffton and surrounding communities to join us in remembering those who died for our Freedom.”
By Ali Rees
Blanchard Valley Health System Physician Recruiter
Since “The Great Resignation” in 2021, workforce shortages have become increasingly common across industries. The healthcare sector, already strained by the pandemic, has faced significant challenges, particularly in maintaining adequate physician staffing. However, physician shortages are not new. They have been building for years due to population growth, aging demographics, rising healthcare costs, and a limited pipeline of new physician trainees.
