BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls soccer team rallied but lost 5-3 to visiting Elida in a non-league match at Steinmetz Field on Saturday, September 20.
The Pirate girls dropped to 5-6 overall with the defeat. Elida improved to 7-2 after the win.
Bluffton’s Willow Derstine scored a goal in just the second minute off a Mya McDougle assist to forge a 1-0 lead.
But Elida’s Lexie Good responded with three unanswered goals in the seventh, 13th and 16th minutes to put the visiting Bulldogs on top, 3-1.
BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School volleyball team led 2-1 but ultimately lost a five-set battle to visiting Carey on Saturday, September 20.
The Pirate girls fell to 11-5 with the 23-25, 27-25, 21-25, 28-26, 15-11 defeat. The Blue Devils rallied to win the last two sets, including an overtime thriller in game four, to pull off the comeback.
Kendall Stackhouse led Bluffton with a season-high 23 kills. Camryn Fruchey knocked down a dozen kills, and Karlie Lora smacked down 10 kills.
SPENCERVILLE__The unbeaten Bluffton High School football team went on the road and dominated Northwest Conference foe Spencerville 42-7 on Friday, September 19.
The Pirates, ranked second in the latest Div. VI AP state poll, improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in NWC play with the lopsided win.
The Bearcats fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the NWC after the defeat.
Bluffton Public Library will hold its annual Holiday Gift Silent Auction in November, to be held from November 1 through November 26.
This event is a great way for those in the area to find gifts for the holiday season and then to also check out what area businesses have to offer beyond the items up for bid at the library. The event can also be a great way for you to apply those end-of-year tax write offs!
By Roxanne Williams
Blanchard Valley Health System Director of Corporate Quality and Patient Safety
In today's healthcare landscape, ensuring high-quality patient care is a top priority for hospitals and health systems. Quality scores are vital to assessing how well a facility delivers safe, effective, patient-centered care. These scores, often derived from clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction surveys, and adherence to best practices, serve as a benchmark for hospitals to identify areas of excellence and pinpoint opportunities for improvement.
The Bluffton Exempted Village School District received an overall rating of 4.5 (out of 5), exceeds state standards in the 2024-2025 Ohio School Report Card recently issued by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
LIMA__The visiting Bluffton High School volleyball team defeated Lima Central Catholic in a four-set Northwest Conference battle on Thursday, September 18.
The Pirate girls improved to 11-4 overall and 3-0 in NWC play with the hard-fought win.
First-place Bluffton triumphed by a 26-24, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16 score.
The Thunderbirds fell to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the NWC after the loss.
Kendall Stackhouse led the Pirates in kills with 17. Karlie Lora knocked down 16 kills and came up with six blocks.
SEPT 15 MEDIA RELEASE___CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties is holding their annual Fall Preservice to train new CASA volunteers. Prospective volunteers will be equipped with the knowledge they need to advocate for abused and neglected children.
CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) volunteers advocate for children in the foster system. Volunteers walk alongside these children during their court cases, making recommendations in court for their best interests. Cases with a CASA generally have better outcomes than those that do not.
MEDIA RELEASE__State Wildlife Officer Jason Porinchok, assigned to Putnam County, received a call about groundhogs that fell into a dry cistern and became trapped. Officer Porinchok advised the caller to place an object in the cistern long enough to reach to the top and leave it overnight. Groundhogs can climb trees and Officer Porinchok expected they could climb out of the cistern on another object. The strategy was successful and the groundhogs escaped unharmed.
