December 2025

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Bluffton University recieves "In Alignment" rating / See also Bluffton University backgrounds Science of Reading audit

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By Cort Reynolds

VAN BUREN–The visiting Bluffton High School girls basketball team rode big first and fourth quarters to defeat scrappy Van Buren 51-40 in a non-conference contest on Tuesday, December 16. 

The Pirate girls jumped to a 17-8 lead after the first quarter by hitting three three-point goals. VB inched within 25-19 at the intermission break.

The Black Knights tallied their second straight 11-8 stanza in the third period to further cut their deficit to 33-30 heading into the final quarter. 

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MEDIA RELEASE__Bluffton University was honored to welcome farmers, food system professionals, environmental partners and community members from across Ohio as the 19th Annual Stinner Summit convened on campus on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. in Marbeck Center.

Hosted by The Ohio State University’s Agroecosystem Management Program (AMP), this year’s Summit invited participants to explore the theme “Finding Common Ground: Connecting Farms, Food, and Community in the Western Lake Erie Watershed.”

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Recap of December Board of Education meeting

By Betsi Werling

The Bluffton Board of Education monthly meeting took place on Monday, December 15 at 5 p.m. There were no treasurer’s transactions or visitors this month. 

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MEDIA RELEASE–Bluffton University is pleased to announce that it has been honored with multiple distinguished awards from Research.com, recognizing the institution’s commitment to academic quality, affordability, and meaningful career outcomes for students.

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A. "Jeanne" Beery, a beloved sister, aunt, and teacher, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, at her home in Green River, Wyoming, after a 10-year diagnosis with Cystic Fibrosis. Born on Wednesday, November 29th, 1950, in Medina, Ohio. Jeanne was the cherished daughter of Elton Burdette Beery and Margery Alice Niswander Beery.

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PHOTOS provided by Bluffton Schools

Varsity Wrestling:

Row 1 (left to right): Branden Cross, Kohen Anderson, Seth Hoffman, Jesus Rivera, Braylin Freels-Aller, Andrew Brodman

Row 2 (left to right): Titus Koogler, Hunter Beasley, Ronald Kaufman Jr., Parker Kimmel, Alexander Nance

Row 3 (left to right): Micah Rehm, Mason Shank, Brody Schneck, Hephaestion Weyer

Wrestling Coaches: Tyrel Nuzum, Dylan Pletcher, Kaden Basil, Jeff Richards, Michael Nuzum, Clay Atkins

Jr. High Wrestling:

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Shank 3rd, Rehm 5th

By Cort Reynolds

COLDWATER–The Bluffton High School wrestling team finished 16th at the 22-team Coldwater Cavalier tournament on Saturday, December 13. (See Meet the Bluffton Pirates wrestling teams)

Indianapolis Cathedral won the tournament with 326.5 points. Bluffton finished 16th with 66.5 points.

Two Pirate grapplers placed in the top five of their individual weight brackets.

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The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce reported on December 15: "We received a message from one of the banks asking us to spread the word about counterfeit $10 bills that have been circulating the town.

"They have seen seven in the last few days in their offices from village businesses.

"They are all slightly yellow in color and have the older small head president as pictured here.

"Please keep an eye out."

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By Paula Pyzik Scott

A mild-mannered Bluffton police officer by day, Austin Probst is a local farmer and videographer during the rest of his week. In November 2025, he introduced the Ohio Century Farm channel on YouTube, which gives viewers an inside look at the acres and cows that make up his operation near State Routes 235 and 103.

Videos are subtitled with the segments included. For example, the channel's first official video includes a morning milking, cleaning free stall barn, raking out free stalls and unloading and stacking hay.

Fall plowing

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