MEDIA RELEASE__Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 class of the Allen County Agriculture Hall of Fame. The deadline for submissions is May 8.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Bill Herr at the Bluffton Senior Center, which he visits weekly. I hope you enjoy your 15 minutes with Bill as much as I did.
Where did you grow up?
I was born at Bluffton Community Hospital on July 5th, 1939 and grew up on a farm three miles south of Bluffton on Bentley Road. My father, Edgar, was a farmer and I helped him farm. When World War II ended, dad was asked by the state of Ohio, among others, who had a master's degree in agriculture to teach veterans who came back from the war who wanted to farm.
Bluffton High School artists submitted 27 pieces for the 56th annual Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition and had seven pieces advance to the second round of judging. Work by Calvin Derstine, Nick Lovett and Lizzy Suter was selected to advance and Suter is a finalist with work in the Columbus exhibition.
The three artists are students of Bluffton High School teacher Vicky Garmon.
MEDIA RLEASE__At approximately 6:48 a.m., the Hancock County Sheriff's Office responded to a two-vehicle, head-on injury crash in the 21000 block of State Route 235 in Orange Township.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2009 black Mitsubishi, driven by Caiden Helms, was traveling southbound on State Route 235 when it crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2023 Cadillac, driven by Kathy Elsass, head-on.
MEDIA RELEASE__The Village of Bluffton has announced the planned closure of Elm St. from Lawn Ave. to Spring St. for about six weeks beginning March 30.
There will be road closures, lane restrictions, detours and delays.
Please plan to use alternate routes and expect delays. The Village thanks you for your patience.
MEDIA RELEASE__Rev. Phil Yoder challenged Bluffton University students, faculty and staff to reconsider the role of belonging in their lives during the Spiritual Life Week Forum. Yoder reflected that while belonging is deeply desired and ingrained in us, it can come at a cost to others.
Opening with a familiar campus experience, the Yoder invited listeners to recall moments of uncertainty and isolation: “Have you ever walked into the dining hall, looked around, had no idea where to sit?” He suggested that beneath that experience lies a deeper question: “Do I belong here?”
MEDIA RELEASE__Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) has been recognized by Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX), a leading healthcare supply chain organization, as a recipient of the 2025 Supply Chains of Distinction Award.
This recognition honors GHX Exchange-connected provider organizations that achieved best-in-class performance on “Perfect Order” metrics during the 2025 calendar year—demonstrating excellence in supply chain efficiency, automation, and operational performance.
The sooner, the better is an idiom indicating that speedy or early action is ideal for certain situations. The idiom can be traced back to the 15th century and is a relic of Old English. The saying indicates an urgent request.
