MEDIA RELEASE__Allen Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its Annual Open House and Board of Supervisors Election from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 6 at the Allen SWCD office located at 1870 Slabtown Road, Lima.
Voting for the Allen SWCD Board of Supervisors will be held, with voting ending at 7:00 p.m. Eligible voters must be 18 years or older and own land in Allen County. Those attending the event will be able to meet district staff. There will be games, drawings and prizes along with grilled food served.
MEDIA RELEASE_Bluffton University has been awarded a Choose Ohio First (COF) grant by the Ohio Department of Higher Education to support students in critical STEM fields.
The four-year $43,255 grant will support students majoring in biology, chemistry, communication sciences and disorders, environmental science, information technology, mathematics, mathematics education, medical laboratory science, nursing, nutrition and dietetics, pre-engineering, pre-occupational therapy and pre-physical therapy.
MEDIA RELEASE__Monday, August 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Bluffton High School band room will be the Bluffton Music Boosters kickoff meeting for the 2026-2027 school year.
All music parents are welcome to attend and get involved in the Boosters. The meeting schedule will be established at this event.
The Boosters look forward to welcoming Band Director Andy Honse this school year.
FROM BSC HAPPENINGS_If you are roasting in the heat, remember that the Bluffton Senior Center has air-conditioning, fun things to do, and interesting people to talk to.
A variety of activities are planned throughout August.
Bellim, Memory Lane, and If Not will be among 30 bands performing at Bluffton's 2026 Play Music on the Porch Day festival on August 29. The event is part of a worldwide movement featuring music in neighborhood settings.
This is the third year for the event in Bluffton, also known locally as PorchFest. A final list of bands and a map of performers is attached above (CLICK to enlarge).
By Kaye Phillips
Swiss Community Historical Society
Thank you to Diane Dillman Elshire and Jim Dillman for donating a set of 11 beautiful trays that once belonged to their grandmother, Ella Luginbuhl Dillman to the SCHS to use in the Heritage Center kitchen.
Diane and Jim told of the trays being used to serve refreshments for Sunday School parties in Ella’s home on Zurfluh Road, Bluffton, Ohio. According to Diane, the Sunday School class would meet in members’ homes once a month.
PHOTO October 11, 2025 Last football home game BHS Marching Band under the direction of David Sycks.
By Betsi Werling
David Sycks has served as the band director for Bluffton High School for 32 years, almost his entire teaching career. He retired following the 2025-2026 academic year. He’s also been playing the trumpet for 52 years, despite initially being encouraged to play a different instrument.
The Bluffton Schools Board of Education approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriation Resolution Report provided by Treasurer Paula Parrish on Monday, July 20. The total of funds available for spending is $26.09M. Parrish notes that this is the total amount approved for spending and that actual expenditures may be less than this amount.
Funds are listed below, from largest to smallest, by appropriation. The full report is attached.
