Cardinal Bus Sales and Service donation for All-Inclusive Playground
FROM LIONS NEWSLETTER__At the October 20 Bluffton Lions Club meeting, representatives from Cardinal Bus Sales and Service Inc. of Lima presented a check for $2,500 for the All-Inclusive playground. Construction of the playground at Legacy Park on Snider Rd. is to commence in the spring of 2027.
The report noted that $490,228.78 has been raised at this time, which is 81.7% of the campaign goal.
MEDIA RELEASE__The year-long Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) Photo Competition received 22 photo entries, which are currently on display at the Bluffton Public Library, 145 S. Main, through October 2026.
The chamber invites the public to a reception from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11 at the 1861 Wine Lounge, 115 N. Main.
Attendees can meet the photographers and discover the top three prize-winning photographs. Charcuterie boards and dips will be provided, and drinks will be available for purchase.
We recently asked, "has Bluffton made a birder out of you?" Allen Beatty, the new accounting professor at Bluffton University, notes that it's a "Preexisting interest. Especially bluejays!"
Beatty sent us this photo of buzzards perched in a row on the peak of the Centennial Hall roof. He captured a "vivid blue sky with the buzzards sunning themselves.... Besides the majestic view of nature, I thought it was fitting for a fall/Halloween photo perspective."
FROM FACEBOOK__The Village of Beaverdam will be applying for the 2027 Cooperative Park Improvement Grant offered through Johnny Appleseed. The deadline for application is December 4, 2026.
The Village would like to receive suggestions from the public for improvements to its park.
Funding priorities are 1) Health & Safety Issues, 2) Major Repairs to Upgrade Existing Facilities, 3) New Outdoor Recreation Needs, 4) Special Opportunities (Grants, Emergencies, Joint Efforts, Etc.)
Charles “Chuck” Wendall Collins of Adrian, Michigan, passed away at the age of 63 on October 11, 2026, in the hills of West Virginia during his last hunt. He was born on July 1, 1963, at Sutton General in Sutton, West Virginia, to Charlie and Patty Collins. He married Debra Collins on May 17, 1986, in Dearborn, Michigan, and together they raised six children—one daughter and five sons—in Michigan.
Dwain L. Leiber, 87 passed away on October 19, 2026 at his residence. He was born on Jun 2, 1939 in Bluffton to the late Russell and Thula (Sanders) Leiber.
Duane graduated from Bluffton High School in 1957 and the following day he went to work for Bob Williams Chevrolet in Bluffton.
On September 27, 1958, he married Lou Ann Seever in Arcadia, Ohio. She was also from Arcadia. They were married for 63 years before her passing.
Kimberly Dawn Murphy, 55, passed away on October 19, 2026, at the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Kim was born March 11, 1971, in Bellefontaine, Ohio, to the late Jerry and Terri (Grant) Hites, who preceded her in death. On July 8, 1993, she married Kyle Murphy.
Above) 475th Engineer Company at Camp Buehring, KU in Doha in 2016; Local veterans at Kaleidoscope Farms in 2019.
MEDIA RELEASE__Kaleidoscope Farms, 14841 Co Rd 54, Mt Cory, is continuing its 31-year tradition of inviting local veterans to the farm to select Christmas trees to send to troops stationed overseas during the holidays. This year, the event will be Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m., the Sunday before Veterans Day.
MEDIA RELEASE__Asia Johnson, director of storytelling and media productions at Zealous, will present “Beyond: A Film Screening Taking Us Beyond and Building Better” at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Yoder Recital Hall.
The presentation will preview Beyond, a documentary that challenges viewers to consider a future beyond incarceration while listening to people closest to the realities of mass incarceration.
Johnson will encourage viewers to consider how communities can work toward healthier and safer environments both inside and outside of prison.
