All Bluffton Icon News

By Betsi Werling

The Bluffton Board of Education monthly meeting took place on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in the elementary school media center.

Paula Parish administered the Oath of Office to the three board members beginning new terms: Roni Kaufman, Wes Klinger and Brad Dailey. 

BOARD MEMBER ASSIGNMENTS
The board elected officers for the 2026 calendar year: Roni Kaufman, President and Alice Basinger, Vice President.

On Monday, January 12, three Bluffton Council members were sworn in by Mayor Richard Johnson (L-R), Phill Talavinia (returning), Liz Gordon-Hancock (new) and Thomas Downey (new). One additional council member will need to be appointed. Interviews have been scheduled for a Tuesday, January 20, executive session.

Do you have a budding engineer in your family? If so, join us for exciting STEM engineering challenges one Thursday evening each month at 6:00 p.m. from January - April. As a family unit, design, test, and modify your own creations. Meet downstairs in the large activity room. Mark your calendars for Jan. 15, Feb. 26, Mar. 19, and Apr. 23.

The following meetings have been scheduled by the Village of Bluffton. The meetings will be at the Bluffton Town Hall.

Cemetery Board on Friday, January 16 at 9:00 a.m.

Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m. (Executive session to interview candidates for open Council seat)

Council Meeting on Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m.

Winter Read is for all ages and runs from January through March. Pick up a Winter Read Challenge Bookmark, complete it, and stop by the front desk to pick up a small prize!

MEDIA RELEASE__Christine Denecker, Ph.D., a Bluffton resident, has been appointed as the University of Findlay’s vice president of academic affairs, effective January 1. 

Denecker has served as interim vice president since August 1. She succeeds Darin Fields, Ph.D., who served for 12 years in the role. He remains at UF as an English professor and assists in the institutional research office on University-wide initiatives, including academic program review.  

Pages