All Bluffton Icon News

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CLICK to enlarge and view gallery at your own pace / Includes Bluffton Icon visualization of middle and elementary school campus between Jackson and Lawn, samples from design pages

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The Bluffton Schools presented plans for a 1.2 acre artificial turf practice field to the Village of Bluffton Planning Commission on July 22. According to Superintendent Greg Denecker, Village of Bluffton public meetings are how the public will learn about the project. The schools are requesting Village permissions for the closure of Vine St., council approval of the project and application for variances on elements such as light posts and fence heights.

To date, school board meetings have addressed the purchase of two residential properties and the demolition of two houses, which took place earlier this year. A budget for the project has not been announced.

A July 28 public hearing on the vacation of Vine St. before the Village of Bluffton council has been scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Bluffton Town Hall.

The July 22 meeting was attended by some 14 individuals who were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments. This included two Bluffton School Board members, Alice Basinger and Brad Dailey.

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UPDATED with celebration of life date

Dean A. Diller, 93, of Anchorage, Alaska and formerly of Pandora passed away July 1, 2025, at Willow Ridge - Betty House in Bluffton. Dean was born March 20, 1932 in Pandora to the late Earl and Alma (Luginbill) Diller.  On September 1, 1951, he married Alice (Baer) Diller and she preceded him in death on April 14, 2008. On November 28, 2009 he married Carol (Roten) Diller who survives.

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Allen County Treasurer named to new working group

JULY 21 MEDIA RELEASE__Governor DeWine has announced the full membership of his newly-formed Property Tax Reform Working Group. The working group, informally announced during the Governor’s signing of House Bill 96 and associated line-item vetoes, is tasked with thoroughly examining issues related to how to provide meaningful property tax relief to homeowners and businesses while ensuring that funding for local schools, fire, police, EMS, libraries, and developmental disabilities is adequate. 

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Stratton Auto Sales construction underway on SR 103

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Residential and commercial building permits in Bluffton for the first half of 2025 have a total value of $11.4M. 2025 commercial permits:

  • Gerken Materials - $6M asphalt plant
  • Bluffton Schools - $400K artificial turf field
  • Bluffton University - $272K building demotion (Berky Hall)
  • Universal U-Store-It - $108K fence
  • SumiRiko Ohio - $100K storage building
  • Bluffton Schools - $50K house demolition
  • Bluffton Senior Center - $17.5K awning (rear entrance)

A commercial project permitted in 2024 and under construction at 262 State Route 103 (south of Wendy’s) is a $6.3M new building for SKRJ LLC (Stratton Auto, 220 N. Main St.).

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JULY 21 MEDIA RELEASE__During the Ohio Wildlife Council meeting on Wednesday, July 16, waterfowl hunting zones for the 2026-2030 seasons were amended in three counties following public comments on proposals submitted in April, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. 

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JULY 21 MEDIA RELEASE__Area Agency on Aging 3 is thrilled to announce that its DISH Dining Club initiative received a USAging 2025 Aging Innovations Award. The DISH Dining Club--Dining to Improve Socialization and Health in older adults through the congregate meal program--was among 15 local aging programs to receive Innovations honors during USAging’s 50th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, July 20–23 in Chicago, IL.

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