All Bluffton Icon News

Batteries don’t belong in trash or curbside recycling containers

MEDIA RELEASE__Rumpke Waste & Recycling experienced a fire at its new $100 million recycling facility in Columbus, Ohio in July 2025, which was caused by a lithium-ion cell phone battery.

“Fortunately, we were able to address it quickly; the facility didn’t experience damage, and no one was injured,” said Jeff Synder, senior vice president, recycling and sustainability. “Situations like this put people—our workers and firefighters in harm’s way, which is the ultimate risk we take when we all toss these batteries into trash and recycling containers.”

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School volleyball team edged visiting Elida in five sets on Tuesday, August 26.

Bluffton improved to 2-3 with the non-league win. Elida fell to 2-4 after the loss.

The Pirate girls prevailed 24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 15-5.

Kendall Stackhouse led the Pirates with 14 kills and two aces. Karlie Lora also slammed 14 kills and came up with two blocks.

Libby Hocanson knocked down 10 kills and made two blocks. Taylin Goldman contributed nine kills.

By Cort Reynolds

ST. MARYS__The visiting Bluffton High School girls tennis team defeated St. Marys 3-2 in a non-league match on Tuesday, August 26.

Bluffton swept both doubles matches and one singles bout to earn the close win.

The victory upped the Bluffton record to 2-4 this season. The Roughriders fell to 1-4 with the defeat.

Hannah Nieman and Kate Klinger teamed up to win at first doubles by a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) score in a second-set tiebreaker.

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls soccer team defeated visiting Spencerville 3-1 in the Northwest Conference opener at Steinmetz Field on Tuesday evening, August 26.

The Pirate girls improved to 1-1 overall with the win, and start out 1-0 in league play in their quest to regain the NWC title.

The Bearcat girls fell to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the NWC after the loss.

Bluffton’s Lilly Dagani scored in the very first minute on an assist by Aubrey Burkholder to give the Pirates an early lead.

By Cort Reynolds

SPENCERVILLE__The Bluffton High School boys soccer team opened its Northwest Conference title defense with a 4-0 win at Spencerville on Tuesday, August 26.

The Pirates improved to 1-2-1 overall with their first win, and are now 1-0 in NWC play.

The Bearcats fell to 0-2 and 0-1 in the league after the defeat.

Calvin Derstine led the Pirate scoring with two goals.

Carter Steinmetz and Chase Kelly netted one goal apiece.

Emmitt Kidd and Truett Diller combined to earn the shutout in goal for the Pirates.

Moser Woods Tree Farm of rural Bluffton is Ohio's 2025 Ohio Tree Farm of the Year. “The Moser family has done an excellent job of managing their tree farm, and we hope that the Tree Farm Tour will help share the story of quality woodlot management with woodland owners,” said ODNR Division of Forestry Chief Dan Balser. The tour is September 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will be shuttled from 12300 Bentley Road to the woods.

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