From 1999-2014, 76 unarmed black men and women were shot or otherwise killed in U.S. locations other than Ferguson, Missouri, according to Dr. Walter Paquin, a Bluffton University faculty member.
“So why has Ferguson become the flashpoint when this has occurred in so many places?” asked the assistant professor of social work, referencing the Aug. 9, 2014, shooting death of Michael Brown at a campus colloquium March 13. “I believe it is the result of years of pent-up frustration and ongoing harassment at multiple levels.”
Forest L. "Bud" Kantner, 86, of Bluffton died at 11:45 p.m. March 16, 2015, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. He was born Jan. 31, 1929, in Auglaize County to Louis and Ida Deiringer Kantner. On Dec. 16, 1951 he married Betty E. Basinger and she survives.
He had worked at Trim Tread, Spencerville, and retired from Tower Automotive, Bluffton. He was a member of Grace Mennonite Church, Pandora, and the Bluffton Senior Citizens. He was a graduate of Spencerville High School.
The ONU Observatory will be open to the public from 9 - 11 p.m. on Friday, March 20, to celebrate the Spring Equinox and a new moon, according to Dr. Jason Pinkney, manger of the observatory.
"The spring, or vernal equinox is the start of spring and it is marked by the northward passage of the Sun across the celestial equator," said Pinkney. "There also happens to be a total solar eclipse on this day, but it will not be visible from the United States."
Presenting the Bluffton High School Pirates boys' basketball team - 65 seasons ago. It was the 1949-50 squad, and they finished the year with an impressive record of 12 wins in 16 games.
Names of the players are on the photo. Click on image to enlarge.
P.S. This team played its games in the old gym against Western Buckeye League opponents.
The Columbus Grove choral department will hold its 48th annual high school musical Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21. Performances will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Columbus Grove auditorium.
This year’s production is Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast." The cast will
feature high school students Alyssa Langhals, Marcus Delarosa, Kasey Kruse,
Grant Anderson, Austin Spangler, Amanda Shafer, Krista Welty, Christine
Ricker, Eli Wisswasser, Kyle Shafer, and Rayne Sharrits, as well as a
cast and crew of 38 additional high school students.
This summer's VBS program will be hosted by Bluffton Presbyterian Church July 19-23, from 6-8 p.m. The curriculum will be Bible Blast from the Past.
Volunteers from seven local churches will work together to provide this free program to the community: Presbyterian, St. Mary's Catholic, English Lutheran, Emmanuel UCC, St. Johns UCC, First Mennonite, First Methodist.
A planning meeting is set for Mon. March 23 at 7 p.m.at the Presbyterian Church, Main Street.
