All Bluffton Icon News

Committee above) Emily Hilty, Rachel Skilliter, Trustworthy Schumacher, Deron Martin (DJM419), Kathy Dickson Sider, Sarah Phillips. CLICK gallery to enlarge and view at your own pace.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Organizers from First Mennonite Church (FMC) drew a broad sampling of permanent and temporary Bluffton residents to A Taste of Bluffton on Saturday, Aug. 23. The first-time event offered $5 servings from Bluffton restaurants, specialty food businesses and carryouts, as well as tunes by DJM 419, live music by Wendy Chappell-Dick and Phil Gratz, games, t-shirt dying and Bingo.

Created as a way to introduce Bluffton University students to food services in the Village, A Taste of Bluffton proved to also be a way for them to meet the people of Bluffton. The event was well received by local businesses with almost all local food purveyors participating. The FMC FUN committee spent almost a year working out the details.

By Karen L. Kier, Pharmacist
ONU Healthwise Pharmacy

In November of 1982, Kenny Loggins released the song Heart to Heart, which he co-wrote with Michael McDonald of Doobie Brothers fame. The team of Loggins and McDonald were known for such hits as What a Fool Believes and This Is It. Loggins is famous for his various film soundtracks including Footloose, Caddyshack and Top Gun. Loggins produced seven albums with his music partner, Jim Messina.

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. The business provides trash and recycling services to Bluffton residents.

“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.

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