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FROM OCT 13 FACEBOOK__ A Letter to Our Allen County Community from your Allen County School Superintendents & Treasurers

Dear Allen County Residents,

As your local school superintendents and treasurers, we write to you not as politicians or advocates, but as fellow parents, community members, and stewards of the education system that defines the heart of Allen County. We share your frustration with rising property taxes. We, too, open those tax bills with concern. But today, we must share the complete picture of what's happening in our state – and what it means for the services we all depend on.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Ohio Has Shifted the Burden to You

Over the past two decades, our state lawmakers have made a choice. It wasn't a choice made in one dramatic moment, but through twenty years of gradual decisions that have fundamentally changed how Ohio funds education – and who pays the bill.

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Mehaffie named Coach of the Year, 9 players earn all-league notice

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Northwest Conference champion Bluffton High School girls soccer team placed four senior standouts on the 2025 all-league first team in voting recently conducted by the conference coaches.

The Pirates claimed the league title with a 6-0 record.

Bluffton mentor Jamie Mehaffie was also named NWC Coach of the Year by his peers.

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5 Pirate boys on 1st team All-NWC soccer; 11 earn All-NWC notice

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School boys soccer team placed five players on the Northwest Conference first team in voting recently conducted by the league coaches.

Pirate senior Isaiah Kohli was named the 2025 NWC Player of the Year as well.

He led Bluffton to a 3-0 NWC mark and a 5-9-3 overall record this fall. The Pirates are 49-0-0 all-time in league play with 11 NWC titles in 11 seasons.

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A brilliant blue sky turned Buckeye Lake into a seemingly perfect mirror reflecting items near and far. Turn the image sideways to check out an alternate "ink blot test" perspective.

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Ann Benner, age 83, passed away at home on September 27, 2025, with her husband of 64 years by her side. Ann was born in McComb, Ohio, on May 8, 1942, to the late Dale and Pauline (Sheidler) Zeisloft. She is survived by her husband, Robert Benner; children Shari (Chris) Long of Hendersonville, TN; Jason Benner of Mt. Juliet, TN; grandchildren Ava, Jack, Logan Benner; Stella Long; brother Dean (Kay) Zeisloft of Findlay, Ohio. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Edwin Zeisloft of California.

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Burkholder scores 3

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls soccer team defeated visiting local rival Allen East 7-0 in the Div. V sectional finals at Steinmetz Field on Tuesday, October 14.

The Pirate girls improved to 9-8-1 with the win, while AE ended its season 2-12-1 after the defeat.

Bluffton’s Aubrey Burkholder scored three goals and dished out three assists to pace the onslaught.

Pirate Willow Derstine scored in the fourth minute on an assist by Greta Myers to put the hosts on top early.

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