Happy Monday, Blufftonites! Here are BlufftonIcon.com's top stories from the week that was, January 26 - February 1. For a chronological look Icon content, visit blufftonicon.com/archive.
Bluffton High School has had many outstanding teachers. One taught there for only four years, but coached a team that won an Ohio State Championship. He was Mr. Paul Stauffer. He taught forensics (Debate), drama and speech. He was very knowledgeable in all three because he had actively participated in them at Blufton College. Stauffer also directed class plays, both at the high school and at Bluffton College.
Bluffton High School students used to have interclass debates. In 1931, Mr. Stauffer's first year teaching at Bluffton, a girl qualified for individual debate in the National Tournament. Mr. Stauffer took the girl and her mother to Racine, Wisconsin, where the tournament took place. She didn't win, but in Mr. Stauffer's words, "We learned what to do and what not to do."
Janice (Oberly) McIntosh passed away on January 31, 2026, at her home in Bluffton with her family at her side. She was born July 9, 1944, to James L. and Betty A. (Moffitt) Oberly, who preceded her in death.
Janice married C. Byron Weihrauch on July 4, 1965, in Fort Gordons, GA. They had three sons, Jeffrey (Holly) Weihrauch, Michael (Michele) Weihrauch, and Stephen (Stacy) Weihrauch. They divorced in 1976. On August 6, 1982, she married Tenzley “Bud” McIntosh. They spent 44 years together. He resides in Bluffton.
Screenings scheduled for April 26-27 in the elementary gym
MEDIA RELEASE__Bluffton Elementary School has announced that Kindergarten Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open for children turning 5 by August 31, 2026. To register, visit https://www.blufftonschools.org/parents/student-registration/ and select the 2026-2027 school year to begin the registration process.
DOCUMENTATION
Documents needed to complete the registration are:
LIMA__The Bluffton High School wrestling team fared well in the rugged Lima Central Catholic Thunderbird Invitational tournament on Friday and Saturday, January 30-31.
A total of 43 schools competed in the Monsignor Herr Gymnasium at one of the best annual Div. III wrestling events in Ohio, with Bluffton finishing a solid 14th.
