"With 23 students participating this year, we were able to field two different teams for the Allen County Quiz Bowl competitions," said Dan Smith, Bluffton eighth grade math teacher.
The Bluffton Red team finished the season 23-5 including a record of 11-3 in the year-end tournament. This tied them with Shawnee for first place. Bluffton earned the first runner-up trophy based on total points scored during the tournament.
Members of this year's 7th and 8th grade academic team, front row: Katie Scott, Elizabeth Nisly, Cassidy Bush and Amy Warren.
Robert F. Bender, 84, of Bluffton died at 3:10 p.m. Dec. 14, 2011 at his residence. He was born Sept. 24, 1927 in Wapakoneta to Frederick Ferdinand and Florence Elizabeth Lamley Bender. On Aug. 24, 1948 he married Jo Ann Brunn and she survives.
Robert and Jo Ann owned A-Z Portion Control Meats of Bluffton. He was a member of Bethel Church of Christ, Ada, and a former board member of the Lima Senior Citizens. He attended Lima Central High School and was a WWII Navy veteran.
The season of college football bowls is soon upon us. The Bluffton Icon will unveil its 2011-12 bowl contest this weekend.
The contest will consist of 29 football bowl games. Starting with the Hawaii Bowl played on Dec. 24 with Nevada versus Southern Mississippi and ending with the BCS National Championship on Jan. 9 with LSU versus Alabama, the contest will offer several Bluffton McDonald's Value Meals as prizes.
The contest will include four tie-breakers in the event of a tie at the end of the contest.
Here's an "it's a very small world" story, if there ever was one. Can any viewer identify what these two men have in common? The Icon spotted this conversation prior to Monday's all-elementary Christmas concert in the BHS gym.
Here's the story behind the photo:
On the left is George Denecker, father of Greg Denecker, Bluffton superintendent. He is talking with Dick Jordan of Bluffton.
What brought you here?
Ed was hired as the first guidance counselor at Apollo Joint Vocational School. We had all of Allen Co to choose from and liked Bluffton. We found a house, bought it and still live in it.
