The sun never sets on Icon readers
By Fred Steiner
Obviously no one has tipped off Rick and Pat Shaner of The Icon's existence. Just out of curiosity, I check Google Analytics today. While probably 95 percent of the Icon viewers live in Allen, Hancock and Putnam counties we've become discovered across the U.S. and the globe.
We've had viewers in 43 states. Those states not on our radar screen include: North Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada, Arkansas, Mississippik, Delaware and...Alaska. Thus, the comment about the Shaners.
Our viewers touch the Atlantic all the way north to Rockland, Maine (one viewer) and all the was west to Monterey, California. We have viewers in 24 California cities.
Meanwhile, in Canada we've been spotted 53 times, 25 of those views come frrom Calgary and 13 from Kitchener.
Now, it gets really interesting. We've had viewers from 22 countries. For example, one view from somewhere (Google didn't know the exact location) in South Africa.
On Nov. 30, a viewer from Oslo, Norway, spent 4 minutes and 45 seconds on the Icon. On Nov. 19, a viewer from Providencia, Chile, was on for 46 minutes.
We've also been discovered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. One viewer checked us out of Nov. 23 and again on Nov. 30. The latter view was nearly 5 minutes of reading.
There are may more countries with one or two viewers. We'll share those with you later.
In the meantime, will some please rattle Rick or Pat's chain? We'd like to know what they are up to in Alaska.
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- October 21 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Village of Beaverdam requests suggestions for park grant application
- Charles “Chuck” Wendall Collins, 63, owned Eagle Press Repairs
- Dwain L. Leiber, 87, owned Leiber Garage
- Kimberly Dawn Murphy, 55, taught at Findlay City Schools
- October 21 Bluffton Schools 2-hour delay
- Kaleidoscope Farms honoring veterans, thanking current troops, Nov. 8
- Filmmaker to preview documentary exploring life beyond incarceration
- ONU mobile health clinic at Senior Center on Oct. 28
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Columbus Grove-Bluffton Rd. closure planned for up to three weeks
- Two Pirate volleyball players make 1st team All-NWC
- 3 Pirate girls 1st team All-NWC soccer
- Pirates dominate All-NWC boys soccer awards
- Local filmmaker focuses on memories made by people and places
- Bluffton Public Library: Medicare 101
- BHS artists prepare Yankee Doodle Christmas Trees for Jingle Bell Stroll
Monday, October 19, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 14-18
- Ada Icon headlines, October 19
- JessExpress Travel is the Icon's newest advertiser
- Gatchel 7th in girls, Pirates 4th at NWC cross country meet
- Veterans invited to Pandora-Gilboa banquet, November 10
- Wearable sculptures featured in exhibit On Soft Ground
- Historic depot rentals offered for meetings and parties