RICHLAND TOWNSHIP__On July 1, 2025, at approximately 3:02 p.m., the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a report of a crash on I-75 near Beaverdam, Ohio in Allen County.
Donald Eckler, age 82, from Lincolnton, North Carolina was driving a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado southbound in the northbound lanes of I-75. Mr. Eckler hit a 2022 Mercedes- Benz Sprinter van head on. The Mercedes-Benz was driven by Yazan Aljayousi, age 22, from Dearborn, Michigan.
BLUFFTON__ The Bluffton Sardines summer swim team hosted and won a West Ohio Aquatic League triangular meet with Ada and Shawnee on Monday evening, June 30.
The host Sardines won the boys meet decisively. They dunked Shawnee 382-96 and drowned the Ada boys, 328-151. The Gator males beat Shawnee, 243.5 to 144.5.
The Bluffton girls defeated Shawnee Tides, 293-211. Shawnee then beat the Ada females, 312-115.5. The Sardine girls hammered the Gator girls, 418-85.
Welcome to Issue 3 of Bluffton Icon Highlights, June 2025.
Chances are you are reading this online. That’s where the Icon has been since 2009.
These Highlights are also being printed to provide in-house copies for Bluffton Public Library, Musselman Library at Bluffton University and the Bluffton Senior Center. We’ll be exploring wider distribution, so please let us know if you are interested in this opportunity.
June 2025 flew by as summer days often do. See below for an index of the stories included in this issue.
Val "John" Harris, 84, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025 at the Meadows of Ottawa. John was born September 8, 1940 in Columbus, Ohio to the late Jack and Lucille (Ambos) Harris who preceded him in death. He was a 1958 graduate of Lima Senior High school and on August 29, 1964 he married Joyce (Eikenbary) Harris.
During the week of June 29-July 5, the Bluffton Icon and Ada Icon will be in a summer break mode with reduced content. I'll be "taking inventory" and covering public meetings, as well as responding to phone calls to 567-400-4266 and emails to [email protected]. For those who are on the road during this 4th of July week, happy and safe travels! -- Paula Scott, editor.
