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CLICK to enlarge / STAY TUNED for more photos and articles on Bluffton's 4th of July celebrations

By Paula Pyzik Scott

The best laid plans are subject to weather and whimsy. Bluffton’s 4th of July celebrations dodged both.

Machelle "Shelly" A. Wright, 65, passed away July 2, 2026, at Bridge Hospice Care Center.

Shelly was born June 3, 1961, in Lima, Ohio, to Kenneth and Shelba (Sakemiller) Crow. She later married Kevin Wright who survives. 

Shelly retired from Anderson Family Dentist in Findlay, where she had been a dental hygienist from 1981 to 2021. She enjoyed traveling to Amish Country and Tennessee, craft shows, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends. 

MEDIA RELEASE__A small town hoopla is one way to describe the exuberant preparations being made in Bluffton to celebrate the Fourth of July on America’s 250th year. 

From July 4-6, the Icon websites will be in holiday mode, providing breaking news. Please continue to send us your media releases, questions, tips and advertising requests to [email protected] or leave a message at 567-400-4266.

It’s not a distraction, it’s an academic booster

By James H. Legge III, APRN-CNP
Certified Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Center of Northwest Ohio

Amanda Legge, RN
Registered Nurse, Blanchard Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology

Across the United States, elementary and middle school students typically receive an average of 25 minutes of recess per day, which is barely enough time for a meaningful break from the demands of the classroom. For more than three decades, educational policy has been heavily influenced by a focus on standardized test performance. This has led to reductions in recess time under the assumption that increased instructional minutes would translate into higher scores. Unfortunately, this approach has often produced unintended consequences for student well-being and learning outcomes. 

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