Shirley Mae Hager, 88, passed away on January 13, 2026, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. Shirley was born August 2, 1937, in Lima to the late Marcus and Cleo (Ebling) Bales. On June 8, 1958, she married George "Samuel" Hager, and he preceded her in death on September 28, 2025.
Village Administrator Jesse Blackburn provided the attached 2025 Zoning Permits Summary for the village council at the December 22 regular meeting. The total dollar value of cost estimates is $12.9M with $6M in residential permits and $6.9M in commercial permits.
COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
Gerken Materials, Inc. is listed as submitting the largest project, an asphalt plant with a cost estimate of $6M. Commercial projects with estimates of at least $10K are:
Winter Storytimes (R) January 14 through February 25! Join Miss Beth for a time of stories, games, crafts, and lots of fun while developing early literacy skills! Little Ones Storytime is open to ages birth-2 and Pre-K Storytime is open to ages 3-5. When registering, please specify if your child has any food allergies, as snacks are often provided. Register in person or online.
MEDIA RELEASE__The Bluffton Exempted Village School District iscurrently accepting applications from students interested in attending the school district through open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year.
Students from any school district in Ohio may apply and enroll in Bluffton Schools tuition-free. Students are admitted on a full-time basis only.
Applications are approved annually on a first-come, first-served basis and approval is subject to grade-level enrollment and educational programs.
Mixed Media Art Class: Snowflake (R)($) will be held Tue., Jan. 13 at 6:00 p.m. with Hannah Warwick of Bluffton Art Co. Come prepared to create your own mixed media snowflake using watercolor/pen/paint. Cost is $15 per person and will be taken at the door (cash only, please). Register in person or online. Open to adults, and teens and children with an accompanying adult.
