MEDIA RELEASE__Bluffton Diamond Sports has opened registration for youth baseball and softball this spring. Register online at www.bdsonline.org by February 22.
The registration fee is $65, which includes a jersey and hat.
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:
Stan Clemens died at the age of 84 in the early morning on January 11, 2026, having lived a full and in some ways unexpected life.
Stan was born on May 11, 1941, and grew up in Souderton, PA, where his parents, grandparents, and generations before had lived. He was very active in sports and music through his high school years. He graduated from Bluffton College, where he met his wife, Joenita Shetler. He went on to earn his Masters from the University of Indiana and Ph. D. in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina. Stan and Jo have lived in Bluffton, OH, for the past 40 years.
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.
