The Quarry Farm Nature Preserve and Conservation Farm, located in Pandora, Ohio, has issued its Winter 2026 newletter (volume 16, issue 1).
Articles include a recap of Global Big Bird Weekend in October 2025, an update on the natural stream Cranberry Run and a spotlight on Guinea fowl, one of the QF residents.
coming up in February and June, The Quarry Farm will be hosting art workshops for student in grades K-12: Create a Bark Mask and Make a Leaf Stepper.
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.
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:
PAULDING__The Bluffton High School girls basketball team went on the road and lost to former conference foe Paulding 64-42 on Saturday, January 10.
The Pirate girls dropped to 8-7 overall after the road defeat. The Panthers improved to 11-1 with the convincing victory.
The Panther girls built an 18-9 lead after the first period. A 15-4 Paulding second stanza extended their advantage to a commanding 33-13 at intermission.
Bluffton was only outscored 31-29 after intermission.
CONVOY__Several Bluffton High School wrestlers won individual weight class titles as the Pirate team swept the Crestview Duals event on Saturday, January 10.
The Pirate grapplers went 5-0 in dual match play as a team at the event.
Bluffton initially defeated Maumee 48-29 and whipped Archbold 30-6. The Pirates also beat Crestview 47-6, defeated Hicksville 47-6 and swamped Antwerp 60-6.
Several Pirate individuals went undefeated at the Crestview Duals at 5-0 and were thus tournament champions of their weight class. They were:
