All Bluffton Icon News

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls basketball team ran into a first-period buzzsaw and lost 68-49 to visiting non-conference foe Elida on Tuesday, January 13.

The Bulldog girls raced to a 28-10 lead after the first period and basically maintained that edge the rest of the game. 

Elida’s one-two punch of junior wing Lilly Sifrit and senior post Emma Mitchell poured in 10 first-quarter points apiece as the Bulldogs erupted for 28 points in the first eight minutes.

On Monday, January 12, three Bluffton Council members were sworn in by Mayor Richard Johnson (L-R), Phill Talavinia (returning), Liz Gordon-Hancock (new) and Thomas Downey (new). One additional council member will need to be appointed. Interviews have been scheduled for a Tuesday, January 20, executive session.

Do you have a budding engineer in your family? If so, join us for exciting STEM engineering challenges one Thursday evening each month at 6:00 p.m. from January - April. As a family unit, design, test, and modify your own creations. Meet downstairs in the large activity room. Mark your calendars for Jan. 15, Feb. 26, Mar. 19, and Apr. 23.

MEDIA RELEASE__Jonathon Blake Turner, director of choral activities at Bluffton University, will present the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Forum, “Justice in the Key of Faith: The Sound of the Sanctuary and the Streets,” at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in Yoder Recital Hall. 

In this lecture-demonstration, Turner will explore how the Black Church shaped the sound and soul of the Civil Rights Movement. Weaving together history, theology and live music, he will demonstrate how spirituals, gospel music and freedom songs transformed faith into collective action. 

The following meetings have been scheduled by the Village of Bluffton. The meetings will be at the Bluffton Town Hall.

Cemetery Board on Friday, January 16 at 9:00 a.m.

Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m. (Executive session to interview candidates for open Council seat)

Council Meeting on Monday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m.

By Betsi Werling

The Bluffton Board of Education monthly meeting took place on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in the elementary school media center.

Paula Parish administered the Oath of Office to the three board members beginning new terms: Roni Kaufman, Wes Klinger and Brad Dailey. 

BOARD MEMBER ASSIGNMENTS
The board elected officers for the 2026 calendar year: Roni Kaufman, President and Alice Basinger, Vice President.

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