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.
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 $10K are:
Mixed Media Art Class: Snowflake (R)($) 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.
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.
