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.

MEDIA RELEASE__Christine Denecker, Ph.D., a Bluffton resident, has been appointed as the University of Findlay’s vice president of academic affairs, effective January 1. 

Denecker has served as interim vice president since August 1. She succeeds Darin Fields, Ph.D., who served for 12 years in the role. He remains at UF as an English professor and assists in the institutional research office on University-wide initiatives, including academic program review.  

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__GriefShare is coming to Bluffton. GriefShare is a support group that meets weekly. The program is a warm, caring environment and you will come to see your group as an “oasis” on your long journey through grief. There are three key parts to the GriefShare experience.

Video Seminar: Encouraging information-packed videos featuring grief recovery experts.

Support Group: Small group discussion about the weekly video content.

Workbook: Journaling and personal study exercises that reinforce the weekly session topics.

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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