Letters

Check out A commitment to better soil, an Ohio Country Journal interview with Matt Burkholder

By Matt Burkholder
Allen County, Monroe Township

As the American farmer continues to age, is the younger generation interested in continuing the tradition? Are the older farmers willing to help the younger generation?

I grew up on a small farm in Northwest Ohio. I knew from the age of five that I wanted to farm. I’ve never been given a farm or a bunch of cash. But my parents have given me all the help in the world. As a result, I have learned the importance of work ethics from a young age.

By Katie Ware
Executive Director, West Central Ohio Land Conservancy

The growing push for data centers across Ohio has exposed a difficult question for our state: what are we willing to sacrifice in the name of growth?

By Monica Harnish

Last week’s Village Council meeting noted that on Wednesday, the 28th, the weekly mosquito fogging program would start. But did you know that the first line of defense against mosquito-borne diseases isn’t spraying pesticides throughout the community? (Xerces Society: Start Now To Prevent Mosquito-Borne Disease and Keep Our Pollinators Safe). Not only are such aerial spray efforts not the most effective strategies for protecting people; they also put pollinators at risk. In fact, some communities (Sierra Club Municipal Mosquito Fogging is Ineffective and Harmful) have moved away from fogging programs. 

There are better ways to protect ourselves from mosquitoes without harming our families or the environment. These include:

By Butch Amstutz

Bluffton High School Class of 1964 waiting outside the main entrance of the high school to start their senior class trip.

Top from left: Butch Amstutz, Loren Core, Gene Balmer, Jim Amstutz. Front: Roy Schmutz.

We were the last class to get to go to Washington D.C. and New York City due to the cost of the trip.

The World's Fair was also in NY that year. We were the last class before Bluffton and Beaverdam Schools consolidated in 1965.

The Class of 1964 was and still is a fun class!

Current 1 mill levy provides 26.5% of Bluffton Public Library annual revenue

The Bluffton Public Library has been a part of the Bluffton community since 1935. As Bluffton has grown, the library has grown with it - moving from the high school to Main St. in 1986 and expanding the building and services in 2004. While most know the history of the library, I’d like to take this opportunity to explain how the library exists today, in 2026. 

By Liz Gordon-Hancock
Bluffton Council member

As an elected representative of Bluffton, I'd like to pass on this press release from the Ohioans to Protect Public Services coalition, which gives an overview of the uses and purpose of property taxes in local government. 

I strongly recommend that Ohioans educate themselves on how property taxes fund their local government services and the consequences of losing that revenue.

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