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Police/Fire/EMS

Exploring crash density in Bluffton

By Paula Scott

When a Bluffton Icon reader was troubled by accidents at the intersection of State Route103/Jefferson Ave. and County Line Rd., the Icon proceeded to do some digging. The results are data on crash density in Bluffton from 2018-2023 and Allen County data on the variables that are tracked for vehicle accidents.

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June 2023 Bluffton Police Department docket

Arrests include alleged robbery in progress, domestic violence and 2 warrants

The following June 2023 docket was provided by Sergeant Tyler Hochstetler of the Bluffton Police Department.

June 1

  • Officers issued citations to a Lima, Ohio resident for speeding and driving under suspension following a traffic stop in the area of North Main Street near Lake Street. The case is pending in Lima Municipal Court.
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July 4th holiday overtime enforcement on local roads

Over the next several days, the nation will celebrate the 4th of July. As a reminder to everyone, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol as well as other local law enforcement will be working to enforce Ohio’s impaired driving laws throughout the holiday to keep our roadways safe from impaired drivers.

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Holidays impacted by 2022 Ohio fireworks law change

By Paula Scott

Want to know when you or your neighbors can discharge fireworks? Ohio law regarding fireworks changed on July 1, 2022. It is now legal to discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks on specified dates. A white paper from the state fire marshal is summarized below. The full document is HERE.

Discharge is permitted on specific days and at specific times if not banned or further restricted by a local political subdivision. Ohioans may discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks only from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. (with specified variations) on the following dates: 

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May 2023 Bluffton area crash information

By Paula Scott

Have intersections that you avoid or fear as a driver? The Icon hears complaints about a variety of locations. Here's a May 2023 vehicle crash report compiled from the Ohio Department of Public Safety crash report website.

05/06/2023 - Failure to yield right of way on SR 103 at SR 235, 3 vehicles - OSHP - Orange Twp. - Property Damage 

05/13/2023 - 1 vehicle on U.S. 30 struck a deer - OSHP - Richland Twp. - Property Damage 

05/13/2023 - 1 vehicle on County Rd. 304 struck a deer - OSHP - Orange Twp.  - Property Damage 

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UPDATED OVI Checkpoint on SR 309 on June 23

LIMA–The Ohio State Highway Patrol announced that an OVI checkpoint will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on June 23 on State Route 309 near mile post 17, in Allen County.

The OVI checkpoint, funded by federal grant funds, is planned to deter and intercept impaired drivers.

The checkpoint will also be held in conjunction with nearby saturation patrols to aggressively combat impaired driver-related injury and fatal crashes.

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