Regional news

Our census report is up to 80 bears and other stuffed animals in local windows • Check out the Icon's Teddy Bear Hunt map

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Send the Icon your teddy bear address
We also welcome photos!

Just remember, it’s a work in progress.

Posting bear sightings on the Bluffton Icon’s teddy bear hunt map reminds us of an airport. Think, O’Hare in Chicago. We seem to learn of a new bear in a window about every other minute.

Last week when the Icon asked Bluffton residents to provide addresses of teddy bears in windows, well, we figured a couple dozen, tops. 

Not so.

Over 70 teddy bears in Bluffton - Icon is still working on the map

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Here's an update from a previous story about teddy bears in and around Bluffton.

Please, "bear" with us.

The Bluffton Icon's bear hunt will post locations over the weekend of the cuddly little guys perched in windows around town and in the countyside. 

We originally announced we'd post these on Friday – however, we now have over 70 bear sightings reported. It's taking longer than we expected, particularly because on Wednesday we had only 12 bears.

"Breakfast at home" offers next best thing to attending a chamber breakfast

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Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce invites Icon viewers to a “breakfast at home.”

The chamber’s regular second Friday of the month 7 a.m. breakfast meeting is now on the Icon as a video.

Paula Scott, chamber CEO, host  a 46-minute video providing lots of village infomation.

The video includes updates from eight persons representing several segments of Bluffton.

MMH resident sent to hospital and subsequently passed away had tested positive for COVID-19

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The COVID-19 virus has appeared in Bluffton.

A resident of Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 W. Elm St., who was sent to the hospital subsequently died. The resident had tested positive for the virus.

The following statement was released to the Icon and is posted on the Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio website.

A Statement from Mennonite Memorial Home

At the Mennonite Memorial Home, the safety and well-being of our residents and staff is our top priority. 

12 bears reported in Bluffton windows - please send us more addresses

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The Bluffton Icon's bear hunt will post locations on Friday afternoon of the cuddly little guys perched in windows around town and in the countyside.

As of 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, viewers have reported addresses (and some photos) one dozen teddy bears. We plan to post the bears on a map for viewers to cruise town and discover these for themselves.

Continue to send your teddy bear locations to: [email protected].

Proposed shared-use path along SR 103 in Hancock County portion of the village

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The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) invites public comments to a shared-used path along State Route 103 in the Hancock County portion of the Village of Bluffton. Construction is anticipated for 2023. The project has  previously been announced in several Bluffton council meetings.

Project summary
The village of Bluffton, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation, is proposing to construct a shared-use path along state Route 103 (Jefferson Street) within the village of Bluffton.  

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