Regional news

Lois Kreider, 94, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2019, at her home in North Newton, Kansas.

A memorial service will be at Faith Mennonite Church, Newton, Kansas, on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m. with sharing and lunch following in the fellowship hall. There will be family visitation the previous evening 5-7 p.m., also at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mennonite Central Committee or to Bluffton University. Contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Kansas 67114.

In the past seven days residents have experienced a temperature range of nearly 70 degrees, from minus 12 degrees on Jan. 30 to 56 degrees on Feb. 3 and 4. 

During that period we experienced .29 inches of rain and 2.65 inches of snow. Information provided by Guy Verhoff, Pandora weather observer.

Extensive feature on "how a cow becomes a football"

From Farm to Field, and Every Point Between: How a Cow Becomes a Football.

That’s the title of an extensive story in the Jan. 31 Sports Illustrated written by Kalyn Kehler. And, the story mentions the Wilson faculty in Ada, including photos of footballs being made.

The lead-in to the story states: “You’ve seen it snapped, thrown, kicked and spiked. But chances are you’ve never considered the origin story of an NFL ball – or how painstaking the process is to get every detail just right.”

Because of severe winter weather across the U.S. and an influenza outbreak, the American Red Cross has reissued an emergency plea for blood and platelet donations. During the month of January, snow, ice and cold temperatures resulted in more than 14,000 fewer donations, resulting in blood donations being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.

You have an opportunity to donate at the American Red Cross blood drive at First Mennonite Church, Bluffton, on Thursday, Feb. 7, from 1-6 p.m. 

373 people were transported last year

Bluffton EMS 2018 runs were lower than 2017, according to Jan Basinger, EMS chief.

The 2018 report, provided to Bluffton council in late January shows the follow (2017 figures in parentheses):

• Total calls for 2018: 501 (514)
• Total patients transported in 2018: 373 (385)
• Total 2018 runs in 2018: 517 (545)

A summary of 2018 calls show that the majority were medical related (411). The majority of calls were from Bluffton (403). The majority of call destinations were to Bluffton Hospital (165).

Beth Bish is the Friday chamber breakfast speaker

Bluffton Pediatrics celebrates its fourth birthday during the Friday morning, Feb. 8, Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast, according to Paula Scott, chamber CEO.

Beth Bish, CNP, of Bluffton Pediatrics is the program speaker.

The breakfast is served from 7 to 7:30 a.m. The program is from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

Also on the program, Scott will update members on the new Explore Bluffton guide and Bluffton Arts and Crafts Festival. The March chamber breakfast is March 8 and the program is by Apollo Career Center.

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