Regional news

It's Bluffton's great blue heron

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CHECK OUT OUR PHOTOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY -

You’ve seen it many times.

Often as you head to the Buckeye, just to the west of the Spring Street bridge. Or, you spotted it in the village park pond.

If you’ve heard a sound like a very loud, rusty railroad freight car on an even more rusty and scratchy rail - then you’ve heard it.

It’s the great blue heron of Bluffton and we have several of the birds. The Icon has photographed these solitary birds year round.

Interview with Dennis Baker of North Central Ohio Waste Management District

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By Liz Gordon-Hancock
Part 3 of the Icon's recycling series
What does the future hold for recycling?

The Icon interviewed Dennis Baker, Executive Director of North Central Ohio Waste Management District to find out.

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This license plate belongs to a true golden retriever fan. It was spotted on a Chevy Traverse during a Boston Crusaders rehearsal at ONU stadium in June.

Those metallic green pests

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Japanese beetles are active in our area.  These beetles are easily recognized by their relatively large size, about a half inch in length, and showy colors.  The fore wings, also called hard-wing coverings, are bronze to coppery-brown in color.  The head and the middle part of the body are a metallic green. 

Japanese beetles are voracious leaf feeders.  They have been known to feed on 350 plant species.  Their favorite plants include rose, hollyhock, hibiscus, linden, maple, viburnum, grape, raspberry, apple, and cherry.

All in August at the Senior Center

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Bluffton Senior Citizen Center will be busy in August.

There’s everything from food tours, honor flight program and a visit from Bluffton Police Department’s K-9 officers, Kato, and his handler, Tyler Hochstetler. There’s also a history lecture on the Oil Boom.

Here’s a summary of some of the August events. The August newsletter is attached at the bottom of this story.

The monthly dinner meeting is at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 13, Dianne “Cookie” Cook, will share her experiences on Honor Flight.

Swiss homestead open for tours; cars and coffee; storytime at Farmers' Market

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What's going on in Bluffton this weekend? Well, there's someone for just about everyone. Here's the list:

Tour the Schumacher homestead
The Swiss Community Historial Society opens the Schumacher Homestead to the public on Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. Visitors to the Schumacher Homestead, 8350 Bixel Road, Bluffton, will learn what it was like to be an early Swiss settler in the Bluffton-Pandora area.

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