Regional news

Bluffton High School and Middle School students have an opportunity for a real deal Friday. Students will be able to purchase a pre-sale ticket to Friday night's BHS boys' versus Spencerville at a reduced rate.

Pre-sale tickets for students will be only $1 when the student donated a canned or boxed food item. Donations go to the West Ohio Food Bank.

Otherwise, student pre-sale tickets will be sold for $3. All tickets at the door are $5 each.

Let it snow! Pandora-Bluffton experienced 10.7 inches of snow in December, according to Guy Verhoff, Pandora weather observer. That's off the charts for the average December snowfall here.

The 60-year average December snow fall is a meager 2.69 inches. This year, the heaviest snow came Dec. 12 when 6 inches fell. That followed a 1.5-inch snow on Dec. 10. The snow remained on the ground and gave the Icon viewing area a white Christmas.

Other December weather facts follow:

Take a wild guess. What was Pandora-Bluffton's average temperature in 2010?

Answer: 51.6 degrees.

Okay, how about this one: Did we receive more rain or snow in 2010?

Answer: Snowfall 44.8 inches; rain 34.83 inches.

Those facts and more are part of Guy Verhoff, Pandora weather observer's finding for weather patterns in 2010. Here's how those figures stacked up against the 60-year averages:

60-year average precipitation 35.79 inches
2010: 34.83

60-year average temperature: 49.6 degrees
2010: 51.6 degrees

Here's a plate that's waiting to be hung on a garage wall somewhere in Bluffton. Too bad there's no option for a Bluffton University plate.

In its final meeting of 2010, Stan Schneck, Pandora village administrator presented a cost estimate of $113,502.50 from Poggemeyer Design Group as to re-surfacing the Pandora basketball/tennis courts.

The minutes from the meeting are attached at the bottom of this story.

New Emergency Department
. Brick work continues in the front Emergency Department entry
. Work on interior metal studs is near completion, insulation and dry wall continues
. Work continues on HVAC, electrical and plumbing rough in
. Wood blocking for fixtures continues to be installed
. The hazadous waste tank for the decontamination room was installed

New Surgery Area
. Medical gas piping will be completed soon
. Metal stud and drywall work continues for interior walls

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