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Provided by the Bluffton Public Library

The Board of Trustees of Bluffton Public Library has announced its meeting schedule for 2025.  Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the library's Board Room at 145 South Main St., Bluffton. No meetings will take place in July or December.

Dennis G. Marquart, 72, of Forest, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at home with his wife by his side. He was born April 7, 1952 in Bluffton, Ohio to the late Solomon and Margery (Shellenbarger) Marquart. On February 10, 1978, Dennis married Nancy Bishop and she survives.  Together they adopted three children and took care of thirty medical needs foster children over a twenty year period.

Marjorie Janice Thomas (née Johns), 97, of Lima, Ohio, died on Sunday, December 29, after a brief stay at St. Rita’s Medical Center. 

Born on August 20, 1927, in Lima, Ohio, Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Clarice and Richard Johns of Lima, Ohio; her husband of 40 years, Roger Lee Thomas (d. 2003); and her daughter, Carol Ann (Dave) Siverling (d. 2013). 

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls basketball team stymied visiting non-conference foe Shawnee in the second half to post a 47-25 victory Tuesday, January 7.

The Bluffton defense held the Indians to just nine second-half points. The hosts outscored Shawnee 27-9 after intermission to win going away. 

Pirate senior post Ayla Grandey led all players with 17 points.

Bluffton improved to 8-4 overall after the decisive win. Shawnee dropped to 4-8 after the road defeat.

By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School boy’s basketball team hosted Putnam County League rival Miller City on January 7.

The physical Wildcats owned the first three quarters of play and grounded the Rockets by a final of 78-47. Miller City upped their record to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the PCL.

The Wildcats took a 3-0 lead to start the game and never trailed. The Rockets eventually found themselves down 21-11 at the end of the first quarter and then 41-21 at halftime.  

The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce presented the traveling trophy for best holiday decorations to the staff of Samuel W. Diller Co., (L-R) Jill Hovest, Brittany Klingler, Attorney Scott Basinger, Kathy Basinger and Alison Perkins. They received top honors for decorations inspired by the film A Christmas Story, earning the most votes among 32 competing businesses.

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