All Bluffton Icon News

The aftermath of the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, hasn’t surprised Dr. Walter Paquin, a Bluffton University faculty member.

“This is an event 20-plus years in the making,” says the assistant professor of social work. Paquin lived and conducted research in the area as a graduate student at Washington University in neighboring St. Louis, and revisited his study of black suburban neighborhoods this summer.

Greg Stolly interviews one of the realtors of Bluffton's newest business, RealLiving CCR Realtors. The radio interview was Saturday during the company's open house. CCR Realtors opened this month at 142 E. Jefferson St.

Bluffton will be a one-day biker's paradise in June.

Bill Gordon, director of The 27th Annual Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA),
announced today that the 2015 tour, June 20-27, will feature a route in the northwestern
quadrant of Ohio, including an overnight stop in Bluffton. 

WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY.

The expected 2,500 riders will start gathering for the tour on Saturday, June 20, at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds in Van Wert.

December in Bluffton is busy. Here's a listing of many of the month's events that are opent to the public, compliments of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce.

All month
• Bluffton Blaze of Lights: Ream holiday folk art display on Bluffton Presbyterian Church lawn, 6 to 11 p.m.

• Gift of Giving light school extravaganza, East College Avenue, 6 to 11 p.m.
• For free map showing lights of Bluffton visit www.explorebluffton.com

If you need a Christmas tree decorated, call Larry Kinn. The Icon found Larry stringing lights on this tree in Common Grounds on Monday, at  the request of Phil Zimmerly.

Although quite modest, Larry admits to some interesting tree decorating projects in his long career. We don't know truth from falsehood here, but bear with us for a moment.

Once upon a time there stood a Christmas tree atop Salzman Stadium. It was Larry's pet project. Knowing, however, the temptation of college boys when the tree was erected, well, it soon disappeared. 

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

It was 112 school years ago.

Can you name the corner where Stager one-room schoolhouse once stood? If we are not mistaken it stood on the northwest corner of Bixel and Tom Fett Road between Bluffton and Pandora.

Stager was a combined school district for Richland Township number 10 and number 13.  

Here's a school card from the 1902-03 school yer. It also lists all the students and includes a photograph of Clara M. Greding, teacher. 

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