N-B Map: Bluffton NOW! determines 'city center'

After getting a nod from the Bluffton Common Council to continue with plans for a Community Re-Investment Program earlier this month, steering committee members of Bluffton NOW! were given the informal OK Tuesday evening for their more concrete plan.

The plan, thoroughly discussed at the council’s April 17 meeting, would allow for the availability of funding for improvements and repairs to the “exterior facade, structural and mechanical components and interior elements of buildings located in the city-center ...”

This “city-center” was defined in the outline provided by committee members David Crell and Josh Hunt. According to the map, the area is larger than the downtown area – including a portion along the Wabash River, which Crell noted could be used in the future for riverside development. Learn more in the Wednesday, April 29, News-Banner. (Click photo to enlarge)

N-B Photos: Rapunzel visits Bluffton for princess tea party

The little girl extended a pen and a piece of paper to Rapunzel and asked for the princess’s autograph.
“Only if I can have a hug,” Rapunzel replied, and the little girl obliged.

Sunday afternoon, the side room at Sassafras on Main was transformed into a princess tea party as dozens of little princesses enjoyed drinks, snacks and a bracelet craft in the company of the princess known for the blonde braid that snakes down her back. 

Learn more in the Monday, April 27, News-Banner. (Photos by Jessica Williams)

Items that won't be accepted after citywide garage sale

The first weekend of May is the citywide garage sale. For more information about the Salvation Army picking up remaining items, and on the sale, pick up the Friday, April 24, News-Banner.

Here is a list of the items that the SA will not accept:

N-B Video: 39 students attend Youth Leadership Forum

A collaborative community effort provided nearly 40 high school students from around the county with lessons on personalities and leadership skills Thursday. Learn more in the Friday, April 24, News-Banner. Scroll below for videos that feature different community problems the students wanted to address. (Videos, photo by Jessica Williams)

Thursday's participants were:

Bluffton HS:

Sara Baumgartner, Katie Geimer, Whitney Grreen, Jaimee Jaskee, Cassie McFarren, Kendall Mechling, and Chad Pulver.

Norwell HS:

Bree Bailey, Bryant Barger, Brianna Bolinger, Seth Cole, Kayla DeRemer, Candace Eckert, Koby Gibson, Alexandria Haddix, Natalya Haddix, Grant Hiday, Carly Howard, Lauren Johnson, Andrew Mader, Courtney Mader, Quinn Shelton, Cody Shively, Micheal Skiles, Allison Smith, and Bray Wilson.

Southern Wells HS:

Ace Addington, Kyra Catterson, Keaton Coleman, Leah Guenin, Grant Harris, Abe Herr, Camryn Marcus, Arrianne Moore, Mikayla Oswalt, Kennedy Rhodes, Hunter Schreiber, David Schriver, Delaney Smith, and Meadow Tucker.

Thursday's speakers included Tammy Slater (Wells County Foundation), Aaron Westfall (Wayne Metals), Nicole Ball (Manpower), Mayor Ted Ellis (City of Bluffton), Preston Kaehr (Bluffton NOW!), Roger Sherer (Purdue Extension Wells County Office), RaeAnn O'Neill (Purdue Extension Blackford County Office), and Tony Garton (retired educator).

N-B Photos: Maps show BHES renovation plans

Below are the plans for the Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School expansion project. Learn more in the Saturday, April 18, News-Banner. (Click photos to enlarge)

Local agency one of 35 statewide to get grants from Indiana First Lady Pence

Family Centered Services received a $500 grant from the Indiana First Lady’s Charitable Foundation earlier this month. Learn more in the Tuesday, April 14, News-Banner. The full list of recipients is below:

N-B Video: Visiting Bluffton, then rolling down the river

John and LaNae Abnet of Berne spent Tuesday night not far from home, as the couple has begun a kayaking trip that will take them the length of the Wabash River to the Ohio River to the Mississippi River and finally to New Orleans. They spent the night against the back of the stage at Bluffton’s Kehoe Park and were planning — weather permitting — to head toward Markle and Huntington Wednesday. (Video by Dave Schultz; edited by Jessica Williams)

N-B Numbers: Small stream structure replacement costs

Nineteen small stream structures have been identified as needed repaired and have been given price tags, the Wells County Commissioners learned Monday. Eight have costs in five digits. Learn more about them in the Tuesday, April 7, News-Banner.

Here are the remaining structures:

• 525N west of 200W in Rock Creek; $5,000.
• 800S west of 600W in Jackson; $3,000.
• 100E north of 300N in Lancaster; $6,200.
• 750E south of 700S in Nottingham; $5,600.
• 400W north of 1200S in Chester; $5,400.
• 1200S east of 1200W in Jackson; $3,000.
• 1100S west of 1100W in Jackson; $6,200.
• 625S west of 700W in Jackson; $9,000.
• 800S and 100E in Nottingham; $7,600.
• Willow Road south of 625S in Jackson; $8,880.
• 1000S east of 900S in Jackson; no cost established yet.

N-B Slideshow: Easter hunts 2015

From Bluffton to Liberty Center, children went on the hunt for Easter eggs Saturday. (Photos by Glen Werling and Jessica Williams)

N-B Video: DCS documents show history of involvement with Arnold, Barnes

Coming in the Monday, April 6, News-Banner: Department of Child Services documents show multiple reports of child abuse and neglect were filed at the respective homes of Breanna Arnold and Zachary Barnes from 2012 to 2014 leading up to the January 2015 death of Arnold's toddler, Owen Collins. Both Arnold and Barnes face charges in the boy's death. (Video by Jessica Williams)

N-B Video, Slideshow: Kids go swimming for Easter treats

More than a 100 children participated in Wednesday's Underwater Easter Egg Hunt at Bluffton-Harrison Middle School.The event was put on by the Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department. Scroll below for a video and a photo slideshow. (Video and photos by Jessica Williams)