In 2025, I began printing and hand-assembling monthly Icon Highlights, a collection of articles of lasting interest for distribution to locations where people can sit and read. This month, the Ada and Bluffton Highlights have moved to a new magazine binding that creates an opportunity to increase distribution.
The August 2026 Ada Icon Highlights are off to the printer--and are ready for online viewing right here. I'm excited to note that a new bound format is in the works, with the opportunity to share more free copies.
During August, the Icon produced 109 news items. There will be 21 articles in the Highlights, providing the items of most lasting interest. Here's the table of contents with links to each article:
Can you tell from the Icons that Ada and Bluffton are located amidst the lush farmland of Northwest Ohio? On my editor's wish list is a column that helps connect village residents with the surrounding agricultural acres.
Here's your invitation: provide a list of agricultural topics that you, as village residents or as nearby farmers, wish were more widely understood. I'll get the party started with a few topics, and you are invited to add others. One poll will be open to Ada Icon and Bluffton Icon readers.
The Ada Icon's July 2026 traffic safety poll received 61 responses with a clear #1 priority for Ada area traffic safety: to improve driver awareness of stop signs at County Line and SR 81. Safety at SR 81 and Main St. came in a distant second. Slowing down e-scooters and e-bikes ranked third.
The ability to provide a write-in response was popular. There were 23 write-in votes with 2-3 commenting on the same topic (see below).
The Texas-based Buc-ee's chain of travel centers has sued a Beavercreek, Ohio shop named Beaver's Mini Mart for a logo it says is too similar to its own cartoon creature. It echoes efforts by Apple computers to squelch other companies' use of fruit logos--even those with pears.
I'm disgusted with this heavy-handed approach by a multi-billion-dollar company toward a mom-and-pop shop that has been in business for two decades.
