People

On the morning of April 8, an estimated 2,000 mourners came to pay their respects to Dominic M. “Dom” Francis, 42, a Bluffton police officer who was killed in the line of duty on March 31. Family, friends, colleagues and Cory-Rawson students gathered at Bluffton University’s Sommer Center to remember and mourn Francis, while the larger community of first responders from Ohio and beyond paid tribute to one who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the public.

Prior to the service, Allen County Sheriff Matthew Treglia held a press conference on questions regarding the day’s events. The investigation of Francis’s death was not addressed. News teams from across the state were present and the service was livestreamed at https://boxcast.tv/channel/jgei2o5q5rjqiprrxqm3.

The Icon joined Brittany Daniels’ third grade glass during their recent visit from Deb Helser–and Chug puppy Tanner–from Deb’s Dogs in Lima.

The Ada Elementary School has chosen the animal rescue organization as the beneficiary of this year’s read-a-thon fundraiser. Students will present a check to the nonprofit, but eight classes first had a chance to learn about it from Deb.

Helser brought along Tanner, one of a litter of puppies that the organization has placed in forever homes. The six-month-old Chihuahua-Pug mix made himself at home at school, sitting in laps and giving kisses to students.