Business to Business Expo events set

Chamber of Commerce information

Free and open to the public, the Van Wert Area Business to Business Expo will take place Thursday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the Commercial Building on the Van Wert Fairgrounds.

Whether one is a business owner, employee, manager or just curious, come and see what businesses are moving and shaking in the Van Wert area. Exhibitors and the Chamber will give away free door prizes throughout the day and WERT/WKSD will air live from the event.

Businesses and potential customers can interact during the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce's Business to Business Expo, to be held next week in the Commercial Building. (photo submitted)

Discover the latest in products and services of area businesses, take part in free and engaging social media marketing and business growth workshops and perhaps most importantly … make important business connections. How do you measure the value of a face-to-face meeting … a handshake with a business owner, potential customer or even supplier? That personal interaction is just one of many opportunities that attendees will have at the expo.

Throughout the day, Bright Eyes Catering and Sycamore Ice Cream will both be on site serving food and drinks. Make sure to stop by the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce booth when arriving to pick up an Expo Exhibitor Guide with a listing of vendors and their booths. Many vendors also offer free promotional items and samples as well.

Three marketing communications experts will present free workshops throughout the day. At 12:30 p.m. on May 24, join Stu Jewett of Be Scene Communications for “Gas and Go … Fuel for Your Business.” Not quite sure that you completely buy into the bottom-line need to embrace the Internet for your business? Jewett will make the basic relevance of Internet marketing very clear.

At 2 p.m., Wright State Lake Campus Business Enterprise Center Director Julie Miller will take it one step further and present “The Business of Social Media.” For those who would like to generate exposure, opportunities and sales for their businesses, this workshop is specifically for you.

Wrapping up at 4 p.m., and a perfect segue for the Expo’s After Hours event, “Networking Guru” Debby Peters, owner of Connext Nation, will provide proven networking tips to encourage business people to connect with contacts with finesse and professionalism.

Premier sponsors for the event include StateWide Ford Lincoln, Ultra Sound Special Events and Brand It Marketing Communications.

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3 men in court for probation violations

Van Wert independent

Three men who failed to complete court-ordered requirements were back in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.

James Leiendecker, 23, of Venedocia, was accused of four violations of his community control program: failure to report a contact with a law enforcement officer, having contact with a known felon, failing to report to his probation officer and failing to complete an assessment and treatment program at Westwood Behavioral Health Center in Van Wert.

Leiendecker admitted the violations and was resentenced by Judge Charles D. Steele to three additional years of community control under the same conditions as previously ordered, with an additional 60 days in jail.

Skyler Leugers, 21, of Celina, admitted to not completing his assessment and treatment requirements and was also resentenced to three years of community control, with 105 days of jail time also handed down in the case.

Sheldon Beebe, 35, of Munith, Mich., was accused of violating his probation by failing to pay child support, moving without notifying his probation officer and failing to report to his probation officer.

He admitted to the violations and was given a 12-month prison term, with credit for 246 days already served while awaiting sentencing on the charge.

HSTW awards

Thirty-two members of the Van Wert High School Class of 2012 have received the High Schools That Work (HSTW) Award of Educational Achievement. The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) gives this award to high school seniors who have completed a challenging program of study and demonstrated readiness for employment and for college. Students qualify for the award by completing a college-preparatory course of study in at least two of three subject areas (English/language arts, mathematics, or science); completing a concentration in a career/technical area, mathematics/science or the humanities; and meeting readiness goals in all three subject areas (reading, mathematics and science) of the HSTW Assessment. High Schools That Work, launched in 1987, is the largest high school improvement effort in the United States, with more than 1,100 school sites in 30 states and the District of Columbia. VWHS has been a member of the SREB since 2002. VWHS students receiving this award are (first row, from the left) Brittany Jurczyk, Ricki Ellinger, Britany Myers, Heather Nofer, Danielle Hitchcock, Courtney Mercer, Sean Dorsch, Nathan Stevens, Austin Reichert; (second row) Alexis Weigle, Abbie Brincefield, Samantha Heppeard, Jenna Waterman, Zach Thornell, Luke Brubaker, Nathan Knodel, Trey Stemen; (third row) Alex Burchfield, Taylor Grooms, Erin Dingle, Katie Myers, Kearsten Cantrell, Courtney Merkle, AJ Thomas, Thad Davis; (fourth row) Ashley Knittle, Courtney Van Horne, Jennifer Carnahan, Ali Poling, Zach Spear, and AJ Foster. Absent from photo was Katie Kline. More awards photos will be in Saturday’s independent. (VWCS photo)

Patrol enforcement initiative underway

OSHP information

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be conducting an “All Out Day” today, in which all sworn officers from all ranks will be patrolling Ohio roads in an effort to reduce fatal and injury crashes.

The initiative, which serves as a high visibility enforcement effort, is not only a deterrent for crash causing violations, but also calls attention to dangerous driving behaviors.

With the onset of warm weather and an increase in fatalities, it is more important than ever to make sure motorists are keeping their eyes on the road, wearing their safety belts and never driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

“We need the help of the motoring public to make Ohio’s roadways safer for everyone — by always driving sober, staying focused on the road and insisting that everyone in your vehicle wear a safety belt,” said Lt. Ray Haas, commander of the Van Wert Post.

Remember that driving safely should always be a priority and that the Patrol’s “All Out Day” is a way troopers are raising awareness about traffic safety.

The public is encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers and drug activity.

Groups seek old cell phone donations

Information submitted

The Van Wert Community Club and Van Wert County Victims Services are asking for community residents’ help.  By donating no longer- used cell phone(s), local residents could give domestic violence victims and survivors the chance to make a lifesaving call.

The Community Club and Victims Services have placed boxes at Verizon Wireless, Alltel, Custom Audio Concepts and Walmart and will accept all cell phones, even the broken ones (donated phones that cannot be refurbished are recycled in an environmentally safe way).

Donating is simple:

• Place wireless phones from any service provider, along with the battery and charger, in a plastic bag
• Drop it in the “noted” box at one of the four participating businesses.

Donating unused cell phones is one way to help the community help victims of crime.

Meth lab operator given prison term

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Zachariah Williams (right) speaks with attorney Dillon Staas following his sentencing hearing in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

A Van Wert man who operated a methamphetamine lab in the city was sentenced to prison during a hearing held Wednesday in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. The court met in the County Juvenile Courtroom in preparation for renovation work expected to start Monday in the Common Pleas Courtroom.

Zachariah Williams, 27, was given 18 months in prison on a charge of illegal manufacture of drugs, a third-degree felony offense. Judge Charles D. Steele, who also fined Williams $5,000, gave Williams credit for 93 days already served while awaiting sentencing.

A man who didn’t understand English entered a guilty plea through an interpreter to a charge of trespass in a habitation, a felony of the fourth degree.

Carlos Sanchez, 21, of Portland, Ind., also requested through his attorney, Joseph Walsh, that he be placed in a diversion program, which Judge Steele granted. He will be under the supervision of the County Adult Probation Department while undergoing treatment.

Brittany Bermudez, 21, of Ottawa, entered a change of plea to two counts of attempted burglary, both felonies of the fourth degree. The burglary counts were downgraded from third-degree felonies as part of a plea negotiation. Pandora Police Chief Scott Stant had discovered that checks stolen at a Delphos residence had shown up at a Pandora business, and he identified Bermudez and Logan Weis as suspects in the case.

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VWCS board takes personnel action

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert City Board of Education took a number of personnel actions during its brief May meeting on Wednesday.

VWCS Superintendent Ken Amstutz speaks during Wednesday's City Board of Education meeting. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

The board accepted the resignation of Louise Haas, a third grade teacher at Franklin Elementary School, after 32½ years of service in the Van Wert City Schools. Superintendent Ken Amstutz praised Haas for her service. “It was not an easy decision for her … but she has done a tremendous job.”

The board also hired Traci Tokerud as a second grade teacher for the coming school year and approved summer school contracts and a number of other supplemental positions, including several coaching positions.

Approved as high school summer school teachers were Sandy Adams (government), Wendy Howell (OGT-science), Krista Baer (OGT-language arts), Cindy Thomas and Charlie Witten (OGT-mathematics), and Jennifer Trittschuh and Jeff Kallas (OGT-social studies). Ed Clark was also approved as a summer school teacher at Van Wert Middle School.

Coaching contracts were awarded to the following: Jason Cross, Craig Syphrit, Zane McElroy and Mark Herge, varsity football assistant coaches; Ben Laudick, freshman football coach; Witten, Mark Collins Jay Royer and Seth Baer, VWMS football coaches; Dave Froelich, head boys’ basketball coach; Mark Bagley, varsity boys’ basketball assistant coach; Chris Covey, junior varsity boys’ basketball coach; Jeff Hood, freshman boys’ basketball coach; Lance Moonshower, girls’ head basketball coach; Rob Adams, girls’ assistant basketball coach; Todd Dunlap and Brad Doidge, girls’ junior varsity basketball coaches (50 percent); Ben Collins, head wrestling coach; Mark Collins, assistant wrestling coach; Kim Clifton, head swimming coach; Martha Martin and Brendon Moody, assistant swimming coaches (50 percent); Angie Stemen, assistant swimming coach; Arlene Hurless, high school basketball cheerleading coach; Nate Hoverman, seventh grade boys’ basketball coach; Kerry Koontz, eighth grade boys’ basketball coach; Tom Baer, seventh grade girls’ basketball coach; Austin McIntosh and Brad Allmandinger, VWMS wrestling coaches; and Kayla Wise, VWMS basketball cheerleading coach.

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Patrol cracking down on impaired drivers

OSHP information

In response to the rising traffic crash fatalities in Ohio and the Patrol’s ongoing effort to contribute to a safer Ohio, troopers are focused on removing impaired drivers more than ever before. The Patrol is warning drivers: If you choose to drive impaired, you will be arrested.

Through March of this year, troopers have arrested 503 more drivers for OVI than during the same period in 2011.

Even though OVI-related fatal crashes are down 28 percent through March of this year, impaired drivers continually kill far too many people on Ohio’s roadways each year. Impaired drivers were responsible for 40 percent of the fatal crashes in 2011.

“We can’t fight the battle against impaired driving on our own; we need your commitment to make our roads safer,” said Lt. Ray Haas, Van Wert Post commander. “You can contribute to a safer Ohio by actively influencing friends and family to make safe, responsible decisions — like planning ahead to designate a driver and insisting that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.”

The public is encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity.

VW Community Band sets park concert

Contributor content

On Friday, May 25, the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band will present a concert in the band shell of Fountain Park in Van Wert. The program will begin at 7 p.m. and is free to the public.

“Music performed on the concert will include patriotic selections that are intended to reflect, revitalize and rekindle the pride that each of use has as citizens of the best country in the world: the United States of America,” said Director Richard Sherrick.

A few of these selections include “Fanfare for the Common Man’ by Aaron Copland, and “Amber Waves of Grain,” arranged By Jay Bocook. Area military personnel and veterans will be honored with “Salute To America’s Finest.”

No food stand will be available, but concertgoers may choose to dine at one of the local restaurants. Please join the band, which includes members from Van Wert, Elida, Lima, Delphos, Convoy, Payne, Chattanooga, Middle Point, Decatur, Ind., and Rockford, for this special concert.

In the event of inclement weather, the program will held in the S.F. Goedde Building gymnasium.

L’view board honors retiring teachers

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Retiring teachers (from the left) Marilyn Doner, Barb Wolfrum, and Jeri Lipp were honored for their service to the district prior to the Lincolnview Local Board of Education meeting on Tuesday evening. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education honored three retiring teachers, approved a final five-year forecast, and learned that bids are being sought for new carpet and paint in several elementary classrooms during its May meeting held Tuesday evening.

Superintendent Doug Fries and the board noted that retiring teachers Marilyn Donor, Jeri Lipp and Barb Wolfrum had a total of 104 years of service, much of it in the Lincolnview district.

“We sincerely appreciate their dedication to the students, community and longevity with us,” Fries said, adding, “We wish you well in your retirement and hope you can do all the things you have been waiting to do.”

Treasurer Troy Bowersock noted that budget figures were on track 10 months into the current fiscal year. Bowersock noted that revenues were within 5 percent of estimates, while expenditures were even closer, within half a percent, with revenues higher than expenditures at this time. The treasurer also noted that the district received approximately more than $34,000 in energy efficiency rebates from AEP.

Also Tuesday, Fries noted that quotes are being sought to replace carpet and repaint the first- and second-grade classrooms in the elementary building.

Personnel action taken Tuesday included the hiring of Craig Staley was hourly bus maintenance worker, Sharon Brincefield and Lucy Rice on an as-needed basis for summer bus cleaning and maintenance for this summer, Rebecca Matthews as a bus driver and Shawn Fickert as a cook. The board also accepted Brincefield and Fickert’s resignations as dishroom employees.

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