Personnel matters handled, updates given at meeting

Library seeking items for time capsule

VW independent staff/submitted information

As part of The Brumback Library’s 125th Anniversary celebration and Van Wert County’s America250 commemoration, community organizations are invited to help tell the story of Van Wert County in 2026 through participation in the newly announced Van Wert County time capsule.

The project originated through a partnership with local Navy Club Ship 726, whose members envisioned a community time capsule that would preserve a snapshot of life in Van Wert County for future generations. The time capsule itself was designed and built by students at Vantage Career Center, transforming the idea into a lasting community project.

While The Brumback Library will serve as the permanent home and caretaker of the capsule, the project is intended to represent the people, organizations, institutions, businesses, and community groups that make Van Wert County unique.

The capsule will be sealed during the downtown Van Wert Fourth of July celebration and will remain at The Brumback Library until it is opened during the library’s 150th Anniversary celebration in 2051.

“We want this capsule to capture the story of our community as it exists today,” Brumback Library Director Nellie Schmidt said. “This is an opportunity for organizations across Van Wert County to share something meaningful about who they are, what they do, and the role they play in our community.”

Organizations throughout Van Wert County are invited to submit one item for consideration for inclusion in the time capsule. Examples may include photographs, publications, programs, promotional materials, commemorative items, or other artifacts that help tell the story of the organization and the community in 2026.

To ensure the capsule reflects a broad and representative snapshot of Van Wert County, submissions will be reviewed based on available space, historical significance, and their ability to contribute to the overall story of the community. Submission forms can be picked up at The Brumback Library or emailed to those who request them.

Trade Days event returns to Willshire

Submitted information

WILLSHIRE — The Willshire Sportsman’s Club’s annual Trade Days event held dawn to dusk July 23-25 at 3385 Ohio 81, two miles east of Willshire. Bring the entire famiy – admission and parking are free.

There will be all types of flea market items, crafts, cement figures, tools, dog supplies, antiques, fishing, and hunting supplies. The vendor auction will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 25. Breakfast and concessions are available.

No three-wheelers or four-wheelers are allowed except for the handicapped, and you must be 16 to drive a golf cart. Vendor spaces are available for $50 each. Check out the latest details and updates on the Willshire Sportsman’s Club Facebook page..

Willshire Sportsman’s Club is a non-profit organization that offers membership for $10 per year. Club meetings are every third Monday at 7 p.m. Contact Ron Schumm at 419.495.2730 or Dan Strader at 419.203.4557 for details.

Vantage BOE to hold retire-rehire hearing

Submitted information

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 3307.353, the Vantage Career Center School District Board of Education gives notice that Kevin Van Oss is retired under the State Teachers Retirement System, effective May 20, 2026 and is seeking employment with this board thereafter in the same position. The board will hold a public hearing on July 14, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. at Vantage Career Center, 818 N Franklin St. Van Wert, on the issue of the employee’s re-employment as career tech instructor.

Former mail carrier enters guilty plea

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor 

TOLEDO — A former postal carrier from Van Wert accused of burning undelivered mail last fall has pleaded guilty to a federal charge and now awaits sentencing. 

Kyle Carver entered the plea in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio in Toledo on Tuesday. He was charged with delay or destruction of mail. He previously pleaded not guilty to the charge. He now faces up to a year in prison and/or fines. A pre-sentencing report was ordered and Carver is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22. 

During the early morning hours of October 22, 2025, the Van Wert Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen in reference to a fire that was unattended in the backyard of a residence in the 900 block of George St.

When an officer went to investigate, there was evidence of USPS mail being burned. It was confirmed that Carver lived at the residence and was allegedly burning undelivered mail there. The Van Wert Fire Department was called to extinguish the fire. The investigation was turned over to postmaster Greg McKeddie, who arrived on scene less than 45 minutes after the initial call.

In an interview with WANE 15 TV the day of the incident, Carver said “he’d forgotten to send out the mail to Central Ave, and said he noticed the pile in his truck this and, for fear of getting in trouble, put the 6-inch stack of envelopes in his fire pit and lit it on fire.” He also said he regretted his actions.

Renovation work…

Ray Etzler Gymnasium at Crestview High School looks pretty bare right now – no gym floor, bleachers, stage or anything else. It’s all part of a plan to upgrade the district’s athletic facilities, indoors and outdoors. Gym and concession stand renovations are expected to be complete by September 1. Photo provided

Marvin Jr. to lead Liberty Bell talk

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert County Historical Society will welcome Ron Marvin Jr. as a special America250 speaker on Flag Day, Sunday, June 14. The program will be held in the Annex Building starting at 2 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. Martin will be talking about the Liberty Bell’s last great trip, which included a stop in Van Wert. 

Marvin will share the story of the Liberty Bell’s last great trip, as it toured coast to coast on a specially designed train. Beginning its journey from Philadelphia in July, 1915, it wound its way through several northern states toward San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific Exposition. 

Along the route, thousands lined the rails for even a brief glimpse of the Liberty Bell. Several lucky towns such as Van Wert even had the Bell make a brief stop. In November, the Bell departed California along a southerly route as it headed toward Philadelphia. Upon its return in December, 1915, the Bell had traveled through parts of 24 states. Unfortunately, the damage from numerous train rides over the years had taken its toll and the City Fathers of Philadelphia decided that the Bell’s traveling days were over, and it would forever reside in the city. It is now prominently displayed in the Liberty Bell Center, completed in 2003.

This presentation will explore the routes the Liberty Bell train took as it traversed the state, including Van Wert County. Attendees will learn about the Bell’s visit to Van Wert, including those responsible for its visit. Utilizing period newspaper accounts, Marvin will share numerous stories and interesting facts connecting the state and the Liberty Bell. He will also mention several reproduction Liberty Bells that have traversed the state as well.

Lawmakers hear data center opposition

Nick Evans/Ohio Capital Journal

COLUMBUS — More than 100 Ohioans submitted testimony ahead of state lawmakers’ Select Committee on Data Centers’ single hearing for public comment.

Lawmakers heard an array of concerns about the proliferation of data centers around the state — the environmental impact, the cost of tax breaks, and the use of nondisclosure agreements to avoid public scrutiny.

Lawmakers also received pointed critiques from Ohioans who say elected officials have been too slow to respond to their frustrations, and their response thus far has been inadequate.

Many pressed lawmakers for a data center moratorium — a step lawmakers have so far been unwilling to take.

“The citizens are going to continue working to ban them if the legislative body doesn’t take action,” Stephanie Stock, the president of Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, warned.

Organizers are currently gathering signatures for a constitutional amendment prohibiting construction of data centers that consume more than 25 megawatts a month.

Broken trust

Many speakers made the drive from Adams County in Appalachian Ohio. They described a familiar pattern of new industries showing up in Appalachian communities to extract resources and leave residents with little if any benefit.

“I understand the importance of jobs; I understand economic development. I am not opposed to progress,” Emily Young told lawmakers. “I am opposed to communities being asked to accept risk before they have been given honest answers.”

No industry, she said, has asked local communities “to surrender the amount of land, water, energy, and local control” as hyperscale data centers have.

To many speakers, the epitome of those demands is the industry’s use of nondisclosure agreements to shield new developments from public input.

Jessica Baker from Williamsburg brought in 16 NDAs from a data center project in a nearby town.

She recited the officials — council members, the mayor, fire chief, village engineer, and more — as she flipped through the documents.

Two defendants appear in CP Court

VW independent staff

Just two criminal hearings were held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week. The cases are separate and unrelated.

Joshua Burnett, 48, of Van Wert, denied violating his bond with a positive drug test and failing to appear in court. Judge Martin D. Burchfield set a further hearing for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 10.

Dylan Slagle, 22, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count each of importuning and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, both fifth degree felonies. He was released on surety bond and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24.

Honor Flight to depart next Tuesday

VW independent staff

Flag City Honor Flight is preparing for its 35th mission on Tuesday, June 9, taking 78 veterans, primarily from the Vietnam War era to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials built in their honor.

The organization relies on community donations and flight sponsorships to continue the mission. Veterans pay nothing on an Honor Flight trip. As a 100 percent volunteer-led organization, every dollar received goes directly toward honoring and thanking veterans for their service.

The trip spans one day and begins at 5:30 a.m., when veterans and guardians arrive at Rugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport. The flight will department for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at 6:30 a.m. After arrival, those on the flight will visit the Iwo Jima Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Navy Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and memorials for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The day will also include a stop at Arlington National Cemetery for the changing of the guard and wreath laying, lunch, and later dinner at the FDR/MLK Memorials. The veterans and guardians will leave Washington, D.C. at 7 p.m. and will arrive in Toledo an hour later. A welcome home celebration will be held after that before veterans department for their homes.

Flag City Honor flight serves all of northwest Ohio, as does Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, and southeast Michigan.

The final flight of 2026 by Flag City Honor Flight is scheduled for September 15. More information about Flag City Honor Flight and applications for future flights can be found online at flagcityhonorflight.org.

Honor Flight’s roots are traced back to Springfield, Ohio. In May, 2004, the WWII Memorial was finally completed and dedicated in Washington DC. This quickly became the topic of discussion among WWII veterans who were patients at a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Springfield, Ohio.

Students ROAR!

The Convoy Lions Club held an awards ceremony at the end of the school year to award the third grade classes at Crestview Elementary for working hard in the advanced reading program. In recognition of their hard work the ROAR (Reinforcement Of Advanced Reading) pays them five cents per point. They must pass a test over the content of the book with a score of 80 percent or better. Point values for each book are determined by the AR Program. Pictured are Greg Kulwicki, Convoy Lions Club; Leo the Lion; Mike Myers, Convoy Lions Club; Lydia Ballard, first place; Claire Hirschy, second place; Landon Shaner, third place. Special thanks to Convoy Tastee Freeze for the donation of the free ice cream cones. Photos submitted