Back-to-school means focus is on school bus safety

New employees introduced to board

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

With the new school year underway, the Lincolnview Local Schools Board of Education addressed a number of agenda items during Thursday’s monthly meeting.

15 new employees were hired for the 2026-2027 school year and some of them were in attendance and introduced themselves. The list of new employees includes:

• Bruce Thomas, fifth grade
• Reagan Boley, elementary intervention specialist – cross categorical
• Anne Myers, elementary intervention specialist – cross categorical
• Ellen Jones, elementary STEM teacher
• Jennifer McElroy, elementary computer sciences-media/library specialist teacher
• Kimberly Bates, bus transportation secretary
• Aaron Dunn, custodian
• Carrie Turnwald, junior high/high school secretary
• Jaime Hernandez, cook
• Melissa Nava, elementary secretary
• Ian Setili, full-time substitute bus driver
• Kathy Wortman, part time cook
• Jodie Vasquez, paraprofessional aide (Western Buckeye ESC)
• Suzanne Rahrig, paraprofessional aide (Western Buckeye ESC)
• Hailey Acheson, paraprofessional aide (Western Buckeye ESC)

There was one resignation on the agenda and it didn’t sit well with board member Eric Germann, who voted against it. Elementary intervention specialist Damaris Murphy’s resignation took place on Tuesday, August 18, one day before the start of school. Murphy left for an out-of-state opportunity.

“The July 10 deadline (for resignations for the upcoming school year) exists for a reason,” he said. “I know her situation changed but I’m little disappointed that it came this late in the summer and put us in a bind to find a new teacher.”

Agenda items that were unanimously approved included bus routes for the new school year, agreements with Van Wert City Schools for the high school CEO program and the Van Wert School at the Goedde, an agreement with the Van Wert County Health Department for school nurse services, plus an agreement with Midwest Regional Educational Service Center for vision impaired services.

During his report, Superintendent Jeff Snyder said despite social media rumors to the contrary, he has not received monetary numbers as they relate to the Mega Site/data center, which will be located in the Lincolnview Local Schools district.

“We have not received an official negotiation piece,” he stated. “I know people say they already know but I wish they would just call me and I could tell them nothing has happened. Right now we’ll just go about our business and it’ll happen when it’s supposed to happen but as of right now there’s been no official piece from the company itself.”

Snyder also said key fob renewal for the community center is underway.

A chunk of the meeting centered around student-athletes and the state’s new SAM Act (see story here).

The board will meet in special session at 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, to approve the latest financial forecast as required by law. The next regular monthly meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 22. Both meetings will take place in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall.

Football Friday!

Van Wert and Crestview opened their respective football seasons Friday night and the Cougar defense (above) gang tackles Bryan quarterback Jake Arnold while below, Crestview’s Cash Hammons catches a pass against Paulding. Van Wert won 41-6, but the Knights lost 18-6. Full game stories can be found on the Sports page. Monica Campbell/Bob Barnes photos

Convoy-area crash claims Payne resident

VW independent staff

A crash involving a semi-truck and a car claimed the life of a Payne resident.

It occurred just after 9 a.m. Friday on U.S. 30 at Ohio 49 in Tully Township. According to a report from the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 2010 Toyota Corolla driven southbound on Ohio 49 by Kaci Rae Sentelik, 19, was struck by a 2006 Western Star 4900 driven by Grady Smith, 24, of Quincy, Michigan. Troopers said Sentelik stopped for a marked stopped sign on Ohio 49 but failed to yield to oncoming traffic and was struck on the driver’s side by Smith, who was westbound on U.S. 30. Sentelik was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Convoy Fire Department, Van Wert Fire Department, ODOT, Van Wert Coroner’s Office, Hague Towing and Repair, Harting Farms, and Gerten Deadstock.

The crash remains under investigation.

Stadium renovations all but complete

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The massive undertaking known as the Eggerss Stadium renovation project is very close to completion.

Ahead of Friday night’s season opener against Bryan, crews spent the week putting the finishing touches on Phase IV of the project, which began four years ago. According to Van Wert City Schools Superintendent Mark Bagley, the project is about 95 percent done.

The latest and final phase was focused mainly on the south side of the historic stadium. Those who visit Eggerss Stadium will see a new entrance, a tribute paver area, a new concession stand and new band bleachers.

During a brief tour on Thursday, Bagley said the last phase has gone well.

“We knew it was going to be smoother process than Phases 1-3, which had a lot of old construction,” he explained. “The unknowns were still there…there have been things that have come up that were surprises when you’re talking about site work, but for the most part this has been an awesome phase. We’re getting the bugs worked out.”

One of the first things fans will notice is a new main entrance. Gone is the former ticket booth that was on the southwest side. The new main entrance is more central to the field itself.

“It’s a really grand entrance and with our paver project, you’re walking in with all these people that have contributed and donated,” he said. “We’re very thankful and gracious that our community supported this project with the bond issue and then we had more donations that had to happen to do it the right way.”

The usual east and north entrances will be accessible as well.

New band bleachers have been built at the south end, which frees up seating for more fans on the home side, and fans will immediately notice a new south-end concession stand.

Legend named second Cougar Champion

VW independent staff/submitted information

A new tradition – the Cougar Champion – continues in 2026 following the inaugural award granted to Willie Hernandez last year. This award has been created exclusively at Eggerss Stadium and coincides with the building of the state-of-the-art press box branded the Cougar Champions Press Box. The idea behind it is to recognize one Cougar champion each year.

“This award was created to honor an individual, group, or organization who displayed the characteristics of a true champion associated with Van Wert Cougar football, those being, excellence, team spirit, pride, leadership, determination, and confidence,” said Jan and John White, sponsors of this annual award.

The award qualifications include those who have made a significant impact throughout the history of Cougar football including coaches, players, fans, administrators, and students.

The recipient of the 2026 Cougar Champion is Gilbert ‘Gil’ Smith.

Coach Smith’s coaching career spanned 19 years beginning in 1941 and running through 1959. His impressive record of 130 wins, 30 losses, and 10 ties made him the winningest coach in Van Wert High School football history.

“Without a doubt, Coach Smith was the most successful football coach in Van Wert history,” John White said. “Not only did he have eight undefeated seasons, five of those were in consecutive years from 1954 to 1958”.

Coach Smith is credited with 12 WBL championships, 11 of which were outright champs. Three of those came in his first three years as Van Wert head coach from 1941 through 1943. He also had a 47-game streak without a loss from 1953 through 1958.

A look back…

How Eggerss Stadium looked when it first opened in 1936 and a look at how it was in 2016. With the stadium renovation project nearly complete, it boasts many new features and improvements. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent

Lincolnview BOE hears about SAM Act

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Imagine a Lincolnview Lancer playing football for one of six neighboring football-playing schools, or a Lancer playing tennis at Van Wert or swimming with the Cougar swim team. How about a Lincolnview student playing girls soccer at Ottoville?

That’s a possibility thanks to a new state law, but the chances of it happening at Lincolnview remain to be seen.

After OHSAA member schools overwhelmingly voted against such an idea in May, a state lawmaker introduced the Student Athlete Mobility (SAM) Act, which was quickly passed by legislators and signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. It gives student-athletes throughout Ohio the ability to participate in sports not offered at their home school, while remaining a student at their home school. However, both schools involved must give approval. In theory, a student could play a sport such as football at a neighboring school, but still could play basketball or run track at their home school.

As an example, a handful of student-athletes at Fort Jennings, which doesn’t offer football, wanted to play the sport at neighboring Delphos Jefferson, but Fort Jennings administators nixed the idea, citing an already low number of athletes.

Lincolnview Jr. High/High School Principal Brad Mendenhall broached the subject at Thursday’s school board meeting and noted that each public school district in Ohio must decide whether or not to allow it. He also noted that the vote in May by OHSAA schools was the latest in a line of several attempts over the years, each of which was shot down.

Trustees change September meeting

Submitted information

The next regular meeting of the Tully Township Trustees has been changed and will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, September 14, at the Township Hall, 6278 Mentzer Road, Convoy. The change in meeting is due to the Labor Day holiday.

Settlement reached disabled veterans

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Court of Claims has granted preliminary approval of a class action settlement in Kacin v. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, that will provide full refunds to 100 percent disabled veterans who were improperly charged registration fees and taxes for specialty military license plates.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has agreed to provide a complete refund of all registration taxes and fees paid by eligible class members who purchased specialty military license plates at deputy registrar offices on or after October 17, 2019. The BMV will also separately pay all costs associated with notice and settlement administration, ensuring that no portion of the refunds owed to veterans is reduced by administrative expenses.

The case arose after the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 194 in 2018, which created specialty military license plates honoring veterans’ service. A subsequent amendment required the BMV to waive registration taxes and fees for veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability. Despite the mandate, the BMV continued to charge affected veterans the full amount for their plates.

The Tenth District Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s initial denial of class certification on December 30, 2025, holding that the BMV’s retention of registration taxes and fees from eligible disabled veterans was unjust as a matter of law. Following that, the parties engaged in settlement negotiations that produced the agreement.

Class members will receive notice by direct mail and email. Notice will also be posted at deputy registrar locations and veterans service organizations throughout Ohio. Eligible class members will be required to submit a declaration of eligibility and documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs confirming their 100 percent service-connected disability status.

Plea changes, other hearings held

VW independent staff

Six defendants charged with various crimes appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday and Thursday. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

Plea changes

William Tracy, 62, of Spencerville, changed his plea to guilty to burglary, a third degree felony. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. October 7.

Gavin McMichael, 21, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to misuse of credit cards, a fifth degree felony. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. October 7.

Charmin Justin, 58, of Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty to theft, a felony of the fifth degree. She then requested and was granted intervention in lieu of conviction and her case was stayed pending completion of the treatment program. She was ordered to pay court costs.

Raymond Bressler, 62, of Ohio City, changed his plea to guilty of possession of cocaine, a fourth degree felony. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 11 a.m. October 14.

Bond/intervention in lieu of conviction violation

Brianna Saxton, 30, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her bond and intervention in lieu by consuming illegal intoxicants, failing to engage in treatment and failing drug screens. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing set for 9 a.m. October 7.

Sentencing

After violating his probation, Michael Whisman, 35, of Van Wert, was sentenced to nine months in prison with credit for 50 days already served for aggravated assault, a fourth degree felony, and 180 days jail for endangering children, a first degree misdemeanor. The sentences will be served concurrently. Whisman was ordered to pay court costs.