VW independent staff/submitted information
The CEO Program held its 10th annual banquet on Thursday, celebrating another successful year and honoring students from Van Wert High School, Lincolnview High School, and Crestview High School.
The banquet, which was held at Willow Bend Country Club, highlighted the growth and impact of the program, which began in 2016 with 16 students and 10 businesses and has since grown to more than 90 students and around 80 business partners this year. Over the past decade, nearly 700 students and more than 160 businesses have been a part of the program, reflecting on the strong support of the Van Wert community and surrounding areas.
This year’s keynote speaker, Steve Spray, Chief Executive Officer of Cincinnati Financial Corporation, returned to his hometown to share insights from his journey and encourage students as they prepare for the future.
“Think about those individuals who have made a difference in your life,” Spray said. “Write down the traits you admire and carry those with you moving forward.”
Spray emphasized the importance of attitude, reminding students that it is one of the few things they can always control. He also encouraged them to embrace opportunities, even when they feel uncertain.
“Take risks,” he said. “The best lessons in life come from failure. Growth comes from those moments, not from when everything goes right.”
(more…)POSTED: 05/01/26 at 8:40 pm
VW independent staff
A long awaited public hearing on a petition to re-zone Mega Site property I-2 General Industrial upon annexation into the City of Van Wert will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, in the First Federal Lecture Hall at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.
The hearing is being held to gather public input from anyone for or against a proposed $10 billion data center at the site. It will not be a question and answer session.
There will be sign up sheets for anyone wishing to speak. One will be for city residents, one for residents adjacent to the property, one for county residents and one for people living outside the county. While signing up to speak won’t be mandatory, those who decline to do so will have to wait until those who did sign up have finished speaking. Each speaker will be heard once and will have two minutes to talk.
Previous discussions about the proposed data center at recent planning commission and Van Wert City Council meetings have been tense to say the least. Ground rules have been established for Monday’s meeting.
“We’re not going to tolerate disruption and we’re not going to tolerate incivility,” Van Wert City Council President Thad Eikenbary said. “If you speak, you’re going to speak at the mic. We’re not going to have sidebars and outbursts in the gallery. I was pretty displeased with the outbursts at the last several meetings and it’s not the way we should do business. Let’s be civil, let’s be respectful and we’ll have a productive meeting.”
No action will be taken at the hearing. A vote on re-zoning and annexation is expected to take place at the May 11 meeting of Van Wert City Council.
POSTED: 05/01/26 at 8:39 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
COLUMBUS — Ohio’s annual sales tax holiday will return in August but it’s going back to its roots – just three days. Last year it was 14 days and in 2024, it was 10 days.
A press release from Governor Mike DeWine’s said this year’s sales tax holiday will take place from 12 a.m. Friday, August 7, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 9.
“Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday comes at a time of year when families are getting ready for back-to-school,” said Governor DeWine. “The sales tax break is designed to provide meaningful savings for families as they purchase new school essentials for the upcoming year.”
No reason was given for the shorter holiday. When it introduced in 2015, it was three days. In addtion, it will be for clothes, school supplies and school instructional materials. Last year and in 2024, nearly all items up to $500 were not taxed during the sales tax holiday.
The following items qualify for the sales tax exemption during the three-day holiday:
- Clothing priced at $75 or less per item
- School supplies priced at $20 or less per item
- School instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item
“This annual holiday provides meaningful savings for Ohio families while supporting back-to-school preparation,” said Tax Commissioner Patricia Harris. “We encourage shoppers and retailers to plan ahead and take advantage of the exemption.”
Additional details, including commonly asked questions and guidance for consumers and retailers, are available on the Ohio Department of Taxation website.
POSTED: 05/01/26 at 8:38 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
LIMA — Ohio State Lima’s WBL Scholastic Bowl Tournament returns to campus for round-robin competition from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 8.
Varsity and junior varsity teams from Bath, Celina, Defiance, Elida, Kenton, Ottawa-Glandorf, Shawnee, St. Marys, Van Wert and Wapakoneta will compete in the tournament. Competition rounds will be held in Galvin Hall. Lunch will be in both the Perry Webb Student Life Building and the G. Gilbert Cloyd Student Commons on Galvin’s lower level.
The award ceremony is scheduled to start in the Martha W. Farmer Theatre for the Performing Arts in Reed Hall between 2-2:15 p.m., depending on when the last round finishes.
POSTED: 05/01/26 at 8:37 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
BRYAN — An Illinois man was indicted on a grand theft charge in the Williams County Court of Common Pleas, following an investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
A grand jury indicted Moath Musamih, 39, Orland Park, Illinois, on April 21 after he failed to pay $21,991 in Ohio Turnpike tolls over a two-year period. While working in partnership with the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission to deter toll evasion, Musamih was determined to have been using the Ohio Turnpike while evading tolls from April, 2024 to April, 2026.
If convicted, Musamih could face a maximum of 18 months in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The vehicle used in connection with the theft offense, a Freightliner Cascadia semitractor, could be subject to criminal forfeiture through the Williams County Prosecutor’s Office.
Musamih is set to have his initial appearance in the Williams County Court of Common Pleas on Monday, May 11
According to a press release, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commssion will continue to work together to improve overall safety along the 241-mile Ohio Turnpike, which traverses through 13 counties across northern Ohio and to address toll evasion or related offenses, including the use of fictitious license plates and plates that are obscured, covered or removed.
An indictment is only a charge. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
POSTED: 05/01/26 at 8:36 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
The Van Wert city income tax office will be close at 12 p.m. Monday, May 4, and will remain closed until noon on Wednesday, May 6, for software upgrade and training. During the closure, voicemails and e-mails will be checked daily. If you have paperwork or non-cash payments that you would like to drop off during the closure, you may slide them under the secure income tax office door.
POSTED: 05/01/26 at 8:35 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
Starting Monday, May 4, U.S. 127 between Wren Landeck Rd. and Ohio 709 in Liberty Township will be restricted to alternating one-way traffic for survey work.
In addition, Marsh Rd. over U.S. 30 in Van Wert will be restricted to one-way alternating traffic Tuesday and Wednesday, May 5-6, to chip seal the bridge.
POSTED: 05/01/26 at 8:35 pm. FILED UNDER: News
A rear end crash slowed traffic along N. Washington St. Friday morning. It happened just before 9 a.m. near the entrance to the Comfort Inn, when a van failed to stop in time and struck a vehicle just ahead. The driver of the Honda was transported to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital with injuries. Both vehicles suffered moderate to Heavy damage in the accident and were towed from the scene. The Van Wert Fire Department was at the scene and the Van Wert Police Department investigated the accident. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer
POSTED: 05/01/26 at 11:59 am. FILED UNDER: News
This two vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Blaine St. and Bonnewitz Ave. in Van Wert at approximately 5:15 p.m Thursday, sending the driver of the GMC SUV to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital with injuries. The driver of the Malibu fled the scene before the police arrived. The Van Wert Sheriff’s Office assisted with efforts trying to locate the driver by using its aerial drone and K9 unit but as of early evening, had not been successful. Witnesses said the Malibu was northbound on Blaine St. and failed to stop at the stop sign, then struck the eastbound SUV on Bonnewitz, rolling it onto its side.The Van Wert City Police Department was in charge of the investigation. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Bob Barnes VWFD photographer.
POSTED: 04/30/26 at 8:27 pm. FILED UNDER: News
AYAT Director Alyssa Taylor, Music Director Perri Webb, and choreographer Emily Gehle will be holding auditions for “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” by appointment and at the door on Sunday, May 17 and Monday, May 18 in select time slots at Van Wert Civic Theatre, 118 S. Race Street in Van Wert.
Plot Synopsis: Everything in Hatchetfield seemed normal until people began singing. Then, they began dancing and now, a musical pandemic is sweeping the entire city. It’s up to Paul (an average guy who doesn’t like musicals) and his friends to stop this musical apocalypse and fight for humanity’s future.
Performances will be held July 23-25 and July 31-August 2 at 7:30 p.m. and July 26 and August 3 at 2 p.m. at Van Wert Civic Theatre.
Each auditioner will be required to fill out an audition form online. The form can be accessed on the Van Wert Civic Theatre Facebook page.
Content warning: adult language, violence, sexual language, gunshots, drug references, smoking, blood, and gore.
POSTED: 04/30/26 at 8:26 pm. FILED UNDER: Arts & Entertainment, News
Submitted information
Join the Van Wert County Historical Society this Sunday, May 3, for a special presentation by Harrison Frech on “The Men of Company H,15 th Ohio, Volunteer Infantry, Horn Brigade.” The presentation will be held in the Annex beginning at 2 p.m. All of the buildings will be open to tour afterwards.
The Company was one of the first units raised in Van Wert County at the beginning of the Civil War, the men fought in many of the major engagements in the Western Theatre of that conflictincluding Shiloh, Stones River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Picket’s Mill and the siege of Nashville. The talk will cover Co. H, highlighting 10 Van Wert County men, their backgrounds, war experiences, sacrifices and post war lives. None returned unscarred and some did not return at all.
POSTED: 04/30/26 at 8:26 pm. FILED UNDER: News
