Unsolicited mailings come under scrutiny

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has issued another warning to Ohio voters about confusing and misleading election information stemming from unsolicited mailings by the groups Ready to Register Inc. and Center for Voter Information.

The Secretary of State’s office has been made aware of recent voter registration mailers that may cause confusion among Ohio voters, including individuals who are already registered at their current address. Secretary LaRose agrees with the stated concerns about similar mailings in North Carolina, which have reportedly included outdated voter registration materials, inaccurate voter data, mail sent to deceased individuals, incorrect return information, and QR codes raising privacy concerns.

“These groups claim they’re helping voters, but careless mass mailings often do the opposite,” LaRose said. “They confuse already-registered voters, create unnecessary work for county boards of elections, and undermine confidence in the process.”

LaRose has previously warned Ohio voters about misleading mail campaigns from outside organizations, including the Center for Voter Information, which has sent unsolicited mailers that mimic official government documents, contain partially filled-out voter registration forms, and rely on inaccurate or outdated data that is often purchased commercially and not sourced through the official statewide voter rolls.

Ohio voters who receive unsolicited election mail should remember:

• These mailers are not affiliated with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office or Ohio’s county boards of elections.
• Voters who are already registered at their current address do not need to take action because of an outside mailing.
• Voters should verify their registration status through Ohio’s official voter tools at VoteOhio.gov.

 “Ohio makes it easy to register to vote, update your address, and confirm your information through secure, official channels,” said Aaron Ockerman, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Election Officials. “Before responding to any unsolicited mailing, voters should go directly to VoteOhio.gov or check their county board of elections website to confirm their registration status.”
 
For trusted information about registering to vote, updating your address, finding your polling location, or reviewing election deadlines, visit the Van Wert County Board of Elections website (click here), or  VoteOhio.gov.

No cyclosporiasis cases reported locally

VW independent staff

It appears that a gastrointestinal disease that has sickened hundreds of people across multiple states recently, including Ohio, has not hit home – at least not yet.

Nearly 200 cyclosporiasis cases have been confirmed in in the state this year and the majority have occurred since mid-June. 28 Ohioans have been hospitalized.

Van Wert County does not have any known cases at this time.

Cyclosporiasis is not typically life-threatening but can cause watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea. The illness is caused by a microscopic parasite – Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as Cyclospora. The disease generally is transmitted by eating contaminated produce.

“We are encouraging residents to wash all produce well and wash your hands well,” Van Wert County Health Department Public Information Officer Britt Menchhofer said on Friday. “If a person is experiencing any symptoms of the disease, please see your primary care provider.”

Auditions to be held for new production

VW independent staff/submitted information

Off Stage Productions Inc. will be holding auditions on Monday and Tuesday, August 10-11 for “As Long as We Both Shall Live” by Sean Grennan. Auditions will be held at Vantage Career Center, 818 N. Franklin St., Van Wert in the commons area starting at 7 p.m. both nights. Enter Door No. 7 in the front of the building.

Show dates will be October 16-18 and 23-25. Directing this show will be Matt Krol. The minimum cast size is three men and two women.

Synopsis: Quirky genius Addison Ashe has finally met a man who can keep up with her — the wealthy and charming Jamie Wilcox. But marrying Jamie means wrangling with his disapproving mother, as well as her favorite over-the-top wedding planner, Raul. When Raul is poisoned at the rehearsal dinner, tensions between the clever bride and her mother-in-law to be go from heated to full-on inferno when Mrs. Wilcox points to Addison as the killer. Can Addison solve the case before sashaying down the aisle, or is she in for a honeymoon behind bars?

Characters

• Addison: 20’s-30’s, smart, offbeat, positive, very likeable
• Jamie: 30’s, Addison’s rich, attractive fiancé
• Mrs. Wilcox: 50’s, Jamie’s mother, rich, aloof, matriarch of family
• Raul: the wedding planner, any age, Spanish, flashy and flamboyant, doubles as Lieutenant Dobbs, Paul, Dennis
• Rev. Mountain: youngish and gawkish pastor presiding over the ceremony, possibly shy or retiring, afraid of the dark

Scripts are now available for perusal for those interested in auditioning. Message if interested in previewing a script or call or text 419.605.2634. No prior acting experience is required to audition.

The play is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.

VW independent news briefs

VW independent staff

Road closure starts Monday

As first reported on Monday, John Brown Rd. will be closed to traffic for approximately 17 days starting on Monday, July 13, to allow crews to construct a restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) at John Brown Rd. and U.S. 30. During construction, traffic along U.S. 30 will be restricted to one lane in each direction.

Two other nearby projects are scheduled to begin on August 1 – construction of a roundabout at U.S. 224 and Lincoln Highway, and the U.S. 224 bridge rehabilitation project. Once work starts, the intersection of U.S. 224 and Lincoln Highway will be closed for approximately 60 days. U.S. 224, between U.S. 30 and Lincoln Highway, will be closed for approximately 120 days while crews rehab the bridge over the railroad.

Annual sales to be held in August

Two popular sales that run through Van Wert County will be held next month.

The U.S. 127 Yard Sale, billed as the world’s longest yard sale, will be held August 6-9. The 690-mile yard sale runs through all or parts of six states – Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennesee, Georgia and Alabama.

The Lincoln Highway Buy-Way Yard Sale is scheduled for the following weekend, August 13-15.

Fireworks legal this weekend

Some people will enjoy it, others will not, but 1.4G consumer fireworks can be legally discharged between 4-11 p.m. tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. Ohio law permits the use of those fireworks the Friday, Saturday and Sunday immediately after the July 4 holiday.

Writer’s club to meet

CELINA — The next meeting of the Stateline Writer’s Club will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Celina/Mercer County Library.

The members can choose from the writing prompts:

• “You get to make one wish to create your dream romantic partner. Who/what is it?”
• “Write a love story set in a zoo.” 
• A patriotic story to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States.

As always, a writer can choose an individual topic.

The Stateline Writer’s Club seeks to encourage local writers by support and fellowship. Any interested persons are invited and encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact Renee Shaw at 419.305.8768 or email rmshaw822@gmail.com.

Engineering info available for review

Submitted information

Notice is hereby given that a resolution has been proposed by Union Township requesting the Van Wert County Engineer to evaluate and make necessary improvements to Liberty Union Road due to hazardous roadside ditch conditions.

The proposed action requests an engineering review of the roadway, including the roadside ditch, drainage, shoulder conditions, and other factors affecting public safety. The purpose of the requested improvements is to reduce the risk of accidents, improve roadway safety for motorists, school buses, emergency vehicles, and residents and address ongoing concerns regarding the existing conditions.

Copies of the engineering information is available for public review at the township building by contacting Union Township at 419.622.3022.

Big Boy to roll through the area again

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

When Union Pacific’s historic Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive passed through Continental in early June, it was estimated that between 6,000-7,000 people flocked to the small Putnam County village to get a glimpse of it. Continental is a village of roughly 1,100 people, which made traffic, parking and actually getting near the train challenging.

Big Boy, the world’s largest steam locomotive with a distinctive Hancock Long-Bell 3-chime steam whistle, will be back in Continental next Wednesday, July 15. It’s scheduled to make a 30-minute whistle-stop between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. near Oak St. and Main St. The time is approximate but regardless, officials believe Wednesday’s stop is expected to attract even more visitors to the village.

The stop is part of the train’s coast-to-coast trip.  After stopping in Continental, Big Boy will continue westbound into and through Paulding County, including Payne, but there will be no stops anywhere in Paulding County.

Those planning on seeing the massive locomotive in Continental or anywhere else as it passes in northwest Ohio should stay back at least 25 feet from all railroad tracks. This includes drones. Keep in mind that railroad tracks, trestles, yards and right of way or private property.

According to Union Pacific’s website, this is the first time Big Boy has steamed across the Mississippi River and through the Ohio Valley since it was built in Schenectady, New York, and delivered to Union Pacific Railroad in 1941.

Big Boy launched its 2026 coast-to-coast tour on April 10 from downtown Sacramento near historic Milepost 0 – the site where Central Pacific began construction on the nation’s first transcontinental railroad in 1863.

Big Boy is being accompanied by several historical passenger cars from Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet, along with two commemorative locomotives:

• No. 1616 Abraham Lincoln locomotive, which commemorates the country’s 16th president and Union Pacific’s founder.
• No. 1776 – America250, which features the emblem of the America250 Semiquincentennial Commission, the national nonpartisan organization established by Congress to lead the nation’s 250^th anniversary.

More information about Big Boy No. 4014, including a trip tracker, can be found here.

Precautions urged to avoid cyclosporiasis

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff is urging Ohioans to take extra precautions when handling fruits and vegetables to help prevent cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disease that has sickened hundreds of people across multiple states recently, including Ohio.

As of July 2, ODH is reporting 177 cyclosporiasis cases in the state in 2026. Of those, 171 cases occurred in June, mostly since June 20.

28 Ohioans have been hospitalized. Cyclosporiasis is not typically life-threatening but can cause watery, and sometimes explosive, diarrhea.

“Fortunately, there have been no deaths in Ohio, as is consistent with our past experiences with this illness,” Dr. Vanderhoff said. “Nevertheless, this is a serious illness that can cause dehydration and require people to seek emergency medical care, and it should be taken seriously.”

ODH and local health departments are working with neighboring state partners and federal partners to investigate this outbreak. This includes conducting interviews and traceback investigations to help identify any potential common exposures.

The illness is caused by a microscopic parasite – Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as Cyclospora. The disease generally is transmitted by eating contaminated produce.

At this point, no common source has been identified and the investigation is ongoing.

The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. Bloating or cramping or loss of appetite can also occur. If not treated, symptoms may seem to get better and then return one or more times. Ohioans who experience these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

Motorcycle vs. semi-truck…

A motorcyclist was flown for treatment after colliding with a semi-truck early Thursday afternoon. Van Wert County deputies, along with firefighters from Ohio City and Van Wert were dispatched to the intersection of Ohio 118 and Ohio 81 shortly at approximately 12:45 p.m. No other information is available yet. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer

Training Academy offers VR courses

VW independent staff/submitted information

LONDON (OH) — The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy has rolled out its third series of immersive virtual reality courses, expanding next-generation training for law enforcement agencies across the state.

“Virtual-reality training matters because we know, without a doubt, that the best training our law enforcement professionals can get is reality-based training,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, whose office oversees OPOTA. “VR allows officers to feel and see how they would react in different scenarios.”

The latest launch features seven new scenarios, growing OPOTA’s virtual reality catalog to 19 courses. As with previous rollouts, the third installment bridges the gap between classroom instruction and on-the-job challenges, preparing officers tactically and mentally for calls they are likely to encounter in the field.

For the first time, the curriculum includes a cross-disciplinary training scenario designed not only for law enforcement but also nursing, EMT and victim-advocacy professionals. Developed in partnership with the Forensic Nursing Network, the scenario explores the immediate response to a fictional sexual assault, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative approach to victim support.

The third series of trainings – which build on the skills, characters and storylines of the first two series – covers a diverse range of topics, including:

• Avoidable dangers
• Communication
• Community engagement
• Dangers of conflicting commands
• De-escalation
• Decision-making
• Ethical and legal considerations
• Officer safety and wellness
• Scene assessment
• Suspect interaction
• Tactical considerations
• Using time as a tool

The training is available on 160 sets of virtual-reality goggles that OPOTA has deployed throughout the state. This allows for low-cost, frequent and standardized statewide training that can be completed during a peace officer’s shift.

The scenarios, shot on 360-degree cameras, were produced in collaboration with Ohio University. 

The innovative program was featured in the July edition of Police Chief Magazine, the official publication of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Deadline near for BOE applications

VW independent staff

This Friday, July 10, is the deadline for anyone interested in filling a vacant seat on the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education. Several applications have been received so far.

The seat came open July 1, following the resignation of Thaison Leaser, who is moving just outside the school district. Leaser was elected to the board last fall and began serving his term January 1. Other members of the board are Julie Burenga (vice-president), Dr. Debby Compton, Anthony Adams (president) and Greg Blackmore.

Anyone interested in serving on the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education should contact Julie Anderson (j_anderson@vwcs.net) or click the link here to take you to the VWCS district website for an application. According to Ohio law, people serving on Ohio school boards must be at least 18 years old, district residents, and registered voters.

The board is expected to interview applicants next week and choose Leaser’s replacement at the July 22 regular monthly meeting. The newly appointed member will serve until December 31, 2027. If that person wants to continue serving, he or she must run in the November, 2027 general election for the remaining two years of the unexpired term ending December 31, 2029.