High school seniors set to graduate starting Saturday

Fifth graders to gather at fairgrounds

VW independent staff/submitted information

Career Connections of Van Wert County will hold its annual Let’s Get Down to Business event from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.

This interactive educational event will bring together over 250 fifth-grade students from Crestview, Lincolnview, Van Wert, and St. Mary’s of the Assumption Parochial School to explore businesses and careers in a series of hands-on learning stations and engaging displays.

“This event introduces hundreds of students and volunteers to experience the goods and services that businesses and organizations in Van Wert County have to offer, as well as introducing a variety of career options associated with those industries,” Career Connections Board President Brad Harsha said.

Throughout the day, students will rotate through four stations:

• Jobs Station – Local professionals will share insights into job qualifications, résumé tips, and interview strategies.
• Consumer Station – Students will simulate real-world budgeting by earning “income” and managing expenses like childcare, car payments, and taxes.
• Economic Station – A deep dive into Van Wert’s economy and local resources, including Van Wert Works.
• Business Showcase – Local companies and organizations will offer demonstrations, displays, and interactive activities across various industries such as finance, manufacturing, non-profit services, and law enforcement.

Students will also have the chance to earn tickets throughout the day to enter raffles for exciting prizes.

“Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we have some fantastic prizes and giveaways,” Harsha said. “Many participating businesses are also providing swag items to make the experience even more memorable.”

The event was made possible through a grant from the Van Wert County Foundation. Career Connections of Van Wert County is an agency of the United Way of Van Wert County.

BGHS student wins art competition

VW independent staff/submitted information

BOWLING GREEN – Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) has announced that Sarah Mathey from Bowling Green High School as the winner of Ohio’s Fifth District 2026 Congressional Art Competition. 

Mathey’s winning artwork, titled “Hometown,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Tunnel for one year. Three honorable mention winners will have their artwork displayed in one of Latta’s congressional offices for the year. 

Honorable mentions include Caine Margison from Upper Sandusky High School, Abby Kurtz from Carey High School and Amyalin Salone from Galion High School.  

57 high school students from 13 high schools participated in this year’s competition. Latta hosted a reception at Bowling Green State University on to honor all participants and to showcase each individual work of art. 

“We have incredible talent across Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District,” Congressman Latta said. “Congrautlations to Sarah Mathey on her winning piece, ‘Hometown,’ which beautifully showcases her artistic talent and creativity. As we celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial, it is important to reflect on where we come from and the meaning our hometowns hold for us, and Sarah captured that message beautifully through her work. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees and everyone who participated in the Congressional Art Competition.”

Latta represents Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District, which currently stretches from Van Wert, Paulding and Mercer counties all the way into Lorain County in northeastern Ohio. In all, the district is comprised of all or parts of 12 counties. Latta serves as a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. He is Chair of the Energy Subcommittee and is a member of the Communications & Technology Subcommittee, where he previously served as Chairman, and the Environment Subcommittee.

Memorial Day service information needed

VW independent staff

Local and area veterans organizations and other groups planning Memorial Day ceremonies and/or services are encouraged to submit information for publication. Please include the date, time, location and any pertinent information, including speakers, luncheon, etc.

The information should be emailed to editor@thevwindependent.com. It will be published free of charge.

County’s jobless rate continues to decline

VW independent staff

Unemployment in Van Wert County during the month of March was lower than the statewide average, according to figures released earlier this week by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The county’s jobless rate came in at 3.4 percent, while Ohio’s average was 4.0 percent. The local March employment rate dipped from February, when it was 4.1 percent and it’s notably lower than March, 2025, when it was 5.0 percent. ODJS said Van Wert County had an available workforce of 14,200 in March, with 13,700 employed.

Most other surrounding counties came in under the statewide average as well. Paulding County matched Van Wert County at 3.4 percent, Putnam County was at 3.5 percent and Auglaize County’s March unemployment rate was 3.0 percent. Mercer County’s jobless rate was 2.7 percent, second lowest in Ohio. Allen County was just above Ohio’s average, 4.1 percent.

Among the state’s 88 counties, March unemployment rates ranged from a low of 2.6 percent in Holmes County to a high of 6.1 percent in Noble and Ottawa counties. From February, unemployment rates decreased in all 88 counties.

22 counties had unemployment rates at or below 3.5 percent in March. Along with Holmes and Mercer counties, those counties were: Auglaize and Union, 3.0 percent; Delaware, 3.1 percent; Hancock, Warren, and Wyandot, 3.3 percent; Franklin, Paulding, Shelby, Van Wert and Wayne, 3.4 percent, and Champaign, Defiance, Fairfield, Greene, Licking, Madison, Medina, Preble, and Putnam, 3.5 percent.

Nine counties had jobless rates at or above 5.5 percent in March. The counties with the highest rates, other than Noble and Ottawa were: Pike, 6.0 percent; Meigs, 5.8 percent; Adams and Monroe, 5.7 percent; Huron and Trumbull, 5.6 percent, and Morgan, 5.5 percent.

Brush pickup to begin on Monday

VW independent staff

The City of Van Wert’s first official brush pickup of the year is set for Monday, May 11. Brush must be placed by the curb by 7 a.m. that day. Place the brush by the curb and do not place it near poles, trees, etc.

• The city will not pick up limbs larger than four inches in diameter or more than 10 feet long.
• The city will not pick up brush that has been left behind by a professional tree trimmer or private contractor. If a homeowner utilized a trimming service, they are responsible for disposing of the tree.
• Brush placed in bags or boxes will not be picked up.
• The city will not be picking up leaves during brush pick up.
• Do not place brush by trees, poles, manholes, catch basins, water meters, fire hydrants or parked vehicles, must be visible from street.

Additional brush pickup dates are scheduled for July 13 and September 14.

Knights of Columbus plans celebration

Submitted information

The Knights of Columbus will have a celebration for the Knights of Columbus Mexican Martyrs at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Van Wert.

The event will celebrate the members of the Knights of Columbus who were martyred during the Cristeros War in Mexico in the late 1920s. When the government placed severe restrictions and penalties on religious worship, the people rose up against the government and fought for their religious freedom. The slogan for the fighters was Viva Cristo Rey – long live Christ the King.

On May 21, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized 25 martyrs who died in that war, many of whom were members of the Knights of Columbus.

The celebration will include a Holy Hour lead by Rev. Steve Blum which will feature parts in Spanish, English and Latin. Following the Holy Hour, there will be a pot luck meal in the St. Mary’s gym. All are invited.

AG Yost leaving for private sector job

By Morgan Trau and Joe Donatelli/Ohio Capital Journal

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Thursday he will resign and take a private-sector job with nonproft law firm Alliance Defending Freedom.

The “surprise move” was first reported by the Columbus Dispatch.

Earlier Thursday, Yost’s spokesperson did not confirm or deny the report when contacted, but half a dozen statehouse sources who wished to remain anonymous said Yost is expected to leave his job ahead of the November election.

WEWS attended an event today in hopes of speaking with Yost, but his spokesman, Steve Irwin, physically blocked reporter Morgan Trau several times when she attempted to speak with the attorney general in a public area.

Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson thanked Yost for his public service.

“Attorney General Yost has dedicated his entire professional career to keeping people safe … wish him the best in everything that he’s going to do,” Wilson said.

On Thursday afternoon, Yost tweeted that he is taking a job with Alliance Defending Freedom. He will be the firm’s new vice president of Strategic Research and Innovation.

Yost has served as attorney general since 2019.

Prior to that, he was the state auditor.

Yost’s political dreams of being governor were dealt a blow in 2025 when the Ohio Republican Party endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy. Yost suspended his governor campaign soon after, and has since kept a low profile. He is the only statewide Republican besides Governor Mike DeWine who is not currently running for office.

DeWine has the authority to appoint a new attorney general, with just six months until the general election.

Defiance wins WBL scholastic tournament

Submitted information

LIMA — Defiance took home top honors in the Western Buckeye League Scholastic Bowl Tournament held on Friday at The Ohio State University at Lima. This is the third year in a row that Defiance’s varsity team has won the championship title and the fifth of the last seven. 

The winning varsity team from Defiance included George English, Chris Brinkman, Zack Wieland, Matthew Walter and Katherine McDonald. The team finished with a perfect 8-0 record, beating the reserve champion team from Shawnee by one point in head-to-head competition. The runner-up varsity team from Shawnee included Jonah Briggs, Georgianna Damschroder, Ezra George, Angie Karapondo and Abigail Zabonik. Shawnee varsity finished with a 6-2 record. 

The winning JV team was Shawnee and it included Smith Collins, Jonny George, Tommy Hedges, Duleeka Kularatne, Yanni Southibounnorath, Jake Thompson and Jackson Wenningand. They finished with a 7-1 record. The runner-up JV team from Celina finished with a 6-2 record and included Katherine Goldsberry, Leon Melendrez, Austin Muether and Liam Stewart.

The Defiance coach is James Kerr and the Shawnee coach is John Young.

The WBL Scholastic Bowl All Tournament Team was chosen by the coaches and made up of one member from each school. The 2026 All Tournament Team members are Lacey Carpenter from Bath, Mischa Snow from Celina, George English from Defiance, Railee Ronshausen from Elida, Presley Wilson from Kenton, Noah Brinkman from Ottawa-Glandorf, Jeremy Bary from St. Marys, Ezra George from Shawnee and Graham Shively from Wapakoneta. English, Brinkman and Shively have earned all-tournament honors in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Van Wert did not compete in this year’s tournament.

Lincolnview BOE schedules work session

Submitted information

The Lincolnview Local Schools Board of Education will hold a special meeting/work session for district planning. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Monday, May 11, in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall. No action will be taken.

Review: VWCT’s Songs for a New World

By Dave Mosier

Van Wert Civic Theatre’s final production of the 2025-26 season is Songs for a New World, an interesting hybrid of theatrical song cycle and musical that presents situations and decisions related to the human experience. The title has a double meaning, since it refers to historical discovery as well as personal change.

The songs, written and composed by Tony-winning songsmith Jason Robert Brown, encompass a wide range of styles and subject matter, from wry humor to emotional loss, and usually involve some pivotal moment in a character’s life.

The play, which premiered off-Broadway three decades ago, is usually produced with a small cast — often just two men and two women who play a variety of roles — but The VWCT production doubles that number to eight — two men and six women — to give more actors an opportunity to participate.

The two-act show begins, as usual, with a big production number, while the remaining 15 songs are an eclectic mix that includes the darkly humorous “Just One Step” about a woman on a ledge trying to get her husband’s attention, “I’m Not Afraid of Anything” about being brave, “Stars and the Moon” about the consequences of choosing security over love, the rocking “Steam Train” about a man’s ambition that leads to tragedy and, my personal favorite, “Hear My Song”, which features a lovely duet between two
mothers as they talk to their daughters about . Another darkly comedic tune is “Surobaya-Santa”, which features a bitter Mrs. Claus complaining to a slobby, beer-drinking Santa about her disappointing life.

Two historical figures are also included in the play: Christopher Columbus in “On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492” and Betsy Ross in “The Flagmaker, 1775.”

Director Amy Boley has brought together a talented eight-person cast that includes longtime VWCT veterans, several actors seen in more recent Civic Theatre productions and some talented newcomers. The production is challenging for the actors, since each cast member must take on several roles.