Free Christian entertainment planned at county fair

Touchdown machine!

Van Wert’s Xavier Kelly (11) scored four touchdowns during Friday’s WBL opener against Elida, marking the second straight game he found the end zone four times. The Cougars won the game 31-21. A full game story can be found on the Sports page. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent

VWCT cast bound for state conference

VW independent staff/submitted information

The stage is set and the getaway car is packed. Bonnie and Clyde ride again.

Over Labor Day weekend, a 25-member ensemble of cast, crew, and directors from the Van Wert Civic Theatre will travel to Lima to represent Northwest Ohio at the Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA) State Conference.

VWCT is one of just 15 community theatre groups selected from across the state to perform at the three-day annual festival, held at the Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center in downtown Lima.

VWCT will take the stage at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, September 6, to perform a 40-minute excerpt of their hit musical production from September of 2025, Bonnie & Clyde.

Earning a spot at the state showcase is a significant achievement. After qualifying at the Northwest Regional OCTAFest earlier this summer, the Van Wert Civic Theatre was selected to join 14 other regional excerpt winners for the statewide celebration of community theatre excellence.

The excerpt competition tests technical precision as much as performance quality: each group has strict time limits to load in their set pieces, present a seamless 40-minute cut of their show, and load off the stage under the eyes of state adjudicators. Theatres from around the state will spend the weekend taking part in professional theatre workshops, networking with fellow groups from across Ohio, and watching performances from the participating theatres.

The festival culminates on Sunday evening with the annual OCTA Awards Banquet, where productions will be recognized with state honors for acting, vocal performance, directing, and technical execution.

Anyone can attend the Ohio Community Theatre Association festival.  For registration information, visit the OCTA website at octa1953.org.

To learn more about Van Wert Civic Theatre and their upcoming season, visit vwct.org.

Shelby Co. woman indicted for fraud

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS –  The state’s Division of Securities and the Shelby County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Friday that a Shelby County grand jury has indicted a Jackson Center woman on dozens of charges stemming from alleged incidents involving at least nine investors since 2023.

Chandra Snapp, 38, was indicted earlier this week for allegedly soliciting more than $400,000 in investments for her small sewing business as well as investing in gift cards in which she promised a substantial short-term profit. Snapp was arrested on Thursday and is currently being held at the Shelby County Correctional Facility.

The 50 charges listed in the indictment include six counts of misrepresentation in the sale of securities, six counts of securities fraud, and seven counts of sales of unregistered securities. Charges also include one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, four counts of telecommunications fraud, one count of money laundering, nine counts of passing bad checks, five counts of forgery, two counts of aggravated theft, three counts of grand theft, three counts of theft, one count of tampering with evidence, and two counts of receiving stolen property.

In total, these charges include four first‑degree felony, seven second‑degree felony, 11 third‑degree felonies, 16 fourth‑degree felonies, ten fifth‑degree felonies, and two first‑degree misdemeanors.

“Ohio investors deserve honesty and transparency,” said Ohio Securities Commissioner Andrea Seidt. “When individuals choose to deceive and exploit others, we will take decisive action. Our team is committed to protecting the public and ensuring that those who engage in fraudulent conduct are held accountable.”

Rank, Polley named Jr. Fair Queen and King

VW independent staff/submitted information

A Lincolnview High School senior and a Lincolnview/Vantage Career Center graduate have been chosen as this year’s Van Wert County Fair Jr. Fair Queen and King. The Van Wert County Fair announced the royal titles during Wednesday night’s coronation ceremony — Cassidy Rank and Wyatt Polley.  They will represent the Van Wert County Fair and the Junior Fair throughout the 2026 fair season.

Rank is the daughter of Dave and Patty Rank. She participates in volleyball, softball, Service Club, Spanish Club, and FFA. She volunteers for Kingsley Church VBS, attends Calvary Evangelical Church Youth Group, and is a Junior Fair board member. Representing Lincolnview FFA, Rank has exhibited breeding rabbits, dairy goats, and numerous still projects. She has served as FFA historian, FFA reporter, and vice president, a 4-H camp counselor,  and 4-H club secretary.

Polley is the son of Ryan and Kristen Polley. In high school, he was active in cross country,track and field, FCA, and was the president of the Industrial Mechanics Lab. Polley is also a member of the Van Wert County Jr. Fair Board and president of the Hoaglin Farmers 4-H club. Representing Hoaglin Farmers, he has exhibited fancy chickens, meat chickens, meat goats, and breeding meat goats.

The runner-up queen is Crestview High School senior Hailey Logan, and the runner-up king is Delphos Jefferson junior Aiden Kroeger.

Commissioners OK annexation petitions

VW independent staff

The Van Wert County Commissioners have given the okay to a pair annexation petitions that if eventually approved by Van Wert City Council, will add nearly 840 acres of land to the city of Van Wert.

Commissioners Thad Lichtensteiger and Stan Owens voted in favor of the petitions during a meeting held on Tuesday. Commission Chairman Todd Wolfrum was absent from the meeting.

Due to pre-existing annexation agreements from years ago, the latest petitions were required to be considered for approval immediately by the commissioners.

“I’m not sure why this lack of authority/autonomy exists but it does and it’s one of the few peculiarities where we are literally commanded to say ‘yes,’” Lichtensteiger said.

However, by law, the city of Van Wert is required to hold a public hearing on the annexation request itself. Such a hearing is expected this fall, with a date and time yet to be determined. 

One property consists of approximately 684 acres along the east side of the Mega Site and east of the pending QTS Data Center property. The second property is approximately 155 acres on the south side of Van Wert, adjacent to Industrial Drive.

The proposed annexation was discussed during Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council (see story here).

Thursday crash claims Continental woman

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Defiance Post is investigating a two-vehicle  crash that claimed a Continental woman.

The crash occurred at approximately 12:41 p.m. Thursday on Ohio 15 near milepost 20 in Highland Township, Defiance County. Judith Knowles, 74, was northbound on Ohio 15 when her 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee rear-ended a northbound 2026 Mack dump truck. The dump truck was driven by Lee Perry, 37, of Mount Morris, Michigan. Upon impact both vehicles stayed in the northbound lanes of Ohio 15, which was closed for approximately two hours.

Knowles, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Perry was evaluated by EMS but claimed no injury.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office, Defiance Fire and Rescue, Ayersville Fire Department, Continental Police Department, the Defiance County Coroner’s Office and J and R Towing.

Car hits house…

No one was injured when a car struck a house in the 900 block of Leeson Ave. The Van Wert Police Department and Van Wert Fire Department were dispatched to the scene at approximately 10:20 p.m. Wednesday. The driver turned from High St. onto Leeson Ave., lost control and struck the house. Damage to the home was moderate, while the car sustained heavy damage. The police department is investigating the accident. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer

VWCS plans to build new bus facility

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

If all goes as planned, Van Wert City Schools will have a bus barn by this time next year.

During Wednesday night’s monthly school board meeting, the board approved an architect/engineering agreement with Garmann Miller and Associates for a bus maintenance and storage building. The facility will be built just north of Van Wert Middle School.

Assistant Superintendent Bob Priest said unless they’re in the shop for repairs, district buses are currently exposed to the elements 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We’ve been very fortunate – none of our buses are protected from  weather and vandalism,” he said. “This will put them inside in a secure environment so we’re a lot safer and it certainly will help with the wear and tear on our buses. We currently rent a garage off-campus on Sibley St. so (the new facility) will all be at one location.”

“It makes sense to have everything out here in a secure environment,” he added.

Priest said he expect ground to be broken in the winter with a target completion time of August 1 of next year. More information about new facility is expected at future meetings.

Priest also said the district is using the BusRight app, which allows parents and staff to see detailed route information and track buses in real time. He said the bugs are being worked out locally and added it’s expected to be rolled out to parents next month.

The controversial SAM (Student Athlete Mobility) Act was brought up briefly by Superintendent Mark Bagley, but it doesn’t seem as though the school district will be partaking in it.

The law, which was enacted last month, allows public high school students to play a team sport at a neighboring public school if their own school doesn’t offer it and if the neighboring school approves it.

“We’re studying this very seriously but I think our county is in full agreement that when you have kids going back and fourth, there are cultural issues involved,” Bagley stated. “There’s already a provision for that in place – it’s open enrollment. It was voted down by (OHSAA) member school three times and then legislators parachute in in July and vote yes – that put schools in really difficult positions and the last thing we want to do is have superintendents and school boards fighting on athletes going back and forth.”

Defendants appear in Common Pleas Court

VW independent staff

Seven defendants appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on a variety of matters on Wednesday. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

Arraignments

Ian Taylor, 32, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to possession of a fentanyl related compound, a fifth degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was set for8:15 a.m. September 23.

Theresa Bakle, 40, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony, and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth degree misdemeanor. Judge Burchfield set at bond at $5,000 cash or surety and scheduled a pre-trial conference for 8 a.m. September 23. While in court, Bakle admitted to violating her bond by failing to appear. A hearing will be held on September 23.

Plea changes

Lorenzo Frye, 37, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to violating a protection order, a third degree felony. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. October 14.

Christopher Runyon, 50, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fiffth degree felony. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. October 7.

Bond/intervention in lieu violation

Jered Couch, 38, of Van Wert, admitted to violating his bond and intervention in lieu by failing to engage in treatment and failure to appear to probation. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. October 7.

Sentencing

Jeffrey Kallas, 25, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 180 days in jail and was given credit for 51 days already served for possession of cocaine. He was ordered to pay court costs.

Competency hearing

Joshua Burnett, 48, of Van Wert, was found competent to stand trial after an evaluation at Court Diagnostic in Toledo. He then changed his plea to guilty to an amended count of attempted trafficking in drugs, a third degree felony. A pre-sentence investigation was waived and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. October 14.

Grothouse appointed to state committee

Submitted information

Ohio Senate President Rob McColley has appointed Jeff Grothouse, chief operating officer of The Marsh Foundation, to serve on the Study Committee to Evaluate the Placement of Delinquent Children in Residential Facilities.

Created through House Bill 315, the statewide committee is evaluating Ohio’s current placement system, the resources and services available to support adjudicated youth and gaps that may prevent children from receiving appropriate care. The committee will develop recommendations aimed at strengthening the system and better meeting the needs of children across Ohio.

Grothouse was appointed to represent a residential facility serving more than six children. Through this role, he will bring The Marsh Foundation’s perspective as a residential service provider and his more than 20 years of experience supporting children and families to statewide discussions about placement, available services and opportunities for improvement.

“I am honored to serve on this committee and help contribute to this important work,” Grothouse said. “Children involved in the juvenile court system often have complex needs and it is critical that Ohio has appropriate placements, resources and services available to support them. I look forward to learning from others across the state, sharing what we have experienced at The Marsh and working together to identify meaningful solutions for children and families.”

As chief operating officer, Grothouse oversees the day-to-day operations of The Marsh Foundation. He previously served for many years as the organization’s executive secretary and treasurer.

The 20-member committee includes state legislators, state agency representatives, juvenile court judges, children services leaders, law enforcement officials, residential service providers and other stakeholders. Its work will focus on evaluating the placement process and existing support system, identifying service and resource gaps and recommending changes to better meet the needs of adjudicated youth.

The committee held its first meeting Aug. 24 at the Ohio Statehouse.