Van Wert Co. serving as a pilot county for next-gen 911

Yacht Rock Friday…

Thurston Howell set sail to Fountain Park Friday night and provided a crowd pleasing Yacht Rock performance. The group took the crowd on a nostalgic journey through the smooth sounds and soft rock of the 1970s and 1980s, along with a bit of modern zest. Toto, the Little River Band, Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald and Christopher Cross were among the many hits performed during the latest installment of the Feel Good Fridays summer concert series. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent

Blue Envelope Program offered locally

VW independent staff/submitted information

Flashing lights in the rear view mirror can cause anxiety for any driver, but for individuals with developmental disabilities, the fear and confusion during a traffic stop can be overwhelming. However, a new initiative – a small blue envelope – is helping ease that fear, and now it’s available in Van Wert County.

The Blue Envelope Program is designed to support individuals with developmental disabilities in interactions with law enforcement. The program provides tools that improve communication, foster understanding, and promote safer experiences during traffic stops or emergencies. This program is being expanded throughout Ohio thanks the Southern Ohio Council of Governments (SOCOG), Southern Ohio Advocacy Group (SOAG), and grant funding from Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council made packets available for free to Ohio County Boards of DD.

The Blue Envelope Program is a simple yet powerful tool. It allows individuals to feel more prepared and confident on the road, while also helping first responders quickly understand how best to communicate.

Each envelope is printed with space on the outside for key information, such as the driver or passenger’s disability or medical conditions. Inside, users can store a copy of a ID/driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance card – all the materials needed during a traffic stop – organized and ready to hand over to an officer.

Free day for kids at Camp Clay

VW independent staff

Van Wert Lodge No. 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is inviting all children to come out to the YMCA of Van Wert County’s Camp Clay for Elks Day at Camp Clay from 12-4 p.m. Tuesday, July 15.

The Elks will be having a special day for all kids and the event is free, with no entry fee to come out to Camp Clay on this day to enjoy the facilities. The day will feature paddle boats, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and the nature trail. The aqua park splash pad and playground will be open, along with the water cannons and the log roll.

Camp Clay is at 9196 Liberty-Union Rd. in Van Wert.

Yost, DeWine address property tax reform

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — With a possible ballot issue looming, property tax reform has become a hot topic in Columbus. Attorney General Dave Yost and Governor Mike DeWine chimed in on the potential 2026 issue and both are talking about reform.

Yost is urging elected county officials to form a coalition to reform property taxes in Ohio before a citizen-led ballot initiative simply eliminates the system altogether.

“Ohioans are as angry as I’ve ever seen them – and rightly so,” Yost said. “These inflationary tax increases are hurting everyone and, in some cases, are forcing people out of the homes they worked their entire lives for.”

Speaking on Wednesday to the leaders of the Ohio Council of County Officials, a group representing all Ohio’s county elected officials, Yost noted that from 2020 to 2024, property taxes jumped nearly 19 percent to the tune of $3.8 billion. Owners of residential and agricultural properties bore the largest share of the tax burden, due to increases in property valuations.

Drawing on his experience as a former county auditor and former state auditor, Yost observed that schools, counties and local governments – all of which rely heavily on property taxes to fund operations – need to lead on property-tax reform before it is simply eliminated altogether. Ohio homeowners are clearly and vocally fed up with ever-rising property taxes and will no longer tolerate the related losses in personal income.

Yost predicted that a citizen-led ballot measure aimed at abolishing property taxes in Ohio, which seems likely to make an upcoming ballot, would pass easily. He warned the local leaders to get ahead of this issue now or risk dealing with public finances in chaos.

“Lead now, or the people will surely blow up the property-tax system,” Yost said. “Reform will be painful, but not nearly as painful as trying to replace $20 billion in revenue that supports schools and local government.”

On Thursday, Governor DeWine formally announced the formation of his Property Tax Reform Working Group. The working group, informally announced during the Governor’s signing of House Bill 96 and associated line-item vetoes, will be co-chaired by former legislators Bill Seitz and Pat Tiberi, also a former congressman and President and CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable.

Venue change at Convoy Community Days

VW independent staff

CONVOY — Due to the potential of storms passing through, Saturday’s Convoy Community Days Market on Tully St. (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) has been moved from Tully St. to the Convoy Opera House.

Man of Steel has roots in Ohio

VW independent staff/submitted information

Fans of Superman know his roots aren’t just from the planet Krypton – they’re in Ohio as well.

Before he became known around the world as the ‘Man of Steel,’ Superman was created by two Cleveland teenagers, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who dreamed up the superhero while attending high school in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood in the early 1930s. Now, nearly a century later, the superhero is back in Ohio in a new movie filmed in the city that gave him life.

Superman (2025) opens in theaters nationwide today.

“The story of Superman has captivated generations of families from all over the world — from grandparents who grew up reading the original comics to kids who’ll be heading to the theaters to enjoy the newest iteration of this classic adventure,” Governor Mike DeWine said. “This is a proud moment for Cleveland, for Ohio, and for all of us who still believe in the power of imagination.”

Several iconic Cleveland locations make an appearance in Superman, including Headlands Beach State Park in nearby Mentor. Governor DeWine visited the state park during the filming, watching as the cast and crew filmed scenes on a production set depicting a vintage U.S. Army base.  

Other Cleveland sites that played key roles in the film’s portrayal of Metropolis include:

• A central piece of downtown Cleveland, Public Square — including the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument — was transformed into Metropolis’ bustling city center.  
• The Leader Building, Cleveland’s last remaining historic newspaper building, was used as the exterior of the Daily Planet — the news hub of Metropolis and workplace of reporters Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Clark Kent.
• Progressive Field, home to the Cleveland Guardians, was transformed into Metropolis Meteors’ baseball stadium for a major action sequence.
•  The Cleveland Arcade, America’s first indoor mall and a favorite among both Clevelanders and visitors, served as the backdrop for a romantic, airborne kiss between Superman and Lois Lane.
• Cleveland City Hall was used as a fitting stand-in for Metropolis’ own city hall, while Terminal Tower, which offers a 360-degree view of the city, was featured in several sweeping shots of Metropolis’ skyline.
•  Ontario Street, and the former Cleveland Greyhound Station, were part of fast-paced street scenes, and PNC Plaza provided the dynamic urban views that only the largest skyscrapers can offer.
•  Key Tower was depicted as the fictional headquarters of Stagg Enterprises, a research-and-development firm founded by billionaire Simon Stagg.

ODOT lists weekly road work projects

Submitted information

The following ODOT construction projects are anticipated to affect roadways in Van Wert County during the week of July 14. Weather conditions may effect work.

U.S. 30, both eastbound and westbound near Convoy Road, may be restricted at times through the work zone for work along the shoulder. 

In addition, Ohio 49 at various locations between Harrison-Willshire Line Road and Willshire-Ohio City Road, will be restricted to one lane at times through the work zone for drainage repair.

Cheer competition entries sought

VW independent staff/submitted information

All area cheerleading squads are invited to participate in the 37^th annual Van Wert County Fair Cheerleading Invitational, which is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 27, at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.

The entry fee is $35 per team and the entry deadline is August 18. No late entries will be accepted. All completed applications, entry fees, and insurance waivers must be mailed or delivered to:Van Wert County Fair Office, 1055 S. Washington St. Van Wert. Checks should be made payable to Van Wert County Ag Society.

For full rules, application forms, waivers, t-shirt orders, and additional details, please visit the Grandstand Entertainment page at www.vanwertcountyfair.com. The performance and practice schedule will also be posted online following the entry deadline. Fair officials encourage teams to respond early in order to plan accordingly and ensure a well-organized, enjoyable event for all.

Anyone with questions should feel free to reach out. The preferred contact method is via email, Ray Thatcher at ray@vanwertcountyfair.com or Kim Mason at trinitymusicministries@gmail.com.

Stevens: data center is coming to Van Wert

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brent Stevens has confirmed that a data center is “100 percent” coming to approximately 220 acres at the Mega Site in Van Wert.

Stevens made the comment Thursday morning while recording a segement of the next Commissioners Corner/Mayor’s Conference program that will air at 8:25 a.m. this Sunday on WERT 1220AM/104.3FM and 99.7FM WKSD.

“The company is going to close on the ground before July 21,” Stevens told show host Chris Roberts. “What we’re closing on this month would be the developer, not the end user. They put this whole package together and then hand it off to the end user.”

Stevens declined to reveal the name of the developer or the company will run the data center. He did address concerns about the amount of electricity needed to operate such a facility and he noted it shouldn’t result in higher rates for electric customers. 

“Where everybody in Van Wert gets their power from is not where they’re getting their power from,” Stevens explained. “It’s going to be coming down from the north. There are these big lines to the north of Van Wert, 345 kVs (kilovolts) and that’s where that power is going to be coming into, into a distribution station at the Mega Site.”

“When all this extra load comes into Van Wert, it actually does the opposite to rates and will potentially lower the rates, not increase the rates,” he added. “This is an all-AEP project and they will have supplementary power out there through generator systems, because they can’t allow the computers to go down, so they’ll have a generator that will kick on and they also may run those generators during peak hours.”

Stevens said representatives from AEP have agreed to come to a future city council meeting to discuss the matter further.

Canal Museum added to 250th celebration

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — America 250-Ohio, the official state commission responsible for leading Ohio’s commemorations for America’s semiquincentennial in 2026, has announced new sites for the Ohio Air and Space Trail. The list of new sites includes the Delphos Canal Museum.

The Ohio Air and Space Trail is a themed collection of over 40 sites across Ohio that celebrate the Ohioans and locations closely linked to air and space exploration over the past century. Participating sites correspond with one or more trail themes, including innovation, birthplace of aviation, service to country, space exploration, training, preservation and flying experiences, and aviation feats and spectacles.   

 The trail honors several famous Ohio pilots, including Neil Armstrong, Don Gentile, John Glenn, Orville and Wilbur Wright, and Ohio’s Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) from World War II. The new trail locations feature well-known sites, museum collections and hidden gems across the state, such as:  

• Cincinnati Observatory – The nation’s oldest professional observatory 
• Cleveland Museum of Natural History – Home to a new exhibit about the universe and solar system 
• Delphos Canal Museum – The story of Ida Holdgreve, a seamstress for the Wright Brothers and the first woman to work in the aviation industry

• Gentile Park – Honors WWII Fighter Pilot Don Gentile 
• Noble County Museum – Home of the first USS Airship Shenandoah exhibit 
• Wright State University at Fairborn – One of the most comprehensive Wright Brothers collections 
• National Veterans Memorial & Museum – Honoring veterans from all U.S. military branches and eras, including the Air Force. 
• Warren County Historical Society Harmon Museum – A new gallery celebrating the history of flight, aviators, and astronauts