VW independent staff/submitted information
COLUMBUS — A bipartisan group of 41 attorneys general, co-led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, is urging federal regulators to reaffirm that jurisdiction over sports-related “event contracts” belongs to states.
“This is gambling, no matter how they try to dress it up – and that means it belongs under state jurisdiction,” Yost said. “States have a longstanding right and responsibility to protect their citizens from the dangers of gambling, whether it’s on a prediction market or a casino floor.”
The attorneys general today filed a formal comment with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, arguing that prediction markets – platforms where users trade contracts on the outcome of future events – have effectively become unregulated sportsbooks.
“Any distinction between sportsbook bets and prediction-market bets is illusory,” the letter says. “On so-called ‘prediction markets,’ users can make all the same wagers they can make at a traditional sportsbook.”
The platforms, including Polymarket and Kalshi, allow users to place wagers on game winners, point spreads and player statistics, bypassing the consumer protections and tax requirements mandated by state gambling laws.
POSTED: 04/30/26 at 8:27 pm
This two vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Blaine St. and Bonnewitz Ave. in Van Wert at approximately5:15 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 drive by using its aerial drone and K9 unit but as early evening, had not been located at the time. 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
A pickup truck was northbound on S. Shannon St. at approximately 4:15 p.m. Thursday when it left the right side of the roadway and struck a pole. A Van Wert EMS unit did respond to the scene but the driver did not require any medical assistance. Damage The Van Wert Police Department investigated the accident. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer
POSTED: 04/30/26 at 8:25 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
NEW ALBANY — Local media representatives traveled to central Ohio on Wednesday to get a firsthand look at data centers.
Representatives from the VW independent, the Times Bulletin and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM made the trip to New Albany to see a massive industrial park that is home to 40 data centers, with 28 more currently under construction. Wednesday’s trip was organized by Van Wert Area Economic Development Executive Director Brent Stevens. It was similar to last week’s trip by local elected officials, including members of Van Wert City Council, and others from community. That trip was also organized by Stevens, who said the purpose of the trips was to provide a better understanding of a data center, which has become a hot button topic in Van Wert.
“I wanted to bring people down so they can see just how beautiful the buildings are,” Stevens said. “There’s so many people that think that it’s going to be a chicken coop with these fans outside and are really noisy. I wanted to bring people down to show how responsible these data center people are with the looks of the building, the grounds and how they keep them kept up and then also bring you guys down so you can see what can happen to community when the revenue starts to come in for the property tax and pilot payments and those types of things.”
Some of the data centers in New Albany were close to residential areas and it was noted that many of them were covered at least partially by trees. According to Stevens, most data centers try to be good neighbors.
“There are some bad apples in every type of business but the good ones know they need to become part of the community and really work hard to show the community they want to give back,” he stated. “We talked with economic development in New Albany when we did the bus trip and she talked about one company that, they see their t-shirts all over town because they actually give their employees 25 hours of PTO to out and give back to the community and that’s not an uncommon story for a lot of these data centers. They want to give back and they want to be known as somebody that’s really helping lift a community.”
One of the local concerns is noise generated by such facilities but during a stop near one of the data centers, none of the media members could hear noise coming from it.
(more…)POSTED: 04/29/26 at 9:06 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
An Ohio City man facing a number of sex charges has changed his plea and now awaits sentencing.
During a hearing held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, Seth Marbaugh, 34, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to sexual battery, a felony of the third degree. Judge Martin D. Burchfield ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for 9 a.m. June 17.
Prior to the plea change, Marbaugh was charged with four counts of rape, all first degree felonies; three counts of sexual battery, third degree felonies, and three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, third degree felonies. He was also facing a charge of tampering with evidence, and was scheduled to stand trial May 18-20.
Court records show the alleged crimes occurred between May of 2023 and October of 2024, and the alleged victim was between 13-16 years of age.
Three other plea changes occurred on Wednesday.
Daniel Green, 50, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. June 10.
Robert Johnson, 38, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to an amended charge of attempted tampering with evidence, a fourth degree felony. He then requested and was granted intervention in lieu of conviction and his case was stayed pending completion of the treatment program. He was also ordered to pay court costs.
(more…)POSTED: 04/29/26 at 9:06 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
The 2025-2026 high school basketball season is in the rear view mirror but the Lincolnview boys basketball program and the school board spent some time reminiscing about the season Wednesday night.
The board lauded the team for a 22-5 season that included NWC, sectional, district and regional titles, along with an appearance in the Division VI state semifinals at the Ervin J. Nutter Center. Six members of the team were at the meeting, along with head coach Brett Hammons and his assistants.
“It was a fun ride and one that will always be remembered as a special season,” Hammons said. “It was one of the best seasons we’ve ever had and that’s special.”
“I think it definitely woke up the Lancer community,” said senior Gavin Evans, a key player for Lincolnview.
During his monthly report to the board, Jr. High/High School Principal Brad Mendenhall said a junior high career day will be held this Friday and he noted the annual senior awards program will be held at 7:30 p.m. May 11 at the Marsh Foundation. Graduation will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17. He also said scheduling for next school year is progressing and he provided a surprising stat about next year’s junior class.
“Our current sophomore class is one of the smallest classes we have in our district, with 52 students, 30 of which will be attending Vantage, so that will leave us with 22 students in the junior class at Lincolnview every day,” he explained.
Elementary Principal Nita Meyer noted a mobile dentist paid a recent visit to the school and she said 58 children recently went through kindergarten screening.
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Jeff Snyder reminded the board that a safe school drill will be conducted next Wednesday, May 6.
(more…)POSTED: 04/29/26 at 9:05 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
The Van Wert Optimist Club is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Service Award Scholarship.
Recipients include two Crestview seniors, Ellieana Ward and Lulu Ross. Ward plans to attend Rhodes State College and major in Dental Hygiene and Ross plans to attend the University of Toledo on a pre-med track majoring in biochemistry. The third recipient is Lincolnview Senior, Delana Rank, whose post-graduation plans include majoring in pre-veterinary medicine at the University of Findlay.
Each winner will each receive $2,000 to use at their discretion in pursuit of higher education.
Service Award Scholarships are granted by the local Optimist Club to graduating seniors from Crestview, Lincolnview, and Van Wert high schools based on hours of volunteer community service provided through a nonprofit organization or group.
The Optimist Club of Van Wert is a volunteer service club dedicated to the community, friendship, fun, service to youth, and the promotion of optimism as a way of life. For more information visit optimistvw.com.
POSTED: 04/29/26 at 9:05 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
He’s seen it all — tornadoes, floods, wind storms, a powerful derecho and other types of emergencies and now, after 35 years and six months, Van Wert County Emergency Management Agency Director Rick McCoy is stepping away from the job. His last official day will be this Thursday as he heads off into retirement.
His long career was celebrated by a steady stream of people at the EMA office Tuesday afternoon. Friends, family, county officials, well-wishers and many others poured into the building to congratulate him on his retirement. Van Wert County Commissioner Todd Wolfrum, State Representative Roy Klopfenstein and other elected officials presented him with proclamations. The man who hired McCoy as EMA Director, George Ropp, shared a few kind words and wished him the best in retirement.
National Weather Service Northern Indiana Warning Coordination Meteorologist Dustin Norman was present and praised McCoy, noting he was instrumental in creating the Syracuse, Indiana office, which serves 37 counties, including eight in Ohio.
“Out of our 37 counties, I’d like to say you’re one of our more engaged ones,” Norman said. “We can always rely on you to send damage pictures and storm reports.”
National Weather Service Director Ken Graham also lauded McCoy via a video hookup and wished him all the best in retirement.
While reflecting on his career and his upcoming retirement, McCoy noted it’s a bittersweet time for him.
“I’ve looked forward to it but it’s sort of tough walking away,” McCoy said. “A lot people work their entire lives and sometimes they’re not real thrilled with the job or it’s just a job to them to get that salary. For me this was sort of a passion that I’ve really enjoyed.”
Without a doubt, the biggest event during McCoy’s watch was the November 10, 2002, F-4 tornado that barreled through Van Wert County. The twister, which packed winds of 207-260 miles per hour killed two county residents, injured 19 others and left behind tens of millions of dollars in damage. Afterward, it was designated as the worst tornado in Van Wert County history.
(more…)POSTED: 04/28/26 at 9:42 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
Five area boys have been selected as finalists for the 2026 R.K. Thompson Self Reliance Award, according to Anthony Adams and Keri McClure, co-chairpersons of the Van Wert Service Club’s selection committee. In its 56th year, the program provides cash awards to Van Wert County High School seniors who best exhibit the trait of self-reliance. These awards are designed to seek out and honor the student who does the best with what he has.
This year’s boy finalists include Evan Beining, son of Brad and Angie Beining; Trevor Dotson, son of James and Staci Dotson; Trey Dotson, son of James and Staci Dotson; Wyatt Polley, son of Ryan and Kristin Polley, and Gabriel Spradlin, son of Nick Roxo.
Evan Beining is a senior at Van Wert High School at the Goedde where he enjoys participating in many service projects including the 1,000 meal giveaway, veterans breakfast, leaf raking, the Boutique and the Probation Garden. In a desire to continue his love of service, Evan is a Marine Corp poolee and will join the Marine Corps following graduation.
Trevor Dotson is a senior at Van Wert High School where he is a member of National Honor Society and Service Pack. Trevor is also the student council vice-president, a team lead on the VW Robotics Team while also competing on the Cougar football team. Volunteer activities include work with the Council on Aging and Main Street Van Wert in addition to being an active member of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church. Following graduation, he plans to attend the University of Toledo majoring in computer science and electrical engineering. Work history includes time with Subway and McDonalds as well as experience at Millwork Brands Inc as a part of the CEO program.
Trey Dotson is a senior at Van Wert High School where he is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Outside of school, Trey is the founder of Dotty’s Designs which creates custom items through the use of laser engraving and UV printing. He has leveraged his small business to not only generate revenue for himself but also provide items for various group to use in their fundraising efforts. Following graduation, Trey plans to attend Ohio University majoring in business and entrepreneurship while continuing to expand his small business. Work experience includes time with Millwork Brands Inc as a part of the CEO program.
(more…)POSTED: 04/28/26 at 9:41 pm. FILED UNDER: News
