Grant will expand non-profit research, grant seeking

Rolling roadblocks along U.S. 30

Submitted information

Utility work along U.S. 30, just west of Middle Point Wetzel Road has been rescheduled. Now, ODOT will have rolling roadblocks starting at 10 p.m. Monday, March 9, until 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 10. The work was originally scheudled for 10 p.m. Friday, March 6, until 5 a.m. Saturday, March 7. Motorists should expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

Students of the Month…

Van Wert Lodge No. 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks selected Van Wert High School seniors Brenna Kimmet and Grace Spieles as Students of the Month for February. Students are nominated by their high schools to receive this award. Each Student of the Month receives a monetary donation along with a certificate from the Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 with the possibility to be named the Student of the Year. Students are judged on the basis of multiple achievements – volunteerism, character, leadership, service, citizenship and scholastic. Pictured left to right are Kimmet and Spieles with Michael C. Stanley, Lodge Secretary. Photo submitted

St. Mary’s doing kindergarten screening

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School is currently accepting kindergarten screening appointments for any child who will be five years of age by October 31, 2026 and lives in Van Wert County or the surrounding area.

Screening appointments can be set up for Monday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 10, between 3-5 p.m. by calling the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School Office at 419.238.5186 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Time slots are limited and are on a first come, first serve basis.

Children will be assessed using the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning, Fourth Edition (DIAL-4). The DIAL-4 program assesses children in the areas of speech and language, gross and fine motor skills, cognition, self-help, and social-emotional skills. The screening process usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. The school administrator will be on site to review the results of the screening with you that day.

The assessment provides parents with an opportunity to see how your child(ren) is/are progressing in relationship to children of the same age in relation to skills necessary for kindergarten.

St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic School encourages the screening, even if you feel you may want to keep your child in pre-school another year due to their birth date or development.

St. Mary’s has been educating the students of greater Van Wert area since 1959. St. Mary’s is a fully accredited, non-public, charted school that meets all the Ohio Department of Education requirements. The school is an option for a Christ-centered education for children in grades kindergarten through sixth in Van Wert County. While adhering to the teachings of the Catholic Church, the school is open to children of all faiths.

Dixon fire update…

Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach has released an update on last week’s fatal house fire in Dixon (see story here). According to Riggenbach, the deceased individual in the house fire was identified as Jeffrey Gillespie, 67, of Dixon. Riggenbach said during the initial call about the fire, it was reported that it was believed someone fired multiple rounds into the caller’s home. Deputies located multiple bullet holes in the neighboring home. Sheriff Riggenbach stated that based on information and evidence collected at the scene, it is believed the shots came from the home that burned down and were fired by Gillespie. Bob Barnes photo

Meth bust…

An early morning traffic stop in Van Wert led to the discovery of suspected meth and one arrest. According to Van Wert Police Chief Doug Weigle, it happened just after 5:30 this morning on N. Washington St. near Third St. Suspicious activity was noticed by the officer and the Van Wert Police K-9 was called to the scene. K-9 Nico made a positive alert and Cainan David Burnett, 28, of Van Wert, was observed taking items from his pocket and sticking it down the backside of his pants to try to conceal the items. A search was completed and a quarter pound of suspected meth was located. It was packaged for sale. Burnett is currently charged with possession of methamphetamine and trafficking in methamphetamine, both second degree felonies. He was taken to the Van Wert County Jail. VWPD photo

DD Awareness Month: inclusion matters

Paula Miller/special to the VW independent

March is designated as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This observance focuses specifically on the contributions of people with developmental disabilities (such as autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome) and celebrates the value of inclusion in every part of our community.

From schools and workplaces to neighborhoods and volunteer programs, people with developmental disabilities are students, employees, neighbors, and friends who bring talent, energy, and perspective to all they do.

True inclusion means ensuring that people with developmental disabilities are welcomed, valued, and fully included in every aspect of community life.

Inclusion is not simply an idea. It is a practice that strengthens our schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. An estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a disability, representing about 16 percent of the global population.

Here in Ohio, more than 110,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities are supported by their local county boards of DD. They are students, employees, volunteers, neighbors, and friends who contribute to communities across the state every day.

Creating an an inclusive environment matters because it ensures that everyone can participate fully, contribute meaningfully, and thrive in society.

AJ is a sixth-grade student at Lincolnview Elementary School who enjoys being an active member of his school community.

Trey’s Law legislation introduced

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — State Representatives Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Melanie Miller (R-Ashland) recently introduced “Trey’s Law,” legislation designed to strengthen protections for victims of sexual abuse and ensure perpetrators are held accountable for their crime.

Trey’s Law works to ensure that child victims of sexual abuse in Ohio cannot be silenced through nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements by making it clear that any agreement such as an employment contract, settlement agreement, or other arrangement that prohibits a person from speaking about sexual abuse is void and unenforceable.

“One in eight children in our country will experience some form of sexual abuse,” Representative Klopfenstein said. “Under no circumstances should an abuser be allowed to retraumatize a survivor by using a nondisclosure agreement to silence them and keep their story hidden.”

“No contract should ever be used to cover up criminal behavior,” Representative Miller said. “Trey’s Law ensures that those who commit abuse cannot rely on legal loopholes to escape accountability. Our responsibility is to protect children, stand for transparency, and allow survivors to share their stories without fear of repercussions.”

Trey’s Law is named after Trey Carlock, from Texas, who was a victim of child sexual abuse for over a decade at Kamp Kanakuk in southwest Missouri. According to Treyslaw.org, after Kamp Kanakuk director and serial sex offender, Pete Newman, was sentenced to three life terms in 2010, Trey pursued justice to hold others involved accountable through civil litigation. That process ended with a restrictive settlement agreement, which included a nondisclosure agreement, barring Trey from ever speaking about his abuse and Kanakuk’s role in it. Trey tragically died by suicide at the age of 28.

Similar legislation has been passed in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, California, Missouri and has been introduced in numerous other states.

The bill will receive a number in the coming days, along with a House committee assignment.

FOP Lodge 62 event…

Members of Van Wert FOP Lodge 62 are extending a heartfelt thank you to everyone that attended the Lodge’s third annual community dinner and fundraising event, which was held on February 21 at Willow Bend Country Club. Thanks to the generosity and support from the community, local business owners, members and their families, the Lodge was able to surpass both of the previous years’ gross donations and exceeded this year’s goal expectations. This success will help the Lodge continue serving the community and local law enforcement officers and their families. A highlight of the event was awarding Delphos Detective Dave Clark (pictured) with the Lodge Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Next year’s event has already been scheduled for February 20, 2027, at the new Walnut and Main Event Space. Photo submitted

Gas prices in flux, increase locally

VW independent staff/submitted information

Average gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 7.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.76 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 5,345 stations in Ohio. However, that trend doesn’t appear as though it will continue.

Monday afternoon, gas prices at many gas stations in Van Wert alone jumped from the $2.52 range to $3.18 or $3.19 per gallon for self-serve regular.

To start the week, prices in Ohio were 0.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 0.5 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 5.4 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.740 per gallon.
 
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Ohio was priced at $2.11 per gallon on Sunday while the most expensive was $3.49 per gallon, a difference of $1.38 per gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 5.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.94 per gallon on Monday. The national average is up 7.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 10.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

“Looking ahead, markets will now begin reacting to this weekend’s U.S.–Iran attacks, which have elevated geopolitical risk premiums even in the absence of immediate supply disruption,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Oil prices have firmed as traders assess the potential for further escalation, and while fundamentals such as inventories and refinery activity remain important anchors, the risk of broader instability, particularly involving key transit routes, has injected fresh uncertainty into energy markets. In the week ahead, gasoline prices are likely to face heightened upward pressure as seasonal trends continue and markets navigate this evolving geopolitical landscape, with the national average poised to reach the $3-per-gallon mark for the first time this year.”

RTA tickets can be purchased in-person

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation (VWAEDC) is now offering in-person sales of Regional Transit Authority (RTA) public transportation tickets, providing residents with a convenient local option to purchase bus fare using cash.

The service supports the launch of public transportation in Van Wert County earlier this year, and provides an accessible solution for residents who prefer not to share credit card information over the phone or who do not have access to banking services.

Residents can purchase RTA tickets at the Van Wert Area Economic Development office located at 140 E. Main Street in Van Wert.

• Tickets cost $3 each, the starting fare for one-way rides within Van Wert.
• Fares may increase depending on travel distance throughout Van Wert County. 
• The VWAEDC office accepts cash only.

After purchasing tickets, riders will:

• Call the RTA at 419.222.2782 (press 0 for a dispatcher) or use the mobile app to schedule a ride.
• Create a personal rider profile using their name, address, and phone number.
• Provide the ticket(s) to the driver when picked up.

Once a profile is created, future rides can be scheduled more quickly.