4-H Holiday Light Show to light up the fairgrounds

Light show calendar…

Here is the full calendar for this year’s 4-H Exchange Holiday Light Show at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. The show will open on Wednesday, November 26, and the final day will be Christmas night.

Crestview FFA honors Blue Jacket winners

By Emily Lichtle/Crestview FFA reporter

CONVOY — The Crestview FFA has announced this year’s Blue Jacket recipients from the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources class. This application is awarded to first year FFA members who submit a personal essay describing how FFA has influenced their life. This year, we are excited to recognize nine young men who earned their blue jacket, thanks to the generosity of local sponsors who continue to support agricultural education in our community.

Junior Bowen Ayers was selected by Kevin Wenninger of Wenninger Seed Service, Inc. Also selected by Wenninger were Dylan Cress, Brayden Hedington, Cody Mishey, and Bentley Scott. Evan Knueve and Corbett Roth were selected by Laura Hannum from Trillium Farms. Freshman Hudson Buuck was selected by Samantha Bluhm from the Van Wert County Farm Bureau, and Cale Carr was selected by Eric Grubaugh from Grubaugh Farms and Seed.

Each student wrote a meaningful essay describing how FFA has impacted their life or the lives of those around them. Below are a few highlights from several of the essays submitted.

Bowen Ayers wrote about how agriculture has become a place where he can talk to others without feeling judged. He shared that wearing the FFA jacket would help him feel more included and connected within the chapter, and that the jacket represents a space where he can truly be himself.

Cody Mishey explained that while he is not as drawn to the agricultural side of FFA, he is excited to meet new people and expand his knowledge of agricultural machinery.

Bentley Scott highlighted that although his own FFA journey is just beginning, the organization has already had a meaningful impact on his family. In his essay,

Hudson Buuck wrote about how his brother’s positive experience in FFA inspired him to join, and he reflected on the friendships and opportunities that FFA members build together.

Crestview FFA congratulates all nine recipients on earning their first official blue jackets and extends sincere thanks to the sponsors who made this program possible. These jackets symbolize leadership, opportunity, and a bright future in agriculture for each of these young members.

Auxiliary moving monthly meetings

VW independent staff

In an effort to get more members involved, Van Wert VFW Post 5803 Auxiliary is moving its monthly meetings to 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, starting December 10.

Auxiliary officials said many projects are in the works and the Post is in need of help from all members.

Hemp, marijuana addressed in bill

By Megan Henry/Ohio Capital Journal

Ohio lawmakers passed a bill early Thursday morning that would ban intoxicating hemp products and make changes to the state’s marijuana laws. 

The Ohio House voted 52-34 to pass Ohio Senate Bill 56, sending it to the Senate.

Ohio Republicans Tim Barhorst, Thaddeus Claggett, Levi Dean, Jennifer Gross, Brian Lorenz, Jason Stephens, D.J. Swearingen, and Michelle Teska joined Ohio Democrats in voting against the bill around 1 a.m. Thursday morning.

The House vote took place after the bill was originally scheduled to go to conference committee Wednesday morning, but the meeting did not happen until just before midnight Wednesday.

Ohio state Senator Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, offered about a dozen amendments during the conference committee, but none of them were adopted.

The Ohio Senate has session scheduled for December 9 and Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said he is confident the Senate will pass the bill. 

The Republican lawmakers on the conference committee said a lot of accommodations had to be made. 

“We were so close that things came together and we did not want to walk away being so close with where we’re at,” said Ohio state Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City. “I think we came to a good compromise.” 

Huffman introduced the bill in January and the Senate originally passed the bill in February, but the House made major changes, most notably by adding intoxicating hemp regulations.

The Ohio House passed Ohio S.B. 56 in October with a bipartisan vote and the Ohio Senate voted unanimously one week later not to concur with changes made to the bill, sending it to conference committee. After the bill was sent to conference committee at the end of October, changes were made to hemp at the federal level.

Congress recently voted to ban products that contain 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container earlier this month when they voted to reopen the government.

Van Wert leaf pickup to start Monday

VW independent staff

A reminder that leaf pickup in Van Wert will begin on Monday and will run weekly with the last day being Friday, December 19.

Residents should make sure their leaves are in paper biodegradable bags and placed by the curb by 7 a.m. each Monday. If leaves are not placed in paper biodegradable bags and by the curb, they will not be picked up.

There is no breakdown from ward to ward so please make sure leaves are curbside by 7 a.m. each Monday.

New playground equipment approved

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

It’s all systems go for a new elementary playground at Lincolnview.

During Thursday night’s monthly meeting, the Lincolnview school board unanimously approved a resolution to enter into an agreement with Midstates Recreation for the purchase and installation of new playground equipment and surface material, at a cost of approximately $1.5 million. Superintendent Jeff Snyder said work is expected to begin in May and should be complete in July. The possibility of a new playground was first discussed by the board in September.

Snyder, along with Jr. High/High School Principal Brad Mendenhall and Elementary Principal Nita Meyer thanked and praised staff members for their efforts during Tuesday’s brief lockdown. It was caused by a student who allegedly threatened another student, left the school and stole two cars, including one that was parked on school property with keys left inside. The student was later arrested in Lima after leading authorities from Van Wert and Allen counties on a high-speed chase.

“They did an outstanding job keeping our kids safe in a tense situation,” Mendenhall said of the staff. “In a tough spot, our people stepped up and did a good job.”

“The best thing is that every kid was safe, even the student in question,” Snyder said. “No one got hurt and we’re going to learn a lot from this.”

The board heard from members of the Lincolnview girls’ cross country team who competed at the recent OHSAA state meet. Kendall Hoffman, Elyssa Renner, Harper Reindel, Brynleigh Moody and Kiera Breese addressed board members, as did head coach Matt Langdon, who listed the team’s many notable accomplishments from this season and previous 2-3 seasons.

Personnel matters centered mainly around coaches. The board accepted the immediate resignation of boys junior varsity basketball coach Andy Breese, then approved him as varsity assistant basketball coach. Austin Leeth was tabbed to fill the junior varsity vacancy. In addition, Cal Evans was approved as eighth grade boys basketball coach and Reide Jackson was approved as junior high boys basketball coach. Lawrence Slygh was accepted as a varsity assistant wrestling coach.

Man memorialized at Eggerss Stadium

VW independent staff/submitted information

A Van Wert native is being remembered with a personal tribute at Eggerss Stadium.

Bryce Beckman, a 1975 graduate of Van Wert High School, passed away two months ago. A few of his close friends from that class decided they wanted to do something special for Beckman. They came up with the idea of a paver at the stadium to forever keep him in their memory.

“When I heard about the idea, I thought it was outstanding and a great way to honor Bryce,” said Jackie Beckman, Bryce’s wife.

The classmates, who prefer to remain anonymous, quickly raised $1,000 for a large paver which will be part of the final phase of the stadium complex new construction in 2026.

“There are so many reasons local residents have selected a paver at Eggress to leave their legacy,” stated John White, Capital Campaign Manager for the legacy sponsorship program.

The reasons include memorial tributes, past graduates, Van Wert High School classes, grandparents, businesses, students, and teams.

“There is so much excitement and anticipation of what the final phase of the project will look like” said White.

With planning in full swing, a deadline for ordering pavers has been set at January 30, 2026. This will allow adequate time to layout the grid of pavers which includes small, medium, and large sizes.

To be included in the program and to leave a legacy, click here or contact John White at 419.203.1217 for further information.

Thursday morning crash…

One person was transported by ambulance to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital after this two-vehicle accident on U.S. 224, near Liberty Union Rd. The crash occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday. A westbound Dodge Durango had stopped on U.S. 224 waiting on another vehicle that was making a left hand turn into a private entrance. While stopped, the Durango was struck in the rear by a Hyundai Elantra. The Ohio City Fire Department and two EMS units were dispatched to the scene. The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the accident and a unit from the Van Wert Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control. Bob Barnes photo

Bill tied to SORN clears the Ohio House

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — A new bill aimed at closing a loophole in the state’s Sex Offender Registry and Notification (SORN) laws has passed the Ohio House.

According to State Representatives Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.), House Bill 102 expands residency and loitering restrictions for registered sex offenders, ensuring stronger protection for victims, especially children, who may continue to face proximity to their abusers.

“Victims should never have to live in constant fear of encountering their attacker every time they step outside,” Rep. Klopfenstein said. “With 80 percent of sexual assaults committed by someone the victim knows, it’s unacceptable that current laws allow an offender to move in right next door. House Bill 102 will help protect our constituents, ensuring they don’t have to endure these traumatic situations.”

Under current law, sex offenders are prohibited from living near schools and childcare centers but can legally reside near their victims. House Bill 102 addresses this issue by prohibiting registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of their victims’ homes and loitering within 1,000 feet of their victims’ residence.

“Victims should never have to look over their shoulder or fear running into the person who traumatized them,” Rep. Williams said. “This bill closes a dangerous loophole and puts the safety and dignity of survivors first. No family should ever have to live with the anxiety of the sex offender who victimized them legally moving in next door. House Bill 102 ensures that Ohio stands firmly on the side of protecting victims, not predators.”

The legislation is modeled after Oklahoma’s Senate Bill 1221, which passed with unanimous support in 2018 and has been adopted in several other states. House Bill 102 aims to protect Ohio’s most vulnerable residents by ensuring that victims do not have to live in fear of encountering their abuser on a daily basis.

House Bill 102 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

Klopfenstein represents Ohio’s 82^nd District, which includes all of Van Wert, Paulding, and Putnam counties and the southern portion of Defiance County.

Local Habitat receives $200K donation

VW independent staff/submitted information

On Thursday, November 13, at the construction site of the newest Habitat for Humanity of Paulding–Van Wert home on George Street in Van Wert, representatives gathered to accept a major donation from the family of the Martha E. Poling Estate. The gift, totaling $220,000, was presented in memory of Martha E. Poling and will be used specifically for safe, affordable home construction in Van Wert County.

Martha E. Poling was a lifelong Van Wert County resident who considered her 18 nieces and nephews her “family” and related to them with a generous heart. Like her husband, Vernon, she had a strong philanthropic spirit for her community and her church. Family members recall her faithfully visiting friends and neighbors, staying connected through cards, letters, and phone calls, and making sure no one left without “something,” often candy or a T-shirt.

Executive director Laurie Lucas said the donation reflects that same giving nature.

“When Kevin Gehres, executor of the Martha Poling estate, notified me about the donation to Habitat for Humanity of Paulding-Van Wert, I was overwhelmed by the generosity,” she said. “This money will be used in Van Wert County for safe and affordable housing for qualifying families. Not only will it help with the current build on George Street, but for hopefully two more homes. The board and I are so blessed to have such great donors that support our mission.”

Representing the family at the presentation were nephews Kevin Gehres and Randy Gehres and niece Lisa Studenmund, who joined Habitat staff and volunteers at the George Street site for the check presentation.