Cause of Wren fire under investigation

VW independent staff/submitted information

WREN — The Wren Fire Department was dispatched just after midnight Saturday morning for a house fire along Ohio 49. Upon arrival, crews found the house was fully engulfed in flames. Mutual aid was provided by the Willshire Fire Department, Convoy Fire & EMS, and Ohio City Volunteer Fire and EMS, along with Decatur and Preble fire departments from Adams County, Indiana.

According to Wren Fire Chief Chris High, the residents of the home were able to escape safely and no one was injured. The last units didn’t clear the scene until approximately 5:30 a.m.

High said the cause of the blaze is under investigation.

The Van Wert County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was also at the scene to provide assistance and now, CERT is working to raise support for the family. After meeting with the family it is determined that clothing and monetary donations are needed.
 
Please include Case No. 157488 with your donation so that CERT can ensure it is distributed to the correct family. 

• Adult female: Pants XXL, shirts XXL, shoes 9, coats 2XL
• Adult male: Pants 44×30, shirts XXL, shoes 11, coats 2XL
• Minor female: Pants 10-12, shirts 10-12, shoes 5, coats 10-12
• Minor male: Pants 4T, shirts 4T, shoes 8T, coats 4T

Donations for the fire victims should be taken to Trinity Global Methodist Church, 220 S. Walnut St., Van Wert. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Donations will be collected until Saturday, January 10. Donations may also be made online at vanwertcountyfoundation.org by clicking ‘Donate’ and selecting the ‘Van Wert EMA/CERT Fund’ and include the case number in the donation note.

Lautzenheiser to lead discussion

VW independent staff/submitted information

CONVOY — A lecture and discussion titled “Thomas Paine and the Power of Words” will be hosted by James Lautzenheiser at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 25, at the Convoy Opera House, a perfect setting for exploring Paine’s fiery rheotic and its impact on the American Revolution.

This will be the first in a series of America 250 events and Lautzenheiser will be helping lead throughout the year. He will have packets of primary and secondary sources ready for everyone for a lively and thoughtful conversation, so bring your highlighters, pens, and plenty of questions.

Top 2025 stories that didn’t make the cut

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

2025 is now in the rear-view mirror but the year provided some notable moments at the local level. The VW independent wrapped up its Top 10 stories of 2025 series on December 31, but here are five other stories/events that didn’t make the cut but are worth a second look. They are listed in no particular order.

Pharmacy break-ins

In September, three men dressed all in black broke into three pharmacies in three different counties.

The first was at Hicksville Pharmacy and Home at 5:20 a.m. September 11, followed by Oukley’s Pharmacy in Paulding about 25 minutes later. The burglars then made their way to Van Wert and broke into the Genoa walk-up pharmacy at Westwood Behavorial Center in Van Wert about 45 minutes after that.

Just one of the break-ins was successful. According to Hicksville Police Chief Mark Denning, the suspects were in Hicksville Pharmacy and Home for less than five minutes and were able to steal an unknown amount of narcotics from the pharmacy area, plus a small amount of cash from the register. The men left the other two pharmacies emptyhanded.

To this day, no charges have been filed.

Council gets a raise

After months of discussion, members of Van Wert City Council approved raises, which took effect with the 2026 term. No one is getting rich though. In 2025, council members had an annual salary of $4,900. This year, they’ll make approximately $5,400, or about $42 more per month.

Crestview picks a new superintendent

In early March, the Crestview Local Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of Matt Dube as the district’s new superintendent. He was chosen to replace Kathy Mollenkopf, who retired after serving in that role since 2018.

Dube had served as principal at Fort Jennings Elementary for 11 years and also served as varsity boys soccer and baseball coach. He decided now was the time to make a move.

“(Crestview) is a very similar school district to Fort Jennings, just a little larger,” Dube said. “I’ve always wanted to be a superintendent but I had not looked anywhere else. This one came across my desk – my superintendent actually passed it on to me and said this would be a great one. I took a chance, threw my resume out, my wife and kids supported it and here we are.”

Flat Isaac…

The Van Wert County Historical Society is excited to help celebrate 2026, and America’s 250th Birthday with a special exploration of the rich history of Van Wert County. Are you ready to learn about the villages and towns of Van Wert County? The VWCH invites families to explore with Flat Isaac Van Wart. Learn some history, explore museums and other historical sites, and plan family adventures to local county establishments. Pick up your Flat Isaac at all the branches of the Brumback Library beginning next week. Scan the QR code on the back to explore Isaac’s website. The VWCHS will have extras available for youth groups, teachers, and local county businesses. Contact webmaster@historicalvanwert.com. You can also access Flat Isaac’s website here. 

Some races went down to the wire

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced a record number of close races in the 2025 general election following a successful post-election audit.

“Tight races underscore why election integrity matters, and it reinforces the need for a zero-tolerance approach to unlawful voting,” said Secretary LaRose. “A single illegitimate vote has the potential to undermine the outcome of an election for an entire community, whether it’s a school levy or a seat in Congress. At the same time, these close races show that only one engaged citizen can make all the difference in an election.”

Close election highlights

• 81 contests were decided after an automatic recount, 72 of which were decided by 20 votes or fewer.
• 53 of 88 counties had close races that triggered an automatic recount.
• 32 contests came down to within one vote, including 10 tie votes.

Around the state, a total of nine races were tied after automatic recounts. In the case of a tie vote for a candidate race, the winner is determined by a random method such as drawing names from a hat or flipping a coin. This must be done in front of a board majority at a properly noticed public meeting. If a tie occurs on a ballot issue, the issue fails.

Additionally, the state of Ohio averaged a 99.9 percent accuracy rate after each county conducted a post-election audit.

“We don’t just ask Ohioans to trust the process — we trust but verify,” Secretary LaRose added. “Confidence in our elections comes from transparency and accountability, and Ohio’s bipartisan election officials continue to prove why our state sets the national gold standard.”

A post-election audit is a comprehensive review of results to verify that the election was accurate. Prior to an election, county boards of elections are required to conduct a full battery of logic and accuracy (L&A) testing on all voting equipment. After each election, a bipartisan team of Republicans and Democrats from county boards of elections compares the tabulated results to the hardcopy paper ballots to ensure fidelity between the two.

Auditions set for new production

Submitted information

Off Stage Productions, Inc will be holding auditions on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 20-21, for “Insane with Power” by Scott Haan. Auditions will be held at Vantage Career Center, 818 N. Franklin St., Van Wert in the Commons area starting at 7 p.m. both nights. Enter Door No. 7 in the front of the building.

Show dates will be April 17-19 and 24-26. Directing this show will be Daniel Sanderson, who most recently directed “Gladys in Wonderland” two years ago. The suggested cast size is three men and three women, but flexible casting is possible.

Synopsis

Lois Lancaster is a big-city journalist writing about the current state of mental health facilities. Her research takes her to a hospital populated with a unique group of quirky inmates who imagine they are crime-fighting superheroes. Speed Freak thinks he can run at incredible speeds, while Dim Bulb, the most enthusiastic person on the face of the earth, thinks he has the ability to turn off lights with his brain. Mental thinks she can read minds, despite being prone to sudden outbursts of bizarre non-sequiturs. Kevin, much less quirky and flamboyant than the other inmates, doesn’t embarrass himself with a ridiculous code name or costume…at least, not initially. Dr. Gail Eisner appears to be a kindly hospital administrator, a steady influence needed to effectively run a madhouse like this one. At first Lois finds their elaborate superhero fantasies to be an entertaining diversion, the wild delusions of unstable minds, until something unusual happens that makes her wonder.

Scripts are now available for perusal for those interested in auditioning. Message us if interested in previewing a script or call or text 419.605.2634. No prior acting experience is required to audition.

“Insane with Power” is being produced by special arrangement with Eldridge Publishing Company.

Knight-time win!

Liam Putman (1), Owen Heckler (11), Will Sheets (23) and Hudson Perrott (5) celebrate after making a key play during Friday night’s game against Paulding. The Knights won the game 63-51. A full game story can be found on the Sports page. Wyatt Richardson/VW independent

Santa’s Workshop spreads holiday cheer

VW independent staff/submitted information

During the second weekend of December, the YMCA of Van Wert County welcomed families for Santa’s Workshop, a holiday tradition created with one meaningful purpose: giving parents and guardians the gift of time during one of the busiest seasons of the year.

As holiday schedules quickly filled, Santa’s Workshop provided families with peace of mind by offering children a safe, joyful place to spend the day while parents catch up on shopping, errands, and seasonal preparations.

A very special guest helped make this year’s event truly magical. Santa Claus, along with his elf, visited the YMCA and helped create an incredible Christmas spirit throughout the building. With a bag full of toys and a joyful presence, Santa took time to visit with each child and made sure every child received a very special gift.

Beyond the excitement and gifts, Santa also took time to remind children of the true meaning of Christmas. He shared that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, and each child who answered correctly received a small Jesus keepsake to take home with them, reinforcing messages of faith, kindness, and love that define the season.

Inside the YMCA, children spent the day laughing, creating, and connecting with friends and siblings. They crafted keepsake snowmen and handmade ornaments, played festive Christmas games, and gathered together to watch Grinch movies. The building was filled with warmth, creativity, and holiday cheer, creating memories that will last well beyond the season.

The event was made possible with the help of dedicated high school volunteers who generously gave their time and energy. Their leadership, enthusiasm, and kindness helped ensure every child felt welcomed, engaged, and cared for throughout the day.

Judge Taylor retires, replacement TBA

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The top post at Van Wert County Probate/Juvenile Court is now vacant and when it will be filled remains to be seen.

Judge Kevin Taylor officially retired on December 31. He had served in that roled since 2012 and prior to that, he had served as an assistant prosecutor for more than a quarter of century. Now, it’s now up to Governor Mike DeWine to fill the vacancy on the bench, but it’s not known when that will happen.

Appearing on a recent segment of 99.7FM WKSD/WERT 1220AM/104.3FM’s Commissioners Corner/Mayor’s Conference program, the now-retired Taylor said three names have been submitted to Governor Mike DeWine, who will ultimately make the decision.

“My understanding is they’ve done all the interviewing and now they’re at the vetting stage,” he explained. “They filled the position up in Fulton County last week, which had been open since August. We’ve been in touch with the governor’s office and reminded them that when January 1 comes or the first work day, there won’t be a judge here.”

Until a replacement is named, Van Wert County Common Pleas Court Judge Martin D. Burchfield will help as he can, and Taylor said another judge who does juvenile and probate work exclusively may be available to help until the vacancy is filled. The term runs until early 2027.

Taylor acknowleged the legal system has become more complex and it was noted the job of probate and juvenile court judge isn’t an easy one. Along with handling criminal matters involving juveniles, the juvenile court has jurisdiction over paternity actions and custody cases.

“Typically, it’s a grandparent or an aunt and uncle and the parents may agree or not agree but they may feel there’s a need to have a custody order, that the parents aren’t taking care of the child,” Taylor explained. “Paternity actions have to be filed in juvenile court so those are all filed there. If there’s a child support action, those are typically filed in juvenile court.”

WORTH Center receives state grant

VW independent staff

LIMA — A $200,000 grant from the state’s Opioid Remediation Grant Program will benefit an area Community Based Correctional Facility.

The WORTH Center in Lima can use the grant to hire a full-time addiction-services coordinator or contract with a company that provides such services to treat opioid and other addictions, helping inmates through detox and recovery.

The WORTH Center serves Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Hardin, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Shelby and Van Wert counties. It’s a residential prison diversion program for non-violent offenders, many of whom struggle with addiction.

The grant program is awarding county jails and CBCFs up to $200,000 per year. In all, Yost’s office is offering $60 million in opioid settlement money over the next several years.

“These grants do more than prevent overdoses – they give inmates a fighting chance to break the cycle of substance abuse and incarceration,” Yost said. “Credit to Ohio’s sheriffs and local leaders for their hard work and innovation in putting this money to good use across the state.”

Overdose is a leading cause of death among jail inmates in Ohio, accounting for at least 70 deaths since 2020, according to a USA Today report.