Freshman, sophomores learn about future careers

State releases newest school report cards

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Ohio’s latest school report cards are out and the results show Van Wert County school districts met or exceeded state standards during the 2025-2026 school year.

Districts are scored on individual components and each component is weighted and then combined to determine the overall rating from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The six different components used on the latest report cards are achievement, progress, gap closing, early literacy, graduation, and post-graduation readiness.

Report cards are released each year for public schools and charter schools, but not for private and/or parochial schools. Districts and schools receive overall ratings of 1-5 stars in half-star increments.

• 5 stars: significantly exceeds state standards
• 4.5 stars: exceeds state standards
• 4 stars: exceeds state standards
• 3.5 stars: meets state standards
• 3 stars: meets state standards
• 2.5 stars: needs support to meet state standards
• 2 stars: needs support to meet state standards
• 1.5 stars: needs significant support to meet state standards
• 1 star: needs significant support to meet state standards

Van Wert City Schools received an overall rating of 3.5 stars, the same as last year. Van Wert received a 3 in achievement and progress, 4 in gap closing, a 5 in graduation, 2 in early literacy and 4 in college, career, workforce and military readiness.

“Van Wert City Schools continues to make progress and that’s encouraging,” Superintendent Mark Bagley said. “The State Report Card gives us one way to look at how we’re doing but it doesn’t tell the full story. Our kids are working hard, our entire staff and administrators are putting a lot into this, and I think there’s a lot to be proud of beyond what shows up on the report card.”

Local hospital welcomes new surgeon

VW independent staff/submitted information

A new general surgeon has signed on at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital.

According to a statement from the hospital, Roberto Bustos, MD, brings expertise in minimally invasive and robotic surgery to patients in the region.

Originally from Argentina, Dr. Bustos developed an interest in rural surgery through his early experiences providing care abroad, where he saw the impact accessible, high-quality surgical services can have on patients and families.

“Van Wert Hospital gives me the unique opportunity to continue that path in combination with advanced surgical technologies that aren’t widely available elsewhere,” Dr. Bustos said. “I am committed to providing patients with exceptional care while allowing them to remain close to their homes, their support systems and their communities.”

Inspired by his father and sister, who are both general surgeons, Dr. Bustos said he was drawn to a career that combines medicine, technology and hands-on skill.

“Watching their commitment and compassion shaped my own path, inspiring me to pursue surgery with the same sense of purpose,” Dr. Bustos said. “Serving patients has become the greatest source of fulfillment for me, and it’s a responsibility I carry with pride every day.”

Dr. Bustos earned his medical degree from Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Argentina. He completed a research fellowship in minimally invasive and robotic surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and general surgery residency at Saint Louis University.

“We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Bustos to our team and to Van Wert,” said Scott Jarvis, MD, associate vice president Clinical Affairs, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “His expertise complements the strengths of our surgical team and will be a tremendous asset to the patients and communities we serve.”

Outside of medicine, Dr. Bustos enjoys soccer, tennis, computer science, traveling and spending time with his wife and two children.

DSJ coach, AD, adminstrator arrested

VW independent staff

The dean of students, head football coach and athletic director Delphos St. John’s High School has been arrested amid allegations of domestic violence.

Todd Schulte, 52, was arrested Monday night at his home in Delphos and was taken to the Van Wert County Correctional Facility on a single count of domestic violence, a first degree misdemeanor.

According to a report submitted to the VW independent by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, the alleged victim made the complaint in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office shortly before 10 p.m. Monday. The victim claimed the incident occurred approximately one and a half weeks prior. Pictures were provided showing injuries.

Schulte was taken into custody without incident approximately 90 minutes after the complaint was made. The report states he was cooperative at the jail.

On Tuesday,Delphos St. John’s issued this statement.

“Effective Tuesday, September 15, Todd Schulte has stepped away fom his responsibilities as Athletic Director, Head Football Coach, and JH/HS Dean of Students at St. John’s. During this time, Mr. Aaron Dubow will serve as Interim Athletic Director, Mr. Dan Metzger will serve as Interim Football Coach, and Mr. Adam Lee will serve as the Dean of Students. We understand that this may raise questions within our school community. Out of respect for the privacy of those involved, we are not able to provide additional details at this time.”

As of late Tuesday afternoon, Schulte remained incarcerated.

Stevens gives update on negotiations, more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Negotiations continue regarding incentives for the QTS data center that will be built in Van Wert and if all goes as planned, the community will soon learn how it will benefit from the project. That was the word from Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brent Stevens at Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council.

Steven said he’s hopeful that some sort of announcement on incentives and benefits to be provided by QTS will be presented to the council in mid-October or possibly late October.

“As we can all imagine, with a $10 billion project there is a tremendous amount of back and fourth with our lawyers and their lawyers,” he said.

Stevens also noted that if a community reinvestment area (CRA) agreement is required, a presentation would need to be made to the CRA board, then would have to sit with the Lincolnview school district for 14 days before being presented to Van Wert City Council for a vote. The site where the data center will be built is in the city of Van Wert, but is also in the Lincolnview school district.

During his presentation, Stevens said the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation is working to create an incentive oversight board that would work with the city and the county. The goal, he said, is to provide transparency with revenue and benefits coming into the community from the data center project.

Stevens said QTS representatives were in town two weeks ago and spoke with Lincolnview schools, Crestview, Van Wert and non-profit organizations as part of an outreach effort.  

Data center groundbreaking is expected to take place this fall.

Stevens also said he’s been talking with several landowners who are interested in optioning their property for possible future development and requesting annexation into the city. Those properties are located near the site where the data center will be built.

Ordinances tabled, others approved

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

During Monday night’s first meeting of September, members of Van Wert City Council agreed to table three ordinances that would revise or amend certain existing city laws.

One of them concerns door-to-door salespeople in the city. The ordinance, which was proposed by Fourth Ward Councilman Eric Hurless several weeks ago and has been discussed at length, has undergone enough changes and amendments that Hurless himself called it “messy” and requested it be withdrawn and replaced with a “clean” version at the next meeting, a request that was granted by the rest of council. Prior to that, it was up for its third and final reading.

The remaining two ordinances that were tabled would make changes to existing noise ordinances. Questions were raised about more proposed changes, prompting Councilman At-Large Hall Block, who introduced the amendments, to request both be tabled for more revisions before a second advisory vote. The ordinances were introduced several weeks ago.

An ordinance concerning private wells in the city was tabled at a previous meeting and remained on the table. 

A handful of ordinances did move forward, including two that were approved on third and final reading. One grants a 10-year franchise agreement to Ohio Power (AEP). It was originally introduced as a 50-year agreement earlier this year but was tabled while a shorter agreement was worked out. The other ordinance that was approved allows Jennings Crossing subdivision to construct single family homes with five-foot side yards.

At the request of Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming, council approved an emergency ordinance that will complete the E. Main St. water main project, from Chestnut St. to Wayne St. The ordinance allows Fleming to apply for state grant funds for the project.

He also requested legislation for a supplemental appropriation for engineering work for the Bonnewitz Ave. extension project, known as Bonnewitz Crossing, along with a similar request to extend Production Drive. Once complete, Bonnewitz will be extended all the way to Mendon Rd., while Production Drive could be extended to Dutch John Rd. The requested supplementals will be on the next agenda.

New NSCC eSports lab to be showcased

Submitted information

Northwest State Community College will celebrate the opening of its new Esports Lab at the Van Wert Campus by holding an NBA 2K27 tournament from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, September 24.

The event is free and open to anyone ages 12 and over. Food and drinks will be provided, along with prizes and NSCC swag. In addition to being able to play in the tournament, attendees can try out the new esports gaming stations, explore the lab, and learn more about the growing world of competitive gaming and associated college programs.

“This new lab represents another way Northwest State is creating engaging learning opportunities while connecting with the community,” said Kyle Klinker, NSCC Esports coach. “Esports continues to grow across colleges and universities, and we’re excited to bring that experience to the Van Wert Campus.”

Community members, students, and gamers of all skill levels are encouraged to attend, compete, or simply stop by to check out the new space. Those attending will also be able to see our new esports team mascot, the NSCC Van Wert Vortex.

Use the QR code to pre-register and reserve your spot.

The NSCC Van Wert Campus is at 520 E. Sycamore St.

Highway Patrol to operate OVI checkpoint

Submitted information

The Ohio State Highway Patrol has announced that officers will operate an OVI checkpoint to deter and intercept impaired drivers this week.

The county where the checkpoint will take place will be announced the day prior to the checkpoint, and the location will be announced the morning of the checkpoint.

If you plan to consume alcohol, designate a driver or make other travel arrangements before you drink.

Operational support for the sobriety checkpoint will be provided by local law enforcement agencies.

Gas prices shoot up, start to come down

VW independent staff/submitted information

Average gasoline prices in Ohio have risen 25.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.16 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 5,345 stations in Ohio. Prices in Ohio are 11.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand $1.30 per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 31.6 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $6.183 per gallon.

Late last week, gas prices in Van Wert abruptly increased to as high as $4.29 per gallon for self-serve regular, before beginning a small decline over the weekend. By Monday evening, gas as some stations in Van Wert was as low as $3.89 per gallon.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Ohio was priced at $3.49 per gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $5.69 per gallon, a difference of $2.20 per gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 17.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.25 per gallon on Monday. The national average is up 19 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.14 per gallon higher 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.

“Average gasoline and diesel prices rose in every state over the last week as geopolitical tensions escalated on multiple fronts, with friction between the U.S. and Iran, new hostilities in the Red Sea, and the shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline all combining to jolt prices sharply higher,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “New weekend attacks also knocked two additional Russian refineries offline, further straining global refined product supplies and likely offsetting any seasonal relief. Diesel prices could climb even faster in the wake of the new refinery attacks. While most of the country transitions to cheaper winter-blend gasoline this week, the scale of ongoing geopolitical escalations makes meaningful price relief unlikely in the near term. Motorists should brace for continued volatility ahead.”

Students to learn about potential careers

Submitted information

More than 500 area freshmen and sophomores will gather at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, September 15, for the annual Build Your Future Forward event, an interactive career exploration experience designed to introduce students to in-demand careers throughout the region.

Students from Crestview Local Schools, Lincolnview Local Schools, and Van Wert City Schools will participate in the morning session from 9-11 a.m., while students from Parkway Local Schools, Paulding Exempted Village Schools, Antwerp Local Schools, and Wayne Trace Local Schools will attend in the afternoon from 12-2 p.m.

Throughout the day, students will rotate through 7-minute hands-on career stations focused on healthcare, manufacturing, construction, skilled trades, and other high-demand industries. Vantage Career Center students and staff will help lead interactive activities, demonstrate industry-related skills, and give participating students a firsthand look at career-technical education and the skills needed in today’s workforce.

Healthcare and manufacturing career stations will return this year following positive feedback from last year’s event, providing students with even more ways to discover careers available close to home.

Local employers and community organizations will also play an important role in bringing career exploration to life. Participating partners include Danfoss, OhioHealth Van Wert, Paulding County Hospital, Alexander & Bebout Construction, Ayers Mechanical Group, ATR Contractors, InSource, OhioMeansJobs, Paulding Economic Development, the Van Wert County Foundation, and the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation (VWAEDC). Insource, located in Paulding County, joins this year’s event for the first time to showcase manufacturing careers and help students learn more about opportunities within the industry.

By introducing students to high-demand career pathways early, Build Your Future Forward helps students make more informed decisions about their education and future while connecting them directly with local employers and industry professionals. The event also supports regional workforce development by helping employers engage with the next generation of talent and showing students that rewarding career opportunities are available in their own communities.

New facility will have a big impact

VW independent staff/submitted information

The YWCA of Van Wert County is continuing its series of articles answering a simple but important question: Why is the YWCA building a new facility?

The answer is found in the people the YWCA serves every day.

While the new 30,000-square-foot facility will expand the organization’s services across all three areas of focus – Survivor Services, Youth Development, and Advocacy & Education — one of the greatest opportunities for growth will be in Youth Development.

For more than 30 years, the YWCA has provided free programs designed to help children learn, grow, stay healthy, and build the skills they need to succeed. Programs such as the Summer Food Program, Erin’s Law Abuse Prevention, Van Wert Middle School Cougar Leaders, and Run Jump Throw provide children with opportunities to experience healthy activities, positive relationships, leadership development, and meaningful support.

“I loved how the lessons were delivered and the hands-on activity each time. Very kid friendly but did not tip toe around the issues.” — VWCS teacher response to Erin’s Law lessons.

The impact Is measurable

This summer marked the 31st year of the YWCA Summer Food Program, and the numbers tell an important story:

• 4,587 meals served
• 524 weekend food bags distributed
• 54 hygiene bags provided
• 154 children registered
• 246 free books distributed
• 37 children participated in Run Jump Throw

“My grandchildren had an amazing time at the Summer Food Program and had nothing but good things to say when I picked them up.” — Grandparent of Summer Food Program participant.