VWMS student is 12 on 12/12/12

Submitted information Olivia Kline is a normal sixth-grader at Van Wert Middle School except for one thing: she has a unique birthday to celebrate. Today, Olivia turns 12 years old (on 12/12/12)! According to her parents, Olivia is been anxiously awaiting this day since she figured out it was going to happen earlier this year. […]

A singing tradition continues

I just returned from the annual Rotary Christmas Dinner, which is held at the YWCA and features the Van Wert High School Concert Choir. This has been a tradition which dates back further than I can remember. I know that Larry Schaufelberger had been taking the Concert Choir for most of his tenure, which dates back to […]

Hilary J. ‘Fred’ Friedrich

Hilary J. “Fred” Friedrich, 78, of Middle Point, died at 8:33 p.m. Monday, December 10, 2012, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born January 12, 1934, in Delphos, the son of the late Joseph and Rose (Carder) Friedrich. He married Velma “Val” (Granger) Friedrich, who preceded him in death on November […]

Josephine R. Reyes

Josephine R. Reyes, 87, of Paulding, died Sunday, December 9, 2012. She was born March 9, 1925, in Fort Wayne, Ind., the daughter of the late Joaquin and Elisea (Torres) Ramirez. In 1940, she married Rudolph Reyes, who preceded her in death. Survivors include two children, Rudolph Reyes and Theresa DeLeon, both of Colorado Springs, […]

Council quashes speed limit increase

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor During the last regular meeting prior to the Christmas holiday, Van Wert City Council provided financial relief to a local water/sewer customer faced with a large utility bill and rejected higher speed limits on South Walnut Street in the face of growing opposition. Council unanimously approved a measure to provide forgiveness on […]

Tickets for Bowfire concert now on sale

NPAC information Bowfire has become one of the hottest show to hit the performance stage and is creating its own international buzz.  The fast paced theatrical show has proven itself time and time again that it is a must see performance.  The Niswonger Performing Arts Center is excited to bring this exceptionally high quality musical […]

Pearl Harbor Day shoot

The Van Wert County Outdoorsmen Club held its annual Pearl Harbor Commemorative Shoot to remember American heroes, both past and present. It was an M-1 Garand rifle shoot with 20 total shooters: 15 adults and 5 junior shooters. The adult participants have qualified to purchase an M-1 Garand through the Civilian Marksmanship Program. The Van Wert County Outdoorsmen […]

Downtown planning seminar this week

MSVW information What businesses would you like to see downtown? The second public workshop of the downtown planning study will be this Wednesday, December 12, at 5:30 p.m., at The Hotel Marsh on East Main Street. The workshop will summarize the design input from the last meeting and focus on the economics and business mix […]

Walnut Twig Beetle now in Ohio county

ODNR/ODA information COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced the first discovery of Walnut Twig Beetle in southwest Ohio. The Walnut Twig Beetle is a small beetle known to carry a fungus that causes Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD), which threatens the health and sustainability of […]

YWCA offering winter swim lessons

YWCA information The YWCA of Van Wert County is now accepting registration for its winter swim lesson session. The eight-week session begins January 9 and runs through February 28. Classes are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The YWCA offers two basic youth swim programs: Red Cross Preschool Swim Program and Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program. The […]