Chamber creates shop local initiative

Chamber of Commerce information The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce is driven to help the community build economic success. This mission is the foundation of the Chamber’s new “Shop Van Wert County” Initiative. It’s more than a movement, more than a one-day promotional campaign: the Van Wert Chamber is excited to partner with all […]

Patrol coloring contest winners

The Ohio State Highway Patrol sponsored local school bus safety coloring contest winners include (front row, from the left) Dakota Thornell, Crestview; Brynne Hoghe and Keira Breese, both of Lincolnview; Sidney Ryan and Maria Parrish, both of Van Wert; (middle row) Jyrzee Craft, Crestview; Aubrey Lybarger and Annabelle Hoffman, both of Delphos City Schools; Ava […]

Ohio Attorney General creates heroin unit

Ohio Attorney General’s information COLUMBUS — “There is a heroin epidemic in Ohio,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine this past week in a news conference to announce disturbing new figures about the use of heroin in the state.  The data, gathered from coroners across the state, show the use of heroin has increased dramatically over […]

Ohio house sales up 18% in October

Ohio Association or Realtors information The number of homes sold across Ohio increased 8 percent in October, as the market posted year-over-year gains in activity for the 28th consecutive month, according to the Ohio Association of Realtors. “The Ohio housing market is continuing to maintain a modest, steady pace in terms of its overall level […]

Timothy P. Palte

Timothy P. Palte, 63, of Haviland, died at 4:04 a.m. Friday, November 22, 2013, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born August 15, 1950, in Van Wert, the son of the late Ig and Madeline (Rodman) Palte. Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Two […]

Knights, Cougs win Tip-Off Tourney tilts

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports The Crestview and Van Wert girls will meet in the championship game of the McDonald’s Tip Off Classic on Saturday after both the Lady Knights and Lady Cougars won preliminary games Thursday night. Crestview had perhaps the tougher task in beating three-time champion Ottoville 45-39 in the first game of the night. […]

NW State facility opens

NORTHWEST STATE RIBBONCUTTING — The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce helped officially cut the ribbon on Northwest State Community College’s new facility on Westwood Drive on Thursday afternoon. The facility includes classrooms, as well as a clinical instruction area. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

County saves big on health insurance

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners got a boost to its financial bottom line with the approval of a new third-party health insurance administrator contract with Gallagher Benefit Services. Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger said the county has been looking to move from a five-county consortium that also includes Auglaize, Mercer, Shelby and […]

Rib Fest 2014 entertainment announced

Van Wert Rib Fest information Following a very successful 2013 Rib Fest, the Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Rib Fest Committee have been hard at work making plans for the eighth annual Rib Fest, to be held August 8-9 next year. The committee decided to move the Rib Fest forward one […]

WBESC board seeking new treasurer

WBESC Governing Board information The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Governing Board accepted the resignation of longtime treasurer Gary Ginter during its November meeting on Wednesday. Ginter resigned to become treasurer of the Wayne Trace Local School District. “It is a gain for Wayne Trace and a loss for Western Buckeye,” said Superintendent Brian Gerber […]