Lancers win OHSAA CC preseason event

Lincolnview cross country information HEBRON — The Lincolnview boys’ varsity team competed in the third annual OHSAA preseason invitational held on the state cross country course in Hebron. The Lancer boys ran in the Division II-III combined race and came away with the championship trophy placing ahead of 21 other schools. The Lancers were led by […]

Wiffleball champs!

The MKS Siding team raises its trophy after three-peating as Wren Wiffleball tournament champions this weekend during the Wren Homecoming celebration (click here for more Wren Homecoming photos). (Beth Marchek/Van Wert independent)

Balloons coming to 2014 VW County Fair

VW County Fair information Until it officially ended this past year, the Hot Air Festival was held the weekend following the fair. However, because of several factors, including weather, balloonmeister scheduling, consideration of planning, the economy and proximity to the fair, it made sense this year to try and combine the two events, offering “one-stop shopping” […]

School supplies donated

Van Wert County Homemakers and Community Education (HCE) President Nancy Johnson (left) presents school supplies to Daniece Fleck, social services coordinator for The Salvation Army. The supplies are made available to local students as needed during the school year.  The Local HCE purchased the supplies using an educational grant from the Ohio HCE. (photo submitted)

Ohio gasoline prices decline last week

Ohio gasoline price information Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 11.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.40 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 5,345 gas outlets in Ohio. This compares with the national average that has increased 2.3 cents per gallon in the last week to […]

Smoke detector donation

Wren Fire & EMS Department, on behalf of all Van Wert County fire departments, thanks the Van Wert Community Club for its generous donation of $100 to the “No Child Sleeps Unprotected” fund. It’s donations such as this that will help firefighters reach their goal of providing free smoke detectors, with a special 10-year battery, to […]

Deadline set for Chamber leadership class

VW Area Chamber of Commerce information Visionary companies understand the pivotal importance of developing strong leaders not only for their companies, but also for their community. That is the mission of the Leadership Van Wert County Program. Local business people should consider nominating one of their employees (or themselves) and join other area leaders who […]

Helen Pauline Shinabery

Helen Pauline Shinabery, 93, of Van Wert, died at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, August 16, 2014, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert. She was born July 29, 1921, in Ohio City, the daughter of the late Peter W. and Loretta Louetta (Rayer) Wiseman. On October 17, 1941, she married Darlene M. Shinabery, who preceded […]

More talks held on dog warden, shelter

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor A luncheon meeting in the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners’ conference room was held Friday to further look at what direction the county dog warden’s position should take following Rich Strunkenburg’s firing after complaints of dead animals and unsanitary conditions at the county Humane Shelter were filed on July 20. The […]

Statewide unemployment rose in July

ODJFS information Ohio’s unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in July 2014, up from 5.5 percent in June of this year. The state’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 12,400 over the month, from a revised 5,301,300 in June to 5,288,900 in July.
The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in July was 323,000, up 7,000 from […]