Thomas J. Moynihan

Thomas J. Moynihan passed Tuesday, February 24, 2015, peacefully at his residence after a short illness. Tom was a loving father to six children and grandfather to 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. During his life, he was a retail manager for numerous stores, most recently for Fisher’s Big Wheel in Van Wert, and then in […]

‘Ohio Has Talent!’ show this weekend

VW independent/submitted information The “Ohio Has Talent!” fundraising event returns to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center this Saturday with the eighth annual installment of the benefit show to support Community Health Professionals’ Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center. Acts will be coming from all around the region, with the top audience votegetters taking home $1,000 for first […]

4 face charges from Oakwood drug bust

VW independent/submitted information OAKWOOD — Four people have been arrested following the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Oakwood on Monday. Investigators from the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force seized suspected heroin and paraphernalia from the home. Those arrested include Benjamin D. Smith, 30; Holy McVey-Flores, 37; Heather Ladd, 28; and […]

VWHS Scholastic Bowl champs

This past Saturday, 16 teams competed in the Van Wert High School Quiz Bowl Tournament.  Using a very challenging NAQT question set, the home team took the victory by having a perfect winning record in pool play. This sent the Van Wert squad to the final round to face Elida. In a hard fought final round, the […]

Optimist Oratorical Contest winners listed

VW Optimist Club information The Optimist Club of Van Wert held its annual oratorical contest this past Sunday at Community Health Professionals in Van Wert with the topic “How My Optimism Will Help Me Press On to the Greater Achievements of the Future.” Noah Miller won first place in the competition for boys, while Katelyn […]

Gasoline prices up again across nation

Gasoline price information Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have risen 0.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.28 a 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 4.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.29 […]

Mayor gives State of the City address

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor Van Wert Mayor Don Farmer talked about the city’s positive financial position and also addressed economic development issues during his final State of the City address. The mayor, who is not seeking re-election to that position, said the city saw a half-million-dollar General Fund carryover, as well as reserves of $288,000 heading […]

Ries gives Council MSVW annual report

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor In addition to Mayor Don Farmer’s State of the City address, Van Wert City Council also heard an annual report from Main Street Van Wert Project Manager Adam Ries detailing that organization’s successes in the year just ended. Ries noted that 13 downtown buildings saw improvements in 2014, while 38 downtown events […]

Former OSU grid star speaks at Vantage

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor More than a decade ago, Maurice Clarett was on top of the world. He had just broken the Ohio State Buckeyes’ freshman rushing record with 1,237 yards and 18 touchdowns and scored the winning touchdown in the Buckeyes’ victory over the University of Miami in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, helping Ohio State […]

Iberdrola distributes 2015 PILOT checks

VW independent/submitted information Iberdrola Renewables, owner and operator of the Blue Creek Wind Farm, along with State Senator Cliff Hite and State Representative Tony Burkley, presented checks Monday at multiple ceremonies to local officials in both Van Wert and Paulding counties to commemorate the second annual PILOT payments the Blue Creek Wind Farm will make […]