Old Fashioned Farmers Days dates set

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor This weekend will feature not one, but two longtime events. In addition to the Holiday at Home celebration, this weekend will feature the 39th annual Old Fashioned Farmers Days festival held at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. The annual event will run from Thursday, July 2, through Sunday, July 5. This year’s […]

GOBA riders stranded

High water made this year’s Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure more, well, adventurous than ever, as bicyclists were stranded by high water around Fort Jennings and Middle Point. Pete Weir, who helped oversee local activities for the GOBA trip this year, which began and ended in Van Wert, said the wind, rain and road flooding made […]

Gas prices up in Ohio, down in 39 states

Gasoline price information Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have risen 9.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.82 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 fallen 1.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.78 […]

High water woes

High water was a problem all weekend in Van Wert and Paulding counties, from cars hydroplaning on county roads, to stranded bicyclists from the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure to high water in a number of areas, including flooding in Payne and Willshire. Above, a man rows a boat in the Payne area because of flooding, […]

Elks donate to Summer Food Program

Van Wert Elks information Van Wert Lodge 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, recently donated $500 to the YWCA of Van Wert County for the YWCA’s Summer Food Program. This is the 20th year the YWCA has run this important program. The Elks donation is from a Gratitude Grant the lodge receives from the […]

Several hurt in rollover crash on U.S. 127

Ohio State Highway Patrol information The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is investigating a serious injury motor vehicle crash on U.S. 127, near Ohio 709 approximately five miles south of Van Wert. On Saturday at 7:07 a.m., the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol received reports of a serious injury […]

Lot of (great) HooDoo

Although it was wet and gloomy outside, the HooDoo Loungers warmed up the Niswonger Performing Arts Center as the band played its patented style of New Orleans music for an appreciative audience as part of the Fountain Park Summer Music Series, which is sponsored by The Van Wert County Foundation. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

BBB warns consumers of fake websites

Better Business Bureau information COLUMBUS — Phony websites can be a very real problem, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) wants consumers to be on guard when purchasing items from ecommerce websites. While numerous sites may be legitimate, on many ecommerce websites, anyone can create a personal or company profile, put an item up for […]

Cafe ribboncutting

Brewed Expressions cut the ribbon Friday on its new café at 706 W. Ervin Road (right next to The Bridge bookstore). Here, Cheryl and Laura Bowen cut the ribbon on the café, while Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce board members and Mayor Don Farmer look on. The Brewed Expressions Café offers various coffee-flavored drinks, […]

Delphos man could face drug charges

Delphos Police information DELPHOS — A Delphos man who was taken into custody on a traffic warrant out of Lima Municipal Court may face additional charges related to a search of his residence. Daniel Phinney, 30, of 516 W. Sixth St. in Delphos, was taken into custody by officers at 8:19 a.m. Friday. Officers spoke with […]