Education groups oppose marijuana issue

VW independent/submitted information COLUMBUS – Three statewide education organizations, the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA), Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) and Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO), have announced their opposition to State Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana. The public education groups said they share the concern of Ohio’s […]

VWCH, Orthopaedic Institute plan clinic

VW independent/submitted information Van Wert County Hospital and the Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio (OIO) have teamed together to offer the Bump Clinic, a sports medicine walk-in clinic open every Saturday from 8-10 a.m., beginning August 29. The Bump Clinic is available to athletes of all ages. A parent or guardian must accompany athletes under 18 years […]

Esther Eileen Germann

Esther Eileen Germann, 88, of rural Van Wert, died at 9:10 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2015, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born October 7, 1926, in Pleasant Mills, Indiana, the daughter of Rufus Case, who preceded her in death. She married LeRoy R. Germann, who died May 22, 2013. Survivors […]

Time to register for state track event

VW independent/submitted information GROVEPORT — Registration is now open for the ninth annual Ohio Middle School and Elementary Cross Country State Championships. The event will be held at Groveport Madison High School, just south of Columbus on October 25. The first 1,000 athletes to register will receive a free sports bag. With nearly 1,000 athletes competing […]

Gymanfa Ganu prepares for 100th event

VW independent/submitted information VENEDOCIA — Salem Presbyterian Church of Venedocia will be celebrating a longtime community event with its 100th Gymanfa Ganu on Sunday, September 6.  The Gymanfa Ganu (pronounced “Ga-mahn’-fa Ga’-nee”) is a Welsh festival of song tradition celebrated around the world. The village of Venedocia has strong Welsh roots, being settled as it […]

Gasoline prices head back down again

Gasoline price information Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 17 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.68 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 5,345 gas outlets in Ohio. This compares with the national average, which has fallen 7.1 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.60 […]

Wren Homecoming done

Another Wren Homecoming event is over. MLK Siding won its fourth Wiffleball championship with a barn burning, extra-inning 5-4 victory over the Wren Restaurant Bunnies, while the weather stayed nice for the parade and many other festival activities. Next up in Wren is the third annual WrenStock Music Festival on September 12, a one-day event […]

VWHS band ready for grid season to start

VWHS band information After a great band camp and several August rehearsals, the students and staff of the Van Wert High School “Cougar Pride” Marching Band are ready for the season to begin this Friday at Bryan. The high school band traveled to Oglebay Park in Wheeling, West Virginia, for band camp in late July […]

Charlie Daniels Band at the fair

It’s been a few years since the Van Wert County Fair has presented a headliner band. James Otto a few years ago was barely an opening act. The low turnout for that show and the prior main event, the Edgar Winter Group, foretold a possible end to the fair’s ability to produce the big name. […]

Vivian E. Thomas

Vivian E. Thomas, 94, of Van Wert, passed away at 5:06 a.m. Sunday, August 23, 2015, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert. She was born October 28, 1920, in St. Charles, Michigan, the daughter of William E. and Grace (Baum) Nichols, who both preceded her in death. On May 28, 1957, she married […]