Ohio unemployment figures down slightly

VW independent/ODJFS information Ohio unemployment figures show another slight drop in October, according to information released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The state’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in October 2015, down from 4.5 percent in September. Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 30,800 over the month, from a revised […]

Local Moose Lodge to host blood drive

American Red Cross information Moose Lodge 1320 on West Ervin Road in Van Wert will host a bloodmobile between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, November 27. Those who are at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and are in good general health, may be eligible […]

John Brown Road to be closed Nov. 30

City of Van Wert information Van Wert Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming announces that John Brown Road, from Main Street to Woodland Avenue, will be closed for storm sewer work on Monday, November 30, starting at 7 a.m., until Friday, December 4, at 5 p.m., weather permitting

Crime Stoppers 11/21/15

Crime Stoppers will pay you cash for information if it will help the Van Wert Police Department solve a break-in that occurred at the 650 N. Race St. in the city of Van Wert. Sometime after October 15, someone entered the garage at that residence and burned an old chair.  The chair was sitting in […]

Crestview board looks at facility projects

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor CONVOY — The Crestview Local Board of Education took several personnel actions and also heard about some possible exterior projects the district could undertake during a brief meeting held Thursday at the school complex. Superintendent Mike Estes first thanked Crestview voters for again renewing the district’s 5-mill continuing levy earlier this month. […]

Central gives to United Way

Central employees pledged $73,413.72 for the 2015 United Way campaign. With a 100 percent company match, Central Insurance donated a total of $146,827.44 to the United Way of Van Wert County. “Central Insurance Company is one of our largest supporters and we could not do the things we do for Van Wert County without such […]

WBESC board hears grant program update

Van Wert independent staff The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Governing Board heard an update on the success — and challenges — of the organization’s 21st Century Grant program during its November meeting this week. Superintendent Brian Gerber commended Ashley Shepherd, the 21st Century Grant program coordinator, for the outstanding work she and her staff […]

Children’s Garden upgrade

The Children’s Garden at Smiley Park, through the Senior Service Hours Program, received a facelift at the Polka Dot Photo Spot. Van Wert High School seniors Katie Trittschuh and Sandy Nguyen created and painted a new look for this space in the garden, where many kids and parents alike love to get their photo taken. Thanks go […]

New OB-GYN physician comes to VW area

VW independent/submitted information Van Wert Medical Services announces the addition of Alberto Delgado, M.D., to its team as an obstetrics and gynecology physician. Delgado had been working at Van Wert Medical Services since June as a locum physician, but became an employed physician on October 5. “The patients, my co-workers and the community members I […]

LifeLinks service project

Middle school students from LifeLinks Community School participated in their second annual community service project of this school year by preparing Hiestand Woods for the winter. The students were busy raking leaves, picking up sticks, and putting all the picnic tables into the shelterhouse. Before returning to school for a special pizza lunch, students stopped […]