Lincolnview downs Knights in NWC battle

TODD WOLFRUM/special to the VW independent Even in freezing temperatures with bone-chilling wind, the line started to form outside Lincolnview High School more than an hour before the doors opened for the sellout renewal of Van Wert’s classic cross-county rivalry. The schools playing had both enjoyed glory days in the past, but this was the […]

Elida boys end VW Cougars’ win streak

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports The Elida Bulldogs ended Van Wert’s three-game winning streak with a 61-38 Western Buckeye League victory on Friday in the Cougars’ Den. Elida is now 4-10 overall and 3-2 in the WBL, while the Cougars are 4-10 overall and 1-4 in league play. Van Wert kept the game close — at least […]

Basketball mania

The Lincolnview High School gymnasium was jumping Friday as the state-ranked Lancers and Knights squared off in a Northwest Conference slugfest. Lincolnview won the game, 60-48, validating the team’s No. 1 state ranking. (Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent)

Unemployment rate rises in December

VW independent/ODJFS information Ohio’s unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in December 2015, up from 4.5 percent in November. Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 15,200 over the month, from a revised 5,436,300 in November to 5,451,500 in December 2015. The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in December was 269,000, up 14,000 from 255,000 […]

VWHS does best ever at ‘We the People’

VW independent/submitted information COLUMBUS — Van Wert High School did the best it ever has during Friday’s “We the People” competition at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, finishing with a score of 2,944 out of a possible 3,480 points — the most a Van Wert team has ever scored. VWHS students finished second in the […]

Group sets candidate’s night/GOP caucus

VW independent/submitted information The Van Wert County Heart Land Patriots begin their 2016 schedule of activities on Tuesday evening, February 9, at 6:30 p.m., in the Fireside Room of Trinity Friends Church, 605 N. Franklin St. in Van Wert.  The early starting hour is necessary to accommodate a dual agenda consisting of a primary election […]

Storm forces NPAC concert cancellation

VW independent/submitted information The severe winter storm crippling the Southern and Eastern United States has also forced the cancellation of tonight’s Craig Wayne Boyd show at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Boyd is unable to make it out of Nashville, Tennessee, for his concert tonight at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Van Wert because of […]

First Financial reports financial results

First Financial Bancorp information CINCINNATI — First Financial Bancorp announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2015. For the three months ended December 31, 2015, the Company reported net income of $19.8 million, or 32 cents per diluted common share, compared to net income of $18.7 million, or 30 cents per diluted […]

Lady Knights dominate Lincolnview girls

Van Wert independent sports CONVOY — The Crestview Lady Knights defeated Lincolnview 58-17 to move to 10-4 on the season and 4-1 in the Northwest Conference. Crestview’s balanced attack was led by Emily Bauer and Brady Guest, who had 15 points apiece. Paige Motycka added 12 points to go along with seven steals and five rebounds. The […]

YMCA promotes youth basketball tourney

YMCA of VW County information The YMCA of Van Wert County is announcing the registration for the fourth annual Van Wert YMCA Classic for teams of boys in grades 3-6. The “King of the Court” tournaments for boys’ teams in grades 5-6 will be held February 20-21, while the “Winter Jam” tournaments for boys in […]