Legion donates to DARE

Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach announced The Van Wert American Legion Post 178 recently presented checks totaling $1,000 to the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office DARE program. The money donated will be used for this year’s DARE graduation party, which is set for May 13 at the Van Wert YMCA for fifth- and […]

March is American Red Cross Month

VW independent/submitted information The American Red Cross is recognizing the country’s everyday heroes during Red Cross Month. “Our community is full of everyday heroes who help others in need,” said Derek Stemen, executive director of the West Central Ohio Chapter of the American Red Cross. “They are our selfless Red Cross volunteers, blood donors, and […]

Thank you, Niswonger sponsors!

As concert attendees, you hear me thank our sponsors, underwriters and others who help financially support that event. I imagine, a lot of times, you take it for granted and know that you are going to hear the similar rhetoric as before. I’ve been there. I know how it is. But I want everyone to know just how valuable […]

VW girl headed to National Spelling Bee

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor FORT WAYNE, Indiana — It hasn’t happened often. In fact, it may not have happened ever before, but this year a Van Wert girl is headed to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Lincolnview sixth-grader Una VanWynsberghe, 12, won the 62nd annual Journal Gazette Regional Spelling Bee in Fort Wayne […]

Payne woman dies in U.S. 30 car crash

VW independent/submitted information A Payne woman was killed in a two-car accident at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Liberty-Union Road late Monday morning. Linda Page, 77, was pronounced dead at Van Wert County Hospital, where she was taken following the accident, which occurred at approximately 11 a.m. Monday. According to troopers from the Van Wert […]

Stained-glass donation

Stained-glass artist Reggie Buehrer and his company, Window Creations, donated stained-glass artwork to the Van Wert County Board of Elections on Monday. Buehrer said several Window Creations employees worked on the piece, which shows a copy of the U.S. Constitution, as well as a quill pen and ink bottle, and a portion of the American […]

Burkley holds meeting on drug epidemic

VW independent/submitted information DEFIANCE — State Representative Tony Burkley (R-Payne), in collaboration with the Ohio Attorney General’s office, hosted an organizational meeting in Defiance to help address Ohio’s drug epidemic. The goal of the meeting was to gain knowledge on the status of Defiance County, located within the 82nd Ohio House District, in regards to […]

Group looking for Wiffleball mementoes

VW independent/submitted information WREN — The Wrenway Park Wiffleball Warehouse Committee is in search of area residents’ memories from the last 24 years of Wren Wiffleball. The committee is looking for pictures, news articles, or video clips. Please identify the year, people involved, team name, etc., if possible. These items cannot be returned, so submit digitally to […]

Aimee Nichole Schulte

Aimee Nichole Schulte, 36, of Van Wert, passed away at 6:50 p.m. Sunday, March 6, 2016, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born September 27, 1979, in Van Wert, the daughter of Mark A. and Catherine A. (Gill) Schulte, who both survive in Van Wert. Other family members surviving include her […]

Quintessential ‘Ohio Has Talent!’ winner

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor The barbershop quintet Quintessential, comprised of students from Versailles High School, won Saturday’s “Ohio Has Talent!” competition with their rendition of a medley of songs made famous by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Noting they were inspired by the Broadway hit, Jersey Boys, which chronicles the life of Valli and the […]