Cavs end title drought!

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their first-ever NBA championship Sunday night in a 93-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors, ending a 52-year title drought in Cleveland stretching back to the 1964 Cleveland Browns NFL title. Here, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (with microphone) announces Lebron James (holding trophy) as the Finals MVP. (ESPN/MGN photo)

Barn fire

Crews were called out to Middle Point Road Saturday afternoon for a fire that started in animal bedding materials stored outside animal barns. The American Red Cross Disaster Team was called out due to the extreme heat conditions to canteen the firefighters. Fire departments responding included Middle Point, Van Wert, Delphos, and Ohio City, as […]

Ohio’s gas prices fall 17 cents last week

VW independent/submitted information Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 17.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.51 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 4.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.34 […]

Aqua Park day sponsor

Van Wert County Hospital will be sponsoring a Business Day at the Camp Clay Aqua Park this summer. Local businesses purchase the day for the Van Wert community; access includes swimming, a floating playground, zip-line, paddleboats, a half-acre beach, and the 3,600-square-foot splash pad, which was new last year. New in 2016 are water cannons at […]

Wren Rib Cook-Off sets entry deadline

VW independent/submitted information WREN — It’s Rib Cook-off time again in Wren. The 13th annual Wren Rib Roast Cook-off will be held Saturday, August 20, during Wren Homecoming festivities. This year’s theme will be “Southern Family BBQ”. Cooks are asked to consider a regional flare from their favorite Southern city or state for the contest. […]

Entries sought for 2016 OFFD Quilt Show

VW independent/submitted information The public is invited to enter quilts, quilted items, or needle art in the Old Fashioned Farmers Days Quilt Show. Bring items from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, to the Administration Building at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. Enter the fairgrounds by the North Gate on Balyeat Avenue. Show hours are […]

Troy Jones Jr.

Troy Jones Jr., 67, of Mendon, died at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2016, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born March 29, 1949, in Jellico, Tennessee, the son of Troy and Ruby (Fuson) Jones Sr., who both preceded him in death. On September 23, 1968, he married Sharon Unger, who […]

2016 Relay for Life

The local American Cancer Society chapter kicked off its Relay for Life fundraiser on Friday evening with the traditional Survivors Walk (above). This year’s Relay for Life is the first using the Cancer Society’s new one-day format. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

Madrigal performs

Jose Madrigal and his group served up a tasty portion of Carlos Santana’s musical fusion of jazz, rock, blues, and Latin influences during a concert held Friday evening in Fountain Park. The concert was the second in the Van Wert County Foundation’s Fountain Park Summer Music Series. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

Deadline coming for SBA disaster loans

VW independent/submitted information WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations in Ohio of the July 1 deadline to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) as a result of excessive rain, flash flooding, flooding, excessive heat, landslides, mudslides, high […]