Red Cross seeks area disaster volunteers

VW independent/submitted information LIMA — The American Red Cross of West Central Ohio is recruiting volunteers to join its workforce to help families affected by an increase in disasters caused by home fires and severe storms across the country. In the past several days, the Ohio Buckeye Region of the Red Cross has sent 19 […]

Willshire Sportsman’s Club plans event

VW independent/submitted information WILLSHIRE — The Willshire Sportsman’s Club will be holding its annual Trade Days and Flea Market on Friday and Saturday, August 5-6. The event will be held on the club grounds, two miles east of Willshire on Ohio 81. Hours are 8 a.m. until dusk. Various fishing and hunting items will be […]

Select Series day at the Niswonger

One of the biggest holidays at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center is coming this week!  This Thursday, July 7, is the beginning of the Select Series sales. Over the past several years, this day has become a much-anticipated one for many patrons of the Niswonger.  Doors to the Grand Lobby and sales of Select Series […]

Jayne F. Heck

Jayne F. Heck, 74, of Paulding, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2016. She was born May 26, 1942, in Defiance, the daughter of Kenneth and Margaret (Hostetter) Nelson, who both preceded her in death. On October 1, 1960, she married Larry Allen Heck, who died March 29, 1994. Jayne was employed by the Counseling Center […]

Holiday at Home

Patriotism is always on display during the annual Holiday at Home Parade, held Monday on Main Street as part of the local Fourth of July celebration. Here, people carry a huge American flag during the parade (click here for more photos). (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

Ohio bringing back sales tax holiday

VW independent/submitted information COLUMBUS — If parents are thinking about back-to-school shopping already, they may want to hold off until the beginning of August. The popular Ohio Sales Tax Holiday will return August 5-7, providing relief for families during the back-to-school shopping season. Co-sponsored by State Senator Keith Faber, Senate Bill 264 allows Ohio’s families […]

Weekly Ohio gasoline prices down again

VW independent/submitted information Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 10.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.18 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 5,345 gas outlets in Ohio. This compares with a national average that has fallen 3.0 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.26 […]

Camp Clay Business Day

Pizza Hut 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 the splash […]

OFFD Quilt Show winners announced

VW independent/submitted information The votes have been tallied and the People’s Choice Awards winners for the Old Fashioned Farmers Days Quilt and Needle Arts Show are as follows: Favorite Hand Quilted Bed Quilt – Lisa Merkle of Middle Point, “Cross Stitch Sampler” Favorite Machine Quilted Bed Quilt – Joyce Grossheim of Van Wert, “Patriotism” Favorite […]

Windmill taxing issue addressed

Wanna start an argument? Go to almost any random group of people in Van Wert County and state your opinion about windmills. Chances are, you will quickly find someone with whom to disagree. Without question this is the most divisive issue blowing around our county, the one that puts people in ardent camps of pro […]