Judith F. McElroy

Judith F. McElroy, 86, of Van Wert, went to be with her Lord and Savior Friday morning, January 20, 2017, from the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center in Van Wert. She was born January 27, 1930, in Mendon, the daughter of Dwight Leon and Mae Fern (Sill) Drake, who both preceded her in death. […]

Perl retires after four decades at VWPD

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor The Van Wert Police Department said good-bye to records clerk and former dispatcher Oribel “Ory” Perl, who is retiring after serving more than four decades in the department. Perl said she owes her career to former city police officer John Wortman and the late Phyllis Blackmore Holmes, a dispatcher, who made a presentation […]

Central hires new chief financial officer

Submitted information Keith Goad has been hired as chief financial officer for both Central Mutual Insurance Company and All America Insurance Company. As CFO, Goad holds overall accountability for the company’s finance, investments, accounting, actuarial, analytics, risk management, and innovation functions. Goad comes to Central from Nationwide Insurance, where he was most recently an associate […]

Knight homecoming court

Rockford area welcomes new physician

Submitted information ROCKFORD — Family Medicine Associates in Rockford, a division of Van Wert Medical Services, announces that Norman Means, M.D., will be joining the medical team as a family practice physician. Dr. Means received his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also completed residencies at the University of […]

VW sheriff issues dog license reminder

Submitted information Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach is reminding residents who have not purchased dog licenses or dog kennel licenses for 2016 that they need to do so. Sheriff Riggenbach stated his office is continuing its efforts on license enforcement in Van Wert County.  Residents who have not purchased dog licenses or dog […]

Local competitors do well at district event

Submitted information FINDLAY — The Van Wert Elks Lodge sent six shooters (three boys and three girls) to the District Hoop Shoot in Findlay This past weekend.  The shooters participated in six different age groups, shooting 25 free throws each. The Van Wert shooters dominated the district event, capturing three first-place trophies and a second […]

Local boys’ cage teams seek to improve

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports It’s the halfway point of the 2016-2017 boys high school basketball regular season, and it’s been an interesting one, with close games, buzzer beaters, and upsets. The Van Wert Cougars (6-5, 1-2 Western Buckeye League) have seen their share of ups and downs. The Cougars have lost two overtime games, including one […]

Pair enter pleas to felony meth lab counts

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor Two people indicted on charged related to a local meth lab were among 13 people arraigned Wednesday before Judge Martin D. Burchfield in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. Abby Thatcher, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count each of complicity in the illegal manufacture of drugs, a felony […]

State offers motorcycle riding courses

Submitted information COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Motorcycle Ohio Rider Education Program online registration begins Monday, January 23, at 8 a.m. Those wanting to learn how to ride a motorcycle or refresh their motorcycle safety skills may register at www.motorcycle.ohio.gov for one of the $50 courses scheduled throughout the state from March […]