Wiffleball tourney sign-up announced

Submitted information WREN — Tournament organizers have announced the sign-up date for the 26th annual Wrenway Park Wiffleball Classic. Sign-up will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 1, at the Wren Restaurant. When will the line form? What teams will make the Sweet 16? The Eager Beavers get an automatic entry with their title win […]

Betty R. Jewel

Betty R. Jewel, 86, passed away at 6:42 p.m. Saturday, July 8, 2017, at her residence in Van Wert. She was born August 5, 1930, in Firebrick in Lawrence County. Her parents were Allen “Allie” and Thelma Opal (Leonard) Barnhart., who both preceded her in death. She was one of 14 children. She married Irvin […]

Jonathan G. Brock

Jonathan G. Brock, 69, of Van Wert, went to be with his Lord at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 7, 2017, at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born August 24, 1947, in Hartford City, Indiana, the son of Guy J. Brock, who preceded him in death, and Blanche (Buffenbarger) Butler, who […]

David M. Bigham

David M. Bigham, 79, of Rockford, passed away suddenly at his residence on Saturday morning, July 8, 2017. He was born February 8, 1938, in rural Covington, the son of Lee and Gladys (Warford) Bigham, who both preceded him in death. On October 12, 1958, he married the former Connie Michael, who survives in Rockford. […]

Lightning knocks WERT off air; still on FM

Van Wert independent A lightning strike has damaged the transmitter tower for WERT Radio (1220 AM), forcing that station off the air for at least two days. Chris Roberts, president of First Family Broadcasting, which owns WERT, said the AM station will remain off until Monday or Tuesday of next week, because parts need to […]

Delphos couple injured in home invasion

VW independent/submitted information DELPHOS — A Delphos couple were injured in a home invasion assault that occurred Saturday morning. David and Dianna Allemeier of 209 S. Pierce St. in Delphos were both taken to St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima for treatment of injuries received when a man gained entry to their home and reportedly […]

Army Jazz Band performs

The threat of wet weather moved Friday’s Fountain Park Summer Music Series concert indoors for the second week in a row as the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors provided some great jazz tunes on the stage of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent

Escaped inmate recaptured in Tennessee

Van Wert independent ROCKWOOD, Tennessee — An inmate of the Van Wert County Correctional Facility who fled the area while on a medical furlough has been recaptured. Ian Taylor, 23, was arrested in Roane County, Tennessee, by the Rockwood Police Department. Extradition proceedings will begin to return Taylor to Van Wert County as soon as […]

Wren FD awarded $6,700 federal grant

Submitted information WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $6,700 to the Wren Volunteer Fire Department for operations and safety upgrades through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. “Ohio firefighters and first-responders work every day to protect our […]

Van Wert OSHP post gets new troopers

Submitted information The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has two new troopers serving at the post. Troopers Chase Black and Austin Adams graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy on March 24 after 26 weeks of intense paramilitary training. Courses completed by the Patrol’s 161th class included crash investigation, criminal […]