Connie Sue (Gertz) Grossnickle

Connie Sue (Gertz) Grossnickle, 80, of Van Wert, passed away at 1:20 p.m. Friday, February 22, 2019, at her residence.   She was born May 20, 1938, in Celina, the daughter of Carl and Verlie (Steele) Gertz, who both preceded her in death. On September 2, 1961, she married Robert Grossnickle and he survives in Van […]

Area students learn about Black History

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor Sixth-graders from a number of area schools got a Black History Month musical lesson during the “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (LEVAS) program presented Friday morning at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. LEVAS Producer-Director Karrie Lester and her troupe of performers, which included Jaimie Lewis, Jaired Birks, Clarence Zanders, […]

4-H program at Vantage

Junior Health Technology students are participating in a 4-H Health Living Ambassadors program, in partnership with Van Wert Health, to learn about, explore, and address community needs. During this week’s lunch and learn session, students heard from Ashlen Glenn of Westwood Behavioral Health Center about Mental Health. Area residents, or their loved ones, who are in […]

Brown seeks end to Pharma ad subsidies

VW independent/submitted information WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) recently introduced the End Taxpayer Subsidies for Drug Ads Act, legislation that would prohibit pharmaceutical drug manufacturers from claiming tax deductions for consumer advertising expenses.  Advertising expenses by pharmaceutical drug manufacturers have more than quadrupled over the past two decades, rising from $1.3 billion in […]

Latta: Americans without broadband down

VW independent/submitted information WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) is highlighting a draft Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report that shows significant progress made in the last year to narrow the “digital divide” and improve access to high-speed broadband.  The draft 2019 Broadband Deployment Report, which was circulated by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai this past […]

Crestview wins another NWC championship

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor CONVOY — For the second time in two seasons, the Crestview Knights are Northwest Conference basketball championships. The No. 2 ranked Knights (21-1, 7-1 NWC) defeated Columbus Grove 61-44 at Ray Etzler Gymnasium on Friday, forcing a co-championship between the two schools. “It’s special to go back-to-back in the NWC,” Crestview […]

Cats vs. Dogs: Van Wert tops Defiance

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor DEFIANCE — Van Wert built up a nine point halftime lead, saw it slip away, then rallied for a 67–58 Western Buckeye League win over Defiance in the regular season finale for the Cougars on Friday. Owen Treece led the way for Van Wert with 21 points, including 12 in the […]

Lancers fall in regular season finale

Van Wert independent sports LIMA — Lincolnview led 35-34 at the end of three quarters, but Perry outscored the Lancers 18-13 in the final period to win 52-48 on Friday. Included in the 18 points was a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter, which gave the Commodores a 44-35 advantage. Lincolnview led 14-11 at […]

Bidlack bowls his way to State Tourney

Van Wert bowling coach Seth Blackmore and Nathan Bidlack (right) are all smiles after Bidlack qualified for this year’s Bowling State Tournament. The senior finished as the runner up with a 636 series (267, 213, 156) during Thursday’s Division II districts at Interstate Lanes in Rossford. “Nathan had a nice line and was able to […]

Friday night basketball scoreboard

Van Wert independent sports Here are final scores of Friday night’s area high school basketball games. Crestview and Columbus Grove finished as NWC co-champions, while Ottawa-Glandorf and St. Henry won outright WBL and MAC championships respectively. Wayne Trace and Hicksville shared the GMC title last Friday, the same night Kalida clinched the PCL championship. NWC […]