Registration closing for Bachman tourney

VW independent sports Registration will close on Monday, June 27, for the 17th annual Don Bachman Memorial baseball tournament, to be held July 15-17 at Smiley and Jubilee Parks in Van Wert. The tournament, which has hosted over 7,000 boys and girls over the years, is open for players 8-12 years of age with three […]

Vantage school board ends fiscal year 2022

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Finances and personnel were the focus of Thursday’s meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education meeting. The board closed the book on fiscal year 2022 by approving final revenues and appropriations. The fiscal year ends June 30, and Treasurer Laura Peters said final expenditures will total $14.2 million while final […]

Holiday at Home activities, parade set

VW independent staff American Legion Post 178 has announced “Holiday at Home” activities for the July 4 holiday weekend. Food, beverages and music by three bands will be offered between 5 p.m. and midnight Saturday, July 2, at Legion Memorial Park on the east side of the Legion Hall. King & Country will perform from […]

New online Ohio BMV services announced

VW independent staff/submitted information COLUMBUS — Beginning Monday, June 27, Ohioans will be able to renew their driver’s license online. The announcement was made Thursday by Governor Mike DeWine. To renew a driver’s license or identification card, Ohioans will be able to visit BMV.Ohio.Gov and click on the “DL/ID Renewal” link. From there, customers will […]

Feel Good Fridays to continue tonight

VW independent staff   Columbus based Cream Camino will be the musical entertainment at tonight’s Feel Good Fridays concert at Fountain Park in downtown Van Wert.  The alt-rock band blends iconic cover songs, original tunes and top 40 medleys from artists such as Adele, Neil Young, Sublime, Ozzy Osborne, AC/DC, Chris Isaak, and Tom Petty.  The […]

Beck promoted, Bentz joins AgCredit

Submitted information  AgCredit has announced that Jessica Beck has been promoted to the position of account officer and Trisha Bentz has joined the AgCredit team as a loan specialist.   A member of the AgCredit team for nearly three years, Beck was previously a loan specialist at the Van Wert branch before her promotion. In her […]

VWCO Sheriff’s activity log 6/22/2022

Wednesday June 22, 2022   2:24 a.m. – Deputies responded to an area in Washington Township after receiving a report of a vehicle traveling the wrong direction in the lane of travel.   9:00 a.m. – Dispatched Van Wert EMS to a residence in the City of Van Wert for a subject with chest pain.   9:56 a.m. – Deputies responded […]

Tax credits given to downtown buildings

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor State tax credits will go toward six downtown Van Wert buildings being revitalized by Van Wert Forward. The six are among 38 buildings statewide being offered aid through the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. “Preserving historic buildings is one tool we can use to build vibrant downtowns and create opportunity on […]

Court news: 3 change pleas in CP Court

VW independent news Three defendants appeared before Van Wert County Common Pleas Court Judge Martin Burchfield this week. Judy Boyd, 45, Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty to endangering children, a third degree felony. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. August 5. Timothy Schlatman, 40, Van Wert, changed […]

Local jobless rates among Ohio’s lowest

VW independent staff The latest figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show Van Wert County had one of the state’s lowest unemployment rates in May, and jobless rates in adjacent counties were far below the statewide average as well. The Ohio average was 3.9 percent last month but Van Wert County’s […]