88-year-old man injured in burglary

VW independent news The Van Wert Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding the person or persons responsible for a weekend home invasion and assault that sent an 88-year-old man to the hospital. According to a press release from the police department, officers were dispatched to 512 Burt St. at 5:40 a.m. […]

Good news: pump prices are falling

VW independent staff and submitted information Average gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 7.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.97 per gallon today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 5,345 stations in Ohio.  Prices in Ohio are 51.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.98 per gallon higher than […]

Teen dancer dazzles, wins Ohio Has Talent!

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Melakyi Walls of Columbus danced his way to the grand prize during Saturday’s 14th annual Ohio Has Talent! competition, held at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. The event, which featured 16 local, regional and state acts, was presented by Community Health Professionals and was held as a fundraiser for CHP’s hospice patient […]

Crestview, Vantage school boards to meet

VW independent news The Crestview Local Schools Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. tonight in the multipurpose room. The agenda includes the hiring of spring sports coaches for 2023 and the resignation of instrumental music teacher Jason Lozer. The Vantage Career Center Board of Education will meet at 7 […]

ODJFS: unemployment rate goes down

VW independent staff and submitted information COLUMBUS — New figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show the state’s unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in May, down slightly from 4.0 percent in April. Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 4,800 over the month, from a revised 5,474,700 in April to 5,479,500 […]

Youth fishing tournament set for Saturday

VW independent sports The Van Wert Parks Department will host a youth fishing tournament for children 3-13 this Saturday, June 25, at the Smiley Park pond. No entry fee or registration is required, just a fishing pole, tackle and bait. The two-hour tournament will begin at 9 a.m., but parks officials said plan to get […]

ACME Baseball west sectional bracket set

VW independent sports CONVOY — Initial pairings have been set for the ACME Baseball District 5 west sectional, which begins this week. All games will be played at Crestview High School. Delphos St. John’s will face Lincolnview at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 23, followed by Van Wert vs. Spencerville at 6 p.m. The winner between […]

Leone F. Pollock

Leone F. Pollock, 92, of Van Wert passed away at 10:23 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at Van Wert Health ER. She was born May 18, 1930, in Van Wert County, to O. B. and Ruby (Brown) Swartz, who both preceded her in death. She graduated from Hoaglin-Jackson High School and married the father of […]

Fireworks to soon be legal in Ohio

VW independent staff and submitted information COLUMBUS — A new law allows Ohioans to legally discharge fireworks on certain holidays. Ohioans can legally discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks in Ohio on certain days unless the relevant political subdivision has chosen to ban their use. Under previous law, individuals could purchase consumer-grade fireworks in Ohio but had […]

Health Dept. explains nuisance investigations

VW independent staff and submitted information In hopes of offering clarity, the Van Wert County Health Department is offering information about nuisances and nuisance investigationgs. A nuisance has many definitions. A few examples include: One that is annoying, unpleasant, or obnoxious” from Merriam-Webster. The unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful use of property, which causes inconvenience or […]