The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Oct. 11, 2024

The Pride of the Buckeyes… On Wednesday, November 1, the mighty Ohio State University Marching Band will load up all 265 band members and staff on six buses in Columbus and make their way to northwest Ohio’s destination for entertainment, the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. The advanced preparation has long since commenced. As if preparing […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 2:28 pm. FILED UNDER: Arts & Entertainment

Carol Anne Rice, 82, rejoined her husband, this time in the presence of their Lord, at 5:14 p.m. Sunday, October 29, 2023, at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. She was born on April 8, 1941, to Orlin and Lorene Rakestraw in Lupton, Michigan. She married her longtime boyfriend, and love of her life, Duane Rice on […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 9:53 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries

Van Wert Police Sunday, October 22 – arrested Bobby Lee Burnett on an outstanding warrant from the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest was made in the 200 block of N. Lynn St., and officers also arrested April L. Nunemaker for possessing drug abuse instruments. Sunday, October 22 – arrested Joshua Ricker for domestic […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 9:42 am. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement

Monday October 30, 2023 12:06 a.m. – Dispatched Convoy EMS to a residence on Mentzer Road in Tully Township for a subject who fell. 10:08 a.m. – Deputies responded to an area of Jennings Delphos Road in Washington Township to remove a dead animal from the roadway. 10:37 a.m. – Deputies responded to a residence […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 9:41 am. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, one week from today, and in Van Wert County the ballot will include two controversial statewide issues along with more than a dozen local issues. State Issue 1 is commonly referred to as the “proposed abortion amendment” and deals with reproductive rights and decisions. State Issue […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 3:42 am. FILED UNDER: News

VW independent staff Early in-person voting in Van Wert County nearly doubled since the previous reporting period. According to Pam Henderson, Director of the Van Wert County Board of Elections, between October 24 and 5 p.m. Monday, October 30, 844 register voters cast early ballots at the elections board office, while 177 ballots were sent […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 3:40 am. FILED UNDER: News

VW independent staff/submitted information Average gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 9.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.15/g on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 5,345 stations in Ohio. Prices in Ohio are 25.3 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 48.9 cents per gallon lower than a year […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 3:39 am. FILED UNDER: News

For the second consecutive year, the Van Wert Cougar Pride Marching Band, under the direction of Bob Sloan, earned an “Excellent” rating at the Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA) state marching band finals. The event was held at Alexander Stadium in Piqua on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Dawn Sloan

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 3:38 am. FILED UNDER: News

VW independent staff A video of last week’s mayoral forum in Van Wert is now available for viewing. The hour-long forum was organized and hosted by government students at Van Wert High School. It featured incumbent Van Wert Mayor Ken Markward and challengers Fred Fisher and Linda-Agler Evans. The three gave opening and closing statements […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 3:37 am. FILED UNDER: News

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor This week’s installment of Random Thoughts centers around opening round playoff results, a long day/night, a crazy stat, a steak that ended, a bitter pill and best wishes. Opening round The opening round of the playoffs was a tough one for the Green Meadows Conference. The four playoff qualifiers – Antwerp, Ayersville, […]

POSTED: 10/31/23 at 3:36 am. FILED UNDER: Sports