Special meeting set to discuss pot ban

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor A discussion about prohibiting marijuana consumption on city owned property quickly became animated during Wednesday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council. During a vote on the first reading of an ordinance that would ban the consumption of marijuana on all city owned properties, such as parks and the Municipal Building, Third […]

Numerous hearings held in local court

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor 16 defendants appeared for various criminal hearings in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court between Friday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 10. 11 of the hearings were arraignments. Judge Martin Burchfield presided over each of the hearings. Arraignments Chad Ratliff, 46, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to strangulation, a […]

DeWine delivers annual speech

VW independent staff/submitted information COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine delivered his 2024 State of the State address on Wednesday and highlighted some of the work his administration and the General Assembly have accomplished together, as well as outlined new initiatives intended to help Ohio’s Children thrive. “This is our time to meet the moment. Our […]

County Health Board to meet Monday

Submitted information The Van Wert County Board of Health will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 15, in the health department conference room, 1179 Westwood Drive, Suite 300, in Van Wert.

Weekly winners

Congratulations to the Van Wert Elementary Word of the Week Winners! This week, the following students were chosen as representatives of the word, truthfulness: Grade 1, Cole; Grade 2, Ethan; Grade 3, Raphael; Grade 4, Grayson; Grade 5, Scarlett. Each child received a free Mighty Kids Meal from McDonald’s in Van Wert and a certificate […]

Victory Gardens promotes rural gardening

VW independent staff/submitted information REYNOLDSBURG — Ohio’s movement to promote urban and rural gardening is back and bigger than ever. The Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio State University Extension are partnering once again to encourage Ohioans to cultivate their own produce. The popular Ohio Victory Gardens program is back for its fifth year and […]

Prep roundup: baseball, softball

VW independent sports Softball Lincolnview 16 Lima Central Catholic 4 (five innings) Lincolnview blew open 4-3 game with four runs in the third inning and eight more in the second and the Lancers went on to defeat Lima Central Catholic 16-4 in five innings on Wednesday. The Lancers pounded out 16 hits in the game. […]

Steven Paul Replogle

Steven Paul Replogle, 33, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 9, 2024, at his residence in Van Wert. He was born July 28, 1990, in Van Wert the son of Steve Allan Replogle and Rita Faye (Rupert) Replogle, who both preceded him in death. He married the former Misty Moore February 28, 2020, and she survives. […]

Johanna Margaret (O’Riordan) Stevens

Johanna Margaret Stevens (née O’Riordan) of Rockford, formerly of Van Wert, departed this life at 5:29 a.m. Sunday April 7, 2024, at Parkview Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne. She was born May 4, 1950, to Richard (Tony) and Johanna O’Riordan in Glasinevin, Dublin, Ireland. She relocated to the USA in 2003, where she married Glen […]

Ohio St. decides not to host state golf

Submitted information COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced the host courses and dates for the girls and boys golf state tournaments in October, which include two new venues. NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury will continue to host a state tournament, while Firestone Country Club in Akron and NCR Country Club in […]