SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Just two criminal hearings took place in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court between the reporting period of Thursday, March 6, and Wednesday, March 13. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over both of the hearings. Ryan Houser, 39, of Rockford, changed his plea to no contest to murder, an unclassified felony. He […]
POSTED: 03/13/25 at 12:32 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Wednesday March 12, 2025 3:23 a.m. – Deputies responded to an area of Goodwin Road in York Township for a report of a deer in the roadway. 8:10 a.m. – Dispatched Convoy EMS to a residence on Mentzer Drive in the Village of Convoy for a subject having difficulties with edema. 10:04 a.m. – Dispatched […]
POSTED: 03/13/25 at 9:24 am. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement
Submitted information CONVOY — Crestview Knight-Vision along with the high school chorus, jazz band, and middle school swing choir will present their annual after-dinner theater at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 14-15 in the Crestview auditeria. Tickets for this year’s “Pink vs. Green” dinner theater are on sale to the general public. Ticket prices […]
POSTED: 03/13/25 at 9:20 am. FILED UNDER: News
Larry A. Caffee, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Fort Wayne. Born on August 26, 1941, in Black Creek Township, Ohio, to Vernon and Donna (Johns) Caffee, who both preceded him in death, Larry grew up surrounded by the beauty of rural life and a deep-rooted […]
POSTED: 03/13/25 at 9:17 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
VW independent staff/submitted information COLUMBUS — Across Ohio, rural communities face a growing crisis: legal needs are going unmet, putting residents at risk. Whether it’s securing child custody, resolving real estate disputes, addressing consumer fraud or defending against criminal charges, too many Ohioans are left without legal representation due to an attorney shortage. Mary Amos Augsburger, […]
POSTED: 03/12/25 at 8:47 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information The Van Wert County Commissioners recently announced a $50,000 donation to the Business Development Corporation of Van Wert County (BDC) to support local economic growth initiatives. “This investment demonstrates our commitment to fostering a thriving business environment in Van Wert County,” Van Wert County Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger said. “The BDC plays […]
POSTED: 03/12/25 at 8:47 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff ROCKFORD — A Willshire man injured in a tractor accident Tuesday afternoon has succumbed to his injuries. Larry Caffee, 83, was operating the tractor with a front end loader and a utility trailer in the 10000 block of Ohio 49 east of Rockford, when the tractor overturned, went down an embankment and […]
POSTED: 03/12/25 at 8:46 pm. FILED UNDER: News
The Optimist Club of Van Wert held its annual oratorical contest on March 5 at CHP Home Care & Hospice in Van Wert. Eight students from Lincolnview and Van Wert schools presented speeches on the topic, “How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times.” Ben Verville, a sophomore from Van Wert High School, earned first […]
POSTED: 03/12/25 at 8:45 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent sports/submitted information FINDLAY — Crestview’s Wren Sheets, Cam Elwer of Delphos St. John’s and Zach Crummey of Van Wert are among the local players named as All-Northwest District boys basketball players. The all-district teams were chosen by a panel of media members for the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association. Sheets and Will Sensabaugh […]
POSTED: 03/12/25 at 6:41 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Marlene L. Freund, 93, of Van Wert, died at 2:47 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. She was born February 15, 1932, in Greenville, to Albert and Sophia (Grote) Oehrtman, who both preceded her in death. In April of 1953, she married John J. Freund. Marlene owned and operated Freund’s Nursery, […]
POSTED: 03/12/25 at 1:33 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries