VW independent sports FORT JENNINGS — No. 4 seed Van Wert came up just short, falling 5-4 to No. 3 seed Upper Sandusky in the Division IV district semifinals at Fort Jennings on Wednesday. The loss ends Van Wert’s baseball season with a record of 14-8. Things looked good early for Van Wert. After spotting […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 9:46 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor As expected, members of Van Wert City Council took the first step toward possible future pay raises, not only for council members, but for the city treasurer and mayor. Wednesday night, with no fanfare, council heard the first reading of a pair of ordinances establishing salaries and possible raises for those positions. […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 9:31 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor There was a lot of traffic talk at Wednesday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council. It began with a request by Vantage Career Center Superintendent Rick Turner to add a lighted school zone/pedestrian crossing between the main portion of the N. Franklin St. campus and the Vantage Academy of Medical Careers, […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 9:30 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Personnel matters were at the forefront of Wednesday’s meeting of the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education. The board approved the retire-rehire of Assistant Superintendent Bob Priest, who was given a four-year administrative contract through July 31, 2029. Board members also approved a three-year administative contract for Van Wert High School […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 9:29 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information The Van Wert County Probate Court will be unable to process new marriage applications on Friday, May 30.
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 9:29 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information LIMA – Area Agency on Aging 3 is facing restructuring and reductions in the coming months due to a non-renewal of a private provider contract, according to a news release issued by AAA3 on Wednesday. Area Agency on Aging 3 has been under contract to provide 19 counties throughout western Ohio […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 9:27 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Ray (Butch) Hofacker, 80, passed away in the early evening on Friday, May 23, 2025, at his residence in Van Wert. He was born September 11, 1944, in Paulding, a son of Charles and Iva (Taylor) Hofacker, who both preceded him in death. He married Nancy Workinger, who also preceded him in death. He is […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 1:07 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor The driver involved in a short high-speed chase and crash in Van Wert last December received a substantial prison term this morning. During a hearing in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, Alicia Funkhouser, 36, Willshire, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for failure to comply with the order or signal […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 9:38 am. FILED UNDER: News
Doyt LeRoy Sheets, 84, passed away in Denton, Texas, on Thursday, May 15, 2025. He was born October 17, 1940, in Decatur, Indiana, to Leland and Merle Sheets. He married Sharon E Diehl on August 17, 1962, in Rhode Island, where he began his service in the U.S. Navy. Doyt served in the U.S. Navy […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 8:34 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
To the Editor, Our state and our nation are at a crossroads and who we choose to lead the State of Ohio next year will be an inflection point for the next decade. Republicans who have served Ohio as governor from Rhodes to Voinovich to DeWine have been strong in creating a business climate that has fostered […]
POSTED: 05/28/25 at 7:07 am. FILED UNDER: Letters to the Editor