The Optimist Club of Van Wert awarded three $2,000 Service Award Scholarships to local, 2025 graduates – Quinn Tomlinson, Dakotah Nihiser, and Lauren Anspach. Service Award Scholarships are granted by the local Optimist Club to graduating seniors from Crestview, Lincolnview, and Van Wert High Schools based on hours of volunteer community service provided through a […]
POSTED: 06/19/25 at 9:18 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Editor’s note: The Friday Flashback has returned to the VW independent Sports page and will run each Friday until the start of the fall sports season. Van Wert’s Eggerss Stadium used to host an annual All-Star football game, featuring the top recently graduated high school senior football players. One of those games took place 10 […]
POSTED: 06/19/25 at 9:16 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent staff After Wednesday night’s storm, crews with AEP Ohio worked through the night and into this morning and afternoon to restore power that was knocked out to homes and businesses. Shortly before 3 p.m. this afternoon, AEP responded to a request from the VW independent for an update. This was the response made […]
POSTED: 06/19/25 at 1:59 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff Wednesday night’s powerful storm system, which produced damaging straight line winds, a microburst and a gustnado in Van Wert, also caused substantial power outages around the city. AEP Ohio crews worked through the night to restore power and those crews continued their work Thursday morning. AEP Ohio provided The VW independent with […]
POSTED: 06/19/25 at 8:05 am. FILED UNDER: News
Storm damage was still being discovered and assessed Thursday morning around Van Wert. Crews are working to restore power, but there’s no official estimate as to when it may be restored. The VW independent has reached out to AEP Ohio and is awaiting a response. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent
POSTED: 06/19/25 at 7:55 am. FILED UNDER: News
Strong winds caused a tower at St. Marys of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert to come crashing down Wednesday evening. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent
POSTED: 06/19/25 at 7:40 am. FILED UNDER: News
Wednesday’s storm brought down trees and limbs all over Van Wert. Van Wert County EMA Director Rick McCoy estimated that 100 trees were damaged or destroyed by the storm. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent
POSTED: 06/19/25 at 7:36 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor It was a quick hitting storm system but in just a matter of minutes, Van Wert experienced powerful straight line winds, a microburst and a gustnado, but no tornado. The storm left behind a wide path of damage, especially within the Van Wert city limits, prompting Van Wert County EMA Director Rick […]
POSTED: 06/18/25 at 10:34 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Teachers in the Lincolnview Local Schools district officially have a new contract. Wednesday night, the Lincolnview school board unanimously approved a three-year contract with the Lincolnview Local Education Association. It begins July 1 and will run through June 30, 2028 and it includes raises of 4.0, 4.0 and 3.75 percent, along with […]
POSTED: 06/18/25 at 10:32 pm. FILED UNDER: News
The Van Wert Civic Theatre has unveil the cast of its upcoming Adolescent and Young Adult Theatre (AYAT) summer production, Looking Back, an original science fiction musical written by Perri Webb, a Shawnee High School graduate who is currently attending Boston College. Performances are scheduled for July 31 through August 3. This imaginative and thought-provoking […]
POSTED: 06/18/25 at 10:31 pm. FILED UNDER: News