SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports COLUMBUS — It was quite a finish to the record setting high school running career of Van Wert’s Owen Scott. The senior distance runner reached the podium twice during Saturday’s portion of the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships. The first trip to the podium was to celebrate a Division II state […]
POSTED: 06/08/25 at 8:33 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
For the second straight year, Lincolnview’s Cody Ricker earned All-Ohio honors in the 300 meter hurdles. At the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships, Ricker finished fifth set a new school record with a time of 38.92 in the Division III preliminaries. During Saturday’s championship heat, Ricker blazed to a fourth place finish with a […]
POSTED: 06/08/25 at 8:32 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Submitted information COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced the pairings and schedule for this week’s baseball state tournament hosted at Canal Park in Akron and Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton. It marks the 97th annual OHSAA baseball state tournament. In Ohio this season, 757 schools played baseball and seven will […]
POSTED: 06/08/25 at 8:31 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Downtown Van Wert was packed with people Friday as the 50th annual Peony Festival kicked off its two-day run. Among the offerings – all sorts of food vendors, a car show, the First Feel Good Fridays concert featuring the Heart Tribute band Barracuda, the Peony Queen’s court and a lighted drone show after dark. The […]
POSTED: 06/07/25 at 8:13 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Proposed renovation plans weren’t the only topic addressed during Thursday night’s meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education. Superintendent Rick Turner told board members that a successful assailant training training event was held on the campus last Saturday. He said it provided many learning opportunities for Vantage staff and officials […]
POSTED: 06/06/25 at 11:19 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff A reminder that Saturday’s Peony Festival parade will begin at 5 p.m., with awards to follow at 7 p.m. The parade route will begin at the intersection N. Tyler St. and E. Main St. and will go west on Main St. to Burt St., with barricades at each intersection. Staging will begin […]
POSTED: 06/06/25 at 11:19 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Thursday June 5, 2025 12:12 a.m. – Deputies responded to a residence on North Main Street in the Village of Ohio City for a report of a domestic dispute. 5:43 a.m. – Deputies responded to an area of Lincoln Highway in Washington Township for a report of a vehicle with no lights. 6:58 a.m. – […]
POSTED: 06/06/25 at 5:22 pm. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement
Matthew James Schrader, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend passed away on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the age of 55, while baling hay with his son, Adam, and his father-in-law, Jim Hoersten. Matt was born September 19, 1969, in Kettering, Ohio. He is survived by his loving wife Jen and their three children […]
POSTED: 06/06/25 at 5:16 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
Melanie Kay (Stevens) Norman, 61, of Van Wert, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Memorial Hospital in Lima after an extended illness. She was born on July 8, 1963, in Van Wert, to Donald and Gretna (Dempsey) Stevens. Melanie attended Van Wert High School, before working at Cablevision until she was married. After having […]
POSTED: 06/06/25 at 5:05 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Vantage Career Center is a very popular choice for students in its service area and new data from the state proves it. During Thursday night’s school board meeting, Superintendent Rick Turner said he received an update on the state biennium budget earlier this week and noticed some interesting data in the report. […]
POSTED: 06/05/25 at 9:16 pm. FILED UNDER: News