Reminder issued about home fireworks

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor The July 4 holiday is less than a week away, but no doubt local residents will see and hear home-based fireworks displays before and after Independence Day. Since 2022, the Ohio Fire Code has permitted the use of 1.4G consumer-grade fireworks on certain dates. 1.4G fireworks are considered fireworks that are legal […]

Important electric aggregation update

VW independent staff/submitted information Electric aggregation is an option for a large group of consumers to save money on the generation portion of their electric bills. Currently though the Van Wert County’s aggregation, the following townships are participating: Harrison, Jackson, Jennings, Liberty, Pleasant, Ridge, Tully, Union, Washington, Willshire, and York; the villages of Middle Point, […]

Local unemployment below state average

VW independent staff Figures supplied by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services earlier this week show Van Wert County’s unemployment rate was lower than the statewide average. The county’s May jobless rate was 4.2 percent, compared to the statewide average of 4.9 percent. Locally, the unemployment rate decreased from April, when it was […]

Trustees schedule tax budget hearing

Submitted information The 2026 tax budget hearing for Union Township will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Union Township building, 9977 Dixon Cavett Rd., Van Wert.

Local bank enjoys successful book drive

Submitted information PAULDING — First Financial Bank teamed up with associates and community members on a successful book drive in May, with 189 books dropped off in bins at the First Financial locations in Paulding and Van Wert, and a grand total of 5,726 books dropped off in First Financial locations in four states. These […]

Wapak to host WOAL swim championships

VW independent sports/submitted information WAPAKONETA — More than 500 swimmers and their families will descend on Wapakoneta Friday and Saturday, July 11-12, for the annual Western Ohio Aquatics League (WOAL) Swim Championships. The WOAL is for swimmers aged 5-18 who are members of one of the league’s teams. Wapakoneta WaterPark is the host site for the […]

County man sent to prison on sex charges

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor A Venedocia man is going to prison for three years for sex crimes. In Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week, Michael Flickinger, 59, was sentenced to 36 months behind bars for sexual battery, a third degree felony; 18 months for gross sexual imposition, a fourth degree felony, and voyeurism, a […]

Vantage BOE wraps up fiscal year

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Finances and personnel matters were the focus of this month’s second meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education, which was held Thursday evening. The meeting was considered the July meeting but it was scheduled a few days before the new month to close out fiscal year 2025, which the board […]

Facilities project moves closer to reality

VW independent staff CONVOY — During a special meeting held Wednesday morning, the Crestview Local Schools Board of Education approved Minster-based Garmann Miller as the architectural design firm for the planned athletic facilities improvement project.  The board also approved approved the master plan for the project, which  includes the high school gymnasium, the transportation bus […]

July street closures in Van Wert

VW independent staff/submitted information The following events in July will result in temporary street closures in Van Wert. Holiday at Home Event: This event will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 4, and will be held at the Van Wert County Historical Society Museum campus, E. Third St., and N. Washington St. The […]