Gaylee Eckhart, 85, of Convoy passed away on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at VanCrest Nursing Home of Van Wert. She was born on January 29, 1940, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Howalee “Sonny” Bush and Blanch June (Hughes) Bush, who both preceded her in death. Gaylee graduated from Edinburg High School in Indiana in 1959, then […]
POSTED: 09/25/25 at 12:27 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 1:22 a.m. – Deputies responded to an area of West Ervin Road to assist the Van Wert Police Department with a commercial alarm. 3:34 a.m. – Deputies responded to an area of U.S. 30 in Pleasant Township to check an abandoned 911 call. 7:59 a.m. – Dispatched Wren EMS to a […]
POSTED: 09/25/25 at 7:32 am. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement
Sandra K. Hirschy, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the age of 78. She was born on April 30, 1947, in Van Wert, and spent her life as a devoted homemaker. Sandra is survived by her loving husband, Larry Hirschy of Convoy; her two children, […]
POSTED: 09/25/25 at 6:25 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
Robert D. “Jake” Baer, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the age of 92. Born on January 21, 1933, in Van Wert, Jake was a pillar in the lives of those who knew him. On April 28, 1956, he married the former Joanne Johnson. Jake […]
POSTED: 09/25/25 at 6:13 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports Way back in the day, the football season didn’t kick off until mid-to-late September. Seriously – go back and look at some of the schedules from many years ago. Now, here we are, the weekend of September 26, and the high school football season is entering Week No. 6 of 10. It’s […]
POSTED: 09/24/25 at 8:52 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor A presentation on the latest Ohio Department of Education and Workforce school report cards took up the majority of Wednesday’s monthly meeting ot the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education. Superintendent Mark Bagley and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Chris Covey explained the district’s rating, how to address deficiencies, and spoke […]
POSTED: 09/24/25 at 8:48 pm. FILED UNDER: Top Story
Submitted information The Van Wert County Fairgrounds will host the sixth annual Harvest Happenings event on Friday and Saturday, October 17-18. Friday hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday’s hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This popular fall celebration will be held alongside the annual Dairy Barn Emporium and Apple […]
POSTED: 09/24/25 at 8:47 pm. FILED UNDER: News
The Van Wert FOP Lodge 62 recently wrapped up its 2025 food drive with a large food donation to Karla’s Cupboard at Trinity Friends Church. The Lodge also donated a $750 check to both Trinity Friends Church and the First United Methodist Church food pantries, both of which provide support to the Van Wert City […]
POSTED: 09/24/25 at 8:46 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff Van Wert County Common Pleas Court Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over six criminal hearings this week. Bond violation Jeffrey Kallas, 24, of Van Wert, admitted violating his bond for failure to report to probation. Bond set at $25,000 cash or surety and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. October 22. Probation […]
POSTED: 09/24/25 at 2:13 pm. FILED UNDER: News
James Paul Silance, affectionately known as Paul, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the age of 79. Born on August 12, 1946, in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, Paul made his way to Van Wert, Ohio, in 1966. It was there that he met the love of his life, Dorothy Douglas, and they tied […]
POSTED: 09/24/25 at 1:39 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries