VW independent staff 13 defendants charged with various felonies appeared for hearings in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the charges. Plea changes Jadyn Bullinger, 21, of Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty of two amended counts of aggravated vehicular assault, fourth degree felonies. […]
POSTED: 01/14/26 at 9:50 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information The Optimist Club of Van Wert will host its annual Oratorical contest on Wednesday, March 4, 6 p.m. at CHP Home Care & Hospice, 1159 Westwood Drive. Students are asked to craft a four-to-five-minute speech addressing the topic, “The Moment I Knew I Belonged – My Definition of Community.” Winners will receive cash […]
POSTED: 01/14/26 at 9:48 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Crystal Louise (Webster) Reed, 85, of Middle Point, passed away at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at her residence. She was born April 4, 1940, in Van Wert, to Betty (Davis) Dattilio and Charles Ralph Webster, who both preceded her in death. On February 15, 1959, she married John M. Reed of Middle Point, […]
POSTED: 01/14/26 at 7:24 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
By Alicia Bruce Northwest Ohio knows how to pull together, something I’ve seen time and again as a social worker and Program Director with the Tri-County ADAMHS Board serving Mercer, Van Wert and Paulding counties. I see it also as the representative from our area (Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Williams counties) […]
POSTED: 01/14/26 at 1:15 pm. FILED UNDER: Opinions
By Jamie Crawford COLUMBUS — With the holidays officially over, it’s a matter of time until credit card bills from last month’s spending find their way into Ohioans’ mailboxes. While many individuals may be tempted to quickly set those bills aside, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) encourages everyone to slow down, review statements […]
POSTED: 01/14/26 at 9:42 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 2:53 a.m. – Deputies responded to an area of Ohio 49 in Harrison Township for a report of a suspicious vehicle. 5:38 a.m. – Deputies served a warrant issued by Van Wert Municipal Court for failure to appear. Gavyn Joseph Lee Reichert, 19 of Wren, was transported to the Van Wert […]
POSTED: 01/14/26 at 8:32 am. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement
VW independent sports Paulding 52 Van Wert 27 Paulding used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Van Wert 52-27 on Tuesday. Kate Manz scored 11 points, including six in the second quarter, Tori Schlatter and Kayleigh Dunham scored 10 apiece and Estie Pease scored nine points, all on treys in the third quarter. The Panthers […]
POSTED: 01/14/26 at 7:37 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor CONVOY – Planned athletic upgrades at Crestview Local Schools are expected to get underway this spring. During Monday night’s monthly school board meeting, Superintendent Matt Dube informed the board that outside work is scheduled to begin after spring sports are complete and renovations in the high school gymnasium are slated to begin […]
POSTED: 01/13/26 at 9:43 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information The YWCA of Van Wert County’s 2026 Summer Food Program has received a substantial boost, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Van Wert County Foundation. This year’s Summer Food Program will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 8-July 24 at Trinity Friends Church in Van […]
POSTED: 01/13/26 at 9:43 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information The Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation is inviting aspiring entrepreneurs, new business owners, and existing small business owners to attend a free Business Boot Camp Introductory Workshop from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, February 7. The workshop will take place at the Northwest State Community College Van Wert Campus, […]
POSTED: 01/13/26 at 9:42 pm. FILED UNDER: News