Wednesday, April 29, 2026 11:03 a.m. – Dispatched Middle Point EMS to a residence on Lewis Street in the Village of Middle Point for a subject with abdominal pain. 11:12 a.m. – Deputies responded to an area of Ohio 81 in Jennings Township for a report of a motor vehicle crash. A 2019 Chevrolet Malibu […]
POSTED: 04/30/26 at 8:46 am. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor NEW ALBANY — Local media representatives traveled to central Ohio on Wednesday to get a firsthand look at data centers. Representatives from the VW independent, the Times Bulletin and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM made the trip to New Albany to see a massive industrial park that is home to 40 data centers, with 28 […]
POSTED: 04/29/26 at 9:06 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor An Ohio City man facing a number of sex charges has changed his plea and now awaits sentencing. During a hearing held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, Seth Marbaugh, 34, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to sexual battery, a felony of the third degree. Judge […]
POSTED: 04/29/26 at 9:06 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor The 2025-2026 high school basketball season is in the rear view mirror but the Lincolnview boys basketball program and the school board spent some time reminiscing about the season Wednesday night. The board lauded the team for a 22-5 season that included NWC, sectional, district and regional titles, along with an appearance […]
POSTED: 04/29/26 at 9:05 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information The Van Wert Optimist Club is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Service Award Scholarship. Recipients include two Crestview seniors, Ellieana Ward and Lulu Ross. Ward plans to attend Rhodes State College and major in Dental Hygiene and Ross plans to attend the University of Toledo on a pre-med track majoring […]
POSTED: 04/29/26 at 9:05 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Monday, April 27, 2026 12:02 a.m. – Deputies responded to a residence on North Main Street in the Village of Middle Point for a complaint of harassment. 4:06 a.m. – Deputies responded to a residence on Harrison Center Road in Harrison Township for a subject in mental distress. 5:10 a.m. – Deputies responded to a […]
POSTED: 04/29/26 at 2:58 pm. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement
William Calvin Sneed passed away Sunday morning, April 26, 2026, at his residence in Van Wert. He was born on April 2, 1948, in Little Rock, Arkansas the son of Cecil Clinton Sneed and Patricia Nadine (Moran) Sneed, who both preceded him in death. Bill is survived by his children, Jennifer Sneed and Sherie M. […]
POSTED: 04/29/26 at 2:53 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
To the Editor, I taught second grade for many years. When a child got caught in a lie, I’d sit them down and explain something simple: telling the truth is always better — because if I found out they lied on top of whatever they did, that was double trouble. I’ve been thinking about that […]
POSTED: 04/29/26 at 5:52 am. FILED UNDER: Letters to the Editor
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor He’s seen it all — tornadoes, floods, wind storms, a powerful derecho and other types of emergencies and now, after 35 years and six months, Van Wert County Emergency Management Agency Director Rick McCoy is stepping away from the job. His last official day will be this Thursday as he heads off […]
POSTED: 04/28/26 at 9:42 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information Five area boys have been selected as finalists for the 2026 R.K. Thompson Self Reliance Award, according to Anthony Adams and Keri McClure, co-chairpersons of the Van Wert Service Club’s selection committee. In its 56th year, the program provides cash awards to Van Wert County High School seniors who best exhibit […]
POSTED: 04/28/26 at 9:41 pm. FILED UNDER: News