VW independent staff/submitted information COLUMBUS — Tuesday was a tough day for school districts that had property tax requests or income tax issues on the ballot. Figures from the Ohio School Boards Association show voters approved just over one third of school tax issues. 66 tax issues were on the ballot statewide but just 24 […]
POSTED: 05/07/26 at 7:14 am. FILED UNDER: News
City police and Van Wert fire crews responded to a fire alarm from the Van Wert County Historical Society building shortly after 6 a.m. this (Thursday) morning. Firefighters entered the Fostnaught Mansion and investigated the reason for the alarm. It was determined that it was a false alarm and there was no damage to the […]
POSTED: 05/07/26 at 6:45 am. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent sports Baseball Van Wert 2 Crestview 1 CONVOY — A pair of runs – one in the third and one in the fourth – proved to be enough as Van Wert edged Crestview 2-1 on Wednesday. Noah Krites opened the third with a single, then later scored on a single by Trevor Halker. […]
POSTED: 05/06/26 at 9:37 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Self-reliance is defined by Merriam-Webster as “reliance on one’s own efforts and abilities.” The term was better defined during Wednesday night’s 56th annual Roger K. Thompson Self-Reliance Awards banquet, which was held at Vantage Career Center. There were ten finalists from Van Wert, Crestview, Lincolnview and Vantage Career Center – five girls […]
POSTED: 05/06/26 at 9:17 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information The Brumback Library and the Van Wert County Historical Society Genealogy Club will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday May 12, on the second floor of the library. There will be a special America 250 presentation by Harrison Frech, “Van Wert County in the Civil War.” It will cover the raising of local units to […]
POSTED: 05/06/26 at 9:16 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Nick Evans/Ohio Capital Journal Ohio’s race for governor this November is set. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy will face Democrat Amy Acton in November, according to unofficial results. Results will remain unofficial until they are certified by election officials later this month. Both major party candidates are political newcomers who’ve distinguished themselves as communicators. They’ll have ample […]
POSTED: 05/06/26 at 3:25 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Gregory A. “Chase” Stemen, affectionately known as Chase to his friends, a beloved uncle, cousin, and friend to many, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the age of 76. Greg was born on December 10, 1949, in Harrison Township near Wren, Ohio, to Gaylord and Miriam (Baxter) Stemen. He […]
POSTED: 05/06/26 at 2:46 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
Dolores Marie Hofmann, 85, of rural Van Wert, passed away on Tuesday morning, May 5, 2026, at Adams Woodcrest in Decatur, Indiana, surrounded by her loving children. Dolores was born at home in rural Decatur on June 27, 1940, the only child of Paula Rodenbeck. She spent much of her childhood working on the family […]
POSTED: 05/06/26 at 8:22 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
VW independent staff The May 5 primary election is nearly in the books. It’s not 100 percent finished because provisional ballots need to be counted in counties around Ohio and results must be certified by each county board of elections. As expected, voter turnout was relatively low, but some races did attract a good number […]
POSTED: 05/06/26 at 7:06 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Republican voters in Van Wert County have voted to retain Eva Yarger as Van Wert County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge. Final unofficial results from the Van Wert County Board of Elections show Yarger, who previously served as Van Wert County prosecutor, defeated Van Wert County Commissioner Todd Wolfrum 2,177-1,995. Yarger will be unopposed […]
POSTED: 05/05/26 at 10:18 pm. FILED UNDER: News