Van Wert’s Easton Putman (above) fires a pitch during Wednesday’s Division IV district semifinal game against No. 1 seed Bath. Jace Huebner (below) swings at a pitch and Griffin McCracken (bottom) slides safely. The Cougars won Wednesday’s game 6-1, putting them in the district championship game against No. 2 seed Bryan at 5 p.m. Friday […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 9:32 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Administrative contracts, including one for Superintendent Mark Bagley, were approved by the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education on Wednesday. The board approved a five-year contract for Bagley under a retire-rehire provision. Bagley, who previously served as middle school principal, was originally hired as superintendent in March of 2020 and was […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 9:00 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Residents of downtown Van Wert apartments should be aware – the city is ready to crack down on those who violate existing parking laws. Van Wert City Council met Wednesday night due to Monday’s Memorial Day holiday and members heard from Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming, who said tenants are prohibited from parking […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 8:58 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Crestview Elementary recently named its Students of the Month sponsored by Van Wert Cinemas. Students making the Knight Leader Board each month are put into a drawing for a free 30-day pass to the movie theater for their entire family. Van Wert Cinemas April and May Students of the Month are: first grade: Kenslee Valle, […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 8:57 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting six statewide traffic fatalities during over the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend. It’s the lowest total in 18 years. None of the fatalities occurred in Van Wert County or surrounding Ohio counties. During the reporting period, May 22-25, troopers made 16,490 traffic enforcement […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 8:57 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor A Van Wert man accused of supplying drugs that cost another city man his life was in court for sentencing on Wednesdasy. In Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, Joshua Sargent, 44, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for attempted corrupting another with drugs, a third degree felony. Judge Martin D. […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 3:14 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine announced today that he has directed the chair of the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause consideration of any new data center tax exemption requests while the Ohio General Assembly’s Joint Data Center Committee studies the growth of data centers in Ohio. A press release announcing […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 3:13 pm. FILED UNDER: News
7 Brew held a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony on Tuesday at its newest location, 860 N. Washington St. in Van Wert. To kick off the opening celebrations, 7 Brew Van Wert hosted a donation weekend May 15-17, where customers could try 7 Brew and “pay what they want” as a donation to The Marsh Foundation. […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 12:25 pm. FILED UNDER: Business
Deborah Jean Reish, 75, of Van Wert, passed away Monday evening, May 25, 2026, at the Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing Home of Shane Hill in Rockford. She was born on July 14, 1950, in Celina, the daughter of Malone H. Compson and Evenelle (Hare) Compson. Deborah is survived by her three daughters, Amy (Rob) Morris […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 9:24 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
Submitted information OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has earned a 5-star overall hospital quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for 2026, the highest rating possible through the program. The CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings are designed to help patients and families compare hospitals based on measures tied to quality and safety. […]
POSTED: 05/27/26 at 8:26 am. FILED UNDER: Business