All-Stars!

Recently graduated senior baseball players from Crestview, Delphos Jefferson, Lincolnview and Van Wert took the field for the Lincoln Highway Classic Wednesday night. It was the inuagural game and the Klosterman’s Pizza All-Stars held off the Lee Kinstle All-Stars 6-5. More pictures can be found on the Sports page. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent

Safety Council accepting registrations

VW independent staff/submitted information The Ohio West Safety Council, sponsored by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Eastman & Smith, Ltd. Attorneys at Law, is a program of the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce open to all area businesses. The council helps increase safety awareness and may provide participating businesses cost savings related […]

Lincoln Highway Classic!

The first ever Lincoln Highway Classic went down the wire at Smiley Park on Wednesday night. The Klosterman Pizza All-Stars led 6-1 after four innings, then held on for a 6-5 win. The Lee Kinstle All-Stars scored three runs in the sixth, one more in the seventh and had more runners on base but couldn’t […]

Various hearings held in local court

VW independent staff Five separate and unrelated criminal hearings were held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings. Arraignment Shawn Clouatre, 33, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to violating a protection order, a fifth degree felony. He was released on […]

Flag football recognized by OHSAA

Submitted information COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has elevated girls flag football to a fully recognized sport for the 2026-27 school year, following a unanimous vote of the OHSAA Board of Directors at its June meeting. Girls flag football becomes the OHSAA’s 29th recognized sport, including 15 sports for girls and 14 for […]

VWCO Sheriff’s activity log 6/23/2026

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 10:17 a.m. – Deputies responded to a residence on Rumble Road in Hoaglin Township to check an open line 911 call. 1:22 p.m. – Deputies responded to an area of U.S. 127 in Liberty Township for a report of a utility trailer parked in the roadway. 3:07 p.m. – Deputies responded […]

Variety of topics discussed at meeting

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor There was a lot of talk but not a lot of action during Monday’s meeting of Van Wert City Council. The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, was primarily discussion-based around four topics – a potential new noise ordinance, possible amendments to the city’s existing junk and rubbish laws, smoking in parks, […]

County’s jobless rate among lowest

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Van Wert County had the state’s ninth lowest unemployment rate in May, according to figures released on Tuesday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The monthly rankings show the county’s jobless rate was just 2.5 percent, tying it for ninth lowest with Paulding, Wayne, Shelby, Preble and Logan counties. […]

Libertarian Political Club being formed

VW independent staff/submitted information PAULDING — The 2026 Paulding County Fair saw a new organization with the arrival of the Libertarian Party of Ohio. Christopher Elder, Libertarian candidate for Ohio House District 82, spoke with people as the first Libertarian candidate from Paulding since 2000. District 82 includes all of Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert […]

Lancer awards, camp…

The Lincolnview varsity baseball team recently held its end of the season awards ceremony. Special awards went to (left to right): Holden Price, Most Valuable Player; Chayse Overholt, Most Valuable Pitcher; Jackson Ingledue, Most Improved, and Case Young, Lancer Award. The Lincolnview baseball proram wrapped up its 11th annual baseball camp, which had 87 campers […]