Data center ban won’t be on fall ballot

Megan Henry/Ohio Capital Journal Ohio voters will not have a chance to vote to ban data centers in the November election.  Conserve Ohio, the grassroots organization behind the proposed constitutional amendment, said they are now hoping to make the 2027 ballot. The amendment would prohibit building data centers with a peak load of more than […]

Friday accidents under investigation

VW independent staff A pair of Friday accidents in northwest Ohio remain under investigation by two different posts of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The first involved a semi-truck and train and occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m. June 19 on County Road 11, just south of County Road F in Fulton County’s York Township. According […]

Ralph’s World!

A good time was had by all at Fountain Park Friday night, as kids’ themed Ralph’s World took over Van Wert Live’s Feel Good Friday concert series. It featured a summer snowstorm of bubbles, music, dancing and more. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent

YWCA receives summer reading grant

VW independent staff/submitted information A $2,500 Summer Reading Grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation is providing a boost to the YWCA of Van Wert County. The funding will be used to purchase books for children participating in the YWCA Summer Food Program. YWCA officials said books serve as part of a positive behavior incentive […]

High-speed internet service expanded

VW independent staff/submitted information New high-speed fiber internet service is available in the rural Van Wert County area, including the Village of Scott and portions of Convoy, and additional expansion is slated for surrounding areas this summer. Paulding-Putnam is offering the service and to celebrate, PP is inviting community members to attend a free community […]

Princess Tea Party to be offered

Submitted information CHP Home Care & Hospice is hosting a Princess Tea Party for young girls on Saturday, June 27, at the CHP Adult Day Center, 1155 Westwood Drive, Van Wert (in the former inpatient hospice building, behind the main CHP office). Little ones will have the opportunity to spend time with guest princesses, create […]

Scholarship recipient…

AgCredit has announced the recipients of its 2026 Joe Leiser Memorial Scholarships. This year, AgCredit awarded $25,000 distributed between twelve recipients to support their educational goals during the 2026–2027 academic year. Among them is Lincolnview High School graduate Elyssa Renner, who will attend Wright State University and major in agriculture business. The scholarship program honors […]

Chamber director stepping down

VW independent staff/submitted information PAULDING – After roughly 13 months on the job, Paulding Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jill Strahley has announced she’s stepping down.  The Chamber’s Board of Directors has begun the search for the organization’s next leader. According to a press release announcing her departure, the Chamber said Strahley focused on […]

Gregory M. Ilderton

Gregory M. Ilderton, 85, passed away Thursday morning, June 18, 2026, at Divine Shane Hill, Rockford. He was born on October 23, 1940, the son of William Alvin and Kathleen (Moody) Ilderton in Oakley (Cincinnati). After graduating from Batesville, Indiana High School in 1958, he served in the Air Force as parachute rigger in Germany, […]

Lincolnview BOE lauds state qualifiers

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Lincolnview Local Schools took just 59 minutes but a lot was packed into that time. During his monthly report, Superintendent Jeff Snyder said now that QTS has been revealed as the end user of $10 billion data center that will be built at the Mega Site, negotiations […]