Editor’s note: The Friday Flashback has returned for the summer season and will continue until the start of the 2026 fall sports season. This week’s Friday Flashback takes us back to February of 2014, when the Van Wert boys basketball team won a nail-biter over visiting Coldwater. Below is the story as it appeared on […]
POSTED: 07/24/26 at 12:01 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor CONVOY — During a very brief meeting of the Crestview Local Schools Board of Education on Thursday, Superintendent Matt Dube gave an update on the district’s massive athletic facilities upgrade project. Dube informed the board that much of the outdoor portion of project is ahead of schedule. “People who move dirt like […]
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 8:29 pm. FILED UNDER: Top Story
The Van Wert Police Department is investigating an early Thursday morning robbery at Winners Skilled Games on Fox Rd. Because of the ongoing investigation, few details have been released but Chief Doug Weigle said the suspect/suspects broke in and forced open a safe. The break-in and theft was reported late Thursday morning. As of Thursday […]
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 8:29 pm. FILED UNDER: News
By DAVE MOSIER/for the VW independent A music-hating nebbish who gets trapped in musical hell is “the guy” in The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals — the AYA (Adolescent-Young Adult) Theatre production that opened Thursday at Van Wert Civic Theatre. In this horror-comedy-musical written by Nick and Matt Lang, with music and lyrics by Jeff […]
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 8:27 pm. FILED UNDER: Arts & Entertainment, News
Submitted information A portion of Crawford St. in Van Wert will be closed Monday and Tuesday, July 27-28, for the Eggress Stadium renovation project. Leeson Ave. will be closed all day on Wednesday, July 29, and all day on Monday, August 3, for the Enbridge gas line replacement project.
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 8:27 pm. FILED UNDER: News
It’s become an annual tradition in Van Wert. Volunteers gathered at Trinity Global Church on Tuesday night to stuff backpacks full of school supplies. The volunteers formed an assembly line to fill the backpacks with essentials such as paper, notebooks, pencils and more. The backpacks and other supplies will be driven to the Navajo Nation […]
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 8:26 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has announced a multi-pronged initiative to help Ohioans identify romance scams, ward off financial losses, encourage people to report suspected cases to authorities, and support victims. Romance scammers, who often prey on older adults, establish a fake online relationship with their victims to gain […]
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 8:26 pm. FILED UNDER: News
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 8:24 pm. FILED UNDER: Kay-toons
Garry E. Hart, a beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend, departed this life on July 18, 2026, at the age of 82. He was born on June 9, 1944, in Van Wert, to Byron and Pauline (Miller) Hart, who both preceded him in death. A proud graduate of Crestview High School, Garry completed his studies […]
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 11:23 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 2:51 a.m. – Dispatched Convoy EMS to a residence on Liberty Union Road in Pleasant Township for a subject who had fallen. 3:43 a.m. – Deputies responded to the area of U.S. 127 and U.S. 224 in Pleasant Township for a motor vehicle crash. A 2020 Chevrolet Bolt driven by Rachel […]
POSTED: 07/23/26 at 11:16 am. FILED UNDER: Law Enforcement