County residents celebrated America’s 250th birthday on Saturday. Hundreds of people lined Main St. for a parade, and many came back later to hear tunes by country music singer Pete Schlegel. Thersea Mengerink sealed a time capsule during Saturday’s festivities and the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band performed at the Van Wert County Historical […]
POSTED: 07/05/26 at 7:43 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information Main Street Van Wert inviting the community to its annual Downtown Block Party, which will be held from 4-10 p.m. Friday, July 24, in historic downtown Van Wert. Presented in partnership with Van Wert Live, this free community celebration will transform downtown into an evening filled with food, entertainment, shopping, and family fun. The Block […]
POSTED: 07/05/26 at 7:42 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information Main Street Van Wert and Van Wert basketball are teaming up to hold the the second annual Main Street Madness 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, on Saturday, August 1, at the east side Goedde Building on S. Jefferson St. Open to boys and girls entering first through eighth grades, the tournament promises a fun-filled day of basketball, […]
Submitted information The 2027 budget hearing for Union Township will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at the township building, 9977 Dixon Cavett Rd, Van Wert.
POSTED: 07/05/26 at 7:39 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information MIDDLE POINT — The Van Wert County Outdoorsmen Association will host a CMP sanctioned modern military match this Saturday, July 11, at the Van Wert County Outdoorsmen Club, 9093 Ringwald Rd., Middle Point. It is the annual D-Day match, honoring veterans both past and present. The safety briefing will be held at 9:15 […]
POSTED: 07/05/26 at 7:39 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) will meet on at noon on Friday, July 10, for a summer luncheon program and learning experience at the Van Wert campus of Northwest State Community College, 520 E. Sycamore St. The main entrance is on the west side of the building and parking is […]
POSTED: 07/05/26 at 7:34 pm. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles
By Quincy Thompson Feel Good Fridays continues this week with an evening of powerful musicianship, timeless melodies, and big band energy as the New Millennium Jazz Orchestra takes the stage in Fountain Park at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 10. Hailing from Fort Wayne, the New Millennium Jazz Orchestra has built a reputation as one of […]
POSTED: 07/05/26 at 7:33 pm. FILED UNDER: Arts & Entertainment
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 late January of 2012, when Van Wert traveled to Celina for a WBL boys basketball tilt. The game turned out to be a nailbiter. […]
POSTED: 07/03/26 at 12:01 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor There was no Independence Day parade in Van Wert last year. Navy Ship Club 726 Commander Ken Myers wasn’t about to let that happen this July 4, the day America celebrates its Semiquincentennial – the country’s 250th birthday. Immediately after last year’s July 4 holiday, Myers and Navy Ship Club 726 began […]
POSTED: 07/02/26 at 8:32 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff It’s a question that will be asked many times today and Saturday – when does the parade start in Van Wert? The answer is 11 a.m. Saturday. The Independence Day parade will begin at the YWCA on E. Main St. and will travel west to the YMCA on W. Main St. Various […]
POSTED: 07/02/26 at 8:31 pm. FILED UNDER: News