VW independent staff A pair of arraignments, a sentencing hearing and plea change hearings were among the hearings held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings. Arraignments Jeffrey Kallas, 25, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to harassment with a bodily […]
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:50 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor This Friday, September 11, will mark 25 years since the horrific attacks on the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the same day a jet crashed into a Pennsylvania field after a passenger revolt. The VW independent is asking readers to share memories of that day. While the attacks […]
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:50 pm. FILED UNDER: News
The Van Wert County Agricultural Society held its annual director election on on Monday and the following people were elected to director seats that were open for this election cycle: The Liberty Township position did not have a petition submitted and will be filled by appointment at the Agricultural Society’s Annual Meeting on November 14. […]
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:48 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has announced that applications for the Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships are now available to any high school senior. Applications for the Elks National Foundation’s 2027 Most Valuable Student contest are available online at enf.elks.org/mvs. The MVS scholarships are only […]
On Wednesday, Mrs. Germann’s eighth grade American History class raised the American and Ohio flags donated by the Van Wert VFW Post 5803 Auxiliary. Pictured from left to right are Finley Case, Tula Cologne, VFW Auxiliary representative Suzi McClure, Mavis Hull, and Jesse Elston. Photo submitted
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:47 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 12 traffic deaths over the four-day Labor Day weekend reporting period, which began at midnight on Friday, September 4, and ran until 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 12. None of the fatal crashes occurred locally. The Highway Patrol said the 12 deaths were the result of 12 […]
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:46 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff A reminder – the City of Van Wert’s final scheduled brush pickup of 2026 will begin on Monday, September 14. Brush must be placed by the curb by 7 a.m. that day.
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:46 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports Conference and league play will be in full swing as we’ve arrived at Week No. 4 of the high school football season. The Green Meadows Conference and the Northwest Conference join the Western Buckeye League and Midwest Athletic Conference in playing league games. The majority of area games this week appear to […]
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:45 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Van Wert senior Zach Stoller (above) was the match medalist against Elida at Willow Bend on Wednesday. Stoller carded a 2-under par 33 and the Cougars evened their WBL record at 4-4 with a 155-180 win over the Bulldogs. For Stoller, it was his personal best in his last home match. Sophomore Cal Byrum added to […]
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:44 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Submitted information COLUMBUS — With almost 350,000 high school student-athletes during the 2025-26 school year, Ohio ranks as the third-largest state for high school sports participation in the annual NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, trailing only Texas and California. Ohio ranked in the Top 5 nationally in participation of most sports and is now the […]
POSTED: 09/09/26 at 8:44 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports