James F. Kennedy, 76, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Born on October 6, 1949, in Van Wert, Jim lived a life filled with love, laughter, and meaningful connections, spending most of his years in Middle Point. Jim worked as an HR Manager at Kennedy Manufacturing, […]
POSTED: 09/20/26 at 5:30 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor Mother Nature might have put a bit of a damper on an ongoing road construction project, as recent rains could delay the opening of Van Wert’s second roundabout by a handful of days. It’s being built at the intersection of U.S. 224 and Lincoln Highway, just west of the Van Wert city […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 11:02 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information Northwest State Community College hosted its sixth annual Van Wert Campus Golf Outing on Friday, September 11, at Hickory Sticks Golf Club in Van Wert. 124 participants enjoyed a fun day of golf, games and prizes, all in an effort to raise NSCC scholarship dollars for Paulding and Van Wert learners. […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 10:59 pm. FILED UNDER: News
The 2026 Crestview Homecoming Court will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Friday, September 25, prior to the football game against Allen East. Homecoming spirit week is being celebrated with dress up days for students throughout the week. The homecoming parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and will conclude at the school where the junior […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 10:58 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has let his feeling be known about the use of Flock license plate reader technology by law enforcement agencies around the state and what the consequences should be for those who misuse it. In a statement issued this week, Wilson said law enforcement relies on […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 10:58 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information CONVOY — The history of a once-busy electric railway that connected communities across northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana will be the focus of a public program hosted by the Convoy Historical Society. The presentation, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, October 4, at the Convoy Opera House, will feature Bill Van Doren of Miamisburg. […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 10:57 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports Just call it “the X factor.” Van Wert running back Xavier Kelly, known to many simply as “X” thrilled the home crowd as Eggerss Stadium Friday night. The 6-1, 180 pound junior unofficially had 10 carries for 295 yards and five touchdowns as the Cougars defeated Defiance 61-28 on a night when […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 10:53 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports FORT LORAMIE — Crestview finished the first half of the regular season with a 34-0 loss at Fort Loramie on Friday. The Redskins (4-1, 2-0 NWC) led 13-0 after one quarter, with Tanner Heckman tossing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Eilerman, then Wyatt Holthaus scoring on a 6-yard run. Fort Loramie […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 10:53 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports Prior to Friday night’s football game against Defiance, a special ceremony was held to celebrate 90 years of Van Wert football being played at Eggerss Stadium. The game was exactly 90 years to the day when the first game was played at the downtown stadium. On September 18, 1936, Van Wert defeated […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 10:53 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports Here are final scores of area high school football games played on Friday, September 18. BVC Arcadia 17 Van Buren 14 Elmwood 39 Arlington 14 Leipsic 39 Pandora-Gilboa 0 McComb 49 Riverdale 0 GMC Antwerp 42 Edgerton 7 Fairview 42 Ayersville 13 Paulding 42 Wayne Trace 20 Tinora 48 Hicksville 7 MAC […]
POSTED: 09/18/26 at 10:52 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports