Top 2025 stories that didn’t make the cut
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
2025 is now in the rear-view mirror but the year provided some notable moments at the local level. The VW independent wrapped up its Top 10 stories of 2025 series on December 31, but here are five other stories/events that didn’t make the cut but are worth a second look. They are listed in no particular order.
Pharmacy break-ins
In September, three men dressed all in black broke into three pharmacies in three different counties.
The first was at Hicksville Pharmacy and Home at 5:20 a.m. September 11, followed by Oukley’s Pharmacy in Paulding about 25 minutes later. The burglars then made their way to Van Wert and broke into the Genoa walk-up pharmacy at Westwood Behavorial Center in Van Wert about 45 minutes after that.
Just one of the break-ins was successful. According to Hicksville Police Chief Mark Denning, the suspects were in Hicksville Pharmacy and Home for less than five minutes and were able to steal an unknown amount of narcotics from the pharmacy area, plus a small amount of cash from the register. The men left the other two pharmacies emptyhanded.
To this day, no charges have been filed.
Council gets a raise
After months of discussion, members of Van Wert City Council approved raises, which took effect with the 2026 term. No one is getting rich though. In 2025, council members had an annual salary of $4,900. This year, they’ll make approximately $5,400, or about $42 more per month.
Crestview picks a new superintendent
In early March, the Crestview Local Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of Matt Dube as the district’s new superintendent. He was chosen to replace Kathy Mollenkopf, who retired after serving in that role since 2018.
Dube had served as principal at Fort Jennings Elementary for 11 years and also served as varsity boys soccer and baseball coach. He decided now was the time to make a move.
“(Crestview) is a very similar school district to Fort Jennings, just a little larger,” Dube said. “I’ve always wanted to be a superintendent but I had not looked anywhere else. This one came across my desk – my superintendent actually passed it on to me and said this would be a great one. I took a chance, threw my resume out, my wife and kids supported it and here we are.”
Dube’s first official day was August 1.
Mid-June storms
Shortly after 6 p.m. on June 18, a powerful storm system blew into Van Wert County – literally – and left behind a wide path of damage. It wasn’t a tornado, just stong straightline winds, a microburst and a gustnado. Trees fell on homes, garages and cars, fell across streets and roads and took down power lines but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Along with downed trees and other damage, the storm left power outages around the city, including 12 transmission poles that came down east of Vantage Career Center, along with several in front of Trinity Friends Church. Those poles feed the northern portion of Van Wert.
Grocery store saved
In mid-March, much to the chagrin of its regular customers, it was announced that discount grocer Save A Lot would close its Van Wert store. However, one day after employees at the S. Shannon St. store were informed of the decision, they were told that Save A Lot corporate purchased the store and would keep it open. The grocery employs roughly two dozen workers.
Here are links to the VW independent’s Top 10 stories of 2025.
POSTED: 01/02/26 at 11:42 pm. FILED UNDER: News