Preliminary judging

The Van Wert Peony Festival Pageant conducted preliminary judging interviews on Thursday at the offices of the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce. Here, queen candidate Madison Pugh of Spencerville (center) is interviewed by (from the left) United Way of Van Wert County Executive Director Vicki Smith, Pregnancy Life Center Executive Director Trina Langdon, and Lt. Josh Morales of The Salvation Army. Tickets for the pageant, which will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, April 6, at the Marsh Foundation Auditorium, are now on sale at Touches or Time Antique Mall in Van Wert. Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent