Let’s build one united economic development effort, and do it well. The new endeavor is beginning to take shape. To date six members of a steering committee have been named, and according to a recent news article, the six members will agree on a seventh member. The steering committee will also define a job description […]
POSTED: 02/15/16 at 8:48 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
When I heard “I sleep the best when my kid is in jail” I was shocked, but I quickly understood that parents sleep better when they know their children are safe. I know I do. Think about it — it may be a jail cell, but a parent knows it’s a safe place where their […]
POSTED: 01/08/16 at 7:41 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
The presentation of a series of numbers makes for poor reading, but when you’re talking budgets, there is really no other way to do it. Balancing these numbers is a big chunk of our responsibility in the commissioners’ office. Here’s how Van Wert County’s financials look for 2016. The county budget gets approved at the […]
POSTED: 01/02/16 at 7:58 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
What’s best for all students, regardless of which school district they attend? Van Wert City Schools is on the right path as they roll out an effort to better connect the content taught at VWCS with what our community’s employers need. Vantage applauds high school principal Bob Priest and counselor Kerry Koontz for stepping out […]
POSTED: 12/24/15 at 7:39 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
It had been our goal a few years ago in the commissioners’ office to combine the various economic development entities in one location. Even before we left the contract with Ohio State that had been in the works. One of Sarah Moser’s first successes as our county’s economic development director was to win a grant […]
POSTED: 12/05/15 at 7:26 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
The Van Wert Solid Waste Management lost its director and a good man last week. Van Wert County lost an icon. For the last quarter century, George Brake personified conservation and recycling not just for our county, but also for much of the state. Earlier this week, a delegation from a nearby six-county consortium visited […]
POSTED: 10/10/15 at 8:00 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
“You can make something big when young that will carry you through life. Look at all the big startups like Microsoft, Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. They were all started by very young people who stumbled on something of unseen value.” – Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. Steve Jobs is widely considered the genius of […]
POSTED: 09/12/15 at 5:50 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
The first step is admitting that you have a problem. Then you have to figure out what the problem is. Economic conditions here are not good, but most of you already know that. According to the 2010 census, Van Wert County had the lowest per capita income of any county in northwest Ohio except Hardin […]
POSTED: 09/05/15 at 1:28 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
It’s been a few years since the Van Wert County Fair has presented a headliner band. James Otto a few years ago was barely an opening act. The low turnout for that show and the prior main event, the Edgar Winter Group, foretold a possible end to the fair’s ability to produce the big name. […]
POSTED: 08/24/15 at 6:47 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions
Can anyone tell me what falling asleep, applying makeup, eating a sandwich, swatting at a mosquito, and admiring landscaping have in common? They are all something that you should not be doing…when operating a vehicle. The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has handled serious injury and/or fatal crashes just this year […]
POSTED: 07/20/15 at 6:19 am. FILED UNDER: Opinions