Houser appeal hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Lima

Committee will choose new prosecutor

VW independent staff

Van Wert County’s Republican Central Committee will be tasked with finding a new county prosecutor in the near future.

Current Van Wert County Prosecutor Evan Yarger will officially resign that post on Thursday, February 12, the same day as she’s sworn in as Van Wert County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge. Her first official day on the bench will be Tuesday, February 17.

According to Ohio Revised code, the county’s Republican Central Committee has between 5-45 days from Yarger’s resignation date to fill the prosecutor’s vacancy. Until the committee meets and selects a replacement, the Van Wert County Commissioners will appoint someone on a temporary basis to fill the gap. The commissioners would likely coordinate with the committee to appoint the person who would most likely be chosen by them as a permanent replacement. It’s unknown when the Republican Central Committee will meet.

Yarger was appointed as judge on Monday by Governor Mike DeWine to replace Judge Kevin Taylor, who retired December 31, 2025.

OIU urges safety around Super Bowl

Submitted information

COLUMBUS — As fans across the state prepare for Super Bowl LX on Sunday, the Ohio Investigative Unit is reminding liquor permit holders and the public to prioritize safety and responsible alcohol service during the weekend’s festivities.

OIU agents will be working statewide through the weekend to monitor liquor permit premises and ensure compliance with Ohio’s liquor laws. These efforts focus on preventing the sale of alcohol to underage individuals, stopping the over-service of patrons, and ensuring permit holders are adhering to their authorized permit privileges.

“We want everyone to enjoy the game and the social gatherings that come with it, but our priority is ensuring that those celebrations don’t turn into tragedies,” said OIU Executive Director Jamie Patton. “Liquor permit holders have a responsibility to their patrons and their communities to serve alcohol legally and safely. Our agents will be active across Ohio to ensure these laws are followed and to hold violators accountable.”

Additionally, OIU reminds permit holders to verify their specific Sunday sale privileges. In Ohio, a D-6 permit is required to sell intoxicating liquor including wine, prepackaged low-proof mixed beverages, and high-proof spirits on Sundays. While a D-6 permit is not required to sell beer, the location must be authorized for Sunday beer sales by local option election results. There are no exceptions in Ohio law for a temporary change in authorized sales privileges due to holidays or special events.

During Super Bowl weekend in 2025, which spanned from Friday, February 7, through Monday February 10, OIU agents made 34 total arrests and issued 16 administrative citations against liquor permit holders including 10 for operating without a permit to sell liquor on Sundays.

Another guilty plea in Ponzi scheme case

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — A northwest Ohio woman has become the fourth person to plead guilty in a massive Ponzi case.

Nancy Rathbun of Fulton County pleaded guilty on Friday for her involvement in an alleged $72 million Ponzi scheme targeting Ohio investors. She entered her plea in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to one felony count of attempted money laundering.

Rathbun was a bookkeeper for Private Wealth Consultants, Ltd., and married to a former investment adviser from the same firm who is also a co-defendant in the case, Gary Rathbun. As part of her plea, she agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and testify in the prosecutions of co-defendants. However, she is not being asked to offer cooperation or testimony against her husband.

The case is the result of a multi-year investigation led by the Division of Securities in partnership with the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Deputy Attorney Inspector Harvey McCleskey led the investigation for the Division of Securities, meanwhile the prosecution is being led by Principle Assistant Attorney General Dan Kasaris and Assistant Attorney General Drew Wood.

“This plea by Mrs. Rathbun is an important development in the case and underscores the Division’s commitment to hold every person accountable for their crimes against Ohio investors,” said Ohio Securities Commissioner Andrea Seidt. “It’s not uncommon for spouses to get roped into hiding assets for their loved ones but a good forensic accountant will never be fooled. I cannot say enough about the dedication of our enforcement team and our prosecution partners who continue to churn day in and day out to provide justice for the victims.”

Rathbun’s plea follows a similar plea last month from two of her co-defendants, James Delverne and Doug Miller. Last May, Richard Scheich, a former executive with Northwest Capital also pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts in the case. Scheich’s actions allegedly defrauded investors of nearly $9 million in investments, contributing to a larger $72 million alleged fraudulent scheme.

From January 2011 through December 2021, managers at Northwest Capital in Toledo, along with other co-defendants from entities who worked with the firm, allegedly misled investors about critical facts, including conflicts of interest within the organization and the financial health of affiliated entities. Investigators allege that funds were manipulated to create an illusion of success, while investors received falsified annual statements to conceal the scheme’s reality.  While investors received annual statements supporting the value of their investments, these values ultimately proved to be false when investors requested redemption of their investment principal and Northwest Capital was unable to fund those redemptions.

Emergency farm loans available locally

VW independent staff/submitted information

INDIANAPOLIS (IN) – The United States Department of Agriculture has designated 28 Indiana counties as natural disaster areas due to drought and as a result, five Ohio counties – Darke, Defiance, Mercer, Paulding and Van Wert counties – are eligible as contiguous counties.

The natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency to extend emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Those loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. The FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

The loan application deadline is August 31.

Friday morning snow…

While snow was in this morning’s forecast, it came down a little quicker and heavier than expected in downtown Van Wert and the surrounding area. Roughly two inches of light, fluffy snow fell in about 90 minutes, leaving vehicles covered and roads a bit on the slick side. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent

Local man arrested on active warrant

VW independent staff/submitted information

A Van Wert man wanted on an active warrant for felonious assault and who allegedly made threatening remarks about a former law enforcement officer was taken into custody without incident last night.

According to Van Wert Police Chief Doug Weigle, Devin Allen Couch, 21, was arrested after a traffic stop at W. Third St. and N. Jefferson St. at appoximately 9 p.m. Thursday. A Van Wert Sheriff’s Office K-9 alerted on the vehicle and inside it, officers found what appeared to be meth.

The felonious assault charge, a second degree felony, stemmed from an incident on January 19, when Couch allegedly assaulted a male victim in the 200 block of N. Wall St. When the male retreated to his home, Couch ran after him and entered his home without being invited.

The responding officer to that incident arrived and arrested Couch at the scene and according to Weigle, Couch showed signs of intoxication. Couch’s cell phone was seized and a search warrant was obtained to extract evidence from the phone. It was discovered Couch was talking about killing a retired police officer and a family member. He also discussed shooting it out with law enforcement.

“Due to the those concerns, the Van Wert City Police Department is very happy he was taken into custody without incident,” Weigle said.

Couch remains in the Van Wert County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings.

BOE hears request tied to data center

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The data center and its impact on Vantage Career Center was a topic of discussion during Thursday’s Vantage school board meeting.

Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brent Stevens and Van Wert Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming were at the meeting to explain a planned road extension project that will eventually link Bonnewitz Ave. to Mendon Rd. It would require Vantage giving away some of its existing parking lot on the south side of the campus. If the board agrees to the request, Fleming said a new parking lot would be built at the main campus, one that would include 50 more parking spaces than the current lot has.

“I see this as a huge win for the school, for the community, for future economic development for a bunch of different reasons,” Stevens said of plan to connect Bonnewitz to Mendon. “Now, when the kids leave school they can only go north or south but with this, they would be able to go north, south, east or west.”

It was also noted that in 2029 or 2030, two new roundabouts will be built in the City of Van Wert, with one being part of the Bonnewitz extension. That one will be constructed at the current intersection of Bonnewitz and N. Washington St., while the other will be built just up the street on N. Washington at the U.S. 30 exit ramp.

As far as the data center itself, plans originally called for it to be built on approximately 200 acres of land at the Mega Site, but that could expand to 900 acres. Stevens said it’s expected to be built in phases over a 10-year period and will eventually employ approximately 250 workers. He added construction could begin in the third or fourth quarter of this year. However, while Thor Equities was the buyer of the Mega Site property, Stevens told the board he’s still unable to share the name of the end user.

“I’m not allowed to share that quite yet but we’re getting really close,” Stevens said. “I wanted everybody to know that this project has expanded way beyond our original construct of what we’ve been putting out in media.”

The information presented by Stevens and Fleming was supplemented by a Powerpoint presentation, which allowed the board to see renderings of the pending data center and road extension project.

The board is expected to decide on the parking lot request at its March meeting.

Two new members join Vantage BOE

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The Vantage Career Center Board of Education welcomed two new members during Thursday night’s monthly meeting.

Karen Grothouse is the new representative for the Delphos City Schools and Brian Donaldson is Continental’s new representative. Grothouse is filling the remainder of a three year term that was previously held by Rebecca Suever, while Donaldson is beginning a new three year term. Continental was previously represented by Robin Etter.

All board seats are filled except for one – Antwerp Local Schools. The seat was previously held by Dennis Recker and now the Antwerp school board is working to find his replacement.

During his monthly report to the board, Superintendent Rick Turner noted the school has just one full calamity day left before make-up days will need to be utilized. He also lauded the work of the school’s maintanance workers for their efforts during the winter season.

“They have worked tirelessly to ensure our parking lots and sidewalks are safe and accessible,” he said. “Their efforts are greatly appreciated.”

Turner explained that a recent bi-weekly Vantage Academy of Medical Careers construction meeting was canceled due to weather and he said the next meeting is scheduled for next week. Later in the month, Vantage officials will meet with Munger Architects to discuss repurposing space in the main building once the medical programs transition into the new facility.

“We have asked Munger to provide a few different options, including cost estimates for each. We will bring those to you for discussion following that meeting,” he stated.

Turner also reminded the board that the annual Taste of Vantage/Open House event will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. this coming Monday, along with a special 50th anniversary celebration earlier in the day. Both events were orginally scheduled for January 26 but were postponed due to inclement weather.

High School Director Ben Winans told the board that 436 applications were received from high school sophomores for the 2026-2027 school year, a slight increase from last year.

Ag Society Reverse Raffle next month

Submitted information

The Van Wert County Agricultural Society will host its 10th Annual Reverse Raffle on Saturday, March 28, at the Junior Fair Building at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m.

This popular annual fundraiser features multiple opportunities to win prizes, including a 50/50 drawing, silent and live auction items, and more. The last ticket drawn will receive $7,000, with the second-to-last ticket receiving $3,500, the third-to-last ticket receiving $1,500, and the fourth-to-last ticket receiving $750. The evening will be catered by Gibson’s Barnyard BBQ.

Raffle tickets are $100 each, and dinner-only tickets are $30 each. Only 300 raffle tickets will be sold. Both ticket options include a catered meal, complimentary drinks and the opportunity to participate in all activities throughout the event.

Tickets are available through the Van Wert County Fair Office, at 1055 S. Washington St., Van Wert, or by contacting any fair board director.

ODOT’s busy year…

The Ohio Department of Transportation oversaw approximately 290 projects that added significant highway infrastructure or improved the safety or condition of area highways in northwest Ohio during 2025. Approximately 90 contract projects totaling $327 million were managed in 2025 and another 200 or so were completed by ODOT’s own forces throughout the 16-county region. Notable local highlights include the opening of reconstructed rest areas along U.S. 30 in Convoy and chip sealing 24 lane miles of U.S. 30. Photos submitted