Speaker announced for annual banquet

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Thompson family and Van Wert Service Club have announced that TJay Fitton will be the speaker for this year’s awards banquet.

Fitton is a 2000 graduate of Lincolnview High School and Vantage Career Center. She currently resides in Quincy, Michigan, where she is a successful real estate agent managing her own private business office. She currently serves as president of the Hillsdale County Board of Realtors as well as serving on many other committees.

She and her husband, Stewart, have three sons, two poodles, and a family-owned construction company. The family enjoys lake days, traveling, and cheering on the Detroit Lions.

Fitton and her husband are dedicated to empowering young people by keeping them engaged in trades, utilizing the local career center resources, recognizing life’s transformative moments, and second chances. She will share her inspiring journey of perseverance and triumph, from her upbringing to becoming the 2000 R. K. Thompson Self-Reliance Award winner.

This year’s awards banquet will be held Wednesday, May 6. The R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Award Program was initiated 56 years ago by R.K. Thompson, Jr. in honor of his father the late R.K. Thompson, Sr. Both men had worked closely with young people and encouraged them to set high, but attainable goals and then apply themselves to obtain those goals.

The program provides cash awards for high school seniors in Van Wert County who best exhibit that character trait. The Self-Reliance Award is designed to seek out and honor a senior who does the best with what he or she has, whether he or she is a scholar, an athlete, a student leader or someone who must seek employment to help their family meet expenses.

The R.K. Thompson Self-Reliance Award is sponsored by the Thompson Family Trust, through the Van Wert County Foundation, and administered by the Van Wert Service Club.

City tax returns cannot be e-filed

Submitted information

The April 15 tax filing deadline is quickly approaching and the Van Wert Income Tax Department has been made aware by local tax preparers that the software they use is stating that the Van Wert City returns can now be e-filed. This is not correct information. The City of Van Wert is not currently set up to receive any e-filed returns. 

Please make sure that you are submitting a paper return, including all supporting documents, to the Van Wert City Income Tax Office. Those preparing and submitting their own tax returns via tax software or online websites should note that even if you receive a confirmation that your Van Wert City return has been e-filed, it has not.

FOP donation…

Van Wert FOP Lodge 62 recently presented a donation to the Autism Support Squad of Delphos. Lodge officials said they’re grateful for the opportunity to support an organization that makes such a meaningful impact in the community and in the lives of so many families. Pictured from left to right are FOP Treasurer Adam Wehage, Ashley Anderson, Kaiti Wolford, Nicole Winklejohn, FOP Chaplain Richard Shobe, Alli Radabaugh, Amy Hyitt and FOP Trustee Keith Collins. Photo submitted

Reservations open for Insane with Power

VW independent staff/submitted information

Reservations are being accepted for Off Stage Productions’ next dinner theatre show “Insane with Power,” a two-act comedy written by Scott Haan. Show dates are April 17-19 and 24-26. Saturday and Sunday performances will be dinner theatre shows.

For Saturday performances, doors will open at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 7:30 p.m. For Sunday matinee performances, the doors will open at 12:30 p.m., with dinner at 1 p.m. and the show at 2 p.m. Burtch’s Barn to Table Catering will provide the buffet meals, and cost of dinner and show will be $30.

Both Friday performances will be “Popcorn Night” with no dinner included but popcorn will be included with the cost of the show. Water and pop will also be available for purchase. Doors open for the Friday performances will open at 7 p.m. and show will begin at 7:30 p.m. The cost for the “Popcorn Night” performances will be $16.

All performances will be held in the Commons at Vantage Career Center, 818 N. Franklin Street, Van Wert. Enter door 13 off the back parking lot where plenty of parking is available.

Call 419.605.6708 to reserve your tables or seats. Box office hours: Monday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m., no Sunday calls please.

The show

 Lois Lancaster is a big-city journalist writing about the current state of mental health facilities. Her research takes her to a hospital populated with a unique group of quirky inmates who imagine they are crime-fighting superheroes. Speed Freak thinks he can run at incredible speeds, while Dim Bulb, the most enthusiastic person on the face of the earth, thinks he can turn off lights with his brain. Mental thinks she can read minds, despite being prone to sudden outbursts of bizarre non-sequiturs. Kevin, much less quirky and flamboyant than the other inmates, doesn’t embarrass himself with a ridiculous code name or costume…at least, not initially. Dr. Gail Eisner appears to be a kind hospital administrator; a steady influence needed to effectively run a madhouse like this one. At first Lois finds their elaborate superhero fantasies to be an entertaining diversion, the wild delusions of unstable minds, until something unusual happens that makes her wonder.

VWCT volunteers to be honored

VW independent staff/submitted information

Dedicated volunteers at the Van Wert Civic Theatre are invited to a special Volunteer Appreciation Night on Friday, April 10. This one-of-a-kind event is a heartfelt thank you to the men and women who give their time, talent, and passion to keep the magic of live theatre alive in the Van Wert community.

The evening kicks off with a guided theatre tour from 6-7 p.m. giving attendees a rare and exciting chance to see the theatre like never before. Whether you have volunteered for years or are just getting involved, this tour offers a fascinating look at the inner workings that bring every production to life.

During the tour, guests will have the opportunity to step into the spaces that make every show possible. Highlights of the behind-the-scenes experience include:

Light and Sound Booth: Discover the technical wizardry behind every spotlight and sound cue that sets the mood for each performance.

Costuming: Step into the world of wardrobe and see how costumes are created and maintained to transform performers into their characters.

Set Building and Design: Go behind the curtain to see how the theatre’s talented crew constructs and designs the stunning sets that bring each story to life.

Marketing: Get a look at how the theatre spreads the word and connects with the community to fill seats season after season.

Following the tour, the fun continues with a lively trivia competition beginning at 7 p.m., the perfect way to end a memorable evening, connecting with fellow volunteers and celebrating the community that makes the Van Wert Civic Theatre such a beloved institution.

Tickets on sale for museum’s Spring Tea

Submitted information

PAULDING — Tickets are now on sale for Paulding County History Museum’s annual Spring Tea.

The tea will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Table hostesses will uniquely decorate each table, most with heirloom or collectible tableware.

Bring your friends and enjoy a delightful afternoon. Wear a hat, gloves or spring-themed accessories. Door prizes will be awarded for Best Decorated Table, Best Hat and Best Spring Tea Attire.

Guests will have an exclusive preview of a new exhibit showcasing two collections of vintage clothing, plus a new nursery room exhibit and displays of shoes from past eras, furs and more.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Ages 12 and older are welcome to attend. Presale tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at the museum on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by calling 419.399.8218 (leave a message), by text, 419.769.3993 or by emailing jphs45879@yahoo.com.

A special Presidential Table has been added to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday. A seat at this table will include one copy of the county’s 1892 historical atlas, a booklet containing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and commemorative magnets. This table for eight will feature a vintage patriotic tablescape. Tickets for this VIP experience is $50 per person.

The museum is located at 600 Fairground Drive in Paulding, across from the fairgrounds.

Committee members include chairman Elizabeth Miller, assisted by Melinda Krick.

Updates will be posted on the museum’s Facebook page.

The museum’s regular hours are Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free.

Students of the Month…

Van Wert Lodge No. 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks have selected Van Wert High School seniors Trevor Dotson and Chelsea Sanderson seniors as the recipients of the Student of the Month for March.Students are nominated by their high schools to receive this award. Each Student of the Month receives a monetary donation along with a certificate from the Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 with the possibility to be named the Student of the Year. Students are judged on the basis of multiple achievements – volunteerism, character, leadership, service, citizenship and scholastic. Dotson and Sanderson are pictured with Linda Stanley, Lodge Student of the Month chair. Photo submitted

Funding available to protect natural areas

Submitted information

BLUFFTON — The District 13 Natural Resources Assistance Council has announced the opening of the fiscal year 2027 application period for Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation funding, with approximately $6.7 million available to support the permanent protection of natural areas across west central Ohio.

Applications will be accepted from April 20 through August 13, and are open to projects in Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert counties.

The Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program is designed to help protect high-quality natural areas, including forests, wetlands, stream corridors, and wildlife habitat. Funding supports projects that ensure these spaces are permanently conserved for their ecological value, and water quality benefits.

Landowners who have natural areas on their property and are interested in long-term protection are encouraged to explore this opportunity. The West Central Ohio Land Conservancy (WCOLC) works with individuals to place conservation easements on qualifying properties, a voluntary and legally binding agreement that permanently limits development while allowing land to remain in private ownership.

Because Clean Ohio funding is awarded to public entities and qualified nonprofit organizations, individuals cannot apply directly. Instead, the Conservancy serves as a partner and applicant, working with landowners to evaluate eligibility, prepare and submit applications, and manage the funding process if a project is awarded.

“This program is a valuable tool for protecting the natural features that make our region unique,” says WCOLC. “We help landowners navigate the process and secure funding to ensure these areas are preserved for future generations.”

Change made to Van Wert egg hunt

VW independent staff

Due to the recent rain and more on the way, plus excess water on ballfields at Smiley Park, the Van Wert Parks Department has decided to make a change to Saturday’s Easter egg hunt.

The Parks Department will still give out Easter eggs but instead of them being placed on the fields, they will be passed out in-person at the concession stand at Smiley Park. Children should have a basket or bag ready to get eggs anytime from 10-11:30 a.m. The Easter Bunny will be hopping around to say hi. 

Marsh Foundation hosting service

Submitted information

A reminder that local pastors, leaders, and musicians will be hosting a community-wide Good Friday service at 12 p.m. Friday, April 3, in the Bagley Auditorium of the Marsh Foundation in Van Wert. Enter either the front doors facing Lincoln Highway or the back doors on the north side of the building. Parking is in front off Lincoln Highway or the back.

Participating in the service are pastors Gerld Baker (retired); Brad Custis, Church on the Horizon, Rick Eberle, Trinity Global Methodist; Gary Ginter, (retired); Vanlal Hruaia, First Presbyterian; Matt McGovern, Trinity Friends; Aaron McGranahan, Promise Church; David To, Trinity Global Methodist, and Bill Watson, Pentecostal Way. Musicians will include Greg and Kathy Pysh, Annette Hoverman, and Mark Tschantz and friends.

The service will include music, prayer, the story of Good Friday in a scriptural dramatization, and much more. A procession of the cross will begin at the Greenhouse on the Marsh campus beginning at 11:30 am.

The entire community of Van Wert is invited to attend.