School report cards: see how your school system fared

New bridge planned in Middle Point

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert County Engineer’s Office, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation, are planning for a complete bridge replacement on E. Bellis Rd. crossing the Little Auglaize River on the southeast side of Middle Point. However, it won’t begin for nearly two years.

This project will be a complete demolition and replacement of the current bridge and is tentatively planned to begin in the summer of 2027. The construction is planned to last no longer than three to five months and will ideally be completed by the end of that summer.

Construction will result in a temporary roadway closure. Through-traffic will be strictly prohibited and detoured temporarily until the project is 100 percent complete. The expected detour is tentatively planned to run south on Dog Creek Rd. to Ohio 697 east to Middle Point Wetzel Rd. and then north. Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout the construction process.

The proposed project will be taking place in a regulated floodplain on the Little Auglaize River. Impacts to this floodplain are anticipated to be minor and result in no rise in localized flood levels.

FD receives donation…

The Van Wert Fire Department recently received a $3,840 donation from Farm Credit Mid-America to purchase rope rescue equipment. This gear will enhance the department’s ability to respond to grain bin rescues, emergencies where trapped individuals can quickly become engulfed in grain and require specialized tools and training to free safely.“We are grateful for Farm Credit Mid-America’s support,” said Fire Chief Jon Jones said the department is grateful for Farm Credit Mid-America’s support and said the donation strengthens the departament’s ability to protect lives within the farming community. Photo submitted

AEP proposes transmission line projecct

Submitted information

AEP Ohio Transmission Company, Inc. has submitted a Letter of Notification to the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) for the proposed Van Wert–Haviland 138 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project. The $45 million investment will rebuild and upgrade approximately 10.9 miles of existing transmission infrastructure in Paulding and Van Wert counties to ensure reliable service and support future economic development.

The project will replace aging wooden poles from 1926 with modern steel monopoles and rebuild the existing 69 kV line as a double-circuit line designed for 138 kV (initially operated at 69 kV). About 8.7 miles of the line will follow the current right-of-way, while 2.2 miles will shift to a new corridor to reduce environmental and residential impacts.

Key benefits

• Resolves baseline thermal violations identified by PJM in its 2026 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan.
• Improves reliability for approximately 416 customers historically affected by outages.
• Provides capacity to serve new industrial and commercial load at the Van Wert Mega Site, an Ohio Jobs Ready Certified site that has seen high demand for service.
• Ensures compliance with modern safety and structural standards.

Construction is expected to begin in December 2025 with an anticipated in-service date of December 2026. AEP Ohio will notify landowners directly, publish public notices in local newspapers, and maintain project information online at www.aeptransmission.com/ohio.

Constitution Week…

In honor of Constitution Week, September 17-23, Isaac Van Wart Daughters of the American Revolution participated in a bell ringing ceremony in front of the Van Wert County Courthouse. DAR members were honored to have Mayor Ken Markward and Van Wert County Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger join in the celebration. Pictured are DAR members (left to right) Marie Markward, Christal Etzkorn, Linda Mathew, Kathy Pysh, Mickey McConahay, Robin Kill, Deb Hardeman, Nancy Smith, Pamela Beamer, Janet Mohr and Linda Schumm. Photo submitted

Blood drive to be held in Van Wert

Submitted information

The community is invited to help save lives by donating blood at the Day of Caring blood drive in partnership with United Way of Van Wert, Vantage Career Center and Trinity Friends Church. People can donate blood from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, September 26, at Trinity Friends Church, 605 N. Franklin St., Van Wert.

During the Day of Caring, Vantage Career Center students and local community members participate in a food drive sponsored by United Way of Van Wert County for local food pantries and help patients in need by donating blood during the Red Cross blood drive. 

To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code vwdoc or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Kick off fall with a blood donation and carve out time to give. The American Red Cross is thanking all who come to give between September 22 and October 19 with a $10 Amazon.com gift card by email. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Fall for details. 

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Bus accident…

A Wayne Trace Local Schools bus went off the road into a cornfield across from Vantage Career Center Thursday afternoon. Emergency responders, including the Van Wert Police Department, Van Wert Fire Department, Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office and the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to the scene at approximately 2:45 p.m. Scanner traffic indicated the bus driver had a medical issue while leaving the school with students on board. They were able to exit the bus via the rear emergency exit. The driver’s condition is unknown. The Van Wert Police Department is investigating the accident. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer

Playground, infield turf pitched at meeting

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The majority of Wednesday’s meeting of the Lincolnview Local Schools Board of Education consisted of presentations and monthly reports.

Two of the presentations during the nearly two hour meeting were about upgrades to existing facilities – the elementary playground and the high school baseball and softball diamonds.

Elementary Principal Nita Meyer shared a number of renderings showing how a new playground could look. It was noted the equipment at the current playground was installed in 1999 and board members were told that while the maintenance staff has done a good job with upkeep, the equipment is nearing the end of its lifespan.

The renderings displayed by Meyer from Ohio-based Mid States Recreation showed various types of traditional playground equipment such as slides, swings and various games, along with newer concepts including a climbing mound, a rock wall and a rotating ride called the “Witch’s Wheel.”

She also explained much of the equipment would be handicapped accessible and there would be a ramp for students needing handicap access. Another change would be the replacement of mulch in favor of poured rubber or turf. Meyer and Superintendent Jeff Snyder recently visited Spencerville to see that district’s new playground equipment and plan to visit Wapakoneta to see the poured rubber surface concept.

Snyder said the estimated cost of a new playground is between $1-$1.5 million and while no decision was made, he said if the project were to move forward, work would likely begin next May, after school lets out for the summer.

“It would take a good month to put everything in, but I always like to make sure we have more time on the back end just in case something comes up,” he explained. “Our goal is to have it up and running by the end of summer, definitely by the first day of school. There are things we can do on our own – dismantle all the equipment now, find somebody to take out all the mulch, so there’s ways to have some savings in it.”

Report card a topic at board meeting

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

While much of Wednesday’s Lincolnview school board meeting consisted of presentations and reports, the board handled a number of other items on the agenda.

In addition to presentations on a new elementary playground and artificial turf baseball and softball infields, board members heard a presentation from Kelly Hoy, director of curriculum and instruction, on the district’s state school report card. Overall ratings are based on performance in six different components: achievement, progress, gap closing, early literacy, graduation and post-graduation readiness. On its report card, which was released on Monday, Lincolnview earned a four-star rating out of five, meaning it exceeded state standards.

“There are many great things happening here,” Hoy said. “Overall, our report card is very impressive. We know, no excuses, the bar keeps raising, the (report card) rules keep changing and life keeps changing as well but we’re still consistently doing wonderful.”

During her monthly report, Treasurer Kaitlyn Edelbrock informed the board that the state has made changes to the timing and requirements for school and district financial forecasts.

“Rather than submitting five-year projections of operational revenues and expenditures, school districts will now be required to submit appropriations, revenue, and fund balance assumptions contained in the budget adopted by the board for that fiscal year and projections of expenditures, revenues, and fund balance for the three succeeding fiscal years,” she explained. “School districts may think of this change as a shift to a four-year submission (current budget year plus three forecast years), rather than a five-year forecast.”

She also explained the due dates for forecast submissions have changed and are now due on or before August 31 and the last day of February. The initial fiscal year 26 submission due date is October 15. Previous deadlines were May and November. Due to the earlier deadline, Edelbrock requested a special meeting to approved next forecast. That meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 9. 

Edelbrock also noted that Lincolnview staff members just completed the 2025-2026 United Way annual fundraising drive and raised $6,991, compared to $5,548 last year). Staff participation was 56 percent, compared to 45 percent last year.

State officials tout roundabout safety

VW independent staff/submitted information

This is National Roundabouts Week when transportation officials across the country tout the safety improvement that follows where they’re implemented. 

Roundabouts are a proven safety tool for decreasing crashes and virtually eliminating crashes that result in serious injuries or deaths. ODOT analyzed crash data from 76 intersections that had been converted to roundabouts, including one in Van Wert County. The data showed that single lane roundabouts decreased injury crashes by 69 percent while multi-lane roundabouts resulted in a 25 percent decline. 

“Safety is the driving force behind every decision we make, and the results are clear, roundabouts are very effective at reducing crashes and saving lives,” said Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn. “Our goal is to continue to support our local, county, and state partners by providing funding for roundabouts.” 

In July, Governor Mike DeWine announced an additional $137 million for 55 traffic safety projects across the state. Of those projects, 25 include installing roundabouts, with three of them slated for Van Wert County.

One of the best safety success stories attributed to roundabouts can be found in Clark County. The intersection of Ohio 41 and Ohio 235 had a long history of serious crashes. Over the past several decades, ODOT installed several countermeasures like rumble strips, multiple stop signs, and flashing beacons. In 2000, a traffic signal was installed. While the signal reduced overall crashes, deadly and serious injury crashes went up. Finally in 2014, a roundabout was installed. In the 11 years since, there has not been a single fatal crash. The lone serious injury crash occurred in 2023 and involved a motorcycle with the rider impaired by drugs and without a helmet or motorcycle endorsement on their license. 

Hospital pharmacy renovation complete

VW independent staff/submitted information

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has completed a $3.15 million expansion of its pharmacy, nearly doubling its size and strengthening the hospital’s ability to deliver safe, efficient, and advanced care for patients.

Unlike a retail pharmacy, this pharmacy operates behind the scenes inside the hospital. It plays a vital role in supporting patients during their hospital stay or visit.

“Our pharmacy team is responsible for filling the critical needs of our patients – whether that’s oral medications, injectables, or compounded IV treatments,” said Renee Jacquemin, pharmacy manager at OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “With our expanded space and upgraded clean rooms, we can deliver medications more efficiently and focus more of our time where it matters most – on patient care.”

A key feature of the project is the addition of specialized clean room spaces. The previous pharmacy had only one clean room for non-hazardous medications. The new facility now includes:

• A clean room for non-hazardous medications
• A clean room for hazardous medications
• Expanded space for receiving and storage

These improvements mean medications can be prepared in safer, more controlled environments, improving both efficiency and patient safety.

“This renovation represents an investment not just in our hospital, but in our community,” Jacquemin said. “By keeping care local, patients and families can trust they’re receiving high-quality treatment close to home – now and for years to come.”