VW Chamber plans a pair of events

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce has released information about a pair of upcoming events, one in February, the other in March.

Galentine’s Day Event

The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce will present a “Galentine’s Day” event at Willow Bend Country Club on Thursday, February 12. The event will feature a panel of four women from the Van Wert Community speaking about navigating their personal and professional lives. Included in the panel are Rhonda Cunningham, principal at the Van Wert School at the Goedde; Jana Ringwald, retired insurance executive and current Van Wert City Council member; Tera Knebel, management level realtor with Schrader Realty, and Bailey Carder, Chief Advancement Officer with the Marsh Foundation.

EmpowHER Hour is a women’s networking event hosted by the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce, designed to connect, inspire, and empower women across the community. It will include meaningful conversation, shared experiences, and insights from local leaders in a welcoming, supportive environment.

Tickets are $25 per person for Chamber members, $35 per person for potential members, which includes breakfast. Enhanced registration options are available and offer the opportunity to attend with the ability to promote your business. Review those options when you register.

To register for the event, click here or contact the Chamber office at 419.238.4390 or at chamber@vanwertchamber.com.

Pot o’ Gold Annual Dinner

The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce will present its annual dinner and awards on Wednesday March 18, at Willow Bend Country Club. Enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day themed event that will celebrate all things Irish. Entertainment will be provided by locally based and internationally renowned Illusionist Krendl, who has appeared in over 20 countries performing at some of the world’s most iconic venues such as Sydney Opera house in Australia, The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Folies Bergere in Paris.

The evening will begin with a social hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with appetizers, event themed cocktails, followed by dinner and the awards program recognizing area businesses and individuals for their accomplishments and contributions to the Van Wert area.

Tickets are $50 per person for Chamber members and $65 per person for future members. A corporate table for Chamber members for eight are $400 and $500 for future members. A corporate sponsor table for eight (includes a complimentary bottle of wine) is available for $500 and $600 for future members.

To register for the event, click here or contact the Chamber office at 419. 238.4390 or at mark@vanwertchamber.com.

Yost rejects marijuana ballot issue

VW independent staff

This week, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office rejected the summary language for a proposed referendum aimed at repealing Senate Bill 56, which authorizes changes to the state’s medical and adult-use marijuana laws.

The Attorney General’s Office received a written petition for the referendum on December 29. Under Ohio law, the Attorney General determines whether a petition’s title and summary are fair and truthful representations of the proposed referendum. According to Attorney General Dave Yost, the summary did not meet the standard.

“Upon review of the summary, we identified omissions and misstatements that, as a whole, would mislead a potential signer as to the scope and effect of S.B. 56,” Yost wrote in a response letter to the petitioners.

Among other things, Senate Bill 56 established a cap of 400 total dispensaries statewide, reduces maximum THC levels in recreational marijuana extracts from 90 to 70 percent, and caps THC levels in recreational flower at 35 percent. It also ended the sale of unregulated, untested intoxicating hemp products outside of licensed dispensaries, and it criminalized the possession and transport of marijuana legally purchased in another state back to Ohio. Senate Bill 56 was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine in mid-December.

Not long after news of the rejection by Yost’s office, a group called Ohioans for Cannabis Choice issued a statement.

“We’re disappointed, but not surprised or deterred, said Dennis Willard, spokesperson for Ohioans for Cannabis Choice. “Ohio Attorney General David Yost is just a speed bump in the process. We are going to fix the language, collect an additional 1,000 signatures, and not slow down. Voters this November will have the opportunity to say no to SB 56, no to government overreach, no to closing 6,000 businesses and abandoning thousands of Ohio workers, and no to defying the will of Ohioans who overwhelmingly supported legalizing cannabis in 2023,”

The statement also said Ohioans for Cannabis Choice supports proper regulation, testing protocols, age-gating products for those only over 21, proper licensing, and a framework that keeps access while allowing for proper regulation for a successful state model that others will look to follow. 

Yarger warns residents about scam calls

VW independent staff/submitted information

Law enforcement officers in Van Wert County have recently had several cases of scammers calling local residents to trick them out of money, in some cases, sizable amounts of money. 

Accoring to Van Wert County Prosecutor Eva Yarger, the scam artist calls and asks the victim to withdraw cash from his or her bank account to give to the scammer for safekeeping.

Yarger said unfortunately, the elderly are often the most at risk.

“Their generation still has basic trust in humanity and often they have financial resources,” she explained. “The elderly are also more accessible and more likely to be available for contact during the day while scammers are working. Lastly, the elderly are often embarrassed by being scammed and often do not report it for fear of being thought incapable of handling their own affairs.”

Yarger offered these tips to help avoid a scam:

• Be tight lipped. Never give out your social security number, bank account information or Medicare number.
• Always report to the police or sheriff if you think you’ve been scammed; tell a family member or close friend – don’t be embarrassed; confirm so you don’t get burned.
• Confirm with a friend or family member the identification of the caller; if the agency or business is legitimate; the details of the call.
• Remember, forewarned is forearmed.
• Signs of a scam: you are asked to wire money to a stranger; you are asked to take cash out of the bank and give it to someone; you are pressured to act immediately; you have won a sweepstakes you’ve never entered or heard of; you have to pay to receive your winnings.
• If in doubt, hang up and then call law enforcement.

Man killed in crash in Van Wert

VW independent staff/submitted information

A one car accident on Marsh Rd. in Van Wert claimed a Scott man late Friday morning.

According to the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, it occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. near U.S. 224. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2007 Ford Focus driven by Jarett Catlin, 33, was northbound on Marsh Rd. when his car went off the left side of the roadway, causing him to lose control, slide across the center line and off the right side of the roadway before hitting a utility pole.

Catlin was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and alcohol impairment is believed to be a factor in the crash. The accident remains under investigation.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Van Wert Police Department, Van Wert County Coroner’s Office, Van Wert EMS and Fire Department, Van Wert County EMA, CERT, Gideon’s Towing and AEP Power.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol reminds motorists to always wear their seatbelt, never drive impaired and to consider slowing their driving speeds on snow covered roadways.

Mail carrier charged, appears in court

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

A federal charge has been filed against a Van Wert mail carrier accused of burning mail last fall and he made his initial court appearance on Thursday.

According to Charlene Cerra, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, USPS Office of the Inspector General, the mail carrier, Kyle Carver of Van Wert, appeared in the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio and entered a plea of not guilty to one count of 18 USC 1703, delay or destruction of mail. If convicted, Carver faces fines and up to five years in prison. A trial date has not been scheduled and no other information was immediately available.

During the early morning hours of October 22, the Van Wert Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen in reference to a fire that was unattended in the backyard of a residence in the 900 block of George St.

When an officer went to investigate, there was evidence of USPS mail being burned. It was confirmed that Carver lived at the residence and was allegedly burning undelivered mail there. The Van Wert Fire Department was called to extinguish the fire.

The investigation was turned over to postmaster Greg McKeddie, who arrived on scene less than 45 minutes after the initial call. When approached by the VW independent that morning, McKeddie referred us to the USPS District Office of Northern Ohio in Cleveland.

The VW independent also reached out to the mail carrier for comment, but did not receive a response. However, in an interview with WANE 15 TV the day of the incident, Carver said “he’d forgottten to send out Friday’s mail to Central Ave, and said he noticed the pile in his truck this morning and, for fear of getting in trouble, put the 6-inch stack of envelopes in his fire pit and lit it on fire.” He also told the Fort Wayne television station that he had been taken off the Central Ave. route, and said he regretted his actions.

His current employment status at the Van Wert Post Office is unknown. As of early November, he was still employed by USPS. The VW independent reached out to Naddia Dhalai, USPS Strategic Communications Specialist, on Thursday for an update but she was out of the office.

Lincolnview BOE holds first meeting

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Leadership will remain the same for the Lincolnview Local Schools Board of Education this year.

The board held its annual organizational meeting Wednesday night and re-elected Michelle Gorman as board president and Mark Zielke as vice-president. Zielke, Eric Germann and Lori Snyder were sworn in for new four year terms. Among other things, the board also set meeting dates and times, generally 6 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month. All meetings are held in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall and all meetings are open to the public.

During the regular monthly meeting, which immediately followed the organizational meeting, the board heard from Van Wert Area Economic Development Director Brent Stevens, who shared a powerpoint presentation with information about the pending data center at the Mega Site, which was annexed into the City of Van Wert but is in the Lincolnview school district. More information about the data center could be made available in the coming weeks.

In a move related to the data center, the board agreed to appoint Snyder as the district’s representative to the Community Reinvestment Area board.

“There have been no numbers shared with us about what it could be,” Superintendent Jeff Snyder said about what the data center could mean to the school district in financial terms. “Once the owner comes out that’s when we’ll begin the negotiating process of the property taxes and the pilot payments.”

A long list of personal services contracts were approved Taylor Hesseling and Kim Pollock, assistant spring play directors; Mary Ann Falk, spring play technical director; Josh England, spring play set coordinator; Shawn Holvid, junior varsity baseball head coach; Keli Ralston, eighth grade baseball coach; Ryan Kriescher, seventh grade baseball coach; Clay Erman, varsity assistant softball coach; Kevin Longstreth, junior varsity softball coach; Allison Miller, eighth grade softball head coach and Wayne Longstreth and Eric Geissler, assistant soccer coaches. 

Steel drum band to perform at the NPAC

VW independent staff

If you enjoy the unique sound of a steel drum band, you’ll have a chance to hear a local one later this month. The Lincolnview High School steel drum band will perform during a free communitywide concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Van Wert.

The concert will be a warm-up before the band’s peformance on Saturday, January 31, at the Ohio Music Education Association’s (OMEA) state convention at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. In fact, the 45-minute concert at the NPAC will be the same concert at the convention.

The Lincolnview steel drum band was one of 30 bands chosen out of as many as 300 appliants to perform at the convention.

Government offices closed on Monday

VW independent staff

The Van Wert Municipal Building and Van Wert Municipal Court will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday. All Van Wert County offices will be closed as well, along with state and federal government offices. There will be no mail delivery on Monday.

Four inches of snow falls in Van Wert

VW independent staff

Surprise! Snowfall totals around the area from Wednesday afternoon and evening turned out to be greater than expected.

For this area, the National Weather Service Northern Indiana called for rain and snow, changing to all snow with an inch of snow possible. At approximately 1:30 p.m. yesterday, sleet moved into the area then changed to snow, while winds increased substantially.

Snow fell steadily into the night and the wind led to low visibility and/or whiteout conditions in many spots around the county. According to Van Wert County EMA Director Rick McCoy, Van Wert received four inches of snow.

Road conditions, especially along secondary and township roads, led local and area schools issue a two-hour delay before canceling classes altogether.

Today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high of 25. Snow will return tomorrow, with the forecast again calling for less than one inch of accumulation.

VWCS food services dept. serves many meals

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

When school is in session, the food services department at Van Wert City Schools is a busy one. Just how busy? How about more than 250,000 meals served during a typical school year.

At Wednesday night’s school board meeting, Food Services Director John Marquez said during the 2024-2025 school year, 187,423 lunches were served across the district’s four schools, along with 69,232 breakfasts.

“These numbers reflect strong participation and highlights how essential our program is to families across the district,” Marquez said.

He added the average breaks down to about 1,400 meals per school day and he said the largest share of meals was served at the elementary school. Nearly 99,000 free lunches were served districtwide along with nearly 20,000 reduced price lunches. Free breakfasts made up the majority of that program.

Marquez also praised his entire staff and explained the strict federal nutritional guidelines that must be followed when planning and serving school lunches to students.

“Our work is far more than food,” he said. “Proper nutrition supports academic performance, attendance, emotional well being and overall health. For many families, school provides a reliable source of nutritious food and we take that responsibility seriously.”

“School meals can be the most nutritious lunch a lot of students receive during the day,” he continued. “We don’t know their home life, we don’t know what they go home to or what they come from but while they’re here they’re going to receive a nutritious lunch from us that meets all federal requirements that are handed down.”

Marquez also said the district’s policy is every child receives a meal regardless of their account balance or ability to pay.