Blighted property on Leeson Ave. scheduled for auction

Schools closed due to inclement weather

VW independent staff

Due to snow and ice, Crestview Local Schools, Delphos City Schools and Delphos St. John’s, Lincolnview Local Schools, Van Wert City Schools and Vantage Career Center are closed today, Tuesday, December 2.

Lodge 62 donation…

Van Wert FOP Lodge 62 is honored to give back to those that served. The Lodge remains committed to building strong partnerships in the community and supporting those who have given so much in service to our nation. Representatives from the Van Wert FOP Lodge 62 presented a donation to the Van Wert VFW Post 5803 to assist with much needed kitchen equipment. It is Lodge 62’s privilege to support the men and women of the VFW and the ongoing work they do for veterans and the community. Pictured above (left to right) are Richard Shobe – FOP, Deb Ebert – FOP, Gary Schaadt – VFW, Bryon Wells – FOP, Pat Freenam – VFW, John Wiley – FOP, Adam Wehage – FOP, Keith Collins – FOP, Colleen Wiley – FOP. Photo submitted

Denver Bierman returning to Van Wert

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Marsh Foundation has announced that Denver Bierman and The Mile High Orchestra will return to Van Wert for a special Christmas performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, in the Bagley Auditorium.

For this performance, Denver will be accompanied by seven members of The Mile High Orchestra, bringing a full, rich, and inspiring musical experience to the community. Known for their uplifting, faith-filled, and high-energy style, the group has performed around the world and continues to share messages of hope, joy, and celebration through their music.

“We are thrilled to welcome Denver Bierman and members of the Mile High Orchestra back to our campus, said Bailey Carder, Chief Advancement Officer at The Marsh Foundation. “Their Christmas performance brings such joy and meaning to the season. We are grateful to share this experience with our community and hope families, friends and neighbors will join us for this special evening.”

The concert is free and open to the public. While no ticket is required, guests are encouraged to RSVP to help ensure seating availability. RSVP here.

Gas prices fall sharply since last month

VW independent staff/submitted information

With the holiday season now underway, there’s good news – at least for now – at gas pumps locally and statewide.

Average gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 21.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.63 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 5,345 stations in Ohio. Prices in Ohio are 29.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 37.1 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. Pump prices have fallen 50.4 cents per gallon over the past two weeks.

The national average price of diesel has decreased 5.5 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $3.722 per gallon.
 
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Ohio was priced at $1.94 per gallon, while the most expensive was $3.49 per gallon, a difference of $1.55 a gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 8.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.95 per gallon on Monday. The national average is down 6.9 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 5.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

“Nearly every state saw average gas prices fall heading into Thanksgiving, with the national average dipping below $3 per gallon for several consecutive days—falling to $2.95/gal over the weekend, the lowest level since May 2021,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With refinery maintenance largely complete and OPEC increasing oil production for December, oil prices have struggled. Combine those factors and you have a solid recipe for continued downward pressure on gas prices in the weeks ahead. A few dozen stations are already offering gas under $2 per gallon, and we could see that number grow as we move further into the holiday season. It couldn’t come at a better time for Americans—with relief arriving just as the holidays kick off.”

Craig Morgan coming to Wapakoneta

Submitted information

WAPAKONETA — The Auglaize County Fair Board announced Monday that country music star Craig Morgan will headline the 2026 Auglaize County Fair concert on Saturday, August 8, 2026, closing out the final night of the fair, which will be held August 2-8 in Wapakoneta.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, December 12, at auglaizecountyfair.org/tickets. An opening act will be announced soon.

VWCT to support the Salvation Army

The next Van Wert Civic Theatre show, One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall, tells eight heartwarming holiday stories set entirely inside a bustling shopping mall.

To heighten the realism and festive atmosphere, Van Wert Civic Theatre is collaborating with The Salvation Army. Before the show, a Salvation Army volunteer with the iconic red kettle will be stationed in the lobby, just as you would find in any mall during the holidays. Every dollar donated will directly support The Salvation Army’s local Christmas programs.

One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall runs at 7:30 p.m. December 4–6 and 7–13, with matinee performances at 2 p.m. December 7 and 14. Join the Van Wert Civic Theatre for eight heartwarming holiday stories — moments that could easily be happening in malls everywhere this time of year.

Tickets are available at vwct.org or by calling 419.238.9689.

Cold, snow expected for deer gun season

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Weather conditions, including snow and temperatures in the teens and 20s, may pose some challenges this week, but Ohio’s weeklong deer gun hunting season gets underway on Monday and runs until Sunday, December 7. The gun season traditionally begins the Monday after Thanksgiving and is open to all hunters, 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. An additional deer gun weekend will follow December 20-21.

Accoring to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, Ohio’s first deer gun season was in 1943, and excitement has remained high for white-tailed deer hunting ever since.

During last year’s weeklong deer gun season, Ohio hunters checked 87,192 white-tailed deer during the weeklong gun season, making it the highest total since 2011 (90,282). During the week, hunters checked 28,606 antlered deer (33 percent of the total reported) and 58,586 antlerless deer (67 percent). According to the Division of Wildlife, antlerless deer includes does and button bucks. 

Deer gun harvest totals are typically highest in eastern Ohio. Last year, the top 10 counties for deer taken during the gun season were: Coshocton (2,954); Tuscarawas (2,673); Knox (2,525); Muskingum (2,515); Carroll (2,399); Ashtabula (2,281); Guernsey (2,201); Washington (1,970); Ashland (1,893), and Licking (1,860).

More recently, hunters ages 17 and younger checked 9,759 white-tailed deer during ODNR’s youth gun hunting season, held November 22-23, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Each fall, youth hunters enjoy a weekend of deer hunting with a firearm before the statewide gun season begins.

During all deer gun seasons, all hunters, regardless of implement, must have a valid hunting license and are required to wear hunter orange clothing. Legal hunting implements during the gun seasons include shotguns, straight-walled cartridge rifles, muzzleloaders, handguns, and archery equipment. Ohio’s deer muzzleloader hunting season is January 3-6, 2026, when muzzleloaders and archery equipment are legal hunting implements.

Snow socks county, more snow on the way

VW independent staff

The weather forecast was spot on.

After a Winter Storm Watch was upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning, 4.7 inches of snow fell in Van Wert and 4.5 inches fell in Convoy, with most of it coming down Saturday afternoon and evening, making travel around the county and beyond hazardous. The Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office and the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol handled a number of slide offs and accident. Most, if not all were minor in nature.

The conditions forced the postponement of a number of high school basketball games on Saturday, including Van Wert at Delphos St. John’s. A makeup date has not been set. While that game was postponed, another game in Delphos was played, as Fort Recovery traveled to face the Jefferson Wildcats. However, the game was reportedly delayed because the Fort Recovery bus became stuck in Delphos.

While road crews were out in full force after the snow started falling, high winds caused blowing and drifting of snow and left many city streets in Van Wert snowy covered and in many cases, icy. It was the same on a number of roads around the county.

Outdoor conditions left Christmas at Fountain Park dormant for all but one night – Friday night.

While it’s still officially fall, more wintery weather is on the way. According to the National Weather Service, 2-4 inches of new snow is expected to fall tonight (Monday), then colder conditions will set in later in the week, including a forecast low of 4-above Thursday night. 

Weather nixes display…

Mother Nature has not been kind to Christmas at Fountain Park in Van Wert. High winds led to the cancellation of Wednesday night’s opening ceremony. The display remained dark Thanksgiving night, then was able light up Friday night. However, windy and snowy conditions prompted officials to cancel Saturday and Sunday night at the park. Weather conditions may be more condusive tonight. VW independent file photo

Bill would add political parties to BOE races

By Susan Tebben/Ohio Capital Journal

Ohio lawmakers have brought back up a bill that would add party labels to candidates in local school board elections with a newly added amendment that would eliminate all elected seats on the State Board of Education, making the entire body governor-appointed.

The Senate General Government Committee last week heard from supporters of Ohio Senate Bill 107, a bill whose original intent was to add partisan affiliation to school board races.

With changes made in the committee, the bill would also follow through on state operating budget action from this summer, in which the General Assembly approved a measure to reduce the board to five members, all appointed.

Currently, the board is made up of eight appointed members and 11 elected members.

Under the budget measure, the spots filled by elected members will disappear when the current officials’ terms expire or in the event of a vacancy.

The three appointed spots to be eliminated will be lost when the three earliest terms expire, or a vacancy occurs.

Back in 2023, the the legislature officially eliminated a significant amount of the roles for the board, leaving them with authority to address educator discipline and school district territorial disputes.

The changes came as board officials and the state’s superintendent of public instruction sounded alarm bells about the financial state of the board, concerns that have continued through this year.

Supporters of the measure to give partisan labels to local board candidates included Lisa Breedlove Chaffee, who said she was a member of a group called Parents Rights in Education, and parent of a former Hilliard City Schools student.

Chaffee was one plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school, saying teachers in the district were having “inappropriate” conversations with students regarding LGBTQIA+ identities. That lawsuit was later dismissed.

In the matter of school board members, she said holding elections for those races without partisan labels leaves voters without the ability the vet the values of the candidates.