By Megan Henry/Ohio Capital Journal
Ohioans in the intoxicating hemp industry fear a bill heading to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s desk will put them out of business.
Ohio Senate Bill 56 is on its way to DeWine after Ohio Senate Republicans passed the bill last Tuesday. The Ohio House passed the bill last month after it went to conference committee.
Ohio’s bill complies with recent federal changes by banning intoxicating hemp products from being sold outside of a licensed marijuana dispensary. If DeWine signs the bill into law before the new year, as expected, the ban could take effect as soon as March.
“This bill is going to put businesses like me and families like me out of business,” said Ahmad Khalil, one of the owners of Hippie Hut Smoke Shop, with locations in Ohio and Washington.
“Overnight, we’re going to see tens of thousands of people directly impacted, which will ripple effect into 50,000 of families that are also dependent on this person.”
Khalil has been in the hemp industry for nine years.
“This was my American dream, so to see it get taken away from you, kind of hurts,” he said.
Jason Friedman, owner of Ohio CBD Guy in Cincinnati, said this is extremely frustrating.
“My tentative plan will involve eventually closing my East Walnut Hills location resulting in less hours and likely loss of jobs for some of my employees,” he said.
(more…)POSTED: 12/14/25 at 9:49 pm
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CONVOY — Crestview Elementary has announced the Blue, Red and White Clubs for the first trimester. These academic clubs are based on student grades for third, fourth and fifth graders.
For Blue Club eligibility, students must have all A’s on their grade card during the first trimester. Blue Club members include:
Third grade: Cooper Agner, Lydia Ballard, Amelia Brown, Elliana Cox, Ryleigh Dickens, Selah Geise, Cooper Harmon, Claire Hirschy, Paislee Kreischer, Colt Lichtensteiger, Harper McCoy, Adley Miller, Owen Motycka, Kennedy Orsbon, Etta Schaffner, Rigby Straw.
Fourth grade: Ava Andrews, Jade Burkhart, Braydon Carrier, Violet Flynn, Blakely Hagaman, Kenyan Huston, Zeke Kuhn, Cameron Lyons, Dixie Moulton, Haylen Patton, Henry Schaffner, Nora Semer, Kallen Staten, Flynn Williman, Woodard Young.
Fifth grade: Evelyn Beougher, Zetta Hammons, Abel Harter, Lenox Le, Jep Lichtensteiger, Memphis Miller, Lela Murphy, Nolan Perkins, Oscar Salazar, Lexie Sherer, Maverick Tice, Colby Tyas, Finn Wordan.
Red Club members must have all A’s and B’s during the first trimester. Red Club members include:
Third grade: Cooper Blake, Luke Brown, Beau Bunker, Dallas Clark, Hunter Elliott, Maverick Foreman, Elliott Kreischer, Mila Lyons, Elizabeth Manson, Novalee Mies, Ellix Miller, Kaine Olwin, Davis Roessner, Ellinor Routt, Masyn Runyon, Landon Shaner, Nolan Smart, Branch Springer, Pierce Tate, Sylar Wallace, Caroline Young.
Fourth grade: Aubree Allenbaugh, Ella Berning, Deacon Cochran, August Diener, Addilyn Fair, Avery Fetters, Ruby Grant, Avery Germann, Daniel Hakes, Jenson Holden, Emma Merkle, Lane Miller, Lucille Moser, Nathaniel Mueller, Branson Oakley, Brooklyn Osborn, Aurora Perrott, Hailey Poling, Cooper Roth, Landon Sheets, Nellie Speelman, Max Wallis.
Fifth grade: Anthony Andrews, Annabelle Alford, Zavier Berning, Mason Boyd, Ashley Bunker, Ridge Burley, Maevan Conn, Riley Dickson, Isaiah Esparza, Garrett Grubb, Noah Haley, Koda Hammons, Solomon Hull, Andrew Knueve, Drew Lichtensteiger, Weston Little, Breccan Marquardt, Aiden May, Elliana Metzger, Bryson Ogg, Kale Pugh, Addalynne Ragan, Connor Ream, Camden Roger, Georgia Smazenko, Alivia Speaks, Deklan Speaks.
For White Club eligibility, students must earn all B’s during the first trimester. White club members include:
Third grade: Ophelia Hitchcock
Fifth grade: Kenlie Harting, Pyper Palacios
POSTED: 12/14/25 at 9:47 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
A reminder that churches around Van Wert County are encouraged to submit information about their upcoming Christmas Eve services, including times and any other pertinent information, to editor@thevwindependent.com by this Wednesday, December 17. The complete list will be compiled and published on both the News and Church pages on Friday, December 19. There is no charge for the listing.
POSTED: 12/14/25 at 9:47 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Elida’s Jonathan Payne (0) finds himself surrounded by four Van Wert defenders during Friday’s night’s game against the Cougars. After spotting the Bulldogs a first half lead, Van Wert clamped down defensively and cruised to a 61-36 win. A full game story can be found on the Sports page. Bob Barnes/VW independent
POSTED: 12/13/25 at 12:03 am. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
CONVOY — The Crestview Local Schools Board of Education will meet on final time in 2025 and it appears the agenda is light.
Among the items on Monday’s agenda – recognition of state golf qualifier Mathew Dealey, state cross country qualifiers Anna Gardner and Emily Heath and the Division IV state champion boys cross country team.
The board is expected to accept a handful of donations, receive a facilities update from Superintendent Matt Dube and see the list of proposed board meetings for 2026. Board members are also expected to set 6 p.m. Monday, January 12, as the date for the annual organizational meeting, followed by the regular monthly meeting. A memorandum of understanding with the Crestview Employees Association regarding paraprofessionals is scheduled for a vote, and an executive session to discuss personnel is planned as well.
Monday’s meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room.
POSTED: 12/13/25 at 12:03 am. FILED UNDER: News
The Van Wert Fire Department responded to a home on W. Maple St. at around 1:40 p.m. Friday, due to an electrical device in the ceiling malfunctioning and briefly catching fire. Upon arrival the fire was out. Firemen checked the surrounding area to make sure it had not spread. There was some damage to the immediate area. Along with the fire department, the Van Wert Police Department, Van Wert County CERT were at the scene. City of Van Wert personnel were called to salt the affected road surfaces of the affected area. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer
POSTED: 12/13/25 at 12:03 am. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach has announced the recent acquisition of drones for his department. Sheriff Riggenbach said the purchase was made possible via donations from the Cooper Family Foundation, Diana Cooper, and the Van Wert County Foundation, Tim A. Rolsten and Patricia A. Rolsten Memorial Fund. Sheriff Riggenbach stated that he is very appreciative of the donations his office received to start a drone program.
The drones are being used in various ways by the pilots to assist them in their duties. The drones can also help improve the safety of deputies and other first responders on a wide range of calls they respond to.
Sheriff Riggenbach said there are six members of the Sheriff’s Office who have received the Part 107A training to obtain their pilot license. The training was obtained through the Vantage Career Center earlier this year.
POSTED: 12/13/25 at 12:02 am. FILED UNDER: News
The Van Wert Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire at 1118 Park St. at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, where arriving crews observed heavy smoke coming from a two-story home. Firefighters initiated an offensive interior attack, however, upon entry they found the second-floor area unstable. Command ordered all personnel to evacuate and operations transitioned to a defensive exterior attack for firefighter safety. One firefighter sustained an injury after slipping on ice and was treated at the scene. Due to the compromised structural integrity of the building, an interior fire investigation could not be safely conducted, and the cause of the fire remains undetermined. The fire was brought under control at 10:50 p.m. and all units cleared the scene at 12:17 a.m. this morning. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer
POSTED: 12/12/25 at 8:18 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
A local man and a northeast Indiana woman are officially national champions.
Neil Straley, 55, of Van Wert and Melissa Prows, 49, of Fort Wayne, won the USA Pickleball Amateur National Championship Gold Medal at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, California. They claimed the title on November 22 by winning the Mixed Doubles 3.5 Level and age group 40-49 event.
USA Pickleball is the national governing body for pickleball in the United States. It’s National Championship Series consists of six regional championships held in various locations around the country.
“The National Championship Series is considered the premier event for pickleball in the United States and showcases the best amateur and pro talent,” Straley explained.
In order to be invited to nationals, a doubles team must earn a Golden Ticket. A team must come in first (gold) in a local regional. Straley and Prows won the gold in Cincinnati this past summer to advance to national competition.
“At regionals in Cincinnati we went 5-1 in six pool games to 15 points,” Straley explained. “We earned our way into single elimination tournament with top record teams. We then won two of three games to 11 in final four. Next in the championship we won two of three.”
There were 11 teams in the duo’s bracket in San Diego.
“Double elimination but if you lost, then bronze was best possibility,” Straley stated. “We had a bye in first round, based on best UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) player ratings. We went 6-1 overall that day and we won the championship by winning two of three games. We lost the first game 9-11, then won 11-4 and 11-3 in Games 2 and 3 to win gold.”
The second place team (silver medalist) was from New York.
(more…)POSTED: 12/11/25 at 10:36 pm. FILED UNDER: News
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COLUMBUS – Applications are now being accepted for the State Fire Marshal’s 2026 Small County Volunteer Fire Department (SCVFD) Grant. Established recently by the 136th General Assembly via House Bill 96, the nonrenewable grant makes a total of $8 million in funding available for eligible fire departments across the state. Those departments can apply for up to $50,000 each to strengthen their operations, enhance safety, and better serve their communities.
Funding provided by the SCVFD Grant can be used for, but is not limited to, firefighter equipment and gear, rescue equipment and gear, and costs related to fire protection services. To learn more about the SCVFD Grant and to submit an application, fire departments can visit at com.ohio.gov/FireGrant. Applications will be accepted until January 10, 2026.
To be eligible to receive SCVFD Grant funding, applicants must meet both of the following eligibility requirements:
- County Population – Eligible departments must be located in a county that has a population of 70,000 or less per the 2020 U.S. Census. Those qualifying counties include Adams, Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Champaign, Clinton, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Meigs, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Washington, Williams, and Wyandot counties.
- Volunteer Fire Department Status – Eligible departments must have a volunteer fire department status as defined under Ohio Administrative Code 1301:7-7-02, which states that at least half of the firefighters are volunteer or paid-on-call and not eligible to pay into the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund.
Departments serving multiple counties are eligible only if they are located in a qualifying small county. Non-volunteer departments, and departments in counties with over 70,000 residents are not eligible for this grant funding.
“This grant is more than just funding, it’s a lifeline for Ohio’s small county volunteer fire departments, which are the backbone of our state’s fire service,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “These departments often operate with limited resources compared to their larger counterparts, yet they’re first on the scene when their communities need them most. With this support, we’re helping them continue their critical mission of protecting lives and property across Ohio.”
Each year, the Division of State Fire Marshal provides millions in grant funding to the state’s fire departments through other various programs like the MARCS Grant, Equipment Grants, and Training Reimbursement Grants.
POSTED: 12/11/25 at 10:35 pm. FILED UNDER: News
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The regularly scheduled meeting of the Union Township Trustees at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 25, has been moved to 12 p.m. December 27, at the Union Township Building, 9977 Dixon Cavett Rd., Van Wert.
POSTED: 12/11/25 at 10:34 pm. FILED UNDER: News
