State representative race, local issues on the ballot

Local volunteers needed to pack meals

VW independent staff/submitted information

First United Methodist Church in Van Wert is calling on families, local businesses and community members to help pack life-saving meals for people in Haiti. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, November 21, at Van Wert High School. This is a new location from previous years.

Haiti is facing extreme gang violence, leaving millions of people without food, medical care, or safe schools.

“The need is urgent,” said Teresa Shaffer, Director of Agape Outreach. “God has called us to help our neighbors who are facing starvation and danger.”

FUMC has hosted meal-packing events for 20 years. Volunteers will pack healthy meals filled with rice, vegetables, protein, and 21 essential vitamins. These meals will be shipped and delivered safely to over 500 schools and orphanages through Mission of Hope, an organization with 26 years of experience working in Haiti.

This hands-on volunteer event is open to all ages. Volunteers will learn how to quickly assemble and pack meal bags at simple work stations. FUMC will provide proof of participation to any students needed volunteer hours

“It’s amazing to see what happens when the gym fills up with helpers,” Shaffer said. “We invite you to bring your friends, family, and co-workers. Students can also earn community service hours for helping.”

VWHS to host Veteran’s Day assembly

Submitted information

Van Wert High School is inviting local veterans, their families, and community members to its annual Veterans Day assembly on Wednesday, November 11, at 10:25 a.m. in the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.

There will be coffee and snacks in the NPAC lobby beginning at 10 a.m. before VWHS comes together to recognize and thank those who have served our country.

This year’s assembly will feature guest speaker Colleen Wiley and videos created by Van Wert High School students. The Freshmen Choir, Sophomore Women’s Chorus, and Concert Choir will perform the National Anthem together.

If weather affects the school schedule, please keep the following in mind:

• Two-hour delay: The assembly will still begin at 10:25 a.m. in the NPAC.
• Three-hour delay: The assembly will begin at 11:25 a.m. in the high school gym, with guest seating on the visitors’ side.
• School cancellation: The assembly will be canceled

Lincolnview hosting Veteran’s Day program

Submitted information

Lincolnview Local Schools will honor Lincolnview community veterans this Friday, November 6, with the annual school-wide “Veteran’s Day” event. It will begin at 10 a.m. in the high school gymnasium. If school is delayed by weather that day, then the program will start at 1:30 p.m. in the high school gym).

All K-12 students are strongly encouraged to turn in their Veteran Day form if they have a veteran coming to Friday’s program, on or by Wednesday, November 4.

New Rotary members…

The Van Wert Rotary Club recently welcomed Kevan Unverferth and Rob Welch as its newest members. Unverferth (above), who was sponsored by fellow Rotarian Kevin Matthews, serves as administrator at Van Wert Manor and is a licensed nursing home administrator. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Findlay. An active community volunteer, Unverferth is a Lions Club member, an athletic boosters member and an organizer of two charity golf outings. Outside of work and community activities, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children. Welch (below) owns Northwest Ohio Sports and Welch Trophy, a family-operated business supplying trophies, school spirit wear, and sporting goods throughout northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana. A strong supporter of youth athletics, Welch also runs an AAU basketball program. His business generously supports youth sporting organizations through donations, helping provide opportunities for young athletes throughout the area. Welch and his wife, Jackie, have seven children. Also pictured is Rotary Club President John Hatcher. Photos submitted

Area commission offers heating help

Submitted information

Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services want to help ease the burden of costly energy bills this winter and keep Ohio families warm. Now through March 31, 2027, income-eligible Ohioans can receive one-time help with their home heating bill through the Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program.

The program assists Ohioans who are facing service disconnection, have already been disconnected, need to establish new service, or must pay to transfer service. It also supports households with 25 percent or less of bulk fuel in their tank so they can maintain service.

To qualify, a household must have a gross annual income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that is $57,750.

Last year, the Winter Crisis Program helped more than 73,000 Ohio households, providing $25.5 million in benefits.

To apply, households must schedule an appointment with their local Northwestern Ohio Community Action Agency. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 419.219.4641. Household can choose an in-person appointment or over the phone appointment. NOCAC serves Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams counties.

Households can also start an application online and find their local energy assistance provider at energyhelp.ohio.gov.

Applicants should bring copies of the following to their appointment:

• Their most recent energy bills
• A list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days or the last 12 months for each member
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members
• Proof of disability, if applicable

For more information about WCP and what is needed to apply, visit www.nocac.org.

Ag Society schedules annual meeting

The Van Wert County Agricultural Society will hold its annual reorganizational meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, November 14. The meeting will take place in the EMR Meeting Room located within the Administration Building on the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.

During the meeting, members will have the opportunity to vote on proposed constitutional changes and amendments, which are listed below. Voting will be conducted in the Buckeye Room of the Administration Building from 9-11:30 a.m. Any individual holding a Membership Certificate (ticket) is eligible to vote. Members must present either their Membership Certificate (ticket) or a valid driver’s license in order to cast their ballot.

Proposed Amendment #1 to Article XVIII of the Constitution. Article XVII currently states the following:

Each candidate for the office of director for The Van Wert County Agricultural Society must fulfill the following requirements to file a petition for such office:

A) Purchase a membership certificate for the membership year in which candidate is seeking election.

B) Complete 10 hours of voluntary service to the society, in the fiscal year in which candidate is seeking election.

C) Attend 1 regular monthly board meetings of the society, during the fiscal year in which candidate is seeking election.

D) State on petition the specific board position for which candidate is seeking election.

E) Collect ten (10) or more signatures from members of the society, from the area for which board position represents.

F)In the case that the ten required signatures from members of the Society from the area for which the board position represents, cannot be obtained due to circumstances such as a pandemic or other like causes, then the required number of signatures is changed to twenty of the membership as a whole. The requirement to limit it to the area being represented is waived for that election cycle only.

Any candidate not fulfilling the above listed requirements shall be ineligible for election as director. Items B and C, above, will become effective for candidates seeking election for the 2022 election and each election thereafter.

Library serves as a living history museum

Editor’s note: this year the Brumback Library is celebrating 125 years of service to the community. Each month, the library will tell the story of the Brumback Library, chapter by chapter. This month’s article explains the history of the building, its contents and how the library helps keep local history alive. This installment was written by Patron Services Specialist Theresa Mengerink.

By Theresa Mengerink

Walk through the doors of the Brumback Library, and you enter more than a place filled with books — you enter a living history museum. Stop at the main circulation desk to pick up your copy of An Inside View: A Walking Tour Guidebook. This guidebook will take you on a historical adventure through the library. As the library celebrates its 125th birthday in 2026, it is the perfect time to explore the hidden treasures found throughout our three floors.

The history begins with the building itself. Standing proudly among the trees near the city park, the Brumback Library resembles a small castle, with its distinctive towers, limestone exterior, and Gothic and Romanesque architectural features. Designed by Toledo architect David L. Stine, the building was constructed through the generosity of John Sanford Brumback and his family.

Before the library was built, the site was said to have been the location of an old Native American village, a city dump, and later part of Fountain Park. Mr. Brumback, whose office was across the street, on the corner of Main and Jefferson, used to look out his window and envision a public library.

As we discussed in our January and February chapters, John Sanford Brumback believed that access to books and knowledge should extend beyond the city limits of Van Wert. Following his death in 1897, his family carried out his vision. His son, Orville S. Brumback, helped secure the legislation needed to establish a tax-supported county library.

This pioneering legislation made the Brumback Library the first county library in the United States. To honor Orville’s dedication and hard work, one of his law books was plastered into the wall of the vestibule, above the interior doorway.

In our September chapter, Ms. Virgie Ackom’s essay described the inside of the library in 1914. Today, we can still see many of the features she described. The geometric marble flooring, made up of more than 400,000 tiles, remains in the main lobby. It took seven Italian craftsmen four weeks to lay the tiles. Visitors entering through the main doors are welcomed into the vestibule by tiled Grecian torches and a wreath design depicting the Lamp of Knowledge. In October, 2026, craftsmen were working to restore these same tiles to help ensure they last another 125 years.  

Turner retiring as Vantage superintendent

VW independent staff

The search is expected to begin soon for a new Vantage Career Center superintendent.

When the Vantage school board meets on Thursday, board members are expected to accept the retirement-resignation of current Superintendent Rick Turner. His resignation is listed on the agenda, and will take effect at the end of his current contract, July 31, 2027. The board is also expected to approve a contract with Grand Lake Regional Educational Service Center to aid in the search for Turner’s replacement.

“My history with Vantage dates back 50 years, when I first walked through the doors as a high school junior in the Machine Tool Technology program,” Turner wrote in a letter to the board. “At the time, I never dreamed I would one day have the opportunity to serve as Superintendent. You made that possible, and I will be forever grateful for the chance to lead alongside you and our extraordinary staff.”

Turner was hired as Vantage superintendent in 2017. Prior to that, he spent a number of years at Apollo Career Center and worked as director of adult programs for more than 11 years at the Lima area vocational school before his appointment at Vantage Career Center.

VWCT offering holiday production

Submitted information

Forget the traditional holiday plays — Van Wert Civic Theatre is bringing a fresh twist to the holiday season with its upcoming production of Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!), directed by Joelle May.

What happens when three actors decide they’ve had enough of performing A Christmas Carol? They take on just about every other holiday story instead. This fast-paced, 90-minute comedy takes audiences on a hilarious journey through the season’s most beloved traditions, from The Grinch and Frosty the Snowman to Rudolph and other pop culture favorites. With outrageous costumes, hilarious antics, and plenty of unexpected surprises, it’s a festive theatrical adventure guaranteed to keep audiences laughing.

The cast features Adam Shanaman as Adam, Travis Nihiser as Travis, and John Havill as John, with Stephanie Wagner appearing as the Yuletide Presenter.

Performances are scheduled for December 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees on December 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. All performances will take place at Van Wert Civic Theatre, 118 S. Race St. in Van Wert.

Tickets are $18, with a special presale price of $16 for seniors. The holiday box office officially opens on Black Friday, November 27. Tickets can be purchased online at vwct.org or by calling 419.238.9689 and leaving a message.

MSVW trick-or-treat…

Goblins, ghosts, famous video game characters, superheroes, princesses and many others paid a visit to downtown Van Wert for Halloween. Hundreds of children and their family flocked to the downtown area for Saturday morning’s annual Main Street Van Wert Trick-or-Treat event. Businesses and others were on handy to pass out goodies to the costumed youngsters. Click more to see more photos from Saturday’s event. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent