Northern lights

Due to a severe solar storm, the northern lights were quite visible in open spaces around the area Friday night. These are two more pictures taken along Gilliland Road in Van Wert. Scott Truxell/VW independent

Final cannabis consumption vote Monday

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The third and final vote on proposed legislation dealing with cannabis consumption is scheduled to be heard during Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council.

During its second reading on April 23, council members agreed to revise the ordinance to be more specific about city owned properties where marijuana consumption will be prohibited.

The proposed legislation was renamed “an ordinance banning the consumption of cannabis on all designated city properties.” A list of designated properties was added to the legislation, including Smiley Park, Jubilee Park, Franklin Park, Fountain Park, Rotary Park and the reservoir, along with city-owned parking lots on Central Ave. and Market Street. The list also notes city-owned buildings, including the Municipal Building and Van Wert Municipal Court. The list does not include public sidewalks.

However, Law Director John Hatcher pointed out the state legislature could still set a law that would limit all marijuana consumption to homes or private property, which would override any local law. For example, in Michigan, the legislature has ruled it is illegal to use cannabis in a public space, and it’s illegal to carry cannabis in areas frequented by children.

“Unfortunately, most of the state’s marijuana legislation is still pending,” Hatcher said at the meeting. “They’ve not come out with all of their guidelines on everything.”

Exactly when the Ohio Legislature will approve the state’s marijuana laws, and licensing and revenue guidelines remains to be seen. Hatcher said it could come by the end of June or could stretch into the fall.

Monday night’s meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St.

Convoy garage sales next weekend

Submitted information

CONVOY — Convoy village wide garage sales are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 17-18, throughout the community and surrounding area.

Any household or business wishing to recycle, reclaim or reuse items, may participate in this community event. A listing of sales will be provided at Secret Garden, Tastee Freeze, Convoy Quik Mart, Convoy Municipal Building and on Facebook.

In addition, the Convoy Methodist Ladies on a Mission will hold a homemade pie sale and Church Café at the Convoy United Methodist Church at the corner of N. Main St. and Sycamore St. during the Convoy Community Garage Sales. The sale will be held in the church fellowship hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 17, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

Flavors of whole pies will include pecan, fruit, rhubarb, grape and many more. The Church Café will be dine-in or take-out and will be serving cinnamon rolls and coffee, shredded chicken, sloppy joes, hot dogs, coney dog sandwiches, taco salad and strawberry shortcake as well as pop and water.

Proceeds will support the Ladies on a Mission local mission projects.

Crestview field trip

Third graders at Crestview Elementary spent some of Friday learning about the world of firefighting. Students and teachers took a field trip to the Van Wert Fire Department and learned about fire trucks and more and went through some hose drills. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent

Two Mercer County tornadoes confirmed

VW independent staff

Two more tornadoes, both in southern Mercer County, have been confirmed by the National Weather Service, bringing the total number of twisters on Tuesday to 13, including two in Paulding County.

An EF-2 tornado touched down four miles north-northwest of Fort Recovery at 7:50 p.m. Tuesday and lifted one mile northwest of Coldwater at 8:08 p.m., a path of 8.3 miles. Estimated wind speeds reached 120 miles per hour and the maximum width was 400 yards. The tornado brought down a number of trees, damaged the roofs of several homes and heavily damaged or demolished several large outbuildings at farm properties.

A second strong EF-2 tornado with winds up to 130 miles per hour touched down at 8:20 p.m., two miles east-southeast of Montezuma, crossed into Auglaize County and dissipated near Ohio 66, three miles north-northwest of New Bremen, at 8:33 p.m. It was on the ground for 6.4 miles and had a maximum width of 300 yards. It caused significant damage to trees, outbuildings and several homes.

There were no injuries or fatalities reported after the two tornadoes.

Neville to lead equine therapy program

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Marsh Foundation is launching a new equine therapy program and has named Abigail Neville as the first coordinator of the program. Neville has worked with the horse program at The Marsh since 2016 and is looking forward to expanding on her previous roles.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities and biblical studies from Scarborough College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Neville is also a qualified mental health specialist (QMHS) under the supervision of The Marsh Foundation Clinical Department. She also has experience in equine therapy. She has attended and holds two certificates in Greg Kersten’s (founder of EAGALA) OK Corral Series for Equine-Assisted Learning. Lastly, she has been mentored under the owners and counselors at Reins and Rainbows Equine Therapy in Wabash, Indiana.

In addition to serving as a riding instructor for the summer horse program, she has also spent a summer as the garden assistant, worked in Clymer Hall as a family teacher for two years and most recently, worked as the school’s wellness case manager since 2022.

According to Jeff Grothouse, executive secretary and treasurer, Neville brings a wealth of skills and experience to her new role.

“Her knowledge and coordination skills of equine therapy, horses, and clinical services will be an outstanding benefit to The Marsh Foundation students, and the community the Marsh will be serving,” he said.

Neville stated equine-assisted learning works and changes lives. She also gave credit to Marsh employees for providing her with invaluable mentorship and she quoted George Marsh himself when speaking to the goals she has for the equine program

“Horses offer a unique, non-threatening introduction to healing relationship-building skills that have been broken. Horses give their clients the confidence to trust again,” she said. “George Marsh’s own hopes for the Foundation have become my anthem for this project in that it will “become an instrument of enduring and ever-increasing benefit to mankind.”

L’view student wins State Optimist Contest

GREG YINGER/for the independent

Clayton Priest, a senior at Lincolnview High School was the winner of the Ohio District – Optimist International Oratorical Contest last weekend in Columbus, receiving a $3,500 scholarship and the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Optimist International Oratorical World Championships in St. Louis in July.

Priest began his journey of competing through the various levels of Optimist speech competitions by winning the local Optimist Club of Van Wert contest on February 29. From there, he won the zone competition at Findlay in April and the regional contest held in Lima last month. Last weekend at the Ohio District Competiton, he bested regional winners from throughout the state to be the sole representative for Ohio in the national competition.

Priest will compete next at the Optimist Regional Contest at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri July 18-19. The regional scholarship award for the winner at this level is $5,000. Winners from each U.S. region move on to the World Championship Contest for a chance to win $15,000, $10,000, or $5,000 in scholarships.

The topic for the 2024 Optimist International Oratorical Contest is “How to Change the World with Optimism.” 

In his speech, Priest, references individuals from throughout history who fought to change the world fueled by a spirit of optimism such as George Washington, Mahatma Gandhi, Joan of Arc, Nathaniel Hale, and Rosa Parks. Then, he relates the power of optimism locally citing the example of Jody Wannemacher, the executive director of the Pregnancy Life Center Health Clinic in Van Wert.

“Mrs. Wannemacher has envisioned a world in which women in need are given the resources they need to get through pregnancy and become amazing mothers,” Priest said. “Those mothers can then go on and give their children the best possible shot at success, and so by helping others in need, Mrs. Wannemacher helps make a difference in the community for decades to come.”

Second tornado occurred in Paulding Co.

VW independent staff

ARTHUR — The National Weather Service has confirmed a second tornado touched down in Paulding County Tuesday night.

The weak tornado – an EF-0 twister – with winds up to 70 miles per hour touched down three miles south-southwest of Arthur at 8:16 p.m. Its maximum width was 25 yards and the tornado was on the ground for a minute or less and caused damage to a large metal outbuilding. No injuries were reported.

The other tornado, an EF-1 tornado was confirmed two miles west-southwest of Melose. It touched down five minutes prior to the Arthur twister and was on the ground for three minutes, traveling 3.2 miles with a maximum path width of 300 yards and maximum wind speeds of 105 miles per hour. It lifted one mile west-southwest of Oakwood. There were no reports of injuries.

Eagle Scout award

Van Wert Lodge No. 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks participated in the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Evan Elling on Sunday, May 5. Elling is a member of Boy Scout Troop 32, sponsored by the Middle Point United Methodist Church. Evan was presented an American Flag and an Eagle Scout Certificate from the Van Wert Elks Lodge. He also received a letter of commendation and a special citation from Randy P. Shook, Grand Exalted Ruler/National President. For his Eagle Scout project he installed a Veterans Memorial Stone at the Ridge Cemetery. Pictured are Michael C. Stanley, Lodge Scouting Liaison and Eagle Scout Evan Elling. Photo submitted

Settlement reched with phone giants

Submitted information

COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced $10.25 million in three multistate settlements with the largest wireless carriers in the United States to resolve the 50 attorneys general investigations into deceptive and misleading advertising practices.

Ohio is due to receive more than $478,000 under the agreements with AT&T Mobility together with Cricket Wireless, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless together with TracFone Wireless.

“In a time when we rely heavily on our phones to stay connected, it’s unacceptable to make false promises about what consumers might expect from their wireless carriers.” Yost said. “Ohioans deserve transparency and honesty from telecommunications companies, and this agreement ensures that they will receive just that.”

Key components of the settlements involve assurances that the wireless carriers will change their advertising and business practices going forward to avoid vague “unlimited” data claims, unclear “free” phone offers and undisclosed conditions for monetary incentives for switching carriers.

Under the agreements, the carriers must:

• Make sure that all future ads are truthful, accurate and not misleading.
•    Clearly disclose restrictions on “unlimited” data plans.
•    Transparently disclose incentives for switching carriers.
•    Clearly disclose all material terms and conditions for consumers to receive “free” devices or services.
•    Explicitly state when an offer involves a lease agreement.
•    Justify claims of cost savings with clear comparisons.
•    Appoint a dedicated employee to handle consumer complaints from Attorneys General offices.
•    Train customer service to comply with the terms of these agreements.