Day of Caring event set for next week

VW independent staff

A reminder that the United Way of Van Wert County’s 27th annual Vantage Day of Caring will take place next Friday through Sunday, September 26–28. For more than two decades, this event has brought the community together for one of the largest food drives of the year.

Earlier this month, food collection barrels were placed at businesses, industries, and schools throughout Van Wert County for community members to drop off donations by next Thursday, September 25, when the barrels will be picked up and sorted at Vantage Career Center. From there, collected items will be distributed to the Salvation Army, Trinity Friends Church, and the Van Wert Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry.

Next Saturday, September 27, and Sunday, September 28, volunteers and Vantage students will host the popular “Stuff the Truck” event at Walmart and Chief Supermarket. Shoppers can help by donating top-needed pantry items at the store entrances from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Day of Caring also includes opportunities to give back through blood donation. In partnership with the Red Cross and Vantage Career Center, a blood drive will be held at Trinity Friends Church on Friday, September 26, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled at www.redcrossblood.org using the sponsor code VWDOC. Those who donate will be eligible for a $10 Amazon gift card.

Leading up to the weekend, a mobile food pantry distribution will take place at Trinity Friends Church from 12-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 23. Food will be provided by West Ohio Food Bank and distributed by volunteers from First Financial Bank. Participants will be asked to show a valid photo I.D.

Last year’s Day of Caring was a big success. On Friday morning alone, the food drive collected over 12 pallets worth of food, and the blood drive collected 144 units. Various other components of the Vantage Day of Caring prompted other donations as well.

Teen driving subject of legislation

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — State Representatives Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) introduced legislation this week to modernize Ohio’s driver education requirements, using technology to make training more accessible, affordable, and adaptable for young drivers and their families. It would also slightly lower the age for a learner’s permit.

“This legislation embraces innovation to make driver education more affordable and flexible for families, while keeping safety at the forefront,” Representative Klopfenstein said. “It allows young drivers to get meaningful, supervised experience without sacrificing oversight.”

The proposed legislation maintains classroom instruction requirements but introduces flexibility in how behind-the-wheel and practice hours can be completed. For the practice component, younger drivers would be able to substitute 50 hours with a parent for 40 verified hours using an approved app, while older drivers would be able to substitute 25 hours with a licensed adult for 20 verified hours via an app. Additionally, both age groups would have the option to fulfill the eight hour instructor requirement either entirely with a licensed instructor or split it – four hours with an instructor and four more verified hours using an app.

“This bill updates Ohio’s driver education system by using modern technology to expand options for families,” Representative Lorenz said. “Our priority is ensuring that young drivers gain the skills and confidence they need to stay safe on the road.”

Current law prohibits parents from providing any of the eight required in-car instruction hours. Under this bill, parents would be permitted to complete up to four of those hours if using an approved electronic tool. This provision is completely optional and does not replace traditional instruction. Importantly, the Ohio Department of Public Safety would retain full authority to evaluate, approve, or deny any app or system used to verify hours, ensuring safety and quality are always upheld.

This legislation would also reduce the age to receive a learners permit from 15 and a half years old to 15 and so that drivers can again experience all four seasons before going out and driving on their own.

The bill awaits a number and committee assignment.

Klopfenstein represents Ohio’s 82^nd District, which includes all of Van Wert, Paulding, and Putnam counties and the southern portion of Defiance County.

Reconnect order issued for heating season

Submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has issued its Special Reconnect Order for the upcoming winter heating season. The Special Reconnect Order helps Ohioans served by PUCO-regulated utilities reconnect or maintain electric and natural gas service during the winter heating season between October 13, 2025, through April 15, 2026. 

Any residential customer of a PUCO-regulated electric or natural gas company may take advantage of the provisions contained in the order once per winter heating season. Last winter heating season, more than 204,107 Ohioans used the Special Reconnect Order.   

“Today the Commission issues its Special Reconnect Order which will assist thousands in our state to be able to remain connected to their primary heating source during the upcoming winter,” stated PUCO Chair Jenifer French.

Under the Special Reconnect Order, customers must pay the utility no more than $175 plus any applicable reconnection charge which cannot exceed $36. If the utility’s reconnect charge is greater than $36, the balance above $36 may be charged to customer on the customer’s next monthly bill.    

The Special Reconnect Order also applies to customers seeking to establish new electric or natural gas service provided they are served by PUCO-regulated utilities. Rather than paying the full security deposit that may be required for new service, customers can pay up to $175 and the balance above $175 may be charged to the customer on the customer’s next monthly bill.    

There is no income eligibility requirement to use the Special Reconnect Order; however, customers who are at or below 175 percent of the federal income guidelines may apply for assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) winter crisis program to pay the $175 amount.   

If you would like to take advantage of the Special Reconnect Order, contact your electric or natural gas utility between October 13, 2025, through April 15, 2026 to find out how to apply the Special Reconnect Order to your bill. Utility representatives will explain the order and set up a payment plan to address any remaining balance on your account after the $175 has been applied. A list of PUCO-regulated utilities is available on the PUCO website.  

More information about energy assistance programs and ways to save on home heating bills this winter is available on the PUCO’s website here. 

Meet the Candidates night to be held

VW independent staff

The Van Wert Chamber of Commerce is planning a “Meet the Candidates” night from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, October 15, at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. 

Van Wert City Council incumbents seeking re-election and challengers are expected to participate, along with those running in other races. More information will be provided closer to the event.

Report cards: see how local schools did

VW independent staff

Earlier this week, Ohio released its 2025 school report cards and the results show school districts in Van Wert County met or exceeded state standards during the 2024-2025 school year.

Districts are scored on individual components and each component is weighted and then combined to determine the overall rating from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The six different components used on the latest report cards are achievement, progress, gap closing, early literacy, graduation, and post-graduation readiness.

Report cards are released each year for public schools and charter schools, but not for private and/or parochial schools, meaning schools like Delphos St. John’s and Lima Central Catholic aren’t rated. Districts and schools receive overall ratings of 1-5 stars in half-star increments.

• 5 stars: significantly exceeds state standards
• 4.5 stars: exceeds state standards
• 4 stars: exceeds state standards
• 3.5 stars: meets state standards
• 3 stars: meets state standards
• 2.5 stars: needs support to meet state standards
• 2 stars: needs support to meet state standards
• 1.5 stars: needs significant support to meet state standards
• 1 star: needs significant support to meet state standards

Van Wert City Schools received an overall rating of 3.5 stars, meaning the district met state standards. Crestview and Lincolnview Local Schools each received a 4-star rating, which means the school systems exceeded state standards. In addition, Delphos City Schools received a 3.5 star rating while Parkway and Wayne Trace each received a 4-star rating. Spencerville received the highest rating of area schools, 4.5 stars.

According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, the annual report cards are only one part of Ohio’s education story.

New bridge planned in Middle Point

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert County Engineer’s Office, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation, are planning for a complete bridge replacement on E. Bellis Rd. crossing the Little Auglaize River on the southeast side of Middle Point. However, it won’t begin for nearly two years.

This project will be a complete demolition and replacement of the current bridge and is tentatively planned to begin in the summer of 2027. The construction is planned to last no longer than three to five months and will ideally be completed by the end of that summer.

Construction will result in a temporary roadway closure. Through-traffic will be strictly prohibited and detoured temporarily until the project is 100 percent complete. The expected detour is tentatively planned to run south on Dog Creek Rd. to Ohio 697 east to Middle Point Wetzel Rd. and then north. Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout the construction process.

The proposed project will be taking place in a regulated floodplain on the Little Auglaize River. Impacts to this floodplain are anticipated to be minor and result in no rise in localized flood levels.

FD receives donation…

The Van Wert Fire Department recently received a $3,840 donation from Farm Credit Mid-America to purchase rope rescue equipment. This gear will enhance the department’s ability to respond to grain bin rescues, emergencies where trapped individuals can quickly become engulfed in grain and require specialized tools and training to free safely.“We are grateful for Farm Credit Mid-America’s support,” said Fire Chief Jon Jones said the department is grateful for Farm Credit Mid-America’s support and said the donation strengthens the departament’s ability to protect lives within the farming community. Photo submitted

AEP proposes transmission line projecct

Submitted information

AEP Ohio Transmission Company, Inc. has submitted a Letter of Notification to the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) for the proposed Van Wert–Haviland 138 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project. The $45 million investment will rebuild and upgrade approximately 10.9 miles of existing transmission infrastructure in Paulding and Van Wert counties to ensure reliable service and support future economic development.

The project will replace aging wooden poles from 1926 with modern steel monopoles and rebuild the existing 69 kV line as a double-circuit line designed for 138 kV (initially operated at 69 kV). About 8.7 miles of the line will follow the current right-of-way, while 2.2 miles will shift to a new corridor to reduce environmental and residential impacts.

Key benefits

• Resolves baseline thermal violations identified by PJM in its 2026 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan.
• Improves reliability for approximately 416 customers historically affected by outages.
• Provides capacity to serve new industrial and commercial load at the Van Wert Mega Site, an Ohio Jobs Ready Certified site that has seen high demand for service.
• Ensures compliance with modern safety and structural standards.

Construction is expected to begin in December 2025 with an anticipated in-service date of December 2026. AEP Ohio will notify landowners directly, publish public notices in local newspapers, and maintain project information online at www.aeptransmission.com/ohio.

Constitution Week…

In honor of Constitution Week, September 17-23, Isaac Van Wart Daughters of the American Revolution participated in a bell ringing ceremony in front of the Van Wert County Courthouse. DAR members were honored to have Mayor Ken Markward and Van Wert County Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger join in the celebration. Pictured are DAR members (left to right) Marie Markward, Christal Etzkorn, Linda Mathew, Kathy Pysh, Mickey McConahay, Robin Kill, Deb Hardeman, Nancy Smith, Pamela Beamer, Janet Mohr and Linda Schumm. Photo submitted

Blood drive to be held in Van Wert

Submitted information

The community is invited to help save lives by donating blood at the Day of Caring blood drive in partnership with United Way of Van Wert, Vantage Career Center and Trinity Friends Church. People can donate blood from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, September 26, at Trinity Friends Church, 605 N. Franklin St., Van Wert.

During the Day of Caring, Vantage Career Center students and local community members participate in a food drive sponsored by United Way of Van Wert County for local food pantries and help patients in need by donating blood during the Red Cross blood drive. 

To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code vwdoc or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Kick off fall with a blood donation and carve out time to give. The American Red Cross is thanking all who come to give between September 22 and October 19 with a $10 Amazon.com gift card by email. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Fall for details. 

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.