Honor Flight taking off for Washington D.C. on Tuesday

Crestview prom set for April 27

Submitted information

CONVOY — The Crestview Jr/Sr Prom, sponsored by the Class of 2025, will be held from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in the Ray Etzler Gymnasium. This year’s theme is “May the Force Be with Us.”

A community open house will be held from 6-7 p.m. and the promenade will be immediately following in the high school auditeria from 7-8 p.m. The community is invited to attend the open house and promenade events.

Rollover crash

One person was taken to the hospital after a rollover crash on John Brown Rd. Thursday evening. The crash cccurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. when the northbound vehicle went off the left side of the road before going airborne and eventually flipping on its top. Convoy Fire and Rescue units responded to the scene. The driver of the vehicle refused any treatment from the Convoy EMTs, but a minor was transported to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital for observation. The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the accident, and deputies from the Van Wert Sheriff’s Office assisted with traffic control. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Superior Towing. Bob Barnes photos

Tornado count way up in Ohio

VW independent staff

It’s a rather dubious and unwanted distinction – Ohio is first in the nation in terms of number of tornadoes so far this year.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows, Ohio has had 43 confirmed tornado touchdowns, including EF-1 twisters in Crawford, Portage and Clark counties, and EF-0 tornadoes in Trumbull and Champaign counties on Wednesday. That number tops Florida (34), Illinois (30), Kentucky (24) and Indiana (22).

In Ohio, tornado season peaks between April and June, although they can happen any month of the year.

YWCA hosting special creative night

Submitted information

The YWCA of Van Wert County will host “Drawn Together” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday April 24, at Van Wert YWCA. This event is a night to let your creativity come to life through music, poetry, and painting.

The YWCA uses advocacy through the arts to promote their mission of eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The YWCA hopes that through this night, attendees will be able to share and hear a collection of uplifting and motivational words that help push the Y’s mission forward. There will be an acknowledgment of “Denim Day” where everyone will learn the history as well as paint denim squares. This event is open to anyone who would like to participate or just come and enjoy.

A participation form can be found at www.ywcavanwert.org or by emailing ywcaceostudent@ywcavanwertcounty.org.

YWCA of Van Wert County is partially funded by the United Way of Van Wert County.

Car-truck crash

This car-pickup truck accident occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m. today (Thursday) on U.S. 127 at the westbound entrance ramp to U.S. 30 West. EMTs were called for a possible injury but treatment was declined at the scene and the EMT squad returned to the station. The crash was investigated by the Van Wert Police Department. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer

2024 local road projects listed by ODOT

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks officially kicked off road and highway construction season earlier this week.

Marchbanks, ODOT District 1 Deputy Director Chris Hughes and ODOT District 2 Deputy Director Pat McColley held a media event in Findlay on Tuesday to outline what 2024 projects are on tap around the region.

“While the orange barrels that are synonymous with summer may be a source of frustration and inconvenience for some, they are a sign of progress and improvement for all who live in Ohio and who travel through it,” Marchbanks said.

Among the scheduled projects in Van Wert County, which is part of District 1:

Lincoln Highway resurfacing – crews will mill and resurface Lincoln Highway from Convoy Road to John Brown Road between May and July. Traffic will be detoured. The project cost is $2.25 million.

U.S. 224 resurfacing – U.S. 224 from U.S. 127 to the Putnam County line will be resurfaced, starting in May and ending in August. Daily lane closures will occur and the cost of the project is $2.38 million.

U.S. 33, Ohio 49 and Ohio 81 microsurfacing – crews are applying microsurface pavement preservation treatment on U.S. 33/Ohio 49/Ohio 81 within and near Willshire. Work began in March and will continue into Novmber, with daily lane closures. The project will cost $491,526.

Court holds three criminal hearings

VW independent staff

Just three criminal hearings were heard this week in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court. Judge Martin Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

On Monday, Nicholas Muter, 23, Bowling Green, appeared for arraignment and entered a not guilty plea to unauthorized use of a vehicle, a fifth degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 9 a.m. May 8.

Two hearings were held on Wednesday.

Zachary Smith, 25, Van Wert, was arraigned on a charge of domestic violence, a third degree felony. He entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence, a third degree felony. He was released on a surety bond along with an alcohol sensor. A pre-trial conference was scheduled of r9 a.m. May 8.m.

Zachary Brooks, 30, Convoy, appeared on his motion for judicial release from prison. Following the hearing, his motion was granted and he was released from prison and placed on three years community control, 30 days jail at later date, and 52 hours of community service. He is to possess no alcohol or drugs without a prescription, undergo substance abuse assessment and treatment, and was ordered to pay costs, monthly probation fee, and partial appointed counsel fees. He was sentenced last November to 12 months in prison for strangulation, a fourth degree felony, and domestic violence, a first degree misdemeanor.

Training donation

The Van Wert County Prosecutor’s Office has special funds available for use in the furtherance of justice. Prosecutor Eva Yarger’s office recently purchased Simunition pistols and rifle conversion kits for the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office using that fund. The items are used by the Sheriff’s Office for their realistic scenario training program. Shown above (front row, left to right) are: Detective Nathan Huebner, Prosecutor Eva Yarger, and Deputy Tyler Mox. Back row, left to right: Detective Seth Karl, Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach, Deputy Edward Klausing, and Deputy Chance Mosier. Photo submitted

Geranium ordering deadline is near

Submitted information

The deadline for ordering geraniums from the YWCA’s annual sale is quickly approaching. All orders with payment must be submitted by 12 p.m. Friday, April 26.

These hardy root geraniums are being sold in 4 ½ inch pots with 15 plants per flat. Hanging baskets are also available. Colors available for plants are: red, white, lavender, fuchsia, pink, light salmon and tangerine. Baskets are unavailable in white. Pots are $4 each or full flats of the same color (15 plants/flat, no mixing and matching) are $55, and hanging baskets are $25.

Interested buyers have several ordering and payment options available including cash, check, credit card and Venmo. For those preferring to pay with cash or check, order forms are available at the front desk of the YWCA between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day, or may be printed from the events page YWCA website. Buyers preferring credit card or Venmo may order online here. The YWCA events page also features all ordering information (www.ywcavanwert.org/events).

Geraniums will be available for parking lot pickup on Wednesday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buyers are encouraged to pre-order to receive the special pricing as well as to guarantee the colors and items they want are available. A limited amount of cash and carry items will be offered beginning at 11 a.m. May 8. Cash and carry plants are $5 each, baskets are $25 and no bulk pricing will be available on flats.

The annual geranium sale is a significant fundraiser for the ongoing work of the YWCA during the year including, but not limited to the Youth Development Department and the Survivor Services Department.

The YWCA is partially funded by United Way.

State agencies issue spring reminder

VW independent staff/submitted information

As we approach prom and graduation season, the Ohio Investigative Unit and the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control are reminding high school students and their parents to make safe, responsible and legal choices as they plan celebrations.

First and foremost, it’s important that parents and teens both understand Ohio’s underage drinking laws.

Parents should not host or provide their house or elsewhere a “safe environment” for their child’s friends to drink. This prohibition applies even if the other parents provide permission. If convicted of selling or providing alcohol to an underage person, the seller can face a maximum sentence of six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine for each offense.

In addition, if someone under 21 is caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration of at least .02, a level that can be reached after just one or two drinks, they can be arrested. Those individuals could face a 90-day to two-year suspension of their driver license as well as four points added to their driving record. All drivers should know it’s illegal to have an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.

Carry-outs and drive-through establishments are urged to be on alert for underage individuals attempting to purchase alcohol. The DOLC reminds permit holders and liquor agency stores of their responsibility to ensure they aren’t selling to or serving anyone under the age of 21.

“The quick buck that can be made by selling to an underage individual is not worth it; liquor permit holders have a legal obligation to ensure those under the legal drinking age are not served alcohol,” said Paul Kulwinski, DOLC Interim Superintendent and Director of Licensing. “Not only does serving alcohol to underage persons jeopardize their liquor permit, it also could result in criminal charges brought against both the person who made the sale as well as the underage person who made the purchase. Aside from the legal consequences, it’s critically important that permit holders understand they are putting the underage person’s safety — and possibly life — at risk by engaging in this activity.”