VW independent staff
Four defendants appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court for sentencing on Wednesday. Three of the defendants were previously convicted of drug charges. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.
Christopher Runyon, 50, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control and 30 days in jail at a later date for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony. He must seek and maintain employment, complete a mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment, consume no alcohol or drugs without a prescription, under random drug screens, and must pay court costs.
Joshua Burnett, 48, of Van Wert, was sentenced to up to six months at the WORTH Center, three years of community control and 30 days in jail at a later date for attempted trafficking in drugs, a third degree felony. He must perform 100 hours of community service, seek and maintain employment, complete a mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment, consume or possess no alcohol or drugs without a prescription, undergo random drug screens and pay court costs.
Raymond Bressler, 62, of Ohio City, was sentenced to three years of community control and 30 days in jail at a later date for possession of cocaine, a fifth degree felony. He must perform 50 hours of community service, complete a mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment, and was ordered to pay court costs.
(more…)POSTED: 10/14/26 at 8:40 pm
VW independent staff
A longstanding fire service tradition – one that dates back to the days of horse-drawn apparatus – will be held in Van Wert later this month.
The Van Wert Fire Department will hold a push-in ceremony for the department’s new fire truck, Engine 3, at 11 a.m. Monday, October 26, at the fire department. The community is welcome to attend.
Back in the day, firefighters pushed their equipment back into the station by hand. Now, a push-in ceremony offers an opportunity to welcome our the department’s new fire engine and celebrate with the community.
POSTED: 10/14/26 at 8:38 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has released the latest early voting numbers for the November 3 General Election, as reported daily by Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections.
The latest statewide totals as of Tuesday, October 13, include:
- Early in-person ballots cast: 235,887
- Absentee ballots returned: 74,883
- Total early votes cast: 320,770
The Secretary of State’s Office also showed that as of midday Wednesday, 950 voters in Van Wert County had cast early in-person ballots at the Van Wert County Board of Elections Office. Another 893 mail-in ballots were requested by mail, and 98 were returned. A list of local issues and races can be found here.
“Ohioans are making their voting plans and casting their ballots, and our bipartisan election officials are ready to serve them,” LaRose said. “Whether voting early in person, by mail, or on Election Day, voters can have confidence that Ohio is prepared to deliver another secure and accessible election.”
Ohioans can follow voting trends throughout the election through the Secretary of State’s Absentee and Early Voting Dashboard, available at OhioSoS.gov/Data. The interactive dashboard allows voters, journalists, and researchers to explore statewide and county-level election data throughout the early voting period.
(more…)POSTED: 10/14/26 at 8:37 pm. FILED UNDER: News
FOP Lodge 62 Van Wert continued its support of local law enforcement agencies by recently donating new body armor to Niko, the Van Wert Police Department’s K-9. Shown from left to right are Van Wert Police Lt. Steven Boroff (FOP Lodge 62 Vice-President) Officer Ian Cowan (K-9 Handler), Nico and Lt. Adam Wehage (FOP Lodge 62 Treasurer). Photo submitted
POSTED: 10/14/26 at 8:35 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
COLUMBUS – Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has filed separate lawsuits against two Ohio home-improvement companies that allegedly took down payments from consumers but failed to provide the services promised or performed subpar work.
One lawsuit seeks to help nine consumers who reported paying a combined $140,000 to Journey Home Restoration in Lorain County. The other involves five consumers who reported more than $60,000 in combined losses to The Metal Roof Company in central Ohio.
“When Ohioans pay for contractors to repair their homes, they trust those contractors to follow through,” Wilson said. “Not doing the work is not acceptable.”
Journey Home Restoration
The state’s lawsuit against Journey Home Restoration and its owner, Jason Kaczur, alleges that the company accepted the $140,000 from the nine customers for roofing, siding and gutter projects that were not completed. It was filed in Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
Kaczur and Journey Home Restoration have maintained a high public profile in northeastern Ohio, including appearances on local TV programs promoting the company’s home-improvement work and community involvement.
The lawsuit, which seeks financial relief on behalf of the nine consumers, cites multiple violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act.
(more…)POSTED: 10/14/26 at 8:34 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
Members of Van Wert City Council are going to back to the drawing board with a pair of noise ordinances.
The legislation has been the subject of numerous revisions over the last several weeks, including discussion during a special Council of the Whole meeting that was held before Monday night’s regular meeting. One ordinance amends existing city laws regarding noise and traffic, while the other pertains to noise in general.
Both were introduced by Councilman At-Large Hall Block, who chairs council’s Judiciary and Annexation Committee. It was Block who suggested a “re-do” by voting down the two ordinances on their third and final reading and starting over.
“It’s kind of resetting the two noise ordinances so we don’t have to go through a very lengthy and difficult amendment on the third and final reading,” Block said.
His suggestion that ended with a 7-0 vote to reject both. New legislation is being prepared for first reading at the next meeting of council. However, the vote wasn’t unanimous on the ordinance dealing with noise in general.
Second Ward Councilman Greg Roberts and Third Ward Councilwoman Julie Moore each voted no. Both voted “yes” to prepare new legislation amending existing laws regarding noise and traffic.
“In my opinion we have a noise ordinance that’s been in place for a very long time,” Roberts said in response to his “no” vote. “Trying to change the language seems to be making it so much harder to enforce and making it harder on our citizens. Are we changing the language for the citizens of Van Wert or are we changing it for industrial reasons?”
(more…)POSTED: 10/13/26 at 8:44 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
The YWCA of Van Wert County has announced the launch of the second phase of its yearlong YW 110 Anniversary celebration, with a goal of raising $50,000 toward its capital campaign to fund a new facility.
The first phase of the anniversary celebration recently concluded with a reverse raffle and celebration at R Place Stone Grill. Thanks to proceeds from the event and other recent capital campaign contributions, the YWCA has already raised 15 percent of its $50,000 goal in just six weeks.
The second phase of this special anniversary initiative invites 110 donors to contribute $11 per month for 12 months. If all 110 donor spots are filled, the initiative will generate over $14,000 bringing the YWCA significantly closer to its $50,000 fundraising goal for this sub-campaign by September, 2027.
“For about the cost of a specialty coffee or a drive-through lunch, an $11 monthly donation can make a meaningful impact when combined with contributions from others at the same level,” said Kimberly Laudick, President and CEO of the YWCA of Van Wert County. “If we can secure 110 donors at this level, it will propel us nearly halfway toward our $50,000 goal.”
Through this initiative, the YWCA hopes to demonstrate how small, recurring gifts can make a significant difference when a community comes together. Every monthly donation advances the organization’s Capital Campaign bringing one the YW one step closer to a new facility that will serve the needs of the organization and the community for years to come.
“We hope to show that every contribution to this campaign, no matter how large or small, becomes part of a lasting legacy and strengthens our entire community,” Laudick said.
Individuals interested in becoming one of the 110 monthly donors at the $11 level can establish recurring donations through the YWCA’s online donation platform at https://ywcavanwertcounty.betterworld.org/.
“Several additional giving levels are available on the site, including one-time contributions and donation options that provide recognition on the donor wall in our new facility,” Laudick said. “Each and every gift brings us closer to a facility where survivors can recover from trauma in a dignified living space and our youth programs can flourish and grow.”
The YWCA of Van Wert County is an agency of the United Way of Van Wert County and partially funded by the Van Wert County Foundation.
POSTED: 10/13/26 at 8:43 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
Work is starting on the Blaine St. sanitary sewer project.
During Monday night’s Van Wert City Council meeting, Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming said crews were out on Monday sawing the street and preparing for trench work.
“That’s going to be an area to avoid, unless you live down there,” Fleming said.
Fleming said the work should take approximately four months.
He also noted work is underway to raise several manholes along Washington St. Fleming said it will be night work in hopes of a lesser impact on traffic.
During his report, Fleming also thanked all first responders who responded to a standoff on Burt St. last week.
“It was a successful ending to a potentially bad situation so we thank them for their efforts,” he said.
POSTED: 10/13/26 at 8:42 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
CONVOY — Short, sweet and to the point.
That’s how to best describe Monday’s meeting of the Crestview Local Schools Board of Education meeting, which lasted just nine minutes.
During that time, the board heard an update from Glen Renner, Project Manager at Peterson Construction Co., the Wapakoneta-based firm handling the district’s athletic facilities upgrade project. He noted the indoor portion of the project, mainly the high school gymnasium, is complete with only a few punchlist items remaining.
The outdoor portion of the project continues, including upgrades to the football field and track.
“We’ve been able to get the track paved which is honestly a good feat in itself considering all the weather we had in August and September,” Renner explained. “We’ve got the pavement in and we’ve got the track surface down, so the last thing to do is the striping on the track itself.”
Renner said he expects artificial turf to go down on the football field within a week. The Knights have one more home game left this season, Friday against Columbus Grove. He also explained work is ongoing at the conscession stand and locker room area. Lights and bleachers are expected to be installed in December.
The baseball and softball fields are included in the project and he explained all of the infrastructure dirt work is done, the drainage and irrigation systems are in and he said dugout masonry is progressing. Outfield sod is expected to arrive next week and once the artificial turf is installed at the football field, crews will turn their attention to the baseball and softball infields.
“There’s really a lot going on out there,” Renner said.
The overall project, indoor and outdoor, is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $14 million.
Just one personnel item was on the agenda – the board accepted the resignation of Abigail Ortiz as a food service worker, effective October 30.
(more…)POSTED: 10/12/26 at 8:39 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
Average gasoline prices in Ohio have fallen 3.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.87 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 5,345 stations in Ohio. Prices in Ohio are 30.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand $1.11 per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 5.9 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $6.248 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Ohio was priced at $3.19 per gallon on Sunday while the most expensive was $5.89 per gallon, a difference of $2.70 per gallon.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 0.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.29 per gallon on Monday. The national average is up 0.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.28 per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
“More states saw average gasoline prices decline than rise over the last week, with diesel falling approximately 5 cents per gallon nationally,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “On the policy front, the Trump administration’s proposed diesel deal raises more questions than it answers, and I remain skeptical that it will deliver significant relief to the trucking industry and consumers who depend on diesel. Meanwhile, Hurricane Isaias has passed, but we are awaiting updates on two refineries that were in its path, the outcome of which could impact the supply picture in the days ahead. For now, the trend is cautiously in the right direction for motorists, but between hurricane season and continued geopolitical uncertainty, it is far too early to declare the pressure on fuel prices resolved.”
(more…)POSTED: 10/12/26 at 8:39 pm. FILED UNDER: News
A late Monday afternoon accident sent a motorcyclist to a Fort Wayne hospital. It occurred at the intersection of Dull-Robinson Rd. and Feasby Wisener Rd. at around 4:45 p.m. The motorcycle was eastbound on Feasby Wisener Rd. when a pickup truck that was southbound on Dull-Robinson Rd. stopped at the stop sign and then pulled into the intersection into the path of the motorcycle. Scott Fire and EMS was at the scene, with mutual aid provided by Convoy Fire and EMS. The driver of the pickup truck was cited for failure to yield. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent
POSTED: 10/12/26 at 8:38 pm. FILED UNDER: News
