SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
The latest figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show Van Wert County came in just under the state’s overall unemployment rate in March.
Van Wert County’s jobless rate was 3.7 percent last month, while the Ohio average increased from 3.7 to 3.8 percent. Van Wert County’s jobless rate increased slightly from 3.5 percent in February. Even so, the county’s unemployment rate remains among the lowest in Ohio. Van Wert County, along with Union and Medina counties tied for the ninth lowest rate statewide.
According to ODJFS, Van Wert County had a labor force of 14,700 in March, with 14,200 workers employed. Other figures supplied by the state show the county’s unemployment rate has increased since March of 2023, when it was 3.0 percent.
Four of the five counties with the lowest jobless rate are in northwest Ohio. Once again, neighboring Mercer County had Ohio’s lowest unemployment rate, 3.1 percent in March. Putnam and Wyandot counties tied for third lowest, 3.4 percent, while Auglaize County had the fifth lowest jobless rate, 3.5 percent. Holmes County, in northeast Ohio, was second at 3.3 percent. Allen County’s March unemployment rate was 4.5 percent, 44th among Ohio’s 88 counties.
Counties with the highest rates in March were primarily in southeast Ohio. Meigs County came in at 7.3 percent, followed by Adams, Monroe and Noble counties (each 6.9 percent), and northwest Ohio’s Ottawa County, 6.8 percent.
Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 11,500 over the month, from a revised 5,632,800 in February to 5,644,300 in March. The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in March was 220,000, up from 214,000 in February. The number of unemployed has increased by 17,000 in the past 12 months from 203,000.
POSTED: 04/26/24 at 9:16 pm
The Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office is in mourning after the death of Chief Deputy Adam Clark. His death was announced in a Facebook post made by Sheriff Tom Riggenbach early Saturday afternoon. Clark had served the Sheriff’s Office honorably for over 17 years. “We will miss Adam dearly,” Riggenbach said in the post. “Please keep Adam’s family and members of the Sheriff’s Office in your thoughts and prayers as we mourn his loss.”
POSTED: 04/27/24 at 1:03 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
Today (April 27) is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Prescription drugs are often thrown in the trash, which can be retrieved, abused, or illegally sold.
Official prescription drug collection sites are a safe way of disposing of unneeded, unwanted, outdated or leftover prescriptions.
In Van Wert County, prescriptions may be disposed of in a drop box in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office, 113 N. Market St., Van Wert, today or any day. The lobby is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Prescription drugs should be placed in a Ziplock or plastic bag, as prescription bottles are not accepted. Also not accepted – liquids, inhalers, Epipens or needles.
POSTED: 04/26/24 at 9:15 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost wants the public to weigh in on whether additional safeguards are needed to protect consumers from having their signatures used without their full knowledge or consent.
The request for comment seeks opinions on a proposed rule that businesses would be required to follow when soliciting and using a person’s signature for reasons unrelated to a transaction.
“A gap in state law has left your signature – a symbol of your identity – vulnerable to misuse,” Yost said. “It’s your signature, and we want your input on how to protect it.”
The public’s feedback will inform the Attorney General’s Office as it considers new safeguards for consumers. A proposed administrative rule could require businesses that solicit signatures during consumer transactions to obtain affirmative consent and provide clear disclosures stating how a person’s signature would be used in future communications.
Yost’s office drafted the proposed rule after learning of numerous Ohioans who alleged their signatures were included in correspondence without their consent.
Comments must be submitted by email to RFC1@OhioAGO.gov. The deadline for submissions is May 24.
POSTED: 04/26/24 at 9:14 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
CONVOY — The Village of Convoy Historical Society is sponsoring its first quilt show, Stitches in Bloom & Spring Market from 12-7 p.m. Friday, May 10, and 12-3 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Convoy Opera House.
The featured speaker will Lois Levihn of Born Again Quilts – Quilt Restorations of Fort Wayne. She will offer quilt dating. Those attending are welcome to bring in old quilts to discover their age of antiquity.
Other activities during the event will include:
- Raffles: 50-50, a quilt donated by Cindy Hoffman and baskets of goodies assembled by local quilters and businesses.
- Fry pie pickup for pre-orders with others being available for purchase while they last.
- Live music in the Park on the Square from 12-3 p.m. Saturday by “Fedora & Fretts”and by Randy Long.
All proceeds will go toward the restoration of the Opera House Annex and Museum.
POSTED: 04/26/24 at 9:14 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
If all goes as planned, all Lincolnview classrooms will have new interactive smart boards in time for the 2024-2025 school year.
During Thursday night’s Lincolnview school board meeting, Technology Director Josh McElroy requested the board consider the purchase, which will total approximately $180,000.
“The flat panels we’ve quoted are 75-inch panels and most of them will be mounted in the middle of the whiteboard space in the front of the classrooms,” McElroy explained. “We have about 40 percent of our classrooms with a smart board and that is pretty far down the list (compared to) the surrounding schools. What we have now is working for the teachers but it’s certainly not where I’d like to be or where we should be in terms of providing the technology to the staff members and also the students.”
McElroy also noted that most of the smart boards currently in use are nearly 10 years old. The board is expected to vote on the request at the May meeting.
During his monthly report to the board, Superintendent Jeff Snyder said the elementary renovation and addition project is on track and is nearing the end. He also mentioned pending legislation in Columbus that would require school districts to adopt policies governing the use of cell phones in schools. If eventually approved, those policies would need to be in place by July, 2025.
Elementary Principal Nita Meyer told the board that 74 children went through recent kindergarten screening, a number higher than usual. Last year, 54 children went through and there are 51 current kindergartners.
Junior/Senior High Principal Brad Mendenhall reminded the board of some upcoming events, including Senior Awards at 7 p.m. May 13 at the Marsh Foundation, a Lancer steel drum concert May 16, and graduation, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19.
Board members accepted the resignation of high school math teacher Jason Bockey and approved the employment of Scott Turner, elementary music teacher; Taylor Beining, fourth grade teacher; Jessica Mack, part-time cook, and Ashley Saam, substitute bus driver and cafeteria worker.
(more…)POSTED: 04/26/24 at 3:40 am. FILED UNDER: News
The Van Wert Fire Department, along with the police department and Van Wert County CERT were at the scene of this Thursday morning garage fire in the 600 block of State St. The call came in just before 7 a.m. and firefighters were able to quickly bring the blaze under control. Crews were at the scene for approximately an hour. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer
POSTED: 04/26/24 at 3:39 am. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
The Van Wert Chamber of Commerce recently held the final session of the 2024 Van Wert Chamber Youth Academy at Danfoss. The pilot program was presented from January-April, with each session taking place on the last Tuesday of each month at a different location within Van Wert County.
“We had a great time connecting with 24 junior year students from Van Wert City Schools, Lincolnview Local Schools, Crestview Local Schools, and Vantage Career Center,” Chamber President/CEO Mark Verville said. “Along with Danfoss, we held sessions at Central Insurance, Lifehouse Church, and with the City of Van Wert and Van Wert County. Not only did the students learn more about community services, they were able to interact with a wide variety of community leaders and learn about their leadership journeys.”
Verville also thanked the administration and staff of the four county schools who participated in the program, along as the community members who invested time to speak with the students.
Northwest State Community College is the exclusive sponsor of the Youth Academy program. The regional community college, based in Archbold, is a public two-year college that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This accreditation allows NSCC to offer degree and certificate programs in the fields of arts and sciences, business and public services, nursing and allied health, and STEM and industrial technologies. The school serves over 77,000 northwest Ohio families across a six-county service area, including Van Wert County.
POSTED: 04/26/24 at 3:39 am. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
The Evergreen Garden Club will be hold its annual perennial plant sale in the annex of the Van Wert County Fair Board Building, Saturday, May 4, beginning at 10 a.m.
Perennial plants will be dug from the club members’ own gardens and sold at a very reasonable price. A large selection of many different varieties will be for sale.
All proceeds from the sale will be used for civic beautification projects sponsored by the Evergreen Garden Club. Some of those projects include purchasing, planting and maintaining the flowers in Fountain Park; maintaining the herb garden at the Van Wert County Historical Museum; maintaining the friendship garden at Camp Clay, and decorating the Brumback Library for the Christmas holiday season.
POSTED: 04/26/24 at 3:39 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
It’s now official. Jeremy Best, who led Crestview’s basketball program between 2002-2019, has been hired to take over Van Wert’s varsity boys basketball program. His supplemental contract was one of a number of coaching supplementals approved during Wednesday’s school board meeting. A full story on Best can be found on the Sports page.
There will be no change in other head coaches of winter sports during the 2024-2025 school year. Hannah Philpot will again lead the girls varsity basketball program, Megan Hurless returns as head boys and girls swimming coach, Seth Blackmore is back as head boys and girls bowling coach, Ben Collins was approved as head wrestling coach and Jacque Welch was approved as head cheerleading coach.
Assistant coaches approved by the board include Steve Recker, Josiah Poletta, Bryce Crea, Nick Pauff, and Josh Poulson (varsity football); Jalen McCracken, Keaton Altimus (freshman football); Jordan Danylchuck (football volunteer); Charlie Witten, Brandon Lintermoot, Seth Baer and Chris Heath (middle school football); Mike Hernandez (golf volunteer assistant); Gage Chiles, Noah Carter and Deb Merritt (high school cross country volunteer assistants); Toshia Wilhelm and Bob Spath (middle school cross country); Melissa Bloomfield (girls tennis assistant); Issa Ickes (high school volleyball assistant); Morgan Hicks (freshman volleyball); Glenn Hicks (high school volleyball volunteer assistant); Tiffany Werts (high school cheerleading varsity assistant), and Betsy Hamman, middle school cheerleading.
(more…)POSTED: 04/25/24 at 3:44 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
A corporate merger means Van Wert residents will have another choice when choosing an internet service provider.
During Monday’s meeting of Van Wert City Council, Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming informed council members that CenturyLink and Brightspeed have merged.
“They have announced to me that they are going to re-wire the entire city in fiber (optics),” Fleming said. “It’s going to begin in June and July and they hope to have it complete in three months. What that’s going to mean is all the fiber is going to be on the poles if you make application for their service, like you might do with Spectrum now.”
“What I’m excited about is it’s competition, so you’ll be able to make that connection with Brightspeed if you apply for their service, then they’ll bring true fiber right to door,” he added. “Spectrum has pretty good speeds but they don’t necessarily have true fiber to the home.”
Brightspeed has set aside $2 billion to bring fiber optic internet to at least three million customers across 20 states over the next four years.
POSTED: 04/25/24 at 3:44 am. FILED UNDER: News
