SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
While the intruders who broke into three pharmacies early Thursday morning, including one in Van Wert, remain at-large, there is some new information, including the fact that only one of the three break-ins was successful.
The males, all dressed in black, apparantly targeted the Genoa walk-up pharmacy at Westwood Behavorial Center on Westwood Drive. They forced in the front door to the facility at approximately 6:30 a.m. Thursday, which triggered an alarm to the Van Wert Police Department. They entered the pharmacy area, however, they didn’t actually steal anything.
“Due to the little time spent in the establishment, nothing was taken from the pharmacy,” Lt. Rob Black stated.
Black also said during crime scene processing, investigators were able to recover tool marks, shoe impressions, and video evidence.
The local pharmacy was the third one entered by the intruders. A dispatcher for the Hicksville Police Department confirmed late Thursday morning that a break-in occurred at Hicksville Pharmacy and Home at 5:20 a.m. According to Hicksville Police Chief Mark Denning, the suspects were in the store for less than five minutes and were able to steal an unknown amount of narcotics from the pharmacy area, plus a small amount of cash from the register. They then made their way to Paulding.
Paulding Police Chief Regina Weidenhamer confirmed that a break-in occurred at Oukley’s Pharmacy-Paulding a short time after the Hicksville robbery, at 5:46 a.m., but the suspects left the store with nothing, before heading to Van Wert.
(more…)POSTED: 09/13/25 at 12:26 am
VW independent staff/submitted information
For three OhioHealth providers, “home” is more than just where the heart is. It’s where they’ve chosen to practice, to build relationships, and to make a lasting difference.
From family farms to Friday night football games, from small-town classrooms to volunteer fire departments, these healthcare professionals grew up immersed in the rhythms of rural life. Now, as nurse practitioners and a physician, they’re using their skills to care for the people and places that shaped them.
Full-Circle Care: Cody J. Klinker, MD
Dr. Cody Klinker’s ties to Van Wert County run deep. As a Crestview High School graduate, he participated in everything from sports to show choir. But it was a family health crisis, his father’s stroke, that cemented his decision to go into medicine.
“I knew from the beginning I wanted to be a family physician,” Dr. Klinker said. “The patient-centered and family-oriented approach allows me to treat people across all ages and life stages, while also being a presence in the community.”
Klinker now practices at OhioHealth locations in both Van Wert and Rockford, with clinical interests ranging from pediatric care to sports medicine. He also serves as the team physician for Crestview Local Schools.
“Here in Van Wert, we definitely have the ‘treat you like a friend’ mentality,” Dr. Klinker said. “This is where I always wanted to practice.”
Lifelong Ties: Niki Hershey, APRN-CNP
Born at Van Wert Hospital, raised in Delphos, and now living in Fort Jennings, Niki Hershey’s first exposure to healthcare came through her father, a nursing home maintenance director. Spending time there after school inspired her to care for others, especially the elderly.
(more…)POSTED: 09/13/25 at 12:24 am. FILED UNDER: News
Van Wert’s Xavier Kelly (11) runs away from the Celina defense during Friday night’s WBL game at Cougar Alumni Field at Eggerss Stadium. Unfortunately, after falling behind early, the Cougars lost the game in overtime 38-37. Meanwhile, Crestview’s Braxton Leeth ran for over 300 yards and seven touchdowns and the Knights beat Fort Loramie 55-38. Complete game stories can be found on the Sports page. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent
POSTED: 09/13/25 at 12:23 am. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine announced this week that he has agreed to a request made by the Secretary of the Army through National Guard Bureau that the Ohio National Guard continue supporting the District of Columbia National Guard until November 30.
While some of the Ohio National Guard members will be rotated, Ohio will continue to provide 150 military police to carry out presence patrols. None of these military police members are currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state of Ohio.
POSTED: 09/13/25 at 12:22 am. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
A reminder that the PLC Health Clinic will hold its 25th annual Walk for Life this Sunday at Franklin Park in Van Wert. Registration will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the 2-mile walk around the park starting at 2 p.m.
The clinic needs to raise $56,000 to continue its free services which include pregnancy testing, limited obstetric ultrasound, educational classes and material support. Anyone who is pregnant or has a child under the age of two can use those services. The clinic also provides free STI/STD testing for both men and women. PLC’s newest addition is the Langdyn House, which is a maternity home.
POSTED: 09/13/25 at 12:22 am. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
BLUE CREEK TOWNSHIP – A Friday morning crash involving an SUV and a dump truck claimed both drivers.
It occurred at approximately 10 a.m. at the intersection of County Road 87 and the Van Wert-Paulding County Line Road (Township Road 12), in Paulding County. According to a report from the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 2016 Ford Explorer driven by Cody M. Motycka, 33, of Van Wert, was traveling south on County Road 87. A 2024 Peterbilt dump truck driven by Kevin S. Halliwill, 53, of Scott was traveling west on the Van Wert-Paulding County Line Road (TR 12). Motycka failed to yield at a stop sign and was struck by Halliwill’s vehicle. The dump truck rolled over and Halliwill, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected.
Motycka and Halliwill were both pronounced dead at the scene.
The Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Van Wert County Coroner’s Office, Paulding County Coroner’s Office, Van Wert County EMA, Scott EMS, Van Wert Fire Department, Hague’s Towing, and Gideon’s Towing.
The crash remains under investigation.
POSTED: 09/12/25 at 3:35 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Due to the delay in completion of the final state inspection, the elevator to Tyler’s Landing will be out of service and the area will not be accessible for tonight’s football game against Celina. Guests requiring accessible seating are encouraged to use the designated platform located in the northwest corner of the stadium. “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. We are confident the elevator to Tyler’s Landing will be fully operational in time for Senior Night against Wapakoneta on September 26,” school officials said in a statement. VWCS photo
VW independent staff/submitted information
DELPHOS — A Bryan woman suffered potential life-threatening injuries in a wrong-way accident on U.S. 30 in Delphos early Friday morning.
According to a report from the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. Friday. Officers with the Delphos Police Department attempted to initiate a traffic stop with a vehicle on Fifth St. within the city limits, but the vehicle failed to stop and continued to U.S. 30, where it entered the highway in the wrong direction.
Taneesha S. Stuckey, 36, of Bryan, was operating a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox and began traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of travel. She traveled in the wrong direction on U.S. 30 for almost a half mile before entering the grass median in an attempt to enter the eastbound lanes. When Stuckey entered the eastbound lanes, she was struck by an 2025 International semi-truck and trailer operated by Alex J. Chance, 50, of Ashland. Stuckey’s vehicle was pushed into the median and rolled over on its side. The semi-truck came to controlled final rest on the right berm of the eastbound lanes.
Stuckey was extricated by mechanical means and transported to Mercy Health St. Rita’s Hospital by Delphos EMS. Chance was treated on scene for reported minor injuries.
Stuckey was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, and alcohol and/or drugs have not been ruled out as a factor in the crash. Chance was reportedly wearing a seatbelt, and alcohol and/or drugs are not suspected to be a factor on his part. Both vehicles sustained disabling damage.
Assisting troopers on scene were the Delphos Police Department, Allen County Sheriff’s Office, Delphos Fire and EMS and Miller Performance Towing.
The crash remains under investigation.
POSTED: 09/12/25 at 5:50 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
A local woman charged in connection with a fatal accident made her first appearance in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.
Barbara Nickles, 66, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to vehicular homicide, a first degree misdemeanor. Released on surety bond with work related driving privileges and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. October 8.
The charge stems from a July 28 accident in the parking lot of Ruler Foods in Van Wert. An accident report from the Van Wert Police Department said Nickles was operating a 2023 Cadillac XT5 while in the grocery store’s parking lot and began to accelerate in reverse at a high rate of speed from her marked parking space. The report stated she struck the pedestrian, later identified by a family member as Omar Sites, causing him to collide with another parked motor vehicle, which resulted in serious injuries. After striking Sites, Nickles continued to operate her vehicle at a high rate of speed in reverse, causing damage to multiple parked motor vehicles. Sites passed away August 11. There was no evidence that showed the incident was intentional.
Nickles was initially charged in Van Wert Municipal Court with vehicular assault, a fourth degree felony, and negligent assault, a third degree misdemeanor. The case was bound over to a Van Wert County grand jury, but its members opted against a felony charge.
If ultimately convicted, Nickles faces up to six months in the county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
(more…)POSTED: 09/11/25 at 8:52 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
High bond has been set for a Michigan man facing a number of local sex charges that date back a number of years, while a county man is free on a surety bond on similar charges.
David Lowe, 54, of Sturgis, Michigan, made his first appearance in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, first degree felonies; two counts of sexual battery, third degree felonies, and six counts of gross sexual imposition, all third degree felonies.
A Van Wert County grand jury indicted Lowe on the charges last week and he was transported from the St. Joseph County Jail, where he was already incarcerated on a holder from Van Wert County, to the Van Wert County Correctional Facility, where he remains.
During arraignment, Judge Martin D. Burchfield set bond at $250,000 cash or surety and ordered Lowe to have no contact with the victims. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. October 8.
Court documents indicate all of the alleged crimes occurred in Van Wert County between January of 2003 and December of 2007, and involved a victim under the age of 13.
In a separate and unrelated case, Seth Marbaugh, 34, of Ohio City, entered a not guilty plea to a superceding indictment of four counts of rape, all first degree felonies; three counts of sexual battery, third degree felonies, and three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, third degree felonies. He was released on a surety bond and was ordered by Judge Burchfield to have no contact with victims. A pre-trial conference was set for 8 a.m. October 8.
Court records show the alleged crimes occurred between May of 2023 and October of 2024, and the alleged victim was between 13-16 years of age.
POSTED: 09/11/25 at 8:50 pm. FILED UNDER: News
If you drove along E. Main St. in Van Wert on Thursday, no doubt you saw the flag on display via the Van Wert Fire Department’s ladder truck. The flag was hoisted throughout the day in honor of 9-11. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer
POSTED: 09/11/25 at 8:49 pm. FILED UNDER: News
