RTA receives grants to expand into Van Wert County

Holiday shopping event in Paulding

VW independent staff/submitted information

PAULDING — The Paulding Area Chamber of Commerce invites the community to kick off the holiday season with “Shop the Village” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, November 22, throughout downtown Paulding.

The community tradition will feature more than 70 vendors across 19 local locations, offering an mix of handcrafted goods, boutique apparel, baked treats, home décor, jewelry, beauty products, woodworking, ceramics, and more. There’s a bonus for early shoppers: the first 150 visitors to Grounded Coffee & Crumbs (112 N. Williams St.) will receive a free Shop the Village reusable tote bag courtesy of the Chamber and Manz Accounting, perfect for carrying treasures from stop to stop.

“Shop the Village is one of our favorite Chamber events of the year,” said Jill Strahley, Executive Director of the Paulding Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a celebration of small-town spirit and the people who make Paulding thrive. Every purchase supports a neighbor, a student, or a small business that keeps our community strong.”

Where to shop

Vendors and special activities will be hosted at: Branch Christian Fellowship, Grounded Coffee & Crumbs, Studio 38, Keepsake Beads & Boutique, Fuel Good Energy, Hollywood & Vine, Fessel Jewelers, Limitless, Salon 104 on the Square, Deja Brew by Cassy, Lindsey & Company Hair Studio, Fraternal Order of Eagles #2405, C & C Treasures, Hidn Treasures, E&R Ceramics, Manz Accounting, Paulding Ace Hardware, Fiesta Habaneros, Bargain Bin of Paulding, Nini’s Ice Cream, Paulding Recovery Clubhouse.

Shoppers can stroll between these sites to enjoy local retail favorites, pop-up artisans, sweet treats, and festive decorations throughout downtown.

NextGen Youth Artisan Market

New this year, the NextGen Youth Artisan Market will be located next to Grounded Coffee & Crumbs under the outdoor tent from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This market will showcase talented young artists and makers from Paulding County who will sell their own handcrafted creations from art and baked goods to gifts and décor.

Students of the Month…

Crestview Elementary recently named its Students of the Month sponsored by Van Wert Cinemas. Students who make the Knight Leader Board each month are put into a drawing for a free 30-day pass to the movie theater for their entire family. Van Wert Cinemas October Students of the Month were Copper Springer, Ava Brown (first grade); Avyriella Barajas, Jordan Berning (second grade); Matthew Mullenhour, Novalee Mies (third grade); Davis Mendoza, Jade Burkhart (fourth grade), and Noah Haley, Drew Lichtensteiger (fifth grade). Photo submitted

Klopfenstein votes for Joshua Alert

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — This week, State Representative Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) voted in support of House Bill 359, legislation to establish the Joshua Alert — a statewide emergency alert system designed to protect children with autism and other developmental disabilities who go missing.

House Bill 359 honors the memory of 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., a young boy with autism from West Chester who tragically lost his life in November 2024 after going missing near his home.

“This legislation will be an invaluable resource for our law enforcement community,” Rep. Klopfenstein said. “It will enable quicker response times, saving the lives of some of our most vulnerable populations.”

The Joshua Alert will activate a coordinated, statewide response utilizing Ohio’s existing alert systems. Once a child with a diagnosed developmental disability is reported missing, law enforcement can issue an alert through broadcast, digital, and community channels, ensuring the public is quickly informed and engaged in search efforts.

The bill was sent to the Ohio Senate for consideration.

VWCT hosting auditions for next play

Auditions will be held early next month for the Van Wert Civic Theatre’s production of Barefoot in the Park, directed by Joelle May. This beloved romantic comedy, written by Neil Simon, brings humor and heart to the stage as newlyweds learn that love sometimes means finding balance between spontaneity and stability.

Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. December 7-8, at the Van Wert Civic Theatre. Performances are scheduled for February 6-8 and 13-15, with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Set in a small New York apartment, the story follows Paul and Corie Bratter, a pair of newlyweds discovering the ups and downs of married life. Paul is a straight-laced lawyer who prefers order and routine, while Corie is a free-spirited optimist who thrives on adventure. When Corie’s mother pays a surprise visit and they invite their eccentric upstairs neighbor, Victor Velasco, to dinner, hilarity ensues. What begins as a simple evening turns into a test of love, patience, and understanding — culminating in the classic moment when Corie insists Paul should learn to run “barefoot in the park.”

Character Descriptions:

• Corie Bratter: Playful, energetic, and impulsive — always chasing life’s next adventure.
• Paul Bratter: Practical, responsible, and slightly uptight — grounded in structure and logic.
• Victor Velasco: Eccentric, charming, and witty — an unconventional neighbor who embraces life.
• Mrs. Banks: Traditional, caring, and a bit judgmental — a mother who means well but often meddles.

Those interested in auditioning can sign up using the QR code and on all social media pages. For more information, visit vwct.org or follow the Van Wert Civic Theatre on Facebook and Instagram for updates and audition details.

ODOT fleet inspection…

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for ODOT, as crews have been making the rounds around District 1 and 2 last week and this week, inspecting equipment ahead of the upcoming winter season. One of those stops was at the Van Wert County ODOT garage late last week. Some of the trucks wound up on the roads last weekend, after snow fell around the county. ODOT photos

Laux, Shepard lauded with OHSP honors

Submitted information

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Tucker L. Laux has been selected the 2025 Trooper of the Year at the Van Wert Post.

The selection of Trooper Laux, 30, is in recognition of outstanding service during 2025. Fellow officers stationed at the Van Wert Post, chose Trooper Laux based on his leadership abilities, professional ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude, and cooperation with supervisors, peers, and the public.

Trooper Laux joined the Highway Patrol in 2018 as a member of the 165th Academy Class. He is a graduate of Celina High School, attended Wright State University – Lake Campus, and is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. Trooper Laux serves as a field training officer and has also been awarded the Patrol’s physical fitness, criminal patrol, safe driving and firearms proficiency awards.

Trooper Laux and his family reside in Mercer County.

Radio dispatcher Shannon M. Shepard has been selected the 2025 Dispatcher of the Year at the Van Wert dispatch center. Shepard joined the Highway Patrol in 2017 and was honored in recognition of her outstanding service over the past year. Supervision and dispatchers chose Shepard based on her technical job knowledge and ability, enthusiastic work attitude, teamwork, and prompt and courteous response to the public’s request for information and assistance.

Shepard and her family reside in Allen County.

Both Laux and Shepard are in contention for District and State honors as Trooper of the Year and Dispatcher of the Year. Those honors will be announced at a later date.

Safe driving will help continuing trend

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Ohio Traffic Safety Office are asking motorists to make safe driving a top priority this holiday season to ensure Ohio hits its goal of four straight years of declining traffic fatalities.

While there had been a rise in traffic deaths from 2018 to a peak of 1,356 in 2021, Ohio has seen a reduction over the last three years. In 2024 there were 1,157 people killed on Ohio roads, down from 1,242 in 2023 and 1,275 in 2022.

However, current crash data shows traffic deaths in 2025 are tracking closely with last year’s pace, prompting state agencies to launch a year-end enforcement and education blitz focused on the behaviors that most often lead to deadly crashes — distraction, impairment, lack of seat belt use, and speeding.

As of November 13, there have been 976 lives lost on Ohio roads compared to 1,029 at the same point in 2024.

“We’ve made tremendous progress in saving lives on Ohio roadways, but we can’t afford to let up now,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Every driver plays a role in keeping this positive trend going by staying alert, slowing down, and always buckling up.”

Increased funding for ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program has vaulted the program to one of the largest in the nation and helped fund projects that target top crash locations and deadly crash types.

“With record investments in roadway safety, engineering can only go so far. We need drivers to take responsibility and do their part to make safe decisions behind the wheel,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn.

Meet the author of a new children’s book

VW independent staff/submitted information

Author Tonalee Shinabery-King will be at the Secret Garden in Convoy from 12-2 p.m. Saturday with her debut children’s book More than a Mushroom Hunt.

In the book, children are encouraged to pull on their red rubber boots and go along on a sensory-rich quest through the woods with a girl and her father. The pair encounter forest animals, paw-paws, wildflowers, and many kinds of mushrooms on their adventure.

Shinabery-King’s debut picture book not only is based on an adventure she had with her father when she was young, but it also draws from her 35-plus years as an educator and her time at the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Zoo honing her appreciation for conservation. She resides in Van Wert County, still searches for mushrooms, and listens for the frog chorus with her husband. They are the parents to two grown daughters.

The book is illustrated by five different artists. Shinabery-King wanted to showcase as many talented illustrators as she could, so she contacted local universities, and after meeting with the applicants, selected the artists included in the book.

From the publisher: “More Than a Mushroom Hunt educates and entertains children about the great outdoors through a parent/child bonding adventure. The author helps children appreciate the sights, sounds, and tastes of the woods.”

More Than a Mushroom Hunt is available now in hardback and paperback at all the usual outlets, including Ingram’s Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, in bookstores and of course, at the Secret Garden.

Vantage to offer a holiday lunch

Submitted information

Come celebrate the holiday season with Vantage Career Center’s Culinary Arts students as they showcase their skills at this year’s holiday lunch.

Join students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, December 11, at the Cup & Saucer and enjoy a warm, festive buffet filled with seasonal favorites, including:

• Salad bar
• Smoked turkey and gravy
• Pineapple glazed ham
• Mashed potatoes
• Candied sweet potatoes
• Green bean casserole
• Cornbread dressing
• Buttered corn
• Fresh baked warm bread
• Pumpkin pie and assorted desserts

Reservations are required — this event fills quickly. Call 419.238.5411 ext. 2069 and leave a voicemail to reserve your spot. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

The cost is $12 per person, which includes dessert and beverages (lemonade, iced tea, and water).

More northern lights…

Wednesday night’s northern lights weren’t quite as brillant as the previous night but there were still opportunities to see the amazing show, especially in northern Van Wert County and areas north of the county line, into Paulding County and beyond. These pictures were taken at approximately 11 p.m. on Fife Rd. in Scott. Photos courtesy of Elissa Wood