VW independent staff/submitted information
AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the 13-day year-end holiday period beginning Saturday, December 20 and ending Thursday, January 1. This year’s forecast is a 2.2 percent increase over 2024, surpassing last year’s record of 119.7 million travelers. More than 5 million Ohioans are predicted to travel during the holiday season, up 2.5 percent from the same time period last year.
AAA projects 109.5 million Americans will travel by car for their year-end trips, an increase of two percent compared to last year. Driving is the overwhelming favorite among all modes of transportation because of its convenience and low cost. This year, 89 percent of holiday travelers will take road trips. In Ohio, more than 4.5 million are expected to hit the roads.
Gas prices are lower compared to last holiday season when the national average was $3.04 to end 2024. For the first time in four years, the national average dropped below $3 a gallon this month, and prices could continue dropping as 2025 comes to a close. Ohio’s gas price average of $2.67 is 16 cents cheaper than a year ago.
AAA projects a record 8.03 million travelers taking domestic flights this holiday season, a 2.3 percent increase compared to last year. This will be the first time on record that the number of domestic air travelers over the year-end holiday period exceeds 8 million. More than 283,000 Ohioans are expected to take to the skies for year-end trips this year; a two percent increase over last year.
(more…)POSTED: 12/10/25 at 9:43 pm
VW independent staff/submitted information
REYNOLDSBURG — The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has released the official dates for the 2026 fair season, which includes Ohio’s 94 county and independent fairs and the Ohio State Fair.
As has been the case for many years, the Paulding County Fair will kick off the fair season on June 6, and the season will wrap up on October 17 with the Fairfield County Fair. In between, the Putnam County Fair will be held June 22-27, the Ohio State Fair July 29-August 9, the Auglaize County Fair August 2-8, the Mercer County Fair August 13-19, the Allen County Fair August 21-29, and the Van Wert County Fair September 1-7. For a complete schedule, click here.
“Ohio’s county and independent fairs are an important part of Ohio’s agricultural heritage and play a critical role in supporting youth leadership programs, like 4H and FFA,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. “When people attend the fair, they are supporting their local community, the agriculture industry, and our next generation of responsible food producers.”
In addition to setting and approving the dates for the independent and county fairs, ODA is responsible for helping to assure the safety of fair amusement rides, monitoring livestock shows to help assure honest competition, and coordinating animal health efforts with local veterinarians.
POSTED: 12/10/25 at 9:42 pm. FILED UNDER: News
The Vocal Music Department of Van Wert High School will present its Christmas Choral Concert on Monday, December 15, starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Doors will open at 7 p.m. The Freshmen Choir, Sophomore Women’s Chorus, Select Acapella Choir, and Concert Choir will be featured. Students will perform songs such as “Heleluyan,” “We Need a Little Christmas,” “The Bells of Christmas Medley,” and “O Magnum Mysterium.” The Van Wert High School choirs are under the direction of Miss Melissa Bloomfield. The concert is free and open to the public. Photo submitted
POSTED: 12/10/25 at 9:41 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
This Saturday, December 13, is National Wreaths Across America Day. The Isaac Van Wart Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will hold a brief ceremony at 12 p.m. Saturday at Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
The public is invited to attend and to take part in placing wreaths on veterans graves following the ceremony. The public is invited to join DAR in honoring and remembering local deceased veterans. Thanks to numerous individuals and businesses, DAR will be laying 180 wreaths this year. DAR encourages all youth who are interested in assisting to help lay the wreaths.
POSTED: 12/10/25 at 9:41 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
Four people were arraigned and two other defendants changed their pleas during hearings held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this morning. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.
Arraignments
Gavin McMichael, 21, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to possession of heroin, possession of a fentanyl related compound, and possession of cocaine, all fifth degree felonies. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. January 14.
Zymarion Wilhite, 19, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony, and OVI, a first degree misdemeanor. Wilhite was released on a surety bond with a vaiver of extradition. A pre-trial conference was set for 8 a.m. January 14.
Justin Wright, 28, of Delphos, entered a not guilty plea to failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a fourth degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. January 14.
Seth Marbaugh, 34, of Ohio City, pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence, a third degree felony. He was released on a surety bond with a waiver of extradition, if arrested outside the state. In addition, Marbaugh signed a time waiver and requested additional time to prepare his case. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. January 7.
Plea changes
Anthony Oliver, 30, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to an amended charge of domestic violence, a first degree misdemeanor. He was then sentenced to 136 days in jail and was given credit for 136 days already served. He was ordered to pay court costs.
Logan Linton, 33, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony. He then requested and was granted intervention in lieu of conviction and his case was stayed pending completion of the treatment program. He was ordered to pay court costs.
POSTED: 12/10/25 at 3:58 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
Sometimes the wait at a fast food drive-thru can take longer than expected, due to large or separate orders from one person, special requests or a shortage of staff. There was a different reason for a recent delay at a local fast food joint – an alleged drunk driver.
A report from the Van Wert Police Department indicates an officer was dispatched to Taco Bell on S. Shannon St. at 12:48 a.m. Saturday, December 6, after a call of an unresponsive male in the drive-thru. The responding officer arrived to find several people standing next to a white Jeep and the officer noticed the driver breathing but passed out in the driver’s seat. The Jeep was still in drive and the man’s foot was on the brake.
In the report, the officer stated he noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle and he said he was able to wake the driver up and have him put the Jeep in park. The man was then asked to exit the vehicle, which he did, and the officer noted his speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and watery and an odor of alcoholic beverage was coming from him.
The man, identified as Chad Thatcher, 38, of Van Wert, told the officer he had four beers and a shot and admitted he shouldn’t be driving. He willingly took standard field sobriety tests, which he did not pass. After the final test, the officer asked Thatcher again how much he had to drink and he said “probably 5 beers with a shot.” He also said he felt fine and “had a buzz.”
Thatcher was placed under arrest and was transported to the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, where he initially agreed to take a breath test, then refused once the machine was ready. He was formally cited for OVI and was released to a sober adult.
It was noted in the report that Thatcher had prior OVIs in 2008 and 2020. His Jeep was towed to impound, due to the most recent OVI.
Since his arrest, Thatcher appeared in Van Wert Municipal Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for December 23 and a request to release the vehicle from impound was granted.
POSTED: 12/10/25 at 8:56 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
Statewide totals from Ohio’s deer-gun season, December 2-7, were down compared to last year but Van Wert County and the surrounding area “bucked” the trend.
Newly released figures from the Ohio Department of National Resources Division of Wildlife show hunters in Van Wert took 396 deer last week, up from a three-year average of 334. Weeklong totals were also up in Mercer County, 547 deer compared to an average of 447; Auglaize County, 616 deer, 516 average; Allen County, 616, 488 average; Putnam County, 537, 467 average, and Paulding County, 556, 530 average.
Throughout Ohio, hunters checked 85,448 deer between Monday and Sunday. In 2024, hunters harvested 87,191 deer during the seven-day gun season. According to ODNR, the three-year average for the gun season is 76,409. During the deer gun week, hunters checked 27,934 antlered deer (33 percent of the total reported) and 57,514 antlerless deer (67 percent).
The top 10 counties for deer taken during the gun season were Coshocton (3,307); Ashtabula (3,031), Tuscarawas ((2,764); Muskingum (2,581); Knox (2,558), Carroll (2,440); Licking (2,046); Ashland (2,037), Columbiana (1,968), and Harrison (1,912).
Harvest totals for this year were lower than average in Athens, Meigs, Morgan, and Washington counties as a result of an unprecedented outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in that region over the summer. Coinciding with the start of the seven-day gun season, the bag limit in those counties was reduced in response to the disease outbreak.
Since the deer archery hunting season opened in September, archery and firearms hunters have taken 187,283 deer through Sunday, December 7. Hunters have another opportunity to take a deer with a firearm during the additional gun weekend, Saturday and Sunday, December 20-21. The muzzleloader season is January 3-6, 2026. The archery season remains open until Sunday, February 1, 2026.
(more…)POSTED: 12/09/25 at 10:22 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
Space is limited, but tickets are still available for Historic Main Street Van Wert’s Open Doors event, a special one-night-only guided tour event featuring two of Van Wert’s most significant and newly renovated historic spaces.
On Friday, December 19, participants will enjoy exclusive guided access to the Van Wert Forward Union-Block Building (107 W. Main St.) and the Van Wert County Courthouse (121 E. Main St.), both standout examples of local preservation and revitalization efforts.
Tours will depart every 30 minutes beginning at 5 p.m. with the last tour beginning at 8 p.m. Each tour will last approximately 1-2 hours. Tickets are $25 per person.
“This is a rare opportunity for the public to step inside two cornerstone projects that represent the momentum and future of downtown Van Wert,” said Mitch Price, Executive Director of Historic Main Street Van Wert. “We’re incredibly excited to open these doors and share the story of progress happening right here in our community.”
The Open Doors event is made possible through the support of the Van Wert County Foundation and Van Wert Forward and also Van Wert County Courthouse, whose investments continue to drive the downtown transformation.
Tickets can be reserved online at https://www.zeffy.com/…/ticketing/open-doors-downtown-tour.
POSTED: 12/09/25 at 10:21 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy was recognized at the Ohio Emergency Management Conference this past week for his dedication of serving as an EMA Director for 35 years. He is currently ranked first in seniority of the 88 counties in Ohio. Photo submitted
POSTED: 12/09/25 at 10:21 pm. FILED UNDER: News
Submitted information
Van Wert High School has scheduled first semester exams for the current school year for Thursday and Friday, December 18-19, according to Principal Chuck Rollins.
All students are required to take exams unless the course does not offer one or a student has been given permission to exempt through the Renaissance program.
Students who do not show up for their exams will be given a zero on the exam, fail the entire course for that semester, even if their percentage is equivalent to a passing grade, because they did not fulfill the course requirements, which includes taking the exam.
Students who are absent from an exam must follow all Van Wert High School attendance policies and procedures as adopted by the Board of Education. All make-up exams will occur according to district policies and procedures.
Each of the seven exam periods will last 1 hour and 20 minutes, with an hour open lunch period from 10:50-11:50 a.m. each day of the exams, and staff team time will be held from 2:40-3:10 p.m. on Thursday, December 18. Make-up testing, staff grading, or meetings will be held from 1:20-2:40 p.m., followed by staff team time from 2:40-3:10 p.m. on Friday, December 19.
POSTED: 12/09/25 at 10:19 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
The Lincolnview Local Schools Board of Education will hold a work session for district planning and dicussion at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall. Outside of adjournment, no action is expected.
POSTED: 12/09/25 at 10:19 pm. FILED UNDER: News
