Van Wert Rotary Club welcomes in MESA bike tour

Navy Club Ship 726 lists July 3-4 events

VW independent staff/submitted information

Here is the list of events that Van Wert-based Navy Club Ship 726 has planned for July 3-4 in the downtown Van Wert area, including the Independence Day parade, which will step off at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4.

Friday July 3

8 a.m. – Vendors to set up and food trucks

11 a.m. – Food trucks and concession stand and craft vendors open

4 p.m. – Bounce house open (free to public)

7 p.m. – Super Hawk to perform live on stage at band shelter at Fountain Park (free to public)

Karaoke/DJ immediately after the live show

Fountain Park will close at midnight

Saturday July 4

8 a.m. – Vendors to set up and food trucks

11 a.m. – Independence Day parade down Main St. (YWCA to YMCA)

12 p.m. – Food trucks and concession stand and craft vendors open, bounce house open (free to public)

1 p.m. – Car Cruise-In at corner of Jefferson St. and Central Ave.

7:30 p.m. – Pete Schlegel will perform live on stage at band shelter at the Fountain Park (free to public)

Karaoke/DJ immediately after the live show

In addition to all of those offerings, Van Wert’s fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Van Wert High School.

Retired teachers group to meet

Submitted information

The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) will meet on at noon on Friday, July 10, for a summer luncheon program and learning experience at the Van Wert campus of Northwest State Community College, 520 E. Sycamore St. The main entrance is on the west side of the building and parking is available in the lot across the street from that main entrance.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Jon Tomlinson, Dean of the NSCC Van Wert  Campus, who will share information about its programs in the Van Wert area. He will also show attendees a STEM Camp that is being conducted on the campus site and the activities being taught relating to coding.

A boxed lunch meal is being catered by Legacy Catering for this field trip. The menu includes a turkey/cheese or ham/cheese sandwich, bag of chips, fresh fruit cup, cookie and a drink. The meal price is $12 and a reservation is needed by noon on Wednesday, July 8. Reservations can be made by contacting Jean Minnig at 419.203.0642, or by email (jaminnig@hotmail.com).

A brief business meeting will follow the meal and presentation which will include STRS news, ORTA updates, and community/educational volunteering opportunities available. VWARTA members are invited a friend to join the field experience and tour.

For more information about the local VW Retired Teachers group, Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association (ORTA), or this meeting at Northwest State Community College, contact Deb Kleinhenz at 419.203.2283.

Video…it’s working!

The Fountain at Fountain Park is once again operational. Earlier this week, Parks Department employees worked to replace a bad pump/motor. Van Wert Parks Department Director Kyle Klinker said the crews received the parts needed to finish the repairs of the fountain on Wednesday morning. A few hours later, they were able to get the fountain back up and running as normal. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent

Local PERI chapter to meet next month

Submitted information

The Van Wert County Chapter of PERI (Public Employee Retirees Inc) will be holding a chapter meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at the Van Wert County Board of Elections, 1362 E. Ervin Rd., Van Wert. 

The speaker will be Ohio State House Representative District 82 Representative Roy Klopfenstein, who will bring current information from Columbus and around the state. Retired employees and guests are welcome. Members are welcome to gather at 9:30 a.m. for coffee and donuts and a time of fellowship.

July 4 gas expected to be pricey

VW independent staff/submitted information

GasBuddy has released its 2026 Independence Day gas price forecast, projecting the national average price of gas will fall to approximately $3.75 per gallon on July 4 — the second most expensive Independence Day on record behind the all-time high of $4.80 on July 4, 2022.

The projection comes despite six consecutive weeks of national average declines following a spring spike driven by the Strait of Hormuz closure. The recent U.S.-Iran framework agreement has helped ease supply fears and pull prices lower, but the accord remains fragile and risks to the upside are significant. However, with the U.S. Department of Treasury authorizing the sale of oil by Iran, oil prices recently fell below $70/bbl, which may help consumers see lower prices, faster, with global inventories benefitting from the additional oil.

“Six weeks of declines sounds like good news, and in some ways it is, but the context matters,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “At roughly $3.75, this would be the second most expensive July 4 ever recorded, roughly 65 cents higher than last year and nearly $1 above where prices started in 2026. The U.S.-Iran agreement gives markets hope, but it’s being tested, and any breakdown in those talks could reverse the recent relief quickly. Drivers should use every tool available to find the lowest prices near them before filling up.”

While the projected $3.75 per gallon average represents a dramatic improvement from May’s peak of $4.57, it still marks roughly a 65-cent increase from last July 4’s $3.10 per gallon average, and a stark reminder of how significantly the Strait of Hormuz closure reshaped the price environment for 2026. Americans will spend hundreds of millions more on gasoline this July 4 holiday weekend compared to last year. Only 2022’s record spike, driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and pandemic-era demand surges, has produced a more expensive Independence Day at the pump.

July 4 gas prices over the last 5 years:

• 2021: $3.12/gal
• 2022: $4.80/gal (record high)
• 2023: $3.46/gal
• 2024: $3.49/gal
• 2025: $3.10/gal

Box truck fire…

The Convoy Fire Department was dispatched to a box truck fire at 3:40 p.m. Friday. It occurred in the westbound lane of U.S. 30, just west of the Ohio 49 north exit. The truck was a total loss and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unknown. The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Patrol along with the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department assisted with traffic control. Westbound U.S. 30 was closed for a period of time with traffic being detoured around the accident. Bob Barnes photos 

BOE hears about students, ends fiscal year

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Vantage Career Center is able to boast not one, but two national champions at the recent SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to that, a group of Vantage students had a chance to travel to Germany.

Superintendent Rick Turner delivered the good news during Thursday night’s meeting and he said Vantage had an exciting few weeks to wrap up the school year.

“Two of our students won national competitions –Silas Foltz (Paulding) in Server Administration and Cruse Schroeder (Ottoville) in Heavy Equipment Operations,” he explained. “Both students are scheduled to attend the August board meeting to share their national competition experiences.”

“Additionally, our first German Interact Club group – consisting of 10 students and two advisors – spent 10 days in Germany this month,” he continued. “They returned home excited, with many experiences to share, and will attend our September meeting to speak briefly about their trip.”

High School Director Ben Winans said final acceptance letters have been mailed out to just over 320 new students for the upcoming school year.

“This will bring our expected enrollment at this time to approximately 590 students, which is an increase from last year,” Winans told the board. “The Student Services department will continue to look to fill any openings as movement takes place throughout the summer.”

Winans said the final group of high school students in the CDL program are wrapping up their training and several have gone for testing this week. He also said the school received just over $174,000 in Federal Perkins Grant funds for the coming school year, a slight increase from last year. The funds will be utilized to support students with special needs, specifically funding intervention and aides.

The board approved a list of approximately 70 adult education instructors and accepted the resignation of Special Education Coordinator Angie Shellabarger and approved Michelle Reinhart as her replacement.

BOE accepting applications for vacant seat

Submitted information

The Van Wert City Board of Education is seeking applicants to fill the unexpired term of board member Thaison Leaser, who resigned his position effective June 30, 2026.

The board will begin interviewing candidates soon and must name a replacement within 30 days of the resignation. The newly appointed member will serve until December 31, 2027. If the appointed member desires to continue serving, he or she must run in the November, 2027 general election for the remaining two years of the unexpired term ending December 31, 2029.

Leaser was elected to the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education to a four year term beginning January 1. He has submitted his resignation due to purchasing a home outside of the district.

Van Wert City Schools Board of Education President Anthony Adams thanked Leaser for his service to the Van Wert City School District.

Those interested in serving on the Van Wert City Schools Board of Education should contact Julie Anderson (j_anderson@vwcs.net) or click the link here to take you to the VWCS district website for an application. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, July 10.

According to Ohio law, people serving on Ohio school boards must be at least 18 years old, district residents, and registered voters.

Adams said the board will review all applications and decide on the replacement at its July 22 meeting.

City streets to be closed for July events

VW independent staff/submitted information

The month of July will be a busy one in terms of events that require street closures in the downtown Van Wert Here. Here is the list.

America250 Independence Day celebration – This event is Friday, July 3, Saturday, July 4, beginning at 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., each day. The street closure will be S. Jefferson St. from Main St. to Crawford St., Central Ave., to Washington St., and Central Ave., with adjoining parking lot. The closure will start at 7 a.m. July 3, until 10 p.m. July 4.

July 4 parade – The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4, with line up starting at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Northwest State Community College.  The parade route will be Main St., and will start at the intersection of Main St. and Cherry St., to the intersection of Main & Shannon St. (YWCA to YMCA).

Van Wert County Historical Society – The July 4 Holiday at Home event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at the Van Wert County Historical Society. The street closure will be Third St. from Washington St., to the east side of the museum to the caboose.

Van Wert Freedom Cruise – The event is from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, July 11.  The street closure will be S. Jefferson St. from Main St. to Central Ave.

Haven of Hope – The Box City event will begin at 8 p.m. Friday, July 17, and run through 8 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at Fountain Park. The street closure will be Jefferson St. from Main St. to Central Ave., through the night with Central Avenue’s intersection to remain open to Crawford St.

Historic Main Street Van Wert – The annual Block Party at Fountain Park will go from 4-11 p.m. Friday, July 24. The street closure will be Jefferson St. from Jackson St. to Crawford St., W. Main St. from Shannon St. to Washington St., and W. Central Ave. from Jefferson to Washington St.

First United Methodist Church – The Operation Back to School event is at Fountain Park from 12-7 p.m. Sunday, July 26. The street closure will be Jefferson St. from Main St. to Central Ave., with Central Ave.’s intersection to remain open to Crawford St.

Thursday accident…

Two Van Wert EMS units were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of S. Shannon St. and W. Crawford St. at approximately 5:15 p.m. Thursday. A Chevy van was northbound on Shannon St. when a Chrysler minivan was making a left hand turn on Shannon and hit the northbound vehicle on the passenger side which deployed the airbags. Two people from the Chevy were transported to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer