Ohio City Legion Post to hold Memorial Day service

Van Wert HS graduation information

Submitted information

Van Wert High School Principal Charles Rollins has shared important information for anyone attending VWHS’s graduation on Sunday, May 24.

• The graduation ceremony will take in the high school gymnasium,
• The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m.
• Parking will be available in both the west parking lots (high school and middle school).
• Open entrances for graduation will be the high school gym entrance, high school main entrance, and the middle school gymnasium entrance.
• The doors will open to the public at 1 p.m.
• Tickets will be collected at the door for family members to attend graduation.

Friday afternoon crash…

A Friday afternoon chain reaction crash sent one person to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. It happened just before 2:30 p.m. on U.S. 127 and Union-Pleasant Rd. Two of the vehicles had to be removed from the scene by tow trucks. The third vehicle (not pictured) sustained very minor damage. The injured person was taken to the hospital by Van Wert EMS. The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Patrol investigated the accident. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer

Rotary Club names scholarship winners

Submitted information

The Van Wert Rotary Club has named two outstanding area seniors as recipients of the 2026 Rotary Foundation Scholarships.

Kendall Hoffman of Lincolnview High School and Caroline Marks of Crestview High School were recently recognized for their achievements, leadership, and commitment to service within their schools and communities. Each student will receive a $4,000 scholarship distributed over four years to assist with their post-secondary education.

Scholarship presentations were made by Aaron Anspach of Advanced Insurance, who will begin serving as President of the Van Wert Rotary Club on July 1.

The Van Wert Rotary Club Foundation scholarship program was established to recognize students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, volunteerism, and a commitment to the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.” Since 1993, the program has provided financial assistance to students from Van Wert County schools pursuing higher education opportunities.

Applicants complete a competitive application process that includes written reflections focused on leadership, character, community service, and future aspirations. Scholarship recipients are selected through a blind-review scoring process conducted by volunteer judges.

Rotary members congratulated both students on their accomplishments and expressed confidence in their future success as they continue their educational journeys. The club remains committed to investing in young leaders who will make a positive impact in their communities for years to come.

Hoaglin Twp. Trustees cancel meeting

Submitted information

The Hoaglin Township Trustees meeting for Monday, May 25, has been canceled due to the Memorial Day holiday. The next meeting will be at 8 p.m. Monday, June 8, at the township house.

Union Township Zone Board to meet

Submitted information

A public hearing will be held at 7:45 p.m. Thursday, May 28, for the Union Township Zone Board to consider the re-zoning of the property at 6878 Liberty Union Road, Van Wert, from agriculture/residential to commercial. The meeting will be held at the Union Township building, 9977 Dixon Cavett Rd., Van Wert.

High risk SNAP transactions blocked

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Effective immediately, Ohio SNAP recipients must unlock their EBT card before making online or out‑of‑state purchases. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is making the change as part of an ongoing effort to keep SNAP dollars secure and ensure families continue receiving the support they need. As part of the additional safeguards, all SNAP cards will default to blocking high‑risk transactions unless a cardholder already has their card in a locked everywhere status or unlocks their card to complete a legitimate purchase. The enhancements also apply to Summer EBT cardholders.

“Criminals from other states and online continue to prey on vulnerable Ohioans who rely on food assistance to feed their families,” Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder said. “The new automatic card-lock feature will require customers to unlock their card when making an out-of-state or online purchase. It’s a simple step that still allows for out-of-state and online purchases while dramatically reducing the risk of theft.”

SNAP benefits can be used at authorized retailers using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card known as the Ohio Direction Card. Cards will default to a “block high-risk transaction” status, requiring cardholders to unlock their card before making an out-of-state or online purchase. While cardholders are encouraged to immediately relock their card, they will be prompted to set a time period, 30, 60, or 90 minutes, to automatically relock the card.

Through data analysis related to card usage, purchasing trends, and reports of skimming of benefits, the state has been able to determine that a large volume of skimming is taking place at out-of-state retailers or online providers. The state is able to see trends across multiple states and geographical locations, which led to the decision to change the default settings to block the highest risk transactions.

In the past six months alone, theSNAP fraud analytics team identified nearly 56,000 suspicious out‑of‑state transactions affecting 12,900 Ohio EBT accounts, totaling more than $6.3 million.

The new anti-fraud enhancements will help protect SNAP beneficiaries, while also allowing them the opportunity to unlock their card for valid transactions. 

Friday morning power outage hits VW

VW independent staff

More than 1,400 AEP customers in Van Wert found themselves without power for nearly two hours this (Friday) morning.

According to AEP, 1,437 customers were impacted by the outage, which began at 9:43 a.m. Field personnel were dispatched and patrolled power lines and equipment in the area. While they were unable to find the cause of the outage, they were able to successfully and safely re-energize the circuit to restore power to all the customers at 11:33 a.m.

Grants going toward demolition projects

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank) has been named as the recipient of five Brownfield Remediation Grants totaling exactly $1 million to help clean up contaminated properties and prepare them for new life. In all, $61 million in grants have been awarded to communities in 75 of Ohio’s counties to help clean up contaminated properties and prepare them for new life.

Since its launch in 2021, the Brownfield Remediation Program has provided nearly $780 million to support 841 projects in 87 counties. 

Best Auto, Van Wert

 $369,530 for cleanup/remediation. This project will demolish a former auto repair shop and filling station in Van Wert, where Phase I and II assessments identified asbestos in the building and soil contamination beneath and around the structure. Removal of the asbestos-containing building and remediation of impacted soils will prepare the centrally located downtown parcel for redevelopment as much-needed public parking to support nearby businesses and residential units.

YWCA of Van Wert County

$201,600 cleanup/remediation. This project will conduct asbestos remediation at the fully operational YWCA building, where previous assessments identified asbestos-containing materials. Abatement will make the facility safer for residents and community members who rely on the organizationʼs services. The cleanup supports long-term building health and safety, ensuring the YWCA can continue providing essential housing and programming for women in crisis.

139 Central Ave., Van Wert

 $279,520 cleanup/remediation. This project will demolish a structurally failing, asbestos-contaminated downtown Van Wert building that cannot be safely abated due to collapse risks. The demolition will remove blight, eliminate environmental hazards, and prepare the site for future use as a parking area with greenspace to support nearby residential and commercial activity. The project is expected to create two new jobs.

VWHS teachers honored at annual banquet

Submitted information

Van Wert City Schools honored its educators, staff, students, and retirees Wednesday evening during the 31st annual Van Wert City Endowment Fund for Educators Banquet, held at Willow Bend Country Club.

The evening served as a celebration of Van Wert City Schools and recognizes the lasting impact teachers and staff members have on students throughout their school years.

The Van Wert City Endowment Fund for Educators was established by Van Wert High School graduate and former school psychologist Randy Gardner. Gardner created the fund as a way to honor three teachers who made a meaningful difference in his life: Gil Smith, Glenn Livingston, and Ralph Gallapoo, his grandfather. His vision was to allow graduating seniors to reflect on and recognize the teachers and school employees who had a positive influence on them.

As part of the evening, 10 Van Wert High School seniors paid tribute to their favorite teachers and staff members by sharing letters they had written about the impact those individuals had on their lives.

The top five GPA students and their selected teachers were:

• Johan Gemmer, who honored Bob Spath
• Brenna Kimmet, who honored Sarah Zabka
• Katie Kramer, who honored Krista Baer
• Maria Parrish, who honored Traci McCoy
• Carter Wright, who honored Bryce Crea

Students whose letters were selected by the endowment committee and their selected teachers or staff members were:

• Jillian Sempkowski, who honored Ben Collins
• Layla Sterrett, who honored office secretaries Amy Feasel and Shelly Smith
• Kaiven Welch, who honored Keith Recker
• Blake Wilson, who honored Joy DeVelvis
• Bella Wise, who honored Tami Suzuki

Defendants appear in Common Pleas Court

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

A Van Wert man facing five felony sex abuse charges was arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week.

William Ladd, Jr., 51, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of sexual battery, second degree felonies; two counts of sexual battery, fourth degree felonies, and one count of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a felony of the fifth degree. The alleged crimes occurred between March of 2024 and February of this year and involved a juvenile between the ages of 13 and 18.

Judge Martin D. Burchfield set Ladd’s bond at $100,000 cash or surety, and ordered him to have no contact with the victim and the victim’s mother. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 27.

Five other people were arraigned this week, and eight other defendants appeared for unrelated proceedings. Judge Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

Tristan Thompson, 20, of Celina, entered a not guilty plea to kidnapping, a first degree felony; having weapons while under disability, a third degree felony, and assault, a first degree misdemeanor. Bond was set at $250,000 cash or surety, and Thompson was ordered to have no contact with the victim. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 27.

Logan Linton, 33, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 20.

Danielle Farrow, 42, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to domestic violence, a fourth degree felony. She was released on a surety bond and was ordered to have no contact with the victim. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. June 10.

Robert Bair, 36, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to aggravated possession of drugs, a third degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 10.