Eggerss Stadium renovation project all but complete

Legend named second Cougar Champion

VW independent staff/submitted information

A new tradition – the Cougar Champion – continues in 2026 following the inaugural award granted to Willie Hernandez last year. This award has been created exclusively at Eggerss Stadium and coincides with the building of the state-of-the-art press box branded the Cougar Champions Press Box. The idea behind it is to recognize one Cougar champion each year.

“This award was created to honor an individual, group, or organization who displayed the characteristics of a true champion associated with Van Wert Cougar football, those being, excellence, team spirit, pride, leadership, determination, and confidence,” said Jan and John White, sponsors of this annual award.

The award qualifications include those who have made a significant impact throughout the history of Cougar football including coaches, players, fans, administrators, and students.

The recipient of the 2026 Cougar Champion is Gilbert ‘Gil’ Smith.

Coach Smith’s coaching career spanned 19 years beginning in 1941 and running through 1959. His impressive record of 130 wins, 30 losses, and 10 ties made him the winningest coach in Van Wert High School football history.

“Without a doubt, Coach Smith was the most successful football coach in Van Wert history,” John White said. “Not only did he have eight undefeated seasons, five of those were in consecutive years from 1954 to 1958”.

Coach Smith is credited with 12 WBL championships, 11 of which were outright champs. Three of those came in his first three years as Van Wert head coach from 1941 through 1943. He also had a 47-game streak without a loss from 1953 through 1958.

A look back…

How Eggerss Stadium looked when it first opened in 1936 and a look at how it was in 2016. With the stadium renovation project nearly complete, it boasts many new features and improvements. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent

Lincolnview BOE hears about SAM Act

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Imagine a Lincolnview Lancer playing football for one of six neighboring football-playing schools, or a Lancer playing tennis at Van Wert or swimming with the Cougar swim team. How about a Lincolnview student playing girls soccer at Ottoville?

That’s a possibility thanks to a new state law, but the chances of it happening at Lincolnview remain to be seen.

After OHSAA member schools overwhelmingly voted against such an idea in May, a state lawmaker introduced the Student Athlete Mobility (SAM) Act, which was quickly passed by legislators and signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. It gives student-athletes throughout Ohio the ability to participate in sports not offered at their home school, while remaining a student at their home school. However, both schools involved must give approval. In theory, a student could play a sport such as football at a neighboring school, but still could play basketball or run track at their home school.

As an example, a handful of student-athletes at Fort Jennings, which doesn’t offer football, wanted to play the sport at neighboring Delphos Jefferson, but Fort Jennings administators nixed the idea, citing an already low number of athletes.

Lincolnview Jr. High/High School Principal Brad Mendenhall broached the subject at Thursday’s school board meeting and noted that each public school district in Ohio must decide whether or not to allow it. He also noted that the vote in May by OHSAA schools was the latest in a line of several attempts over the years, each of which was shot down.

Trustees change September meeting

Submitted information

The next regular meeting of the Tully Township Trustees has been changed and will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, September 14, at the Township Hall, 6278 Mentzer Road, Convoy. The change in meeting is due to the Labor Day holiday.

Settlement reached disabled veterans

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Court of Claims has granted preliminary approval of a class action settlement in Kacin v. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, that will provide full refunds to 100 percent disabled veterans who were improperly charged registration fees and taxes for specialty military license plates.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has agreed to provide a complete refund of all registration taxes and fees paid by eligible class members who purchased specialty military license plates at deputy registrar offices on or after October 17, 2019. The BMV will also separately pay all costs associated with notice and settlement administration, ensuring that no portion of the refunds owed to veterans is reduced by administrative expenses.

The case arose after the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 194 in 2018, which created specialty military license plates honoring veterans’ service. A subsequent amendment required the BMV to waive registration taxes and fees for veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability. Despite the mandate, the BMV continued to charge affected veterans the full amount for their plates.

The Tenth District Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s initial denial of class certification on December 30, 2025, holding that the BMV’s retention of registration taxes and fees from eligible disabled veterans was unjust as a matter of law. Following that, the parties engaged in settlement negotiations that produced the agreement.

Class members will receive notice by direct mail and email. Notice will also be posted at deputy registrar locations and veterans service organizations throughout Ohio. Eligible class members will be required to submit a declaration of eligibility and documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs confirming their 100 percent service-connected disability status.

Plea changes, other hearings held

VW independent staff

Six defendants charged with various crimes appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday and Thursday. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

Plea changes

William Tracy, 62, of Spencerville, changed his plea to guilty to burglary, a third degree felony. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 9 a.m. October 7.

Gavin McMichael, 21, of Van Wert, changed his plea to guilty to misuse of credit cards, a fifth degree felony. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was scheduled for 9 a.m. October 7.

Charmin Justin, 58, of Van Wert, changed her plea to guilty to theft, a felony of the fifth degree. She then requested and was granted intervention in lieu of conviction and her case was stayed pending completion of the treatment program. She was ordered to pay court costs.

Raymond Bressler, 62, of Ohio City, changed his plea to guilty of possession of cocaine, a fourth degree felony. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for 11 a.m. October 14.

Bond/intervention in lieu of conviction violation

Brianna Saxton, 30, of Van Wert, admitted to violating her bond and intervention in lieu by consuming illegal intoxicants, failing to engage in treatment and failing drug screens. Judge Burchfield ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing set for 9 a.m. October 7.

Sentencing

After violating his probation, Michael Whisman, 35, of Van Wert, was sentenced to nine months in prison with credit for 50 days already served for aggravated assault, a fourth degree felony, and 180 days jail for endangering children, a first degree misdemeanor. The sentences will be served concurrently. Whisman was ordered to pay court costs.

County Junior Fair coronation candidates

VW independent staff/submitted information

With the 2026 Van Wert County Fair quickly approaching, the Junior Fair Coronation Committee has announce this year’s candidates for King, Queen, Species, and Project Prince or Princess. The newly crowned royalty will reign over the 170th Van Wert County Fair, scheduled for September 1-8.

The coronation ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, in the Junior Fair Building on the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. The public is invited to attend and celebrate the accomplishments of these outstanding youths.

Wyatt Polley — the son of Ryan and Kristen Polley, Wyatt is a 2026 graduate of Lincolnview High School and Vantage Career Center. In high school, he was active in cross country, track and field, FCA, and was the president of the industrial mechanics lab. Polley is also a member of the Van Wert County Jr. Fair Board and president of the Hoaglin Farmers 4-H club. Representing Hoaglin Farmers, he has exhibited fancy chickens, meat chickens, meat goats, and breeding meat goats. He is a candidate for king.

Aiden Kroeger — the son of Shelly and the late Dave Kroeger, Aiden is a junior at Delphos Jefferson High School and Vantage Career Center. He participates in football, bowling, track, baseball, FFA, Wildcat Warriors, and FCA. Outside of school, he is a server at Landeck St. John’s Baptist Church, a member of the Landeck Foresters, helps prep Sister Immacolata Field for games, and is a member of the Junior Fair Board. Representing Venedocia Lads and Lassies 4-H and Delphos FFA, Kroeger has exhibited woodworking, swine, goats, sheep, and poultry. His leadership roles include community service officer, safety officer, recreation leader, and treasurer. He is currently the president of Venedocia Lads and Lassies and is a candidate for King and Swine Prince. 

Alli Thatcher — the daughter of Shawn and Brenda Thatcher, Alli is a senior at Crestview High School where she participates in varsity softball, FFA, and National Honor Society. She volunteers at Van Wert Chamber Youth Academy. A Junior Fair Board member, she represents Crestview FFA and has shown dairy feeders, beef breeding, turkeys, and breeding sheep. She has served as FFA historian and treasurer. She is a candidate for Queen. 

Willshire woman gets long sentence

VW independent staff

WAPAKONETA — A Willshire woman has received a longer than expected prison sentence for her involvement with drugs.

During a hearing held in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, Nicole Cooper, 43,  was sentenced to 10 years in prison plus five years of post-release control on one count of possession of drugs with specifications, a first degree felony. She is not eligible for judicial release, meaning she’ll serve the full sentence.

Prosecutors sought a seven year sentence, while defense attorney Nick Catania wanted a five year sentence. Based on the results of a pre-sentence investigation, which included previous convictions for similar crimes and multiple OVIs, Judge Fredrick Pepple imposed a longer than expected sentence. It was noted that her most recent conviction occurred while she was on community control.

Cooper was arrested in late April after a traffic stop along Interstate 75 near Wapakoneta. According to a press release issued by the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office, a K-9 was requested to conduct a sniff of the vehicle and gave a positive indication. Deputies then searched the vehicle and found 1.5 pounds of suspected meth along with just over $800 in cash. She was incarcerated at the Auglaize County Jail since her arrest. In late May, she entered a guilty plea to one of two charges, with the second one being dismissed by prosecutors.

The vehicle she was in, a GMC Envoy and the $800 were ordered forfeited and handed over to Auglaize County.

S. Walnut St. projects gets new grant

VW independent staff

The City of Van Wert has been awarded a $741,000 grant for the planned S. Walnut St. reconstruction project. The money will come through the state’s Transportation Alternatives Program.

The project, which is scheduled for 2030, will cover S. Walnut St. from E. Ervin Road to Hospital Drive. It will support active transportation by adding sidewalks and improving pedestrian and bicycle access.

The planned project was previously approved for a $2 million state grant for full depth reconstruction of S. Walnut St., including include new sidewalks, stormwater system replacement, upgraded utilities, new curbs and gutters, and enhanced pavement markings and signage.

That funding will come from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Small City Program.

Trustees encourage public participation

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Pleasant Township Trustees have written an open letter to township residents and property owners, urging them to submit public comments regarding the proposed Butterfly Meadows Solar Project, which would span approximately 4,000 acres in Pleasant, Hoaglin and Union townships, along with approximately 38 acres in Van Wert.

Here is the letter, which was submitted to the VW independent.

Dear Pleasant Township Residents and Property Owners:

The Pleasant Township Board of Trustees wants to ensure that our residents and property owners are aware of the opportunity to provide public comments regarding the proposed Butterfly Meadows Solar Project.

Because a project of this size may have long-term effects on Pleasant Township and the surrounding area, we believe it is important that the people who live, work, farm, own property, and operate businesses in our community have the opportunity to make their individual voices heard.

We encourage you to participate.

Whether you support the project, oppose the project, or simply have comments or concerns, we encourage you to communicate directly with the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB).

Your comments may address issues important to you, including agriculture and farmland, drainage, roads and infrastructure, emergency services, neighboring properties, economic development, tax revenue, future land use, decommissioning, and the rural character of our community.

Most importantly, please express your own opinion and explain why the project matters to you and how you believe it may affect you, your property, farm, family, business, or community.

How to submit your comments:

Email: contactOPSB@puco.ohio.gov.

Mail: Ohio Power Siting Board 180 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio, 43215

Please include: Butterfly Meadows Solar Project — Case No. 26-670-EL-BGN

The Pleasant Township Board of Trustees encourages open and respectful public participation. This notice is intended to make our constituents aware of their opportunity to participate and to encourage each individual to express their own position regarding the proposed project.

Your community, your opinion, your voice.

Respectfully, Pleasant Township Board of Trustees, Van Wert County, Ohio.