Van Wert BOE approves administrative, union contracts

City stepping up apartment parking law

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Residents of downtown Van Wert apartments should be aware – the city is ready to crack down on those who violate existing parking laws.

Van Wert City Council met Wednesday night due to Monday’s Memorial Day holiday and members heard from Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming, who said tenants are prohibited from parking on Main St. and Washington St. between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ban is meant to free up parking for customers of businesses in the downtown area.

“We’ve got apartment dwellers that are taking advantage of that parking downtown so yesterday, emails went out to all the tenants in the apartments about that rule,” he said. “We’re trying to get a little stricter about how we can get some people’s attention because they’re not listening to their landlord, so we’re trying to help out and facilitate some better parking habits.”

Fleming said those who violate the city’s downtown parking laws could face a $40 fine for each infraction.

While nothing has been finalized, council is expected to eventually vote on changes to beef up the city’s policy on door-to-door solicitors. Suggestions included increasing the fee from $50, which was set in the early 1990s, to $100, possibly requiring solicitors to wear city issued ID badges, and increasing the fine for violators from $200 to $500. More discussion is expected at future council meetings.

A discussion was held about possible changes to the city’s junk and rubbish laws, and Law Director John Hatcher announced the successful prosecution of a S. Vine St. property owner who violated the city’s current junk and rubbish laws.

Fourth Ward Councilman Eric Hurless suggested a city ordinance calling for a tree commission be repealed. Hurless said he doesn’t believe such a commission is necessary.

On third and final reading, council approved an ordinance amending the speed limit to 35 miles per hour on Ervin Rd./Van Wert Decatur Rd. from S. Shannon St. to Elks Drive, and a separate ordinance amending the speed limit to 50 miles per hour on Van Wert Decatur Rd from Elks Drive to U.S. 224.

Students of the Month…

Crestview Elementary recently named its Students of the Month sponsored by Van Wert Cinemas. Students making 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 April and May Students of the Month are: first grade: Kenslee Valle, Rickly Rosebrock, Emoree Bassett, and Brantley Ainsworth; second grade: Emma Lichtensteiger, Halleck Adkins, KayLynn Semer, and Leighton Hamrick; third grade: Cooper Harmon, Aryah Ogg, Dallas Clark, and Easton Tenwalde; fourth grade: Thora Bigham, Ivy Bok, Elijah Taylor, and Henry Schaffner; fifth grade: Colby Tyas and Lucy Moser. Photo submitted

OSHP reports six traffic fatalities

VW independent staff

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting six statewide traffic fatalities during over the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend. It’s the lowest total in 18 years. None of the fatalities occurred in Van Wert County or surrounding Ohio counties.

During the reporting period, May 22-25, troopers made 16,490 traffic enforcement contacts. The total included 355 impaired driving arrests, 66 drug arrests and 2,090 safety belt citations. In addition, the OSHP made 9,179 non-enforcement contacts, including 1,647 motorist assists.

Sargent sentenced, other hearings held

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

A Van Wert man accused of supplying drugs that cost another city man his life was in court for sentencing on Wednesdasy.

In Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, Joshua Sargent, 44, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for attempted corrupting another with drugs, a third degree felony. Judge Martin D. Burchfield ordered the sentence to be served concurrently with current 18-month sentence for domestic violence. Sargent was also ordered to pay court costs.

He was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, a first degree felony, and corrupting another with drugs, a second degree felony, in connection with the early October, 2024 death of KC Kerns, who was 43. His body was found in the wooded lot of the old reservoir at the corner of Blaine St. and Anderson Ave. Sargent was originally charged in May of last year, but the case was later dismissed due to the availability of a witness. Once the witness became available, the charges were refiled.

During a hearing held last month, Sargent changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to the amended count of attempted corrupting another with drugs.

Three other people were sentenced on Wednesday on various unrelated charges.

Adam Stripe, 49, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control, 100 hours of community service and 30 days in jail at a later date for theft from a person in a protected class, a fourth degree felony. He was ordered to seek and maintain employment, undergo a mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,800, plus court costs.

Zachariah Germann, 38, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control and 30 days in jail at a later date for possession of a fentanyl related compound, a fifth degree felony. He must undergo a mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment, perform 52 hours of community service, have no illegal drugs or consume alcohol, undergo random screens, and he was ordered to pay monthly probation fees, restitution in the amount of $800, and court costs.

10 other hearings were held between May 21 and Wednesday, including one additional sentencing hearing.

Michael Whisman, 35, of Van Wert, was sentenced to three years of community control, five weekends in jail, and 30 days in jail at a later date for aggravated assault, a fourth degree felony, and endangering children, a first degree misdemeanor. He must also undergo a mental health and substance abuse assessment and treatment, and was ordered to pay monthly probation fees and court costs.

Data center tax exemptions paused

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine announced today that he has directed the chair of the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause consideration of any new data center tax exemption requests while the Ohio General Assembly’s Joint Data Center Committee studies the growth of data centers in Ohio. 

A press release announcing the pause said data centers are a critical component to today’s technology-driven economy. It also noted that data centers that have previously been granted sales and use tax benefits in Ohio have reported a total capital investment of $27.2 billion in 2025.

“I fully support the Ohio General Assembly’s work to study the issue and bring forward facts about data centers, including the local benefits to communities when tax exemptions are granted, Governor DeWine said in a statement. “As this work is ongoing, I believe it is appropriate for the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause its consideration of new data center tax exemptions while the full impact of data center growth in Ohio is being reviewed.”

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority will stop accepting new data center tax exemption proposals after its currently scheduled meeting on Monday, where an existing data center tax exemption request will be considered. This action only suspends the ability for data centers to request tax exemptions in Ohio. It is not a data center ban.

DAR chapter holds America250! events

VW independent staff/submitted information

In an America250! Isaac Van Wart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) patriotic ceremony held last Thursday, May 21, 11 DAR members and one guest attended the re-dedication of the only American Revolutionary War connection buried in Van Wert County. In October of 1950, the Isaac Van Wert DAR Chapter placed a new USA flag and dedicated it in the current bronze DAR marker at her grave in Woodland Cemetery. Members and family members attended the ceremony.
 
Regent Debra Hardeman went on to pay tribute to her and reading her name, Jane Briggs Gilliland to the membership. Jane was the wife of American Revolutionary War soldier John Gilliland. Jane was born on May 1, 1775 in Montgomery County, Maryland, and died on November 2, 1858, in Delphos. Her father, William Briggs, served in the Continental troops in Maryland. She met and married John Gilliland and they moved to Pennsylvania, and had 10 children. Gilliland served in with the Pennsylvania troops with a rank of Patriot Service and fought at Yorktown, where General Charles Cornwallis surrendered.

According to Hardeman’s research, John Gilliland was killed in an explosion in 1826 and he was buried in Maryland but their dream of moving further west to Ohio did not die. The entire family had heard friend Anthony Wayne’s talk of the fertile land that was going to go up for sale in the Ohio wilderness. Jane and several of her children decided to move west in a covered wagon, taking all possessions and settling in Delphos. She lived out her life with her family, died in 1858, was buried in Delphos, and was later moved in 1898 to a family plot at Woodland Cemetery.

Hardeman read the words of the original dedication in 1950, “And so we stand today at the grave of Jane Briggs Gilliland. We pay tribute to the pioneer spirit of a 60 year old woman who left a comfortable home in a settled community near the largest cities in the land to spend the remaining years of her long life sharing with her youthful family the hardships and dangers of a wild new country. Such a life we consider worthy in courage and endurance to be honored with that of her Revolutionary soldier husband.”

Hardeman concluded, “We honor you today, Jane Briggs Gilliland, and re-dedicate your flag this 21st day of May, 2026. We thank you for your service, John Gillilandm and your part in our freedom this 21st day of May, 2026. May God Bless your descendants.”

Hardeman thanked the members who attended and placed well over 140 flags on the DAR member graves, at Woodland and around the area cemeteries. She also thanked Mickey McConahay for doing such a fantastic job of cleaning-up Jane’s stone.  
 
Following the ceremony, the ladies made a social stop at the Sycamore Van Wert.

Capturing John Andre…

The Village of Convoy Historical Society invites the public to attend “How Three Militiamen Captured British Major John Andre,” a presentation by Thad Lichtensteiger, at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14, at the Convoy Opera House. In late September of 1780, three courageous militiamen  – Isaac Van Wart, John Paulding, and David Williams – captured British Major John Andre as he carried secret plans to West Point provided by Benedict Arnold. Despite Andre’s offers of substantial bribes, the men refused to betray their cause. Join the Convoy Historical Society to learn more about this dramatic moment in American history and the men whose actions helped shape its course. Admission is free, and all are welcome. The Convoy Opera House is located at 111 S. Main St. Photo submitted

Retire-rehire hearing planned by BOE

Submitted information

The Lincolnview Local School District Board of Education hereby gives public notice in accordance with Sections 3307.353 and 3309.345 of the Ohio Revised Code that Deb Stetler and Sandra Dowdy, who the board of education currently employ as teachers, will be retiring effective June 1, 2026. They are seeking re-employment with Lincolnview Local Schools following their service retirement.

The board of education will hold a public meeting on the issue of re-employing the individuals named above at a meeting to be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall at Lincolnview High School.

Remembering the meaning Memorial Day

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Memorial Day – to some, it’s an extended weekend, a time for road trips, family gatherings, barbeques etc. To others, it has a different meaning, one that must not be forgotten.

During Monday’s Van Wert American Legion Post 178 Memorial Day ceremony at Woodland Cemetery, Past Commander Bill Marshall noted that while gatherings and cookouts and other plans are fine, it’s important to remember those freedoms were guaranteed and rendered with the sacrifices of many lives lost.

Marshall, a United States Air Force and Vietnam veteran, was the designated speaker during Monday’s brief ceremony, which was well attended on a somewhat cool and crisp morning. 

“We must continue to remember the unseen and unspoken wounds of soldiers who return and carry those wounds in silence,” he said. “Keep them in your prayers along with the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives and children of a fallen soldier who gave their life for our freedom. To them we give our undying gratitude.”

“Those veterans who served our country wrote a blank check for their service up to and including their own life to keep our country safe and free,” he added.

Marshall, who was born and raised in Van Wert, recalled his first visit to Woodland Cemetery.

“I can remember coming with my parents when I was six years old,” he said. “I remember we were going to visit our family’s plot and the plethora of flags that were waving and I said to my dad ‘dad, what’s going on?’ and he explained to me what that was all about – about the people who had given service to their country and this was a way of honoring that service.”

Memorial Day service…

Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert was the site of Monday’s Legion Post 178 Memorial Day service. The service included music, a wreath laying, and a 21-gun salute. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent