Arraignments, sentencing held in Common Pleas Court

Bomb squad called to E. Central Ave.

VW independent staff

The Lima Bomb Squad was requested to come to an E. Central Ave. residence in Van Wert for a suspicious item.

The Van Wert Police Department was dispatched to the 500 block of E. Central at approximately 3:30 p.m. Friday for a welfare check. According to Chief Doug Weigle, officers located a box with wires and lights. The tenant claimed it was a fake bomb, but officers backed out and contacted the Lima Bomb Squad. Nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution. The Van Wert Police Department is asking people to stay away from the area at this time.

Chief Weigle said the tenant, a man, is in custody for a mental health evaluation.

Business helping Ohio City Xmas tradition

Submitted information

OHIO CITY — Some traditions are worth carrying on.

National Door & Trim is proud to help keep one of Ohio City’s long standing holiday traditions going. In partnership with the Ohio City Fire Department and with the support of local businesses, National Door & Trim is once again helping bring Ohio City Christmas for the Kids to life. What started as a small local effort has grown into a community-wide tradition, bringing together businesses, partners, friends, and neighbors to make the holidays a little brighter for children throughout the village.
 
With holiday preparations already underway, National Door & Trim is inviting local businesses and community members to join in. The goal is simple – help ensure every child in Ohio City gets to experience a little extra Christmas magic this year.

All monetary donations go directly toward purchasing gifts and everyday essentials for local children. Whether you’re a business looking to give back or a neighbor who simply wants to spread a little holiday cheer, every contribution makes a meaningful difference.
 
National Door & Trim is accepting donations through Tuesday, December 1, allowing time to purchase and organize gifts for distribution before Christmas.

There are two ways to give: donate online here directly through the Doors to Success Endowment Fund, or donate by mail. Checks may be made payable to the Van Wert County Foundation with Doors to Success Endowment included in the memo line. Mail to:

National Door & Trim
Attn: Rilee Conrad
P.O. Box 278
200 W. Skinner St.
Ohio City, OH 45874

National Door & Trim is grateful to the Ohio City Fire Department, local businesses, and everyone who continues to make this tradition possible. It’s a reminder that a small community with a big heart can make a lasting difference.

Chamber tickets, applications available

Submitted information

Tickets are still available for the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce’s 21st annual Salute to Small Business Awards Bruncheon, which will be held from 11-12:30 p.m. Friday, November 20, at Walnut & Main Event Space in downtown Van Wert.

Chamber businesses will be recognized in the categories of Small Business of the Year, Charitable Non-Profit, Emerging Business of the Year, Downtown Champion, Women in Business, Palate Pleaser, The “Woo” Winning Others Over, Community Youth Champion, and Community Collaborator. Tickets are $40 each, click here to purchase.

Premier Event Sponsors for the event: Shultz Huber & Associates, Citizens National Bank, QTS, Walnut & Main Event Space, and Panthera Grid Partners. Community Influencer Event Sponsors: Statewide Ford Lincoln, Central Insurance, OhioHealth Van Wert, Greenway Bank, Laudick’s Jewelry, Superior Credit Union, Vantage Career Center, and Alexander and Bebout.

In addition, the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the 2027 Leadership Van Wert County cohort. The program will begin in January and finish in September, with each session taking place on the first Wednesday of each month. Along with the monthly sessions, the cohort will be responsible for finding, funding and facilitating a community service project.

Tuition for the program is $600. The program is open to employees of Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce members. The program was created in 1994 with the goal of presenting leadership concepts and providing community discovery opportunities by connecting with community leaders in unique environments.

Northwest State Community College will continue to serve as the exclusive sponsor of the Leadership Van Wert County program. The regional community college based in Archbold, is a public two-year college that is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This accreditation allows the College to offer degree and certificate programs in the fields of arts & sciences; business & public services, nursing & allied health, and STEM and industrial technologies. They serve over 77,000 Northwest Ohio families across a six-county service area, including Van Wert county.

To learn more about the program or if you are interested in being a part of the 2027 cohort: Click here to apply.

Church offering free Thanksgiving dinner

VW independent staff

For those who are homeless, alone, or just in need of a helping hand, a free community Thanksgiving dinner will be held from 12-4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, at the Trinity Friends Church Family Life Center, 605 N. Franklin St. in Van Wert. It’s considered a traditional Thankgiving dinner with turkey, ham and all of the trimmings.

It’s dine-in or carry out and transportation is available for those in need. Delivery within the immediate Van Wert area is also available. For transportation or delivery, simply contact the church office at 419.238.2788 by 12 p.m. Wednesday, November 25.

If anyone would like to volunteer, contact the church office. Volunteers are not required to stay the entire time.

Commissioners OK inside millage reduction

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

For the second time, the Van Wert County Commissioners have voted to reduce inside millage, meaning property taxes throughout the county should decrease.

In Ohio, inside millage is an unvoted property tax rate that local governments and school districts can levy without a direct vote from the public.

Appearing on this past Sunday’s Commissioners Corner/Mayor’s Conference program on radio stations 99.7FM WKSD and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM, Commissioner Stan Owens explained the latest cut, which was approved in late October. It took the inside millage from 1.8 to 1.3 mills. The initial cut, which came approximately two years ago, was from 2.4 to 1.8 mills, which resulted in savings of about $400,000. The latest cut, according to Van Wert County Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger, should result in collective property tax savings of close to $600,000.

“We’ve cut that to pass tax savings back to our residents, along with what we did with the homestead exemption,” Owens said on the radio program. “We’ve reimplemented it (the homestead exemption) for another year to benefit our elderly people and lower fixed incomes with the high cost of food, heating and gas and so forth.”

“The bottom line is these tax dollars are the people’s money and we need to be responsible to where we can maintain our obligations of funding for operations in the county,” he added. “If we have an excess, we need to get that back to the people. One of the things that’s allowed us to do this is our sales tax – it’s been strong because people are shopping locally and compared to last year we’ve had one down month so far this year.”

VWHS hosts Veterans Day celebration

VW independent staff/submitted information

Van Wert High School welcomed local veterans, their families, and community members to its annual Veterans Day Assembly on Wednesday,  at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Coffee and snacks were served in the lobby before the program, which included student-created videos and performances by the high school choirs. The choirs sang the National Anthem and an America medley featuring “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” and “America the Beautiful.”

Guest speaker Colleen Wiley, a 1987 Van Wert High School graduate, spoke about her years at the former high school on Crawford Street and the teachers, friends, and community that helped shape her. She and VWHS secretary Shelley Smith joined the military together in November 1989, attended boot camp together, and both served in the Army Reserves.

Wiley said she did not fully understand the sacrifices behind her freedoms as a student. She encouraged students to help others, show respect, and be responsible citizens.

“You don’t have to wear a uniform to honor veterans,” she said.

Principal Chuck Rollins thanked Wiley, Mrs. Switzer for organizing the assembly, the student speakers, Ms. Bloomfield and the choirs for their performances, and Mrs. Baer and the media arts classes for producing the videos. He asked students to appreciate their freedoms and find ways to serve others throughout the year.

“To all of our veterans, on behalf of the entire Van Wert High School family, thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your commitment to protecting the freedoms we enjoy,” Rollins said.

Veterans Day celebration…

Crestview Elementary held a Veterans Day celebration Wednesday morning and leading up to this event, fifth grade students worked hard planning and organizing the event. Two Character Council groups created videos to teach all elementary students how to be respectful during the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. They also created a video on how to appropriately shake someone’s hand to show respect and gratitude. Elementary students were encouraged to invite veterans they knew to attend the breakfast and program. Families were asked to submit “bricks” for any past or present service members to be displayed as part of a Wall of Honor. In total, 82 community veterans or service members attended the breakfast, 91 veterans were celebrated at the program, and 210 “bricks” were on display for all to enjoy. It was a meaningful event in which students were able to interact with these valuable members of the community. Photo submitted

Township Trustees reschedule meeting

Submitted information

Due to holidays, the Pleasant Township Trustees have rescheduled the November 25 regular meeting to 4 p.m. Tuesday, November 24, at the Township House, 10507 Old Tile Factory Road, Van Wert.

Youth Theatre schedules auditions

Submitted information

History comes alive as Van Wert Civic Theatre prepares for an incredibly unique, epic regional theater event. Director Doug Grooms is holding Youth Theatre auditions for The Battle of Boat, a brilliant, cinematic musical masterpiece written by the acclaimed British duo Jenna Donnelly and Ethan Lewis Maltby. 

It’s 1916, and while the world is at war, a group of courageous children is determined to find their own way to help. Frustrated by being left behind, they embark on a heartwarming adventure to prove that you’re never too young to make a difference. Featuring a sweeping, cinematic score and an all-youth cast, this is a timeless story of hope, bravery, and the unbreakable spirit of friendship.

Casting requirements for this grand production call exclusively for an all-youth ensemble of approximately 10 to 20 performers aged 8-18. There are absolutely no adult characters in the show, meaning the youth carry the entire story. Grooms is looking for young actors and singers who can handle a sweeping, emotional, and epic vocal score. Key roles include Charlie, the determined leader; William, his resourceful friend, and Grierson, the neighborhood bully. 

Auditions are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, November 16-17 running from 4-6 p.m. each day at the Van Wert Civic Theatre at 118 S. Race St. The audition sign up link is available at vwct.org in the “Current Season” tab. Parents and young performers can access character descriptions here. You can also listen to audio tracks and look over show details here, or check updates at vwct.org.

Council to decide on insurance change

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

If all goes as expected, Van Wert city employees will pay a smaller share of health insurance premiums next year.

Currently, the city pays 87 percent of health insurance premiums for its employees, with the workers covering the remaining 13 percent. During Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council, a resolution was introduced to establish rates for employee contributions in the city’s healthcare program and Health Savings Account (HSA) program for calendar year 2027. The resolution includes a reduction in employee contributions, from 13 percent to three percent.

“The biggest complaint I have gotten since I’ve been here the last four years is insurance,” City Auditor Erika Blackmore explained to council members. “I crunched the numbers, I looked at it (and) with the amount of people that take the insurance versus what we’re paying for insurance, it really wasn’t that much more to go employer-pay 97 percent, employee pay three percent. So it’s one thing that in administration we decided to do to give back to our employees because we don’t want to lose what we have – we have a very good workforce right now.”

“It used to be you’d work for the government because the benefits outweighed the pay but you can’t really say that anymore with the pay not up with standards,” she continued. “Benefits aren’t really there so I figured it’s just one more way to make it more intriguing.”

Councilwoman At-Large Jana Ringwald asked how employee healthcare contributions compare to other municipalities, and Blackmore used a similar sized, statutory city – Upper Sandusky – as an example.

“They actually pay 100 percent of their premiums, 100 percent of their maximum out of pocket and 100 percent of their deductibles,” Blackmore stated. “That’s just one community but it’s very common for municipalities…they’re very generous with their healthcare.”