School board takes care of business at monthly meeting

Court news: sentencing hearings, more

VW independent staff

14 criminal defendants appeared for an array of hearings in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court between Thursday, October 15, and Wednesday, October 28. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

Arraignment

Frank Alexander, Jr., 33, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both third degree felonies. Bond was set at $50,000 cash or surety and he was ordered to have no contact with the victims. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. November 4.

Sentencing hearings

Devin Couch, 21, of Van Wert, was sentenced as follows:

• 11-16 1/2 years in prison with credit for 71 days already served for possession of cocaine, a first degree felony
• 8-12 years in prison with credit for 71 days already served for aggravated possession of drugs, a second degree felony.
• 8-12 years prison with credit for 71 days already served for possession of hashish, a second degree felony.
• 36 months in prison for possession of marijuana, a third degree felony.
• Ordered to pay court costs.

In all, Couch will serve between 15 1/2 and 20 years behind bars. A full story on the sentencing hearing can be found here.

Dominique Barrows, 34, of Delphos, was sentenced to two years of community control, 30 days in jail at a later date and 50 hours of community service for attempted having weapons under disability, a fourth degree felony. He must maintain employment, undergo mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment, consume or possess no alcohol or drugs without a prescription, undergo random drug screens, and pay partial appointed counsel fees, monthly probation fees and court costs.

After a probation violation on a charge of failure to provide notice of change of address, a fourth degree felony, and a separate but identical third degree felony charge, Nicholas Tarbet, 31, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for 144 days already served. He was ordered to pay court costs.

Crestview Honor Society…

The Crestview Honor Society inducted 12 new members at a recent ceremony held at the school. The current membership, along with inductees and parents, heard from guest speaker and Crestview alumna Savannah (Smith) Wynn. New members include (left to right): Harold Smazenko, Noah Mosier, Luke Sawmiller, Ian Owens, Delanie Balliet, Alecta Baxter, Kinley Crider, Graylie Grose, Marlee Temple, Jetta Merkle, Xehrya Esparza, Raygan Rockwood. Photo submitted

McCray calls for fully funded schools

VW independent staff/submitted information

Ohio House District 82 candidate Maddux McCray, a Democrat from Van Wert, is calling for full funding of Ohio’s public schools, action to address educator and school employee shortages, and protection of the local schools that anchor rural communities.

Through conversations with superintendents across the district and his experience as a substitute teacher, McCray noted he has heard and seen the pressures facing schools. In a press release, he said his priorities include fully funding the Fair School Funding Plan using updated costs, addressing staffing shortages, maintaining school buildings and confronting the expansion of private school vouchers.

Funding schools and protecting cocal communities

McCray believes Ohio must provide dependable funding that reflects the actual costs of educating students. Schools should have the resources to support classroom instruction, retain employees and maintain safe buildings.

“Schools should not have to choose whether to repair existing infrastructure or buy new textbooks and resources for learning,” he said.

He is concerned that inadequate funding, staffing shortages and uncertainty surrounding property tax proposals could increase pressure on rural districts to consolidate. In Putnam County and throughout the district, preserving local schools means protecting institutions closely tied to community life and identity.

McCray said he supports meaningful property tax relief but opposes eliminating that revenue without a suitable, dependable replacement.

“Eliminating property taxes without a suitable replacement threatens local schools, the communities, small businesses and cultural identities built around them,” he said.

His infrastructure priorities include helping schools address aging HVAC systems, boilers, roofs and other essential repairs before deferred maintenance becomes a larger and more expensive problem.

Recruiting and retaining school employees

McCray said supports recruitment incentives, competitive wages and benefits to attract new educators and retain experienced teachers and school employees. He added that particular attention is needed for intervention specialists, special education teachers, foreign language teachers and other hard-to-fill positions.

He also supports making the transition to Ohio licensure easier for qualified graduates of colleges in neighboring states. His approach would reduce unnecessary testing barriers and give greater weight to demonstrated classroom preparedness and supervised field experience.

Stripe Rd. to close for repaving project

Submitted information

Stripe Rd. in Van Wert will be closed for repaving work beginning this Saturday, October 31, until further notice. The closure will be from U.S. 224 to Lincoln Highway.

One time additional homestead benefit

Submitted information

Ohio House Bill 479 provides additional property tax relief for homeowners receiving the Homestead Exemption. Eligible homeowners will receive a one-year, state-funded property tax reduction for tax year 2026 (payable in 2027). New homestead exemption applicants must apply by this Friday, October 30, to be eligible for this one-time benefit. Current homestead recipients do not need to apply, the benefit will be applied automatically. That date matters because the ordinary state application form still lists December 31 as the deadline for a current year real property application.

In other words, an eligible homeowner may still have time after October 30 to seek the regular exemption, but waiting could mean missing the one-time addition.

Who The Program Covers

The homestead exemption reduces property taxes on a qualifying owner’s principal residence. The ordinary means-tested exemption is available to an Ohio homeowner who owns and occupies the property as a principal residence and meets at least one of the following conditions:

• At least 65 years of age
• Certified as permanently and totally disabled
• Surviving spouse of a previous participant and at least 59 years old
• Disabled Veterans with a 100 percent service-related disability.
• Their surviving spouses.
• Surviving spouses of public service officers killed in the line of duty.

If you have any questions, contact the Van Wert County Auditor Real Estate office at 419.238.0843, Option 1.

City council hears funding requests

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

While data center talk took up the majority of Monday night’s two hour meeting of Van Wert City Council, there was dicussion of other topics and other matters that were tended to.

After the data center discussion (see story here), Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brent Stevens made a formal request for $80,000 in city funding in 2027. The amount is the same the city has given in previous years.

Van Wert County Regional Airport Board President Andrew Davis also made a funding request for next year. The $50,000 request is $10,000 more than last year. Council members agreed to the request and the increase. It was also noted the Van Wert County Commissioners approved an identical request.

An ordinance concerning private wells within the city limits was scheduled for its third and final reading but it was tabled at the request of Councilman At–Large Dwayne Johnson. He stated he wants to do more research before a final vote.

An ordinance that would allow Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming to live just outside the city limits had its second reading, along with an ordinance that revises the city’s existing solicitor laws.

Council members also heard the first reading of amended noise ordinances. One deals with traffic noise and the other is general noise. Both are expected to have two more readings.

During his report, Fleming said this year’s leaf pickup schedule is set (click here), and he said work on the Blaine St.

“As usual, have the bags out at the beginning of each week in biodegradable bags and we’ll get them picked up,” he said.

Trick or treat events set for Saturday

VW independent staff

Halloween will bring a pair of trick-or-treat opportunties in Van Wert.

Between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. this Saturday, October 31, youngsters can go from business to business in downtown Van Wert for Main Street Van Wert’s annual trick or treat event. Later in the day, between 4-6 p.m. children can take part in the City of Van Wert’s annual trick-or-treat. Children should only go to homes with a porch light on.

Barn to move…

This barn on Stripe Rd. in Van Wert won’t come down as originally thought. Instead, QTS has agreed to pay to have it disassembled, power washed, stored, then reassembled at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds, once the foundation there is complete. Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation Director Brent Stevens informed Van Wert City Council of the plan during Monday night’s meeting. Scott Truxell/Van Wert independent

Human trafficking awareness training

VW independent staff/submitted information

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital and the YWCA of Van Wert County are partnering to offer a free human trafficking awareness training on Thursday, November 12.

The session, Human Trafficking 101, will take place from 5-6 p.m. at Van Wert North, 214 Towne Center Blvd. Health professionals, first responders and others who work with or serve the public are encouraged to attend.

Participants will learn how to identify risk factors, recognize potential warning signs of human trafficking and respond when someone may need help. Human trafficking can happen anywhere, including in local communities, and recognizing the signs can make a life-changing difference.

Nurses and first responders who attend will receive one hour of continuing education credit.

“Building awareness is an important part of keeping our community safe,” said Paula Stabler, president, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “Through education and collaboration, we can help create a community where people feel better equipped to recognize when someone may need help and know how to take the next step.”

Registration is free but required. To register, email Stabler at Paula.Stabler@ohiohealth.com by Friday, November 6.

Anonymous donation…

An anonymous party recently donated $50,000 to VFW Van Wert Post 5803. Shown above is local attorney Shaun Putman handing the check to Commander Bob Agler and Quartermaster Ed Carter. Photo submitted