Lincolnview HS graduates 68 seniors

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Memories that won’t soon be forgotten, but also an eye on the future. That was the theme during Sunday afternoon’s 66th annual Lincolnview High School commencement ceremony, which was held in front of a sizable crowd in the high school gymnasium.

The Class of 2026 had 68 students who received diplomas and according to Principal Brad Mendenhall, those graduates pushed the total number of Lincolnview High School graduates to over 4,000 since the school opened its doors in 1961. He also said this year’s senior class earned over $200,000 in grants and scholarships. Of the 68 graduates, 38 plan to pursue higher education, while four will enter the military. 23 will enter the workforce and two are undecided.

Class president and salutatorian Kendall Hoffman and valedictorian Delana Rank were the student speakers during Sunday’s ceremony. While they reflected fondly on the past, both also looked ahead to the future.

“We are now gathered here together as a whole for probably the last time,” Hoffman told her classmates. “Some of our paths may bring us together again, while others will choose paths that lead them away. As we realize all of this, our school days and classmates mean a great deal more to us. We can now see how we really have enjoyed our friendships together as we have been in our various classes.”

“The events of these years will be remembered fondly and with pride as we pass down the aisle of life,” she added.

“Our time at Lincolnview may be coming to a close, but that means we are simply one step closer to making a major impact on our community,” Rank said. “As we step into this next chapter, I hope we all remember this – we didn’t get here alone and we won’t go forward alone either. We have each other, we have our experiences and we have the courage to begin again.”

Mendenhall and Superintendent Jeff Snyder also delivered brief remarks to the graduates and those in attendance.

VWACCB to perform Friday in Van Wert

Submitted information

This Friday, May 22, the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band will present a concert in the bandshell at Fountain Park in downtown Van Wert. The concert will begin at 7:p.m. and is free to the public.

Music performed at the concert will include several Patriotic selections celebrating the U.S.A.‘s 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial). These selections are intended to reflect, revitalize and rekindle the pride that each of us have as citizens of the best country in the world, the United States of America.

A few of these selections are An American Celebration, Voice of the Battlefield, Beautiful Savior and a Bob Dylan medley. Band member Warren Bowery will be the featured singer on Neil Diamond”s America. Area military personnel and veterans will also be honored with a Salute To America’s Finest.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a concert in this beautiful park setting. In the event of inclement weather the concert will be held in the Niswonger Performing Arts Center auditorium. Please listen to local radio stations 99.7FM WKSD or WERT 1220AM/104.3FM, check thevwindependent.com, or visit the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band Facebook page for updates.

The band is directed by Richard Sherrick and features members from Van Wert, Ohio City, Delphos, Convoy, Chat, Middle Point, Spencerville, Celina and Rockford.

The band will also provide music for the Ohio City American Legion Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m.

Group may not get enough signatures

By Nick Evans/Ohio Capital Journal

The organizers leading an effort to abolish Ohio property taxes are coming to a crossroads. By July 1, the campaign needs to decide if it wants to roll the dice and attempt to get on this year’s ballot or keep its powder dry and wait for another election down the road.

Last month, Ax Ohio Tax President Brian Massie announced they’ve collected 305,000 signatures so far. That puts them on track to clear the statutory minimum for the ballot, but doesn’t account for rejections. To feel confident, the campaign really wants at least 620,000 signatures for their submission.

They’re not on track for that.

Organizers can keep gathering signatures for as long as they want. Once they submit them, though, that’s pretty much it. If the campaign falls short there’s a brief, 10-day window to make up the difference. If they can’t, any subsequent effort to make the ballot would have to start over from square one.

“I want the citizens of Ohio to hear this,” Massie said. “They can rest assured that we will not stop until we get this amendment on the ballot.”

He said the campaign will announce its plans sometime in the middle of June.

Common Cause Ohio Executive Director Catherine Turcer sees citizen-initiated ballot measures as a central part of our democracy, and she’s been personally involved in several initiative campaigns. While Turcer acknowledged it can be “challenging” to wish the anti-tax campaign well, she said the point of direct democracy is that’s it’s open to everybody.

And there are some factors working in the campaign’s favor.

“We are going into really good signature gathering weather,” Turcer said.

“We’re going into farmers markets and parades, Memorial Day weekend,” she rattled off. “I mean, you can start to think about the different festivals and different ways that people are out and about outside, which makes signature collection easier than, say, January.”

Their signature total puts them in “decent shape,” Turcer said. It also doesn’t hurt that the pitch is straightforward: do you want to keep your property taxes or get rid of them?

Early morning crash…

This pickup truck was one of three vehicles involved in a crash that occurred shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday in the 400 block of S. Washington St. in Van Wert. A northbound car hit the truck, which was parked, then hit another parked vehicle, causing heavy damage to all three. Two people were transported by EMS to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital for treatment of possible injuries. The Van Wert Fire Department used absorbent material to contain a fuel leak, and all three vehicles were towed from the scene. The Van Wert Police Department investigated the accident. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer

Post 346 holding Memorial Day service

VW independent staff/submitted information

OHIO CITY — The Ohio City American Legion Harvey Lewis Post 346 will be having a Memorial Day Service at Woodlawn Cemetery Veterans Memorial in Ohio City at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25. The Van Wert Community Concert Band under the direction of Richard Sherrick will perform starting at 10 a.m. Those attending should bring bring lawn chairs.

The speaker will be U.S.Army veteran Denis Glenn. Glenn is a native of Fort Wayne and a graduate of Indiana University. He was a founding sponsor for the United States Army Museum and the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, both located in the Washington DC area. While in the Army, he served with the 2nd Armored Division.

He was employed at the Joint System Manufacturing Center in Lima, spending 27 years supporting our nation’s warfighters. Among his notable community activities are the restoration of the Allen County Museum’s M4A3 1945 Sherman Tank, the restoration of the M1E1 Abrams Tank that is displayed at the entrance to the Joint Systems Mfg. Center, and the creation and maintenance of the Veterans Freedom Flag Monument.

He contributed to the community through many various organizations over the years.

Glenn and his wife, Anita, reside at Indian Lake and are the parents of four children and two stepchildren.

Following the program, food will be served in the Ohio City Community Building/Legion Post at Fireman’s Park. Everyone is welcome.

In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at the Community Building.

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.