Coaches, personnel approved; data center addressed

Vantage students earn spot at nationals

VW independent staff/submitted information

Students from Vantage Career Center earned top honors at the recent Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference, with four students officially qualifying to advance to the national competition and several others earning state finalist recognition.

Business Professionals of America is a national career and technical student organization that prepares students for leadership and careers in business and information technology. The State Leadership Conference brings together top students from across Ohio to compete in rigorous, industrybased events.

Advancing to the BPA National Leadership Conference, held May 6–10, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee, are:

• Henry Walpole – third place, computer security
• Spencer Stabler – sixth place, server administration using Microsoft
• Xander Bartley – seventh place, computer security
• Silas Foltz – seventh place, server administration using Microsoft

These four students have secured guaranteed spots at the national level based on their state performance.

Additional students earning state finalist honors include:

• Riley Wenzlick – 10th place, computer network technology
• Gavin Westgerdes – 10th place, C# programming
• Xander Bartley – ninth place, digital communications and design concepts and 10th place, information technology concepts

Pending additional qualifying results, Wenzlick and Westgerdes may also have an opportunity to advance to the national competition.

“These students have dedicated countless hours sharpening their technical skills and preparing for competition,” said Austin Meyer, Network Systems Instructor at Vantage Career Center. “Having four students advance to nationals is an incredible accomplishment, and we are proud of how they represented Vantage.”

Vantage students will now prepare for the national stage in Nashville, carrying with them the support of their instructors, classmates, and community.

Net cutting…

Lincolnview boys basketball coach Brett Hammons finishes cutting down the net, after his Lancers won the Division VI sectional championship, 58-29 over Hicksville Friday night. A full game story and pictures can be found on the Sports page. Photo courtesy of Hanna Young

Republican Central Committee to meet

Submitted information

The Van Wert County Republican Central Committee will meet at 7 p.m. March 10 at Truland/John Deere, 10305 Liberty-Union Rd., Van Wert, for the purpose of filling the vacated prosecuting attorney’s position. Those wishing to be considered must meet the minimum qualifications for a prosecuting attorney (outlined in the Ohio Revised Code, section 309.02) and must be a resident of Van Wert County. The position is currently being filled by interim Prosecutor Dillon Staas, IV, who was appointed by the Van Wert County Commissioners. Interested inviduals should submit their name and resume to President Jim Bonifas jim.bonifas@trulandequip.com.

Van Wert on Tap event returning

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its fourth annual “Van Wert on Tap” craft beer festival at the Junior Fair Building at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, April 18.

Those attending will be able to enjoy unlimited tastings of selected wine and craft beer from some of the best breweries in the region.

Returning breweries include Moeller Brew Barn, Buffalo Rock Brewing Co., Brewing Green, Second Crossing Brew Co., Findlay Brewing Co., Twenty One Barrels Hard Cider, False Chord Brewery, 4KD Crick Brewery, and Brewing Green. New breweries this year include Juniper Brewing Co., Oncore Brewing, and Old Route 69 Brewery. Smashdogz, Drop Zone Pizza and Fat Pig BBQ will be on site to offer food for purchase.

General admission tickets (unlimited tastings, commemorative cup and entry at 6 p.m.) are $30 per person and VIP tickets (unlimited tastings, commemorative cup, and entry to the 5-6 p.m. VIP hour) are $50 per person, Click here to purchase tickets.

The Chamber thanked Premier Sponsor First Federal Savings and Loan as well as Tenneco, Inc., Sister’s Embroidery, Bridgemill Private Wealth, Laudick’s Jewelry and Tekniplex for their support of the event.

For questions about sponsorship or ticketing, contact Mark Verville at the Van Wert Chamber of Commerce at 419.238.4390 or email mark@vanwertchamber.com.

Few Ohio HS athletes have NIL deals

VW independent staff

While it’s still in the infancy stage in Ohio, the impact of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) for high school students is barely a blip on the radar. Less than three dozen high school student athletes throughout the state have an NIL deal. More details can be found on the Sports page.

Area man sentenced on child porn charges

VW independent staff

A Paulding County man who pleaded guilty to child pornograhy charges appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court for sentencing this week.

Alec Shull, 24, was sentenced by Judge Martin D. Burchfield to three to four and a half years in prison for pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a second degree felony, and 18 months on another charge of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a fourth degree felony. Those sentences will run consecutively, meaning Shull will served 3-6 years behind bars. He was also sentenced to 12 months in prison for illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity oriented material or performance, a fifth degree felony, but that count will be served concurrently to the other two prison terms. He was given credit for 70 days already served.

Shull entered the guilty plea in January and in exchange, nine similar charges were dismissed. The alleged crimes occurred between mid-December, 2024 and mid-January, 2025.

Five other defendants were sentenced on separate and unrelated charges this week.

Bryant Hunt, 22, of Van Wert, was sentenced to 120 days jail with credit for 93 days already served for robbery, a third degree felony. He was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,029 and court costs.

Sara Hogan, 43, of Lima, was sentenced to up to six months at the WORTH Center, three years of community control, 30 days in jail at a later date and 100 hours of community service for OVI, a fourth degree felony. She was also ordered to undergo mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment. Her driver’s license was suspended for three years and she was ordered to pay a $1,540 fine, court costs, partial appointed counsel fees, and monthly probation fees and court costs.

Sarah Allen, 45, of Van Wert, was sentenced to two years of community control and 30 days in jail at a later date for harassment with a bodily substance, a fifth degree felony. She is to consume no alcohol or have drugs without a prescription, undergo random screens, mental health and substance abuse assessment and treatment, and was ordered to pay court costs.

Carol Boyd, 51, of Van Wert, was sentenced to one year of community control, 30 days jail at a later date and 100 hours of community service for theft, a first degree misdemeanor. She must undergo mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment, consume no alcohol or possess drugs without a prescription, and was ordered to pay restitution, monthly probation fees and court costs.

Van Wert HS seniors tour local businesses

VW independent staff/submitted information

More than 90 seniors from Van Wert High School spent the day learning, but in a different way. They stepped out of the classroom and into the workplace on Wednesday for the school’s eighth annual Company Tour Day.

While juniors were taking the ACT, seniors spent the day visiting local businesses to learn more about career opportunities right here in Van Wert. Each student toured two different companies, including at least one manufacturing facility, with groups of 20 to 25 students at each stop. Tours lasted nearly two hours.

Businesses that opened their doors included Akers Packaging, Tenneco, Central Insurance Companies, CQT Kennedy Manufacturing, Danfoss, OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, National Door & Trim, and Braun.

During the visits, students learned about company history, products and services, employee benefits, required certifications, and future job needs. They also heard directly from company leaders about what makes a strong employee, things like teamwork, dependability, critical thinking, and taking pride in your work.

Career Counselor Kerry Koontz said the tours give students a chance to see what happens inside buildings they may drive past every day.

“Students might pass these businesses all the time without really knowing what goes on inside,” Koontz said. “This gives them a real look at how things are made and what career opportunities exist right here in our community.”

Sectional champions!

Van Wert head coach Jeremy Best celebrates after the Cougars won the Division IV sectional championship with a 52-37 victory over Napoleon Thursday night. A full game story and more pictures can be found on the Sports page. Bob Barnes/Van Wert independent

SWCD seeking scholarship applications

Submitted information

The Van Wert Soil and Water Conservation District is offering one $1,000 scholarship to a student studying agriculture, natural resources or closely related fields at any Ohio college or university during the 2025/2026 academic year. The recipient of the scholarship needs to have completed their freshman year in college, and must be a Van Wert County resident.

Scholarship applications and two reference forms must be received at the Soil and Water Conservation District by May 22. The Scholarship Committee of the Soil and Water Conservation District will review the applications and announce the recipient in July. Scholarship money will be sent directly to the recipient’s college or university at the beginning of the academic year.

Criteria for determining the recipient will be: area of study, grades, activities, leadership, and commitment to conservation practices. The SWCD reserves the right to refuse any applications not meeting requirements.

Scholarship applications are available at the Soil and Water Conservation District office, 1185 Professional Drive, Van Wert or online at www.vanwertswcd.org. You may also email becky@vanwertswcd.com.

Yost: sign up for Instagram supervision

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — In an effort to help address teen mental-health concerns, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is urging parents across the state to enroll in Instagram’s parental supervision tools as the platform prepares to launch a new alert system.

Beginning next week, Instagram will notify parents who use the features if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm within a short period. 

“Parents can’t possibly know everything their kids are doing, But this new tool gives moms and dads a window into warning signs that might otherwise go unseen,” Yost said. “Knowledge is power.”

Yost further encouraged parents to use the alerts as an opportunity to talk openly with their children about mental health and online activity.

The alerts are designed to give parents timely information and access to resources to help guide potentially difficult conversations.

Instagram reportedly already blocks searches clearly associated with suicide and self-harm and directs users to crisis resources and help lines. The new notification system adds another layer of protection by notifying parents about repeated search behavior that is concerning.

Parents can learn more and set up supervision by visiting Instagram’s Help Center or navigating to the “Supervision” section within the app’s settings.