Auto-pick used to win $60 million Mega Millions jackpot

Group ends push for referendum

By Megan Henry/Ohio Capital Journal

Opponents of Ohio Republican lawmakers’ attempt to ban intoxicating hemp products and change the state’s voter-passed recreational marijuana law failed to collect enough signatures to put a referendum on the ballot this year to block it.

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice would not say how many signatures they gathered. They needed to collect 248,092 signatures and also needed to gather three percent of an individual county’s gubernatorial turnout in 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties to get on the November 3 ballot. 

“Unfortunately, we were not able to overcome a truncated time period to give voters the chance to say no to government overreach,” Dennis Willard, spokesperson for Ohioans for Cannabis Choice said in a statement. 

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost initially rejected the referendum’s summary language in January, but approved it in early February after Ohioans for Cannabis Choice made changes to the language. 

The plan was to submit the collected signatures to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Thursday for him to verify the signatures. This was the deadline to submit signatures since Ohio Senate Bill 56 takes effect Friday and it will ban intoxicating hemp products — including THC-infused beverages. 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill into law in December after he had been urging the lawmakers to do something about intoxicating hemp products for the past nearly two years.

Busy day in Common Pleas Court

VW independent staff

A pair of arraignments, three sentencing hearings, a bond violation and two plea changes were among the proceedings that occurred in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

Arraignments

Charles Cowan, 37, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty Plea to domestic violence, a third degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and was ordered to h ave no contact with the victim. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. April 8.

Daniel Vibbert, 35, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs and theft, both fifth degree felonies. He was released on a surety bond and was ordered to have no contact with the victim. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. April 15.

Sentencings

Matthew Daisy, 46, of Rockford, was sentenced to nine months in prison for grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth degree felony. He was given credit for 113 days already served and was ordered to pay court costs.

After giving his community control, Jeremy Cole, 35, of Celina, was sentenced to a new sentence of one year of community control, 30 days in jail at a later date for having weapons under disability, a third degree felony, and polluting state land or water, a first degree misdemeanor. He was ordered to undergo  treatment if recommended, and was ordered to pay court costs.

James Jones, 38, of Van Wert, was sentenced to one year of community control, 30 days in jail at a later date, and 50 hours of community service for assault, a first degree misdemeanor. He was also ordered to undergo mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment, and was ordered to pay monthly probation fees and court costs.

Parkway staying in MAC; DSJ to decide

Editor’s note: this story has been updated with comments from Delphos St. John’s Principal Adam Lee.

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

ROCKFORD — Just a few days after a special meeting to discuss the topic of conference affliation, the Parkway Local Schools Board of Education has made the decision to stay put in the Midwest Athletic Conference.

Parkway recently received an inquiry from the Northwest Conference and on Wednesday, a statement was issued by the school board reaffirming plans to remain a member of the MAC.

“After thoughtful consideration and discussion, the Parkway Board of Education has decided that it is in the best interest of Parkway Schools and its athletes to remain a member of the Midwest Athletic Conference,” the statement said. “As a result, we will not be moving forward with the Northwest Conference’s invitation. This decision reflects what the Board believes is the best path forward for our student-athletes and our district.”

An online poll was offered to district residents and according to Parkway Local Schools Superintendent Laura Young, 663 responded to the question “Overall, do you support the proposal to move from the MAC to the NWC?” 62.7 percent of respondents said no, 30.9 percent said yes and 6.4 percent were unsure.

During a town hall-style Board of Education meeting held on Sunday, Young said all 122 people present were given a paper ballot to vote. All 122 people voted to stay in the MAC.

The statement also noted while the decision brings closure to the question of conference affiliation, it does not mark the end of the conversation about the future of Parkway athletic programs.

“Moving forward, the board is committed to focusing on meaningful growth within our athletic programs,” the statement said. “Our attention will shift toward setting standards renewing and developing policies, programs, and actionable steps that support a growth mindset and elevate opportunities for student-athletes at every level and every age within our district. As we move into this phase, we welcome collaboration from anyone who is ready to work constructively, contribute positively, and be a part of building something stronger for our athletes. Progress requires commitment, effort and a solutions-oriented mindset.”

$60M lottery ticket sold in Van Wert

VW independent staff

There were plenty of smiles at Tyler’s Short Stop on E. Main St. in Van Wert this morning.

That’s because a winning Mega Millions ticket was sold at the store. Not just any winning ticket, but a big winning ticket. That piece of paper with numbers for Tuesday night’s drawing is worth $60 million.

The winning numbers via auto-pick were 4-11-18-38 and 50. The Mega Ball was 24.

An employee at the store and Ohio Lottery officials confirmed this morning that the winning ticket was sold at the store. The employee said it was sold yesterday but he didn’t know who bought it.

Tyler’s Short Stop will get $10,000 for selling the winning ticket, which is believed to be the largest winning lottery ticket sold in Van Wert or Van Wert County. 

The winner will be able to choose between yearly installments – one immediate payment, then 29 annual payments – or the cash option, a lump sum payment of $27.1 million before taxes. The winner will have to redeem the ticket with the Ohio lottery and can choose to take the money, yearly installments or a lump sum, through a blind trust and stay anonymous.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details as they become available.

Willow Bend County Club sale official

VW independent staff/submitted information

Willow Bend Country Club in Van Wert has officially been purchased by KCC Investment Properties LLC of Defiance, which according to a press release, marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the historic course.

Originally built in 1924 and most recently owned by Central Mutual Insurance Company since 1995, Willow Bend is entering 2026 and beyond with renewed vision.

The news release said following the announcement earlier this year, significant progress has already been made. A craft brewery has been established on site, state inspections are complete, and officials are currently awaiting final license approval to finalize the sale.

“We are thrilled to introduce a new chef, Eric Smith, who brings a wealth of experience from Michelin Star restaurants in Chicago,” said the news release, which was signed by Gary Cooper and The Compound Team. “Eric is working alongside Executive Chef Aaron Weible of The Compound to elevate the dining experience through kitchen upgrades, inspired new menu offerings, and a refreshed restaurant atmosphere. Select menu items are already being revamped, and guests will now be able to enjoy 4KD Crick Brewery on tap – with even more to come.”

It also said the restaurant will undergo a full renovation and expansion, with completion anticipated in early 2027. At that time, it will debut under its new name, Town Creek Chophouse.

“The excitement doesn’t stop there,” Cooper said in the news release. “Plans are in place to transform the lower level into a family-friendly entertainment center featuring golf simulators, arcade games, duckpin bowling, the craft brewery, live music stage, and more – creating a gathering space unlike anything else in the area.”

Parkway residents: remain in MAC

VW independent staff

ROCKFORD — There doesn’t appear to be much interest by Parkway Local Schools district residents to switch athletic conference affilation.

According to Superintendent Laura Young, 663 responded to an online poll with the question “Overall, do you support the proposal to move from the MAC to the NWC?” 62.7 percent of respondents said no, 30.9 percent said yes and 6.4 percent were unsure.

During a town hall Board of Education meeting held on Sunday, those in attendance were given a paper ballot to vote and according to Young, out of the 122 people present who voted, all voted to stay in the MAC.

“The Board of Education is taking in all of this information and will decide where to go from here,” she said.

Parkway and Delphos St. John’s both recently received inquries to consider joining the NWC.

“A letter of interest was sent to both Delphos St John’s and Parkway and at this time we continue to look for ways to enhance the NWC,” Commissioner Jon Derryberry said.

The two schools were officially invited in 2023, but both declined.

Power back for Paulding Putnam members

VW independent staff/submitted information

PAULDING — Paulding Putnam has largely restored power to around 3,000 members following a powerful straight-line wind event that began Friday afternoon, March 13, and continued through Monday morning, March 16. The storm, which brought gusts up to 77 mph across Ohio, caused widespread damage — one of the toughest faced since 2012’s derecho.

Ohio electric cooperatives saw power outages climb over 83,000 by Friday night, and more are still without power at other utilities across the state.

At peak, there were 41 electric outages across Paulding Putnam’s seven-county service territory — from Allen County, Indiana, to Putnam County, Ohio. Roughly half of these outages stemmed from AEP transmission issues, notably impacting areas like Ottoville and Antwerp. Paulding Putnam crews documented 40–50 broken poles, countless downed trees, and even a transformer oil fire. Winds remained relentless over four days, making restoration challenging but never deterring the co-op’s commitment to safety and swift recovery.

Paulding Putnam’s small but dedicated team worked around the clock in rotating shifts, prioritizing safe, efficient repairs. Members saw linemen in action, but dispatchers also worked behind the scenes, managing outages, coordinating crews, and making decisions in a high-stress environment to ensure crews were safe. According to the co-op, “the top priority is making sure every employee and contractor goes home safe at the end of the day.”

Clean up and inspections will continue this week, and crews are ready for continued support if weather conditions worsen.

Paulding Putnam extends its deepest thanks to everyone who made this restoration possible, including:

• Mutual aid crews and contractors, including Frankart Power Line Services, Tricounty Rural Electric Cooperative, and North Western Electric Cooperative.
• Local police, fire, and EMS personnel who managed traffic and responded to hazardous situations with professionalism and care.
• Community partners who kept our crews fueled and fed, especially Millie’s Cafe in Ottoville and the Schlatter Family. Your kindness meant the world during long, difficult hours.

Wind left many AEP customers in the dark

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

More than 3,000 local AEP customers lost power due to Friday’s wind storm that rolled into northwest Ohio and the extreme wind slowed repairs and restoration efforts. 

According to an AEP spokesperson, across the Van Wert service area,  including Van Wert County and all of Delphos, 3,339 customers lost power at the peak of the storm at 6 p.m. on Friday evening.

“Within 24 hours, AEP Ohio crews had restored power to 97 percent of those customers,” the spokesperson said. “52 customers in the Van Wert service area were without power as of 7 p.m. Saturday. Crews worked as quickly as they safely could to restore power to the remaining customers.”

“The storm that came through Sunday night and Monday morning caused 500 customers to lose power,” they added late Monday afternoon. “Crews have since restored service to all but two of those customers and will continue working until everyone has electricity again.”

AEP said the high winds caused damage to the power grid not seen since the derecho of 2012.

AEP Ohio delivers power to 1.5 million customers across 61 counties in Ohio. At the peak of Friday’s storm, approximately 258,000 customers lost power with the largest numbers being reported in central, northern and eastern parts of the state.

LHS Theatre Dept. presents comedy-drama

Submitted information

The Lincolnview High School Theatre Department will present the comedy-drama Sitting in a Tree beginning this week at the Van Wert Civic Theatre.

Sitting in a Tree is a heartfelt story that follows the lives of John and Sarah as they navigate the joys, challenges, humor, and heartache that come with growing up, falling in love, and building a life together. Blending comedy with touching moments of reflection, the play explores how love grows not through grand gestures, but through everyday choices, patience, forgiveness, and shared memories.

The production spans several decades in the lives of the characters, beginning with the awkward moments of young love and moving through marriage, family life, and the golden years. Along the way, audiences will encounter colorful characters, humorous situations, and heartfelt moments that remind us that love often grows stronger through life’s complications.

The student cast features Noah Peters as John and Hadley Goins as Sarah. Other cast members include Kale Kundert as Howard, Gabby Thomas as Alice, Graham Kill as Archie, Heath Turner as Grandpa, Abby Dannenfelser as Laura, Katie Kundert as Elizabeth, Yaddo Von Stetina and Maliya Hershberger as Aunt Gertrude, Elijah Martz as Rufus the sweeper salesman, Owen Dannenfelser as Cletus the Clown, Aiden Smith as the clown assistant, Logan Block as the Pastor, Kyleigh Cummings as Agnes, Marcus Kerns as Reverend Eli, Finn Howard as Carrie, Zae Dee Lippi as Kimberly, Theo Anderson as Kent, Eddy Hesseling as Jack, and Karson Kundert as Freddy.

Adult guest actors include Dan Bulau and Jean Bulau portraying the elderly John and Sarah, along with Ken Markward as the elderly Archie.

The production also features an elementary ensemble including Elijah Malone and Willow Snyder as the young John and Sarah along with Lydia Allison, Georgie Carey, Eden Early, Hunter Hitchcock, Molly Hughes, Logan Lape, and Connor Watkins.

Howell Scholarship seeking applications

Submitted information

Applications are now being accepted for the Howell Memorial Scholarship Program.

The Howell Memorial Scholarship Program will award two separate scholarships of $1,000 each to one boy in memory of James Howell and one girl in memory of Kathleen Davis.  

The purpose is to provide a one-time assistance to two students who have displayed excellence in the classroom and in extracurricular activities (sports, performing arts, community projects, etc.). Scholarship money may be applied to the cost of tuition, room/board or books.

To apply, a student must be a senior currently enrolled at a school in one of the following counties: Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Mercer, Hardin, Putnam or Van Wert.

All applications submitted before the deadline will be considered upon review of grades, extracurricular activities and references. Completed forms need to be submitted by Friday, April 17. Winners will be announced by April 30.

Scan the QR Code and follow the link to fill out the Howell Memorial Scholarship Program Application.