ODOT: three area intersections to become all-way stops

Local and area residents honored by OSHP

VW independent staff/submitted information

TOLEDO — A teen from Convoy, a Payne man and three Paulding residents were among 17 people honored during a “Saved by the Belt” event.

Olivia Hampton, 18, of Convoy, was wearing her seat belt during an early March accident on Waller Road at Ohio 49 in Tully Township. Maddox Treece, 20, of Payne was saved by the belt during a late March crash on Ohio 500 in Paulding Township. Irma Chapman, 36, Jaystin Champman, 16, and Effie Weible, 9, all of Paulding were saved by the belt July 1 during a crash on U.S. 24 at County Rd. 87 in Crane Township.

On Thursday of this week, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, along with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, AAA, Vision Zero and the Toledo Mud Hens, highlighted the life-saving impact of safety belts during the fourth-annual Buckle Up – Batter Up “Saved by the Belt” event at Fifth Third Field.

During the event, Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Swindell, Patrol assistant superintendent, Bob Kazmierczak, AAA, and State Representative Michele Grim delivered remarks, stressing the importance of safety belt usage. Two honorees, Treece and Jordan Grosjean spoke about their crashes and shared why buckling up matters.

The Buckle Up – Batter Up “Saved by the Belt” event is an annual initiative that recognizes Ohio crash survivors whose lives were saved because they were wearing a safety belt. The program brings traffic safety outreach into a community baseball setting, underscoring how one simple decision can prevent serious injury or death.

Each of the 17 survivors were presented with a “Saved by the Belt” certificate by Lieutenant Colonel Swindell, Captain William Bowers, Findlay District commander, Muddy the Mud Hen, mascot for the Toledo Mud Hens, and our event partners. The certificates are signed by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Benjamin Suver and Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. In addition to the certificate, they also received a special Buckle Up – Batter Up “Saved by the Belt” license plate.

County fairs competing to fight hunger

VW independent staff/submitted information

This month and in early September, the Allen and Van Wert County Fairs are joining a youth-led statewide effort to fight hunger and give back to local community food banks by participating in the Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer contest. It’s presented by Farm Credit Mid-America and sponsored by Rural 1st.

This friendly competition among Ohio county fairs encourages youth leaders to collaborate with their local community to collect food donations for local food banks throughout their county fair. Since launching in 2021, Ohio junior fair boards have used creative tactics and impressive fundraising efforts to increase food donations year after year.

“We’re glad to bring this initiative back to county fairs across Ohio and to see young people step up and get their communities involved,” said Scott Laguire, regional vice president of agricultural lending at Farm Credit Mid-America. “The Allen and Van Wert County Fairs bring people together, and this contest gives folks a simple way to come alongside a cause that supports neighbors right here at home. In the end, our communities are the ones who benefit most.”

The Allen County Fair will run from August 21-29. The Van Wert County Fair is scheduled for September 1-7.

Record-breaking 2025:

• 4H leaders across Ohio united to collect a record-breaking 448,827 pounds of food for more than 60 food banks statewide in 2025.
• This marked the fourth consecutive year of record donations– with a 57 percent increase over 2024’s total of 286,000 pounds.
• Ross County in south Ohio was the overall state winner, collecting an astounding 122,640 pounds of food for Brookside Church and Good Samaritan Food Pantry.
• Since its inception, the annual contest has collected and donated more than 1 million pounds of food in Indiana and Ohio.

In addition to the food collected, Farm Credit Mid-America donated $500 to each fair board who participated and additional money to the winners in each region, totaling $63,000 to junior fair boards across Ohio.

Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer is one way Farm Credit Mid-America and its consumer lending brand, Rural 1st, invest in rural communities and agriculture. In 2025, the association contributed more than $4 million to impactful programs, including $1.59 million for youth, college students and young and beginning farmers.

Paving work set for SE Van Wert County

Submitted information

Ohio 116/Ohio 117 between Venedocia St. Marys Road and Becker Road (between the Allen County line and the Mercer County line in Jennings Township) will close on Tuesday, August 11, for nine days for full-width paving. Access to all properties will be maintained with flaggers.

Elks honor Eagle Scout…

Van Wert Lodge No. 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks recently recognized Xavier Tyler for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Xavier is a member of Boy Scout Troop No. 35, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church in Van Wert. Tyler attended Vantage Career Center and graduated this spring from Van Wert High School. He was presented a letter of commendation and a special citation from Bryon F. Klatt, Grand Exalted Ruler/National President of the Elks. For Tyler’s Eagle Scout project, he built and installed a book box and a Food Pantry Box at Union Center. Pictured from left to right are Greg Amstutz, Black Swamp Council Representative, Eagle Scout Xavier Tyler and Michael C. Stanley, Lodge Scouting Liaison. Photo submitted

Longtime death row inmates get reprieves

VW independent staff

COLUMBUS – Citing ongoing problems involving the willingness of pharmaceutical suppliers to provide drugs necessary for lethal injections, Governor Mike DeWine issued three more reprieves of execution:

• Keith LaMar, who was scheduled to be executed on January 13, 2027.  The new date of execution has been moved to January 16, 2030. LaMar has been on death row since 1995.
• Scott Group, who was scheduled to be executed on February 17, 2027.  The new date of execution has been moved to February 13, 2030. Group has been on death row since 1999.
• Davel Chinn, who was scheduled to be executed on March 18, 2027.  The new date of execution has been moved to March 13, 2030. Chinn has been on death row since 1989.

Other states have continued carrying out death sentences via lethel injection, while others have changed methods, including the use of a firing squad or nitrogen gas.

Since DeWine took office in 2019, there have been no executions in Ohio.

Vantage ready, but new building delayed

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

When high school classes begin on Thursday, August 20, Vantage Career Center will have just under 600 students to begin the new academic year.

High School Director Ben Winans gave an update during Thursday night’s monthly meeting of the Vantage Career Center Board of Education and said 335 of the students will be juniors and 262 will be seniors. He also noted that incoming student orientation will take place on Monday, August 17, for trade and industry programs and Tuesday, August 18, for business and service programs.

“To better accommodate increased enrollment, each evening will be split into two sessions,” he explained. “Information outlining specific session times has been mailed to all new students, and our student services team will be making follow-up phone calls throughout the week to assist with any questions.”

Winans also said staff members are scheduled to return to the building on Wednesday, August 19, for the school’s annual in-service and planning day. He noted the administrative team will introduce new team members and outline primary goals for the upcoming school year.

Superintendent Rick Turner thanked the school’s 12-month staff members who have been working to prepare for the upcoming school year.

“The maintenance staff has the building and grounds in great shape, while our IT department has been busy ensuring our technology is up to date and ready for staff and students,” he said. “Additionally, our administration has filled all open positions and is currently working on orientation and professional development activities to support our new employees.”

He also said a meet-and-greet has been planned for 5:45 p.m. Thursday, September 3, prior to the monthly board meeting, to allow board members to meet with new employees.

While the main campus is ready for the new school year, the building that will house the Vantage Academy of Medical Careers won’t be open in time. The original plan was to have it ready in time for the 2026-2027 school year. Alexander and Bebout President Sara Zura spoke to the board Thursday and gave a new completion date of September 29. In the meantime, classes will continue to be held in their current location.

“While we are disappointed that we will not be in the Academy of Medical Careers for the start of the school year, we remain focused on the magnificent training facilities that it will provide for our students and our community for many years to come,” Turner said.

SWCD, Farm Bureau co-host event

Submitted information

The Van Wert Soil and Water Conservation District held its 77th annual meeting by co-hosting the event with the Van Wert Farm Bureau at the ag banquet on Tuesday at Life House Church in Van Wert.

A SWCD election was held for one supervisor position on the SWCD Board of Supervisors five-member Board. Tristin Miller was elected to serve a three-year term commencing January 1, 2027.

Dinner was provided by Lock 16 Catering. The speaker was Ty Higgins who delivered a great presentation.

Lilly Mount and Grace Linton were the SWCD scholarship recipients. Craig Pohlman was recognized by the SWCD and received the Conservation Farmer Award. This award is given to honor individuals for their conservation achievements. Farm Bureau honored their scholarship recipients, Elyssa Renner, Maddie Gerdeman, Matthew Dealey, and Ryan Bowsher.

The Van Wert Ag Hall of Fame Award was presented to Dale Profit for his many agricultural accomplishments.

Fort Wayne Railroad announces milestones

VW independent staff/submitted information

FORT WAYNE (IN) — On the heels of the Big Boy locomotive making its historic trip through the region, there’s another exciting announcement from northeast Indiana.

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has announced the acquisition of Nickel Plate Road Business Car No. 1 — a remarkably intact Pullman-built executive car that once operated at the center of one of the most influential railroad systems in American history.

Constructed in February, 1929 by the Pullman Company at Calumet, the car was built for Oris and Mantis Van Sweringen — the architects of a railroad empire that spanned the midwest and east coast, shaping the movement of freight, industry, and capital across the nation. The car later operated as Chesapeake & Ohio No. 1 and Norfolk & Western Railway No. 1, tracing a direct line through the consolidation and evolution of American railroading in the mid-20th century.

A comprehensive overhaul is planned to address deterioration and modernize the car’s critical systems, with restoration costs expected to begin at $300,000. Once complete, Business Car No. 1 will enter service alongside Nickel Plate Road Business Car No. 7, the Kitchi Gammi Club, which the organization acquired in 2025, operating behind restored Nickel Plate steam and diesel locomotives. When preserved, historic railroad equipment is rarely reunited with the same locomotives and companion cars it was built to travel with. Together, this remarkable collection will recreate an authentic Nickel Plate Road train, offering passengers a living experience that few preservation organizations can provide.

Initial relocation costs and seed money to begin the work have been granted by a private donor and the Olive B. Cole Foundation, Inc. Click here to make a gift or contribution online or by mail at NKP 1, Post Office Box 11017, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46855.

“Opportunities like this are exceptionally rare, and this is one we have pursued for over 10 years,” said Kelly Lynch, Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Railroad. “This car sits at the intersection of multiple major railroads and a defining era of passenger rail travel and locomotive development. Alongside our other Pullman car, it opens a fantastic way for people to experience the craftsmanship and culture of American railroading in motion. We are grateful to Powell Felix for his recent guardianship of the car, and to Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad for providing it a safe harbor after the closure of the Indiana Transportation Museum.”

ESC board schedules next meeting

Submitted information

PAULDING — The next Western Buckeye ESC governing board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, in the ESC conference room, 835 N. Williams St., Paulding.

Pickup truck fire…

The Van Wert Fire Department was dispatched to a pickup truck fire in the 11000 block of Van Wert Decatur Road shortly after 8:30 a.m. Thursday. The fire was put out quickly although the truck appeared to be a total loss. The preliminary investigation pointed to a lithium battery that was being carried in the back of the pickup bed and due to rain, moisture had gotten into the battery and caused it to catch fire. The Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer