Lincolnview BOE gets updates, honors state athletes

Assailant training scheduled for Saturday

VW independent staff

If you see a large law enforcement/first responder presence at Lincolnview Local Schools this Saturday, there’s no cause for alarm.

The school is hosting the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office’s assailant training session, starting at 9 a.m. Deputies, fire and EMS and others are expected to be present for the drill.

While the Community Center won’t be part of the training, it will be off-limits to the general public during the session.

VWCT holds annual awards banquet

VW independent staff/submitted information

Over 60 members, volunteers, performers, directors, designers, supporters and friends gathered at the recent Van Wert Civic Theatre’s awards banquet to celebrate the dedication and countless hours of hard work that made the 2025-2026 season one to remember. Merit, Outstanding and Excellence awards were given out to many individuals. 

The production of the year was Bonnie and Clyde. Trustee’s Awards, determined by the board of the theatre, were given to Chad Kraner, Keith Allen and Terry Plas.  For the second year in a row, Van Wert Civic Theatre was able to give $500 scholarships for graduating high school seniors or those attending college to Grace Spieles, Abbie Mengerink and Sofia Alvarado. Special awards were given to the Adolescent and Young Adult Theatre members involved with the world premier of Looking Back, written and scored by Perri Webb.  

 The evening concluded with eight members of the cast of Dear Edwina Jr., serenading the audience with Sing Your Own Song from the show.  The show will be performed on June 25-28.

 A complete list of winners can be found on vwct.org or on the theatre’s Facebook page.

Sunday is Father’s Day, start of summer

VW independent staff

In addition to Sunday being Father’s Day, the Sunday season will officially arrive at 4:24 a.m. EDT. It will also be the longest day of the year in terms of daylight. The sun will rise at 6:06 a.m. Sunday and won’t set until 9:13 p.m., a total of 15 hours and seven minutes of daylight.

Lots of people traveling for July 4 holiday

VW independent staff/submitted information

AAA projects 72.2 million Americans, including 3.4 million Ohioans, will travel at least 50 miles from home for Independence Day between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, July 5. This year’s domestic travel forecast surpasses last year’s record of 71.8 million travelers, but the increase is smaller than recent year-over-year gains. The number of travelers driving and flying to their destinations is relatively flat compared to last year, while travel by other modes, including cruises, is the category seeing the biggest increase. 

“For many Americans, traveling the week of July 4th is tradition,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “The 9-day travel forecast includes travelers who are vacationing all week and people just getting away for the long holiday weekend. While the overall number of Independence Day travelers appears to be plateauing, we’re still expecting record volumes this year.” 

AAA projects 61.4 million people will travel by car over July 4 week, nearly the same number as last year when 61.3 million travelers took road trips. 85 percent of Americans traveling for Independence Day are expected to drive to their destinations, despite gas prices reaching four-year highs. 

Last year, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.15. This year, prices are higher but remain lower than 2022, when the national average was $4.80 on Independence Day. Despite higher gas prices, filling up the tank during a road trip is still cheaper than purchasing flights for many travelers, especially for families with kids.    

AAA projects 5.85 million travelers will take domestic flights over July 4 week, a 0.2 percent increase over last year. Air travelers make up eight percent of the share of holiday travelers.

Travel by other modes is seeing the biggest year-over-year growth compared to car and air travel. AAA projects 4.93 million Americans will take buses, trains, and cruises over Independence Day week, a 5.3 percent increase from last year. This year is also expected to surpass 2019’s figure of 4.79 million travelers, due in large part to the post-COVID cruising boom. 

Ohio City sex offender gets prison term

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

An Ohio City man convicted of sexual battery learned his fate during a hearing held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week.

Seth Marbaugh, 34, was sentenced by Judge Martin D. Burchfield to 36 months in prison and was ordered to pay court costs. Once freed, he’ll be subject to five years of post-release control and will be classified as a Tier III sex offender, the highest classification in Ohio. He’ll be required to register his address with authorities every 90 days for the rest of his life and he’ll face mandatory community notification.

During a hearing held in late April, Marbaugh changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to the third degree felony charge. Prior to the plea change, Marbaugh was charged with four counts of rape, all first degree felonies; three counts of sexual battery, third degree felonies, and three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, third degree felonies. He was also facing a charge of tampering with evidence and was scheduled to stand trial last month.

Court records show the alleged crimes occurred between May of 2023 and October of 2024, and the alleged victim was between 13-16 years of age.

In a separate and unrelated case, Derek Eland, 34, of Van Wert, was sentenced to up to six months at the WORTH Center, three years of community control and 30 days in jail at a later date for domestic violence, a fourth degree felony, and endangering children, a first degree misdemeanor. He was also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, seek and maintain employment, undergo substance abuse assessment and treatment, and was ordered to pay court costs.

Nine other hearings were held this week, with Judge Burchfield presiding over all of the hearings.

Arraignments

Corey Salisbury, 44, of Rockford, entered a not guilty plea to violating a protection order, a fifth degree felony. Bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety. A pre-trial conference will be set at a later date.

DeWine, Wilson differ on death penalty

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

COLUMBUS — Govenor Mike DeWine has called on Ohio legislators to abolish Ohio’s death penalty, but it doesn’t appear the request has much support among lawmakers and other high-ranking state leaders.

During a news conference held on Tuesday, DeWine confirmed his stance on the death penalty statute. In a twist, it was DeWine who helped write the statute as a state legislator in 1981.

“I believed that in some cases capital punishment could serve as a deterrent to keep some people from killing,” DeWine said. “For me, it was the moral justification for having a death penalty. I’m responsible for that decision.”

To emphasize his point now, Governor DeWine displayed charts and graphs detailing the diminishing number of death sentences handed out by courts and showing long wait times as legal appeals play out for those on death row. He said condemned murderers are increasingly unlikely to ever be executed.

“I do not believe that argument today can be successfully made, nor do I believe that there’s any chance in the future the facts that I’ve cited to support that belief will change,” he said. “Therefore, I believe Ohio should abolish the death penalty.”

DeWine also said he said data indicates the death penalty is not working as intended to deter crime, even as it brings years of pain to victims’ loved ones and takes a toll on the mental health of state employees who serve on execution teams.

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) has previously said he would “vigorously oppose” any effort to abolish the death penalty and before leaving office earlier this month, former Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost renewed his call to end the unofficial moratorium on executions that he claimed has “paralyzed Ohio’s justice system for the better part of a decade.”

Yost’s replacement, Andy Wilson, issued a statement on Wednesday that indicates he’s not in agreement with DeWine’s request. In the statement, Wilson called DeWine “a religious man who cares deeply about the sanctity of life.”

Free YMCA swim lessons a big hit

VW independent staff/submitted information

The YMCA and the Department of Health collaborated to provide free swim lessons and water safety training to residents in Van Wert County. Lessons began on Tuesday, June 2, and will end on Thursday.

The 50 openings for the free lessons filled up in just a few days, demonstrating a strong community need for accessible water safety education. Accordingly, the decision was made to start a waiting list and look for additional funding for those who didn’t get in the first round of swim lessons and water safety training. That funding source was found and more free lessons are planned.

Initially funded through the Ohio Department of Health, the lessons were offered to at-risk youth and adults across Van Wert County – especially individuals who have never had formal swim instruction and may not otherwise have been able to afford it. The program’s goal was simple and urgent: help more community members stay safe during the summer swim season by learning foundational skills that reduce the risk of drowning and build confidence in and around the water.

The YMCA welcomed retired Aquatics Director Martha Martin back to the pool deck to help teach participants the basics of swimming and water safety.

“I love seeing how the children progress each week,” she said. “It means a lot when they ask what they can try next – because that’s when you can see their confidence growing. Seeing them develop a love for the water, and knowing they’ll be safter because of these lessons, is what makes my heart happy.”

Current Aquatics Director Libby Price emphasized the importance of partnerships that make programs like this possible.

“We’re truly grateful to the Ohio Department of Health for helping us expand swim safety education in Van Wert County,” Price said. “There are many families in our community who want their children – and even adults in their household – to learn to swim, but cost can be a barrier. This support allows us to reach more people with life – saving skills and help prevent water – related accidents.”

Free concerts to be offered July 3-4

VW independent staff

As part of America’s 250th birthday celebration, back-to-back nights of free musical entertainment are set for July 3-4 in downtown Van Wert.

Van Wert Live’s Feel Good Friday concert series will be on pause June 26 and July 3, but Navy Ship Club 726 has secured Superhawk, a rock band based in Fort Wayne for 7 p.m. Friday, July 3. The concert will be family friendly.

On Saturday, July 4, Paulding native and country music singer Pete Schlegel will perform at Fountain Park. Schlegel has released several albums and has had a pair of No. 1 hit songs – “Leavin’ Ain’t As Easy As It Sounds” and “My God.” The free concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Navy Club Ship 726 is also organizing the July 4 parade in downtown Van Wert. The parade will travel from the YWCA to the YMCA, starting at 11 a.m.

Cast set for Youth Theatre production

Submitted information

The Van Wert Civic Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for its upcoming Youth Theatre production, Dear Edwina Jr., a heartwarming and hilarious musical that celebrates friendship, confidence, and the importance of being yourself.

Dear Edwina Jr. follows the story of Edwina Spoonapple, an advice-giving extraordinaire who dreams of becoming the next great advice columnist. Through a series of lively songs, colorful characters, and entertaining production numbers, Edwina and her neighborhood friends tackle everyday problems ranging from table manners to making friends. Filled with humor, charm, and valuable life lessons, this delightful musical is sure to entertain audiences of all ages.

Leading the production team is Director Emily Gehle, joined by Assistant Director Alyssa Taylor, Music Director Grace Doctor, and Rehearsal Assistant Abbie Mengerink. Together, they have been working with a talented group of young performers to bring this energetic and inspiring musical to the VWCT stage.

The talented cast includes:

• Edwina Spoonapple — Sophia Rupert
• Kelli Poshkonozovich — Madalynn Laukhuf

Local Salvation Army in need of help

By Deborah Weigner/special to the VW independent

The Salvation Army’s mission is to meet human need without discrimination. Hunger is a very important issue. 

With rising costs of gasoline and utilities, working families have to choose between going to work, paying bills and feeding the family well. Older citizens are also having a hard time having food in their homes.The Salvation Army of Van Wert served over 200 families (650 people) in the month of May and served 1,350 Wednesday meals in May.   

We strive to have good balanced food in our pantry and our meals. As new people request the food pantry and come for a free lunch, many times our supply of food is short. At this time of the year finances are very limited but expenses are high. Funding cuts have been an issue that makes the budget harder to move around funding to buy food. The requests for food is not going away but more neighbors are requesting food. 

Today The Salvation Army is requesting a call for financial gifts to help our programs continue. Some neighbors choose to help with food items such as cereal, Hamburger Helper, pasta, spaghetti sauce and instant potatoes.

However, financial gifts are a great way for us to purchase food for the pantry or feeding program. 

Your donation helps feed or neighbors in need in Van Wert County. Financial donations may be sent to the Salvation Army, PO Box 791, Van Wert, Ohio, 45891.

Thank you for considering this request and may God bless you.

Editor’s note: Deborah Weigner is the commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Van Wert.