Brownfield Grants going toward demolition projects

Friday morning power outage hits VW

VW independent staff

More than 1,400 AEP customers in Van Wert found themselves without power for nearly two hours this (Friday) morning.

According to AEP, 1,437 customers were impacted by the outage, which began at 9:43 a.m. Field personnel were dispatched and patrolled power lines and equipment in the area. While they were unable to find the cause of the outage, they were able to successfully and safely re-energize the circuit to restore power to all the customers at 11:33 a.m.

VWHS teachers honored at annual banquet

Submitted information

Van Wert City Schools honored its educators, staff, students, and retirees Wednesday evening during the 31st annual Van Wert City Endowment Fund for Educators Banquet, held at Willow Bend Country Club.

The evening served as a celebration of Van Wert City Schools and recognizes the lasting impact teachers and staff members have on students throughout their school years.

The Van Wert City Endowment Fund for Educators was established by Van Wert High School graduate and former school psychologist Randy Gardner. Gardner created the fund as a way to honor three teachers who made a meaningful difference in his life: Gil Smith, Glenn Livingston, and Ralph Gallapoo, his grandfather. His vision was to allow graduating seniors to reflect on and recognize the teachers and school employees who had a positive influence on them.

As part of the evening, 10 Van Wert High School seniors paid tribute to their favorite teachers and staff members by sharing letters they had written about the impact those individuals had on their lives.

The top five GPA students and their selected teachers were:

• Johan Gemmer, who honored Bob Spath
• Brenna Kimmet, who honored Sarah Zabka
• Katie Kramer, who honored Krista Baer
• Maria Parrish, who honored Traci McCoy
• Carter Wright, who honored Bryce Crea

Students whose letters were selected by the endowment committee and their selected teachers or staff members were:

• Jillian Sempkowski, who honored Ben Collins
• Layla Sterrett, who honored office secretaries Amy Feasel and Shelly Smith
• Kaiven Welch, who honored Keith Recker
• Blake Wilson, who honored Joy DeVelvis
• Bella Wise, who honored Tami Suzuki

Defendants appear in Common Pleas Court

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

A Van Wert man facing five felony sex abuse charges was arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week.

William Ladd, Jr., 51, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of sexual battery, second degree felonies; two counts of sexual battery, fourth degree felonies, and one count of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a felony of the fifth degree. The alleged crimes occurred between March of 2024 and February of this year and involved a juvenile between the ages of 13 and 18.

Judge Martin D. Burchfield set Ladd’s bond at $100,000 cash or surety, and ordered him to have no contact with the victim and the victim’s mother. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 27.

Five other people were arraigned this week, and eight other defendants appeared for unrelated proceedings. Judge Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

Tristan Thompson, 20, of Celina, entered a not guilty plea to kidnapping, a first degree felony; having weapons while under disability, a third degree felony, and assault, a first degree misdemeanor. Bond was set at $250,000 cash or surety, and Thompson was ordered to have no contact with the victim. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 27.

Logan Linton, 33, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 20.

Danielle Farrow, 42, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to domestic violence, a fourth degree felony. She 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. June 10.

Robert Bair, 36, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to aggravated possession of drugs, a third degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. June 10.

Farm Focus awards annual scholarships

Submitted information

The recipients of the 2026 Farm Focus Inc. scholarships are Claire Keysor, Maddie Gerdeman, Delana Rank and Elyssa Renner awarded $1,500 each, and Amanda Burenga and Lilian Mount awarded $500 each.

Keysor is a 2024 home school graduate attending Cedarville University and is majoring in biology pre-vet medicine. She plans to be a large animal veterinarian.

Gerdeman is a 2025 Lincolnview High School graduate attending Oklahoma State University majoring in animal science. She plans to contribute to the beef industry.

Rank will be a 2026 Lincolnview High School graduate planning to attend the University of Findlay majoring in pre-vet/animal science. She plans to be a large animal veterinarian in Van Wert area.

Renner will be a 2026 Lincolnview High School graduate planning to attend Wright State University Lake Campus in Celina. She plans to major in agribusiness and use her skills back in her home community.

Mount is a 2024 Lincolnview High School graduate attending the University of Findlay, majoring in animal science (pre-vet and equine studies). Her career goal is to be a large animal veterinarian.

Burenga is a 2025 Van Wert High graduate attending University of Illinois majoring in agricultural and biological engineering. Her career goal is to work in the agricultural industry.

Farm Focus Inc. was founded in 1974 to promote agriculture in Van Wert County and the surrounding area. It is their continued mission to assist Van Wert County students through a scholarship program that will enable them to pursue a degree in an agricultural related field.

Judges question private school vouchers

By Morgan Trau/Ohio Capital Journal

A panel of Ohio judges questioned the state’s attorneys this week about why taxpayers are footing the bill for private school tuition.

Leaders of public schools headed to Columbus for an early morning hearing before the 10th District Court of Appeals.

More than 300 public school districts are suing over the state’s private school voucher program, named EdChoice by lawmakers. It allows any family, regardless of income level, to get taxpayer dollars to attend nonpublic schools.

A trial judge ruled last summer that the program was unconstitutional.

The state appealed the majority of the ruling, while the schools are pushing back against the one charge that was decided against them. The schools complain that the voucher program creates segregation in schools, but the judge said there was no evidence of that.

Schools are currently experiencing cuts to jobs, classes, and athletics as many face budget shortfalls.

“The damage that’s being done to Ohio’s amazing public schools is undeniable,” Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board member Dan Heintz said.

Some, like Heintz’s still don’t have air conditioning.

Public schools deserve more money, he and Cleveland-based attorney Miriam Fair said.

“The General Assembly has abdicated its constitutional obligation to public school students and instead prioritizes private education,” Fair said while speaking to the court.

Nonpartisan research group Policy Matters Ohio found that K-12 schools are being underfunded by nearly $3 billion over the next two years.

In the fiscal year 2025, more than $1 billion of taxpayer dollars went to private schools. Private schools are set to get more than $2 billion over the next two years.

Some supporters of the private school vouchers claim that public schools are wasting money, some of which they said they need, on the lawsuit.

“When they come begging for more taxes, ask them why they spent the money you already gave them on losing lawsuits,” Attorney General Dave Yost said, in response to a post on X about the hearing beginning.

Heintz said each participating school has spent $2 per student for the past four years.

Based on that number, the coalition has spent $1.7 million on legal fees. This is a drop in the bucket compared to the $3 billion they say they were underfunded.

Crestview FFA goes to state convention

By Alecta Baxter/Crestview FFA reporter

CONVOY — Crestview FFA members recently traveled to the Ohio FFA State Convention, where they celebrated achievements, leadership, and service while representing their chapter with pride. Members kicked off the trip with a fun evening attending the baseball game between the Columbus Clippers and the Toledo Mud Hens, giving members an opportunity to enjoy time together before the convention activities began.

During the convention, the Crestview FFA Chapter was recognized for its charitable contributions, highlighting the chapter’s commitment to giving back to the community and helping those in need throughout the year.

Several members earned top honors in state proficiency awards. Makinzee Williamson placed third in the state in the Equine Placement Proficiency, recognizing her dedication and hands-on experience in the equine industry. Alli Thatcher also earned third place in the state in Sheep Production Proficiency for her hard work, dedication, and knowledge in sheep production.

Crestview FFA officers were also recognized for their leadership, with three officers earning Gold Rated Officer distinctions. Emily Lichtle was honored for her service as Reporter, Alli Thatcher for her work as Treasurer, and Makinzee Williamson for her dedication as Secretary. These recognitions reflect the time, commitment, and leadership each officer demonstrated throughout the year.

In addition, eight Crestview FFA members proudly received their Ohio FFA State Degrees, one of the highest honors awarded at the state level. Recipients included Abby Dietrich, Mathew Dealey, Owen Heckler, Logan Schlemmer, Alli Thatcher, Karsyn Parrish, Kenadi Short, and Emily Lichtle. The State Degree recognizes members for their accomplishments in agricultural education, leadership development, and supervised agricultural experiences.

Adding to the chapter’s accomplishments, Alison Owens represented Crestview FFA as a member of the Ohio FFA State Chorus, showcasing her musical talents while performing alongside FFA members from across the state. The Crestview FFA Chapter is incredibly proud of all members who represented the chapter at the Ohio FFA State Convention and congratulates them on their dedication, leadership, and success.

Memorial Day travel could set new records

VW independent staff/submitted information

It appears as though high gas prices won’t deter people from traveling during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend.

AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for Memorial Day between Thursday, May 21 and Monday, May 25. This year’s domestic travel forecast is slightly higher than last year and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record with 39.1 million people traveling by car and 3.66 million expected to fly to their destinations.

Travel in AAA’s East Central region, which includes Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, is expected to be nearly identical to last year, with approximately 6.9 million people expected to travel during the five day holiday period.

While gas prices are higher than last Memorial Day weekend, average ticket prices for flights are lower than last year for those who booked early. 

“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”

Driving is the most popular way to travel and makes up 87 percent of the share of Memorial Day travelers. Drivers are paying more at the pump compared to last year when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17 on Memorial Day. Currently, pump prices are the highest they’ve been since the summer of 2022.  

July 3 concert being planned in Van Wert

VW independent staff

Navy Club Ship 726, which is organizing July 4 festivities in Van Wert, is now looking to add musical entertainment the night before at Fountain Park.

There’s no Feel Good Friday summer concert on Friday, July 3, so Navy Club Ship 726 is in the process of finding a band to perform that night. With Paulding native and country music singer Pete Schlegel performing Saturday night at Fountain Park, Commander Ken Myers said the group is looking for something different to add some variety between the two nights. The Pete Schlegel concert has been organized by Navy Club Ship 726 and will be free to the public, as will the concert being planning for July 3.

Navy Club Ship 726 is seeking donations to help fund the July 3 concert. Any donation can be sent to the Navy Club Ship 726, PO Box 223, Van Wert, or by reaching out to the club via its Facebook page.

In addition to a band on July 3, Myers said craft vendors are also being sought for that night and July 4. The club is continuing to organize an Independence Day parade in Van Wert to help celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.

Rotary Club scholarship winners named

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Rotary Club recently named Brenna Kimmet and Katie Kramer as the 2026 recipients of the Rotary Foundation Scholarship at Van Wert High School. Each student will receive a $1,000 annual scholarship for four years, totaling $4,000 per recipient.

Founded with the goal of recognizing volunteerism and financially supporting students pursuing post-secondary education, the Van Wert Rotary Club Foundation has awarded scholarships to graduating seniors since 1993. The scholarship program encourages students to embrace Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” as they continue their education and future careers.

Throughout the school year, the Van Wert Rotary Club invites high school seniors to attend weekly Rotary meetings to provide mentorship opportunities and exposure to local business and community leaders. Scholarship applicants are evaluated through a blind-scoring process that focuses on service, leadership, character development, and future aspirations.

Van Wert Rotary President J. Andrew Czajkowski congratulated both recipients on their achievements and commitment to serving others.

“Brenna and Katie represent the very best of Van Wert City Schools,” Czajkowski said. “Their leadership, academic success, and dedication to community involvement made them outstanding candidates for this year’s scholarships. Rotary is proud to support them as they continue their education and pursue their future goals.”

The Van Wert Rotary Club and Rotary Foundation continue to invest in local students while encouraging future generations to remain engaged in community service and leadership throughout their lives.

Ohio cracking down on Medicaid fraud

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine said Wednesday that he is implementing several new fraud prevention initiatives to better fight fraud, waste, and abuse in Ohio’s Medicaid system.

“Ohio has long been a national leader in fighting Medicaid fraud,” he said. In 2018, Ohio became the first state to implement Electronic Visit Verification in home health care. Today, we are ready to begin several new initiatives long in development that will enhance this nation-leading work and further protect taxpayer funds from those trying to defraud the state.

Governor DeWine said he’s directing the Ohio Department of Medicaid to implement the following

Statewide New Provider Moratorium

The Ohio Department of Medicaid will today ask the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services so Ohio may implement a six-month moratorium on new home-healthcare and hospice businesses being able to become Medicaid providers. This will allow Ohio Medicaid to stop enrollment of new providers and assess existing providers to help remove those at high risk for having committed fraud.

Immediate Payment Suspension to High-Risk Providers 

Ohio Medicaid will begin a policy of immediately removing and suspending payment to providers whose billing practices show “red flags” that indicate a high probability of fraud.

Executive Order for Emergency Rules 

The Governor will be issuing an executive order that will allow the Ohio Department of Medicaid to implement emergency rules to require more frequent revalidation of providers being identified as higher-risk for committing fraud.

Mandatory GPS Requirement for Electronic Visit Verification

Ohio Medicaid will file rules to require GPS for all providers using Electronic Visit Verification. Since March of last year, Ohio Medicaid has begun phasing in EVV as a mandatory requirement for home healthcare provider payment. In December, DeWine authorized Ohio Medicaid to begin the information technology investments needed to make GPS mandatory for EVV. Ohio Medicaid now ready to make this rule change to implement the requirement.