Wrenway Park ready for annual wiffleball tournament

Lincoln Highway “Buy Way” sale on tap

VW independent staff/submitted information

The month of August brings with it back-to-back sales that go right through Van Wert County.

The U.S. 127 Yard Sale wrapped up on Sunday and now, the 22 annual Lincoln Highway “Buy Way” Yard Sales will take place east to west across Ohio this Thursday through Sunday, August 13-15.

The historic Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental road for automobile travel in the United States, dedicated in 1913 and extending from New York City’s Times Square to San Francisco’s Lincoln Park. Combined, various routes across Ohio comprise over 400 miles today.

Sales in previous years have seen families, neighbors, and groups of all kinds selling their wares from yards, porches, barns and garages; under tents and in open-air locations.

The idea began in 2005 and has spawned a variety of activities from Convoy to East Liverpool on the Ohio River across from West Virginia. A number of communities have group sales in public parks and other locations. Van Wert County communities on the Lincoln Highway from west to east include Convoy, Van Wert, Middle Point and Delphos. There will be a bit of disruption just west of the Van Wert city limits – Lincoln Highway, at its intersection with U.S. 224 is closed to all traffic for construction of a roundabout. A detour is posted.

Visit historicbyway.com for sale locations and activities along Lincoln Highway.

Scholarship awarded…

Harper Roop, a 2026 Van Wert High School graduate, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Jared Fleming Running Scholarship. It was created in memory of 2013 VWHS graduate Jared Fleming, a 2012 state track and field champion and former Ohio State University student-athlete. It will be awarded annually to a VWHS graduate who demonstrates excellence in running, leadership and perseverance. Roop will attend Miami University, where she plans to double major in kinesiology and nutrition/dietetics before pursuing chiropractic school. The scholarship has been established as a permanent fund through the Van Wert County Foundation. For more information or to contribute, contact the Van Wert County Foundation. Shown above (left to right) are: Van Wert High School Athletic Director Trent Temple, Austin Fleming, Harper Roop, Kim Fleming and Jay Fleming. Photo submitted

Saturday morning crash…

Ohio City Fire and EMS was called to the intersection at U.S.127 and Ohio 709 for a three-vehicle accident late Saturday morning. The Buick and Honda collided at the intersection, then the Buick struck a motorhome. Both cars were towed from the scene while the motorhome sustained light damage. No one was injured. Bob Barnes photos

3 intersections to become all-way stops

VW independent staff/submitted information

LIMA — The Ohio Department of Transportation District 1 will convert three intersections to all-way stops to improve safety. Two of them are in Mercer County, with one near Rockford, while remaining change will occur in Paulding County.

The changes are expected to begin in two weeks and are part of a statewide initiative that is implementing all-way stops at select intersections throughout Ohio.

The locations selected for conversion are where crash data found the most common type of crash was the result of a failure to stop or a failure to yield to cross-traffic that was not required to stop.

“Following the successful implementation of all-way stops at eight intersections in the spring, initial results are encouraging and well-received by local communities,” said Chris Hughes, ODOT District 1 deputy director. “As we evaluate other intersections with low crash rates, but concerning safety trends, we are pleased to have this low-cost tool available where it is needed most.” 

The work will take place over the next two months. The locations and expected timing of the closures are detailed below:

August 24: Mercer County – Ohio 119 (Defiance Avenue)/Ohio 716 (Harrison Street) in the village of Maria Stein.

August 31: Mercer County – Ohio 118/Ohio 707 near the village of Rockford.

September 7: Paulding County – Ohio 637/County Road 138 in Jackson Township.

Message boards to alert drivers of the changes will be placed approximately two weeks prior and remain on site for approximately two weeks after the change to remind motorists of the new traffic pattern. All approaches of the intersections will be equipped with flashing stop-ahead signs. 

ODOT will continue to monitor the intersections to ensure the all-way stop is operating as intended.

Throughout Ohio, ODOT is reviewing intersections to determine where all-way stops could make travel safer. The solution has been found to improve intersection safety in other states. Since 2018, the state of North Carolina converted over 500 intersections from a typical two-way to all-way stop control. Their analysis of 348 of these locations showed a 100 percent reduction in fatal crashes and 95 percent reduction in serious injury crashes. Similar results were also seen in the state of Delaware.

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 Tyas 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. Tyas attended Vantage Career Center. He was presented a letter of commendation and a special citation from Bryon F. Klatt, Grand Exalted Ruler/National President of the Elks. For his Eagle Scout project, Tyas 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 Tyas 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.