Former VW mail carrier changes plea to federal charge

Renovation work…

Ray Etzler Gymnasium at Crestview High School looks pretty bare right now – no gym floor, bleachers, stage or anything else. It’s all part of a plan to upgrade the district’s athletic facilities, indoors and outdoors. Gym and concession stand renovations are expected to be complete by September 1. Photo provided

Marvin Jr. to lead Liberty Bell talk

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert County Historical Society will welcome Ron Marvin Jr. as a special America250 speaker on Flag Day, Sunday, June 14. The program will be held in the Annex Building starting at 2 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. Martin will be talking about the Liberty Bell’s last great trip, which included a stop in Van Wert. 

Marvin will share the story of the Liberty Bell’s last great trip, as it toured coast to coast on a specially designed train. Beginning its journey from Philadelphia in July, 1915, it wound its way through several northern states toward San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific Exposition. 

Along the route, thousands lined the rails for even a brief glimpse of the Liberty Bell. Several lucky towns such as Van Wert even had the Bell make a brief stop. In November, the Bell departed California along a southerly route as it headed toward Philadelphia. Upon its return in December, 1915, the Bell had traveled through parts of 24 states. Unfortunately, the damage from numerous train rides over the years had taken its toll and the City Fathers of Philadelphia decided that the Bell’s traveling days were over, and it would forever reside in the city. It is now prominently displayed in the Liberty Bell Center, completed in 2003.

This presentation will explore the routes the Liberty Bell train took as it traversed the state, including Van Wert County. Attendees will learn about the Bell’s visit to Van Wert, including those responsible for its visit. Utilizing period newspaper accounts, Marvin will share numerous stories and interesting facts connecting the state and the Liberty Bell. He will also mention several reproduction Liberty Bells that have traversed the state as well.

Lawmakers hear data center opposition

Nick Evans/Ohio Capital Journal

COLUMBUS — More than 100 Ohioans submitted testimony ahead of state lawmakers’ Select Committee on Data Centers’ single hearing for public comment.

Lawmakers heard an array of concerns about the proliferation of data centers around the state — the environmental impact, the cost of tax breaks, and the use of nondisclosure agreements to avoid public scrutiny.

Lawmakers also received pointed critiques from Ohioans who say elected officials have been too slow to respond to their frustrations, and their response thus far has been inadequate.

Many pressed lawmakers for a data center moratorium — a step lawmakers have so far been unwilling to take.

“The citizens are going to continue working to ban them if the legislative body doesn’t take action,” Stephanie Stock, the president of Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, warned.

Organizers are currently gathering signatures for a constitutional amendment prohibiting construction of data centers that consume more than 25 megawatts a month.

Broken trust

Many speakers made the drive from Adams County in Appalachian Ohio. They described a familiar pattern of new industries showing up in Appalachian communities to extract resources and leave residents with little if any benefit.

“I understand the importance of jobs; I understand economic development. I am not opposed to progress,” Emily Young told lawmakers. “I am opposed to communities being asked to accept risk before they have been given honest answers.”

No industry, she said, has asked local communities “to surrender the amount of land, water, energy, and local control” as hyperscale data centers have.

To many speakers, the epitome of those demands is the industry’s use of nondisclosure agreements to shield new developments from public input.

Jessica Baker from Williamsburg brought in 16 NDAs from a data center project in a nearby town.

She recited the officials — council members, the mayor, fire chief, village engineer, and more — as she flipped through the documents.

Two defendants appear in CP Court

VW independent staff

Just two criminal hearings were held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week. The cases are separate and unrelated.

Joshua Burnett, 48, of Van Wert, denied violating his bond with a positive drug test and failing to appear in court. Judge Martin D. Burchfield set a further hearing for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 10.

Dylan Slagle, 22, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to one count each of importuning and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, both fifth degree felonies. He was released on surety bond and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24.

Honor Flight to depart next Tuesday

VW independent staff

Flag City Honor Flight is preparing for its 35th mission on Tuesday, June 9, taking 78 veterans, primarily from the Vietnam War era to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials built in their honor.

The organization relies on community donations and flight sponsorships to continue the mission. Veterans pay nothing on an Honor Flight trip. As a 100 percent volunteer-led organization, every dollar received goes directly toward honoring and thanking veterans for their service.

The trip spans one day and begins at 5:30 a.m., when veterans and guardians arrive at Rugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport. The flight will department for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at 6:30 a.m. After arrival, those on the flight will visit the Iwo Jima Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Navy Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and memorials for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The day will also include a stop at Arlington National Cemetery for the changing of the guard and wreath laying, lunch, and later dinner at the FDR/MLK Memorials. The veterans and guardians will leave Washington, D.C. at 7 p.m. and will arrive in Toledo an hour later. A welcome home celebration will be held after that before veterans department for their homes.

Flag City Honor flight serves all of northwest Ohio, as does Honor Flight Northeast Indiana, and southeast Michigan.

The final flight of 2026 by Flag City Honor Flight is scheduled for September 15. More information about Flag City Honor Flight and applications for future flights can be found online at flagcityhonorflight.org.

Honor Flight’s roots are traced back to Springfield, Ohio. In May, 2004, the WWII Memorial was finally completed and dedicated in Washington DC. This quickly became the topic of discussion among WWII veterans who were patients at a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Springfield, Ohio.

Students ROAR!

The Convoy Lions Club held an awards ceremony at the end of the school year to award the third grade classes at Crestview Elementary for working hard in the advanced reading program. In recognition of their hard work the ROAR (Reinforcement Of Advanced Reading) pays them five cents per point. They must pass a test over the content of the book with a score of 80 percent or better. Point values for each book are determined by the AR Program. Pictured are Greg Kulwicki, Convoy Lions Club; Leo the Lion; Mike Myers, Convoy Lions Club; Lydia Ballard, first place; Claire Hirschy, second place; Landon Shaner, third place. Special thanks to Convoy Tastee Freeze for the donation of the free ice cream cones. Photos submitted

And the pitch…

Van Wert’s Conner Harris fires a pitch during Tuesday’s Division IV regional semifinal game against Perkins at Bowling Green State University. Unfortunately, the Cougars were held off the scoreboard and lost to the third ranked Pirates 3-0. A full game story can be found on the Sports page. Photo courtesy of Monica Campbell

Yost issues report on sex buyers

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — More sex buyers are being arrested and prosecuted in Ohio, but jail time and fines remain minimal, and a mandate that offenders attend “john school” is inconsistently enforced, according to a new report released on Tuesday by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

“The Drivers of Demand,” commissioned internally by Yost, provides a first-ever look at sex buyers arrested in Ohio and the criminal consequences they have faced.

“For far too long, victims bore the blame for sex trafficking,” Yost said. “But that blame really belongs to sex buyers – they’re the ones fueling the illicit trade. Without the demand, sex trafficking doesn’t exist.”

Reducing the demand for commercial sex has been a core priority for Yost throughout his tenure as attorney general. His office played a leading role in pushing for the passage of House Bill 431, which, effective in 2021, established a criminal charge specifically for sex buyers (“engaging in prostitution”), toughwe penalties for sex buyers, and required those convicted of the charge to attend an educational program – or “john school.”

The report summarizes the case outcomes of more than 1,800 individuals arrested on charges of buying sex in Ohio from 2019, the beginning of Yost’s tenure, through 2025.

Many of the charges stemmed from the work of regional human trafficking task forces and statewide sweeps organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, an arm of Yost’s office. Most recently, Operation Spring Cleaning yielded 122 arrests of people seeking to buy sex.

Churches teaming up to offer GriefShare

Submitted information

First United Methodist Church and Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert are partnering this summer to host GriefShare, a special weekly seminar and support group designed to help people rebuild their lives after losing a loved one.

The 7-week session will run on from 6-8 p.m. each Wednesday night from June 10-July 22.

The group will meet at First United Methodist Church in the Scheidt Room, located at 113 W. Central Ave., Van Wert. The facility is fully handicap accessible.

At GriefShare, participants will watch a weekly video featuring counsel and insights from respected grief experts and relatable personal stories, followed by a time of sharing and support. Session topics include what is “normal” in grief, how to handle difficult and overwhelming emotions, and what to do with regrets, questions, and worries

Participant workbooks are available for $20 each to help guide individuals through the 7-week journey. Scholarships are available. GriefShare is a network of thousands of grief support groups meeting worldwide. The program is designed to offer help and hope as individuals navigate the intense pain of losing a spouse, child, family member, or friend.

For more information, to register, or to inquire about the program, please contact Jamie Ramos at First United Methodist Church (419.238.0631 ext. 105), Megan Tschantz at Trinity Friends Church, or visit vanwertfirst.net/events. General information about the program can also be found at griefshare.org.

Franklin Park vandalism…

The Van Wert Police Department is investigating more vandalism at Franklin Park. The latest round occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. Monday. Security video shows how the damage to a lamp post happened and investigating officers said they have a good idea as to who caused the damage. The damage was discovered Tuesday morning as city park personnel arrived for routine park maintenance. Other damage was also discovered and is being investigated. Last week, Van Wert City Council shelled out $1,500 to replace benches that were destroyed at Franklin Park. Anyone with additional information about any vandalism at Franklin Park should contact the Van Wert Police Department. Bob Barnes photos