Koontz retiring, Spath to take over VWHS’s CEO Program

W. Main St. crash…

One person was injured in a two vehicle accident tha occurred at the intersection of West Main St. and Lincoln St. shortly before 12 p.m. Friday. That person was transported by Van Wert EMS to St. Rita’s in Lima. A portion of W. Main St. was closed off to traffic while the scene was cleared. The Van Wert Police Department is investigating the accident. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer

Crash injures five people in Payne

VW independent staff/submitted information

PAYNE — Five people were transported to two different hospitals after a Thursday evening crash in Paulding County.

According to the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which handles Van Wert and Paulding counties, the two-vehicle accident occurred shortly before 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Ohio 114 and Ohio 49.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2023 Ford F-150, operated by Gary A. Artz, 35, of Rush City, Minnesota, was traveling westbound on Ohio 114 and failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Ohio 49.

Artz’s drove into the path of a northbound 2016 Chrysler Town & Country operated by Ryan J. Karhoff, 49, of Payne. Both Artz and Karhoff were transported to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.

Passengers in the Chrysler Town & Country were: Kristen M. Karhoff, 37, Ariana Karhoff, 10, and Chloe Karhoff, 7, all of Payne. Ariana Karhoff was transported to Ohio Health Van Wert Hospital while Kristen Karhoff and Chloe Karhoff were transported to Parkview Regional Medical Center.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Payne Fire & EMS, Scott Fire & EMS, Van Wert Fire Department, R & O Service, and John’s Towing & Repair Service.

The crash remains under investigation.

Success story from Recovery Court

VW independent staff/submitted information

Westwood Behavioral Health Center is pleased to announce that Jackie Forthman recently achieved a highly regarded milestone in her journey toward long term sobriety.

After two years of living substance free, Jackie graduated from Recovery Court. “A New Day the Right Way” is a program for adults who struggled with addiction and subsequently legal problems. A joint collaboration between Westwood Behavioral Health Center and the Van Wert Court of Common Pleas – the program is overseen by Judge Martin D. Burchfield.

Van Wert County residents who are facing legal charges which are a byproduct of their Substance Use Disorder (SUD) may be referred to the program. Entry into the 18-24 month program is preceded by an eligibility interview with drug court coordinator Jane Schmid of Westwood Behavioral Health Center. The four-phase program requires regular drug screening, appearances before the judge at least monthly, and participation in an intensive outpatient treatment program, followed by traditional outpatient therapy services. Additionally, participants attend weekly peer support meetings.

The goal of the program is to provide intense support and accountability for adults who commit to living a substance-free life, maintaining employment and independent housing.

A New Day, The Right Way was created in 2014 under now-retired Van Wert County Common Pleas Court Judge Charles Steele, together with Chief Probation Officer Bruce Showalter. In 2017, the program was certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Recertification is required every three years.

Treatment services for recovery court clients are provided by Westwood Behavioral Health Center which supports wellness through confidential and compassionate care. They offer mental health and addiction services, individual group and family therapy, IOP, psychiatric and psychiatric NP, on site pharmacy, case management and drug testing.

GOP to host Meet the Candidates Night

VW independent staff

The Van Wert County Republican Party has scheduled a “Meet the Candidates Night” for next month. The event will be held on Thursday, March 12 at the Van Wert Elks Lodge. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and candidates will begin speaking at 6:30 p.m.

Candidates who have confirmed they’ll attend:

• Jim Hoops and Craig Riedel, Ohio Senate District 1
• Eva Yarger and Todd Wolfrum, Van Wert County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge
• Jami Bradford and Arica Wermer, Van Wert County Auditor
• Roy Klofpenstein, Ohio House District 82

Candidates for Ohio Auditor, Ohio Secretary of State, Ohio Attorney General, Ohio Treasurer and Ohio Supreme Court have been invited and attendance for each is pending.

Each candidate will be given time to speak to highlight their candidacy. Time before and after candidate speeches will be available for individuals to meet and talk with each candidate.

“The Van Wert County Republican Central Committee is pleased to host this upcoming event, providing residents of our community with a valuable opportunity to meet and engage directly with Republican candidates,” party officials said in a press release.” With several key races on the ballot in the May 5 primary election, the committee aims give Republican voters a platform to hear directly from the candidates and ensure that these candidates are listening to what issues are important to Van Wert County.”

The event is free and open to the public, with no registration necessary. No meal will be served, but a cash bar will be available.

Tickets available for Chamber dinner

Submitted information

The Van Wert Chamber of Commerce will host its annual dinner and awards on Wednesday, March 18, at Willow Bend Country Club Those attending will be able to enjoy a St. Patrick’s “Pot O’Gold” themed event.

Entertainment will be provided by Krendl, the talented illusionist, creator, and inspirationalist who has captivated audiences with his magic and charm. With over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Krendl has become a household name and a sought-after performer known for his innovative and captivating shows.

Krendl’s services are always about creating purpose and meaning with events, transforming people’s emotions, and connecting to others. Krendl has captivated audiences on some of the world’s most iconic stages, working with two Broadway directors and appearing in multiple world tours for “The Illusionists Live from Broadway” and Neil Goldberg productions. His performances have graced prestigious venues such as the Sydney Opera House, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Crocus City Hall in Moscow, and the Folies Bergère in Paris. To learn more about Krendl click here.

The evening will begin with a social hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with appetizers, event themed cocktails, followed by dinner and the awards program recognizing the Business of the Year with the 2026 Crystal Image Awards, and the Chamber Person of the Year with the Ray Miller Award.

Tickets are $50 per person. Tables for eight are available for $400 and corporate tables for eight (includes a complimentary bottle of wine, and promotion as an event sponsor) are available for $500.

To register for the event, click here, contact the Chamber office by phone at 419.238.4390 or by email at mark@vanwertchamber.com.

Elks donation…

Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks recently donated $1,750 to the Haven of Hope Homeless Shelter of Van Wert County to assist them with their ongoing program to provide shelter to homeless men. The money is from a Gratitude Grant the lodge received from the Elks National Foundation. Since they have been open, Haven of Hope has assisted many men. Some have been able to obtain jobs, others their own apartments and/or an automobile. Van Wert Elks Lodge is happy to be able to assist the Haven of Hope. Pictured left to right are  Haven of Hope Board President Teresa Schaffer, Executive Director Jamie Ramos, and Lodge Exalted Ruler John Ream. Photo submitted

Ceremony held for CAMO Court graduates

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Two local veterans have become the seventh and eighth graduates of Van Wert Municipal Court’s Veterans Court, commonly referred to as CAMO (Courts Assisting Military Offenders) Court.

Sgt. Thomas Losh (U.S. Air Force) and Sgt. Keith Ratliff (U.S. Army) were honored during a brief ceremony held in the Van Wert Municipal Court courtroom Wednesday morning Family members, treatment team members, court officials and others gathered for the ceremony, which was led by Van Wert Muncipal Court Chief Probation Officer/Van Wert County Veterans Court Director John Wiley and Judge Jill T. Worthington. 

CAMO Court is designed to help veterans who have been charged with crimes related to alcohol and/or substance abuse. It provides necessary  treatment and support to those in the program, and has a high success rate.

“Defendants are screened for CAMO Court and they can be referred to us by law enforcement, corrections or when they identify as veterans upon their initial appearance at the court,” Wiley explained. “They go through a risk assessment and a substance abuse/mental health evaluation.  Once that is complete, Judge Worthington accepts or rejects them.”

Wiley also noted that Van Wert’s CAMO Court is the smallest one in Ohio.

Losh and Ratliff thanked everyone involved with the program for their support and guidance and both men admitted when they started the program, it was a challenge for all involved.

“I did not make it easy,” Losh stated. “I had to screw up to get here so it’s hard to feel proud but at at the same time I know I came a long way and I couldn’t have done it without everybody that’s part of the team.”

“I also offered some pushback when I started this program,” Ratliff told those in attendance. “It took probably a couple of months before I bought into this system and I immediately started seeing results. It’s got me where I am today…I’m not done with this program – I’d like to come back and mentor, I’d like to come back and share what I learned and help people down the road.”

Students vs. board members at meeting

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Are you smarter than an elementary student? Members of the Lincolnview school board had to ponder that question during Wednesday night’s monthly meeting.

14 gifted students, along with Elementary Gifted Coordinator Marla Kemler presented the board with information about what they’re doing in the classroom in math and other subjects and they asked the board some questions designed to test their comprehension skills. After that, the students took on board members in a stack challenge, to see which team could stack several plastic cups the highest, using only rubber bands and plastic utensils. It was close and appeared to be a draw.

The board also heard from members of the high school steel drum band and director Mike Archinal. The band recently performed at the Ohio Music Education Association’s annual state convention, which was held in Columbus. Just 30 bands were selected statewide for the honor.

“It was just a wonderful experience and has really opened up some doors for us in the future,” Archinal said.

During his report, Jr. High/High School Principal Brad Mendenhall said scheduling for next school year is underway. He also said 33 sophomore have applied to attend Vantage Career Center next school year, and he said the 10th annual career fair will be held April 1 at the Jr. Fair Building at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.

Superintendent Jeff Snyder said an evacuation drill is being planned for early May. During the drill, students will be bussed off of school property.

Treasurer Kaitlyn Edelbrock said the district received its bi-annual casino tax payment, which totaled $28.424, an increase of more than $1,000 from last year. She also talked briefly about the latest financial forecast and said the district is in a good financial position and will have a positive cash balance at the end of the projection. The board later approved the forecast.

Best, worst days to fill your tank

VW independent staff/submitted information

A new analysis has identifed the cheapest and most expensive days of the week to buy gasoline in all 50 states. Based on an analysis of daily statewide fuel prices over the past year, GasBuddy found that Sunday is the most consistently affordable day to fill up in most U.S. states, while midweek, particularly Wednesday through Friday, tends to be more expensive. It’s a little different in Ohio.

While price trends fluctuate with oil markets and seasonal demand, weekly patterns remain surprisingly consistent. In most states, prices gradually rise through the week before easing into the weekend, creating a reliable window for motorists to save simply by adjusting the timing of their fill-up. Buying on the lowest-priced weekday instead of the most expensive one can save drivers 4 to 9 cents per gallon with little effort.

“Gas prices don’t just move based on global oil markets — they also follow a weekly rhythm,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “For most drivers, Sunday is the safest bet for finding lower prices, while filling up mid-week can mean paying more.”

In several states — including Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Florida, Texas and parts of the West Coast — prices follow a more pronounced pattern known as price cycling. In these markets, prices often “reset” sharply higher on a specific day, then slowly decline over the next several days before the next spike.

In price-cycling states, the best savings often come five to seven days after a price jump, when competition drives prices back down. In these states, the gap between buying at the peak of a spike and near the bottom of the cycle can reach 15 to 45 cents per gallon or more, making timing especially important.

“These states experience sharper and more predictable weekly swings,” De Haan added. “If drivers notice a big jump, patience can pay off. Waiting several days after a spike often leads to better prices.”

The GasBuddy analysis shows that in Ohio, Monday is generally the best day to fill up, while the worst day is Thursday. It’s a bit different locally. In Van Wert County as of late, Tuesday seems to be the day each week that pump prices spike.

Two defendants in court for hearings

VW independent staff

A Van Wert man who failed the terms of intervention in lieu of conviction appeared in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court for sentencing this week.

Weston Mills, 42, was sentenced by Judge Martin D. Burchfield to up to six months at the WORTH Center, three years of community control, 30 days in jail at a later date and 100 hours of community service for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony. In addition, he must seek and maintain employment, undergo substance abuse assessment and treatment, and pay partial appointed counsel fees, monthly probation fees and court costs.

In a separate and unrelated case, Joel Crawford, 37, of Van Wert, admitted to  violating his bond by failing to appear to the probation office. Judge Burchfield set bond at $25,000 cash or surety and ordered electronic house arrest and a curfew if released. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 4. He’s facing two counts of burglary, second and third degree felonies, and grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordinance, a third degree felony.