Delgado and others appear in Common Pleas Court

Crestview ECC earns prestigous honor

VW independent staff/submitted information

CONVOY — The Crestview Early Childhood Center has earned a gold star – literally.

The Crestview Early Childhood Center’s preschool program has been awarded a Gold Star Rating through Ohio’s Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) program, the state’s quality rating and improvement system for early learning and development programs.

This prestigious recognition reflects the program’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality early childhood education and fostering a nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for young children.

The Gold Star Rating is the highest level awarded through Step Up To Quality and signifies excellence in key areas such as curriculum, staff qualifications, family engagement, and continuous improvement. Programs earning this distinction demonstrate a strong dedication to preparing children for success in school and beyond.

“We are incredibly proud and honored to receive this recognition,” Crestview Early Childhood Center Principal Casey Dowler said. “This achievement highlights our commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and enriching environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.”

Dowler also said families enrolled in the program benefit from highly qualified educators, research-based curriculum, and meaningful opportunities for involvement in their child’s learning journey. The recognition also reflects the program’s focus on building strong relationships with families and community connections.

For more information about the Crestview ECC preschool program, enrollment opportunities, or to schedule a school tour, call 419.749.9100, ext. 3000 or visit www.crestviewknights.com.

Convoy to hold annual garage sale

Submitted information

CONVOY — Village-wide garage sale in Convoy are scheduled for the weekend of May 15-16, throughout the community and the surrounding area.

Any household or business wishing to recycle, reclaim or reuse items, may participate in this community event. A listing of sales will be provided in a brochure that will be available in area businesses and on the village website, www.villageofconvoy.com.

Those wishing to be included in the brochure may drop off their information, with address, times of their sale, a phone number and a list of “stuff” at no cost at the Convoy Village Office, 123 S. Main St. in Convoy. Ads must be submitted by May 8 at the Village Office or by email, sayfam@frontier.com.

Statewide attendance dashboard launched

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin today announced the launch of Ohio’s new Statewide Attendance Dashboard, a public tool designed to provide fast, transparent, and easy-to-use attendance data to help schools, families, and communities reduce chronic absenteeism and keep more students in the classroom.

The dashboard will be updated weekly and will allow users to track statewide attendance trends and view chronic absenteeism rates by district, school building, and grade level.

“Every child in Ohio deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and that starts with being in school,” Governor DeWine said. “This dashboard is a tool for the entire community – for parents, educators, local leaders, and neighbors – to start a conversation and work together to help students show up, stay engaged, and succeed.”

The dashboard displays a trend line showing the percentage of students who are on track to be chronically absent over the course of the school year. Users can hover over each week to see the chronic absenteeism rate at that point in time. The dashboard is updated weekly using the most recent data available.

In addition to statewide data, users can search for individual districts and school buildings and view attendance data down to the grade level. The tool also allows users to compare school districts and other cohorts to see how their attendance trends compare over time.

Users can also view the percentage of students in each of the following attendance categories:

• Satisfactory (absent less than 5 percent of hours)
• At-Risk (absent between 5–10 percent of hours)
• Moderate Chronic Absence (absent between 10–20 percent of hours)
• Severe Chronic Absence (absent more than 20 percent of hours)

“This is a major step forward in how we track and respond to attendance issues in Ohio,” Dackin said. “To our knowledge, Ohio is only the second state in the country to develop an attendance dashboard that provides weekly updates. For the first time, schools and communities in Ohio will have access to weekly attendance information that can help them spot trends, identify challenges early, and respond with the right supports before students fall behind.”

Hoops, Riedel running for Ohio Senate seat

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Two men with legislative experience at the state level are running for the opportunity to represent Ohio Senate District 1, as current State Representative Jim Hoops and former State Representative Craig Riedel vie for the seat currently held by Rob McColley, who is unable to seek re-election due to term limits. McColley (R-Napoleon) is now the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswaney.

Hoops (R-Napoleon) represents Ohio’s 81st District, which includes all of Henry, Putnam and Williams counties, along with part of Fulton County. He served as Henry County Auditor from 1985-1998, then in the Ohio House from 1999-2006. In 2018, he returned to the Ohio House of Representatives to succeed McColley, who was appointed to the Ohio Senate. Hoops, who worked in the private sector from 2007-2014, is unable to seek re-election to the Ohio House due to term limits.

Riedel, who resides in Defiance, represented Ohio’s 82nd District from 2017-2022. At the time, the district was comprised of Defiance, Paulding and Van Wert counties, along with a portion of Auglaize County. He sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives District 9 seat in 2022 and 2024 but was unsuccessful both times. Prior to serving in the legislature, he worked as a civil engineer for 27 years at Nucor Steel.

In the interest of a better informed voting public, the VW independent submitted a series of questions to Hoops and Riedel. Below are their responses to each of the questions.

Why are you running for the Ohio Senate?

Jim Hoops

“I’m running for State Senate to continue serving the people of northwest Ohio and build on the work I’ve already done in the Ohio House. With term limits approaching, I believe this is the right opportunity to keep fighting for our region and ensure our communities continue to have a strong, experienced voice in Columbus. Northwest Ohio has a lot of momentum, but we also face real challenges, including an aging population and the need to prepare the next generation for good-paying jobs.”

“I want to focus on strengthening our local economy, supporting job creation, and making sure our communities remain a great place to live, work, and raise a family. At the end of the day, this is about continuing to serve the people I represent and standing up for the values that make our part of Ohio strong.”

New full-time firefighter…

The Van Wert Fire Department’s newest full-time firefighter/EMT was officially sworn in on Tuesday. Reide G. Jackson recently completed his one-year probationary period. Jackson’s path to a full-time career in the fire service began through the Community Education Opportunities (CEO) program at Lincolnview High School, where he was first introduced to the fire service. His dedication and work ethic led him to become a reserve firefighter with the VWFD before earning a full-time position on the department. Chief Jon Jones noted Jackson brings dedication and a positive attitude every day and said he’ll serve the community well. Photo submitted

Delgado gets 15 to life for murder

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

PAULDING — A fatal stabbing in the Grover Hill area nearly a year ago has led to a lengthy prison term for a Paulding County man.

Corbin Delgado, 21, of Grover Hill, appeared for sentencing in Paulding County Common Pleas Court Tuesday morning. Judge Tiffany Beckman handed down the mandatory sentence for murder, 15 years to life. He was given credit for 322 days already served in the Paulding County Jail. 

The charge stems from the May, 2025 stabbing death of Derek Pontius, 40, also of Grover Hill. During the early morning hours of May 27, Paulding County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a disturbance in the 16000 block of Road 24, southwest of Grover Hill. A caller reported a male was being argumentative and had a knife. Deputies arrived at the scene within minutes and found Pontius suffering from stab wounds. Life saving measures were administered by deputies and members of the Grover Hill EMS and Pontius was transported to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, but was pronounced dead there.

Delgado was identified as the suspect but he had already fled the scene on foot. Within an hour, a deputy located him in the Grover Hill village limits and arrested him.

Delgado was later charged with murder, an unclassified felony; felonious assault, a second degree felony, and assault, a first degee misdemeanor. He was booked in the Paulding County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond. The assault charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Food drive to be held next Tuesday

Submitted information

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital is teaming up with United Way of Van Wert County and the West Ohio Food Bank to host a community food drive on Tuesday, April 28. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Friends Church, 605 N. Franklin St., Van Wert.

The drive is designed to help ensure local residents have access to nutritious food. Volunteers from all three organizations will work together to distribute food and essential supplies to families in need.

The organizations host several drives throughout the year, with many events providing several tons of food to hundreds of families in just a few short hours.

“Supporting access to healthy food is an important part of improving health in our community,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “It’s through collaboration like this that we can help put food on the table for local families who need it most.”

Wrentucky Derby event coming to Wren

Submitted information

WREN — Get ready to grab your biggest hat and boldest bowtie as the first-ever “Wrentucky Derby” takes off at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Wren Eagles Nest.

The 21 and over community event will feature an afternoon of themed fun, food, and friendly competition. All food, activities, and participation throughout the event will be available by donation. Guests can enjoy food provided by the Wren Restaurant, along with a variety of interactive games and entertainment hosted by the Convoy Fox Hunters.

Making its debut, attendees can also experience a one-of-a-kind “human slot machine,” the first of its kind in the area.

Attendees are encouraged to dress the part, as prizes will be awarded for standout Derby attire.

Proceeds from the event will be split between two meaningful local efforts: the Wrenway Park Wiffleball Championship production and the Wren Fire & EMS Fund.

Community members are invited to join in the fun and help kick off what promises to become a new Wren tradition.

Lima man facing a bribery charge

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — A Lima man has been indicted by an Allen County grand jury on a bribery charge stemming from his recent illegal-dumping case, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.

Brady Schroeder, who was convicted in December of a misdemeanor count of illegal disposal of construction and demolition debris, now faces one count of bribery, a third-degree felony that typically carries a prison sentence of nine to 36 months.

Schroeder’s case was prosecuted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in Lima Municipal Court. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 100 hours of community service, fined $750, and ordered to complete full remediation of the dump site subject to the approval of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The court suspended 60 days of the jail sentence pending the site remediation.  

The recent indictment alleges that, after Schroeder’s conviction but before sentencing, the defendant was seen on a Ring doorbell camera offering a job to a state’s witness and to pay the witness’s outstanding driver’s license fees in exchange for favorable testimony. The offer was reiterated later via text message, the indictment says.

Following the incident, the witness contacted the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Ohio EPA.

Indictments are criminal allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

Young artist…

Lincolnview fifth grade student Tye Barns has been selected to have his artwork displayed in Columbus at the 2026 Ohio Statehouse and Riffe Center Gallery Exhibit. Tye and his family attended the reception at the Riffe Center Gallery this past Saturday, where he was recognized for his achievement and had the exciting opportunity to see his work on display. The Ohio Alliance for Arts Education and the Ohio Art Education Association host this annual exhibition, which showcases student artwork from across the state. Tye’s artwork will be on display at the Ohio Statehouse through May 20. Tye is under the instruction of Melissa Stork. Photo submitted