Yarger sworn in as judge, Staas takes oath as prosecutor

Most gov’t offices closed on Monday

VW independent staff

Monday is Presidents Day, a federal holiday. Most federal, state and local government offices will be closed for the day. Van Wert County offices will be closed, along with Van Wert Municipal Court, but the Van Wert Municipal Building will be open.

Russo makes local campaign stop

VW independent staff/submitted information

Ohio Secretary of State candidate Allison Russo spoke to area voters and met with Democrats during a recent campaign stop in Van Wert County.

“I’m running to restore trust, integrity, and transparency in elections and to fight so that every voter feels confident their vote matters. I’m a firm believer that Democracy works best when every voice is heard,” Russo said. “I’ve seen firsthand the tricks, barriers and backroom deals that politicians use to keep power in the hands of the few. As your Ohio Secretary of State, I will make sure every vote is counted, every ballot is honest, and the rules work for Ohioans, not the powerful.”

State Rep. Russo has served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives and has served as House Minority Leader for the Ohio House Democratic Caucus – a position she stepped down from earlier this year – and before that served as Ranking Member on the House Health Committee. Russo lives in Upper Arlington with her husband, their three children and their dog.

Russo will run against fellow Democrat Bryan Hambley in the May 5 primary election. The winner will face one of two Republicans in the November election – Marcell Strbich or Robert Sprague, along with Libertarian Tom Pruss. Current Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is running for Ohio Auditor.

Hospital celebrates 1,000 robotic surgeries

VW independent staff/submitted information

OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital has reached a major milestone, performing more than 1,000 robotic-assisted surgeries since launching the program in 2020.

“We’ve had the robot for five years now,” said Thomas Conte, MD, Van Wert Hospital chief of surgery. “As a rural facility, we’re on the cutting edge. It gives patients access to relatively new technology without having to travel to a larger center.”

Since the program began, Van Wert Hospital surgeons have expanded how robotic-assisted surgery is used, performing everything from appendectomies to colon resections using minimally invasive techniques. They operate the da Vinci Surgical System, which replicates their hand movements with robotic precision.

“We each have hundreds of cases under our belt,” Dr. Conte said. “That experience matters. It builds confidence for patients and helps everything run smoothly in the operating room. This is very much a team effort. Nurses and everyone in the OR play a role in that success.”

Van Wert Hospital surgeon Jeremy Stoller, MD, said reaching 1,000 cases is a proud moment for the team.

“Hitting this milestone is reflective of the fact that we have transitioned completely to using robotic surgery for any minimally invasive hernia and abdominal surgery,” he said. “In the past, some surgeries required large incisions. Now we can do more procedures through small incisions, which means faster recovery and less post-surgical pain.”

Comedy play…

The Van Wert Civic Theatre’s production of Barefoot in the Park continues tonight through Sunday. It plunges newlyweds into the hilarious chaos of their first apartment. The Neil Simon classic explores the clash of personalities, revealing the comedic struggles found at the early crossroads of marriage. Showtimes Friday and Saturday are at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday’s show will begin at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at vwct.org. Bob Barnes photos

MSVW earns prestigous accreditation

VW independent staff/submitted information

Heritage Ohio and the Ohio Main Street Program have announced the national accreditation of Main Street Van Wert.

This recognition is awarded through the Ohio Main Street Program, which serves as the coordinating agency in Ohio for Main Street America. Van Wert became a member of the Ohio Main Street Program in 2004.

“This accreditation affirms that Main Street Van Wert is operating at the highest level of the Main Street America framework,” Main Street Van Wert Executive Director Mitch Price said. “It reflects the hard work of our board, committees, volunteers, and community partners who are committed to strengthening our downtown as an economic and cultural hub. More importantly, it signals to investors, businesses, and residents that Van Wert is serious about long-term, sustainable revitalization.”

As executive director, this designation is incredibly meaningful,” Price added. “It validates the systems, strategies, and accountability we’ve put in place, while also reminding us that this work is never finished.”

During a full-day evaluation visit, Main Street Van Wert demonstrated clear evidence of a strong, effective program focused on achieving measurable outcomes in downtown revitalization. To qualify for accreditation status, the program must meet rigorous national standards that include building grassroots-driven revitalization efforts, fostering strong public–private partnerships, supporting economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.

Price noted that Main Street Van Wert has earned accreditation in previous years, including multiple consecutive years.

Maintaining accreditation over time demonstrates organizational consistency, strong leadership, financial responsibility, and adherence to the nationally recognized Main Street Approach.

Assualt, rape defendants appear in court

VW independent staff

A Van Wert man accused of assaulting another man and threatening to kill a retired Van Wert Police officer and his family was arraigned in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court this week.

Devin Couch, 21, entered a not guilty plea to a single count of felonious assualt, a second degree felony. He was ordered held without bond until a bond hearing at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 4.

Couch was arrested last week after a traffic stop in Van Wert. The felonious assault charge is tied to a January 19 incident, when he allegedly assaulted a male victim in the 200 block of N. Wall St. When the male retreated to his home, Couch ran after him and entered his home without being invited in. Van Wert Police arrested Couch at the scene. His cell phone was seized and a search warrant was obtained to extract evidence from it. It then was discovered Couch was talking about killing a retired police officer and a family member. He also discussed “shooting it out” with law enforcement.

In a separate and unrelated case, a Van Wert man entered a not guilty plea to charges of rape, a first degree felony, and sexual battery, a third degree felony. Colby Black, 42, was released on a surety bond with electronic house arrest and was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. March 4. The alleged crime occurred in March, 2025, and involved another adult.

10 other defendants appeared before Judge Martin D. Burchfield for arraignment this week. Four are charged with domestic violence.

Terrance Landwehr, 27, of Cecil, entered a not guilty plea to domestic violence, a third degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial set for 8:30 a.m. March 4.

Derek Eland, 33, of Van Wert, pleade not guilty to domestic violence, a fourth degree felony, and endangering children, a first degree misdemeanor. Bond set at $100,000 cash or surety and a pre-trial conference was scheuled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 25.

Jeffrey Kallas, 25, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty plea to possession of cocaine, a fifth degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and a pre-trial conference was set for 8:30 a.m. March 4.

AAA: time to wash the winter away

VW independent staff/submitted information

After weeks of snow, ice, and a prolonged blast of bitter cold, Ohio has finally started to thaw out.

With the mercury finally rising, now is the time to wash winter off your car or possibly face costly repair bills down the road.  AAA is reminding drivers to get their cars washed after every significant storm – especially the undercarriage – in order to reduce the potential for rust damage and the corrosion of brake and fuel lines caused by winter pavement clearing chemicals and treatments. 

Previous AAA research indicates Americans spend $3 billion a year on repairs from rust damage caused by de-icers. It’s not just the treatment on the roads, but also the chemicals used to keep  parking lots ice free.

“Taking the time for a quick car wash now could save both time and money down the road,” said Morgan Dean, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Club Alliance. “Corroded brake lines, often the result of road salts and de-icers, can cost hundreds of dollars to replace, or more, depending on the vehicle.”

 AAA recommends taking full advantage of car washes that offer undercarriage rinses to remove buildup on critical components. Drivers who wash their vehicles by hand or at wand‑wash stations should pay extra attention to the wheels, wheel wells, and the underbody.

“With the average price of a new vehicle hovering around $50,000, drivers are now keeping their cars longer so it is critical that they understand that keeping them clean is not just a matter of vanity, it’s about longevity,” Dean said.

Aid for crime fighting…

As part of the ongoing effort to combat crime in Van Wert County and to show support for local law enforcement officers, outgoing Van Wert County Prosecutor Eva J. Yarger recently used the Furtherance of Justice Fund to assist local agencies. A Team Awareness Kit was purchased for the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office to aid in real-time situational awareness and communication. Thermal/night vision binoculars were purchased for the Van Wert City Police Department for use in investigations. Show above are Yarger and Van Wert Police Lt. Rob Black. Shown below are Det. Seth Karl, Det. Sgt. Nathan Huebner, Yarger, Deputy Jill Gemmer, and Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach. Photos submitted

Data center discussion dominates meeting

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Can a council approved zoning designation be changed for a data center that is coming to Van Wert? Should the matter of the data center coming to Van Wert have been put before voters? Those were two of the questions posed during Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council.

The Mega Site, where the data center will be built, was annexed into the city last summer and was zoned I-2 with a permitted use designation for it. However, Councilman At-Large Hall Block requested it be changed to conditional use I-2, a request that later died on the vine.

“Permitted use, as long as they meet typical development requirements then they are allowed to proceed with that development without any further input from the city,” Block explained. “Conditional use allows us to set certain specific barriers and say ‘you need to meet these metrics and if you don’t meet these metrics then you’re not being a good neighbor, you’re not being part of our community’ and we’re going to say ‘no, you can’t put that there. They could always come back with a different, revised development for a different, revised data center that’s less obtrusive then that would be approved by the BZA (Board of Zoning Appeals).”

Law Director John Hatcher said changing the zoning designation this far into the project would be equal to moving the goalposts for the developer.

“We’re a little late for this project,” he stated.

“I don’t think you can change the rules because they followed all the rules in place and did all their due dilegence about coming to Van Wert,” Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming added.

Fleming also said the heart of economic development is to remove barriers so businesses are encouraged to come to the city.

“I’m torn between both sides of it,” Fourth Ward Councilman Eric Hurless said in response. “I agree with you, we want to make doing business in Van Wert as easy as possible but yet, we also have a duty to protect our community from the bad players if we give them free reign.”

Council members also expressed frustration with limited information about the project, not yet knowing who will own and run it. Thor Equities is the developer and Councilman At-Large DeWaine Johnson, who chairs council’s economic development committee, shared information from Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brent Stevens that the end user will be announced in late March. He also said a community event is being planned at Vantage Career Center to share information. The date of the gathering will be announced in advance.

Council talks about snow removal, more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

While discussion of the data center took up much of Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council, there was other business and discussion.

A reminder was given to residents and businesses to clear sidewalks after snow comes down and Councilman At-Large Hall Block asked Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming about snow emergencies for downtown parking. Currently, no legislation exists that requires cars be removed from downtown streets after a snow emergency, but Fleming said the city is in need of it. He said parking by downtown tenants during the recent snow made it difficult for the city to clear the streets in that area.

“I tried to make a request to see if we could get them to move,” he said.

“I’m very (much) in favor of towing people who just sit there in the street and especially if they’re tenants of specific buildings, they can’t be parking on Main and Washington anyway,” Block said. “That’s in our code so I hope the people in charge know that.”

Fleming also said in half-jest that he wishes the city could pass an ordinance asking everybody to put their cars in their yard or the driveway when 2-4 inches of snow falls.

“The number of cars that we bury and are still buried today and the aggravation is causes us to try to weave around them – it’s quite frankly kind of ridiculous,” he said. “It happens that way all over town.”

Fleming acknowledged legislation requiring the removal of cars downtown because of snow won’t be ready in time for the remainer of this winter.

On a different topic, Van Wert’s Reservoirs are at 10 and 11 feet respectively, putting both above 50 percent, according to Fleming. He said those levels should rise with snow melt and perhaps a February rain.