Re-zoning hearing draws a large crowd to the NPAC

Polls to be open until 7:30 tonight

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Primary Election Day has arrived in Ohio. The polls will be open statewide until 7:30 tonight.

In Van Wert County, there are three local Republican races on the ballot, along with some statewide primary races.

Van Wert County Juvenile/Probate Court Judge Eva Yarger, who was appointed to the seat earlier this year by Governor Mike DeWine, is seeking to retain the seat. She’s running against County Commissioner Todd Wolfrum. The winner will be unopposed in November.

Incumbent Van Wert County Auditor Jami Bradford is seeking her second term in office and is being challenged by Arica Wermer, deputy auditor for the City of Van Wert. The winner will be unopposed in November. 

The third race features current State Representative Jim Hoops and former State Representative Craig Riedel in the race for the First District Ohio Senate seat. The winner will be unopposed in November. 10 counties comprise the district – Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Williams counties, and the northern portion of Logan County.

Statewide races on the primary ballot include one for the GOP nod for Governor and Lt. Governor. Heather Mill and Stuart Moats, Casey Putsch and Kimberly C. Georgeton, and Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley are the names on the ballot.

In the GOP state treasurer’s primary race, Jay Edwards and Kristina D. Roegner are on the ballot and four people are seeking the Republican nomination for Ohio Supreme Court Justice: Andrew King, Jill Lanzinger, Ronald Lewis and Colleen O’Donnell. Marcell Strbich and Robert Sprague are running in the Republican primary for Ohio Secretary of State.

Gas prices rise nearly $1 per gallon

VW independent staff/submitted information

Average gasoline prices in Ohio have risen a staggering 97.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.87 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 5,345 stations in Ohio. Prices in Ohio are $1.12 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.74 per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 21.3 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $5.621 per gallon.
 
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Ohio was priced at $3.59 per gallon yesterday while the most expensive was $5.99 per gallon, a difference of $2.40 per gallon.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 38.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.42 per gallon Monday. The national average is up 32.6 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.31 per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

“Gasoline prices rose in every state over the last week, with some of the most significant and fastest increases concentrated in the Great Lakes, where states like Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois saw sharp spikes, while Wisconsin experienced more modest gains,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “At the same time, diesel prices surged to new records in parts of the region, with some areas touching the $6-per-gallon mark. While refinery outages were a key driver behind those outsized increases, early signs of improvement could help ease some of the most extreme price pressures in the Great Lakes in the days ahead.

“Beyond the region, markets are also digesting a wave of new developments— including OPEC+ raising production for June and President Trump outlining a plan to free stranded ships— which could help restore some supply,” he added. “However, with so many moving pieces, the outlook remains highly fluid, and while some localized relief may emerge, broader price volatility is likely to persist in the near term.”

Meeting scheduled to gather input

Submitted information

The Lincolnview Local School District will hold a meeting from 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall to gain input from any community members regarding educational services for children with disabilities. This meeting is intended to gather information, allow people to ask questions, and improve on our services to children with disabilities.

If you are unable to attend this meeting, but would like to share your comments or have questions answered, send an e-mail to mclawson@lvlancers.com or call the Lincolnview District Office at 419.96.-2226.

Children’s dept. goes back many years

Editor’s note: This year the Brumback Library is celebrating 125 years of service to the community. Each month, the library will tell the story of the Brumback Library, chapter by chapter. This month’s installment looks back at the children’s department. The story is told by Roxanne Roessner, Brumback Library Youth Services Coordinator. 

By Roxanne Roessner/special to the VW independent

Over the past 125 years, the Brumback Library has been a cornerstone of the community, helping generations of children discover the joy of reading and learning. While the library itself has grown and changed over the years, one thing has remained constant: its commitment to young readers. From the very beginning, the children’s department has been a place of imagination, exploration, and connection.

The formal beginnings of children’s services at the Brumback Library can be traced to April, 1917, when the juvenile department opened in the basement of the library. Under the leadership of Ella Bergert Conn, this modest space quickly became a hub of activity. Children gathered regularly for programs and events, laying the foundation for what would become a long-standing tradition of youth engagement.

One of the earliest and most enduring programs was Story Hour, which began on May 3, 1917. Held weekly from October through April, Story Hour quickly grew in popularity. Attendance at special programs sometimes reached 250-300 children. This remarkable turnout shows both the community’s enthusiasm and the library’s importance as a gathering place. These early story programs were more than entertainment, as they gave children access to literature, language, and shared cultural experiences.

Seasonal celebrations also shaped the department’s identity. A Christmas celebration held in 1917 is among the earliest recorded special events, showing that the library was more than a place for books. Over time, additional programming such as Children’s Book Week exhibits enriched the experience of young patrons and highlighted the importance of literature in children’s lives.

In the 1920s, Vacation Reading Clubs were introduced to encourage reading during the summer months when school was not in session. The program gained momentum in 1925 with 599 children enrolled. These early clubs show a long-standing recognition of the need to support literacy year-round and can be seen as predecessors to modern summer reading initiatives.

The lasting impact of these programs can still be seen in the materials preserved by the library. Summer reading pamphlets dating from 1928 through 1973, along with later examples such as one from 2010, reflect both the creativity and consistency of these efforts over time. Program themes ranged widely, including titles such as Tom Sawyer Reading Club, Baseball Reading Club, Totem Pole Reading Club, Johnny Appleseed Reading Club, and Soaring Eagle Reading Club, along with imaginative concepts like Summer Excursion to Bookland and Sail into the Sea of Reading Pleasure. Over the years, the Brumback Library Reading Club also appeared in many forms, featuring themes tied to local trivia, patriotism, and simple encouragements to read.

Nearly 2,000 local voters cast early ballots

VW independent staff

Ohio’s early voting period officially closed at 5 p.m. Sunday and according to Van Wert County Board of Elections Director Pam Henderson, 1,808 registered voters cast early in-person ballots in the county, while 194 voted absentee by mail. 23 mail-in ballots have yet to be returned.

Henderson said the expected turnout on Election Day, May 5, will likely be around 3,500, with voter turnout expected to be approximately 28 percent.

Polling locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The VW independent will publish results Tuesday night.

Ohio adding more SNAP fraud protections

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — On Friday, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder announced that additional anti-fraud measures are coming this month to help protect Ohioans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The enhancements, which also apply to the Summer EBT/Sun Bucks program, include requiring individuals to unlock their card to complete out-of-state or online purchases.

“Criminals from other states and online continue to prey on vulnerable Ohioans who rely on food assistance to feed their families,” Damschroder said. “The new automatic card-lock feature will require customers to unlock their card when making an out-of-state or online purchase. It’s a simple step that still allows for out-of-state and online purchases while dramatically reducing the risk of theft.”

SNAP benefits can be used at authorized retailers using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card known as the Ohio Direction Card. Beginning May 13, cards will default to a “block high-risk transaction” status, requiring cardholders to unlock their card before making an out-of-state or online purchase. While cardholders are encouraged to immediately relock their card, they will be prompted to set a time period, 30, 60, or 90 minutes, to automatically relock the card.

Through data analysis related to card usage, purchasing trends, and reports of skimming of benefits, the state has been able to determine that a large volume of skimming is taking place at out-of-state retailers or online providers. The state is able to see trends across multiple states and geographical locations, which led to the decision to change the default settings to block the highest risk transactions.

In the past six months alone, the ODJFS SNAP fraud analytics team identified nearly 56,000 suspicious out‑of‑state transactions affecting 12,900 Ohio EBT accounts, totaling more than $6.3 million.

The new anti-fraud enhancements will help protect SNAP beneficiaries, while also allowing them the opportunity to unlock their card for valid transactions. 

Street to close for Freedom Cruise

VW independent staff

S. Jefferson St., from Main St. to Central Ave. will be closed from 5-10 p.m. this Saturday, May 9, for the Van Wert Freedom Cruise.

CEO Program celebrates 10 years

VW independent staff/submitted information

The CEO Program held its 10th annual banquet on Thursday, celebrating another successful year and honoring students from Van Wert High School, Lincolnview High School, and Crestview High School.

The banquet, which was held at Willow Bend Country Club, highlighted the growth and impact of the program, which began in 2016 with 16 students and 10 businesses and has since grown to more than 90 students and around 80 business partners this year. Over the past decade, nearly 700 students and more than 160 businesses have been a part of the program, reflecting on the strong support of the Van Wert community and surrounding areas.

This year’s keynote speaker, Steve Spray, Chief Executive Officer of Cincinnati Financial Corporation, returned to his hometown to share insights from his journey and encourage students as they prepare for the future.

“Think about those individuals who have made a difference in your life,” Spray said. “Write down the traits you admire and carry those with you moving forward.”

Spray emphasized the importance of attitude, reminding students that it is one of the few things they can always control. He also encouraged them to embrace opportunities, even when they feel uncertain. 

“Take risks,” he said. “The best lessons in life come from failure. Growth comes from those moments, not from when everything goes right.”

CEO Program founder Kerry Koontz also addressed students, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones, build connections, and take advantage of the opportunity to learn from the community leaders and mentors in the room.

Koontz thanked the Van Wert Business Development Corporation for sponsoring the banquet, as well as the Van Wert County Economic Development Office for sponsoring apparel and quarterly meetings.

To close the morning, Koontz introduced Bob Spath, who will take over as CEO Program Coordinator at the end of the year.

Public hearing to be held on Monday

VW independent staff

A long awaited public hearing on a petition to re-zone Mega Site property I-2 General Industrial upon annexation into the City of Van Wert will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, in the First Federal Lecture Hall at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.

The hearing is being held to gather public input from anyone for or against a proposed $10 billion data center at the site. It will not be a question and answer session.

There will be sign up sheets for anyone wishing to speak. One will be for city residents, one for residents adjacent to the property, one for county residents and one for people living outside the county. While signing up to speak won’t be mandatory, those who decline to do so will have to wait until those who did sign up have finished speaking. Each speaker will be heard once and will have two minutes to talk.

Previous discussions about the proposed data center at recent planning commission and Van Wert City Council meetings have been tense to say the least. Ground rules have been established for Monday’s meeting.

“We’re not going to tolerate disruption and we’re not going to tolerate incivility,” Van Wert City Council President Thad Eikenbary said. “If you speak, you’re going to speak at the mic. We’re not going to have sidebars and outbursts in the gallery. I was pretty displeased with the outbursts at the last several meetings and it’s not the way we should do business. Let’s be civil, let’s be respectful and we’ll have a productive meeting.”

No action will be taken at the hearing. A vote on re-zoning and annexation is expected to take place at the May 11 meeting of Van Wert City Council.

Sales tax holiday dates announced

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s annual sales tax holiday will return in August but it’s going back to its roots – just three days. Last year it was 14 days and in 2024, it was 10 days.

A press release from Governor Mike DeWine’s said this year’s sales tax holiday will take place from 12 a.m. Friday, August 7, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 9.

“Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday comes at a time of year when families are getting ready for back-to-school,” said Governor DeWine. “The sales tax break is designed to provide meaningful savings for families as they purchase new school essentials for the upcoming year.”

No reason was given for the shorter holiday. When it introduced in 2015, it was three days. In addtion, it will be for clothes, school supplies and school instructional materials. Last year and in 2024, nearly all items up to $500 were not taxed during the sales tax holiday.

The following items qualify for the sales tax exemption during the three-day holiday:

• Clothing priced at $75 or less per item
• School supplies priced at $20 or less per item
• School instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item

“This annual holiday provides meaningful savings for Ohio families while supporting back-to-school preparation,” said Tax Commissioner Patricia Harris. “We encourage shoppers and retailers to plan ahead and take advantage of the exemption.”

Additional details, including commonly asked questions and guidance for consumers and retailers, are available on the Ohio Department of Taxation website.