Report: home ownership affordability drops in Ohio

Acoustic Jam to be held in Convoy

Submitted information

CONVOY — The Village of Convoy Historical Society invites the community to enjoy an energetic afternoon of live music as it hosts “An Afternoon of Roots, Rock & Blues #6” from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, October 25, at the Convoy Opera House, 111 S. Main St.

The free two-hour acoustic jam session will feature The Gonzo Band, showcasing the talents of Mike Bouillon, Tim Laukhuf, Ed Burwell, Jim Hyitt, Lynn Reinking, and Jerry McIntosh. The group’s blend of roots, rock, and blues has become a crowd favorite over the past six years.

Guests are encouraged to explore the beautifully restored Convoy Opera House, Opera House Annex Building & Museum continuing the preservation of Convoy and surrounding areas history. The venue is fully handicap accessible, ensuring all visitors can comfortably enjoy the afternoon. A 50/50 raffle and light refreshments will be available.

Youth trap shoot planned for Saturday

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MIDDLE POINT — The Van Wert County Outdoorsmen will be hosting a youth trap shoot at the Van Wert County Outdoorsmen Club, 9093 Ringwald Rd., Middle Point, at 9 a.m. this Saturday, October 24. This is for all boys and girls ages 12 and up, both boys and girls, and is for both beginners and experienced shooters.

There is no cost to participate. All equipment is furnished, however, if the participant has equipment they may bring it. All youth must have a parent or guardian present to enjoy the program.

“It’s a Girl Thing” offered by hospital

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OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital will host “It’s a Girl Thing,” an educational event for girls ages 9-13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 22, at LifeHouse Church, 719 Fox Rd. in Van Wert.

The event will help girls and their families navigate the physical and emotional changes that come with growing up. Topics will include puberty, developing healthy habits and attitudes, personal safety and understanding the journey to womanhood.

The class will be taught by Shane Gerber, OB-GYN CNP; Trisha Clum, MD, Pediatrics, and Abbie Evans, Pediatric CNP, providing participants with an opportunity to learn from trusted health care professionals and ask questions in a supportive environment.

“We are committed to providing resources that empower women and girls in our community to take charge of their health,” said Paula Stabler, president of OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital. “Events like this offer a wonderful opportunity for open conversation and learning, and we are proud to bring these important resources to Van Wert.”

Mothers and other trusted adults are encouraged to attend with their daughters. Participants will receive a feminine product care bag and a copy of The Care and Keeping of You by American Girl. Pizza, prizes and other activities also will be provided.

Registration is available online at forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Yy1RN2tmKX. Families interested in attending are encouraged to register in advance.

Reprint of old Paulding Co. history released

VW independent staff/submitted information

PAULDING — Melinda Krick has a heart for preserving local history and thanks to her, soon you will have the opportunity to place an important volume of Paulding County history on your bookshelf.

The Historical Hand-Atlas 1882 Illustrated and History of Paulding County, Ohio is now available for presale, with delivery in November, just in time for Christmas.

Only a few copies of the original over-sized book – printed 144 years ago – survive and the photocopied versions that are floating around are small print and difficult to read.

Published 10 years later, the 1892 Paulding County atlas is widely available, thanks to a reprint done in 1976 to honor the country’s Bicentennial. The 1882 volume contains original information that the 1892 atlas does not.

The newly printed nine by 12-inch hardcover edition is 124 pages long, and packed with local history from a century and a half ago. Along with summaries of local, township, and village histories, the book contains biographies of the leaders of the community as well as township maps and several never-before printed photographs.

So much changed locally in those 10 years. Paulding County would have been in its canal era in 1882, and on the cusp of railroad transportation. Both a north-south and an east-west railroad opened in 1882, just months after the publication of the book. Krick points out that the Reservoir War still was five years in the future when the original was printed, and the courthouse that stands today was not yet built.

“This is going to be completely new material for many people,” Krick said. “It’s exciting to think that some kid is going to pick up this book and have insight to what Paulding County was like all those years ago. Today, we take for granted what these pioneers had to endure.”

Many of the featured citizens resided alongside one of the two canals, and many of those locations are now ghost towns. The personal sketches reveal that a lot of children did not survive to adulthood and a lot of mothers did not live through childbirth. The book’s profiles include former slaves, women and a great many Civil War veterans. It also contains some history of the Indians who resided in early Paulding County.

Van Wert HS Class of 1971 reunites

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert High School Class of 1971, the 100th class to graduate from VWHS, held its 55th reunion party at the American Legion Community Building in Ohio City on Saturday, October 10. Over 80 expected and a few walk-in guests attended. Breakfast through lunch snacks and beverages were provided and a hot dinner with sides was catered by Collins Fine Foods.

Local artist Eric Miglin performed an evening of soft, light jazz and boss nova music. Retired Judge and classmate Dan Gehres gave one of his usual, delightful, humorous speeches. There was a moment of silence for the 62 known classmates who have passed on and mention of the Class of 1971’s military service members, plus pictures from classmate Steve Early from his deployment in Vietnam.

For class members, it was a delight to have retired elementary Principal Harvey McMillen, 97, join the celebration. A background TV let those in attendance watch Ohio State defeat Maryland 45-16. An impromptu gathering took place at the Elks the evening before and everone was in agreement – it was great visiting with old friends.

Students of the Month!

Crestview Elementary recently named its Students of the Month sponsored by Van Wert Cinemas. Students making the Knight Leader Board each month will be put into a drawing for a free 30-day pass to the movie theater for their entire family. Van Wert Cinemas September Students of the Month are: Bailey McClure, Urban John, Cheyenne Duncan, Kovyn Huston, Niah Jones, Phillip Tyas, Jaxon Owens, Novalee Mies, Henry Schaffner, and Ruby Grant. Photo submitted

Auditions scheduled for new production

Submitted information

The holidays will heat up at Van Wert Civic Theatre with a fast-paced, festive frenzy that turns holiday tradition completely on its head. Auditions are open for Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!) by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald, and John K. Alvarez, featuring original music by Will Knapp. This hilarious show is directed by Joelle May and presented through a special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.

What happens when a cast of three decides they’re completely bored with doing Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol for the millionth time? They mutiny and perform every other holiday story instead. In this 90-minute comedic whirlwind, three actors tackle everything from The Grinch to Frosty the Snowman using wild costumes and hilarious antics. It’s a fast, furious, and festive ride through all your favorite seasonal classics packed into one single night.

This entire show rides on a small, mixed-gender cast. Director Joelle May is looking for three distinct, utterly fearless comedic actors who possess immense comedic timing, high physical energy, and strong improvisational instincts. Hopefuls must have the vocal capability to sing basic holiday tunes and the endurance to seamlessly juggle dozens of characters, rapid-fire costume changes, and zany prop transitions without losing the show’s breakneck pace.

Auditions are scheduled for Sunday, October 18 and Monday, October 19, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Van Wert Civic Theatre, 118 S. Race Street.

Measles case confirmed in Van Wert County

Submitted information

The Van Wert County General Health District is reporting one laboratory-confirmed case of measles in Van Wert County. The health district is conducting follow-up investigations to identify potential exposures, notify contacts, and provide guidance to individuals who may have been exposed. There are currently 254 confirmed cases of Measles in Ohio as of Tuesday of this week, and 40 cases in Indiana as Wednesday.

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness. The measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Individuals who are not vaccinated are at highest risk for infection.
 
Symptoms of measles may include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery or red eyes and a rash.
 
Symptoms generally develop 7–14 days after exposure, however it can take as long as 21 days for symptoms to appear. The onset of symptoms may be delayed in individuals with compromised immune systems.

What to do if you have symptoms

• Avoid contact with others and contact your healthcare provider immediately
• Call your healthcare provider before arriving at a medical facility and inform them that you may have been exposed to measles or are experiencing symptoms. Calling ahead allows healthcare providers to take appropriate precautions to prevent potential exposure to other patients and staff.
• Individuals with concerns about symptoms, exposure, or vaccination should contact their healthcare provider or the health district at 419.238.0808 for guidance.

How to prevent measles

The best way to protect against measles is vaccination. The measles (MMR) vaccination is recommended for anyone age 1 and older who may be unvaccinated to protect themselves and others. Children should get the MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine at 12–15 months and again at 4–6 years. Earlier doses (as young as 6 months) may be recommended during special circumstances such as for travel or during outbreaks. Individuals who are unsure of their vaccination status should contact their healthcare provider or the health district to determine whether vaccination is recommended.

 You are considered protected (immune) if you have one of the following:

• You were born before 1957, or
• You have documentation of at least 1 dose of MMR vaccine (two doses are recommended to be considered fully immune), or
• You have ever had measles diagnosed by a healthcare provider

Local bank helps with renovation project

VW independent staff/submitted information

While the 2026 high school football regular season winding down, it’s not too late to support the Eggerss Stadium renovation project. That’s just what First Federal of Van Wert is doing. First Fed has purchased the naming rights to the goal post pads in both endzones.

“First Federal is proud to be part of the amazing renovation project at Eggerss Stadium,” First Federal President/CEO Brian Renner said. The entire atmosphere is tremendous, and we are excited to be included in the Cougar’s Friday night lights experience.”

Now with two locations, First Federal has been serving the community since 1893.

“We are fortunate to have partners and supporters like First Federal be part of our transformation,” said John White, Eggerss Legacy Chair.

While red and gray are not the organization’s normal color scheme, they agreed to keep the integrity and consistency within the stadium. The next time you attend a game at Eggerss and there’s action near either end zone, First Federal will be front and center for the next score for years to come.

“There are still more legacy naming opportunities for businesses or individuals, and we would love to talk to anyone interested,” White said.

He can be reached at 419.203.1217 and more information on Legacy naming rights can be found here.

The Cougars will host Shawnee tonight, then will finish the regular season next Friday at Kenton. Van Wert is expected to qualify for the playoff and there is a chance the Cougars could host an opening round game on Friday, October 30.

Search warrant leads to drug arrest

VW independent staff

A Delphos man is incarerated at the Van Wert County Correctional Facility after his arrest on a drug charge.

The West Central Ohio Crime Task Force arrested Phillip Cross, 36, after executing a serach warrant at his S. Cass St. home on Tuesday. Law enforcement officers seized approximately 70 grams of suspected cocaine, mushrooms and $1,200 in cash. The investigation continues and additional charges are possible.

Cross is currently charged with drug possession a first degree felony.