Four high school seniors vying for Queen Jubilee 51 title

Van Wert Chamber presents annual awards

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual dinner and awards program at Willow Bend Country on Wednesday. Attendees enjoyed a St. Patrick’s Day themed event. Entertainment was provided by illusionist Krendl.

The Brumback Library received the 2026 Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce Crystal Image Award given to the Chamber business of the year.

Local resident Gary Clay was recognized as the 2026 Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce Ray Miller Award recipient given to the Chamber person of the year.

The Van Wert County Foundation received the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Award in recognition of its transformational leadership projects and programs in Van Wert County. The Cornerstone Award was last given in 2018.

“We love bringing people together to celebrate businesses and individuals who prioritize making our community a wonderful place to live,” Chamber President/CEO Mark Verville said. “If you want to get something done, you should ask a busy person. The Brumback Library and Van Wert County Foundation have been busy for Van Wert County for over 100 years, and Gary Clay has made a meaningful impact in a much shorter timeframe.”

The Chamber thanked dinner sponsors Central Insurance, Tekniplex, Vantage Career Center, OhioHealth, Superior Credit Union, Alexander & Bebout, Danfoss, Citizen’s National Bank, Greenway Bank, and Cool Machines.

To learn about Chamber programs, events and membership click here or contact the Chamber office by phone at 419.238.4390 or by email at mark@vanwertchamber.com.

Paulding Putnam makes donations

VW independent staff/submitted information

Three Van Wert-based organizations are among seven local charities and community projects to receive a portion of $9,854 recently donated by members of Paulding Putnam through the cooperative’s Operation Round Up program.

80 percent of members round up their electric bill and donate to this fund, allowing Paulding Putnam to provide more than $788,000 to northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana communities since 2010.

Participating members round up their monthly electric bill to the next dollar, with the extra pennies being used to help fund charities and groups in their communities. Each quarter, the funds are dispensed to local causes that applied for funding.

The most recent donation recipients include:

• Leaders of Tomorrow 4-H Club: $1,212 to purchase club t-shirts
• Ottoville Fire Association: $2,142 to purchase multigas detector meters
• Paulding FFA: $1,500 to purchase hygiene items for the Panther’s Hygiene Care Closet
• Putnam County 4-H Council: $500 to purchase t-shirts for all third graders in Putnam County attending Farm Safety Day
• United Way of Van Wert: $500 to support the Rivals United event
• YMCA of Van Wert County: $1,000 to renovate the kids game room
• YWCA of Van Wert County: $3,000 to purchase a new security system for the facility

Operation Round Up was started in 2010 as a way to give back to Paulding Putnam’s communities. Groups in both Ohio and Indiana can apply.

More Ohioans struggling financially

By Marty Schladen/Ohio Capital Journal

Updated data from the Urban Institute underscores what candidates and pollsters are hearing in Ohio and around the country: Average people are having a harder and harder time getting by.

Other measures, such as those of income fragility, also show widespread economic insecurity.

The Urban Institute this week updated 2023 research into the “true cost of economic security.”

The group used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and its own methodology to go past what the government officially considers to be poverty. 

That’s a dire state to be in. A family of three would have to make less than $26,650 a year to fall below the official poverty line. While important, that measure misses huge numbers of Americans who are also struggling. Even with government assistance, such a family couldn’t possibly meet average expenses.

According to the Urban Institute’s American Affordability Tracker, average rent, groceries, and day care for two in Ohio are more than $55,000 a year. While not officially impoverished, a large swath of the population faces expenses beyond its means.

“Conventional measures of economic insecurity, like the poverty rate, only capture acute need and shed no light on the hardships of millions of people who struggle to pay their bills and save for the future — people who are economically insecure and not poised to thrive,” the report said. “Without adequate data, policymakers cannot develop effective solutions to help their constituents and communities meet their economic challenges.”

So the Urban Institute used census data and its Analysis of Transfers, Taxes, and Income Security model to determine what economic security was and what percentage of families were earning it.

Van Wert man found dead near Delphos

VW independent staff/submitted information

Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach issued a statement early this morning that said his office is investigating the recovery of a body in Washington Township, in the eastern portion of the county.

Sheriff Riggenbach said his office received a call at approximately 7:30 p.m. Thursday about a deceased individual in a wooded area of Washington Township. Deputies responded to the scene and were met by members of the Delphos Police Department and the Delphos Fire Department. Based on the information and items collected at the scene, deputies identified the deceased as Adam J. Purdy, 48, of Van Wert. No information has been released yet about the manner of death.

The incident is under investigation and anyone with information about Purdy’s recent activities is asked to contact the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office at 419.238.3866, submit tips using the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office app, or visit the agency’s website by clicking here and clicking on the “Submit a Crime Tip” link. Anyone reporting information can remain anonymous.

Citizens can also report information by contacting Van Wert County Crime Stoppers via text or phone at 419.238.STOP. Citizens can also remain anonymous when reaching out to Crime Stoppers.

Storm brush pickup starts on Monday

Submitted information

A reminder that due to strong winds over the weekend and Monday, the City of Van Wert has scheduled a special brush pick-up. All brush must be placed by the curb by 7 a.m. Monday, March 23.  

• Place the brush by the curb and do not place it near poles, trees, etc.
• The city will not pick up limbs larger than four inches in diameter or more than ten feet long.
• The city will not pick up brush that has been left behind by a professional tree trimmer or private contractor. If a homeowner utilized a trimming service, they are responsible for disposing of the tree.
• Brush placed in bags or boxes will not be picked up.
• The city will not pick up leaves during brush pick up.

Klopfenstein explains E15 legislation

VW independent staff/submitted information

COLUMBUS — State Representatives Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) held a press conference on Wednesday to introduce new legislation that would require the sale of E15 blended fuel at all Ohio Turnpike service facilities.

“As a farmer, I understand the importance of E-15,” Representative Klopfenstein said. “Ohio is home to seven ethanol plants that together purchase 233 million bushels of corn annually from over 5,300 family farms across the state. However, only about 200 of Ohio’s more than 5,000 gas stations offer E-15. This fuel is typically more than 25 cents cheaper per gallon than traditional gasoline and is compatible with nine out of 10 vehicles on the road today.”

“At a time when America’s national security is inseparable from our energy security, biofuels represent a practical, homegrown solution,” Representative Williams said. “By investing in E15 and expanding biofuel access, we are strengthening rural economies, creating jobs, and reducing our reliance on foreign energy sources. The Ohio Fuel Affordability Act is about more than fuel it is about supporting the people who power our state, lowering costs for Ohioans, and ensuring that our energy future is built right here at home.”

This bill would require the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission (OTIC) to do the following:

• Contract with authorized fuel retailers to ensure E15 is available, with installation or retrofitting costs treated as turnpike projects and funded via revenues, bonds, state taxes, or federal grants
• Report annually on installation progress, costs, and certification of E15 availability, beginning with the first comprehensive financial report before July 1, 2027
• Conduct a feasibility study within 12 months on the potential expansion of biodiesel fuel infrastructure at turnpike service facilities, including cost and infrastructure analysis

This bill awaits a number and committee assignment.

Oratorical contest winners…

The Optimist Club of Van Wert held its annual oratorical contest earlier this month at CHP Home Care & Hospice in Van Wert. Students from Crestview and Lincolnview schools presented speeches on the topic, “The Moment I Realized I Belonged – My Definition of Community.” Three students from Crestview were this year’s winners. Mackenzie Kreischer was first place, Makala Miller was second, and Devin Berridge placed third. The students received medallions and prize money of $300, $200, and $100 respectively. Aiden Bockrath, Grayson Bennett, and Mackenna Germann from Lincolnview also participated in the contest. The top two winners have the opportunity to participate in the zone competition and move on to the regional, district, national, and international contests through Optimist International to compete for scholarships. Photo submitted

Group ends push for referendum

By Megan Henry/Ohio Capital Journal

Opponents of Ohio Republican lawmakers’ attempt to ban intoxicating hemp products and change the state’s voter-passed recreational marijuana law failed to collect enough signatures to put a referendum on the ballot this year to block it.

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice would not say how many signatures they gathered. They needed to collect 248,092 signatures and also needed to gather three percent of an individual county’s gubernatorial turnout in 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties to get on the November 3 ballot. 

“Unfortunately, we were not able to overcome a truncated time period to give voters the chance to say no to government overreach,” Dennis Willard, spokesperson for Ohioans for Cannabis Choice said in a statement. 

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost initially rejected the referendum’s summary language in January, but approved it in early February after Ohioans for Cannabis Choice made changes to the language. 

The plan was to submit the collected signatures to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Thursday for him to verify the signatures. This was the deadline to submit signatures since Ohio Senate Bill 56 takes effect Friday and it will ban intoxicating hemp products — including THC-infused beverages. 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill into law in December after he had been urging the lawmakers to do something about intoxicating hemp products for the past nearly two years.

Auto-pick used to win $60 million jackpot

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The Luck of the Irish was with someone on St. Patrick’s Day. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are roughly one in 290,000,000, but it happened Tuesday in Van Wert.

The city was buzzing on Wednesday, after someone won a Mega Millions $60 million jackpot. Of course, the top question was “who was it?” It’s entirely possible we’ll never know. It is known that it’s the largest lottery jackpot ever won in Van Wert and Van Wert County.

As first reported by the VW independent, the winning ticket for Tuesday’s drawing was purchased at Tyler’s Short Stop on E. Main St. The winner used the auto-pick option to select the nubmers. The winning numbers were 4-11-18-38 and 50, and the Mega Ball was 24.

The winner has 180 days to claim the prize and has the option to take the prize as an annuity paid over 30 years or take the cash option prize of $27.1 million. After taxes, the winner would take home approximately $1 million annually for 30 years or a one-time lump sum payment of $13.6 million. The winner also has the option of revealing themselves through the Ohio Lottery Commission or claiming the money and staying anonymous through a blind or specialized trust. 

Tyler’s Short Stop isn’t coming away empty-handed. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Mega Millions can be played in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Since joining Mega Millions, Ohio has had 22 jackpot winners and 65 second-tier winners of $1 million or more.  
 

Busy day in Common Pleas Court

VW independent staff

A pair of arraignments, three sentencing hearings, a bond violation and two plea changes were among the proceedings that occurred in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday. Judge Martin D. Burchfield presided over each of the hearings.

Arraignments

Charles Cowan, 37, of Van Wert, entered a not guilty Plea to domestic violence, a third degree felony. He was released on a surety bond and was ordered to h ave no contact with the victim. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. April 8.

Daniel Vibbert, 35, of Van Wert, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs and theft, both fifth degree felonies. He was released on a surety bond and was ordered to have no contact with the victim. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 8 a.m. April 15.

Sentencings

Matthew Daisy, 46, of Rockford, was sentenced to nine months in prison for grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth degree felony. He was given credit for 113 days already served and was ordered to pay court costs.

After giving his community control, Jeremy Cole, 35, of Celina, was sentenced to a new sentence of one year of community control, 30 days in jail at a later date for having weapons under disability, a third degree felony, and polluting state land or water, a first degree misdemeanor. He was ordered to undergo  treatment if recommended, and was ordered to pay court costs.

James Jones, 38, of Van Wert, was sentenced to one year of community control, 30 days in jail at a later date, and 50 hours of community service for assault, a first degree misdemeanor. He was also ordered to undergo mental health and substance abuse assessment and any treatment, and was ordered to pay monthly probation fees and court costs.