Appellate Court rules on convicted murderer’s appeal

Twp. Trustees schedule special meeting

Submitted information

The Hoaglin Township Trustees will hold a special meeting at 8 p.m. Monday, April 20, at the township house, 3975 Hoaglin Center Rd., Van Wert.

Putt Around donation…

The Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 recently made a donation to the YWCA of Van Wert County with the proceeds from the Van Wert Putt Around. The Putt Around was a collaborative event between the Elks and the YWCA to raise funds for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking receiving services at the YWCA through their survivor services programs. Pictured from left to right are Van Wert Putt Around Committee members Deb Akom and Al Zimmerman, Julie Schaufelberger (YWCA DIrector of Outreach and Communications and Putt Around Committee Member), Steve Boley (member of the winning Putt Around team), Armondo Alvarez and Tim Friemoth (Putt Around Committee members). Photo submitted

Mail carrier expected to change plea

VW independent staff

TOLEDO — The Van Wert mail carrier accused of setting fire to undelivered mail last fall is expected to change his plea in federal court.

In January, Kyle Carver of Van Wert appeared in U.S. District Court in Toledo and entered a not guilty plea to a felony charge of delay or destruction of mail, a charge that carries up to five years in prison and a fine. Probation is also an option.

Carver is now scheduled to return to court on June 9.

During the early morning hours of October 22, 2025, the Van Wert Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen in reference to a fire that was unattended in the backyard of a residence in the 900 block of George St.

When an officer went to investigate, there was evidence of USPS mail being burned. It was confirmed that Carver lived at the residence and was allegedly burning undelivered mail there. The Van Wert Fire Department was called to extinguish the fire.

The investigation was turned over to postmaster Greg McKeddie, who arrived on scene less than 45 minutes after the initial call.

In an interview with WANE 15 TV the day of the incident, Carver said “he’d forgotten to send out Friday’s mail to Central Ave, and said he noticed the pile in his truck this morning and, for fear of getting in trouble, put the 6-inch stack of envelopes in his fire pit and lit it on fire.” He also told the Fort Wayne television station that he regretted his actions.

His employment status with USPS is unknown.

CEO anounces his pending retirement

VW independent staff/submitted information

PAULDING – Paulding Putnam announced today that Chief Executive Officer Randy Price will retire effective January, 2027, following three years of service to the cooperative.

According to a press release announcing his pending retirement, Price has led the cooperative through a period of significant growth and transformation. Under his leadership, Paulding Putnam successfully launched fiber internet service — approved by the board in 2024 and first installed for subscribers in fall 2025 — that has since expanded to nearly 650 miles of mainline fiber. The co-op also maintains more than 1,700 miles of electric lines serving both electric members and fiber internet subscribers across its service territory.

“This decision comes after careful consideration and with great appreciation for the opportunity to serve the Paulding Putnam members,” Price said. “Leading Paulding Putnam has been one of the most rewarding professional experiences of my career. I am proud of what we have accomplished together by building an organization that is financially strong, competitive, reliable, and technically ready for the changes in society and the electric and internet industries.”

Price added that he is confident in the company’s long-term direction and leadership.

“To ensure a smooth and orderly transition, I am fully committed to supporting the board and executive team during the succession process,” Price said. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the board for its guidance, trust, and partnership throughout my tenure. I am also deeply thankful to the management team and employees whose dedication and professionalism have been central to our success.”

Board Chairman Adam Schnipke praised Price’s contributions, stating he “has been an absolute pleasure to work with.”

Leadership cohort supports 4-H clubs

Submitted information

The Van Wert Chamber of Commerce has announced that the cohort will undertake a significant community service project, focusing this year on supporting the local 4-H program, which develops leadership and real-world skills in youth.

In a combined effort to enhance youth development, the Leadership Class has launched a community fundraiser to benefit the Van Wert County 4-H program. Funds raised will be used to purchase essential equipment, including a new ice shaver machine and pipe and drape for 4-H events.

Contributions to the fundraiser can be made through the Van Wert County Foundation, directly supporting the enhancement of 4-H initiatives and experiences for local youth. To make a donation visit the Van Wert County Foundation website here.

Northwest State Community College (NSCC) remains a committed sponsor of the Leadership Van Wert County program. As a public two-year college, NSCC serves over 77,000 families in northwest Ohio, offering a variety of degree and certificate programs. Dr. Todd Hernandez, NSCC President, emphasized the college’s mission to provide educational access and support the community by establishing a full-service facility in Van Wert in the near future.

Delgado, other defendants appear in court

VW independent staff

A Grover Hill man who was sentenced to prison for murder on Tuesday appeared in a different courtroom on Wednesday.

In Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, Corbin Delgado, 21, admitted to violating his probation on a previous charge by committing another offense. He was then sentenced to 18 months in prison and was given credit for 117 days already served. It won’t affect how long he stays in prison — Judge Martin D. Burchfield ordered the sentence to be served concurrently with his Paulding County sentence.

Court records show in November of 2024, Delgado pleaded guilty to trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a fourth degree felony. The charge was tied to an incident that occurred locally earlier that year.

In May of last year, Delgado was arrested after fatally stabbing Derek Pontius, 40, of Grover Hill. After a series of delays, his case was scheduled to go to trial in Paulding County Common Pleas Court this week. However, Delgado pleaded guilty to a murder charge last Thursday, and on Tuesday was sentenced by Judge Tiffany Beckman to a mandatory 15 years to life in prison.

In addition to Delgado’s hearing, six other hearings were held in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, with Judge Burchfield presiding over each of them.

Plea changes

Drew Ducheney, 30, of Ohio City, changed his plea to guilty to aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony. He then requested and was granted intervention in lieu of conviction and his case was stayed pending completion of the treatment program. He was also ordered to pay court costs.

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.”