Local hoops fans banded together, cheered together

Community Good Friday service planned

Submitted information

Local pastors, leaders, and musicians will be hosting a community-wide Good Friday service at 12 p.m. Friday, April 3, in the Bagley Auditorium of the Marsh Foundation in Van Wert. Enter either the front doors facing Lincoln Highway or the back doors on the north side of the building. Parking is in front off Lincoln Highway or the back.

Participating in the service are pastors Gerld Baker (retired); Brad Custis, Church on the Horizon, Rick Eberle, Trinity Global Methodist; Gary Ginter, (retired); Vanlal Hruaia, First Presbyterian; Matt McGovern, Trinity Friends; Aaron McGranahan, Promise Church; David To. Trinity Global Methodist, and Bill Watson, Pentecostal Way. Musicians will include Greg and Kathy Pysh, Annette Hoverman, and Mark Tschantz and friends.

The service will include music, prayer, the story of Good Friday in a scriptural dramatization, and much more. A procession of the cross will begin at the Greenhouse on the Marsh campus beginning at 11:30 am.

The entire community of Van Wert is invited to attend and share in the unity of serving one Lord, Jesus – the Christ.

Scholarship essay winners…

VFW Post 5803 of Van Wert has named this year’s scholarship essay winners. Voice of Democracy winners are (above, left to right): Caroline Haggerty (first place), Carley Chiles (second place), and Allison Geib (third place). Chiles was also the second place winner at the District 2 level. Pictured below are Karen Germann (Crestview sixth grade social studies teacher) and Patriots Penn winners Gatlin Ortiz (third place), Maxx Linton (first place), and Avery Owens (second place). Photos submitted

Outdoorsmen hosting military match

Submitted information

MIDDLE POINT — The Van Wert County Outdoorsmen Association will host a modern military match this Saturday, March 28, at the Van Wert County Outdoorsmen Club at 9093 Ringwald Road, Middle Point. The safety briefing will be held at 9:30 a.m. and the match will start at 9:45 a.m.

Any modern military rifle may be used such as an M-1 Garand, AR 15, and other such rifles. You may use iron sights or scoped rifles. Once you shoot in the match, you will be eligible to purchase an M-1 Garand from the CMP. If you do not have a rifle, the club has M-1 rifles to loan out to the public to use in this match. The club also has a National Match AR 15 for participants who might wish to try it out. However, any military rifle may be used.

The cost to participate is $5, which is a target fee. If you need to purchase ammo, the club has 30.06 ammo at $30 for 35 rounds and for the AR-15, the ammo is $18 for 40 rounds, which includes the target fee.

Four girls vying for Queen Jubilee 51 title

VW independent staff/submitted information

On Friday, March 27, four young women will vie for the title of Queen Jubilee 51 during the Van Wert Peony Pageant. The annual event will once again be held at Lifehouse Church in Van Wert. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the pageant will begin at 7 p.m. Every candidate will receive a minimum of $300 in scholarships, in addition to a variety of goods and services donated by local businesses and individuals. The lucky young woman crowned Queen Jubilee will receive a $1,500 scholarship, and over $5,000 in scholarships will be awarded that evening.

Candidates have already completed some areas of competition, and the remaining areas of competition to be scored during the pageant include: talent, evening gown, and on-stage questions. The evening will be hosted by Zach Shaffer as Master of Ceremonies, and the contestants will be escorted on stage by Gavin Burkhalter and Cole Story. Their flower girls are Haislea Speice, Lynnix Bragg, Lowen Maxey, and Vera Pohlman.

Presale tickets are available until close of business on March 27 at Laudick’s Jewelry in Van Wert, or will be available at the door. General admission is $10, and a raffle entry is included with admission.

A brief bio of each contestant is listed below. Contestants are in alphabetical order.

Jayden Bragg is representing Lincolnview High School and is the daughter of Heather Bragg. She is involved in choir, track, and cross country, and is active in the school’s music program singing with the select ensemble. Jayden is also a member of the National Honor Society and is a Junior Rotarian. She is currently enlisted in the Army National Guard where she will be training to become a combat medic. After her service, Jayden plans to attend college to pursue a degree in mortuary sciences.

Meah Johnson is the daughter of Lisa and Demond Johnson and is representing Van Wert High School. Meah has been involved in volleyball and softball for four years, and is active in the school’s fine arts programs, through band, choir, select choir and theater. She is very involved in Van Wert Civic Theatre and has participated in youth groups at Calvary Evangelical Church and First United Methodist. Meah also service through mission work and vacation bible school programs. After graduation, Meah plans on attending a college or university to pursue a degree in theater.

Emily Lichtle is representing Crestivew High School and is the daughter of Mike and Amanda Lichtle. She is an avid volleyball player, and a varsity cheerleader. Emily is in FCCLA, National Honor Society, student council, where she serves as secretary, and is the reporter for Crestview FFA. In May, she will be receiving her state degree at the Ohio FFA Convention. Emily also dances and cheers at Kim Hohman’s Danceworks. After graduation, Emily plans on attending Purdue-Fort Wayne to major in communications and speech disorders, to later pursue a master’s degree in speech language pathology.

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.