Movie in the works based on book by local author

Lambert Days returns to Ohio City

VW independent staff/submitted information

OHIO CITY — The Lambert Days Committee invites everyone to celebrate Lambert Days 2026, taking place this Thursday through Sunday, July 16–19 in Ohio City. Named in honor of John W. Lambert, one of Ohio City’s most notable residents, the festival celebrates the community’s rich history while bringing together residents and visitors for four days of family fun, live entertainment, hometown traditions, and great food.

John W. Lambert was an inventor, entrepreneur, and automotive pioneer who built what is recognized as America’s first successful gasoline-powered automobile in 1891. His innovative work helped lay the foundation for the American automotive industry, and his legacy continues to be a source of pride for Ohio City. Lambert Days honors both his achievements and the community that he called home.

The festival’s main events will be held at Fireman’s Park on Ohio 118, while the Ohio City Community Building, adjacent to the park, will host the popular steak, hog roast and chicken dinners, along with live entertainment, 50/50 drawings, gift basket raffles, and additional food vendors throughout the weekend.

Visitors can also enjoy community-wide garage sales throughout Ohio City and the flea Mmarket and tractor show along E. Carmean St. featuring vendors, exhibitors, antique tractors, and live entertainment.

The weekend begins Thursday with the opening of the flea market and tractor show. On Friday, Ohio Has Talent winner Hayden Castleman will perform at 1 p.m. on E. Carmean St., while Fireman’s Park will feature the flag raising ceremony, children’s activities, a Texas Hold’em tournament, and Ryklee & The Most Likely at 8 p.m., followed by the annual fireworks display at approximately 10:15 p.m.

Saturday offerings will include co-ed softball and volleyball tournaments, the BMM Car Show, children’s activities, and Jeff Unterbrink at Fireman’s Park. Jerry & The Originals will perform at 2 p.m. on E. Carmean St., while Black Smoke Revival headlines Saturday evening at 8 p.m. at Fireman’s Park.

Blood donations urgently needed

VW independent staff/submitted information

The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage as the blood supply fell by nearly 25 percent in June. Blood donors are urgently needed to give now to help ensure patients receive lifesaving medical care without delay.

The shortage is especially serious for types O positive and B negative blood.

A steep decline in blood donations since the end of May has created a growing gap between supply and patient need. Currently, Red Cross distributions to hospitals are nearly 3,500 units higher per week than expected at a time when hospitals often see higher demand for blood products during the height of trauma season. On top of that, busy schedules and the seasonal loss of school blood drives are driving the decline which could put patient care at risk if not reversed.

The most important way to help end the blood shortage is to book an appointment to give blood now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all who come to give through the end of July will receive a Fandango Movie Ticket by email (up to

$15 ticket price and fees). Additional details can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/July.

Blood supply misconception

Every donation is critical to rebuilding the nation’s blood supply, yet many people may not realize the significant impact a single donation can have on patients in need. A recent Red Cross survey revealed a significant gap between public perception and the reality of the nation’s blood supply:

• Less than 1 in 5 respondents understood that blood cannot be stockpiled because it has a limited shelf life and must be continually replenished through volunteer donors.
• Only about half believed it was very likely that they or someone close to them would need blood one day, even though someone in the U.S. receives a blood transfusion every two seconds.

“A readily available blood supply serves as the backbone of modern medicine. Without it, lifesaving treatments and critical access points to care are not possible,” said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, medical director for the Red Cross. “Emergency departments, operating rooms, and labor and delivery units can’t support patients with the most urgent needs, and cancer patients must wait. We’re asking donors to givenow before doctors are forced to make those difficult decisions.”

Township Trustees change meeting date

The Hoaglin Township Trustees meeting scheduled for Monday, July 27, has been changed to 8 p.m. Monday, July 20, at 3975 Hoaglin Center Rd., Van Wert.

Township to hold budget hearing

The 2027 budget hearing for Pleasant Township will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, at the township building, 10507 Old Tile Factory Rd., Van Wert.

Blaze damages Lincoln Highway house

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Firefighters from multiple departments were summoned to battle a late Monday afternoon house fire along Lincoln Highway, east of the Van Wert city limits.

The Middle Point Fire Department was dispatched to the scene in the 15000 block of Lincoln Highway approximately 4:35 p.m. According to Chief Brock Profit, heavy fire was showing on the backside of the brick home. Middle Point responded with 12 personnel and four pieces of apparatus and brought the blaze under control in 28 minutes. Profit said damage was contained to the backside kitchen area.

Delphos Fire and Rescue, the Grover Hill Fire Department and Van Wert Fire Department supplied tankers and Van Wert and Scott Fire and EMS  were later called for additional manpower. Van Wert County CERT provided rehab service and traffic control. Profit thanked Collins Fine Foods for staying late and providing food for all first responders.

Van Wert County deputies were also at the scene, which was cleared three and a half hours after the call came in. 

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

VWHS alum Pratt wins national award

VW independent staff/submitted information

HILLSDALE (MI) — 2026 Hillsdale College graduate Connor Pratt won a national award for his biology research from the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society at its biennial national convention in May. Five Hillsdale students also took home prizes at the district convention in April.

“Hillsdale College trains students to think clearly, research carefully, and communicate well, which are essential skills in any scientific endeavor,” said Andrew Russell, associate professor of biology and faculty adviser to Hillsdale’s TriBeta chapter. “Hillsdale students do high-level original research even as undergraduates, and it is exciting to see their work recognized.”

Hillsdale sent 11 students to the district convention at Wittenburg University on April 18, where they presented their research from the past year. Of the 12 prizes awarded, Hillsdale students took home five.

In the organismal, ecology, and environmental biology category, Ellie Payne won first place for her oral presentation, and Emory Braswell won second.

In the molecular, cellular, microbiology category, Connor Pratt and Lydia Colby won first and second place respectively for their oral presentations, and Erika Mogelvang won third place for her poster presentation.

Hillsdale’s chapter, Iota Psi, also took home awards for most participants from a member school and farthest distance traveled to attend.

Pratt and Payne took their first-place presentations to the national convention at Florida State University May 27-31, where Pratt won the Frank G. Brooks Award for Excellence in Student Research, which is given for the best oral presentations at the convention.

“My research examined how surface roughness influences bacterial biofilm formation on different implant materials, with potential implications for improving long-term patient outcomes,” Pratt explained. “Being awarded first place at both the district and national levels was a humbling experience and a rewarding recognition of the effort behind this project.”

Pratt also wrote a thesis on his research, which fulfilled the requirement for a biology major at Hillsdale.

City Council holds marathon meeting

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Unless there’s a change of heart (or two), it appears smoking and vaping will be banned at all Van Wert city parks, with a change to the original proposal.

Monday night, members of Van Wert Council discussed at length proposed legislation by Councilman At-Large Hall Block that would prohibit smoking cigarettes, cigars, vapes, pipes and other smoking devices at all parks. Marijuana is already banned on all city-owned property.

However, after some pushback from several people who attended Monday’s meeting and identified themselves as smokers or former smokers and by a couple of council members who questioned the need for such legislation, the ordinance was revised to allow smoking in a designated area – the parking lot of each park.

The legislation had the first of three readings. The vote was 5-2, with Councilwoman At-Large Jana Ringwald and Fourth Ward Councilman Eric Hurless voting no. At least four votes are required to eventually pass.

The topic of smoking at parks was one of several during Monday’s marathon meeting, which lasted two hours and 45 minutes, not including a two minute tax budget hearing held prior to the meeting.

Another topic that led to a lengthy discussion was legislation proposed by Hurless that would repeal an existing ordinance requiring the city to have a tree commission. The city’s tree commission was established in 1981 but has not been in use in decades. However, Block said he knows of 10 people who are willing to serve on the volunteer commission.

“I would like to have this commission to have people associated with the city advocate for planting more trees, improving our urban tree canopy,” Block stated. “I think trees are a critical element of cities – they’re not just the icing on the cake, they’re what makes our community attractive and welcoming. We can look at historic photos of Van Wert 100 years ago…our streets were just lined with trees and I feel like we’ve lost some of that charm.”

Hurless responded by saying while he agreed with Block’s thoughts, he’s not sure it needs to be a law to have such a commission.

“It’s great that there’s a group of people that want to improve and increase the amount of trees in Van Wert, but I’m not so sure it’s part of our responsibility unless it’s city property,” Hurless said.

City treasurer tenders her resignation

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

After roughly six months on the job, Van Wert City Treasurer Johanna Quarles has resigned from office. 

During Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council, Mayor Ken Markward explained that Quarles accepted a job with the First Bank of Berne, which does business with the city. Quarles tendered her immediate resignation on Friday to avoid a potential conflict of interest. 

Markward said he’s checking with the Van Wert County Board of Elections to confirm what the next step is in naming a replacement. 

Quarles ran unopposed for city treasurer last November. 

Fair Board has seats up for election

Submitted information

The Van Wert County Agricultural Society has announced several open director seats for the 2026 election and reappointment cycle. Community members who are passionate about agriculture, the fair, and serving Van Wert County are encouraged to consider these leadership opportunities by running for a seat on the Van Wert County Fair Board.

The following director positions are up for election in 2026:

• Jennings Township
• Liberty Township
• Jackson Township
• Southern Region
• Pleasant Township
• York Township

Individuals seeking election to the Van Wert County Agricultural Society Board of Directors must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be a resident of Van Wert County and reside within the township or region they are seeking to represent.
• Purchase a membership certificate for the membership year in which they are seeking election.
• Complete a minimum of 10 hours of voluntary service to the Society during the fiscal year in which they are seeking election.
• Attend one regular monthly meeting of the Society during the fiscal year in which they are seeking election.
• State on the petition the specific board position for which they are seeking election.
• Obtain 10 or more signatures from Society members who reside within the township or region being represented.

Political club to hold initial meeting

VW independent staff/submitted information

PAULDING — The Paulding County Libertarian Club is officially holding its first meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Paulding Pancake House. Paulding County and surrounding area residents are invited to attend the social gathering to begin forming the club.

“Paulding is ready for a new political party to reach the roughly 8,000 voters who didn’t vote in this year’s primary election,” said organizer Christopher Elder, who is also running for the Ohio House District 82 seat.

Less than 25 percent of Paulding County’s registered voters cast a ballot for a political party in 2026. In the 2024 US Senate race, five percent of Paulding County voted for the Libertarian candidate, who was Putnam County resident and current Ohio gubernatorial candidate Don Kissick.

“This is an enormously positive development in the fight to restore liberty in Ohio, especially here in the northwestern region,” Kissick said. “Mr. Elder has been doing a lot of great work, and I am eager to support him in this endeavor.”

Kissick is expected to attend the meeting later this month.

The executive director of the Libertarian Party of Ohio, Michelle MacCutcheon, also commented on the formation of the Club in Paulding.

“Coming together in our communities and building a connected and grassroots movement will be what makes Ohio stand out among all the States,” she said.