SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
GROVER HILL — It’s a heartbreaking story. An animal rescue facility outside of Grover Hill was destroyed by flames early Saturday morning.
The owners of JAR, or Justice Animal Rescue, were awakened at 4:45 a.m. to find the rescue, Dog City, engulfed in flames. 911 was called immediately, but the building was gone by the time firefighters arrived at the scene.
“All the fire department could do at this point was stop the fire from spreading to our home,” JAR wrote in a Facebook post.
The dogs in the building did not survive and the everything was destroyed by the fire.
“The fire was a complete and total loss, we lost everything,” the rescue said in its post. “We have no crates, no kennels, our outdoor dog area now needs major repairs, even the doghouses burned. All of our dog food is burned, our medications, vaccines, basically everything we needed was in the building and now it’s all gone.”
The post also said the future of JAR is uncertain, as it will take time to rebuild.
“We currently still have 45 dogs in foster who need us and lots of dogs waiting for their chance at freedom,” JAR wrote.
The rescue also wrote that the cause of the fire may have been a window air conditioning unit.
(more…)POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:10 pm
VW independent staff
DEFIANCE — A woman with a Defiance address was arrested on a warrant charging her with attempted murder, felonious assault, aggravated assault and domestic violence.
According to a report from the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Summer Raye Jones, 34, was arrested Friday without incident at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio in Styker. She was transported to the Van Wert County Correctional Facility.
No other information is available at the present time.
POSTED: 05/06/24 at 8:27 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
A hearing on an attempt to suppress evidence in an upcoming murder trial will be held today.
The hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, was requested by attorney Zachary Maisch, who is representing Ryan Houser, 38, of Celina, formerly of Rockford. Houser is facing four charges – aggravated murder, an unclassified felony; murder, an unclassified felony; possessing a weapon under disability, a third degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a third degree felony. All four charges are connected to the September, 2023 death of Houser’s girlfriend, Barbara Ganger, of Van Wert.
Maisch is seeking to suppress multiple statements solicited from Houser by law enforcement officers on seven different occasions during the investigation. He also claims Houser was never given a Miranda warning during interviews with law enforcement officers, including once when Houser was jailed in lieu of bond.
“All of the above interviews were conducted under circumstances of extreme law enforcement intimidation and in a manner in which no person would have felt free to leave,” Maisch wrote in the motion. “At no point in time did law enforcement ever give a Miranda warning to the defendant. As such, all of the above outlined statements were obtained in violation of the defendant’s rights under the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Ohio.”
Maisch also wants to visually inspect a shell casing found at the scene of the murder and two bullets that were recovered during Ganger’s autopsy in order to possibly determine the caliber. Maisch claims no prosecution reports indicate what the caliber may be.
Houser is accused of shooting and killing Ganger, 43, at Van Wert West Apartments in early September. Her body was discovered on September 4, 2023, after the Van Wert Police Department conducted a welfare check. A police report indicated she had been shot twice, once in the stomach area and once in the head.
(more…)POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:09 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine has announced $3 million in funding for 42 local law enforcement agencies to help their drug task forces enforce the state’s drug laws and combat illegal drug activity.
Grants from the 2024 Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund will support drug task forces that impact 36 counties on issues of drug trafficking, pharmaceutical diversion, and other organized criminal activity associated with the drug trade. The program, which is administered through the Office of Criminal Justice Services, is also intended to help local agencies enhance the safety of Ohioans through multi-jurisdictional task forces.
“Local drug task force commanders know their area’s drug trade inside and out,” DeWine said. “Providing this funding ensures more drugs will be taken off the street and more drug traffickers will be put behind bars.”
None of the funds were given to Van Wert County, but two neighboring counties, Allen County ($83,587.28) and Auglaize County ($76,319.27) received funds.
Funds can be used by agencies to investigate drug trafficking organizations and disrupt the drug supply through intelligence gathering, information sharing, and multi-agency coordination. Grants can also be used to support local work to help drug overdose victims and their families through education, support, and treatment options.
The Ohio Drug Law Enforcement Fund is part of the Drug Interdiction, Disruption, and Reduction Plan that is funded through Ohio’s operating budget.
The grants are in addition to several other initiatives developed to address the issues of drug trafficking and substance use disorder, including the RecoveryOhio initiative to support aggressive measures to combat the opiate epidemic by investing in the health and well-being of Ohio citizens.
Through the RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund, local drug task forces have received millions to intercept illegal drugs and enhance their role in substance use awareness, prevention, and recovery. RecoveryOhio has also worked to expand access to specialized court dockets to give judges flexibility to place defendants with mental health or substance use disorders into treatment rather than sentencing them to jail.
POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:09 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
WILLSHIRE TOWNSHIP — Ohio 81, between Willshire Eastern Road and Harrison Willshire Road in Willshire Township is scheduled to close today for approximately 150 days to raise the roadway profile and replace two culverts.
Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.
POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:08 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
Local and area veterans organizations and other groups planning Memorial Day ceremonies and/or services are encouraged to submit information for publication. Please include the date, time, location and any pertinent information, including speakers, luncheon, etc.
The information should be emailed to editor@thevwindependent.com no later than Friday, May 17.
POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:08 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff/submitted information
DELPHOS — The investigation continues into a two-vehicle crash in northwest Allen County that claimed one person and caused serious injuries to two others.
According to the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, it occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Defiance Trail in Marion Township.
Ted A. Powell, 67, of Van Buren was eastbound on U.S. 30 while Douglas L. White, 40, of Rocky Top, Tennessee, was traveling south on Defiance Trail. White reportedly stopped at the stop sign at the intersection then continued south and was struck by Powell’s vehicle, which came to final rest in the right lane of eastbound traffic. White’s vehicle went off the south side of the roadway into the ditch.
White was not injured but Powell suffered serious injuries and was transported to Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center by Putnam County EMS. There were two passengers in Powell’s vehicle. Jacquale F. Gabbard, 33, of Lima was a backseat passenger and was transported by Delphos EMS to Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center for serious injuries. Linda I. Powell, 44, of Lima, was transported by Delphos EMS to Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be a factor for either driver. White was wearing a seat belt, but none of the occupants in Powell’s vehicle were reportedly wearing seat belts. The eastbound lanes of U.S. 30 were closed for approximately 45 minutes.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Office, Delphos Police Department, Delphos Fire and EMS, Putnam EMS and Knippen’s Towing Service assisted the highway patrol at the scene.
POSTED: 05/05/24 at 9:21 am. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
If you happen to like the sounds of strings, the sounds of classical music and the sounds of pop music, you’re in luck. You’ll be able to hear it all next Friday, when the world famous Dallas String Quartet comes to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Van Wert.
It’s best described as a fusion of classical and contemporary music on both traditional and electricstrings and in fact, on DSQ’s website it says “Where Bach meets Bon Jovi” which gives you a good idea about the upcoming performance.
“It took us a while to explain because when people hear ‘string quartet’ they think of something very traditional, very formal and this is not that,” DSQ founder Ion Zanca explained. “This is more high energy, more fun, more current music, so we didn’t know how to explain it exactly so hopefully that gives people a little insight about what we do.”
“It bridges the gap between the audience that wants something a little more classical and the audience that wants to be entertained and have fun,” Zanca continued. “Our concerts are split into two – in the first half we play little more of the classical repertoire then in the second half it’s all rock and electric violins, so you get a little bit of both worlds. A lot of kids in orchestra programs benefit from it because they see you can play everything, not only classical music on a violin.”
The Dallas String Quartet consists of Zanca (viola), who founded the group in 2007, Melissa Priller and Valory Hight on the violin, and bassist Young Heo.
“This is a very international group,” Zanca said. “One is from South Korea, one from Mexico, plus Romania and Virginia.”
The Dallas String Quartet is no stranger to success. The group’s music has millions of streams, had their album “Love Always” debut at No. 2 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Albums and Classical Albums charts. In addition to all of that, DSQ has shared the stage with the likes of Kenny G., Chicago, Air Supply and others, and has performed private concerts for former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
(more…)POSTED: 05/03/24 at 9:15 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff
The first brush pickup of 2024 in Van Wert will begin on Monday, May 6. Brush should be out by 7 a.m. Here are some other guidelines:
- 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 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 be picking up leaves during brush pick up.
Future brush pickup dates are July 8 and September 9.
POSTED: 05/03/24 at 9:13 pm. FILED UNDER: News
VW independent staff and submitted information
Van Wert High School has scheduled final semester exams for the 2023-2024 school year for Tuesday, May 21, and Wednesday, May 22, according to Principal Chuck Rollins.
All students are required to take exams unless the course does not offer one or a student has been given permission to exempt through the Renaissance program. Students who do not show up for their exams will be given a zero on the exam, fail the entire course for that semester, even if their percentage is equivalent to a passing grade, because they did not fulfill the course requirements, which includes taking the exam. Students who are absent from an exam must follow all Van Wert High School attendance policies and procedures as adopted by the Board of Education. All make-up exams will occur according to district policies and procedures.
Each of the seven exam periods will last 1 hour and 20 minutes, with an hour open lunch period from 10:50-11:50 a.m. each day of the exams, and staff team time will be held from 2:40-3:10 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Make-up testing, staff grading, or meetings will be held from 1:20-2:40 p.m., followed by staff team time from 2:40-3:10 p.m. on Wednesday.
POSTED: 05/03/24 at 9:13 pm. FILED UNDER: News
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
Vantage Career Center now has nearly 4.5 more acres of land, thanks to a donation by the Van Wert County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
The donation of the neighboring property that is currently the site of the Thomas Edison Adult Center was approved during Thursday night’s Vantage Career Center Board of Education.
“A huge thank you to Jim Stripe, the Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Van Wert County Commissioners for donating the building and land to Vantage Career Center,” Turner said. “This additional space will provide many opportunities for high school and adult education students for many years to come. Our ability to quickly respond to the workforce needs of our community in areas where we continue to hear of need, particularly in the medical field will be greatly enhanced.”
“We will begin the process of moving our programs that are currently in the main Thomas Edison building into the newly acquired space, then begin identifying current and possible new programs that will be in this building,” he continued. “We will then begin the design phase of a renovation project to repurpose the building. This is an amazing and exciting opportunity for our students and our community.”
Later, Turner lauded Kassidy Hipsher, a Kalida senior in the criminal justice program for jumping into action while at Kalida High School.
“On April 22, Kassidy was at her home school when she observed someone who appeared to be choking,” Turner said. “She followed all the proper protocols and upon establishing that this person was in duress, Kassidy performed life saving procedures that she had learned in the criminal justice lab and while doing her job shadowing at the Sheriff’s Department. According to witnesses Kassidy was calm, professional and in complete control of the situation. I spoke with Kassidy this week, she was very humble regarding her response to this emergency.”
During his report to the board, High School Director Ben Winans said letters were sent out to all applicants for the next school year.
“Student services staff are in the process of going to each school to physically meet with all those who have been accepted into our programs,” Winans stated.
He also noted the annual Senior Awards program will be held at 7 p.m. Monday May 20, in the Van Wert High School Gymnasium.
(more…)POSTED: 05/03/24 at 3:46 am. FILED UNDER: News
