Firefighters battle blaze at Lincoln Highway house

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.

Cast is set, AYAT show ready to start

Submitted information

The plague has arrived, the choreography is set, and the beat is officially dropping at Van Wert Civic Theatre. Director Alyssa Taylor, Choreographer Emily Gehle and Musical Director Perri Webb are thrilled to announce the official cast for the upcoming production of The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, sponsored by Biggby Coffee. Paul is an average guy who likes average things—and he absolutely hates musicals. But his world turns into a singing nightmare when a mysterious plague starts transforming his town into a living, dancing horror show. Now, Paul must fight to survive as the world around him breaks into choreographed chaos.

Cast

• Paul Matthews – Sean Carpenter
• Emma Perkins – Abbie Mengerink
• Charlotte Sweetly – Kim Salisbury
• Ted Spankoffski – Andy Walpole
• Bill Woodward – Charles Bennett
• Professor Hidgens – Carson Caprella
• Mr. Ken Davidson / Sam Sweetly – Evan Joseph
• Alice Woodward – Payton Frese
• General John MacNamara – Landon Adams
• Zoey Chambers – Chloe Parker
• Nora – Ella Lamb
• Greenpeace Canvasser – Emily Gehle
• Homeless Guy – Freya Blount
• Deb – Emily Ayers
• Greg – Chloe Parker
• Stu – Emily Gehle
• Soloist Cops – Ella Lamb, Carson Caprella
• Coffee Jerk – Carson Caprella
• Colonel Schaffer – Anna Cassidy
• Melissa – Sophie Berryman
• Ensemble – Colton Easterday, Josh Hohman, Sav Merkel

This AYAT (Adolescent and Young Adult) production has a talented group of local performers ready to take you on a wild journey into a town being taken over by a singing, dancing alien entity. Please be advised that this production contains a content warning for adult language, violence, sexual language, gunshots, drug references, smoking, blood, and gore.

The box office is open now. Tickets are $18 with a $16 for senior presale-only price.  All ticket sales are final. Performances will run July 23, 24, 25, and 26, as well as July 30, 31, and August 1 and 2. All performances take place on the Van Wert Civic Theatre’s main stage at 118 S. Race Street. Secure your seats early at vwct.org or call 419.238.9689.

Three people apply for vacant BOE seat

VW independent staff

The Van Wert City Schools Board of Education will hold a pair of special meetings this week – Tuesday and Wednesday, July 14 and 15, to interview candidates to fill a vacant seat on the board.

Three district residents applied for consideration – Cody Carroll, Wes Collins and Scott White.

Tuesday’s meeting will begin at 5 p.m. and Wednesday’s meeting will start at 4 p.m. Both meetings will take place in the S.F. Goedde Building Conference Room. The interviews will be conducted in executive session and no action will be taken at either meeting.

The board is expected to name a replacement for Thaison Leaser, who resigned June 30, during the next regular monthly meeting, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 22. 

Three events coming up in Van Wert County

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

A busy weekend is in store in Van Wert County with an annual celebration in Ohio City, plus two events in Van Wert.

Lambert Days

The third full weekend of July brings Lambert Days to Ohio City and it will be a full weekend indeed.

A flea market and tractor show will kick things off from 7 a.m. to dark Thursday along E. Carmean St. Lambert Days will then continue Friday through Sunday.

Among the highlights: this year’s Ohio Has Talent runner-up Hayden Castleman will perform at 1 p.m. Friday and a steak dinner will be served, starting at 4 p.m. A Texas Hold’Em tournament will begin at 7 p.m. Friday and at 8 p.m. Ryklee & the Most Likey will perform. Fireworks are scheduled for 10:15 p.m.

Saturday’s highlights include a co-ed softball tournament at 8 a.m., co-ed volleyball at 9 a.m., a car show at noon, music by Jerry & the Originals at 2 p.m., music by Jeff Unterbrink at 3 p.m., a hog roast dinner at 4 p.m., bingo at 5 p.m., and music by Black Smoke Revival at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, a chicken dinner will be served starting at 11 a.m., the same time as live music is performed by Mike & Friends. The annual Lambert Days parade will step off at 3 p.m.

Community wide garage sales will be offered throughout Lambert Days.

For the full schedule of events and more information, go to lambertdays.com.

Lambert Days honors automotive pioneer John Lambert, whose Lambert gasoline buggy was the first practical gasoline-powered automobile available for sale in America. He designed and built the vehicle in 1890 and successfully tested it in January 1891 inside a farm implement showroom he owned in Ohio City.

City Council expected to have busy night

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Monday night’s meeting of Van Wert City Council could be a rather lengthy one.

Council meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month but since June had five Mondays, three weeks have elapsed since the last meeting. The June 22 meeting had a somewhat short agenda, but the meeting still took nearly two hours. Discussion of several topics, including a potential new noise ordinance and possible changes to the city’s junk and rubbish laws, were discussed at length and will likely be revisited tonight.

 A handful of legislative items are on the agenda as drafts.

One would allow Mayor Ken Markward to sign a lease agreement with Butterfly Meadows Solar Project LLC for use of approximately 38 acres of city-owned farmland off of U.S. 127. If the project moves forward, the city’s property would be about one percent of it. Overall, the solar farm would occupy approximately 4,000 acres of land in Hoaglin, Union and Pleasant townships. If eventually approved at the state level, construction would likely begin in 2028.

Another ordinance would authorizing Markward to sign a petition for the annexation of approximately 50 acres of land owned by the Business Development Corporation or Ohio Power Company (AEP) into the city.

The drilling of private wells within the city limits is also listed on the agenda. If approved, no new private wells would be a permitted use, but instead would be conditional use in all zoning classifications.

Amendments and updates to the city’s laws regarding door-to-door salespeople is on the agenda and could be passed on first reading as an emergency.

Motorcycle crash…

The Willshire Fire Department,Wren EMS, Van Wert EMS and Lutheran Air-1 were paged out to a motorcycle accident on Ohio 49 at the Piqua Rd. intersection on Sunday. No details are available and the accident is under investigation by the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.Traffic control was provided by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department. The motorcycle sustained light damage and was removed from the scene by friends. Bob Barnes/VWFD photographer