Joan C. Lockhart

Joan C. Lockhart, 72, of Decatur, Indiana, died at 12:31 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2016, at the Van Wert Area Inpatient Hospice Center. She was born November 16, 1943, in Piqua, the daughter of Charles E. and Naomi G. (McCoy) Wheeler, who both preceded her in death. On December 9, 1961, she married Jimmy Alan […]

Memorial Day events honor local soldiers

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor Monday was the day local communities celebrated Memorial Day, the day when those in the military who made the “ultimate sacrifice” — giving their lives for their country — are honored. In Van Wert, several veterans groups got together for a traditional Memorial Day service in Woodland Cemetery on Monday morning. The event […]

Cooling off at Camp Clay

The YMCA of Van Wert County’s Camp Clay Aqua Park was busy on Memorial Day as area residents flocked to the park to cool off on a warm day. Above, two boys have fun playing with the water cannons, while others (below) enjoy the new log roll in Lake Rotary. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

Ohio A-G: New twist on old IRS scam

Submitted information COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning consumers to beware of callers who claim to represent the IRS and ask for payment via iTunes gift cards, after 10 Ohioans recently reported losing between $1,000 and $11,500 to the ploy. Hundreds of other Ohioans have reported receiving scam calls that falsely suggest they […]

Gasoline prices mostly steady in Ohio

VW independent/submitted information Average retail gasoline prices in Ohio have risen 0.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.47 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 5,345 gas outlets in Ohio. This compares with the national average that has increased 3.0 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.32 […]

Crestview graduates 53 in Class of 2016

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor CONVOY — Crestview High School’s Class of 2016 wasn’t the biggest for the school, not by a long shot, but what they lacked in quantity, they more than made up for in quality, according to Principal Mike Biro. The 53 members of the class graduated Saturday evening during Crestview’s 56th annual Baccalaureate […]

Aqua Park donation

Citizens Wealth Management will be sponsoring a Business Day at the Camp Clay Aqua Park this summer. Local businesses purchase the day for the Van Wert community; access includes swimming, a floating playground, zip-line, paddleboats, a half-acre beach and the 3,600-square-foot splash pad, which was new last year. New in 2016 are water cannons at the […]

Latta on House energy conference panel

VW independent/submitted information WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-Ohio) was appointed by Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wisconsin) to serve on the bipartisan conference committee that will negotiate a final comprehensive energy package to be considered by the House and Senate. “I am honored to be appointed as a conferee, and I look forward to […]

Community econ. develop. efforts

There is an old Chevy Chase movie called Funny Farm where Chase’s character retires with his wife to the country to live outside a quiet small town and write a novel. It being a comedy, of course, the town is not what he had expected, full of oddball characters, including a drunk mailman who delivers […]

Chad E. Cox

Chad E. Cox, 42, of Van Wert, died at 10:25 p.m. Saturday, May 28, 2016, shortly after arrival at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert. He was born November 19, 1973, in Decatur, Indiana. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Christina (Rayer) and Rex Craig of Van Wert, and his father, Kenneth […]