Sister City group here

A cultural exchange delegation from Van Wert’s Sister City, Sumoto, Japan, arrived in the city Thursday evening and spent some time getting to know their host families during a welcome event held at the YMCA’s Camp Clay. Today, the group will see the sights in the city, including tours of Brumback Library, the Van Wert County Courthouse and Van Wert Municipal Building, Central Insurance Company and its Fire Museum, and Van Wert High School and the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. The delegation, shown here with Van Wert Mayor Jerry Mazur, will lunch at Chinatown Express, and will also perform prior to tonight’s concert in Fountain Park. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)