it takes a talented and passionate team to bring unforgettable live entertainment experiences to our community we’re spotlighting the individuals who make the magic happen behind the scenes who brings the Van Wert Live brand to life through stunning visuals and powerful storytelling He isn’t just a designer – he’s the creative engine behind the look and feel of everything our audience sees From eye-catching posters to social media graphics Weston ensures that every visual element reflects the excitement and professionalism of the Van Wert Live experience “I love being able to blend art and performance,” he shared “Each show we host has its own color palette and it’s my job to show that experience to the audience—before they even walk through the doors.” Thompson’s journey into the world of design started early A lifelong artist with a natural eye for form and composition he pursued art studies in high school and went on to study visual communications He has a BFA in Visual Communication Design from Indiana University (IPFW) plus designed for the Civic Theatre and other freelance jobs Here are a few questions we asked Weston about his career:  Q: What’s your favorite part of the creative process?A: I enjoy problem solving I feel the most connected when I have a miasma of elements to transform into a compelling It is rewarding to assemble a chaotic mix of photos Q: How do you stay inspired creatively?A: To stay inspired I push myself to stay involved in varied pursuits I’m always doing something that gives me the new perspective of approaching the world from various angles what would you be doing?A: If I weren’t a designer I would be traveling more to chase my dreams I enjoy being a designer because I can push my limits from an office setting whereas if I were performing shows (probably on saxophone) I would be traveling extensively but by being a designer I can be involved in the Van Wert community from here at home combined with his deep appreciation for live performance “It’s exciting to find a place where your professional skill set and your personal pursuits overlap so perfectly,” he said and sponsorship teams to create cohesive campaigns that drive ticket sales and elevate the community’s arts culture.  and Weston brings it together in a visual way That kind of environment pushes our team to do our best work,” shared Jarin Hart Weston enjoys playing the saxophone and piano with Van Wert Jazz He also occasionally lends his saxophone talents to other bands it simply finds new ways to express itself As Van Wert Live continues to have arts and entertainment Weston Thompson is ensuring that every visual detail keeps pace with the excitement and every piece of creative that helps tell our story—and we couldn’t be more grateful for his talent and dedication POSTED: 05/05/25 at 12:34 pm. FILED UNDER: Arts & Entertainment Danny (Rose Marie) VanWynsberghe of Key West and most loyal friends Matt (Carla) Woodyard Donald (Shelley) Adam and Rod (Karla) Bowersock He was preceded in death by his father and two sisters Dewey was a lifelong farmer in Ridge Township being the first to buy a no-till planter in Van Wert County He worked at the Van Wert Dragstrip sweeping the track and at Lee’s Ace Hardware servicing mowers and was a zoning inspector for Ridge Township He had a good time volunteering with the Venedocia Lions Club alongside his family Dewey’s earliest memories were at the VanWynsberghe homestead digging up Grandma VanWynsberghe’s newly-planted onions and being served freshly butchered fried chicken He was the most devoted son with the ideal childhood provided by Junior and Patty Great times were had fishing in the ocean at Singer Island Florida with his dad and Uncle Joe DeLaurelle in the summers of his youth Dewey later had many unforgettable times fishing with his dad in the Everglades and strength working by his dad’s side every day His mother showed him loving discipline and care His love for learning was evident in his reading and studying of the Bible His deep study in the original language of the Scriptures unfailingly revealed the accuracy of the Word Dewey married Rachel Woodruff in a private they had two daughters Una and Siska (Brownie) taking meals to the field to Junior and Dewey and giving them rides and going on parts runs Dewey and Rachel farmed with an efficient partnership He taught Rachel how to run the strip tiller the family moved back to the VanWynsberghe homeplace Dewey used his woodworking craftsmanship for cabinetmaking and furniture making in the home Whether he was sharing his ice cream cone with his German Shepherd hunting 360 groundhogs in one summer with his esteemed black lab choking out a deer with the ferocious Dutch or reuniting with Poopy after the puppy was missing in the cornfield for three days a faithful dog was always by Dewey’s side on the farm Watching his daughters grow into adulthood and make their way in life was yet another opportunity to support them and learn from them and was prepared to defend them even to death if need be So many fun times were had camping at France Park and at the fair and taking the family on cruises Shared memories of those trips and times spent together are now the essentiality of what we are smiling and laughing about now without him Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during visitation from 4-8 p.m Please come to the family home after the service to eat and for fellowship at 16246 Ohio 116 POSTED: 05/05/25 at 12:44 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 0:29:02 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 2024 turned out to be a busy year for the Van Wert Fire Deparment it was the busiest year in a five-year span According to the department’s annual report the Van Wert Fire Department responded to 2,216 calls last year 89.9 percent (1,990) were EMS calls and 7.8 percent (175) were classified as “other calls.” In addition the Van Wert Fire Department responded to 112 calls for mutual aid while October had the fewest number of calls Ward 3 had the highest number of calls last year 112 calls came from outside the city limits and 50 came from a contractual area While the annual report provides a snapshot into the department’s activities in 2024 it also addresses future needs of the Van Wert Fire Department Chief Jon Jones noted there are some challenges on the horizon including a workforce transition as many experienced personnel approach retirement The department currently employs 18 on-duty firefighters/EMTs and 10 reserves we also anticipate a significant change in leadership with the arrival of a new Fire Chief and potentially multiple new captains and lieutenants adding another layer of complexity to our staffing strategy,” Jones wrote in his annual report “Recruiting and retaining quality staff is increasingly difficult in today’s competitive fire service where lateral transfers often lure well-trained professionals to departments offering better financial security.” the Van Wert Fire Department is contending in a substantial increase in costs for equipment and personnel “Investments in modernizing our facilities and adopting advanced training technologies are essential to keep pace with the growing demands of our community,” Jones stated these improvements come with a significant financial burden With our call volume continuing to increase – and with no signs of slowing – it is imperative that our city reconsiders current wage levels and staffing numbers to match our operational needs.” according to Jones – the Van Wert Fire Department’s living quarters “We are actively exploring options to upgrade these spaces to better meet modern standards and to accommodate both men and women in the future – an upgrade our current station was not originally designed to support,” he stated “This critical improvement will not only enhance the quality of life for our personnel but also bolster our overall operational efficiency and readiness for the challenges ahead.” Jones mentioned upgrades that will bolster the department’s ability to respond to calls including two new Braun Liberty ambulances and updating the daily officer vehicles to a Ford F-150 “This upgraded vehicle will serve as both a first-out and chase vehicle on ambulance runs,” Jones said “The increased capacity of the F-150 allows us to carry more equipment for specialized situations The full annual report can be found here POSTED: 05/02/25 at 8:48 pm. FILED UNDER: News The Van Wert Civic Theatre’s production of The Play That Goes Wrong made its premiere last Thursday and had audiences in stitches that night (see Dave Mosier’s review above) along with Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoon Four more performances will be offered this Thursday through Sunday POSTED: 05/04/25 at 8:52 pm. FILED UNDER: News OhioHealth is proud to announce the introduction of Philips EPIQ CVx, innovative cardiovascular ultrasound technology from Philips bringing advanced echocardiography capabilities to Van Wert and surrounding communities This investment will help ensure that patients receive a high standard of cardiac imaging without the need to travel to larger cities like Columbus.  “This is the same advanced technology used at larger OhioHealth facilities in Columbus,” said Paula Stabler patients in our community can receive the same high-quality care close to home ensuring they remain comfortable with providers they know and trust.”  Philips EPIQ CVx is a premium cardiovascular ultrasound system offering numerous powerful FDA-cleared AI applications and advanced diagnostic solutions This technology shortens the time it takes to perform and interpret an exam [1-5] while improving accuracy and reproducibility [1,5,6,7] It also enhances resolution and streamlines workflows while elevating quality and clarity to boost clinical confidence [8] in treating patients with conditions including pulmonary hypertension “The introduction of 3D imaging is a significant upgrade,” said Taylor Dahlinghaus, manager of Radiology Support Services at Van Wert Hospital “We’ve always provided echocardiography services but this new technology improves image clarity and allows us to see detailed views of the heart like never before.”  “As the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and other conditions continues to rise, early diagnosis and effective treatment are more critical than ever,” said David Handler general manager of cardiac ultrasound at Philips “Leveraging automation and AI-based technologies that make echo exams easier clinicians at OhioHealth Van Wert can effectively and efficiently treat routine and complex cardiac issues advancing patient care and improving outcomes.” # # # [1] The Auto Measure feature can reduce the quantification time by 51% VM9 claims document 270472 A. [2] The AutoSTRAIN application utilizes two automation technologies: Auto View Recognition and Auto Contour Placement While the implementation of these automation tools drives simple fast workflow for robust and reproducible GLS measurements the user retains the ability to edit and override the automation to facilitate good clinical practice AutoSTRAIN – automated global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurement 4522 991 45791 * FEB 2019. [3] After performing 10 echo exams with the Compact 5500 system there was 80% agreement that the AutoStrain LV application was fast and easy to use 275264C_Protego Claims List for Marketing Communications and 277399 Protego User Preference [4] Reduce your 2D diagnostic echo exam time by 20% by incorporating Philips automated solutions into your everyday echo 270472_VMQ9.0 Claims Evidence Report [5] HeartModel study (4522 991 17141 * MAY 2016) by Dr Roberto Lang: Automated transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiographic quantification of the left heart chambers [6] Conclusion: RT3DE yields accurate and reproducible RV volumes The calculated percentile curves may facilitate the clinical use of RT3DE to analyze RV function in children “Validation and Reference Values for Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Right Ventricular Volumetry in Children: A Multicenter Study.” J Am Soc Echocardiogr 31(9): 1050-1063. [7] Henry MP Three-Dimensional Transthoracic Static and Dynamic Normative Values of the Mitral Valve Apparatus: Results from the Multicenter World Alliance Societies of Echocardiography Study PMID: 35245668; PMCID: PMC10257802. [8] TrueVue and the OLED monitor PLoS One 2015 Oct 14;10(10); Left Atrial Appendage Closure Guided by Integrated Echocardiography and Fluoroscopy Imaging Reduces Radiation Exposure.   6 May 2025 0:29:15 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 0:29:17 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); surrounded by her loving family at her home in Van Wert the only child of Frank Eugene Swartz and Lorene Ada (Ashbaugh) Swartz Kiehl who also preceded her in death on October 23 Family survivors include her three children Jerry Kiehl of Van Wert and Jill (Bill) Graves of Van Wert; nine grandchildren Tennessee; 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren Donna was a homemaker and formerly drove a school bus for Lincolnview Local Schools for many years She was a former member of the Zion Christian Union Church and attended Trinity Friends Church of Van Wert at Cowan & Son Funeral Home of Van Wert until time of services on Wednesday at the funeral home Preferred memorials: Trinity Friends Church or CHP Hospice of Van Wert Online condolences may be expressed on the Tribute Wall at cowanfuneralhome.com POSTED: 05/05/25 at 7:28 am. FILED UNDER: Obituaries 6 May 2025 0:29:26 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); He was a graduate of Van Wert High School Frank drove truck for 30 years 15 of those years were as an owner/operator but his true love was his family and friends They were his greatest gift and greatest joy He is survived by his wife Rochelle (Bolenbaugh) Campbell; son Lily Hatfield and Julian Duff; great-grandson Donnie Campbell and Terry (Amy) Campbell; sister and take the time to call or spend time with your family and friends – remind them that you love them cook a good family meal and enjoy the finer things in life Online condolences may be expressed at www.alspachgearhart.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home & Crematory POSTED: 05/05/25 at 12:26 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries 6 May 2025 0:29:34 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); 6 May 2025 0:29:36 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); VW indepdendent staff/submitted information Van Wert City Schools conducted a hands-on cardiac emergency drill on Friday simulating a real-life scenario in which a student experienced sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while riding a school bus from the Van Wert School at the Goedde The exercise was designed to test staff response in a high-stress emphasizing the importance of being prepared beyond the walls of a traditional classroom The training is part of the Van Wert City Schools’ continued commitment to maintaining its Heart Safe School designation through Project ADAM a national initiative that supports schools in preparing for cardiac emergencies The district has held this designation since 2022 District Nurse Natasha Hunnicutt emphasized the importance of realistic drills schools are now required to conduct quarterly cardiac emergency drills,” she said “Today’s scenario was very impactful for our staff due to the limited space on the bus to administer CPR or use an AED We’re adjusting our protocols to align with the new law and help ensure we’re fully prepared.” Recognizing the importance of preparedness in all environments the district is expanding its emergency training protocols all Van Wert City Schools bus drivers will be trained in CPR and AED use as part of their annual safety training,” said Assistant Superintendent Bob Priest “This is a vital step in ensuring we’re prepared for emergencies wherever they occur.” an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can save a life if used in time An AED provides an electrical shock to the heart and is the only known treatment to stop chaotic electrical activity within the heart For every minute defibrillation is delayed the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent Van Wert City Schools currently has 33 AEDs located throughout the district including eight portable units available for off-campus activities The district continues working toward full CPR and AED certification for all staff members and a commitment to continuous improvement Van Wert City Schools remains a leader in student and staff safety POSTED: 05/04/25 at 8:54 pm. FILED UNDER: Top Story 6 May 2025 0:29:44 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Van Wert and Crestview finished 1-2-3 on the boys’ and girls’ side at the annual Van Wert County Track Meet which was held at Van Wert High School on Tuesday The Lancer boys won the team title with 65 points followed by Van Wert (54) and Crestview (45) The Lancer girls enjoyed a dominating performance and finished with 92.5 team points easily outdistancing Van Wert (48.5) and Crestview (20) “It’s a great Van Wert County tradition started in 1998 to promote track and field in our small corner of Ohio,” Van Wert head coach Nate Hoverman said “All three schools have enjoyed a ton of success over that time. It’s a great event for the kids and  we hope we can do it for another 27 years.” Lincolnview’s Brynleigh Moody led the way for the girls’ squad with first place finishes in the 400 meter run (1:03.4) 1600 meter run (6:02.25) and 3200 meter run (12:41.63) She was also the final leg of the 4×400 relay team (Lindsay Hatcher Moody) that finished first with a time of 4:29.76 and the 4×800 team that won with a time of 11:09.78 Horstman won the 100 and 300 meter hurdles with times of 17.19 and 51.88 and the 4×200 relay team of Harper Reindel Makynlee Dickinson and Horstman finished first (1:54.83) as well Other invidual champions for the Lancers were Kara Suever (high jump Van Wert’s Kendra Deehring won the 100 meter dash (12.86) and the 200 meter dash (26.84) and she finished as the anchor of the 4×100 meter relay team (Jazzlyn Florence Crestview’s highest finisher was Delanie Balliet who finished second in the 100 meter dash (13.45) and the 200 meter dash (28.64); the 4×100 relay team (Lydia Grace Van Wert’s Owen Scott set a stadium and meet record by logging a time of 9:41.81 in the 3200 meter run and he recorded another first place finish in the 800 meter run (2:02.71) He served as the anchor of the 4×800 relay team (Andrew Laudick Other top finishers for the Cougars were Keaten Welch (400 meter run Lincolnview’s winners were Noah Peters (110 meter hurdles 43.20); the 4×400 relay team (Kreston Tow Crestview’s Drayden Hoffman won the 100 meter dash (11.43) and 200 meter dash (24.13) while Hudson Perrott (1600 meter run (4:44.76) and the same four won the 4×200 meter relay (1:34.91) Full results can be found here POSTED: 04/29/25 at 9:29 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports 6 May 2025 0:29:49 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Van Wert City Council didn’t hesitate to come up with some cash when the Van Wert County Regional Airport Authority recently discovered a shortfall in its runway extension project came to City Council on Monday to talk about an unexpected shortfall in the money needed to fully fund the runway project Davis said the shortfall came about because of a misunderstanding between the Airport Authority and Van Wert County Board of Commissioners about a pledge the county made to pay $20,000 a year for 10 years (a total of $240,000) to fund the runway extension.  the then-Airport Authority members thought that they were getting a pledge from the county for a total of $600,000 for the runway project instead of the $480,000 the county thought it was providing for the project “It was a misunderstanding on their part as much as a misunderstanding on our part,” Davis added the commissioners agreed to fund half of the shortfall — $60,000 — leaving $60,000 the Airport Authority was hoping the city would cover Davis went on to note that the runway project is seen as crucial not only to county economic development but also to the airport’s future goal to be financially independent.  “We’re taking steps to try to become independent to put ourselves in a situation where we will have enough fuel sales and won’t have to come ask for $40,000 in operating cash every year … but we’re not quite there yet,” he said Davis noted that having a longer runway allows bigger jets to fly into the local airport would aid development efforts to bring in larger manufacturing facilities He also added that the runway project is just one of three projects currently underway at the airport adding that the runway lights and automated weather station are also being updated Third Ward Councilman Bill Marshall talked about the importance of the runway project to future local development.  “This is an incredible project that you’ve taken on and I think it is one of the most significant projects we have going … it’s just hand in glove with economic development,”  he said while making a motion to approve the funding request City Auditor Erika Blackmore recommended the money come from the city’s General Fund rather than the Hotel-Motel Tax account from which airport operating funds come.  “I was always told that we want one year of reserve in that fund,” she said noting that taking $60,000 from the account would put it below the one-year threshold.  Council agreed and unanimously voted to fund the request from the General Fund as an emergency Local resident and engineering student Hall Block was also at Council to make a presentation on a project he said would help slow traffic at the intersection of Washington and Crawford streets Block noted that a young boy was struck by a car at that the intersection a few months ago and praised the city for improvements it has already made at the intersection The intersection gets significant use from students walking to the S.F Goedde Building — a major bus hub for students traveling to local school facilities “I’m here tonight because I think there is a little bit more we can do and He proposed using larger and more visible crosswalk markings as well as changes to the curbs to lessen the distance students must walk to cross the intersection Block said his proposed changes would make motorists drive slower as they approach the intersection as well as make the intersection more visible — and safer Other changes could include a mural in the middle of the intersection to make it more visible which he said could be done by Wassenberg Art Center volunteers although Block noted that the mural would likely have to be repainted every two years or so He also recommended eliminating the left-hand turn lane from Crawford onto Washington to make the intersection safer would be the only responsibilities of the city Council will take the proposal under advisement.  Mayor Ken Markward talked about the need to consider whether someone is living in a blighted property before looking at attempts to acquire the property and also said the city needed a definition of “data center” for city zoning purposes That issue was turned over to the Judiciary and Annexation Committee for discussion The mayor also noted that city offices would be closed this Friday in connection with the Good Friday holiday Blackmore noted during her report to Council that city investments are looking good so far this year She also reminded Council members that they need to complete fraud risk assessment questionnaires noting the questionnaires are required as part of the city’s audit process The city auditor also said the replacement of telephone lines in city offices will allow consolidation of what is several separate bills and accounts into just one bill and one account to simplify the process Law Director John Hatcher reminded city taxpayers that Tuesday is Tax Day — the day 2024 city taxes need to be paid — and also noted that city residents should try hard to avoid sending grass clippings onto city streets Approved two resolutions accepting property from First Federal Savings and Loan and Devchand B Patel that would be used for a street extension project linking Washington and Franklin streets Adopted a supplemental appropriations ordinance sidetracked at the last meeting for the lack of enough Council members present to pass it as an emergency Approved an emergency ordinance authorizing participating in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s 2025 road salt contracts as well as a related then-and-now certificate for the emergency purchase of road salt at a cost of $15,821 Adopted an emergency ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign documents allowing the transfer of property at 326 N to the Van Wert County Land Reutilization Corporation (land bank) The next meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 6:30 p.m on the second floor of the Van Wert Municipal Building POSTED: 04/14/25 at 11:29 pm. FILED UNDER: News 6 May 2025 0:29:57 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced the new divisional breakdowns and playoff regions for 2025 football season and there are remarkably few changes involving teams from the Green Meadows Conference Northwest Conference and Western Buckeye League The Bath Wildcats are moving from Division V Three other Western Buckeye League teams are switching regions Marys Memorial and Wapakoneta are shifting from Region 12 to Region 10 GMC member Ayersville is shifting from Division VII All other area teams will remain in the same division and/or region this fall no schools in Divisions II-VII opted to move up to Division I Here is a breakdown of divisions and regions of GMC Antwerp – Division VII Region 26 (same as 2024) Ayersville – Division VI Region 22 (Division VII Edgerton – Division VII Region 26 (same as 2024) Fairview – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Hicksville – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Paulding – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Tinora – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Wayne Trace – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Anna – Division VI Region 24 (same as 2024) Coldwater – Division VI Region 24 (same as 2024) John’s – Division VII Region 26 (same as 2024) Fort Recovery – Division VII Region 28 (same as 2024) Marion Local – Division VII Region 28 (same as 2024) Minster – Division VII Region 28 (same as 2024) New Bremen – Division VII Region 28 (same as 2024) Parkway – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Henry – Division VII Region 28 (same as 2024) Versailles – Division V Region 20 (same as 2024) Allen East – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Bluffton – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Columbus Grove – Division VII Region 26 (same as 2024) Crestview – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Delphos Jefferson – Division VII Region 26 (same as 2024) Fort Loramie – Division VII Region 28 (same as 2024) Lima Central Catholic – Division VII Region 26 (same as 2024) Spencerville – Division VI Region 22 (same as 2024) Celina – Division III Region 10 (Region 12 in 2024) Defiance – Division III Region 10 (same as 2024) Elida – Division IV Region 14 (same as 2024) Kenton – Division IV Region 14 (same as 2024) Ottawa-Glandorf – Division IV Region 14 (same as 2024) Shawnee – Division III Region 10 (same as 2024) Marys Memorial – Division III Region 10 (Region 12 in 2024) Van Wert – Division IV Region 14 (same as 2024) Wapakoneta – Division III Region 10 (Region 12 in 2024) Schools can have up to 13 days of practice without pads during the summer An additional five days are permitted beginning July 15 for schools to complete the mandatory five-day acclimatization period The OHSAA does not set a limit on physical fitness and conditioning workouts in the summer The OHSAA recently conducted a survey with member schools regarding the format of the postseason tournament More information on those results will be released at a later date POSTED: 05/01/25 at 9:09 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports 6 May 2025 0:30:04 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInVAN WERT COUNTY Ohio (WPTA) - Two people were injured in a fire in Van Wert County on Wednesday morning According to the Van Wert Police Department of a possible residential structure fire in the 4900 block of Lare Road crews says they found an active fire on the second floor of the home and the extent of the damage and injuries has not yet been provided To be the first to get the latest breaking news alerts Download for both iPhone and Android devices can be found here Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Grant (Erica) Hierholzer and Braden Deal; great-grandchildren Maren Hall and Knox Hierholzer; and siblings Randy (Pam) Baker of Van Wert and Penny (Nick) Wade of Van Wert A Celebration of Life will start at 12:00pm on Saturday the family asks that memorial contributions be directed to the Van Wert V.F.W Online condolences may be expressed at www.alspachgearhart.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors 6 May 2025 0:30:15 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); passed away on December 27 at Vancrest of Van Wert Chris was a 1971 graduate of Van Wert High School and held a degree in Computer Science from Miami University He was the past President of The Peoples Bank and Trust Company and the owner of Time-Temp Promotions He was involved in a number of community organizations and was a past Master of the Van Wert Lodge #218 of Free and Accepted Masons Chris cherished the memories of their vacations to Hawaii especially the time spent on The Big Island whether sharing memories or anticipating their next trip he was preceded in death by an infant daughter His friends and family appreciated his fun-loving ways and keen sense of humor Jennifer (Chris) Houston and Mary (Matt) Ogdahl; grandsons Martha (Louis) Balyeat and Linda Baum; brother Scott (Beth) Wilson; and numerous nieces and nephews Chris is also survived by the mother of his daughters A celebration of life will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday 2024 at the Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Steven Haddix officiating memorial contributions may be made to the Van Wert County Humane Society Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text Wednesday started with a bang and ended with one in much of Van Wert County including a tornado just outside of Van Wert Strong thunderstorms moved through the county early Wednesday morning the hail led to icy road conditions in the Convoy area At least two accidents occurred due to ice along U.S Rain continued through much of the morning and once it subsided at approximately 10:30 a.m. Van Wert County EMA Director Rick McCoy said 1.73 inches of rain had fallen in Van Wert by that point temperatures rose into the lower 70s and humidity increased A tornado watch was issued for much of Ohio during the evening hours Tornadoes were suspected in parts of Indiana including the Indianapolis and Muncie areas The Muncie storm eventually moved into Mercer County then into Van Wert County where spotters in villages throughout the county were called into duty by McCoy The Willshire and Wren areas were hit first with rain and strong winds that brought down trees and limbs and caused a late night power outage The National Weather Service Northern Indiana noted rotation in Van Wert County and said a wall cloud was spotted by a trained spotter south of Willshire Middle Point and Delphos at approximately 11 p.m and winds at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds were clocked at 65 miles per hour the threat of severe weather all but ended and reports of trees down began to come into the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office McCoy said the damage was caused by a tornado will be released once National Weather Service surveyors check the area today There were multiple reports of power outages in Delphos prompting school delays on Thursday morning A tornado watch that had been issued by the National Weather Service Northern Indiana at approximately 8 p.m McCoy was surveying storm damage until 3 a.m While the all clear was given in Van Wert County a tornado warning was issued for parts of Paulding Putnam County EMA Director Brian Hilvers issued an early morning statement that said lines and trees were down and big amounts of debris were noted throughout the county He also said several buildings and homes were destroyed or damaged and he said multiple roads were closed due to storm damage A National Weather Service has sent a damage assessment team to survey the affected area POSTED: 04/03/25 at 7:22 am. FILED UNDER: News Mystery company in line to buy 220-acre land parcel A data center campus is set to be built in Van Wert As reported by local press the data center will be located on 220 acres of the 1,500 ‘Mega Site’ land parcel if the deal goes ahead Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation executive director Brent Stevens said he could not confirm names The deal could take up to 360 days to close but Stevens said the unnamed company hopes to close on the property and begin construction sooner The proposed facility might require up to 1.7 million gallons of water per day for cooling purposes and 500MW of electricity AEP Ohio has been in talks with the company The site is being sold and/or leased out to potential tenants in smaller parcels for around $51,000 per acre the unnamed data center developer will have to construct a connector road between Stripe Road and Mendon Road Ohio has become a recent hotspot for data center operators with the majority concentrated in the state capital Columbus Around 30 miles from Van Wert County in Lima, a mystery data center company was reportedly considering a 170-acre site between Beery and Irvin Roads in December last year. Microsoft was previously exploring developing a data center campus in Lima, around nearby Perry Township. However, the company announced it had backed out of the project in October It’s unclear if Microsoft is behind either of these new proposals in the region AWS has a very large presence in Ohio and is planning to invest an estimated $7.8 billion by the end of 2029/2030 on data centers in Ohio In November 2024, the tech giant announced plans to build a $2 billion data center campus in Sunbury, Central Ohio. The company purchased land for the project at the end of last month Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia A out-of-state man serving jail time locally for his role in a fatal crash that claimed two Van Wert County men last fall is facing a new set of unrelated felony charges is charged with pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor both second degree felonies; pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material or performance According to a report from the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office Kiester was served with warrants Thursday at the Van Wert County Correctional Facility and the charges are not listed on the Van Wert County Clerk of Courts website or Van Wert Municipal Court website More information is expected to be made available next week Kiester is currently serving 90 days in the Van Wert County Correctional Facility after pleading no contest to two counts of vehicular manslaughter his driver’s license was suspended for two years He was also fined $750 on each of the two counts of vehicular manslaughter and was fined an additional $150 on a single count of assured clear distance The maximum penalty on each vehicular manslaughter charge was up to 90 days in jail a $750 fine and a mandatory license suspension of six months to two years The charges were tied to a fatal crash that occurred October 21 127 near Hickory Sticks Golf Course in Van Wert Kiester was operating a 2016 Cheverolet Silverado that was hauling a camper when he allegedly failed to maintain assured clear distance ahead His truck struck the rear of a 2016 Ford Focus driven by Zachary J The impact forced Wood’s car into the path of a semi-truck POSTED: 03/15/25 at 8:32 am. FILED UNDER: News 6 May 2025 0:30:55 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); a data center will be built on 220 acres of land known as the Mega Site in Van Wert Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brent Stevens confirmed the plan on Thursday set to air on WKSD 99.7FM and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM “I can’t tell you names or any of that type of stuff but I can let everybody know it’s a data center,” Stevens stated The name of the company will be revealed if/when the agreement is finalized but he added while they have nearly a year they hope to close on the property and begin the building process much sooner Stevens confirmed that contracts have been signed by both The Marsh Foundation and buyer and he said an earnest money deposit has been sent and accepted He added that he spoke with officials from the unnamed company Wednesday night and they agreed to the sharing of information because they want the public to understand the project so there are no last minute issues at closing “They don’t want anybody in the community at the last minute to go ‘absolutely not,’” “I don’t know why anybody in the community wouldn’t want a data center but people want to be communicated with and this is the best way to do that – to let them know in advance.” A data center is a facility that houses and operates computing hardware such as servers and acts as a centralized location for storing and managing large amounts of data for an organization or company Stevens said a typical data center is five buildings with each building spanning 250,000 square feet It was noted during the recording of the program that a data center is a clean property you don’t have weird chemicals going into the ground,” Stevens said plus outside contractors that take care of the property The company may need up to 1.7 million gallons of water per day for cooling purposes although that number would be at peak times and Stevens said negotiations are continuing for that aspect of it He also said the data center would require 500 mega watts of electricity and he said AEP Ohio has been working with the company as to how they could get that to them “There’s still something on the power side that could ‘squirrel’ this deal but we’re  90 percent done,” Stevens said “The company that’s looking at the property got the study from AEP (and they’re) super excited about what they saw.” It was also noted that the hope is to have other companies move in on the remaining 1,200 acres at the Mega Site and a provision has been put in the contract to ensure AEP can supply enough power to those businesses.  The potential data center was one of the reasons the Marsh Foundation trustees recently requested the closure of Stripe Road and abuts up against the east side of the Marsh Foundation campus The other reason was the safety of the children on the campus especially given the fact there would be an increase in traffic The request was met with some opposition from the public but during a public hearing held last Thursday it was announced a compromise had been reached The Marsh Foundation will pay for an access road from Stripe Rd The half-mile access road between Stripe Road and Mendon Road would be built roughly 1,000 feet south of the U.S The modified plan also calls for an easement for the construction of a Bonnewitz Ave extension that would ultimately connect with Stripe Rd the road would extend from Mendon Road to John Brown Road and would give farmers direct access to Scott Equity on Bonnewitz Ave said the potential data center has prompted questions about housing because you’re going to have 250 more jobs and you’re going to need more housing,” he stated so we’ve had a couple of inquiries – why don’t you open a road from Vantage going back and put some housing in there Everybody is waiting to see if the Mega Site goes and if it goes I think you’ll see that road will become even more valuable for housing for Van Wert.” this Sunday on WKSD 99.7FM and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM POSTED: 01/23/25 at 10:03 pm. FILED UNDER: News 6 May 2025 0:31:17 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); Van Wert County is one of three Ohio counties with nearly 40 of them since 1950 Records from the National Weather Service show there have been 39 known tornadoes in the county since 1950 (34 since 1990) which ties Van Wert County with Franklin and Miami counties for the most in all of Ohio A total of 18 tornadoes were EF-0 twisters Another 14 were classified as EF-1 tornadoes with winds of 86-110 miles per hour; one was an EF-2 tornado with winds between 111-135 miles per hour; three were powerful EF-4 twisters with estimated wind speeds between 166-200 miles per hour No EF-3 or EF-5 tornadoes have been recorded in Van Wert County The last recorded local tornadoes occurred February 27 While no tornadoes touched down in Van Wert County last year along with a devastating tornado in the Indian Lake region.  Many local residents remember the F-4 tornado (as it was classified at the time) that hit the county on November 10 injured 19 others and left behind tens of millions of dollars in damage The powerful twister damaged nearly 200 homes including seven that were completely destroyed Most of those were in the Vision Industrial Park area and debris from the storms was found as far away as Defiance County it was designated as the worst tornado in Van Wert County history The two other F-4 tornadoes that hit the county included one on April 11 part of the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak that hit near Willshire Venedocia and Ohio City and killed two people and a quick-hitting tornado that touched down just north of the Van Wert-Mercer County line on February 18 A rare January tornado hit the northern part of Van Wert County on January 3 Here is the complete list of recorded tornadoes in Van Wert County along with their Fujita Scale/Enhanced Fujita Scale ratings as noted by the National Weather Service Northern Indiana The Enhanced Fujita Scale was first used in 2007 POSTED: 03/25/25 at 8:58 pm. FILED UNDER: News at the OSU Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.  POSTED: 03/21/25 at 3:13 pm. FILED UNDER: Obituaries It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dianne Brock to the late Harold and Patricia (Potter) Boyd Jr Dianne grew up attending Trinity Friends Church where her faith laid the foundation for a life filled with love and compassion She graduated from Lincolnview High School and went on to embrace a fulfilling career as a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) She was proud to work at Convoy Care Center where her warmth and kindness made a lasting impact they actively participated in Grace Bible Church she found a home in the Good Shepherd Church of the Nazarene yet his memory continued to shine brightly in Dianne's heart Dianne found joy in the simple pleasures of life enjoying fishing and camping with loved ones She had a distinctive sense of style - always looking fabulous in her favorite boots always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need Dianne is survived by her daughters: Heather (Jeremy Showalter) Pirani Don (Jackie) Boyd and Harold (Jean) Boyd; 6 grandchildren 8 great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews Dianne was preceded in death by her sisters A celebration of life is being planned for a later date Dianne will be laid to rest privately with her husband in Woodland Cemetery