The VW independent
Van Wert, Ohio breaking news and local information from the Van Wert Independent. The Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, AAA, and Toledo Mud Hens held a “Saved by the Belt” ceremony at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, for the 2024 Buckle Up – Batter Up "Saved By the Belt" event. The ceremony was part of a joint effort by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio State High Patrol to recognize individuals who have benefited from wearing safety belts. The winners were presented with a certificate and a commemorative license plate. The Bookworms Club has donated the money, starting books, and artistic skills to build the library in Convoy, Ohio. The Little Free Library is now located at the Convoy Village Square and features adult and children’s books available. Valerie Wallis, a member of the Bookworm Club, has been instrumental in creating the Little Free Bookshop, which was established five years ago and has over 90 members.
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Payne duo honored during “Saved by the Belt” ceremony Jonah Barnes, 9, of Payne (directly to the right of the podium) was honored Saturday night. He also enjoyed a thrill right before the game. Photo submitted TOLEDO — Two Payne residents who were saved by seat belts were among more than a dozen people honored during a special ceremony in Toledo on Saturday. The Findlay and Bucyrus districts of the Ohio State Highway Patrol teamed up with the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, AAA and the Toledo Mud Hens for the 2024 Buckle Up – Batter Up “Saved by the Belt” event at Fifth Third Field. The “Saved by the Belt” Club is a joint effort by the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, designed to recognize people who have benefited from their decision to wear safety belts. The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which serves Van Wert and Paulding counties, is part of the Findlay District. “Those who were recognized before tonight’s game were involved in traffic crashes here in northwest Ohio and in each instance, their choice to buckle up saved them from sustaining life-threatening injuries,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “Thank you to all of our partners for your involvement in tonight’s event. The “Saved by the Belt” program has proven to be a very successful way to recognize people who have benefited from the life-saving benefits of safety belt usage.” During a pregame ceremony, 13 people joined the “Saved by the Belt” Club before a game between the Toledo Mud Hens and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRaiders. The recipients were saved from sustaining life-threatening injuries in northwest Ohio crashes due to wearing safety belts. Each inductee was presented a “Saved by the Belt” certificate signed by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson and Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. In addition to the certificate, they also received a “Saved by the Belt” commemorative license plate.
Little Free Library now in Convoy CONVOY — The Convoy Little Free Library is located at the Convoy Village Square and is a “take a book” and “leave a book” style bookcase. There will be adult and children’s books available. Valerie Wallis started the Bookworms Club five years ago when she wanted to get together with fellow readers and discuss the book. She created a Facebook group and invited others to join. It grew fast and the club currently has an average of 15 members that come every month, but over 90 people in the group. The group meets in person once a month and we have had a total of five author signings. Valerie Wallis cuts the ribbon on the Little Free Library. Photo submitted Wallis had a dream of putting up a Little Free Library in the area, hoping to spread the joy of reading but she lives in the country on a farm and and she feared no one would see it. The Bookworms Club discussed the matter and formulated a plan on how to get it made, but still needed a home for it. She messaged Convoy Village Council, after driving past the Convoy village square and thought that might be an appropriate place for the library and a nice addition to the community. The council agreed to allow the Convoy Little Free Library as an addition to the square. The Bookworms Club donated the money, starting books, artistic skills, and their time to build this library to make the plan happen. Check out the Bookworms hand prints on the post. The group voted on a theme, knowing that Wallis loves the movie UP, so it was decided to paint the library to look like the house with lots of balloons in the movie. The Bookworms Clus is excited to begin this new reading adventure and would love to have anyone join them in person via Facebook (click here to join) or by using the new Convoy Little Free Library in the Convoy village square. A car show, a local steel drum band, live music, plenty of food trucks, activities for the kids and a parade are just a few of the events planned for the 2020 Peony Festival, this Friday and Saturday, June 7-8, in downtown Van Wert. Check Tuesday’s News page for more information, including a schedule of events. MIDDLE POINT — The Van Wert County Outdoorsmen Association will host a CMP sanctioned Modern Military match on Saturday, June 8, at the Van Wert County Outdoorsmen Club, 9093 Ringwald Road. This is the club’s annual D-Day match, honoring veterans both past and present. The safety briefing will be held at 9:15 a.m. and the match will start at 9:45 a.m. Any modern military rifle may be used such as an M-1 Garand, AR 15, and other such rifles. Participants may use iron sights or scoped rifles. Once participants shoot in the match, threy will be eligible to purchase an M-1 Garand from the CMP. For those who do not have a rifle, the club has M-1 rifles to loan out to the public to use in this match. The club also has a National Match AR 15 for participants that might wish to try it out. However, any military rifle may be used. The cost to participate is $5, which is a target fee. For those who need to purchase ammo, the club has 30.06 ammo at $30 for 35 rounds. The AR-15 ammo is $18 for 40 rounds which includes the target fee. For more information, go to www.vwoutdoorsmen.info or call 419.203.8662. CONVOY — State grant funds are coming to Convoy to help fix sewer lines within the village limits. Convoy will receive a $1,166,500 grant to rehabilitate the deteriorated sewer lines and laterals within the village. Project activities also include manhole rehabilitation and replacement as needed. The existing sewers and laterals allow excessive groundwater to enter the sewers, which has caused sanitary sewer overflows at the village’s treatment plant. The project will benefit 1,012 people. The funding is part of the sixth round of the Ohio BUILDS (Broadband, Utilities, and Infrastructure for Local Development Success) Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program. Funding will provide $84.5 million in support of 43 new critical infrastructure projects and $38.2 million in gap funding for 33 previously funded projects with costs that exceeded initial estimates. The grants, which were announced on Friday, will help reduce or eliminate the financial burden community leaders face in addressing critical infrastructure needs such as new water distribution systems, waterline extensions, water tower replacements, and new pipes and water mains. Grants will also fund projects to replace sanitary sewer systems, prevent sewer system backups, and extend sewer lines to support economic growth. In addition to Convoy, the Village of Paulding will receive a $530,000 grant to replace the deteriorated sewer lines in the Emerald Acres Subdivision area. The program received 703 grant applications for this round, requesting more than $1.4 billion in funding, demonstrating the continued need for water infrastructure improvements across the state. Since 2021, the Ohio BUILDS Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program has provided a total of nearly $620 million to support hundreds of local water projects in all of Ohio’s 88 counties. The full list of the latest round of grants can be found here. Sales tax holiday to be longer this year COLUMBUS — Ohio’s Sales Tax Holiday will last a few days longer this summer. Governor Mike DeWine has announced the 2024 expanded Sales Tax Holiday will take place from 12 a.m. Tuesday, July 30 until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 8. In conjunction with the Ohio General Assembly, Governor DeWine expanded the length of Ohio’s Sales Tax holiday to 10 days and will allow tax-free purchases made in-person or online on all eligible items of up to $500. “Ohio’s sales tax holiday, historically, has been meant to help families buy clothing and school supplies for the upcoming school year,” Governor DeWine said. “This expanded sales tax break will help Ohio’s families with back-to-school necessities as well as other substantial purchases during a time when so many household budgets are being strained.” Previous sales tax holidays ran three days, included only school-related items, and offered much lower purchase price limits ($75 maximum on an item of clothing; $20 per item of instructional material and/or school supplies). Ohio’s sales tax holiday allows tax-free purchases made in-person or online. It does not include an exemption from sales tax for services or any purchase of watercraft, outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverage, tobacco, vapor products, or any item that contains marijuana. Several short term projects will affect local traffic during the week of June 3. Here is the list and schedule from the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 1 Office. The U.S. 224 eastbound entrance ramp to U.S. 30 will close on Monday, June 3, for approximately two days for pavement repair. The official will be Van Wert Decatur Road to U.S. 127 to U.S. 224/U.S. 30. U.S. 30 westbound between U.S. 127 and Dutch John Road, the driving lane will be closed on Tuesday, June 4, for pavement repair. U.S. 224 between Convoy-Heller Road and Richey Road will be restricted to one lane on Wednesday, June 5, for pavement repair. Ohio 81 and Ohio 118, at the intersection both routes will be restricted to one lane on Thursday, June 6, for pavement repair. Several other longer-term closures continue around Van Wert County. U.S. 33/Ohio 49/Ohio 81 around the village of Willshire will have lane restrictions resurfacing project. Work is taking place in the following areas:
• U.S. 33 between the Indiana state line and the village of Wilshire
• U.S. 33 between the village of Wilshire and the Mercer County line
• Ohio 49 between the village of Wilshire and the Mercer County line
• Ohio 81 between the Indiana state line and the village of Wilshire Leeson Avenue between Shannon Street (Ohio 118) and Rose Drive in the city of Van Wert closed on February 7 for 245 days for reconstruction including curb and gutter, storm sewer, and a multi-use path on the north side of the roadway. Ohio 81 between Willshire Eastern Road and Harrison Willshire Road closed on May 6 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. Converse Roselm Road and Stripe Road, both over U.S. 30 iare closed until further notice as a safety precaution due to a bridge strike caused by an over-height vehicle. State Representative Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) has introduced legislation that honors service members who received the Purple Heart. A portion of U.S. 24 to the Paulding County Line will be designated as the “Paulding County Purple Heart Memorial Highway.” Purple Heart recipients are service members who have been wounded or killed while in the line of duty. Klofpenstein noted the designation would serve as a visual reminder to remember veterans who bravely fought to protect our freedoms. The measure awaits a bill number and committee assignment. Photo submitted Lincolnview’s Cody Ricker will compete in the finals of the Division III 300 meter hurdles at the OHSAA Division III Track and Field State Tournament.. Ricker qualified for the finals by placing sixth during Thursday’s semifinals at Welcome Stadium in Dayton. Photo courtesy of Wyatt Richardson Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has announced the winners of the 2023-2024 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Americanism Essay Contest. This fraternal year, the theme for the contest was, “What the Bill of Rights means to me”. The students competed in divisions, by age group. The local winners were forwarded to the district for further judging. Local students fared well at the 2023-2024 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Americanism Essay Contest. Photo submitted First place winners (pictured left to right, front row) Also pictured in the front row is Lynne Etling, Van Wert Elks Exalted Ruler Second place winners (pictured left to right, middle row) Van Wert City Council Clerk Lisa Hartsock is leaving her post, but her replacement has already been named. During Wednesday night’s meeting, Council President Thad Eikenbary announced Hartsock’s final meeting will be Monday, June 10. She has served as Council Clerk since January, 2023. Eikenbary also introduced council members to her replacement, Stephanie Phillips, who took notes for official minutes of Monday’s meeting.