Joan Amaryllis Schmidt 1930-2025
Joan Amaryllis Schmidt, 94, of Payne, passed away March 27, 2025, at Glenn Park of Defiance. Joan was born on October 26, 1930 in Paulding, a daughter of the late Emma (Zielke) & Roy Ames. Joan was a devoted wife,…
Jerry Stanford
William Emerson Parrett 1937-2025
William Emerson Parrett, 88, of Antwerp, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at Paulding County Hospital. Bill was born in Antwerp on February 5, 1937, a son of the late Olive Alta (Caulkins) and William Frank Parrett.…
Monarch butterflies are coming our way
The monarch butterflies that were born here in Ohio late last summer and early fall, have spent their winter in the mountains of Central Mexico. As of the first week of March, all of them have left their oyamel fir forest sanctuaries and are headed north.
Wild West Wizards, bringing cards and gaming to downtown Van Wert
VAN WERT—Blake Tijerina has dreamed of opening a card and gaming store since he was a child. That dream will become a reality on April 5 when he opens Wild West Wizards at the corner of Washington and Main streets.
Freedom to Read
Many Americans fear that the institutions protecting our democracy are under threat. Democracy originated in the city-states of ancient Greece, where citizens met in open forums to voice their opinions and share ideas. Ever since, the free flow of ideas has been essential to the preservation of democracy, thus it’s now more important than ever to protect our access to all sources of ideas, including books.
PPEC Lineman speaks about Project Indiana to Kiwanis
The Kiwanis Club of Paulding County was privileged to have Terry Minic,(Journey Lineman, Paulding Putnam Corporative ),as the guest speaker at the March 20, 2025, club meeting. Terry came at the invitation of Richard Price,(CEO, Pauling Putnam Corporative). Terry spoke to the Kiwanians about Project Indiana and the amazing things that the organization are doing for less fortunate communities in other countries. We take the modern conveniences electricity provides us for granted. But many families in remote areas of the world live the simplest of lives. They endure extreme hardships because electricity isn’t available. Through Project Indiana, Indiana’s electric cooperatives are empowering global communities one village at a time.
Tornado touches down in Van Wert County
VAN WERT — The region experienced weather extremes Wednesday, with thunderstorms, hail, and fluctuating temperatures before severe storms moved through the area in the evening.
Larry Lee Lewis 1963-2025
Larry Lee Lewis, 62, of Haviland, Ohio, passed away at Stillwater Hospice in Fort Wayne, Indiana on March 26, 2025. He was born on January 22, 1963, in Defiance, Ohio, a son of Jackie and Judith (Curtis) Lewis, both of…
Third grade smoking
I don’t remember much about third grade during school hours, but after school I do remember my first cigarettes. Both of my parents smoked, as did a lot of adults then. I was already old enough to carry the trash from the house to the backyard burning barrel and use matches to light the fire.
Two vehicle accident on Lincoln Hwy.
VAN WERT COUNTY—A two vehicle accident occurred on Lincoln Highway and Liberty Union Rd. at about 7:15 p.m. Thursday night.