Busy night on tap for of Van Wert City Council 2g604u

Funkho sentenced for role in chase 37425

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The driver involved in a short high-speed chase and crash in Van Wert last December received a substantial prison term this morning.

During a hearing in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, Alicia Funkho, 36, Willshire, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third degree felony, and 24 months in prison for aggravated trafficking in drugs, also a third degree felony. Judge Martin D. Burchfield ordered the sentences to run consecutively, for a total of 54 months. She was given credit for 161 already served and was ordered to pay court costs.

Funkho and a co-defendant, Jeremy Stemen, 36, also of Willshire, were arrested December 19, after a Van Wert police officer saw Stemen in a vehicle and knew of a warrant out for his arrest. The officer activated his overhead lights but Funkho sped away then ran a red light at Shannon St. and Fox Rd. and caused a head-on collision with another car.

The two ran from the accident and tried to hide from the police in a detached building near Taco Bell. However, the Van Wert Special Response Team was in the area training at the time. While Stemen and Funkho were hiding in the building, the SRT deployed a drone to locate the two hiding inside. They refused to surrender, so the Van Wert County Sheriff’s deputy gave commands and then released the the department’s K-9. Funkho sustained bite marks and both she and Stemen were taken into custody.

While investigating, police found a significant amount of meth in the car.

Stemen received an identical sentence, 54 months, during a hearing in late April. He was given credit for 132 days already served at the Van Wert County Correctional Facility.

In an unrelated case, Brittney Barajas, 29, Convoy was sentenced Wednesday morning to 12 months in prison for theft, a fifth degree felony; 16 months for theft from a person in a protected class, a fourth degree felony; 12 months for breaking and entering, a fifth degree felony, and 16 months for grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth degree felony. Judge Burchfield ordered the sentences to run concurrently and Barajas was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,500 and court costs.

School board approves forecast, coaches 1i4757

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

The five-year forecast and personnel items made up the bulk of Tuesday night’s meeting of the Lincolnview Local Schools Board of Education.

The financial forecast, which is required by Ohio law, was approved unanimously. Treasurer Kaitlyn Edelbrock called it a projection at a point and time of the district’s revenues, expenditures and corresponding cash balances, but she added there are several unknowns that could substantially alter the figures.

“I have used the numbers that in the House version of the state budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027,” Edelbrock explained. “With the state legislature moving away from the Fair School Funding plan, we no longer have guidelines to utilize…we will continue to face uncertainty every two years when the state issues its budget. We have no idea what they will do.”

“As far as expenditures are concerned, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding them as we are still negotiating a certified staff contract and we’ll be negotiating a classified staff contract and another certified contract during the five year period,” she continued. “I have estimated conservative raises for all five years. I am hopeful that the state budgets will continue to be friendly to public schools but I’m preparing for the worst case scenario.”

All varsity head coaches will return for the 2025-2026 school year, including JaNahn Evans, volleyball; Matt Henandez, soccer; Briana Geiger, girls golf; Matt Langdon, cross country and track; Brett Hammons, boys golf and boys basketball; Kyle Williams, girls basketball; Robert Balyeat, wrestling; Neil Korte, bowling; Eric Fishpaw, baseball and Eric Schwab, softball.

The board also approved a lengthy list of supplemental and personal services contracts for assistant coaches, junior varsity coaches, junior high and volunteer coaches.

One year teaching contracts were approved for Ruth Brotherwood and Taylor Beining, and two year contracts were approved for Andrew Bittner, Jennifer Bush, Alison Hammons, Tatum Temple and Scott Turner. Three year contracts were granted for Amy Blackmore, Holle Calkins, Marcus Meyer, Sara Steineman and Melissa Stork.

Megan Wollenhaupt was approved as school counselor secretary and the board approved Katelyn Llody as junior high/high school counselor. Robbie Breese was granted a four-year contract as Marsh School principal.

Lincolnview retirees honored… 301t55

Brenda and Greg Leeth were honored during Tuesday’s Lincolnview Local Schools Board of Education meeting. The husband and wife team are retiring after serving the district for a combined 59 years. Superintendent Jeff Snyder listed their many impressive accomplishments in the classroom, as s and as coaches. Lincolnview photo

OSHP releases holiday traffic stats 395621

VW independent news

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 11 fatal crashes that resulted in 12 deaths during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, defined as Friday, May 23, through Monday, May 26.

That’s half of the traffic fatalities that occurred during a similar reporting period in 2024. None of this year’s fatal crashes occurred locally.

According to the OSHP, troopers made 17,034 traffic enforcement s during this year’s reporting period. 410 were impaired driving arrests, 70 were drug arrests, and 2,090 safety belt citations were issued. In addition, there were 9,515 non-enforcement s, including 1,746 motorist assists.

The top five counties for incidents were:

• Franklin County: 1,061
• Cuyahoga County: 853
• Clark County: 722
• Clermont County: 694
• Mahoning County: 642

Donations sought for recent fire victims 502o61

Submitted information

On May 22, the Van Wert County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was dispatched to assist the Middle Point Fire Department for a house fire at a Middle Point Wetzel Rd. residence. CERT is working to raise for the families. After meeting with the family, it was determined that only monetary donations are needed.
 
Please include Case No. 9075 with your donation to ensure it’s distributed to the correct family. Monetary donations may be dropped off or sent to Van Wert County Foundation/CERT, 138 E. Main St., Van Wert.

Donations may also be made online at vanwertcountyfoundation.org by clicking ‘Donate’ and selecting the ‘Van Wert EMA/CERT Fund’ and include Case No. 9075 in the Donation Note.

Anyone with questions should the EMA office at 419.238.1300.

Burenga named Elks Student of the Year 631u69

Submitted information

Van Wert Lodge No. 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has announced Amanda Burenga from Van Wert High School has been selected as a recipient of the Student/Volunteer of the Year for the Northwest District of the Ohio Elks Association.

Burenga was selected as the Van Wert Elks Student/Volunteer of the Month for October. She graduated from Van Wert High School on Sunday.

Students are nominated by their high schools to receive the Student of the Month award. Each Student of the Month receives a monetary donation along with a certificate from the Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 with the possibility to be named the Student of the Year. Students are judged on the basis of multiple achievements – volunteerism, character, leadership, service, citizenship and scholastic.

All of the Student of the Month winners are then judged for their performance and achievements for selection as the Student of the Year. Burenga, having been selected as the Student of the Year for the Van Wert Lodge, received a monetary donation as well as a certificate. She competed against the winners from the 12 other lodges within the district. As the District Student of the Year winner, she will receive $1000 from the Ohio Elks Association.

This program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for their achievements in school and community. The Elks wish to recognize and praise those students for their accomplishments, their activities, and their contributions to society through this program.

Vantage to host active assailant training 5r4o6u

VW independent staff/submitted information

If you see a large law enforcement presence at Vantage Career Center this Saturday, May 31, don’t worry – it’s only a drill. Active assailant training will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day at the N. Franklin Street school.

Vantage Career Center with numerous student volunteers, the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Van Wert Fire Department, Van Wert Police Department, Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Van Wert County CERT will be participating in the training drill.

Man fatally stabbed, suspect arrested 39503u

VW independent staff/submitted information

PAULDING — An early Tuesday morning stabbing in Paulding County’s Latty Township left one man dead and another in jail.

According to information provided by Paulding County Sheriff Jason K. Landers, deputies were dispatched to a disturbance in the 16000 block of Road 24, southwest of Grover Hill, shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday. The initial caller reported a male was being argumentative and had a knife.

Deputies responded within six minutes and found Derek Eugene Pontius, 40, suffering from stab wounds. The suspect, Corbin Michael Delgado, 20, had fled the area on foot.

Life saving measures were istered by deputies and of the Grover Hill EMS. Pontius was transported to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Shortly before 2 a.m., a deputy located Delgado in the Village of Grover Hill. A trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted the deputy in apprehending Delgado. He was booked in the Paulding County Jail.

An initial charge of murder has been filed on Delgado in the Paulding County Common Pleas Court. The case will be turned over to the Paulding County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of additional charges.

No further information is expected to be released, as this investigation is ongoing.

Lincolnview school board meeting tonight 242g6z

VW independent staff

The approval of sports coaches for the 2025-2026 school year is one of the items on tonight’s Lincolnview Local Schools Board of Education agenda. The board’s regular monthly meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Neubrecht Lecture Hall.

The list of coaches includes head coaches for all fall, winter and spring sports, along with a lengthy list of assistant and volunteer coaches.

The agenda also includes the three resignations, including one from junior high/high school agriculture teacher Jordan Dues, who is leaving after eight years for a similar position at Parkway Local Schools. Board are expected to approve the latest five year financial forecast, which is required by law twice annually.

The board will hear monthly reports from Superintendent Jeff Snyder and building principals Nita Meyer and Brad Mendenhall and board will go into executive session to discuss the employment and compensation of an employee and negotiations.

VW grads urged to prepare for challenges 6xj27

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor

Sunday afternoon officially marked the end of the high school careers of more than 140 Van Wert High School students.

Those students, all seniors, graduated during the school’s 154^th annual commencement exercise in the Van Wert High School gymnasium. The graduating seniors, family and others listened as they were lauded for their various academic and athletic achievements over the last four years. The were also urged to be ready to embrace future challenges.

Student speakers during the ceremony were Meredith Crummey, Kaden Mell and Abigail Rollins, with Crummey and Mell focusing on the future.

“I know what is to come is uncertain and different from anything we have ever experienced, but despite that, I have the most confidence that all of you will embrace the change and be better for it, as you all have many times before,” Crummey said. “Trust yourself like we have all trusted each other, protect the knowledge you have gained as your teachers and parents have protected you, be patient, as patient as we all were for this day, and slow down, as we all know is especially clear today, time stops for no one.”

“Aim for your goals, your desires through the good and the bad,” Mell said. “Be the person who says no to negativity, and to the voices in your head that say, “You can’t do that because it’s hard. Because you can.”

During her speech, Rollins thanked Van Wert High School teachers and staff.

“Teachers are more than those within an educational setting, but all teachers shape the world we live in today,” she said. “While the textbook definition gives a general description, substituted as a definition, it fails to acknowledge who teachers are and what impact they have on students. Through their actions, teachers unintentionally, but rewardingly, help those with mental health issues, confidence issues, life predicaments, etc. Every graduate here today has been impacted by a teacher at Van Wert High School, and, on behalf of my class, I thank you for your efforts.”