• Updated

February 7, 2025, Press Release from the Van Wert County Sheriff's Office: The information provided allows for a timely snapshot of events in our community. The crimes reported here are preliminary investigations, taken in the field by deputies, and may or may not be assigned to a Detective for further investigation. The information provided may be found after further investigation to be incorrect or false. Certain details of these incidents have been removed due to potential follow-up investigation into the incident and/or for privacy rights.

  • Updated

Late Monday night, at Lion Farms USA Mink Farm in Hoaglin Township, fencing was intentionally destroyed, releasing between 25,000 and 40,000 mink. Mink are predators, so such a large number of them escaping poses a significant threat to pets, livestock, and wildlife populations. People who own chicken and ornamental fish ponds are particularly at risk.

  • Updated

The court has taken action on two people involved in the vandalism of a Lima church. Natashia Shaeffer-Winget took a negotiated plea and pleaded guilty to vandalism while a charge of desecration was dropped. Co-defendant Theron Litke entered into a diversion program. The deal includes both reimburse the New Life Assembly $250 each. In June, the two had spray-painted the church on three different sides and threw two dozen eggs at it, as well. A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered for Shaeffer-Winget and she is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9.