DAVE MOSIER/independent editor
The Van Wert General Health District’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday was the third clinic held at the Van Wert County Council on Aging, according to County Environmental Health Director Britt Menchhofer.
A Van Wert County General Health District employee vaccinates a local senior citizen at the County Senior Center on Fox Road this past Friday.
Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent
The Health District has also been inoculating those eligible for COVID-19 vaccine during weekdays at the district office on Westwood Drive.
Menchhofer said the Council on Aging’s Senior Center provides more space and allows the Health District to provide more vaccinations at one time, due to the 15-minute waiting period required after receiving the vaccine.
Van Wert woman charged with manslaughter in drug death
McKee
VAN WERT A Van Wert woman entered pleas of not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and other counts during her arraignment hearing Wednesday in Van Wert Common Pleas Court.
In addition to the first-degree felony count of involuntary manslaughter, Ashley McKee, 37, Van Wert, is charged with corrupting another with drugs, a felony of the second degree; trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony; complicity, a second-degree felony; and conspiracy, a felony of the third degree.
A secret indictment filed Jan. 7 alleges that on or about Feb. 20, 2020, McKee caused the death of Katie Zimmerman as a direct result of corrupting another with drugs.
VW independent/submitted information
A Van Wert County man faces a number of charges related to an attempt to flee and damage to headstones in Woodland Cemetery.
Donald O’Day
Donald O’Day, 44, a resident of Tully Township, was charged with failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a felony of the third degree; operating a vehicle while impaired, his fourth OVI in the past 20 years; and vandalism, a felony of the fifth degree, as well as several traffic citations.
According to the Van Wert Police Department, dispatchers received a call at approximately 3:45 p.m. Tuesday of a possible drug deal in the Walmart parking lot involving a red Ford Mustang. The call also provided a temporary license plate number.
A Van Wert man is left homeless after a Monday morning house fire.
The Van Wert City Fire Department was called out to the 600 block of Center Street just after 3:30 am. The person that lived in the house was able to get out of the home before the fire department arrived. According to fire officials, the blaze started in the utility room, but it is undetermined what actually started the fire. No one was injured while fighting the fire. The house is a total loss, and the cause is still under investigation. The Van Wert Salvation Army Thrift Store and Van Wert County Foundation are collecting items and money to help the victim of the fire.