Leather jackets, poodle skirts and rock-and-roll are making their way to downtown Mount Vernon as MTVarts prepares to bring the iconic musical Grease to the historic Woodward Opera House. The production will run July 10 through July 19, featuring a cast of local performers, a live on-stage band, energetic choreography and the unforgettable music that has made Grease one of …

Independence Day celebrations are set to light up Knox County as communities prepare for a full schedule of fireworks, live entertainment and family activities celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Mount Vernon’s largest celebration will once again take place at Ariel-Foundation Park on Saturday, July 4. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. at the Schnormeier Event Center with live music from Backroad Divas …

Downtown Mount Vernon will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a patriotic twist as July First Friday: Party Like It’s 1776 returns on Friday, July 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. Presented by Lanning’s Foods, the free community event will transform downtown into a family-friendly celebration featuring live music, historical reenactments, children’s activities, food trucks and more than 95 vendors and …

Mount Vernon City Council approved a series of measures Monday night aimed at encouraging economic development, expanding housing opportunities and addressing city operations. One of the meeting’s most significant actions was the approval of legislation advancing the proposed Arista Villas residential development on the city’s east side. Council approved a resolution establishing an overlay for the proposed incentive districts and …

Federal authorities have announced two additional arrests in the alleged plot to carry out a mass-casualty attack during the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House earlier this month, bringing the total number of defendants to seven. According to newly unsealed federal court documents, William Lee Spartacus Falkner of Belfair, Washington, and Jordan W. Rincker, 28, of Missouri, …

Plans for a large data center in Delaware County continue moving through the local review process as officials evaluate one of the area’s largest proposed commercial developments. The project, proposed near Sunbury, would bring a large-scale technology campus designed to house computer servers that power cloud computing, artificial intelligence and internet services. Supporters say the development would generate construction jobs, …

Barbecue, blues music and community spirit will take over downtown Mount Vernon as the annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue Festival returns on Saturday, June 27. The free festival runs from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and will feature a barbecue competition, food trucks, local vendors and live music throughout the day. This year’s entertainment lineup includes performances by The Shaun …

ASHLAND — One of north central Ohio’s signature summer events is set to fill the skies once again as the annual Ashland BalloonFest returns to Freer Field this weekend. The three-day festival features nearly 30 hot air balloons, with scheduled morning launches and evening balloon glows, weather permitting. Organizers expect thousands of visitors from across Ohio to attend the event. …

As the first official weekend of summer arrives, the Heart of Ohio Trail is once again becoming one of Knox County’s busiest outdoor destinations. The paved multi-use trail stretches for more than 20 miles through Knox County, connecting Mount Vernon, Centerburg, Fredericktown and several rural communities. Throughout the summer, the trail welcomes cyclists, runners, walkers and families looking to enjoy …

One of the largest residential developments proposed in Mount Vernon in recent years is taking another major step forward this week as City Council considers legislation designed to help move the project toward construction. Known as Arista Villas, the proposed subdivision would bring approximately 100 new single-family homes to nearly 40 acres along Vernonview Drive (State Route 768) on the …