Community leaders, donors, volunteers, and residents gathered Saturday to celebrate the official grand opening of the Ackerman Nature Preserve, a 52-acre natural area that local leaders hope will serve as a destination for recreation, education, wildlife observation, and conservation for generations to come. The preserve, located on Salem Street Extension in Fredericktown, was donated to the Fredericktown Recreation District by …

The Knox County Chamber of Commerce will once again host its annual Junior Fair Breakfast, bringing community members together to support local youth and raise funds for Junior Fair awards. The event is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, at the Ramser 4-H Activity Center on the Knox County Fairgrounds, located at 700 Perimeter Drive. Doors will open at 8 a.m., …

Knox County Career Center’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program has recognized four students with Outstanding Cadet Awards for the 2025-2026 school year. The awards honor cadets who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, character, and commitment to the JROTC program throughout the academic year. This year’s recipients include: Allyson Brooks — Freshman of the Year Jenna Jurkowitz — Sophomore of …

A long-awaited addition to downtown Mount Vernon’s dining and entertainment scene officially welcomed its first guests Tuesday as Founders Food Hall hosted a successful soft opening inside the former Mount Vernon News building on East Vine Street. The event drew a steady crowd eager to get a first look at the renovated space, sample food offerings, and explore one of …

Residents cleaning up after the severe storms that swept through the area on June 6 will have an opportunity to dispose of storm-related yard debris through a special curbside pickup program later this month. The City of Mount Vernon announced Tuesday that its Public Works Department will conduct a one-time storm debris collection from June 22 through June 26 to …

A Knox County Career Center student has earned national recognition after finishing among the top competitors in the country at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Beau Keller, a senior in the Precision Machining program at the Knox County Career Center, captured a silver medal in the CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer competition during the national conference held June 1-5 …

Storm recovery efforts, future development projects and long-range planning initiatives were among the key topics discussed during Monday night’s Mount Vernon City Council meeting. City officials provided an update on cleanup efforts following the severe storms that moved through the area on June 6, causing widespread power outages and significant tree damage throughout the community. Safety-Service Director Tanner Salyers praised …

More than a dozen performers took to the stage Thursday evening as the Kokosing Valley Arts Alliance hosted its latest Open Mic Night at the historic Woodward Opera House. The event brought together a diverse mix of musicians, singers, songwriters, and performers ranging from first-time participants to seasoned open mic veterans. Audience members filled the venue to support local talent …

The OHSAA State Track and Field Championships are underway this weekend at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University. A number of athletes from Knox County and the surrounding area earned the right to compete at the state meet after advancing through district and regional competition. Here are the confirmed results from the completed events. Girls …

WNZR 90.9 FM, the broadcast ministry of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, has been recognized as the Christian Music Broadcasters University Station of the Year for the second time in four years. The honor was presented during the annual CMB Momentum conference in Orlando, Florida, and marks the station’s third nomination during that same four-year span. Founded in 1986, WNZR has …