Local News

Knox County has appointed longtime first responder Rick Lanuzza as the next director of its 911 Dispatch Center, bringing more than two decades of emergency response and leadership experience into the role. Lanuzza has served as Chief of Fredericktown EMS since 2004 and previously worked as a firefighter and paramedic with the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District in Danville. …

Photo Credits: John Wareham There were two recurring topics at the Mt. Vernon City Council meeting on Monday night; one of which finally started a project in motion and one that was not about a resolution or ordinance, but just about the local sense of community.  After nearly a decade, the ordinance to green light the construction of the new …

Mt. Vernon is preparing an application for a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Grant and is asking residents to help shape the proposal. A public meeting will be held Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Pleasant Street Elementary School. The grant would support improvements within a designated section of the city’s 3rd Ward, where a majority of households fall within …

The historic Curtis Building on North Main Street sustained major damage during the March 13 windstorm, prompting Mount Vernon officials to pursue a condemnation order for the structure and two adjoining buildings. A large portion of the façade at 10–16 N. Main St. broke away in the high winds, exposing unstable brick and forcing the closure of the sidewalk and …

Photo Credit: The Knox County Foundation In Centerburg, a major community‑driven project is nearing completion as the new Heart of Ohio Playground prepares to open at Memorial Park. A public ribbon‑cutting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m., hosted by the Centerburg Friends of Memorial Park and the Knox County Chamber of Commerce. The playground project began …

Fredericktown Village Council moved quickly through its agenda Tuesday night, approving two key measures with little delay. Council members Chris Cline, Ray Brewer, Rick Lanuzza, Scott McKnight, Sabrina Pugh, and Ryan Shoemaker, along with Mayor Jerry Day, handled both items in a single reading. Council approved an ordinance to replace a much‑needed sewer pump in the village, citing the urgency …

Fredericktown Local Schools will recognize five distinguished graduates during its 2026 Alumni Hall of Honor ceremony on Friday, April 17. The induction will take place at 9:15 a.m. in the Fredericktown High School Gymnasium, and the public is invited to attend. The Hall of Honor celebrates graduates whose achievements, service, and character reflect positively on the district and offer present‑day …

Mount Vernon is beginning a communitywide storm‑debris cleanup following Friday’s windstorm, which brought gusts topping 70 mph across Central Ohio and caused widespread damage throughout the city. The March 13 storm left hundreds of thousands without power statewide and created extensive debris in neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces. According to Public Works Director Tom Hinkle, city crews responded to 16 …

Mount Vernon’s Washington Forum series returns on March 31 with a conversation aimed at pulling back the curtain on how public institutions function day to day. The event, titled “The Room Where It Happens: How Government Really Works from City Hall to Capitol Hill,” begins at 6 p.m. at The Gathering Place on South Edgewood Road. The panel brings together …

Mount Vernon City officials are moving forward with a proposed hybrid community development and public information officer position aimed at strengthening Mount Vernon’s economic development efforts and improving communication across departments. Council gave the legislation its second reading Monday. Safety‑Service Director Tanner Salyers said the role grew out of a year‑old conversation with Small Nation’s Jason Duff, who emphasized that …