Local News

Mount Vernon City Council is considering several changes affecting city operations, public safety and transportation, including adding firefighters, restructuring how the city maintains its vehicle fleet and developing potential regulations for electric bicycles. City Could Add Three Firefighters Council discussed Ordinance 2026-29, which would increase staffing in the Mount Vernon Fire Department as the city prepares for the eventual opening …

The Freedom Center and community partners will gather at Ariel Foundation Park on Monday, August 31, to remember those who have lost their lives or suffered permanent injury because of drug overdose. The local event will begin at 5 p.m. and is being held in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual observance focused on remembering those affected by …

Knox County’s emergency communications system has entered a new era with the implementation of Next Generation 911, a major technology upgrade designed to improve how emergency calls are received, located and handled. Knox County 911 Operations Director Rick Lanuzza told the Knox County Board of Commissioners during its August 13 meeting that the county went live with the new system …

Experience Mount Vernon will close out the 2026 First Friday season with a celebration of the new school year during September First Friday: School Spirit Night on Friday, September 4. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. throughout downtown Mount Vernon and is presented by the Parent Support Initiative of Knox County. The final First Friday of the season …

While the Knox County Fair is known for livestock, 4-H projects, food and entertainment, the Knox County Junior Fair Board spent this year’s fair helping address a much more serious community need: food insecurity. The Junior Fair Board collected 891.7 pounds of food and $460 in monetary donations through its annual Stock the Trailer food drive benefiting Food For The …

Artists from across Knox County have been recognized following the 2026 Art at the Park community art competition and exhibition, a summer showcase celebrating local creativity at the historic CA&C Visitor Center in Mount Vernon. Presented by the Knox County Convention & Visitors Bureau in partnership with the Kokosing Valley Arts Alliance, this year’s exhibition featured artists of different ages …

Mount Vernon Nazarene University has launched a new Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, giving students the opportunity to pursue the graduate degree required to practice as a speech-language pathologist while completing their academic coursework entirely online. The new program, offered through MVNU’s College of Adult and Professional Studies, is designed to prepare students to diagnose and treat a broad …

The 2026 Lexington Blueberry Festival has been canceled following recent flooding and concerns about unsafe conditions at Lexington Community Park. The festival was scheduled for August 20 through 23, but the City of Lexington and the Lexington Blueberry Festival Committee announced Monday that the four-day celebration cannot safely proceed at the park. Organizers said the decision came after evaluating the …

The Delaware Public Health District is using new community health data to identify the issues it says will shape public-health priorities across Delaware County over the next several years. The health district released its 2026 Community Health Assessment this week, providing a look at the health conditions, behaviors and challenges reported by residents. The assessment found that while Delaware County …

A former utility clerk for the Village of Ashley will spend 180 days in jail after being convicted of stealing more than $70,000 in utility payments. Allison McClain was sentenced Monday in Delaware County Common Pleas Court following her guilty pleas to felony counts of theft in office and telecommunications fraud. In addition to the jail sentence, McClain was ordered …