Taking it to the Streets

Motorists traveling through Mount Vernon on South Main Street were greeted by an OVI checkpoint Friday evening between 9 p.m. and midnight.

MOUNT VERNON — The city of Mount Vernon will soon be replacing a retaining wall at the back side of 3 N. Gay St.

MOUNT VERNON — On Friday, Knox County Common Pleas Court Judge Otho Eyster handed down sentences in five felony cases, according to Prosecutor John Thatcher.

DANVILLE — Danville's police K-9 Sergeant Dan Weckesser and canine officer Lasko, along with the assistance of Coshocton County K-9 Deputy Dave Stone and canine officer Dingo, performed a surprise sweep of the Danville Local Schools for illegal narcotics and contraband on Thursday, according to Danville Chief of Police Monte Vance.

MOUNT VERNON — Bids were opened from five contractors for two township bridge projects Thursday morning at the Knox County Commissioner's Office.

MOUNT VERNON — One volunteer with the Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Tom Tenney, is on his way to help with disaster relief in the storm-struck south.

COLUMBUS — A resident of Utica is the latest winner of an Ohio Lottery online game. William N. Broseus won $250,000 after matching five numbers and no mega ball in the April 8 Mega Millions' drawing.

MOUNT VERNON — In baseball, the entire game can sometimes ride on one simple play.

FREDERICKTOWN — One of the first nice days for track turned into a record-setting day for several area athletes.

The Mount Vernon News is looking for volunteers to help out with this year's SpecTRACKular.

Pacemakers Raceway is gearing up for its 2011 season opener. Racers were at the track Friday to test and tune their vehicles for today's racing action.

MOUNT VERNON — Watching gasoline prices climb steadily is disheartening.

MOUNT VERNON — The oil spill near Jericho Road in Jefferson Township April 16 was apparently caused by the lack of maintenance on the storage tank and its containment dike.

MOUNT VERNON — In an effort to curb the explosion of prescription drug misuse and addiction in Knox County, residents will have the opportunity to drop off old and unwanted pills during Saturday's Old Prescription Round Up.

MOUNT VERNON — Knox County residents will be asked to hit the polls on Tuesday to vote for or against additional funding for schools.

MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Health had moved Wednesday evening to suspend the food license of Chen's Buffet for 30 days after violations of food handling knowledge and proper sanitation procedures continued.

MOUNT VERNON — A 16 percent cut in Community Development Block Grants was announced by Amy Shocken with CDC of Ohio on Thursday morning in a public hearing at the Knox County Commissioners Office.

MOUNT VERNON — Although only three high schools were able to participate Thursday in the 2011 Knox County Speech contest, the competition was fierce, and only one point separated the first- and second-place finishers in most of the categories.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio Air National Guard member who died on base at the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield at about 7 a.m. on Thursday has been identified as Tech. Sgt. Eric W. Meister, 39, of Mansfield.