MOUNT VERNON -- Candidates for state representative and county commissioners vowed to do what it takes to help keep industries and jobs in the county, and to attract new ones. They spoke at a forum organized by the Mount Vernon-Knox County Chamber of Commerce and held Thursday at Mazza's Restaurant.

MOUNT VERNON -- At a forum Thursday at Mazza's Restaurant, candidates for county commissioners answered randomly selected questions. Republican incumbents Tom McLarnan and Allen Stockberger will both face a Democratic challenger in November; McLarnan will also have to campaign against challengers in the primary election.

MOUNT VERNON -- Mayor Richard Mavis said a number of public improvement projects will get under way in 2008, but there are other projects on the administration's wish list that will probably have to wait.

MOUNT VERNON -- Common Pleas Judge Otho Eyster sentenced six men to prison on Friday.

Taking it to the street

JOHNSTOWN -- The Northridge Vikings, led by forward Palmer Smith's 17 points, turned it on in the second quarter and defeated visiting East Knox, 72-46, in Mid-Buckeye Conference basketball action on Friday evening.

MOUNT VERNON -- A 23-3 run over the final 10 minutes by Pickerington Central cost the Mount Vernon High School boys basketball team a shot at a win on Friday night. The Tigers, who had trailed by five, used stingy defense and 13 points by Eisen Hardy to put the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division game away, 47-32.

PICKERINGTON -- The state's 11th-best team -- the Pickerington Central Tigers -- was just a little too much for the Mount Vernon High School girls basketball team on Friday night, as the Yellow Jackets fell, 69-37.