MOUNT VERNON -- Mount Vernon Police informant Jason P. Blubaugh was arrested last week in Fairfield County on charges of theft and falsification.

MOUNT VERNON -- Truckers may not be allowed to strike, but they can drive slow. Or get sick, or not show up for work.

MOUNT VERNON -- Ernie Fischer recently took over the position of superintendent of the Mount Vernon Developmental Center, succeeding Tim Elder, who held the position for the last 10 years.

MOUNT VERNON -- There could be some capacity changes in store for the Mount Vernon Developmental Center, as well as the other nine MRDD centers in the state.

MILLWOOD -- A Canton truck driver is in critical condition in Ohio State University Medical Center after a wreck Monday morning. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Terry Billman, 54, was eastbound on U.S. 36 at 9:51 a.m. when his rig overturned on a curve, one mile west of Millwood.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Knox County Board of Commissioners had several meetings Monday, including being present for the signing of a proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the county. In the afternoon, the commissioners had two agriculture-related meetings.

MOUNT VERNON -- Two Gambier farmers were awarded the 18th annual Luke Biggs Award at Monday's meeting of the Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club at The Alcove Restaurant. Dan and Tammy Joseph were presented the award by Kiwanis member Doug McLarnan during a program that also featured Ohio Farm Bureau Federation speaker Christopher C. Henney.

HOWARD -- Although many games were washed out Monday afternoon, Licking Heights and East Knox braved the mud and raindrops. The softball Bulldogs came through in the clutch, picking up a 7-6 victory to open their season. The win, however, was not without some drama.

MOUNT VERNON -- When the 2008 softball season kicks off for Mount Vernon High School on Wednesday, one will notice little has changed during the offseason.