Mount Vernon firefighters responded this afternoon to a house fire near Pleasant Street School.

MOUNT VERNON -- This morning, a Mount Vernon man was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years of community control on four counts of trafficking in drugs.

When it was announced last Friday that Skybus was going to fold, it did not come to me as a complete shock. After all, the fledgling carrier had been hitting much turbulence during its short, bumpy flight.

MOUNT VERNON -- Hat and coat sales in Russia may soon help Ohio's last remaining population of pack rats.

FREDERICKTOWN -- "Angry teenagers,"is the way Fredericktown Fire Department Assistant Chief Larry Schunke spoke about fires that were set at the Fredericktown Intermediate School early this morning. An automatic fire alarm sounded the warning at 3:05 a.m. Responding to the alarm, Fredericktown police officer Beau Ayers found fire in a stairwell.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon Nazarene University is hoping to expand its biodiesel program in the near future through increased knowledge of the university's green initiatives.

MOUNT VERNON -- Indictments were returned in 10 cases on April 7 by a Knox County grand jury for various felony crimes. Arraignments are scheduled for April 18 at 9 a.m. in the Knox County Court of Common Pleas before Judge Otho Eyster.

JOHNSTOWN -- Manure recently got into one of the forks of the Licking River, about three miles northeast of Johnstown, according to an official with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, who said the pollution probably killed a large number of fish in the area.

MOUNT VERNON -- When a team is struggling at the plate, it does not help to run into one of the top pitchers in the conference. Such was the case for the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets on Wednesday, as they fell 8-3 to Kyle Lindquist and the Worthington Kilbourne Wolves. The Yellow Jackets managed just one run-producing inning at the plate, while the Wolves made the most of their opportunities on several occasions.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon High School softball team breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday night after its 7-6 win over Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division foe Worthington Kilbourne (2-6, 0-2 OCC). The victory was the first of the year for the Yellow Jackets (1-4, 1-1 OCC).

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon High School boys tennis team has been on a roll to open the season. Winners of their first four matches, the Yellow Jackets made it five in a row against the toughest competition to date.