MOUNT VERNON -- Educational issues are volatile topics of discussion. Throw religion into the mix and emotions become even more explosive. The dispute between middle school science teacher John Freshwater and the Mount Vernon school administration and school board has spilled over into the community at large.

CENTERBURG -- A 17-year-old Centerburg High School student is charged with reckless operation after he allegedly swerved to hit another student in the school parking lot on Tuesday, according to sheriff’s reports.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Knox County Board of Health held its monthly meeting on Wednesday evening. Some major items on the agenda were an administrative review of a fine due to violation of the smoking ban, solid waste nuisances and two residences possibly unfit for human habitation.

MOUNT VERNON -- A new event is coming to the Knox County Fair this year: School bus racing. The Knox County Fair Board is in the process of selling the buses to local individuals and organizations in preparation for the race which will occur on Thursday evening during fair week.

MOUNT VERNON -- Knox County home sales and prices increased in March compared to February but the figures for the first three months of the year are below what they were for the same period in 2007, according to an Ohio Association of Realtors report.

MOUNT VERNON -- Mount Vernon High School softball pitcher Britt Rhea and Ashley Byers, her counterpart for Westerville South, fired dueling two-hitters on Wednesday, but the Yellow Jackets walked away with one of their biggest Ohio Capital Conference softball wins in several years, 2-0. The Jackets were the only team to find a way to score, taking advantage of a pair of Westerville South errors, as well as some passed balls.

MOUNT VERNON -- After losing to the Westerville South High School in the first round of Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division play, the Mount Vernon baseball team was hoping to extract a little revenge in the second go-round. The Yellow Jackets got the opportunity on Wednesday afternoon.