MOUNT VERNON -- On Jan. 21, Marcie Cantu's 15-year-old son was beaten unconscious by a 19-year-old man at a house party on West Pleasant Street, according to police reports. The assault was captured on video from a cell phone and shows Justyn Harris punching and kicking Robert Cantu, as other teenagers cheer him on. In the video, no one present did anything to stop the attack.

MOUNT VERNON -- Earlier this week, the Mount Vernon Board of Education announced it was hiring an independent investigator to determine if allegations against middle school science teacher John Freshwater were true. Those allegations include the accusation that Freshwater burned a cross on the forearm of a student while conducting an experiment using an electrostatic device.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Dan Emmett Music and Arts Festival is pleased to announce Micky Dolenz of The Monkees will be performing at the 2008 Dan Emmett Music and Arts Festival on Saturday evening, Aug. 9.

MOUNT VERNON -- It was a night that would make H.G. Wells proud. With the first two games tucked safely away, 25-7 and 25-9, the Mount Vernon High School boys volleyball team gave Pickerington Central a journey into the near-future.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon High School softball team dropped another tough nonconference game on Thursday night to Big Walnut in nine innings, 5-4.