FREDERICKTOWN -- Long ago, in the late 19th century, the Pinkley School -- on Pinkley Road between Fredericktown and Batemantown -- became the setting where many Knox County children learned reading, writing and arithmetic. But what few know now is that the school building, still mostly intact, now resides inside a barn, living out its second incarnation as a hayloft.

MOUNT VERNON -- Exploding fireworks destroyed a house at 25 Grange Ave., Saturday afternoon. The home owners, Paul and Linda Lampl, were at home when the display type of fireworks exploded. Lampl has a license to shoot fireworks displays such as the Fourth of July.

MOUNT VERNON -- Americans are beginning to receive their economic stimulus checks from the IRS, and, with rising gasoline and food prices, the checks are a much-needed financial boost.

UTICA -- The 34th Annual Utica Old-fashioned Ice Cream Festival will be held May 24 through 26, on the grounds of Energy Cooperative and Velvet Ice Cream Co., one mile south of Utica and nine miles north of Newark, on Ohio 13. The Utica Sertoma, LaSertoma and two Serteen clubs and many others volunteer their time to put on this festival.

MOUNT VERNON -- In a pair of games against a couple of the top teams in the state, the Mount Vernon High School boys volleyball team garnered a split on Saturday afternoon.

MOUNT VERNON -- It was a chance for Mount Vernon High School baseball coach Doug Savage to juggle his lineup one last time before the start of the postseason tournament game today.