Two new dog runs in Mount Vernon and Gambier offer dog owners a chance to allow their dogs to run free off the leash, stretch their legs and socialize and play with other dogs. The Wolf Run area extends into the woods and provides a varied environment for dogs and owners. The Gambier run is located behind the Gambier Community Center on Meadow Lane near the softball fields and offers ample room to both dog and master.

Fire broke out early Sunday morning at Legend's At the Castle Restaurant on the grounds of Landohl's Mohican Castle, just north of the Knox County line.

Rocky the boxing kangaroo was the star performer at the Star Family Circus on Friday. Held at the Knox County Fairgrounds, the circus will perform two more shows today, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

UTICA -- Youngsters Caleb and Micah Lumsden gazed through the large windows of new viewing gallery at Ye Olde Mill and watched workers making ice cream during a special event Thursday.

This weekend will serve as a free fishing weekend across the state of Ohio. On May 3 and 4, adults can fish without a fishing license. There are ample fishing spots across Knox County for an angler of any expertise including the Kokosing River, Foundation Park and Wolf Run Regional Park.

Turkey season here in Ohio has been underway since April 21 and will continue until May 18. More than 200 turkeys have been tagged in Knox County so far this season.

MOUNT VERNON -- Little information regarding allegations against Mount Vernon Middle School science teacher John Freshwater is being divulged by school officials or Freshwater. In an effort to further understand how a student of Freshwater's could be burned during a science experiment, the News met with Dr. Terry Klopcic, director of laboratories at Kenyon College, to discuss Tesla coils and their educational value in the classroom.

GAMBIER -- Anthony Devore has plenty of room and trees on his Caves Road farm that he could build a tree house anywhere he wanted for his son to play in. Instead, he purchased a 1926 caboose used on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to serve as Anthony II's playhouse.

MOUNT VERNON -- In a brief ceremony on Public Square on Friday, city and county officials congratulated the winners of the first ever Heritage Bicentennial Tree awards. The awards were given to the owners of the largest and oldest trees in Knox County.

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.

DANVILLE -- Knox County Catholics say they were pleased with Pope Benedict XVI's recent visit to the United States.

On Friday, Mount Vernon middle and high school student showed their support for middle school teacher John Freshwater and his quest to keep his bible visible in the classroom.

MOUNT VERNON -- Nearly 100 people gathered on Mount Vernon's Public Square on Wednesday afternoon, in a show of support for middle school science teacher John Freshwater. The Mount Vernon City School administration has demanded Freshwater remove a Bible from his desk at school, even though a Bible has been a fixture in his classroom for many years.

MOUNT VERNON -- A ventilation fan overheated and set fire to the roof at The Laurels nursing center about 8:10 this morning. None of the 25 residents in the northwest wing of the facility were in danger, although all were removed to another part of the building. Staff member Alice Cree said the residents even had their breakfasts.

Sweet Revenge's 33rd reunion concert Saturday night started mellow with the '50s hit "Teen Angel." It was the mark of a band that didn't feel hurried to prove itself, for it knew just what it'd be able to deliver by evening's end, when the group virtually blew the roof off the Memorial Theater with a hard-rocking version of "Freebird."

NEWCASTLE -- Herb Miller's broiler chicken farm stands on a rolling hill less than a mile south of the hamlet of Newcastle in Coshocton County. The farm was the site of a tour held Thursday by Case Farms to give a glimpse of a broiler-raising facility to Knox County officials and concerned neighbors of a similar operation planned for Monroe Township.

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

LUCERNE -- Guy Denny looked up into the sky, then bent over and picked up a leaf, letting it fall to the ground.

On Monday, Flappers Bar and Grille held a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition.

After nearly 70 years in business, Mazza's Restaurant closed on Saturday night.

Auto enthusiasts descended on Jack Cunningham's Garage on Sharp Road on Saturday

HOWARD -- For various reasons -- whether to save money for college, to pay for gas and car insurance, or help with the family budget -- more and more teenagers are joining the work force before they graduate from high school. In order to do so, there are certain steps they, and their employers, have to take to comply with Ohio's minor labor laws.

The Knox County Career Center is building a new addition to its main building. The addition will house the Chef and Catering program and related facilities. This will free up room in the main building for other Career Center programs

A blowing wind with snow flurries greeted scores of youngsters at the Mount Vernon Parks Department annual Easter egg hunt at Memorial Park on Saturday morning.

The Interchurch food pantry received a generous boost recently with food donations from members of Curves of Mount Vernon.

Fredericktown students left their mark on school history this week as they signed their names on the concrete before the new gym floor is installed.

Construction of the new East Knox Middle School is moving ahead of schedule and on budget. Superintedent John Marschhausen recently gave Mount Vernon News Videographer George Breithaupt a tour of the new facility.

Sixty people danced to music from the 1860s at the annual ball sponsored by the Gen. Henry Banning Camp, Ohio Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Peebles ready for business

MOUNT VERNON -- Allen Stockberger, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Hill Church, recently returned from a mission trip to the Galapagos Islands. It was his ninth mission trip; and his first to the islands.

Potholes continue to be a problem

Videographers from the Mount Vernon News, criss-crossed Knox County to talk with voters.

FREDERICKTOWN -- In 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras, a country already suffering from poverty and lack of medical care.

A powerful winter storm strikes Knox County, crippling travel.

WATERFORD -- As the pale, watery sun of late winter begins to warm a few days above freezing, while the nights remain crisply cold, the sap begins to rise in sugar maple trees, bringing maple syrup season to life.

MOUNT VERNON -- Allen Stockberger, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Hill Church, recently returned from a mission trip to the Galapagos Islands. It was his ninth mission trip; and his first to the islands.

Potholes continue to be a problem

Videographers from the Mount Vernon News, criss-crossed Knox County to talk with voters.

FREDERICKTOWN -- In 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras, a country already suffering from poverty and lack of medical care.

GAMBIER -- Three people are dead after a Gambier man shot and killed his parents before turning the gun on himself.

MOUNT VERNON -- Dr. Lorle Porter led 160 Knox County residents on a trip into the dark forest on Saturday. Porter was the featured speaker at Knox County's 200th Birthday Party at The Dan Emmett Conference Center, and her speech focused on the first settlers into Knox County.

MOUNT VERNON -- The road from Brazil to Mount Vernon is a long one, but three Brazilian jiu jitsu black belts managed to find their way on Thursday. Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight contender Gabriel Gonzaga and Team Link fighters Marco Alvan and Gabriel Santos were at Body Basics Health and Fitness Club as a guest of David Lashley and Lashley's Jiu Jitsu Academy.

MOUNT VERNON -- On Thursday, Mount Vernon superintendent Steve Short showed school board members Ian Watson and Margie Bennett -- and the Mount Vernon News -- some of the energy-efficient upgrades being completed at the middle school.

Black history month is a time to reflect on our nation's, as well as our community's diverse history.

MOUNT VERNON -- The final evening of the 2008 Ohio's Junior Miss scholarship program unfolded for the 35th time at the Memorial Theater on Saturday night, before a crowd of enthusiastic and vocal supporters. This is the 50th year for America's Junior Miss.

DANVILLE -- Danville dentists Thomas Glibert and Lisa Moster opened their practice on Friday to those without dental insurance during their 18th annual Free Day of Dentistry.

MOUNT VERNON -- For the 35th year, the Ohio's Junior Miss scholarship program kicked off at the Memorial Theater on Friday evening, emceed by Dana Ullom-Vucelich.

The historic bowstring truss bridge on Mill Road near Bladensburg will be getting a new home this year. The bridge was purchased by Mount Vernon and will be dismantled, moved to Foundation Park in Mount Vernon and rehabilitated with the help of volunteers. Work is expected to begin late February, weather permitting.

Margaret Ann Ruhl and Tom Whiston, both candidates for state representative for the 90th district, squared off on Monday during a debate hosted by Country Club Retirement Campus.

MOUNT VERNON -- Heather and Jeff Delawder of Cardington, and their sons Griffin, 5, and Parker, 2, drove to Mount Vernon on Saturday after they learned the Knox County Humane Society was hosting an open house. They were in search of a kitten to adopt, and learned about the KCHS event on the Internet.

MOUNT VERNON -- It all started as a joke. Hundreds of shows and a number of jumpsuits later, Mike Mazza's portrayal of the late, great American entertainer Elvis Presley has become a major, time-consuming hobby and part-time second career.

Duane Hurlbert, 53, of Apple Valley has struggled with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. Medications also caused him to gain weight that further complicated his condition. Working with a personal trainer has helped him keep his focus, lose weight and work toward making his condition bearable.

MOUNT VERNON -- For two decades Mount Vernon High School has fielded "In The Know" teams, giving students the chance to demonstrate their knowledge of a variety of subjects -- from history and music to sports and games to math, science and entertainment.

LORAIN -- While most Knox Countians were on their way to work Thursday morning, Operation Overkill was being executed by the Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife some 98 miles away. While it may not sound of much interest to area residents, Knox County has just gotten safer.

Bodi-N-Balance offers a program aimed at children that combines education and exercise. Working with a personal trainer, these youth learn the right and wrong way to eat and work out.

The home of Matt and Carol Skinner, and their three children, was destroyed by fire this morning. The Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District immediately called for mutual aid upon arriving at the blaze at 22000 Ireland Road.

DANVILLE -- Over 800 people crammed into the St. Luke Community Center on Monday for a chance to do two rare things -- eat raccoon and meet Craig Krenzel. The dinner, a fundraiser for the Danville Lions Club, draws attention all across the country.

MOUNT VERNON -- Walking into Jack Cunningham's garage on Sharp Road south of Mount Vernon is like a time warp. Here it is 2008 outside, but inside his immaculate 8,000-square-foot shop are cars dating from the 1930s through the '60s. Hot rods of all descriptions fill out the scene. All of the cars are in various states of being rebuilt into show quality level restoration vehicles.

MOUNT VERNON -- An early morning fire today destroyed Rivers Edge Hunting and Fishing at 306 W. Gambier St.

Stain glass isn't reserved for church windows anymore. In fact, some beautiful and exciting pieces are made right here in Mount Vernon.

The art of glass blowing, in any form, is an art that requires proper training and practice to develop technique and style. Mount Vernon artist, Robert Coleman, opened his studio to Mount Vernon News videographer George Breithaupt to demonstrate glass blowing using compressed air.

MOUNT VERNON -- Seven children and a handicapped person escaped, apparently without injury, from a burning house Monday afternoon. The alarm came in at 2:55 p.m. for the house at 118 Cassil St., just east of North Sandusky Street in northwest Mount Vernon.

The YMCA of Mount Vernon hosted a Dance Dance Revolution competition on Saturday to give local youth the opportunity to show off their dance skills.

MOUNT VERNON -- Number 701056 is one lucky dog. The friendly male boxer-mix, about 4 years old, came to the Knox County Animal Shelter as a stray. But soon, he'll be leaving Ohio for a new home in an eastern state, where strays are rare and dog shelters don't have enough dogs.

FREDERICKTOWN -- Firefighter Jason Bostic of the Fredericktown Community Fire District will participate for the second time in the Scott Firefighting Stairclimb benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Over 1,300 firefighters are expected to compete in this year's 17th annual timed climb, which takes firefighters in full gear up 69 floors to the top of Columbia Center in Seattle.

Pothole season is upon us and crews from the Mount Vernon Street Department are working to keep ahead of the problem. Crews were at work yesterday on Riley Street filling several potholes. To report a pothole call the Mount Vernon Street Department at 393-9501

MOUNT VERNON -- The sheriff's office auctions off foreclosed properties on the county courthouse steps on Friday mornings. In recent years, the number of such properties has skyrocketed.

MOUNT VERNON -- Some of the buildings may look rough and run down at the moment, but a major rehab project at the Hillside Apartment Community should change the look of the complex for the better and provide attractive rental housing to low- and moderate-income individuals and families in the county. The $1,965,000 rehab project got under way in December, after state and federal funding was obtained, according to Donna Denning, human resource director for the agency. The buildings had long since fallen into disrepair.

On Jan. 1, the YMCA of Mount Vernon launched a free three-month program designed to curb obesity and encourage activity in Knox County children.

MOUNT VERNON -- Following Tuesday night's storm, with high winds, trees and limbs were down along Murray Road. For at least a mile and half, trees were down on the roadway, in yards and on houses.

FREDERICKTOWN -- Bitter winds, cold rain and a hot training fire made for an eventful day for the Fredericktown Community Fire District on Saturday.

Around 40 people attended the New Year's in the Forest at Wolf Run Regional Park on Sunday, January 6.

In Ohio, you never know what to expect with the weather. In any case, being well prepared will get you through any situation throughout the winter months.

The Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross held it's first blood drive of 2008 in Martinsburg for National Blood Donor Month.

MOUNT VERNON -- Today's the day. For the last month you've been planning a New Year's resolution. Maybe it's to do a better job of managing money. Perhaps it's not lighting up another cigarette. If the resolution is to start eating smarter and exercising more to drop that unwanted weight -- you are not alone. More than any other resolution made today, Americans will vow to lose weight.

The Kokosing Valley Central Railroad Club meets the third Thursday of every month in the basement of the Colonial City Moose Club. Members gather to exchange information about model railroads and the latest on model railroad meetings and swap meets. They also take time to work on the model railroad layout they are building.

Videographers from mountvernonnews.com scour the community to find the best Christmas lights displays in Mount Vernon.

Videographers from mountvernonnews.com scoured the community to find some of the best Christmas lights in Fredericktown.

Many of us that are finishing our Christmas shopping, there are countless families across Knox County uncertain of what, if anything will be under their Christmas trees. But the generosity of Knox County citizens, leaves some speechless.

FREDERICKTOWN -- Engine 419 of the Fredericktown Community Fire District pulled up to the First Baptist Church of Fredericktown on Tuesday carrying firefighters on a mission to help Fredericktown children have a merry Christmas this year.

Auction Manager Kelly Brown explains the reasons for a special Friday auction.

MOUNT VERNON -- While area residents are reading this story, the Knox County Ohio Department of Transportation crews are working preparing the state highways for the snow storm that is supposed to descend this afternoon.

Videographers from mountvernonnews.com scoured the community to find some of the best Christmas lights in Danville and Howard.

Four business construction projects around Mount Vernon are well on their way and some are near completion. Mohican Sports Medicine, K and E Credit Union, Tim Horton's and Family Video are making good progress to be ready by the new year.

MANSFIELD -- The big guns are firing at the slopes, spewing out a steady stream of misty water that freezes as it falls.

Christmas means lots of decorations, among other things. The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County held a Teen Holiday Craft program which gave school age children in grades six through twelve an opportunity to make their own Christmas decorations.

Videographers from mountvernonnews.com scoured the community to find some of the best christmas lights in Mount Vernon and Gambier.

MOUNT VERNON -- Ninety-five feet above East High Street, the old weather vane marks the highest point of the Memorial Theater. It stands atop the original oxydized-green copper roof of the cupola, with its 20-paned arched windows that give a bird's-eye view of most of Mount Vernon.

BLADENSBURG -- The hardy citizens of Bladensburg didn't let a chilly downpour, standing water, slushy snow and sloppy mud stop them from holding their 37th annual Christmas parade on Sunday afternoon.

Tuesday night was the start of the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. The Festival of Lights is an eight-day celebration and on each of those nights, a candle is lit.

MOUNT VERNON -- It's a wintry Wednesday in Ohio, with snow falling throughout the state, making a mess of roads and closing schools.

FREDERICKTOWN -- Hundreds of trick-or-treaters descended on the Fredericktown square Wednesday night, with masks and capes, sparkling gowns, superhero suits and tails, ready to collect the goods offered by the residents lining the streets and the organizations set up on the square.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Knox County Health Department hosted a public forum on MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphococcus aureus) on Thursday evening at Mount Vernon High School, where one student to date had contracted the illness.

FREDERICKTOWN -- A royal wedding, forest denizens, fairies and enchantments will come to life on the stage at Fredericktown Intermediate School, Nov. 10, at 8 p.m. as the high school drama club performs William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

A look inside the renovations of Pierce Hall on the Kenyon College campus in Gambier Ohio.

Mount Vernon City Street Department is busying this season, clearing city streets of leaves.

MOUNT VERNON -- Danville managed to shutdown one of the most explosive offenses in Division VI football when they faced the Newark Catholic Green Wave in regional semifinal action on Saturday at Yellow Jacket Stadium.

MOUNT VERNON -- Knox County Junior Miss contestants enthusiastically launched the 2008 Knox County Junior Miss Scholarship Program with the Friday evening preliminary awards at the Memorial Theater.

MOUNT VERNON -- Sarah Hohman of Mount Vernon High School was named 2008 Central Knox County Junior Miss and Aunna Stambaugh of Centerburg High School was named 2008 Greater Knox County Junior Miss at Saturday evening's final performances and award ceremony at the Memorial Theater.

MOUNT VERNON -- A deafening horn blew. The diesel, electric locomotive at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot on Monday broke the thin ribbon draped in front of it and chugged slowly away to the south.

New lights strung on trees along South Main Street will make the Christmas season bright and cheery. Heritage Centre Association members teamed up Sunday morning to untangle the old lights, many of which were burned out, and string the new lights in the branches.

Astrophotography is the photography of the stars and other celestial objects. Many years ago studying the stars could only be enjoyed by the professionals. But now with affordable technology and a passion for photography observing the night sky has become a popular hobby. Star gazers like Dave and Deborah Goossens, Mike Rarick and Diana Everett have formed a love for the hobby.

Celebrate with a real tree or a fake tree? Having an artificial tree has it's benefits, but the real tree, comes with an experience.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Christmas parade on Saturday showed how the community treasures its holiday traditions.

MOUNT VERNON -- Cool but not cold weather proved ideal for the Christmas Walk on Sunday, as people turned out to stroll around downtown and get the spirit of the season rolling. Part of that rolling came in the form of three horse-drawn wagons which circled downtown, giving people rides.

For many people, the year end holiday season is a time of giving as well as receiving. The people of Knox County are known for their holiday generosity and open their pockets in many ways.

We might just be the third rock from the sun, but we're just a small part of a great big universe.

The auto technology and collision repair classes at KCCC revitalize 3 old trucks for the Food For The Hungry auction.

MOUNT VERNON -- He's an important figure in the religious world, but Will Graham is as down-to-earth as they come. He laughs easily -- especially at himself -- looks people right in the eye and is quick to smile and joke. And he's really missing his children.

Pets and owners braved the heat Saturday to raise money for the Knox County Humane Society. After taking a walk throughout Wolf Run Regional Park, dogs competed in contests that ranged from Best Wag to Best Costume.

Providence farm hosted it's third annual Pumpkin Festival over the weekend, bringing in families for some fall fun.

GAMBIER -- More than 5,900 people attended the three-day Greater Knox County Will Graham Celebration at the Kenyon Athletic Center over the weekend. Friday evening saw an attendance of 1,500, the Saturday KidzFest was attended by 1,000, Saturday's Student Night drew a crowd of 1,300 and the closing service on Sunday attracted 2,100 people.

Family Video took a major step forward in its plans to construct a new commercial building at the southwest corner of Coshocton Avenue and Brown Street.

CENTERBURG -- Nine-year-old Tad Weldy of Centerburg aimed a fire extinguisher at a flaming mixture of gasoline and diesel fuel and squeezed with all his might while Central Ohio Joint Fire District firefighters kept a watchful eye during one of this past weekends' many demonstrations and training exercises held at area fire departments. The Central Ohio Joint Fire District's Open House on Saturday wrapped up Fire Prevention Week 2007.

MOUNT VERNON -- Two restaurants in the city are being remodeled - Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

MOUNT VERNON -- The last milkhouse in Mount Vernon and former home of Ron' Pizza was knocked down to make way for a new business.

Classes are in full swing at Ariel Hall on the Knox County Campus of Central Ohio Technical College. Bringing technical education to a new level to downtown Mount Vernon.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot -- the impressive Richardsonian Romanesque-styled building on West High Street -- will enter its second century with an open house, a new look and a new community purpose this weekend.

The Brown Family Environmental Center hosted it's annual Fall open house and fall festival on Saturday with hay rides, tours, music and served up old fashioned apple cider.

MOUNT VERNON -- Gary Keene of Mount Vernon and his 2-year-old grandson, Alexander Spaulding, both love trains, so their visit to see a historic steam engine at the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot on Saturday was a special one.

Classes are in full swing at Ariel Hall on the Knox County Campus of Central Ohio Technical College. Bringing technical education to a new level to downtown Mount Vernon.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot -- the impressive Richardsonian Romanesque-styled building on West High Street -- will enter its second century with an open house, a new look and a new community purpose this weekend.

At a special school board meeting Monday, the community had the opportunity to hear from the two finalists for the position of superintendent of Mount Vernon City Schools

MOUNT VERNON -- Sharon L. Shaffer, 55, Marion, Il., was cited for an improper left turn after she allegedly caused an accident Tuesday which sent another vehicle crashing through the wall of a building at the corner of North Gay and East High streets.

The Mount Vernon Police Department has been patrolling downtown Mount Vernon, for those in violation of the two hour parking limits.

GAMBIER -- A historic religious event began to unfold at Kenyon College Thursday afternoon, when Rabbi Menachem Youlus of Save a Torah brought the college its very own 175-year-old, nearly restored Torah ... and allowed students and faculty the privilege of finishing its restoration.

GAMBIER -- Kenyon College's new-old Torah came home on Thursday, and was dedicated in a Friday afternoon ceremony -- conducted in Hebrew and English -- inside a packed Horn Gallery.

Corn harvest is well under way in Knox County. Rob Kuhlman was combining on the Hunter farm at the south edge of Mount Vernon, Tuesday afternoon. He estimated the yield at 130 to 180 bushels per acre from the 150 acres of corn to be harvested.

MOUNT VERNON -- A few thousand big and little people turned out for the 6th annual Family Fun Day at the Knox County Fairgrounds on Sunday afternoon.

FREDERICKTOWN -- As part of this year's Bicentennial Celebration in Fredericktown, eight industries opened their doors to the public on Saturday, giving tours that showed what a small industrial giant Fredericktown is becoming.

Composting can be simply produced at home and has many advantages.

MOUNT VERNON -- "The POWs and MIAs are our country's responsibility. Today, in addition to recognizing the Americans who are still missing in action or imprisoned in foreign lands, our nation must reaffirm its commitment to the families who still wait for word of their missing loved ones." Those were the words Navy Master Chief Randy Hudson said to a large crowd of veterans, their families, and community members who attended a vigil Thursday night in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

HOWARD -- Tuesday turned out to be a day that East Knox High School freshman Aric Durbin will never forget. It was the day he got to meet Cleveland Cavalier Daniel Gibson, and, by the way, got his design on a Spalding basketball.

MOUNT VERNON -- Connie Cahill sauteed, measured, mixed and baked her way into the hearts of Knox County cooks Tuesday evening at the Memorial Theater.

CENTERBURG -- In 16 years, Centerburg's Oldtime Farming Festival has grown from a small gathering to a popular happening.

UTICA -- The threat of rain Saturday did nothing to dampen the spirits of the participants or audience as seven high school marching bands strutted their stuff at the marching band preview hosted by the North Fork Music Boosters and the Utica High School Marching Band.

FREDERICKTOWN -- The Tomato Show Children's Parade kicked off Thursday night's family friendly activities in Fredericktown. Fourteen entries involving variations on this year's theme, "A Walk Down Memory Lane," lined up for judging before walking east on College Street.

On the steps of the Memorial Theater, Fred Dailey formally announced his candidacy for U.S. House of Representatives for the 18th District in Ohio.

Fredericktown is buidling an addition to the primary school which will house all the students in the district.

MOUNT VERNON -- A red, white and blue handmade quilt with pillows will be raffled Saturday by the Lucy Knox Daughters of the American Revolution at their regular meeting. The proceeds from the raffle will go to the Frances Sturtevant Memorial Scholarship Fund, to be presented to a Knox County student.

Construction continues on the new East Knox Middle School in Howard.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Public Square looked like the teens and '20s era Friday evening as more than 100 Model T Ford cars gathered to talk T's with each other and show off their prized antiques to the public.

HOWARD -- Neil Neer spends the winters in Florida. When his neighbors there were working in their back yard, he said, they unearthed an interesting object, which Neer brought back to his home in Apple Valley this spring.

MOUNT VERNON -- A reception Friday evening at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County launched the month-long exhibition of Key Ingredients: America by Food from the Smithsonian Institution. Mount Vernon was one of just eight rural Ohio communities chosen to host the exhibit.

A look at the newly revamped Clerk of Courts website.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Knox County Sheriff's Office, Mount Vernon Fire Department and Kenyon Campus Security responded to an alleged bomb threat on Kenyon campus on Wednesday.

Today is the first day of school for the county schools. Students aren't the only ones reporting back, food preparers at the cafeterias are making sure lunches are hot and ready.

MOUNT VERNON -- Twenty-five Mount Vernon firefighters, along with 10 from other Knox County fire departments, participated in a fire training exercise Tuesday evening.

SPARTA -- On Saturday, a beloved Sparta resident will turn 100 years old. Ted Ray still lives alone on a farm outside the village, keeps a stand of honeybees, walks every day, rides an exercise bicycle, and puts in a big garden and tends it himself.

MOUNT VERNON -- Slow currents and sand bars added challenges to the boaters taking part in Saturday's Corrugated Cardboard Canoe Race held on the scenic Kokosing River.

MOUNT VERNON -- The theme of the Dan Emmett Music and Arts Festival' s annual Flower Show is "Quilting With Flowers," and The Living Center on North Main Street is bursting with plants, flower arrangements and quilts that are color-coordinated with the flora.

Annual plants need not die with the first frost of autumn. Cuttings can be taken from many plants and kept alive over the winter for transplanting in the spring.

Area cheerleading teams competed on Friday at the Dan Emmett Music and Arts Festival.

How you can stay healthy and hydrated in the heat.

MOUNT VERNON -- Area football teams put on the pads for the first time on Tuesday and coaches were eager to get going full speed despite the 90-plus degree temperatures. All eyes weren't only on the practice at hand, however. Coaches were watching for heat-related side effects in their players.

MOUNT VERNON -- Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has signed Substitute House Bill 9, a proposal to raise speed limits for tractors driving on highways. The current ceiling is 25 miles per hour, a figure which has been on the books for many years.

Between the harsh frost this spring and the drought conditions found throughout Knox County this summer, local orchards are taking a bruising while consumers are seeing higher prices.

MOUNT VERNON -- There was plenty of music and fun in the air during the August First Friday, though the "triple-H"weather (hot, hazy and humid) cut down the crowds a little.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Ohio News Network turned the video camera on some of Knox County's top tourism destinations on Thursday. The footage shot will be incorporated into an ONN season program focusing on several tourism spots across Ohio that will air sometime next year.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon Players summer musical production of "Snoopy!!! The Musical" put its best paw forward in its final dress rehearsal Wednesday evening at ThePlace@TheWoodward.

Producers Livestock recently sold the land and the buildings which house the stockyard's operations. But the stockyard, which has been serving local producers for more than half a century, is not ready to close shop just yet.

Founded in 1984, the Agriculture Museum preserves the rich agricultural heritage of Knox County.

A parade for the National Day of the Cowboy was held in Martinsburg on Saturday afternoon. In the second annual event in the village, 18 horses, two mules and three wagons marched from the Community Center and back, escorted by Bladensburg fire trucks.

MOUNT VERNON -- As fuel prices keep rising, so does the cost of the transportation of goods, including food. In response to this, many people are looking to start growing their own vegetables to save a little money.

MOUNT VERNON -- A new sidewalk being built along U.S. 36, just east of Mount Vernon, will connect pedestrians to Opportunity Knox and workers with new job skills. The project came about after a meeting of the Bridges Out of Poverty class, sponsored by Knox County Job and Family Services.

The railroad between Mount Vernon and Newark is getting so new upgrades and repairs.

Not everything is fun and games at the Knox County Fair. Parents have been taking advantage of the photo IDs available through the Knox County Prosecutor's Office, located in the Merchant's Building.

MOUNT VERNON -- Despite receiving some welcome temporary relief from last week's rain, local farmers are continuing to struggle with an overall drought. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration put Knox County in the "moderate drought" category in this week's update, though their long-term forecast calls for a chance of relief from dry conditions over the next several weeks.

Round two of the search for a Mount Vernon City Schools superintendent, included two extra focus group meetings for the community to voice their opinions. Monday's group brought up many issues concerning the community. Trust, communication and collaboration topped the discussion. Mount Vernon's search for a new superindent is expected to end in October, but the journey to the end is starting again.

Ron's Pizza closes for vacation as they prepare to move the business just down the street.

With the growing season in full swing and last week's rain, the Mount Vernon Farmers Market is offering a bumper crop of locally grown produce

Youngsters learned about helping others during Vacation Bible School at the Green Valley Southern Baptist Church this week.

Even before 9-11, firefighters across the nation have bonded with a brotherhood, only comparable to police officers and the military. The outpouring of support for a fallen comrade -- regardless of whether they are a neighbor or a stranger hundreds of miles away -- was never more evident than the memorial service last month for the firefighters who died in a furniture fire.

MOUNT VERNON -- A career as a firefighter is honorable, but can be dangerous. Michael Wagner of Fredericktown understood the risks he might face on the job, but fighting fires and saving lives was what he was meant to do in life.

A look at Japanese Beatles.

CENTERBURG -- Knox County officials assembled Wednesday afternoon to investigate a neighbor's complaint about the condition of cattle kept at the property of David Vernon, located at the southeast corner of Ball Road and Hall Road in Hilliar Township, along the Morrow County line. Veterinarian Dr. Greg Price was on hand for the inspection, as was Knox County Dog Warden Roger Reed. No citation was issued, as the officials determined that the condition of Vernon's herd could be attributed to the recent dry conditions. Reed gave no comment at the scene, and could not be reached for comment later.

MOUNT VERNON -- An informational meeting regarding what types of food can be sold at farm markets was held Tuesday night at the Knox County Health Department.

The cooperative effort between the Knox County Animal Shelter and the Knox County Humane Society rescues countless dogs and cats throughout Knox County each year.

It was a Pirate's Paradise theme at the Knox County 4-H Junior Camp. Campers and counselors enjoyed five days of adventures, fun and friends that came to a close on Monday.

After being rescued from a neglectful home, "Hope," is well on her way to a full recovery thanks to the love and support of the Knox County Animal Shelter.

A look at water conservation.

MOUNT VERNON -- A few opening night blips aside, Bruce Jacklin and Company's production of the Disney musical "Beauty and the Beast" proved to be a triumph as it bowed on the boards of the Memorial Theater on Thursday night to a full house.

MOUNT VERNON -- A cooperative effort between a Knox County Common Pleas Court parole officer, the Knox County Dog Warden and the Knox County Health Department has saved the life of one dog but saw the end for nearly 40 other animals.

The fireworks on Tuesday night started this 4th of July holiday in Mount Vernon as crowds gathered at Memorial Park.

MOUNT VERNON -- One of the major and most visible phases of the restoration of the Woodward Opera House is coming to a close. Exterior work has been going on since April and the final pieces of the puzzle are being put into place.

MOUNT VERNON -- It was the Apple Valley Golf Course that brought Tom and Marilyn Price into Knox County 14 years ago. Knowing nothing about Mount Vernon or the Apple Valley community, they went for a ride one day to look for the golf course. He had heard a lot about it, but nothing about the area. They fell in love with the relaxing small town scene and decided to move away from the busy city. Tom'.s love for the game of golf led him to Apple Valley, but it has also taken him on many journeys throughout his life. Wrinkles and Laughlines, a 12-page special section on active seniors, will appear in today'.s edition of the News.

FREDERICKTOWN -- A miniature world of castles and medieval creatures took shape on the beach of Sockman Lake on Saturday. Participants in the Rock Sand Roll sand castle building competition used small buckets, shovels and fingers to craft their creations, but drew upon their imaginations most of all.

A look at water gardens.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon Police Department's elite Emergency Services Unit deployed for the first time Friday in a raid at the Curtis Inn in downtown Mount Vernon. Blue Uriah Bain, 29, a guest at the hotel, was taken into custody and transported to the Knox County Jail, where he will be charged with trafficking in controlled substances.

FREDERICKTOWN -- Carving ice is Greg Butauski's self-confessed "No. 1 passion." He runs a world-renown business out of Columbus called Elegant Ice Creations which specializes in ice carvings. But he has to admit that sculpting sand has some distinct advantages.

MOUNT VERNON -- SummerBrook, the Alzheimer's-dementia care wing at Summerville at HillenVale, is specially designed to protect and care for -- while also stimulating the senses of -- patients with dementia.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon Developmental Center is the setting for the Easter Seals Adult Day Program, where elders and others who need round-the-clock attention can spend their days while their family members work.

MOUNT VERNON -- The progression of Alzheimer's disease is slow, somtimes taking years. Before its victims need full-time care and the protection of a confined environment, they are able to remain at home. As the disease progresses, they need more and more help handling the daily chores of life.

MOUNT VERNON -- There is no known cure and no known prevention for Alzheimer's disease. It is the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States, and the sixth-leading cause of death among the elderly.

MOUNT VERNON -- Passing vehicles honked their horns for Mount Vernon Developmental Center staff members who gathered at the entrance of the center to protest staffing, safety and overtime issues. The informational picket began at 6 a.m. is scheduled to last until 6 p.m. today.

MOUNT VERNON -- Alzheimer's disease is just one member of the family of dementia types but is, by far, the most common type in the United States. It accounts for about 60 percent of all dementia cases in patients 65 and older, and is associated with 100,000 deaths each year. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that more than 5 million Americans suffer from the disease.

MOUNT VERNON -- The Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club participated in the 75th annual Amateur Radio Field Day on Saturday and Sunday. The club set up ham radios in the American Red Cross Training Center in Mount Vernon and made contact with amateur radio operators nationally and internationally.

MOUNT VERNON -- Until recently, garlic scapes were considered a "wasted" part of the garlic plant. The scape is the flowering stalk found on members of the Allium family (onions, leeks, chives and garlic). Garlic scapes, which only appear on hardneck garlic varieties, curl upward as they grow, ultimately straighten, and then grow little seed-like bulbs. The garlic scapes are at their tenderest and best flavor while they are still in full curl.

MOUNT VERNON -- Bud Bushway is a long-time devotee of vintage WACO biplanes. And he is a faithful attendee at the annual fly-in being held this week at Brian Wynkoop's grass airport here in Mount Vernon. Bushway flew to Mount Vernon on Wednesday from his home in South Strafford, Vt.

MOUNT VERNON -- What's so special about an auction? What is it that attracts hundreds or even thousands of people out to pour over boxes of "stuff" and maybe go through a highly charged bidding process for the privilege of paying more money for some item than anyone else is willing to pay?

BRINKHAVEN -- The Bridge of Dreams on the Mohican Valley Trail is "the gateway into Knox County," as Kim Marshall puts it. Marshall is the director of the Knox County Park District, which recently took over administration of the trail from the Knox County Commissioners.

DANVILLE -- Saturday marked the last of three beautiful days for the Danville-Howard Turkey Festival. Sunny skies and a cool breeze led the way for the parade, which started promptly at 7 p.m. for the scores of families and individuals lining the streets.

MOUNT VERNON -- Foundation Park was the scene Sunday for the annual Rotary/Kiwanis Club Father's Day Family Regatta.

FREDERICKTOWN -- As buying fresh, local food becomes more and more of an issue with each new report of contaminated food imported from overseas, the problem that quickly emerges is, where can I go to get the freshest food, and lots of it? In addition to the well-established Farmers Market in downtown Mount Vernon on Saturdays, the Owl Creek Produce Auction is emerging as a popular venue, both for family buyers and bulk buyers.

MOUNT VERNON -- Early season raspberries are going to be bearing fruit soon and now is a good time to train your raspberry bushes. Basically this means trellising them.

DANVILLE -- The Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District held its annual fire department demonstration Friday night during day two at the Danville-Howard Turkey Festival.

DANVILLE -- Each youngster in the Little Miss Turkey/Little Mister Turkey contest on Thursday gobbled and walked like a turkey and drew smiles and laughs from on-lookers. The contest was the main event at the opening day of the 19th Annual Danville-Howard Turkey Festival at Danville Memorial Park.

MOUNT VERNON -- Organic or all natural products have caught the attention of many who are health conscious, and the growing use of dietary supplements to better improve one's health has created a competitive industry. Although medical conditions and other ailments are still widely managed with prescription drugs, all-natural products continue to find consumers who are searching for alternative remedies without any side affects.

GAMBIER -- The Mount Vernon Rotary Club was busy swinging hammers, measuring twice and cutting once, and hoisting trusses overhead Tuesday night -- tasks many of these volunteers don't often have the opportunity to pursue. However, through Rotary's partnership with the Knox County Park District, the opportunity comes around a little more often these days.

MOUNT VERNON -- Thanks to the efforts of Team 10 students from Mount Vernon High School, recess at East Elementary School is a lot more interesting -- and educational. Forty sophomores, divided into small groups, redesigned the playground and, in a two-day painting blitz, completed a variety of colorful play areas to "give the little kids something to do at recess."

The 1880's era bridge gets dropped into the Kokosing River.

LOUDONVILLE -- Saturday marked the inaugural River Float parade, held during the River Days Celebration on the Mohican River.

FREDERICKTOWN -- Hundreds turned out on a bright and warm afternoon Sunday for the opening ceremony for the Healing Field of Honor at the intersection of Ohio 13 and Waterford Road, just outside of Fredericktown. Hundreds of American flags were arrayed across the field, crisply flapping in the warm breeze.

MOUNT VERNON -- Lilac bushes can be large, hearty plants and, if left on their own, can grow to be the size of a small- or medium-size tree. As lilac bushes grow older, the lower parts of the plant can lose their leaves due to lack of sunlight and air circulation. This gives them an ugly, leggy look.

DANVILLE -- What if my school bus flips over? What if my child is on a crashed school bus? What if I am the first emergency responder on the scene? Those questions and more were answered during a mock school bus crash drill held for all county school bus drivers.

A small crowd of eager young people opened the new Mount Vernon Water Park on Tuesday evening, even though the air temperature was only 65 degrees.

FREDERICKTOWN -- Gold Star Dad Bob Lehmiller rolled into Fredericktown on Tuesday, delivering 1,500 flags for the Healing Field of Honor Memorial. The flags will be the centerpiece of a six-day event held June 10-15 at Kokosing Construction Co. field at the intersection of Ohio 13 and Waterford Road.

MOUNT VERNON -- The students in Frank McCoy's Career Based Intervention class at the Mount Vernon Middle School learned more than history and math this past school year. These students earned a valuable life lesson that has helped prepare them for the “real world.�

MOUNT VERNON -- Sunshine and humidity rang in summer with a perfect day for the kickoff of the eighth year of the Farmers Market on Public Square. Vendors lined up with products ranging from herbs and greens to meat and cheese, with plenty of surprises along the way. This is early in the season for most vegetables, but there were a few, particularly onions, radishes and leeks.

MOUNT VERNON --Bagworms can be very destructive pests and, during certain stages of its life cycle, very hard to detect.

MOUNT VERNON --First Friday, the monthly street festival on Public Square, may be sponsered and organized by The Heritage Centre Association, but the event would never happen without a little help from unexpected volunteers.

MOUNT VERNON --City officials honored the numerous individuals who helped turn the idea of a new water park into a reality during a dedication ceremony Friday. About 150 people turned out for the event at the newly constructed Hiawatha Water Park/Pool on Sychar Road.

MOUNT VERNON -- The use of Tasers by law enforcement has created concerns around the nation. Reports of individuals dying as a result of being tasered has expanded the controversy. Locally, the Franklin County Sheriff's office is investigating the death of Patrick Hagans, 42, of Columbus. He was tasered by officers on May 13 and died three days later.

MOUNT VERNON -- Two men were trapped in a structure fire that ravaged a home at 503 W. Burgess St. Thursday night. It took the joint effort of the Mount Vernon police and fire departments to rescue the victims. Patrolman Jessica Butler and Cpl. Beth Marti of the MVPD and Jay Laymon of the MVFD entered the burning house to pull out the two victims.

MOUNT VERNON -- Work on the road project to straighten Cassell's Crossing is progressing ahead of schedule. Original plans called for periodic restrictions on traffic based on work being done at the crossing, then for Ohio 13 to be closed starting June 14 for 14 days of final construction.

MOUNT VERNON -- Scott Pullins got a chance to explain himself and then apologized without qualification at a hearing before visiting Judge Thomas Curran on Thursday.

MOUNT VERNON -- Mount Vernon enjoyed a picture-perfect Memorial Day: Crowds of people, many wearing red, white and blue; sunny, warm weather; a traditional parade; and a presentation on Public Square attended by hundreds of patriots.

MOUNT VERNON -- Summer blooming bulbs are a great way to keep a garden colorful through the summer and even the fall with some flowers.

Members of the Mount Vernon Fire Department check out a camper which caught fire about 1 mile north of Cassell's Crossing late Friday afternoon.

MOUNT VERNON -- Lowell Henthorn and William Adams were recently honored by the Veterans Service Commission and the Veterans Service Office for service rendered on behalf of local veterans. Plaques were presented by the local commission to Henthorn and to Adams' son, Eric.

MOUNT VERNON -- In a county rocked by breast cancer diagnoses, a support group was badly needed. When breast cancer survivor Ruth Treen was diagnosed and endured a mastectomy, she decided to do something about that.

MOUNT VERNON -- Saunja Smith did not find a lump in her breast, nor did she notice any signs of cancer. And breast cancer doesn't run in her family. There was no real reason for Smith to get a mammography screening, except that doctors recommend the test after age 40. Smith was 43 years old and her mammogram, in May 2004, was just another routine checkup.

MOUNT VERNON -- Cancer comes out of nowhere, or so it often seems. And for Ruth Treen of Mount Vernon and her family, that was certainly the case. In 2003, Treen's great-granddaughter, Alaina Littleton, 13 months old, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

FREDERICKTOWN -- The 95 kindergartners at Fredericktown Primary School participated in the school's fifth annual Mini Relay for Life on Friday, running and walking and expecting to raise more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society.

The YMCA youth soccer program finished up the 2007 spring season on Saturday. It was another successful season where the participants learned the game of soccer, met new friends and had fun. YMCA soccer will start back up in the fall.

MOUNT VERNON -- The intersection of Newark Road and Parrot Street has long been a difficult and dangerous intersection for both motorists and pedestrians. A combination of limited visibility and high traffic rates, especially during the times when work lets out at the industrial park south of the intersection, has made the desire for a traffic signal at the intersection a high priority for residents in the area.

HOWARD -- Teenagers aren't the only ones thinking about prom this month. In Apple Valley, Carl and Sharon Holmes are reminiscing about the senior prom they attended ... in May 1958 at Sharon's high school in Centreville, Mich.

MOUNT VERNON -- By 58 percent, Ohio voters approved a law in November 2006 to ban indoor smoking in public places. The ban took effect Dec. 7, but because there was not any way to enforce the new law, some restaurants and bars continued to let people smoke inside. Now the smoking ban has consequences.

Landscaping, the art of arranging plants in an aesthetically pleasing layout, is the culm