Local News

Mount Vernon City Schools is asking residents to learn more about a proposed 1% earned income tax levy appearing on the May 5 ballot, a measure district leaders say would support long‑term investments in school facilities. The proposal is part of a year‑long review of building conditions, safety needs, enrollment trends, and the instructional demands facing today’s classrooms. Many of …

Photo Credit: Knox County Career Center Knox County Career Center students in Landscape Design and Management earned multiple top‑25 finishes at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, held March 18–21 at Michigan State University. KCCC was one of only two high schools competing among more than 50 colleges and universities and over 700 students. Seven students represented the program across 11 …

Photo Credits: The City of Mount Vernon The City of Mount Vernon has begun replacing damaged sidewalk and curbing along the south side of Coshocton Avenue in the area of North Catherine Street. According to the city, the existing sidewalk had sunk below the curb, creating uneven surfaces and limiting accessibility for pedestrians. The work, completed by Smith Paving and …

Knox County has appointed longtime first responder Rick Lanuzza as the next director of its 911 Dispatch Center, bringing more than two decades of emergency response and leadership experience into the role. Lanuzza has served as Chief of Fredericktown EMS since 2004 and previously worked as a firefighter and paramedic with the Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District in Danville. …

Photo Credit: John Wareham There were two recurring topics at the Mt. Vernon City Council meeting on Monday night; one of which finally started a project in motion and one that was not about a resolution or ordinance, but just about the local sense of community.  After nearly a decade, the ordinance to green light the construction of the new …

Mt. Vernon is preparing an application for a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Grant and is asking residents to help shape the proposal. A public meeting will be held Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Pleasant Street Elementary School. The grant would support improvements within a designated section of the city’s 3rd Ward, where a majority of households fall within …

The historic Curtis Building on North Main Street sustained major damage during the March 13 windstorm, prompting Mount Vernon officials to pursue a condemnation order for the structure and two adjoining buildings. A large portion of the façade at 10–16 N. Main St. broke away in the high winds, exposing unstable brick and forcing the closure of the sidewalk and …

Photo Credit: The Knox County Foundation In Centerburg, a major community‑driven project is nearing completion as the new Heart of Ohio Playground prepares to open at Memorial Park. A public ribbon‑cutting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m., hosted by the Centerburg Friends of Memorial Park and the Knox County Chamber of Commerce. The playground project began …

Fredericktown Village Council moved quickly through its agenda Tuesday night, approving two key measures with little delay. Council members Chris Cline, Ray Brewer, Rick Lanuzza, Scott McKnight, Sabrina Pugh, and Ryan Shoemaker, along with Mayor Jerry Day, handled both items in a single reading. Council approved an ordinance to replace a much‑needed sewer pump in the village, citing the urgency …

Fredericktown Local Schools will recognize five distinguished graduates during its 2026 Alumni Hall of Honor ceremony on Friday, April 17. The induction will take place at 9:15 a.m. in the Fredericktown High School Gymnasium, and the public is invited to attend. The Hall of Honor celebrates graduates whose achievements, service, and character reflect positively on the district and offer present‑day …