Author: themorningthing

The Knox County Board of Elections Director shares with us about the upcoming election

We got the chance to talk with James Blazer, the Knox County Board of Elections Director! James tells us about how his team is prepared for the upcoming General Election.

He shares the exciting news about their new V.O.T.E.R vehicle.

He also tells us about early voting which is now open, how to prepare for the Write-In Candidates on your ballot, and how his team is sharing results through their website.

For more information about the Knox County Board of Elections click HERE!

Here are some important notes that we want to share with you:

  • Acceptable forms of ID to vote include:
    • Ohio driver’s license, state ID card, or interim ID form issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
    • A United States passport or passport card
    • A U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
  • There are 81 different ballot styles for this election, meaning 81 different ballots based on precinct, various races and issues
  • The Board of Elections must print out 100% + 1 (101%) of ballots for each election. Ohio State Laws require that they have a printed ballot for every registered voter plus 1!
    • There is a schedule for recycling these ballots. There is a special outside company that comes into Mount Vernon to take care of this recycling
  • Ohio is a Paper State. Every vote has a paper trail.
  • There is a chain of custody for people signing off for ballots at every stage and with every type of ballot. The chain of custody requires both a Democrat and Republican to be part of every step of the process.
  • There are multiple ways to vote:
    • On Election Day at your assigned precinct
    • Absentee Voting by Mail
    • Early in-person voting at the Board of Elections
    • UOCAVA – for military or Knox County Registered voters who find themselves overseas during an election.
    • Safe At Home voting for mail-in ballots for someone in a domestic or dangerous situation
  • Our Board of Elections offers voting to local nursing home residents, those currently in the Knox County Jail that do not have a conviction and registered voters in the hospital.
  • There is a State Dashboard that tracks mismatches within the voting systems. This state level checking will connect our Knox County database against other departments across the state to avoid duplication in votes.
  • Anyone that has no voting or no petition signing for 6 years technically has no activity within the election system and is then taken out. So voter registration is necessary.
  • On Election Day – BE PREPARED to WRITE IN the write-in candidates that you want to have your vote. Those write-in candidates are NOT listed on the ballot. You must write in their name on each type of ballot. Each precinct or voting location (including the Board of Elections) can show you a list of those candidates but cannot offer you a printed copy. You can take a picture on your phone and use it when you vote.
  • On Election Day, the Knox County Board of Elections will update results on their website every 30 minutes starting at 7:30pm with Absentee votes.
  • The Staff plans to stay late on Election night to count the write-in candidates for this ballot. Unofficial results will be included in the results on Election night.

Here are some important stats:

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Get Out and Experience God’s Beauty During Fall!

We love the “Places to Go This Fall” Planner from Ordinary & Happy because it encourages you to look a little closer to home. Sure, those famous parks and big cities are stunning this time of year—but sometimes we miss the beauty, the community, and the fun happening right in our own towns.

This planner is a great way to think about nearby parks, local events, and simple meet-ups with friends and family to soak in the season.

Click HERE to see the list at Ordinary and Happy.com

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Are you ready for some Fall FUN with your family?

Today on The Morning Thing, we shared 20 different ways to spend some quality time together as a family. This list of great ideas comes from Crosswalk.com

Click HERE to see the full list.

Here are some of our favorites:

* Host a Family Movie Night

Everybody loves family movie night. Typically, there is a theme like all the movies in a series or even a certain genre. 

* Cook Together

Cook a cozy, comforting meal together. We all know that family dinner time is important, so make it more special by preparing a meal together. Think meatloaf and mashed potatoes, cozy casseroles, and comforting soups. You could even try a recipe or two that you’ve never made before to shake things up. It can be as extravagant or as simple as you wish. 

* Make a Thankful Wall

Get a whiteboard or bulletin board and hang it where everyone in the family can see it. Buy either dry-erase markers or post-it notes and push pins. Each week, have everyone write what they are thankful for so everyone can see it. Then on Friday nights at dinner, talk about your week and the things you are grateful for. 

* Go Out for Breakfast

Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, it’s also cheaper than going out to lunch or dinner. Get up early on a Saturday morning and head to your favorite breakfast joint. Don’t forget to keep an eye out online, in your email, and also your snail mail for coupons. You can also go directly to the website and see if there are any specials going on as well. Enjoy the restaurant’s fall specials, like pumpkin pancakes or pumpkin spice coffee.

* Attend a Fall Festival 

Do some research and see if there are any fall festivals in your town or neighboring towns. If so, spend the day together as a family. There will be lots of things to see and do, and it will do you good to be out in the crisp, fall air.

* Make S’mores

S’mores are a staple in the fall, so fire up the bonfire or fire pit and gather ‘round. However, you don’t always have to make the traditional graham cracker, marshmallow, and Hershey bar kind. There are tons of variations online. 

I have seen s’mores made with horizontal slices of granny smith apples with caramel melted in the middle. Chocolate chip cookies with marshmallows and a chocolate bar melted in the middle. And s’mores made with chocolate graham crackers, peppermint patties, and marshmallows in the middle. There are lots of delicious variations, so have fun. You could even make several kinds and have friends over to enjoy after family dinner. 

* Sleep Under the Stars

Pitch a tent or two and sleep under the stars one night as a family. Sit around the fire pit and talk, admire the moon and the stars, and thank God for his creation. Slow down and enjoy the surrounding nature.

Thanks to the author for these great ideas!
Carrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. She has had her work featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and the Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three clean romance books, one romance novella, three books of poetry, and one non-fiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband, and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.

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“The Chosen Adventures” is here!

Many of us love The Chosen but now it’s time for The Chosen Adventures! This is a new animated series based on bible stories.

Ryan Swanson, the writer for both The Chosen and The Chosen Adventures, joined us to tell us about his story and how these projects came to life! He also gives us insight into the new animated endeavor and when we can see it!

Click HERE to learn more about The Chosen Adventures!

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Kristin Hankins tells us all about the Church at Chapel Hill Fall Fest!

WNZR talked with Kristin Hankins who is the 7th-12th Grade Supervisor at the Chapel Hill Christian Academy! She tells us all about their church and their fall fest that is coming up this Sunday. There will be music, games, activities and a bunch of candy!

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Best strategies for conflict resolution!

Today we celebrated Conflict Resolution Day by talking about the 5 C’s of conflict resolution, and we also shared the best strategies for most common situations.

Here are the 5 C’s of Conflict Resolution:

  1. Calmness
  2. Clear Communication
  3. Clarification
  4. Collaboration
  5. Compromise

Here are some of the best strategies in common situations:

1. Workplace Conflict

  • Address issues early before they escalate.
  • Stay professional and focus on behavior, not personality.
  • Use “I” statements (“I felt…”) rather than accusatory language.
  • Listen actively and clarify misunderstandings.
  • Involve HR or a mediator if needed.
  • Aim for collaborative solutions (win-win).

2. Romantic Relationships

  • Stay calm; don’t try to resolve things in the heat of anger.
  • Express feelings honestly without blame.
  • Listen with empathy and validate their perspective.
  • Focus on solving the issue, not “winning” the argument.
  • Set boundaries and revisit them if needed.
  • Consider couples counseling if conflicts are recurring or intense.

3. Family Disputes

  • Be respectful and patient, especially with older or younger family members.
  • Avoid bringing up old grievances unless necessary to resolve the current issue.
  • Establish clear communication rules (e.g., no yelling, interrupting).
  • Take breaks if emotions get too high.
  • Sometimes, agreeing to disagree is the most peaceful resolution.
  • For serious issues, involve a family therapist or neutral third party.

 4. Friend Conflicts

  • Talk in person or over a call, not text.
  • Be honest but kind—assume positive intent.
  • Let your friend share their side without interruption.
  • Apologize sincerely if you were in the wrong.
  • Don’t let pride get in the way of mending the friendship.

5. Online or Social Media Conflicts

  • Don’t engage when emotions are high—pause before replying.
  • Move the conversation offline if it’s meaningful.
  • Use empathy and facts, not sarcasm or insults.
  • Know when to disengage—not every comment needs a response.
  • Set boundaries or block/report if harassed.
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The Executive Producer of “The Chosen” tells us about a new project!

WNZR got to talk with Derral Eves, the Executive Producer of “The Chosen”!

Derral tells us about his backstory and how the very popular show came to be. He also shares some information regarding a new project called “The Chosen Adventures”! It will be an animated series that would come out on Amazon this month, on October 17th!

To learn more about The Chosen Adventures, click HERE!

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