Category: Big Blue Crew

Showcasing Creativity through Flowers & Photography at the 2026 Fredericktown Tomato Show

WNZR recently talked with Fredericktown Tomato Show Board Member Carrie Levering about the flower, horticulture, and photography shows happening during this year’s Tomato Show.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link with the picture below.

If you enjoy flowers or gardening, bring your entries to the Thrall Masonic Lodge on Wednesday, September 9, from 2–6 p.m. There are a variety of flower and horticulture classes, with judging beginning at 6:15 p.m. Entries and winners will be available to view later that evening and remain on display through Saturday at 6 p.m., with flower pickup beginning at 4 p.m.

Photography enthusiasts of all ages are invited to participate, too! Photos can be submitted Wednesday, September 9, from 2–6 p.m. at the Mayor’s Office. There are categories for kids, teens, and adults, along with special awards for Best Use of Color and Best Use of Light. Carrie says you don’t have to be a professional—just bring your photos and join in the fun! For her, one of the best parts of the show is seeing the creativity and talent the community brings. She hopes this year’s theme will shine through in the flowers and photographs and encourages everyone to be part of this special Fredericktown tradition.

Be sure to stay connected with WNZR for complete coverage of the 2026 Fredericktown Tomato Show! We’ll be LIVE and “On the Road with Big Blue” throughout the week, highlighting the exciting events, sharing results, and bringing you the fun from the festival. Visit wnzr.fm to learn more and register for your chance to win great prizes!

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Mount Vernon Nazarene University joins a night of School Spirit at September First Friday

WNZR shared conversations all this week with several Faculty Members from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Click HERE to hear the conversations.

We talked about the exciting and interactive activities that each department is bringing to downtown Mount Vernon for September First Friday. MVNU is part of an Education Department and Activity Fair on the Public Square from 6pm – 9pm.

They also shared exciting news about their departments including developments for the 2026 Fall Semester. Each professor shared what they are most excited for in this new school year.
Enjoy the conversations and plan to join us tonight at First Friday! Wear your blue and green! GO COUGARS!

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The Morning Thing’s Friday Favorites Looks Back at Assistant Station Manager Eric Brown’s Time at WNZR!

WNZR is saying goodbye to Assistant Station Manager Eric Brown as he, his wife Jenn and step daughter Maddie, who is a sophomore in high school, prepare for a new chapter in Florida.

Eric’s adult son William and his younger son Jonathan, who is also a sophomore in high school, are staying with their mom in Newark while Jenn’s adult sons Alex and Jaden are staying in Zanesville.

As part of Friday’s edition of The Morning Thing, WNZR Station Manager Marcy Rinehart joined Eric for a special Friday Favorites conversation, asking him to look back on five of his favorite memories from his time at the station.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Eric’s connection to Mount Vernon Nazarene University goes back much further than his time at WNZR. He is an MVNU alumnus, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university.

Before joining the WNZR staff in December 2024, he spent nearly eight years working in MVNU’s College of Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) as an Academic Services Specialist and Adjunct Professor teaching communications classes.

During Friday Favorites, Eric reflected on several moments that stood out during his time at WNZR.

One involved student Isabel, whose singing could sometimes be heard from the neighboring studio. Eric recalled having to ask her to sing just a little more quietly so he could get his own recording work done.

Another favorite memory came almost immediately after he started at WNZR. Just days into the job, Eric helped host the station’s Food For The Hungry broadcast. He said the experience gave him an early chance to meet people, learn more about the community and understand how important the annual campaign is to WNZR and Knox County.

Eric also looked back on covering the Hartford Fair with WNZR students and on the memorable moments that came with taking the station on location.

Two of his favorite memories came from the Christian Music Broadcasters University conference in Nashville. Eric traveled with WNZR students for the event, giving them the opportunity to learn more about Christian broadcasting while also spending time together outside the station.

The trip itself created plenty of stories, including a cold wait for food and an eventful drive home through winter weather.

Looking back, Eric said what has made leaving WNZR especially difficult is the people. He thanked listeners for the support they have shown him and said the connection between the audience and the WNZR team is unlike what he has experienced elsewhere in broadcasting.

He also reflected on how meaningful it has been to serve the community while helping spread the message of Jesus through WNZR’s ministry.

Although Eric is leaving his full-time role and moving to Florida, listeners will still hear his voice on WNZR. The station plans to continue working with him remotely through a contract arrangement for news coverage. He will also return to teaching as an Adjunct Professor in the CAPS program for MVNU.

Marcy thanked Eric for his leadership, experience and time with WNZR and said the station will continue praying for him as he makes the move and begins a new chapter.

Click HERE to learn more about WNZR!

Click HERE to learn more about Mount Vernon Nazarene University!

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First-Day Jitters and Mystery Lunches!

On Wednesday’s edition of the Morning Thing, the Big Blue Crew took a trip down memory lane and shared some of those memorable first days of school — from that very first day of kindergarten, to starting at a new school, to the emotions that come with sending your own child off for their first day.

What was your craziest memory?

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Change Your Monday Mindset!

Today on The Morning Thing, the Big Blue Crew shared how they are keeping their Monday Mindset positive and focused on Christ.

Listen to what they said HERE!

Starting Monday off with a Christ-centered mindset can be difficult a lot of the time, but it can make the biggest impact for your week. Today, the Big Blue Crew chose one word they want to represent their week. Here are some examples of words you can think of:

  • Peace
  • Joy
  • Patience
  • Courage
  • Trust
  • Hope

Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT): “5Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.“

Hear what words the Big Blue Crew chose for their Monday Mindset here:

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From Pies to Pages: Kiwanis Helps Put Books in Children’s Hands

An exciting live auction was held on Saturday 8/15 at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival.
There were 15 pies up for bid in the 3rd Annual Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon Pie Auction. All proceeds from the auction will be given to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through the United Way of Knox County.

Childhood Literacy is one of the main initiatives for the Kiwanis Club.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a free book gifting program. The program is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five. Knox County children received 27,039 books in 2024!

The Pie Auction Total was $4,910!

Thanks to auctioneer David McDowell for his support.

Thanks to the pie donors, bakers, bidders and buyers.

• Pie #1 was a Cherry Pie donated by CES Credit Union. This Cherry Pie was sold along with wood cake display stand and charcuterie board.
Buyer – ACS Title and Closing Services, Cindy McDowell – $250

• Pie #2 was a Blueberry Pie donated by Park National Bank. This Blueberry Pie was sold with a pie plate.
Buyer – Ruckman Group Auctions & Appraisals – $300

• Pie #3 was a Triple Berry Pie donated by Crystal Snell-Tomes, Realtor e-Merge Real Estate Champions. This Pie was sold along with a beautiful serving tray and the Book of Pie Cookbook.
Buyer – Greg Galiete – $460

• Pie #4 was a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie donated by Kenyon College.
Buyer – Jackie K’s Vintage & Venue – $550

• Pie #5 was a Strawberry Pie donated by the Mount Vernon School District.
Buyer – Alice Hutzel and Knox Community Hospital – $200

• Pie #6 was a Gluten-Free Pecan Pie donated by Happy Bean Coffee Shop.
Buyer – Jackie K’s Vintage & Venue – $200

• Pie #7 was an Apple Cranberry Crisp Pie donated by Nancy Jo Todd, Kiwanis Member.
Buyer – Diane Henwood – $200

• Pie #8 was a Dutch Apple Caramel Pie donated by ACS Title Company. This pie was sold with a fruit stand and some fresh apples.
Buyer – Mike Copley and CES Credit Union – $450

• Pie #9 was a Black Raspberry Pie donated by Ohio Easter Star Home. The raspberries were home-grown and it was sold with a wall decoration.
Buyer – Cliff Ruggles and Cliff’s High Performance – $200

• Pie #10 was a Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie made by 92-year-old Britta Bridges representing Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Buyer – Wendi Fowler – $500

• Pie #11 was a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie made by Sandy Cable representing Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Buyer – Ruckman Group Auctions & Appraisals – $200

• Pie #12 was an Americana Apple Pie donated by COTC.
Buyer – Kathy White – $200

• Pie #13 was Crystal Browning’s Famous Pecan Pie donated by the Knox County Career Center.  
Buyer – Wendi Fowler – $500

• Pie #14 was a Peachy Peach Pie donation by the United Way of Knox County.
Buyer – Miller Electrical Solutions – $250

• #15 in the auction was two pies donated by CenterWell Home Health – a Strawberry Cream Pie and a Reese’s Cream Pie.
Buyer – David McDowell Auctioneer – $300

Then David resold the Strawberry Cream Pie for $150 to Buyer Jackie K’s Vintage & Venue

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The Morning Thing Friday Favorites – our favorite events at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival

This week for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts celebrated the 2026 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival. They each shared their favorite event on this year’s schedule. We hope to see you in downtown Mount Vernon this weekend!

Click HERE to hear from Marcy, Olivia, Eric, Ethan and Daniel.

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The Cruise-In, a Chalk Competition and the Wood Auction returns to the 2026 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival

WNZR shines the spotlight on the 2026 Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival this week. WNZR’s Josiah Styer talked with Board Member, Jacob Francis about event logistics.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the photo below.

Jacob serves as the Site and Logistics Director for the Festival. He shared details about this year’s map and festival layout, along with news about when streets will close.
He also shared the good news that 3 favorite events will return. Listen in for details about the 6th annual Car & Motorcycle Cruise-in, the Wood Challenge Auction and the 3rd annual Chalk Competition.

Click HERE for more information on the festival and to see the full schedule.

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WNZR shines the spotlight on the 2026 Hartford Fair

Did you know the “Biggest Little Fair in the World” is close to home and going on this week? YES! The 2026 Hartford Fair is this week!
Eric Brown from The Morning Thing talked with Fair Manager, Roger Smith about this year’s event.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the photo below.

Roger shared schedule highlights, the history of the fair, new events and how to get tickets.
This is the 168th Hartford Fair! You can see the Big Blue Crew tonight along with Monster Trucks and a Fantasy Drone show!

Click HERE to see the complete schedule and all details about this year’s Fair.

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Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival Returns with Three Days of Music, Art and Family Fun!

A full year of planning goes into one weekend in downtown Mount Vernon.

WNZR’s Daniel Russell spoke with Joe Rinehart, Board Chair for the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival, about what it takes to organize the event and what visitors can expect this year.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Rinehart said planning begins almost immediately after the previous festival ends. The board is made up entirely of volunteers, so much of the work comes down to finding time throughout the year to coordinate music, vendors, artists, sponsors, activities and all of the other pieces that make the event possible.

One of the biggest changes this year is the return to a three-day festival. Thursday will no longer be part of the event, which Rinehart said helps reduce the amount of time downtown streets are closed.

Music remains a major part of the weekend. Saturday night will feature Preston Cooper as the headliner, with 615 Collective opening the show. Friday night will have more of a classic rock feel, beginning with Phil Dirt and the Dozers at 6:30 p.m., followed by Forever Seger, a Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band tribute act.

The festival also continues to bring thousands of visitors into downtown Mount Vernon. Rinehart said about 9,300 people came through the downtown area during the event, creating opportunities for local businesses while giving visitors a chance to experience the community.

Several family-friendly attractions are returning. Kidsfest will run from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday.

A new addition this year is BrickFest, giving visitors a chance to build and create with LEGO. It will be held on the second floor of the Woodward Opera House from 3 until 8 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday.

Other returning favorites include the Car and Motorcycle Cruise-In on Saturday, the Kiwanis Pie Auction, the Wood Challenge, the flower show and the chalk competition.

Rinehart said much of the work happens behind the scenes, from coordinating with artists and vendors to arranging food trucks, local media, promotions, websites and business partnerships. He said the effort is worth it when people come downtown, enjoy themselves and support local businesses.

For anyone who has never attended, Rinehart emphasized that the festival is free. Visitors can come downtown, find something to eat, listen to live music and enjoy the community atmosphere without needing a ticket.

The festival is also still looking for volunteers, especially on Thursday and Sunday, to help welcome visitors, answer questions and support the event.

Rinehart thanked the board of directors and volunteers who have worked throughout the year, along with the City of Mount Vernon, the Woodward Opera House, the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel, Joann and Audry for organizing the flower show, and Sweet Street Candy Shop for hosting the chalk competition.

He also thanked presenting sponsor Ariel Corporation, along with Park National Bank and the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium.

Click HERE to learn more about the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival!

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