Category: Local

Today is Giving Tuesday. Your gift makes a difference!

Today on The Morning Thing, we talked about Giving Tuesday. Our special guests were Katie Ellis, Executive Director for United Way of Knox County; Joe Springer, Executive Director for the Winter Sanctuary and Carolyn Fergus, Executive Director for Knox County Interchurch Social Services.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.

Katie shared how important this day is to the 2024 United Way of Knox County Campaign. The focus for this year’s Giving Tuesday is Housing Stability.
She talks about why this topic is important to our community and the United Way as they fund various agencies and organizations in Knox County.
She tells us that housing stability is one of the greatest barriers for families.

Carolyn shares with us how Interchurch Social Services is working to keep families in their homes. She shares some stats from this year on how they are providing rental assistance. Through October 2024, they have spent $54,593 for housing requests in Knox County. Emergency Financial Aid has helped over 600 families and over 1,600 individuals in the county.

Joe shares about their Advocacy Program and how it is helping families and community residents in crisis. The program runs year-round for anyone at risk of losing their home.

Joe and Carolyn both share how the funding from the United Way is helping their organizations. They each share how gifts given today on Giving Tuesday will make a difference for their ministries.
Joe, Carolyn and Katie share goals for their organizations for 2025 related to the focus on housing stability.

To give today go to uwayknox.org

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Now is the time to reserve your seat for the 2024 Kenyon Snowflake Gala

Luisa Barone Gantt, Kenyon Communications and Project Management in the Advancement Division and Amy Quinlivan, Kenyon’s Coordinator of Administrative Services in the Office of the Provost came to WNZR to share about this year’s Snowflake Gala.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
The Event is Friday 12/13/24 at Kenyon’s Lowry Center.
Amy and Luisa share this year’s info – the theme is tied into Kenyon’s Bicentennial. There will be music from the Kenyon Jazztet, a photo booth and desserts from the Kenyon cookbook.
Amy and Luisa explain the Fund-A-Cause concept, the William Stroud Award for Community Service and the Founders Award.
Register at https://www.foodforthehungrycares.org/kenyon-gala-rsvp
The deadline to register is this Friday, 12/6/24.

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The Knox County Career Center Online Auction to benefit Food For The Hungry is back for 2024

Jim Riggle, Principal of Academics, Attendance and Discipline at the Knox County Career Center stopped by WNZR to talk about how the Knox County Career Center is collecting donations for Food For The Hungry.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation and descriptions of each basket!
He shared some amazing results from his time in the dunk tank at the KCCC Open House. He also talked about several competitions between student labs including the popular Coin Wars.
The Annual Online Auction of Themed Baskets is LIVE!
Jim shared the details of 20 different items that are up for bid, including 15 themed baskets. You can bid on a Family Fun Basket, The Blonde Robin Basket, Date Night Baskets, Car Care Baskets, the popular Foodies Basket, Girls Day Out, Guys Day Out and many more!
There are also individual items up for bid including a Yamaha Electric Bicycle and two packages of 20 pounds of Pork!
These baskets have a combined value of over $8,000 in donations!
Go to this site and place your bid: 32auctions.com/KCCCFFTH2024
The bidding closes on Friday, 12/13 at 3pm.

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The Food For The Hungry Service Club Challenge is back for 2024

Kathy Brechler, Food For The Hungry Executive Director and Carol Grubaugh, Executive Director for the Knox County Chamber of Commerce stopped by WNZR to talk about this year’s Service Club Challenge.
Click HERE to hear the conversation or click the link below.
Service Clubs throughout Knox County are hosting events and collections to benefit the annual drive.
The deadline to submit donations is December 9th.

Kathy also talks about how the Mount Vernon annual Holiday Parade and Winter in Downtown MV event will be a collection point. Look for the FFTH Shopping Carts in the parade!
Kathy shares a Top 10 list of foods that our local pantries have requested. She also shares a list of collection points that will be open on Friday, 12/13.
Would you like to volunteer? Volunteers are needed at the collection points.
Please email Kathy director@foodforthehungrycares.org

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November 2024 Spotlight on Mount Vernon with Mayor Matt Starr

Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr shared updates on the City with The Morning Thing on Friday, 11/29/24.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation.

Topics included:

  • A discussion about current construction and maintenance projects for the city. He shares the progress of these projects:
  • Northend culverts on Old Mansfield Rd, storm water problems as well.
  • East Vine St sidewalk project
  • Catherine St. project
  • New Court House Design

  • Mayor Starr gives updates from City Departments:
    • Engineering – entered into a contract with the county for the Knox Cattle Company dam
    • Streets and Parks – preparing for winter, leaf pickup, snowplow names and installation of new LED bulbs for streetlights
    • Public Buildings and Lands – construction update, water hydrants, and replacing sidewalks on the public square
    • Revamping of the Auditor’s office
    • Sidewalks on public square – 1260 square feet have been replaced so that it is safer for people to walk
    • Public Utilities – update on the Water and Wastewater Plant (concerning Ohio EPA-mandated phosphorus reduction in the outflow).  
    • Parks Department – park bathrooms are being *winterized*. Getting downtown ready for CHRISTMAS!! Update on the Splash Pad project
  • Mayor Starr shares his thoughts about the election results over the two referendums that failed. He shares the plan for those areas. We also talk about voter turnout.
  • Mayor Starr talks about the city’s electric aggregation program. There was some recent concern after residents received a letter from AEP. Energy Harbor sold to Dynegy (new company).
  • Mayor Starr shares updates from Mount Vernon City Council:
    • Wastewater Treatment Plant update
    • Latest news on the new police station and municipal courthouse. The City Council has authorized the design phase. Legislation is approved that is allowing requests for qualifications. Courthouse RFQ’s have come in.
    • Reserve balance account. Rainy day fund.
    • Camping in parks for educational community events.
    • Columbus Delano fields. Pollinator gardens.
  • Mayor Starr shares an update from the Mount Vernon Police Department.
    • New tasers
    • Welcome to new Officer Brookhunter.
  • Mayor Starr shares an update from the Mount Vernon Fire Department.
    • Update on Training
    • Grant from Homeland Security for hazmat equipment
  • Jeff Gottke, Area Development Director went on a trip with Knox Pages to Sherwood, Oregon. Their goal was to gather information about how an Intel plant impacted an area that is similar to Mount Vernon. The project is called “Intel – Beyond the Chip”. Mayor Starr shares some important findings that Jeff brought back to him and his administration. A full report is coming next week. Growth can happen to us or with us.
  • Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr shares a list of events on the December Calendar including the new budgeting process for 2025.
  • Mayor Starr shares his immediate goals for December and how we can pray for him and his team.


To stay in touch with the City, go to:

  • Website – http://www.mountvernonohio.org
  • Facebook – The City of Mount Vernon
  • X – CityMV1805
  • YouTube – The City of Mount Vernon
  • LinkedIn – City of Mount Vernon, Ohio
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A Christmas Carol is coming to the Knox Memorial

The holiday season is here!
Don’t miss your chance to see A Christmas Carol at the Knox Memorial.
Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Join the Knox Memorial with the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium and Habitat for Humanity Knox County for this beloved family classic live on stage!

WNZR was honored to chat with several members of the team:

  • Ian Ernsberger, Director
  • Aaron Moreland, Ebeneezer Scrooge
  • Jillian Snow, Ghost of Christmas Past

Click HERE to enjoy the conversation or click on the link below.
Get your tickets to see this Christmas Classic this weekend!

A Christmas Carol is presented by the Knox Memorial.
Produced by Mount Vernon Arts Consortium.
Shows:
November 29th @ 7:30 P.M.
November 30th @ 7:30 P.M.
December 1st @ 1:00 P.M.

VENUE: Knox Memorial Theater
(112 E. High St, Mount Vernon, OH 43050)

TICKETS: $20
Click HERE for tickets.

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Winter in Downtown Mount Vernon is coming this weekend

Lacey Filkins, Executive Director Experience Mount Vernon stopped by WNZR to give us a highlight of Winter in Downtown Mount Vernon.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link below.

Lacey talked about this year’s theme – A Vintage Holiday Celebration.
She highlighted the exciting schedule:
Saturday 11/30 – Shop Small Saturday
Sunday 12/1:
3:45pm – Annual Holiday Parade
4:15pm – Festive Family Fun
5:00pm – Lighting of the Public Square
5:30pm – 7:00pm – Pictures with Santa at the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel

Lacey shared about the parade route and the best place to be seated. There are 60 different floats signed up for this year! There are 10 different awards including Best Overall, Judges Choice and Best Youth (sponsored by WNZR/MVNU). The parade is a Food For The Hungry collection point. FFTH will push carts in the parade so that people can donate while they walk through downtown. If there is rain, the parade is rescheduled for Sunday, December 8th at the same time and location.

Lacey talks about the Festive Family Fun. After the parade the public square will be filled with the Dogwood Blossoms singing carols. There will be ornament craft tables, letters to Santa, three different food trucks and a holiday market.

The lighting of the public square will take place when it gets dark. Santa and Mayor Star will be there. Santa is in the lower lobby of the Grand Hotel at 5:30-7:00pm. Pictures with Santa are free!

Lacey also talks about the Festival of Lights. This is the 5th annual Festival of Lights. You can register your display until December 9th on the Experience Mount Vernon website. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScksKY80Qo8FnzLeeEp9BbkAEaXPGRSvN830GMtkzjOHTl43A/viewform

The event starts at 6:00pm on December 14th. They have four different categories. Best Storefront, Best Classic White Light Display, Best Vintage Inspired and Best Light Up the City Display.

The public is invited to vote as well as the assigned judges. The 14th, 15th and 16th are the voting dates.

The winners will be announced on the Experience Mount Vernon Facebook page on the 17th by 5pm. Winners will also be emailed directly.

Lacey wants to thank Park National Bank, Burrata Woodfired, Knox Community Hospital, Dumbaugh Insurance, Shelter Insurance, Ariel Corporation for their sponsorship. She would also like to thank the City Streets Department and MVPD for coordinating the parade. Lacey would like to thank their volunteers and for Santa.

Lacey would like to thank True Cut Landscaping and for volunteers for hanging the lights and ornaments in the square.

Lacey talks about future events that Experience Mount Vernon is planning for 2025. They are already planning their First Fridays. July First Friday will take place on a Thursday in 2025 to plan around July 4th weekend.

You can signup to the Experience Mount Vernon newsletter to keep up to date on all Experience Mount Vernon events. They also post updates on their website and Facebook page. https://www.experiencemv.org/

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The Fredericktown Christmas Walk’s Online Auction is BACK!

Ann Trudel shared some exciting news with WNZR. The online auction is back for the 2024 Fredericktown Christmas Walk.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the link below.

She shared the details about this year’s auction, including how to donate items, place your bids and how to follow the auction items.
The bidding starts on 11/29 and ends on 12/4.
See what’s up for bid on the Walk’s Facebook page. Search for Fredericktown Annual Christmas Walk and Auction.
You can also reach Ann through her business line 740-694-1935.

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The Turkey Trot is back in 2024 to benefit Food For The Hungry

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Scott Burgess from We Run MV about this year’s Turkey Trot.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.

The 14th Annual Turkey Trot is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning (11/28) on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
Registration starts at 8am. The race starts at 9am.
Participants are asked to bring a food and/or monetary donation to benefit Food For The Hungry.
Scott shares some amazing stats from the past 13 years:

  • Over 2,000 participants
  • 7,600 food items collected
  • Over $14,000 collected

You can keep the legacy alive. Come be a part of the Turkey Trot this year!

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The Knox County Career Center supports Food For The Hungry

WNZR talked with Jim Riggle, Principal of Academics, Attendance and Discipline at the Knox County Career Center.

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

They talked about some special fundraisers happening at KCCC to benefit Food For The Hungry.
Tonight (11/21) at the Open House, there are special t-shirts sales and a dunk tank that will be raising donations.
Lab competitions and the KCCC Online Themed Basket auction are coming after Thanksgiving.
Jim also talks about how the FFTH slogan “Working Together to Care of our Neighbors” fits in nicely with the academic training for each lab.

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