Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr shared updates on the City with The Morning Thing on Friday, October 31st, 2025.
Some of the topics covered include:
Stay up to date with what is happening in our community!
On Thursday, we continued to highlight speakers coming to MVNU for the special Tragedy Into Triumph event. The mission of this event is to share real-life stories of transformation so that people will believe in Christ, find hope for their lives and overcome the struggles of life.
We got the chance to talk with Super Bowl Champion Michael Oher! Michael’s story from homelessness to the NFL became the 2009 movie The Blind Side.
He shared with us some of the real story behind his life, how he stays disciplined, and about his foundation.
Michael will be speaking at Tragedy Into Triumph on the campus of MVNU on Wednesday, November 5th.
We also shared a podcast with Wendell Brown and Riley Gaines. Click HERE to hear their conversation.
Riley is a twelve-time NCAA All-American swimmer who competed for the University of Kentucky. Riley is now hosting a podcast called Gaines for Girls.
Riley will be speaking at Tragedy Into Triumph on the campus of MVNU on Tuesday, November 4th.
Click HERE to stay connected with Tragedy into Triumph!
Siran Stacy was an all-SEC Conference Running Back at the University of Alabama and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the NFL Draft.
He is now in full time ministry and is the host for Tragedy Into Triumph which is coming to MVNU on November 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
Siran shared with us some of his life experiences, and he told us about his ministry and involvement with Tragedy Into Triumph.
Click HERE to stay connected with Tragedy into Triumph!
Wendell Brown is the North Central Ohio leader for the church of the Nazarene and the Founder and CEO of Tragedy into Triumph. He sat down with WNZR’s Xander Devault to talk about his own history and how he started Tragedy into Triumph.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation with Wendell!
He talks about what Tragedy into triumph does and how they bring in miraculous stories, they’ve brought in people dealing with loss, addiction, and convictions to tell their story and how Jesus saved them.
Wendell talks about how Tragedy into Triumph bring hope to people. The event takes place on November 3-5 at 7 for free. Monday night is Mark Richt, Tuesday is Riley Gaines, and Wednesday is Michael Oher and Wendell talks about why they chose who they did for the event.
The mission of Tragedy into Triumph is that God still transforms lives. He shares how God has been using them to work with over 900 churches and podcasts to share what God is doing in the lives of their speakers.
He talks about how you can get access to the simulcast. He encourages you to attend the event in person on November 3-5 at R.R. Hodges chapel on MVNU. He asks that you pray for everything to come together and that the people who need to be there will be there.
Click HERE to stay connected with Tragedy into Triumph!
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
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!
DeeDee Berger, Assistant Administrator with Kno Ho Co Ashland Community Action Commission came to WNZR to talk about a special event planned for this week. They are hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness Event at the Ramser Center located at 700 Perimeter Drive on the Knox County Fairgrounds.
This Thursday 10/16/25, from 6pm – 9pm, they will provide valuable information to women, host a professional panel to answer questions, have free giveaways and a silent auction. You are invited!
Click HERE to hear our conversation with DeeDee Berger.
Click HERE to find out more about Kno Ho Co Ashland.
WNZR got to sit down with Dr. Carson Castleman, as he give us the October installment of our MVNU Presidential Update!
This month, Dr. Castleman shares about enrollment, MVNU’s fall revival, and the upcoming Tragedy into Triumph event that is coming to our campus in November! He also gives us an up to date look on what is happening with MVNU Baseball’s On-Deck Campaign.
Go listen to the full conversation below!
This week we are featuring Orange Barrel’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest!
Josh Callahan Foley plays Algernon in the production and he got to talk with us.
He shares about how he got into theatre, a bit about his character, and why you should come see the show! You can see the show this weekend at the Mount Vernon Developmental Center!
Click HERE to learn more about Orange Barrel Productions!
Click HERE for the information on the production!
Lisa Lloyd, Senior Program director for the Kiwanis Club of Mount Vernon talks about her role with Kiwanis and how she was the president in previous years, and she’s been an official member since 2011.
Click HERE for the full conversation!
She talks about the history of Kiwanis and its programs that it is a part of. They kicked off their annual Coats for Kids collection on October 1, the collection started in 1987, and their goal for this year is ~500 coats.
Lisa talks about the collection points you can go to around Knox County. There are 39 different locations at every public school in the county, Park National Bank, CES Credit Union, The People’s Bank, Knox Public Health locations, and so many more. They’re looking for gently used coats, they will clean them before handing them out.
They’re looking for all size of coats for ages all the way up to 18. The coats are distributed by Interchurch and Salvation Army.
The deadline for donating is October 31st, after which they will be taken to clean so they can be handed out. She shouts out Knox Community Hospital and their own coat drive that they run.
Click HERE to find out more!
Rise and Shine 