WNZR celebrates chocolate for the Morning Thing Fave 5. Its Chocolate Day! Today, you don’t have to sneak that brownie or make excuse for the chocolate bar in your desk! Today you HAVE to each chocolate! Celebrate with us by eating this tasty dessert!

Listen in to find out our favorite ways to each chocolate!

Jenna Potts and Eddie Dilts 

Lilly Buckley

James Hubbard

Rachel Rinehart

Its a busy weekend in Knox County! Join the Big Blue Crew as we head out on the road!

July First Friday kicks off tomorrow evening at 6pm. The Big Blue Crew will be in downtown Mount Vernon from 6 to 9pm. Stop by to register for our “Clean Up, Dress Up, Freshen Up” prize basket. Check out our website for more information, HERE!

Plus, and MTV Arts’ Bye Bye Birdie Opens at 7:30 pm. For more information about the show and to purchase tickets, visit their website, HERE! To listen to our conversations with the cast, click HERE!

On Saturday Knox County celebrates Christmas in July! This is the 34th annual food drive to benefit Interchurch Social Services of Knox County. This year’s goal is $20,000. They accept both food and monetary donations. Here is everything you need to know from collection sites, activities and donation suggestions!

Collection Sites:

Centerburg Service Area, 9:00 am – Noon:

• Centerburg Post Office
• Dollar General
• Hometown Market

Centerburg Service Area 9:00am – 2:00 pm

• Centerburg Interchurch Office

Danville/East Knox Service Area, 9:00 am – Noon, Cash Donations Only:

• First Knox National Bank, Danville
• Killbuck Savings Bank, Danville

Danville/East Knox Service Area, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm:

• Danville Interchurch
• Hometown Market
• Dollar General, Howard
• Lonsinger Pharmacy

Mount Vernon Service Area, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm:

• Mount Vernon – Farmer’s Market, Public Square: cash only, 9:00 am – Noon
• Kroger
• Lanning’s Foods
• Mount Vernon Interchurch
• Baker’s IGA
• Pakmail
• Walmart
• Gambier – Village Market

Christmas in July at Fredericktown

NEW this year is the Christmas in July village-wide event, hosted by the Fredericktown Merchants, from 5:00 – 9:00 pm.  This event will be SO much fun for families. Join the Big Blue Crew for a wide variety of activities:

• a dunking booth
• petting zoo
  face painting
• kids games
• a “snowball” fight
• carriage rides
• an outdoor Christmas movie for all ages at 9pm
• Santa Claus (in summer style) will be visiting the Interchurch Office.
• For every 5 food items donated or a $10.00 donation, you will receive a ticket for a quilt giveaway. The quilt is donated by Kathy Toms.
• The Fredericktown Area Church Association is having a pie auction and bake sale at the Presbyterian Church from 5-7pm.

The Big Blue Crew will be out from 5-8pm next to the Fredericktown Interchurch Office – on the corner of College and Main Streets. Stop by and register to win a special “Clean Up, Dress Up and Freshen Up” prize basket for the family featuring:

• An entire house cleaning from Carefree Cleaning Company. Amy Kessler gives you 4 hours of house cleaning! (Valued at $100)!
• Two $15.00 gift certificates for Premier Designs Jewelry with Amberly Frye. (Valued at $30)
• Six Scentsy Bars from Melissa Dexter, Independent Scentsy Consultant. (Valued at $25)
• Plus WNZR goodies including an “On the Road with Big Blue” t-shirt, jar opener, keychain, hand fan, cup, Frisbees, chip clips, guitar flyswatter and more! The prize package is valued at over $175!

Suggested donations for the Interchurch Pantries

• Canned Meat (chicken, tuna)
• Beef Stew/Hearty Soups
• Boxed Dinners (Hamburger Helper)
• Peanut Butter
• Spaghetti/Spaghetti Sauce
• Cereal (hot & cold)
• Noodles/Instant Rice/Potatoes
• Canned Fruits and Vegetables
• Personal Care Items
• Checks should be made payable to “Christmas in July – ISS” and can be mailed to P.O. Box 1052, Mount Vernon, OH 43050.

Christmas in July is sponsored by Soroptimist International of Mount Vernon and Knox County and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

Today on the Morning Thing we talked all about Independence Day, and some great recipes to use today!

Here are some links to great red, white, and blue recipes!

Fireworks Hot dogs:

Check it out here!

American Flag Fruit Skewers: Check it out here!

Quick and Easy 4th of July Breakfast: here!

4th of July Desert Hacks: here!

WNZR wishes you a very happy 4th of July, and hopes you have a fantastic day filled with fun and family!

With Independence Day just around the corner, The Morning Thing found 5 family-friendly ways to celebrate the holiday this year!

1. Host a barbecue for friends and family! Holidays are the perfect time to catch up with your loved ones. Use this weekend to reconnect and spend time together.
2. Enjoy a local fireworks display. There are two different ones in Knox County, one at Ariel Foundation Park in Mount Vernon and the other at Fredericktown Community Park.
3. Be patriotic! Surround yourself with red, white and blue! From the clothes you wear to the food you eat, celebrate with the colors of our country. If you needs some ideas or inspiration, check out Pinterest!
4. Get outside and get active by organizing a family and friends softball game! Get the gang together and head over to a local field. But, make sure pack a picnic to enjoy after the game!
5. Travel to our country’s historical sites. As you plan for future celebrations, use Independence Day to travel and see the historical landmarks of our history. You could visit our nation’s capitol, Washington D.C., the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, or Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

Happy Independence Day from the WNZR Staff!

Today on The Morning Thing we discussed some common things people do not realize are actually unsanitary.  This included everything from people accidentally spitting on a birthday cake when blowing out the candles to backpacks that hardly ever get washed.  If you would like to read the whole article, you can click HERE.

For Way Back Wednesday we featured songs from 1997.  We also shared some interesting events from that year, which you can check out HERE.