Sonfest 2023 is just around the corner and WNZR’s Mike Basko caught up with McKenna Johns of The Young Escape to preview their upcoming performance.
McKenna shared some details about the band which is made of her and her three siblings — Ryan, Kyrsten, and Luke.
She talked about her background in music and some fun stories with touring on the road. Listen to the full conversation with McKenna below.
MTVarts Presents Matilda Jr. the weekend of September 15th-17th in Mount Vernon at the Knox Memorial Theatre.
WNZR had the opportunity to chat with cast members from the show and also the choreographer for Matilda Jr.
Alyssa Sidle spoke with Kiersten Clinedinst (Matilda), Drew Caton (Mr. Wormwood), Reese Ferenbaugh (Mrs. Wormwood), Zach Cramer (Nigel), Jillian Snow (Alice), Kiarah Smith (Miss Honey), and Tony Ingham the show choreographer.
They all shared their individual backgrounds in theatre and how much they have enjoyed working on this production.
Listen to the full conversations below:
Rebellion is nigh in Matilda JR., a gleefully witty ode to the the anarchy of childhood and the power of imagination! This story of a girl who dreams of a better life and the children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the “revolting children” who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson.
Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence… and special powers! She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace!
Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR.is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
WNZR got the chance to speak with Pearl Terez Cram who is this year’s Little Miss Tomato at the Fredericktown Tomato Show.
Pearl shared about her win, how she felt when her name was called, and also shares about her new bling with Alyssa Sidle of WNZR.
Congratulations to Pearl and her court!
1st runner up – Scarlet Ann Gray
2nd runner up – Clara Banbury
3rd runner up – Mackenzie Finley
Listen to our full conversation with Pearl below:
The new Executive Director of the United Way of Knox County, Lori Jones-Perkins, gives us some details about the 2023 United Way Campaign. Their goal this year is to raise 1 million dollars to support the education, finances, and health of our community. She tells us about the events the United Way has planned, and she gives us details on how to give. Lori also encourages new donors!
Go to the United Way of Knox County’s website to learn more!
School is back in session, and the kids are getting back into their after-school activities. Does it seem overwhelming to keep track of? We talked to 3 moms to get some real-life advice on organizing your family’s schedule. Lindsay Robinson, Amanda Smith, and Soni Douglas share their experiences.
We also shared 7 tips from Very Well Family for creating those family calendars. Some advice they gave included:
Make sure the calendar is updated and accurate.
Try a digital calendar. Make sure the app works for your family and your needs!
Use a physical calandar, and keep it where it’s accessible to everyone in the family. Use color coding if that’s helpful for your family. You can also blend these two and write your schedule in both your calendar app and your physical calendar so your phone can send you reminders.
Get everyone in the family involved, even the little ones! Teach them the importance of keeping a schedule so they can use it effectively when they get old enough to use the calendar.
Check-in with your family regularly about their schedule. Talk about what they need to do the next day, and what they need to plan in the future.
Don’t forget to plan for time to rest and relax. Having a jam-packed schedule once in a while happens, but it shouldn’t be every day. Studies show that people who don’t take time to rest are at risk for depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, eating less/poorly, and poor decision making skills. Make time for your family to spend time together, or for you and your significant other to have a date night.
Click HERE to read the full article from VeryWell Family.
Jane Frickey from Lifewise Academy tells us about this exciting new program coming to Mount Vernon City Schools! She tells us about what Lifewise Academy is, how she got involved, and how you can sign your student up to join the program!
Go to lifewise.org/interest/, type in your school district, and click “visit school district page” to sign up and learn more.
“Ohio is an incredibly diverse state that’s not only home to beautiful Amish Country and Appalachia, but also a Great Lakes Region of over 300 miles of shoreline. Known as the North Coast, this stretch is filled with a beautiful shoreline and historic lighthouses,” Sarah McCosham shares from OnlyInYourState.com!
For National Lighthouse Day, which was August 7th, The Morning Thing hosts shared a fun trip that you can take along that North Coast to visit 5 lighthouses in Ohio! Find the full trip HERE.
We hope you have some fun with friends or family visiting and exploring our beautiful state.
Today is finally the day for our annual Dog Days of Summer Dog Costume Parade at August First Friday in downtown Mount Vernon.
This morning Alyssa and Allison shared their favorites from the full DIY list that we shared on Thursday’s show.
Check out our Friday Favorites HERE.
Lacey Filkins, the Executive Director of Experience Mount Vernon, gave us all the details about August First Friday.
First Friday has something for everyone – both for you and your dogs! Lacey tells us all about the fun events, including WNZR’s dog parade!
There will also be a car cruise-in. Click HERE for more information about the cruise-in, as well as the traffic and street closures tonight. Lacey also shares details about parking in our conversation. Click HERE to listen.
Stay connected to Experience Mount Vernon by heading to their website HERE so you don’t miss any of their fun downtown events.
Fear and anxiety are emotions that plague many of us at some point in our lives. The uncertainties of the future, challenges, and unexpected circumstances can leave us feeling overwhelmed and anxious. However, in times of distress, turning to the Bible can be a source of great comfort and strength. Within its pages, we find verses that provide encouragement, reassurance, and hope to help us fight fear and anxiety.
The Morning Thing shared 10 Bible Verses from Crosswalk.com that help remind us that God is in control and fight against fear and anxiety. You can read the full list HERE.
When fear and anxiety threaten to overwhelm us, these ten Bible verses provide a powerful source of comfort and encouragement. They remind us of God’s love, His constant presence, and His ability to strengthen and sustain us. By focusing on these verses and incorporating them into our lives, we can find peace in the midst of life’s storms, knowing that we are not alone and that God is always there to guide us through any challenge we face.
Rise and Shine 