WNZR Talks with the 2026 Little Miss and Mr. Knox County!

2026 Knox County Fair Royalty were announced on Sunday. WNZR’s Joe Rinehart had the chance to talk with the 2026 Little Miss Knox County – Hallie Johnson and Little Mr. Knox County – Karsten Tedrow. They shared about their experience in the Pageant.

Click HERE to hear the conversations!

This was the 34th year for Little Miss Knox County and the 5th year for Little Mr. Knox County!

Congratulations to all the participants and winners:

2026 Little Miss Knox County – Hallie Johnson

1st Runner Up – Kasey Mason
2nd Runner Up – Millie Ruckman
3rd Runner Up – Anna Prince

2026 Little Mr Knox County – Karsten Tedrow

1st Runner Up – Heath Scott
2nd Runner Up – Jay Schall
3rd Runner Up – Holden Miles

Check out our pictures on the WNZR Facebook Page. Look for the 2025 Knox County Fair Sunday photo album.

DeeDee Burger Shares About the Kno-Ho-Co Breast Cancer Golf Outing

Today on The Morning Thing, WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart is joined by DeeDee Burger the Assistant Administrator with Kno-Ho-Co Ashland Community Action Commission.

Check out the entire conversation HERE.

DeeDee talks about her role in Kno-Ho-Co, she highlights different programs they do, she is with the health division who is planning this golf outing. They were inspired to help raise funds for uninsured and under insured and provide funds for medical expenses and they want to raise awareness and give back to the community. They help by providing funds to help see a mammogram specialist if someone is uninsured or underinsured; they will also provide mammograms for underinsured and uninsured.

The golf outing is at little apple golf course in Bellville on august first, with august second as a rain date, shotgun start at 9am. They will have skins where you can win money, mulligans where you can buy a better shot, they also have a 50/50 drawing with 50% going to the winner, and the other 50% going to the fundraising total. They’re providing lunch with hotdogs, chips, and a proper sit down after golfing is over. The asked donations are $300 per team, they have $500 to be given towards the winner with all proceeds going to provide mammograms and support for breast cancer.

DeeDee talks about why access early detection and examination, they’ll help provide funds for those, and she talks about how early detection saves lives. It’s hard for people to want to come in, so they can help cover costs of treatment to make it easier for people to get diagnosed. You can find out more by calling at 740-397-0145, so they can get you scheduled in Knox County.

Registration deadline is July 25 so they can get teams put together and be ready for august 1; you can call or text 740-485-7446 to register. You can help sponsor a hole for $100, it will put a sign on one of the 18 holes, they’ll also post on social media and recognize sponsors. You can donate towards them by contacting 740-485-7446 or by visiting the QR code on social media where you can sign up.

DeeDee talks about what is coming on the outing, and the shotgun starts at 9 am and they want to rotate through the holes and build comradery; expect a ton of fun, drawing, and lunch. It’s a huge benefit for Kno-Ho-Co and it’s to help people struggling. She talks about how much of a blessing this event is because on average, one of four women are diagnosed. Again, to register you can call 740-485-7446, or go to their Facebook and Instagram.

For more information, click HERE.

WNZR Staff Shares Summer Bucket List

WNZR shared their summer bucket lists on The Morning Thing! Check out the conversation HERE!

We shared some examples from Happy and Ordinary that gave us 100 ideas to choose from. Check out the full list HERE!

Here are some ideas to make your summer more fun!

  • Fly a kite
  • Go fruit picking
  • Go to a water park
  • Have a spa day
  • Watch the sunrise

Celebrate National Best Friends Day!

Today on The Morning Thing, we talked about our best friends to celebrate National Best Friends Day!

What is your favorite memory with your best friend?

Here is how you can celebrate National Best Friends Day today!

  • Write them a thoughtful letter
  • Take them out for coffee or lunch
  • Invite them over to your house for a movie night

Learn more about National Best Friends Day HERE!

The BEST Zoos to Visit in Ohio!

The month of June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month!

Zoos and aquariums are not only an experience, but wildlife preservatives for endangered animals, and serve as a great educational opportunity for the entire family!

To learn more, click HERE!

Today on The Morning Thing, we discussed the best zoos you can visit in Ohio!

Here are some zoos we talked about:

  • The Columbus Zoo (You can vote on the name of their new baby giraffe on their website HERE!)
  • The Cincinnati Zoo
  • The Cleveland Zoo
  • The Toledo Zoo

To find more great zoos in Ohio, and their websites, click HERE!

Brittany Coon Discusses About the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities

WNZR’s Eric Brown is joined by Brittany Coon the Public Outreach Manager for the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Check out the full conversation HERE!

She discusses her job and what she does. They provide a wide range of support people and families dealing with disabilities; they want to make them all feel included in the community. They want to focus on how connection can’t be done in isolation.

Brittany highlights their award lunch-in with different panelists who focused on what they discussed and how they brought out all that their department wants to do. She talks about the spotlight award and how it recognizes people building independence in their own lives and in the community. She discusses the community partner award and she highlight the winner and how they decide the winner.

She talks about the employer of the year award and how they help those with disabilities. She talks about the heart of support award. Lastly, she talks about the lasting legacy award.

To learn more, click HERE!

Maggie Lauth Takes On the Role of Sizzle Bacon in “The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs”

Orange Barrel Production Company’s production of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs is bringing together familiar fairy tale characters, plenty of laughs, and for one cast member, a full-circle family moment.

WNZR’s Eric Brown talks with Maggie Lauth, who plays Sizzle Bacon in Orange Barrel Production Company’s production of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.

Click HERE to listen to the full conversation!

Maggie describes Sizzle Bacon as the only surviving pig sibling who takes Alexander T. Wolf to court. She says the character is sassy, fashionable, and more focused on herself than anyone else. Maggie also says she enjoys playing characters with attitude and personality, which made the role especially fun for her. She says one of her favorite parts of the production is the courtroom scene because of the humor, the larger role her character has in the scene, and the chance to interact more with the cast.

Eric continues with Maggie Lauth, who says this is her first major stage production with Orange Barrel Production Company’s production of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.

Maggie says one of her favorite rehearsal memories involved a funny courtroom scene adjustment from director Michelle Banko that had the cast laughing during practice. She also says it has been fun being involved in the production alongside her cousin, who plays Goldilocks.

She encourages other kids to give theater a try, saying Orange Barrel Productions is a great place to start because rehearsals are manageable and the experience is both fun and rewarding.

Maggie also says the community should come out and support the production because the cast has worked hard to create a fun experience for audiences of all ages.

Performances will take place: May 21st, and 22nd at 7 p.m. at the Crossroads Theater inside the Mount Vernon Developmental Center Administration Building.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. General admission tickets are 10 dollars. For more information, visit Ohio Drama-dot-com or call 740-504-8847.

Click HERE to learn more about Orange Barrel Production Company!

Try to pay it forward today!

Today on The Morning Thing, we highlighted Global Pay It Forward Day by sharing some creative ways to do just that! These are great ways to be kind to others every day.

If you take some time to do any of these today, you never know the lives that you could touch from such a simple gesture.

Some of our favorites:

  • Help neighbors with yardwork
  • Clean up a public place
  • Write a positive review for a local business
  • Leave encouraging notes in random places

Click HERE to learn more about Global Pay It Forward Day!

Click HERE to read the rest of the ways to be kind!

Get moving!

Today on The Morning Thing, we shared great ways to get outside and enjoy the warm weather during Move More Month! There is an idea for everybody to enjoy being active. Even small efforts, like taking a walk or dancing to your favorite song, can make a big difference. 

Our favorite ways to get active:

  • Fur-kid Frolicking
  • Get rolling
  • Produce picking
  • Boating

Click HERE to see all 25 ways to move more!

Click HERE to learn more about Move More Month!

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