Honoring Frances: How a family turned heartbreak into hope at Mount Vernon park

MOUNT VERNON — A heated restroom at Harmony Playground is pretty routine. Understanding that it stemmed from turning heartbreak into an opportunity for good adds significance. On Nov. 20, 2021, Sara Mankins’ and Brian Ball’s daughter, Frances Miriam Dorothea Mankins Ball, was born without a heartbeat. She died a few days after birth. The restroom honors Frances’…

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Freddies announce Chris Fearn Well Scholarship

FREDERICKTOWN — The Fredericktown High School Alumni Association is pleased to announce their 34th fully endowed scholarship; the “Chris Fearn Well Scholarship” that will first be awarded to a 2025 FHS graduate. This scholarship will forever recognize Chris’ lifetime of dedication to the Fredericktown Community as a teacher, leader, and tireless worker on a dizzying…

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United Way of Knox County launches All-Kids Bike program in schools

MOUNT VERNON — United Way of Knox County hosted a successful bike reveal event at the YMCA of Mount Vernon, marking the official launch of the All-Kids Bike program in seven elementary schools throughout the county. The event celebrated the community’s efforts, with $36,000 raised in just four months to fund the program, which will…

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The Freedom Center expands recovery services at new Mount Vernon location

MOUNT VERNON — It was an emotional day for Dr. Afet Kilinc. A new chapter began Thursday for The Freedom Center’s executive director, following the efforts of the organization’s staff and donors who flipped the pages. “They are the heart of The Freedom Center,” Kilinc said. “We would cease to exist without them.” Their dedication…

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Knox County Foundation to fund Knox Promise into 2025-26 academic year

Additional donors can help college funding program grow! MOUNT VERNON—The Knox County Foundation will extend funding for Knox Promise, a three-year trial program featuring free college at Central Ohio Technical College (COTC). The program launched in 2022 and guarantees free college to qualifying residents of Knox County. KCF approved funding for the program into the…

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Knox County elementary students going under the sea

MOUNT VERNON – The Little Mermaid Jr. will swim into Knox Memorial Theater this week for two shows as part of the 2024 Youth Enrichment Series (YES!) MTVarts will present a live 90-minute performance of the Disney classic for Knox County second-graders Thursday morning then repeat the show for third-graders Friday morning. The YES! series…

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Freedom Center dedicates new downtown Mount Vernon location

MOUNT VERNON — Although they won’t move in until Oct. 7, Freedom Center staff dedicated their soon-to-be new location on Friday. The Freedom Center bought the building at 135 S. Main St. in April 2022 through a $550,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS). “This has just been a…

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Knox Network of Nonprofits: Nonprofit Advocacy Training

September 18 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Join Knox Network of Nonprofits for a seminar with Jennifer Williams of Williams Nonprofit Consulting to learn more about how nonprofits can get started in advocacy, why it’s important, and how it can help you fulfill your organization’s mission. All Library programs are free and open to the public,…

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Knox County Foundation awards $578,000 in countywide grants

KCF announces new partnership with the Richard and Arline Landers Foundation MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Foundation approved $578,000 in countywide grants to 11 nonprofit projects throughout Knox County during its Aug. 14 board meeting. This funding cycle continues the foundation’s commitment to supporting local organizations that positively impact the community. In addition to these…

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