MOUNT VERNON -- The body found in the Kokosing river on Wednesday morning has been identified as 51-year-old James L. Newton of Mount Vernon, according to Mount Vernon police.

LOUDONVILLE -- Columbia Gas Transmission and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources have reached an agreement that will reduce the ecological impact of tree and undergrowth clearing around gas storage wells in the Mohican Memorial State Forest and Mohican State Park.

MOUNT VERNON -- Wednesday, members from the Ohio Heritage Group concluded a two-day visit with local community leaders and members of the Heritage Centre Association. The purpose of the visit was to assess the issues and challenges facing the downtown area, and identify where and how revitalization goals may be accomplished.

MOUNT VERNON -- Finances were the main topic at Wednesday’s board of health meeting, as Fiscal Officer Linette Vance presented 2007 appropriations and a proposed budget for 2008.

MOUNT VERNON -- “There is a very serious issue in Knox County, and we want people to know about it,”said John Fowler, U.S. coordinator for Fathers4Justice. The issue, Fowler said, is equality for dads in domestic relations courts. He added there are issues with Common Pleas Judge Otho Eyster and Juvenile Probate Judge Jim Ronk.

MOUNT VERNON -- Wall Street began to recover Wednesday after Dow Jones industrials took a 416-point dive on Tuesday.

BELLVILLE -- Making the trip to the Schottenstein Center for the State Wrestling Championships isn’t enough for Clear Fork’s Dalton Britt. This first timer is up to the challenge, and won’t settle for anything less than the podium. Britt (39-12) will pair up against DeSales’(22-3) John Hiles in the Division II preliminaries of the 285-pound weight class this afternoon. Last season, Hiles grabbed All-Ohio honors with a third-place finish at 275.

MOUNT VERNON -- Mount Vernon senior Michael Lybarger has reached the pinnacle of the high school wrestling world in Ohio only to suffer defeat. Now, Lybarger is out to make sure it doesn’t happen again.