Mount Vernon News

Margaret (Betty) Richards, age 80 passed unexpectedly on October 2, 2023 in her home town of Carlsbad, New Mexico.

The family of Marjorie and Robert Herald will have a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 22, 2023 at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Mount Vernon. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the Mass at the church.

Patricia Ann Stelzer, 89, of Fredericktown, Ohio, passed away peacefully on November 30, 2023, at Country Club Rehabilitation Center, Mt Vernon. She was born on March 12, 1934, to Gerald and Helen (Null) Bucher in Jeffersonville, Ohio.

John Leslie Martin, age 80, died peacefully at his residence in Auburn, Nebraska, December 1, 2023, of natural causes.

Mount Vernon News local football scoreboard Sept. 8

Holiday Gift Guide

Most local high school soccer teams have scrimmaged a bit and the Highland Fighting Scots have scrimmaged often, having played three matches already, fighting to a 1-2 scrimmage mark to prepare for season game play.

Let’s Talk participation trophies and mercy rules. Shakespeare wrote that “sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge.” I get that, and in kids’ sports, we don’t want to be bullies, so when one team is really pouring it on another youth team, we have “mercy rules” in place to end the game and end the suffering.

Let’s talk all-star games. Many of us watched the 2022 MLB All-Star game and it was exciting, fun and with added elements including microphoned ballplayers – great for exhibitions, but I am not sold on it for meaningful games.

Let’s talk athletes wearing jewelry.British motorsports driver Lewis Hamilton was told by the FIA (governing body of Formula 1 racing) that he could not wear jewelry in the cockpit during races.

Over the past three weeks, we have spotlighted 40 Mount Vernon News FEMALE ATHLETES of the WEEK and 49 MALE ATHLETES of the WEEK recognized for their performances in 2021-2022.

Two weeks ago, we spotlighted the 40 Mount Vernon News FEMALE ATHLETES of the WEEK who earned honors in 2021-2022, and last week we presented the 49 MALE ATHLETES of the WEEK recognized in this feature. Today, we announce the MVN FEMALE ATHLETE of the YEAR and next week, the MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR will be on stage.

 The Mount Vernon News sports department’s  ATHLETE OF THE WEEK departs from the established procedure of spotlighting student-athletes’ skills and performances on the fields and courts of action.

In the Wednesday edition of the Mount Vernon News, we printed the recipients of KMAC honors in girls track, listing First team, and all-academic athletes as well as the Coach of the Year (Bob Geiger, Fredericktown), Runner of the Year (Michaela McGill, Mt.. Gilead) and Field Athletes of the Year (Mikala Harris, Mt.. Gilead and Isabella Grennell, East Knox). The time out we pick up with Second Team selections.

Let’s talk sports autographs. Back in the day, autograph-collecting was innocent. It was hero worship, it was a connection to someone famous or idolized. It WAS innocent, but now, it is big business. In the day, an athlete signed for YOU and others out of kindness or dedication to his or her fans. Now, athletes and celebs sign thousands of signatures and get paid for doing it, as the receiver gets charged to for the scribble.

Golden Knights move on with 15-inning win over Marion Pleasant. The Division-3 District semifinal match between the Northmor Golden Knights (18-8) and the Marion Pleasant Spartans (12-7) was an epic duel that went 15 innings, thanks to a seventh-inning Knights’ score to tie it, sending the game into extras and ending with a 4-2 Northmor win.

Let’s talk athlete marketing. Marketing makes the world go ’round. Everything from food to clothes to toys to tools to fertilizer to entertainment to political stances is marketed, spun and sold. Sports is a microcosm of marketing for profit. Teams sell merchandise, advertising and logo items, and make a buck on uniforms and stadium sign placements and even sell naming rights to their stadiums. If there is money to be made, sports teams will pursue the opportunity. I once questioned Jerry Buss, former L.A. Lakers and L.A. Kings owner about selling naming rights the L.A. Fabulous Forum and he put it in perspective by asking me, “Mike, if I paid you a million dollars, could I call you, ‘Steve’”?

Lady Blue Devils win district title, down Fairfield, 7-4. Before the season, Danville Lady Blue Devils softball coach Charlie Duncan told The News that the team was “gunning for our seventh consecutive District title.” So far, they mission is on course. The Danville Lady Blue Devils laid claim to the Division 4 District championship again, with a 7-4 victory over Fairfield Christian Academy, May 21.

Trojans set school win mark with 6-3 victory over Johnnies. The 2022 Centerburg Trojans broke the school record for wins in a season with win No. 20, thanks to a 6-3 win over Johnstown-Monroe, May 21, and they move on to the District semifinals against Amanda Clearcreek.

Ariel-Foundation Park is proud to present the 2022 Summer Concert Series at the Schnormeier Event Center, bringing a number of festive, fun, and free summer showcases that feature returning favorites and new, exciting acts from across the region!