Panchos Tacos in Mount Vernon was the site of a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement action on Oct. 9, 2025. Credit: Jack Slemenda

MOUNT VERNON — Another year has flown by and 2026 will soon be upon us with all of its unknowns.

2025 was a busy year for Knox Pages, with more than 4,000 posts ranging from breaking news to byline content and obituaries to press releases.

The most-read stories were those about Homeland Security Investigation’s visit to Panchos Tacos and allegations surrounding Gary Thomas Keesee Jr.

Here are the top five individual stories:

  1. HSI detains, removes several Panchos Tacos employees in Mount Vernon
  2. Man arrested after shooting death Saturday in Mount Vernon
  3. Knox Community Hospital physician takes leave of absence after allegations of sexual impropriety
  4. Sale of Champions tops $85,000 at Knox County Fair
  5. Crisis of faith: Sex-abuse allegations surround Keesee-crafted religious empire

Civic news included the splash pad opening, the No Kings protest, and Knox County Transit finding a new home in Heartland Commerce Park.

man standing in front of a factory at night with an insulated red plaid shirt holding a cup of coffee
James Kilworth arrives at Jeld Wen on a frigid day in December in plenty of time to start his third-shift job. Without the night bus, Kilworth would have to walk the 2 miles to his workplace. (Knox Pages file photo) Credit: Cheryl Splain

We took an in-depth look at child care, featuring 41 stories in our series “It Takes A Village.” Our top solutions stories were Not just babysitters: A day in the life of a child care worker and Knox County Transit’s Night Bus: A lifeline for late-night workers.

Our team answered 18 Open Source questions from Knox Pages readers. Questions ranged from the status of the former Rite Aid liquor license to air quality monitors.

We investigated the trailers at Ariel-Foundation Park and concession stands at Memorial Park, and learned how write-in votes are counted.

As the year draws to a close, here’s a look at our top stories by category.

Business

Here are the top five stories making headlines in the local business world in 2025:

woman in shorts and jacket skating on a paved bike path
Karen Wright was an avid in-line skater and supporter of the Kokosing Gap Trail. Credit: Courtesy of Phil Samuell
  1. Knox County mourns loss of philanthropist Karen Buchwald Wright
  2. Two local companies to relocate to former Mount Vernon News building
  3. Becker Mining Systems coming to Mount Vernon’s Heartland Commerce Park
  4. Habitat for Humanity ReStore opens new facility in Mount Vernon
  5. Brake-ing into breakfast: Brake Brothers Grill opens in Fredericktown

2025 featured several new business openings. Rosie’s Rest Stop opened in Centerburg, the Hampton Inn opened in Mount Vernon, and Sara’s Goods opened in Fredericktown.

The Chamber of Commerce, Crickets on South Main and Kahrl & Company were among the businesses that relocated.

Dr. Barry George retired, Dena Hess became manager of The Woodward Opera House, and Carol Grubaugh retired after 25 years with the Knox County Chamber of Commerce.

Life and Culture

Here are the top five stories in lifestyle:

  1. Sale of Champions tops $85,000 at Knox County Fair
  2. Photographer unearths a little-known Frank Lloyd Wright story in Knox County
  3. Antique tractors parade & pull at the Knox County Fair
  4. Pastors lead prayer for peace and unity in Mount Vernon
  5. Knox County Park District acquires 165 acres of old-growth forest
Kennedy Auker and Michael Brady stand in front of fairgoers at the grandstand. Credit: Jack Slemenda

Kennedy Auker and Michael Brady were crowned Knox County Fair queen and king, and the county’s trail system gained 124 acres and three miles of trail when Wolf Run North opened.

Knox Countians celebrated holiday parades, festivals, and the annual return of the WACOs to Wynkoop Field. Entertainers such as Craig Morgan and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder graced the arts scene.

The arts community honored John Nixon for his numerous contributions, Gambier named Royal Rhodes as Citizen of the Year, and Bruce Jacklin received the William A. Stroud Jr. award at the annual Snowflake Gala.

Outdoor

Here are the top five in the outdoor category:

Screenshot from the trail cam footage that recorded the black bear wandering Knox County the second time. Credit: Henry Hochstetler
  1. Black bear struck by pickup truck was first confirmed sighting of species here since 1999
  2. Black bear caught on trail cam twice in Knox County
  3. Found dead in Panama: New clues on 2014 cold case
  4. Mount Vernon launches deer management program
  5. Sentencing ends Knox County deer, turkey poaching case

Sports

Here are the top five sports stories for 2025:

  1. Jug Run Speedway is Knox County’s hidden gem
  2. Mount Vernon swimmers to reunite 50 years after setting world record
  3. 7 inducted into Knox County Sports Hall of Fame
  4. Lex grad Cade Stover fulfills dream by purchasing local farm property
  5. Knox County Fair OSTPA truck & tractor pull dodges weather in abbreviated run

In high school sports, the county rallied around East Knox’s Aidan Riggle in his fight against cancer.

Racers prepare to race go karts
Drivers stage at the starting gate waiting their turn on the 1/8 mile dirt track at Jug Run Speedway outside of Bladensburg in eastern Knox County. Credit: Dan Werner

We cheered when Gracie McDonald made her debut as the first female kicker for East Knox, and Ashlynn Brokaw brought home the first girls state wrestling title to Mount Vernon.

Alex Taylor also made history when he brought home the first boys state wrestling title to Mount Vernon, and we eagerly followed his journey to the world wrestling championships.

Danville installed new artificial turf on its football field and rolled through the playoffs to reach the regional championship game.

Gracie McDonald is sporting her new East Knox Bulldog football threads. Credit: Mitchell McDonald

East Knox renamed its track complex in honor of long-time coach Jason Ewalt, who celebrated 30 years on the job in 2025.

Mount Vernon’s Lucy Rush finished sixth at the state cross country meet. Centerburg seniors Payton Tucker and Andrew Dickhoff accompanied her to state.

Kennedy Howard of Mount Vernon placed fourth while Fredericktown’s Brandon Hogg finished eighth in the pole vault at the state track meet. Hogg’s teammate, Ella Bouton, took sixth in the shot put.

On the diamond, Centerburg Trojan Daniel LeMaster topped the All-North Central Ohio pitching staff and made first team All-Ohio. Mount Vernon’s Ezra Kurek and Kayden Packard also made first-team All-Ohio.

Daniel LeMaster Credit: Cheryl Splain

Yellow Jacket hurlers Camden Firebaugh and Kayden Packard combined for a no-hit outing in tournament play.

The Lady Jackets did us proud in softball, riding a 21-game winning streak to reach the state championship game. Although they fell short, they capped off a stellar 27-3 season.

En route to the state championship game, Carly Kennedy and Hailey Ruderick joined the 100-hit club.

These are only a few of the stories that made the news in 2025. As we turn the page and head into a new year, our Knox Pages team is excited to chronicle the stories that make up the fabric of life in Knox County.

A Christian ultrarunner who likes coffee and quilting