EDITOR’S NOTE: In the first version of this developing story, it was reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted this operation. Further reporting discovered the operation was actually conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The original story, references, and headline have been corrected to reflect that updated information. MOUNT VERNON — A federal Homeland Security Investigations […]
Knox County
Posted inLife and Culture
Lexington’s Sorelle shines at Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival
MOUNT VERNON — From alien wood carvings to a singing sister trio, the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival had it all on Friday night. Day Two of the festival saw Main Street full of vendors and happy shoppers in the early evening, and local pop group Sorelle once the streetlights came on. The Mount […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Hometown Harmony: Sorelle talks upcoming show & new music
LEXINGTON — An unassuming double doorway off a garage opens to a decked-out space for musical creativity, social media madness, and a profound sense of sisterhood in Lexington. Driving down the local backroads, you would have no idea that iHeartRadio’s Next Music Star competition winner and a 4th-place finisher on NBC’s The Voice with 3.5 […]
Posted inNews
Richland County woman killed, another injured Sunday afternoon in Knox County cycle accident
FREDERICKTOWN — A Richland County woman was killed and another injured Sunday afternoon in a motorcycle crash, according to the Mount Gilead Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The accident occurred at 12:25 p.m. on Ohio 95 north of Fredericktown in Knox County, troopers said. The patrol said Alicia Johnson, 70, of Plymouth, was […]
Posted inNews
Mansfield man killed in one-vehicle Knox County crash on Friday night
MOUNT VERNON — A 30-year-old Mansfield man died in a one-vehicle crash Friday evening, according to the Mount Gilead Post of the Ohio State Highway patrol. The accident occurred at 10:06 p.m. on Ohio 3 north of Mount Vernon in Knox County, according to troopers. Joseph Morr was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer southwest on […]
Posted inNews
Two found dead after four-hour standoff with Knox County Sheriff’s Office
BUTLER TOWNSHIP — Two people are dead after a four-hour standoff with county law enforcement Thursday morning. A Knox County Sheriff’s news release states that deputies from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to an “open 911 call” at 10180 Busenburg Road in Howard at 1:21 a.m. Upon arriving at the residence, deputies spoke with […]
Posted inObituaries
Ethel Davis
Ethel Davis passed away peacefully at home on June 3, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was 72 years old. Ethel was born on July 3, 1952, in Olive Hill, Kentucky, to Pinie May (Binion) and Kale Mosier. Ethel retired from Mount Vernon Developmental Center and, beyond her retirement until his death on May […]
Posted inNews
Authorities tack on 5 additional sex crime allegations against former Faith Life Church official
MOUNT VERNON — A former Faith Life Church official currently jailed in Licking County has been charged with additional sex crimes against minors. Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr., 36, faces five additional rape and sexually related charges, according to a superseding indictment filed with Knox County Common Pleas on Monday. Keesee was previously indicted on 27 […]
Posted inNews
Knox County judge sets $2 million cash bond for former Faith Life Church official
MOUNT VERNON — Bond was set at $2 million Wednesday for a former Faith Life Church official charged with 27 sexual abuse counts, including 11 rape allegations. Knox County Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel set the cash bond for Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr. during an arraignment in front of a packed courtroom, an audience […]
Posted inNews
Crisis of faith: Sex abuse allegations surround Keesee-crafted religious empire
MOUNT VERNON — Gary Thomas Keesee, an Ohioan with a shy disposition, and Drenda Shelaine Hocott, a blonde southern belle from Georgia, met in college. They both attended Oral Roberts University, situated on a 385-acre campus just 20 minutes south of downtown Tulsa, Okla. Both shared a burning desire to serve God — whom they […]