With the support of local officials, Health Commissioner Julie Miller has cancelled the portion of the Knox County Fair referred to as the senior fair. This includes grandstand events, most food vendors, merchant exhibits and other displays. The fair is slated to open on Sunday. All Junior Fair activities and harness racing will still take place as scheduled.

Initially committed to staging the annual fair, local officials lately have struggled with how to conduct the fair safely in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. With an increase in positive cases of COVID-19 and the daunting task of enforcing prevention measures, cancellation of the fair had lately become a topic of discussion at various meetings. Among the local officials involved in the discussion and supportive of Miller’s decision are the Knox County Commissioners, Knox County Fair Board President Dustin Beheler, Knox County Prosecutor Chip McConnville, Knox County Sheriff Dave Shafer, Mount Vernon Fire Chief Chad Christopher and EMA Director Mark Maxwell. (read more here)