Dedicated to the village
May 23—Former Coal Grove mayor, council member McKnight dies
COAL GROVE — The Village of Coal Grove has lost one of its most committed public servants.
Bernard "Tom" McKnight, who served two stints as the village's mayor, as well as three years on council, died Saturday, May 17, at age 88.
First elected in 1976, McKnight served as mayor for 19 years, serving from 1976-1991 and from 2000-04.
Among his achievements as mayor was overseeing the rebuilding of the Coal Grove Village Hall, which was destroyed by fire prior to his election.
McKnight also started the annual Family Fun Days festival in the
village, led the building and naming of Paul Porter Park, secured money for the Coal Grove boat ramp, and secured more than $20 million for infrastructure.
The village's present mayor, Andy Holmes, said "Tom was very important to our community" and that his motto was "to serve the people of Coal Grove."
"And he truly did that, until the end," Holmes said.
He said that, until recent months, McKnight could be seen in his retirement driving around the village, accompanies by his dog, checking on things.
"He was always making the rounds and active," Holmes said.
Council member Denise Paulus was McKnight's neighbor, both at home, and when she began her time on council.
"He sat beside me at meetings," she said, stating he served as her mentor, when she was new on the body. "And I never learned more than during that time."
Paulus said the village passed a resolution in 2020, when McKnight resigned to name the town hall after him.
She said she recently came across it again, and realizing McKnight was ill, approached Holmes about revisiting the matter and making it happen.
"That was in April," she said, crediting Holmes for quick action. "It was God's timing."
A dedication ceremony took place on May 8, with McKnight and his wife, Linda, present, where a plaque was installed in his honor in the council chambers. Similar signage will be posted on the building's exterior.
McKnight thanked the mayor and council for the honor and spent an hour speaking with the public and reminiscing about his time in office.
Holmes spoke of McKnight's contributions at the ceremony.
"He believed in the power of community, and in the strength of listening," Holmes said. "He knew that leadership wasn't about being the loudest voice, but the most compassionate heart. And he never asked for recognition, only for the opportunity to make a difference. His legacy isn't just in the roads paved or the policies passed — it's in the lives he touched, the kindness he showed, and the hope he brought to this village."
McKnight, a lifelong resident of the village, was a member of Memorial Methodist Church of Coal Grove and was also a Little League coach in football, basketball and baseball.
He is survived by his wife, to whom he was married for 66 years, as well as his daughters, Tomi Blankenship, of Coal Grove, Shelli, of Tampa, Florida; and son, Kyle McKnight, of Coal Grove.
Visitation and funeral service for McKnight were Friday at the Memorial Methodist Church. Burial followed at Woodland Cemetery in Ironton.
You Might Like
Business
Blast from the past
Gallery
Prom season 2025 — Vol. 5
Education
Meet the Class: Mackenzie Wilds
News
Parade events kick off Thursday
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Crews rescue kitten from storm drain in Livermore
(KRON) — A tiny kitten was rescued from a storm drain on Tuesday in Livermore, city officials posted on social media. The animal was found trapped in a storm drain near Preston Avenue. Livermore Public Works crews, assisted by the Livermore Police Department, executed this 'tricky rescue,' officials said. 'After carefully removing the storm drain cover, Officer Holmes lowered a humane trap and used a net to gently guide the kitten to safety,' the city wrote. It is unknown how long the kitten was stuck in the storm drain. Photos of the rescue were posted on the City of Livermore's social media page (see below). Massive tree crushes pickup truck in San Mateo The kitten is safe and is being handled by the East County Animal Shelter. The news about the rescued kitten was posted on the City of Livermore's Facebook page at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Just 3 Lions remain from pre-Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell era after Ragnow retirement
Just 3 Lions remain from pre-Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell era after Ragnow retirement The Detroit Lions are saying goodbye to one of their longest-tenured players in center Frank Ragnow. Ragnow announced his retirement on Monday, bringing the franchise closer to fully phasing out the previous management regime's players -- for better or worse. Ragnow was one of four remaining players from before Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell took over in Detroit. These players powered through a lot of losses both with former head coach Matt Patricia and in the first couple of seasons under Dan Campbell. They're now the veterans of the franchise with Ragnow on his way out. Jack Fox Jack Fox began his career on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad before the 2019-20 season, but ended that year on the Lions' practice squad. Fox won the starting job at punter to begin the 2020-21 season. He's since earned First-Team All-Pro, Second-Team All-Pro, and two Pro Bowl appearances for the Lions. Taylor Decker The Lions selected Taylor Decker with the 16th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Decker has been a staple of the offensive line that Holmes came in and built around to become the strength of the team. Decker, like Ragnow, has dealt with a handful of injuries in Detroit but ultimately has managed to stay on the field and anchor the offensive line while the pieces around him were moved around. He was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2024. Tom Kennedy Wide receiver Tom Kennedy has stuck with the Lions despite often moving back and forth between the practice squad and active roster. Kennedy began his career as an undrafted free agent who signed with the Lions in the 2019 offseason. It wasn't until October 2021 that he received his first NFL catch, though he ended up being waived and re-signed with the practice squad about a month later. Kennedy signed a reserve/future contract with the Lions in January 2025. Honorable mentions Graham Glasgow, Anthony Pittman, and Dan Skipper all began their careers with the Lions prior to the arrival of Holmes and Campbell, but spent time with other franchises before returning to play in Detroit later on.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Trumbull County Fair going bigger and better
BAZETTA, Ohio (WKBN) – A local fair is getting ready to kick off its 179th year in a big way. Read next: Bear spotted in Trumbull County The Trumbull County Fair is right around the corner, and there are a lot of new things happening this year. 'Our biggest change this year is going to be the 4-H replacement building down in the horse area. The kids are getting new bathrooms, showers, meeting rooms, room to oversee the horse area for the judges to be up and over the ring,' said Trumbull County Fair Board Director and Secretary Kierstin Holmes. 'We've got two demo derbies going on this year in the grandstand, Wednesday night and Sunday night, and there is added money if you do participate in both demo derbies.' And don't be surprised if you see an actual dinosaur roaming the midway this year. 'For our daily shows, there is Crackerjack the Clown with the Family Fun Circus, and we are getting ready for Jurassic Park Kickoff,' said Holmes. 'We have the Stone Age show with live dinosaurs, acrobatics, and juggling. They have animatronic dinosaurs and puppets.' The fair also updated its domestic arts program. 'We've totally redone the domestic arts building,' said Holmes. 'There's a whole wall of quilts that were painted. This year, we're actually offering free entries for anybody in the domestic arts and the culinary arts.' You'll also be able to enjoy remote-controlled cars. 'We have an RC course this year that is going to be down by the Junior Fair office. They will be doing demonstrations with RC cars and might possibly have some to rent for people that want to try them,' said Holmes. 'We also have a new petting zoo this year, so that will be set up on the midway along with the pony rides.' You can also give back by donating food while helping the Junior Fair at the same time. 'This year, Junior Fair will be participating in Stock the Trailer. This is with Farm Credit Mid-America, and they partner with junior fairs across the state,' said Holmes. 'We'll have a trailer set up down in the Junior Fair area to take donations of nonperishable food items. The Junior Fair that gets the most weight at the end of their fair season will win a $5,000 prize, and that goes directly back into the Junior Fair program.' Attendees will also get to vote on their favorite barrel painted by a local school for the Trumbull County Fair's barrel contest. 'We bring empty barrels to local school districts. Their art department paints the barrels. We do first, second, and third place and a People's Choice award. They all get a plaque at the end, and they are presented before the rodeo on Saturday night during the fair,' said Holmes. 'All our flowerbeds around the fair are sponsored by different local businesses, and we do a favorite flower bed contest also. They're based on our theme this year, which is Welcome to the Jungle.' Of course, there will also be everything people have come to love and expect this year at the fair. 'As always, we've got our Junior Fair shows going on. Animal shows, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, poultry, rabbits, cats, you name it. Horses, lizards and snakes. There's even going to be a crocodile this year for the reptile show,' said Holmes. 'We have open show, open class animal shows as well. The Flower Barn has gotten a makeover this year. As always, on our bicentennial and historical stages, we have local bands that will be playing. Grandstand starts Tuesday. The first day of the fair starts with harness racing at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesday is our first demo derby. That'll be at 7. Thursday is our Rough Truck show that starts at 7 p.m. Friday is the Bud Rogers Memorial truck and tractor pull. Saturday is the high steel rodeo that starts at 6 p.m., and then Sunday finishes off with our large demo derby and the fireworks and the fair around 10 p.m.' The Trumbull County Fair runs from Tuesday, July 8, through Sunday, July 13. Gates open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Tickets on Tuesday are $3, with rides costing extra that day. Wednesday through Sunday, tickets are $14, and the ride pass is $10. Seniors cost $5, and on Wednesday, first responders and military get in free. The fair is located at 899 Everett Hull Road in Bazetta. For everything you need to know, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
