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Driving Notes

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Who Knew Trivia Question

Happy Reserves Day!

Reserves Day is a vibrant celebration dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of reservists who balance civilian life with military duties.

These individuals commit their time to serve in the Reserve Forces and are ready to support national security whenever needed. This day highlights their role and brings recognition for their dedication and service!

We got to talk with Faith West today, who is a recent graduate of MVNU and an intern with the Knox County Convention and Visitors Bureau! In her senior year at MVNU, she was able to balance being a student, finishing senior projects, being an intern, and serving as an Air Force Reservist. Her decision towards becoming a reserve stemmed from a heart of wanting to serve, and her family, who is also involved in the military, helped her get involved, and they helped her get involved!

You can find us on the road with Big Blue this weekend in Centerburg! You can catch us on site and broadcasting on the air in studio on Thursday 5-8pm and on Saturday Noon-2pm! We’ll be giving away Family 4 Packs of One Day Passes to the Hiawatha Water Park and Pool while we’re there. To get signed up, find Big Blue at the festival!

Here were today’s 5 biographical facts about our mystery person:

  1. I was born Eric Arthur Blair on June 25, 1903, in Motihari, British India.
  2. I later adopted a pen name for my writing.
  3. I am best known for the dystopian novels 1984 and Animal Farm.
  4. I served in the British Imperial Police in Burma (now Myanmar) and later fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War.
  5. I died of tuberculosis on January 21, 1950, at age 46. My work remains highly influential in literature, politics, and discussions about surveillance and personal freedom.

I am… George Orwell. Congratulations to Tim from Mount Vernon for calling in and guessing me correctly, taking home that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday and a game of Name That Tune!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

Did You Know This About Summer?

Did you know young sunflowers move with the sun and follow it during the day to get as much sunlight as they can so they can grow big and strong? That’s so cool!

For Who Knew Wednesday today, we went over some super fun facts about summer as the season kicks off with the Summer Solstice on Friday, June 20th!

The Summer Solstice is when the Earth is tilted closest to the sun, making it the longest day of the year! To celebrate this day, you can watch the beautiful sunrise or sunset on Friday, and if the sky is clear, you can stargaze at the beautiful stars. If you look closely, you might be able to spot some planets up there in the sky as well, like Venus and Mars!

– Image Credit: Redbubble

Do you like to eat popsicles on a hot summer day? Did you know popsicles were created by accident? That’s right! In 1905, a man named Frank Epperson accidentally left a mixing stick in water and a soda mixture outside in the cold night, and came back to it, and it had become a frozen and delicious treat! He called it the ‘Epsicle’, which would be renamed later to the ‘popsicle’ after his kids came up with the name! It’s so cool to see what God can use out of a happy accident like that!

We played Who Am I? today! This is where you get five biographical facts about a famous person born today, and you try to guess who it is! Here were the facts:

  1. I was born today in a small town in Oklahoma and wrote my first song when I was just 15 years old.
  2. I’ve won 10 CMA awards, 6 ACM awards, and I’ve had over 25 No. 1 country hits.
  3. I was a longtime coach on NBC’s The Voice, where I led multiple contestants to win the competition!
  4. I’m married to the pop star Gwen Stefani, who was also a coach on NBC’s The Voice, and we released a few songs together.
  5. I became a Grand Ole Opry member in 2010!

I am… Blake Shelton.

Congratulations to Brandon from Danville for guessing me correctly! He won that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica! Tune in tomorrow for Name That Tune!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

Son and moon? Who knew?

SonFest is back this fall at MVNU and it will look different!

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is excited to announce updates are in store for SonFest 2025, MVNU’s premier one-day Christian music festival. Scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, SonFest will now be held in the newly renovated R.R. Hodges Chapel/Auditorium, making it a rain-or-shine event for the first time.

The 2025 lineup features a powerful lineup of worship, alternative rock, and faith-driven performances, headlined by ELEVATION RHYTHM. Also taking the stage are acclaimed artists John Mark McMillan, Citizens, and central Ohio favorite Rock City Worship, with more artists to be announced.

ELEVATION RHYTHM is the youth expression of Elevation Church (Charlotte, N.C.), crafting music for the next generation to sing, dance, and worship.

Tickets are on sale now at mvnu.edu/sonfest. Due to venue capacity, concert tickets are limited. A full festival schedule will be released soon.

  • General admission: $40
  • Limited availability VIP admission: $75 (includes a Meet-and-Greet with artists and early entry)
  • Group sales (10 to 50 tickets) or Children ages 4-10: $25
  • Children 3-and-under: Free (must sit on a lap)

In true SonFest tradition, the event will feature outdoor activities throughout the day, free and open to everyone. Attendees can also enjoy a variety of food trucks and a vendor tent for shopping and refreshments. Please note: Concert entry requires a ticket; outdoor festivities are free and open to all.

For the latest updates, visit the link above or follow @mvnu1968 on social media. CLICK HERE to hear Xander’s conversation with Ben Slater and Zoe Bricker!

Last night, the United States witnessed a stunning celestial event: the Strawberry Moon climbed into the night sky. Named after the wild strawberry harvest, this June full moon offered more than just seasonal charm—it broke expectations by appearing at its lowest point in the Northern Hemisphere in nearly two decades. This rare alignment, known as a major lunar standstill, won’t happen again until 2043.

Time Magazine and the London Times reported that the moonrise began just after sunset on the evening of June 10. Peaking at 3:44 a.m. Eastern Time, it hovered near the southeast horizon on the U.S. East Coast. Its proximity to the horizon amplified its size—thanks to the “moon illusion”—and its color shifted to soft golden-orange, tinted by atmospheric scattering

As the first full moon after the summer solstice approaches, its Sagittarius backdrop and energetic feel have inspired celebrations of renewal and growth.

Check out this photo from the BBC!

I was born on June 11, 1913, to an Italian-American family and grew up in a tight-knit Catholic household.

I played college football at Fordham University, where I was one of the famed “Seven Blocks of Granite” on the offensive line.

I became head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1959 and led the team to five NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowl victories (Super Bowls I and II).

I was known for my tough, inspirational leadership and for my famous quote, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.”

After my death in 1970 from cancer, the Super Bowl trophy was renamed in my honor.

Who Am I? Vince Lombardi. Congratulations to Phillip from Fredericktown, who guessed correctly and wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

Who Knew Cats Like Hugs?

Well, maybe some do… others maybe not so much. Today is Who Knew Wednesday, and we talked about some of the national days that land on June 4th!

Today is National Hug Your Cat Day! Whether you’re a dog or cat person, this day is sure to bring some smiles to these playful and flexible house pets. Let me know in the comments if you’re a dog or cat person, and what breed it is! It’s so cool to see all of the different types that God has made!

So how can you celebrate this day? Why, just simply give your cat a hug if you have one. If you don’t have a cat, I suppose a dog or even a friend will suffice! See how long you can hug your cat can go until they get bored or try to squirm away. Deep down they’ll know you love them.

Today is also National Cheese Day! I’d love to hear your favorite cheese in the comments. Mine has got to be mozzarella just because of how good it tastes on pizza and as stuffed crust! I’m interested to hear what you like the most!

You can celebrate this today by trying a new kind of cheese, or scour your fridge, grab all the cheese, and have yourself a feast trying all the different kinds!

On top of all of that, it’s National Christian T-Shirt Day! Put on your favorite artists’ merch, or make your own t-shirt to celebrate! People might ask you about your shirt if you go out with it. You could come across a great opportunity to tell someone about Jesus, who may not know much about Him yet!

Who knows… maybe if you have a t-shirt from your favorite artist, you could run into them in public, and it would be a really cool encounter!

Today we played a game of Who Am I?, which is where we give you five biographical facts about a person, and you guess who it is! Here were the five facts:

  1. I was born today, in 1975 in Los Angeles California, and previously married to Brad Pitt.
  2. I gained major recognition for my role in “Girl, Interrupted”, which earned me an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
  3. I became an international actions star by portraying Lara Croft, the video game heroine in Tomb Raider, and I was in the movie in 2001.
  4. I also portrayed the iconic Disney villain Maleficent, which reimagined the classic “Sleeping Beauty” story from the villain’s point of view.
  5. I served as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and later as a Special Envoy, focusing on refugee and humanitarian crises.

I am… Angelina Jolie. Congratulations to Ester from Mount Vernon for calling in and guessing me correctly, and winning that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

If you want a chance to win that $5 gift card, tune in tomorrow for a game of Name That Tune. Listen to a clip of a song with us and be the first caller to guess the song and artist. We’ll see you there!

Thank you so much for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

Ice Cream, Tea and Yoda?

Today we celebrated National Tea and National Talk Like Yoda Day!

I’m sure you’re wondering ‘How on earth do I celebrate National Talk Like Yoda Day?’ Well to align yourself with Yoda grammar, just flip around your nouns and verbs when you speak sentences, and pretty soon, you’ll be speaking exactly like this little green humanoid. Speak like Yoda you can!

We also celebrated National Tea Day! Now, celebrating this today is a very simple task. All you need to do, is just enjoy your favorite kind of tea… OR try a brand new kind of tea! If you’re not a tea person, well maybe give tea one last wholehearted attempt at redemption today! If it doesn’t deliver, then maybe coffee or hot chocolate are a good close second for today.

We shared some fun facts about an upcoming On The Road With Big Blue event– The Utica Ice Cream Festival! We’re going to be in the parade, throwing out candy and frisbees, and giving out gift cards all afternoon long! There’s so much to do during the festival, you can click here to check out the parade route, the schedule, and the plethora of activities you can enjoy all weekend!

We played a Who Am I? today, where we give you five clues about a mystery person. See if you can guess who this is:

  1. My birth name is Laurence Tureaud. I was born on May 21, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois.
  2. I served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman and was awarded the title of “Top Trainee of the Cycle” during basic training.
  3. I am best known for the catchphrase “I pity the fool!,” after my role as Clubber Lang in the film Rocky III.
  4. I also gained widespread fame playing B.A. Baracus on the hit 1980’s TV series The A-Team.
  5. I am easily recognized by my Mohawk hairstyle and by wearing large amounts of gold chains and jewelry.

I am… Mr. T! Congratulations to Tammy from Fredericktown for calling in and correctly guessing, winning that $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thank you for listening!
– Joe and Ethan

Weird But True!

Our world is an amazing, and a very weird, place.

It’s Who Knew Wednesday on The Afternoon Drive, and what better to do for who knew than fun facts…weird fun facts!

Did you know…

A shark grows and loses up to 30,000 teeth in it’s lifetime!

A piece of cake more than 4,000 years old was found in an ancient tomb in Egypt! Must’ve been pretty stale.

Hamster’s teeth never stop growing! As if my fear of rodents needed to be even worse.

A group of jellyfish is called a ‘smack’. What?!

-I was born March 12, 1962 in Los Angeles, California

-I was one of the most feared sluggers in the MLB, known for my prodigious home runs and intimidating presence in the batter’s box.

-I won one World Series with the New York Mets (1986) and three with the New York Yankees (1996, 1998, 1999).

I am…Darryl Strawberry!

Congratulations to Maude from Mount Vernon, she wins the $5 Watts Restaurant Gift Card!

Thanks for listening!- Judah

Go-To Comfort Snacks!

How do YOU stay cozy in temperatures like this? Because we’re still trying to figure it out! It’s Who Knew Wednesday on The Afternoon Drive, and we’re wondering what your go to snack to stay cozy in this weather is. Maybe you’re a weirdo (like Judah) and prefer something cold and refreshing, or maybe you’re a classic warm snack type of person.

Our very own Joe Rinehart stands on crunchy Cheetos being the perfect winter day snack, or if you’re opting for something warm, he recommends Frito scoops with warm sloppy joe’s (which sounds sooooo good). Let us know what yours is!

We got to give away even more Winter Jam passes! Congrats to Wyatt from Mount Vernon for winning two passes to Winter Jam 2025!!

-I was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, GA

-I was a minster and activist

-I was a key figure of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, fighting for the voice and equality of African Americans

-A national holiday is dedicated to me on January 20th

I am….Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.! Congratulations to Esther for correctly guessing our Who Am I trivia person! She wins TWO $5 Gift Cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica since last week’s was a stumper!

Thanks for listening!-Judah

Christmas Shopping Procrastination…We All Do It.

Ever have this problem? I know I do. It’s Who Knew Wednesday on The Afternoon Drive, and did you know that only 8 percent of people surveyed say they do their Christmas shopping before December? In a survey conducted by gallup.com, “16% of holiday shoppers say they will do “all” of their holiday shopping in December, 33% will do “most” of it, and 42% will do “some” of it. Only 8% of those surveyed said they would be finished with their holiday shopping before December began.” Looks like most of us like to put off Christmas shopping until last second.

You can check out the full article about Holiday shopping here!: https://news.gallup.com/poll/545537/december-holiday-rush-half-shoppers.aspx#:~:text=Overall%2C%2016%25%20of%20holiday%20shoppers,holiday%20shopping%20before%20December%20began.

Congratulations to Denise from Mount Vernon and Richard from Fredericktown, they’re are winners for the WNZR Christmas gift exchange today! They’ve both entered into our drawing to be one of our SEVEN grand prize winners, which will be announced Friday on The Morning Thing! Tomorrow is your last chance to play and win, so stay tuned on 90.9fm WNZR!

A stumper for today! That means next show’s ‘Who Am I’ is worth TWO five dollar Watts Restaurant Gift Cards!

Thanks for listening!-Judah

On the First Day of Christmas….I got what??

If you were to find one of the MANY gifts in the Christmas classic, “12 Days of Christmas”…how would react?

It’s Who Knew Wednesday on The Afternoon Drive, and we tested your Christmas music knowledge…of the 364 presents (when you imagine getting the gifts each day), which one would you be excited about…and which one not so much? Drop your answers here! https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1126932696100191&set=a.392606606199474

Our friend Colleen shared an incredible story of God’s faithfulness with a wallet her husband’s parents gave to him…that they found four months later and had the perfect amount of money they needed! He is always faithful!

Congratulations to Bob and Kim, our Christmas Gift Exchange winners for today! They’ve both been entered into our drawing for our SEVEN GRAND PRIZE WINNERS! Keep listening for your chance to win!

Congratulations to Chris from Gambier, who guessed our two-week stumper!!

  • I was born November 27, 1701 in Uppsala, Sweden.
  • My father was an astronomy professor and my uncle was a botanist
  • I chose physics and astronomy as my areas of emphasis
  • I created a temperature scale that now bears my name
  • I originally scaled 0 degrees as boiling and 100 degrees as freezing, but that was eventually reverted
  • I also participated in an expedition to the Arctic Circle to measure the shape of the earth

It is Swedish native Anders Celsius! Chris wins two 5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica.

Thanks for listening!
– Joe and Judah

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