The Fort Morgan B Legion boys swept through four games to win last weekend’s Rapid City baseball tournament featuring top teams from multiple states. These Post 19 boys conquered three one-run battles capped by a 7-6 finals victory over Gillette, Wyo., Sunday afternoon. Champion team members are pictured from left. Standing are coach Josh Langford, Cole Dahl, Bobby Wilhelmson, Oscar Valdez, AJ Mendez, Garrett Pape, Cory Nickell, assistants Glenn Dahl and Steve Hale. Kneeling are David Garcia, Jaime Rutiaga, Ian Moreno and Tanner Schaefer. Also in picture are Langford’s sons Charlie and Jason. Tim Gettman was not pictured.
The Fort Morgan B Legion boys swept through four games to win last weekend’s Rapid City baseball tournament featuring top teams from multiple states. These Post 19 boys conquered three one-run battles capped by a 7-6 finals victory over Gillette, Wyo., Sunday afternoon. Champion team members are pictured from left. Standing are coach Josh Langford, Cole Dahl, Bobby Wilhelmson, Oscar Valdez, AJ Mendez, Garrett Pape, Cory Nickell, assistants Glenn Dahl and Steve Hale. Kneeling are David Garcia, Jaime Rutiaga, Ian Moreno and Tanner Schaefer. Also in picture are Langford’s sons Charlie and Jason. Tim Gettman was not pictured.
The Fort Morgan B Legion boys swept through four games to win last weekend’s Rapid City baseball tournament featuring top teams from multiple states. These Post 19 boys conquered three one-run battles capped by a 7-6 finals victory over Gillette, Wyo., Sunday afternoon. Champion team members are pictured from left. Standing are coach Josh Langford, Cole Dahl, Bobby Wilhelmson, Oscar Valdez, AJ Mendez, Garrett Pape, Cory Nickell, assistants Glenn Dahl and Steve Hale. Kneeling are David Garcia, Jaime Rutiaga, Ian Moreno and Tanner Schaefer. Also in picture are Langford’s sons Charlie and Jason. Tim Gettman was not pictured.

fortmorgantimes.com

Like a lot of 80s kids, long before I was old enough to understand who George Carlin was or what he was about, I was a fan. Blame Bill & Ted

George Carlin died on Sunday, June 22. He’d had a long history of heart problems, dating back to 1982 and even before then. This time around, his heart finally gave out, leaving his many fans shocked and stunned.
Although Carlin was notorious for being irreverent and had a certain “in your face” type of humor, he was always associated with his seven dirty words routine. They were words that weren’t supposed to be said on television - and in the case of the Milwaukee Summerfest - 7 words that weren’t viewed as acceptable by some at a live festival either. Carlin was arrested at Summerfest, later noting in at least one interview that he’d had just enough time to get rid of the cocaine also on his person.
One eyewitness account about Carlin’s Summerfest performance and subsequent arrest comes directly from the 1972 Milwaukee Sentinel, Online edition (Source: Milwaukee Sentinel, July 22.1972). An online link with an excerpt about George Carlin and those 7 dirty words can be seen here.
Perhaps proving that there is no such thing as bad publicity, Carlin’s performance helped put the Milwaukee Summerfest on the map. It is still going strong 35 years later, billed as “the world’s largest music festival”. Even though Carlin was making regular appearances on Johnny Carson’s show regularly, Summerfest execs didn’t seem prepared for his routine, especially at a festival which was supposed to be open to families and children.
With the Milwaukee Summerfest of 2008 set to start soon, many can’t help thinking back to George Carlin’s onstage routine in 1972
Ironically, the Milwaukee Summerfest is slated to start soon- so very soon - after George Carlin’s death. You can see information about that at the Summerfest website here: www.summerfest.com/flash/# It will take place from June 26 - July 6, according to the information available at the website. Hard to believe but it has been 35 years since George Carlin was arrested at Summerfest for uttering seven dirty words not allowed on tv (and, apparently, at certain music festivals as well). The charges were later dropped.

associatedcontent.com

Maybe Joba Chamberlain steps into the New York Yankees rotation, solidifies it and it's the start of something great.
But as the Yanks pitch the Joba Rules overboard and Chamberlain makes his first start Tuesday night against Toronto, maybe it's not quite the no-brainer you think.
Here's the opinion of one opposing American League hitter, who asked to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, on the big move:
"I welcome it. I look forward to him starting. He throws 100 innings, he's going to lose two or three miles an hour from his fastball over the course of a season. And he throws 87 percent sliders — his arm is going to fall off if he keeps doing that as a starter. I've never even seen his change-up.
"He won't be able to command his fastball as well as he does throwing more innings as a starter. I'm glad they're doing this. I really am. And it opens up the eighth inning (for opposing hitters), too."
Likes: Whatever happens, Joba Chamberlain-to-the-rotation will be must-watch pitching. … John Smoltz coming back, and landing in Atlanta's bullpen. … Milwaukee catcher Jason Kendall throwing out 16 of 37 baserunners so far this summer after nailing only 13 of 124 during his American League time in Oakland and Chicago. Testament to both the ability of Brewers pitchers to keep the running game in check and to bench coach Ted Simmons, who worked with Kendall this spring. … Lou's Records in Encinitas, Calif. One of the last of the great independent record stores. … The new Mudcrutch disc, Tom Petty's latest side project. It's a reunion of one of Petty's early Florida bands from years ago — it also includes Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench — and the disc is very good.
Dislikes: Rest well, Ellas Bates. The man better known as Bo Diddley passed away Monday.

sportsline.com

Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Jeff Counts realized a dream last week, and he still has the trophy to show for it.
The Castlewood resident teamed with NHRA Top Fuel racer Doug Kalitta to win the inaugural NHRA Circle Track Challenge at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Saturday night, Counts rode the same Camaro to victory in the Street Stock division at Lonesome Pine Raceway.
“It’s been a quite a week,” said Counts, who has been racing since 1986. “The good Lord has blessed us, and we just want to share our success with all our friends and fellow racers.
“We’re all fierce competitors, but we’re also one big family over here.”
Counts was joined by many familiar faces at the scenic LPR facility, which opened on May 10th with new ownership and sanctioning from the American Speed Association.
Short tracks across the country are struggling due to high gas prices and competition from Saturday night NASCAR races. In fact, the owner of Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn. decided recently decided to cancel all races for the month of May.
The car count for the LPR opener was around 50, and nearly that many cars returned Saturday.
“We realize how gas prices are impacting folks, and that’s why we’re working on deals to cut our gate and food prices so a family of four can come out,” said Abingdon’s Jeff Roark, one of the co-owners of LPR “We’re competing against movies and other attractions, so you have to be creative and keep costs in check.”
The LPR Late Model drivers actually tossed tennis balls featuring free race passes into the stands Saturday night.
“I keep up to date with every race track I can find information on, and we’re all facing challenges,” Roark said. “We didn’t run against a Sprint Cup race earlier this season due to a televised NASCAR racer. And you never want to compete against the Richmond and Bristol Saturday night races. Our goal is to offer affordable family entertainment and build some local heroes.”

tricities.com

There were a couple things I worshiped as a kid that were pretty damn gay; I’m talking things I would have traded a whole set of Garbage Pail Kids cards for or possibly even sold my little sister on the black market if it meant keeping these things in my life. Yes, I was that dramatic in grade school.
One of these treasures from my youth was Olivia Newton-John and the other was roller skating. So imagine my glee when in 1980 I realized that these two great tastes go great together!
Xanadu was one of my first obsessions and one of the first signs that my parents should have picked up on. It’s not every day that you’ll see a little blonde kid dancing in his living room with huge headphones on and Electric Light Orchestra contributing to early onset deafness. 
Not only did I think I could sing just like Olivia, I thought I was a roller skating king! I was like lighting on skates (just ask Gina P., whose tail I whooped in the Chestnut Hill Elementary School gymnasium with the entire school watching … that’s what I thought) and practicing moves was as common as piano lessons in my house.  Linda Blair had nothing on my Roller Boogie!
I had the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on vinyl and knew every word by heart.  I can’t tell you how many nights were spent singing those famous love songs into my pillow and thinking in my head that I sounded exactly like my girl Olivia. "Suddenly" never sounded so good as through the vocal chords of a pre-pubescent girly-voiced boy who thought he could match Olivia’s wispy soprano. 
In my bedroom I was a singer and in my driveway a disco dancin’ derby boy who could skate in circles while clapping and chanting "X-A-N-A-D-U" until the sun went down.  My head was full of singing, dancing, skating through walls and lots of neon, it was fab-u-lous!

afterelton.com

PITTSBURGH (AFP) — John Gibbons was fired Friday as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, with Canada’s Major League Baseball club turning to former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston to guide the squad.
The Blue Jays stand last in the American League at 35-39, prompting owners to make the change ahead of a game here against Pittsburgh. Gibbons went 305-305 in parts of five seasons with Toronto.
Gaston guided the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993 in a stint as manager that lasted from 1989 to 1997.
He will bring in a new staff of assistants, including batting coach Gene Tenace, who managed on an interim basis in 1991 when Gaston had a herniated disc.
Gibbons was the third manager this week to be fired, with the New York Mets dumping Willie Randolph early Tuesday and John McLaren axed Thursday by Seattle.
The Blue Jays have lost 13 of their past 17 games and been weak at the plate, ranking 10th in batting average at .258, 13th in home runs with 49 and 12th in runs.

afp.google.com

Winfield, MO (KTVI - myfoxstl.com) –Lincoln County officials are requesting citizens living near the Mississippi River east of Highway 47 to voluntarily evacuate their home. The river is expected to rise to 39.2 feet, which is 13-14 feet above flood stage for that area.
The levees are holding in Lincoln County; however, the river is expected to breach the levees in the next 12-18 hours.
Residents living in this area can find temporary shelters at Winfield High School. PALS will also help with kenneling pets during this emergency.
Residents who need further assistance are asked to call 636-566-8406. Those with special needs will be sent to the Lincoln County Medical Center.

myfoxstl.com

Close to 100 people jumped into the air from their seats as a loud “Ouch!” erupted through Tewksbury Congregational Church Saturday, killing the silence as Brian Connelly tried to lighten the mood, while his mother bestowed him with one of the highest honors an 18-year-old can reach.
The Tewksbury local, along with his friends Christopher Heintz and David Robertson, witnessed the culmination of his work over the past seven years come together as he was pinned his with his Eagle Scout Award.
This honor, given to only 2 percent of scouts in the entire country, symbolizes the completion of over 21 merit badges and seven ranks, along with thousands of hours of training and leading.
“All of these three [men] are extremely bright men and very good leaders,” said Gary Braxton, the assistant scoutmaster and adult leader for Tewksbury’s Boy Scout Troop 47. “They put 110 percent into everything they do. There’s quite an adventure to be had and these three definitely undertook that and its gong to serve them for their whole lives and they certainly had a blast doing it. I for one am very happy to have had the opportunity to have known them.”
Braxton said he feels privileged to have watched two out of the three boys grow and flourish into strong men as they were consistently challenged to be strong independent leaders and succeed.
Looking at his award, Brian Connelly recalls all of the things that brought him to this moment.
“It’s a hard feeling to explain,” said Connelly, who is a graduate of Tewksbury Memorial High School and is heading to Johnson and Wales. “It’s a hard feeling to explain because you’ve worked so hard and you are just dumbfounded. It’s like nothing I’ve ever done before. I wasn’t just going to go halfway and quit and discard it, because if I do something I’m going to do it all the way and be the best I can be. Eagle Scout is the highest you can go and I knew I wanted to make it all the way.”

wickedlocal.com