stjoelive.com | Stories for May 2009

sunday's local sports

Royals' Buck hospitalized with back injury

KANSAS CITY - Kansas City catcher John Buck remained hospitalized Sunday with a lower back problem that struck without warning while he was preparing to bat in Saturday's game against Chicago.

White Sox complete three-game sweep of reeling Royals

KANSAS CITY - With a 4-1 lead and Zack Greinke on the mound, the Kansas City Royals felt relaxed and confident. Next time, they'll know better. Chris Getz completed a Chicago comeback with a tiebreaking two-run single off Juan Cruz in the ninth inning Sunday, and the White Sox rallied for a 7-4 victory and their first three-game sweep in Kansas City since 2005.

Wathena juniors make mark in 4x800 relay; Horton earns 4th place showings

WICHITA, Kan. - Wathena juniors Cody Miller and Elliott Nold and sophomore Brady Hoffman left the Kansas State Track and Field Championships with two medals apiece, thanks to the 4x800-meter relay. In the first of two events for all three runners Saturday at Cessna Stadium, Hoffman, Miller and Nold anchored the two-mile relay to fifth place in the Class 2A competition. Senior Matt Koelliker also earned a state medal as the Wildcats finished about 10 seconds behind Olpe. Olpe junior Bradley Argabright cost Miller a gold medal in the open 800.

LeBlond's Walker falls in tennis semifinals

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The second day of the Missouri state tennis tournament wasn't quite as kind to Bishop LeBlond's Ryan Walker as the first. Walker won his first-round and quarterfinal matches on Friday but then ran into some difficulties on Saturday.

Atchison senior finishes in a flash

WICHITA, Kan. - Atchison senior Andre Harris' final day as a high school athlete ended like most of his races did. In a flash. Harris came just short in his three races at the Kansas track and field championship finals Saturday, missing first place in the 400-meter dash and as the anchor of the 4x100 and 4x400 by a combined 1.53 seconds.

Mustangs roll to another easy wins

The first three games for the St. Joseph Mustangs were supposed to be to figure out who will be the regular starters. After his two hits and two RBIs in Saturday night's 10-2 rout of the Omaha Diamond Spirit, Brent Seifert has no worries about his playing time on this team. "What's nice about him is that he can play three positions for us - third, center, first, and we can DH him," manager Matt Johnson said. "He's a guy we've got to keep in the lineup every single day, the way he's swinging."

Doniphan Co. loses in semifinal but earns 3rd place

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Doniphan County coach Matt Peterson wasn't sure how his team would respond after losing 14-2 to Galena in the semifinals of the Class 3A state baseball tournament. It wasn't just the physical challenge of taking the field less than an hour after that loss to play a third-place game in 90-degree heat. Mentally, Doniphan County had to let go of a state championship dream and focus on bringing home a third-place trophy.

Central's Bates sprints to 3rd place

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Alexis Bates couldn't be disappointed - not after coming so far and covering the final 100 meters of her season in 11.77 seconds. The Central senior and 2007 state champion in the 100 used a strong tail-wind to match a career best Saturday during the Class 4 Track and Field Championships at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Her time would have been the fourth-fastest in state meet history, if not for her competition. Bates came in third behind Gateway Tech senior Olivia Lewis (11.75) and Fox sophomore Shawntanay Johnson (11.76).

Maryville's Stiens nabs a 1st place for 1st time

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Jordan Stiens flashed just a hint of a smile in the direction of the Maryville coaches and fans in the bleachers at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. The Spoofhounds junior knew her long jump of 18 feet, 9 1/4 inches would be enough. Stiens seventh career medal at the Class 3 Track and Field Championships proved to be her first gold. But the hurdling specialist never thought her initial first place would come in the jumping pits.

Saturday's Prep Sports

Purple martins subject of open house

Those hoping to learn more about purple martins and how to attract them can attend an open house hosted by Ivan Ray Miller from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6 on his property southeast of Jamesport, Mo.

Missouri offers free weekend to potential anglers

You've been wanting to head out for a day on the lake or river, but you just haven't found the time. Your kids are getting out of school and need a break from the constraints forced on them by all their structured activities.

Mustangs remain perfect

The St. Joe Mustangs begin the season with back-to-back victories after downing the Building Champions of Overland Park, Kan., in a 6-5, come-from-behind victory in front of 1,411 fans.

Chicago socks Royals

KANSAS CITY - Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen was pleased with 17 hits, delighted with how his White Sox used them. "We did something we don't do this year," Guillen said after Chicago pounded slumping Kansas City 11-2 on Friday night. "Three times we went first-to-third, four times. We put the pressure on the guy. When we got people on base, we'd drive them in."

Friday's Prep Sports

Harris, Atchison breeze into finals

WICHITA - Andre Harris is messing with people. Or is he? Nobody really knows but him, and they won't find out until today.

Wathena's Nold comes in 2nd at state

WICHITA, Kan. - Wathena's Elliott Nold needed a tiebreaker, but the junior high jumper took second Friday during the first day of the Kansas State Track and Field Championships at Cessna Stadium.

LeBlond's Walker plays on at state tennis tournament

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Bishop LeBlond's Ryan Walker won his first-round and quarterfinal singles matches Friday and is the only Northwest Missouri entry still alive in the state tennis tournament, which concludes today at Cooper Tennis Complex.

Doniphan County survives opening round

MANHATTAN, Kan. - A well-deserved reward awaited Colin Greaser as soon as he left the field Friday at the Class 3A Kansas state baseball tournament. An ice pack. "We were battling all game," said Greaser, Doniphan County's ace pitcher. "We score. They score. We just kept on battling. We dug down deep like we have all season and came up with a W tonight." It wasn't easy, but Greaser and second-seeded Doniphan County pulled out an 8-5 victory over seventh-seeded Douglass in the opening round at Norvell Field.

Maryville's Farmer soars to 3rd place

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - John Farmer found a simple solution for his struggles during the preliminary round of the long jump. After three below-his-standard efforts, the Maryville senior reeled off a jump of 22 feet, 1 inch on his first of three finals jumps. Each of his next two jumps were better than the first, and Farmer briefly took the lead in the event.

Concert Review: The Decemberists at the Uptown Theater

Prog rock opus, fan favorites and confessions of a camel

I walked in to The Decemberists concert at the Uptown Theater Wednesday night as a reporter and a somewhat objective critic. In the name of full disclosure, I am a pretty big fan of the Portland-based literary folk rockers. But by the time it was over, I ended up being a camel for approximately three minutes. I'll explain later.

Central's Bates makes it through 100-meter prelims despite off day

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Alexis Bates made the finals, and that was the only positive the Central junior took from Friday afternoon's Class 4 100-meter preliminaries. After an off week at sectionals, Bates - the 2007 state champion - came in third during the first of two prelims at this year's Track and Field Championships. Her 12.12-second qualifying time is fourth best overall, but Bates will run from Lane 2 or 7 today at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

Give me Liberty ... with 50,000 screaming rockaholics

Rockfest invades downtown Kansas City on Saturday

Kansas City's Liberty Memorial is a tranquil downtown landmark. It's a place steeped in pride and history as the nation's only World War I memorial. But for one day a year, it is the mecca of hard rock. That day will come this Saturday when approximately 50,000 people will flood the grounds for Rockfest. The event sold out in 10 days. Tina Phillips, manager of Record Wear House in St. Joseph, said that thousands of people came into her store to buy tickets.

Summer squared

Sounds of Summer concert series kicks off tonight

For the last 10 years, thanks to the Sounds of Summer concert series, the downtown gazebo has been put to some fun and musical use. Thankfully for St. Joe, this year will be no different.

Eats: Head on out to Aberdeen

Since I was raised in the Midwest, I'm always on the lookout for a great steak house. Some of my friends have been telling me about this little place in King City, so I went up there to check it out.

A (semi) charmed life

Third Eye Blind on tour with a St. Joe resident in tow

Waiting six years to release a new album would be career suicide for many bands, but Third Eye Blind is still very much alive. The band performs June 4 at Uptown Theater and features new material from a pair of albums that will be released later this year.

Accessible tragedy

A Camp brings worlds of sound and pain to pop

The way some music sounds can be explained through simple geography. Scandinavian countries are known for their harsh winter conditions, lack of sunlight and an above-average suicide rate that is either urban myth or statistical fact, depending on what you read. This is not lost on the Swedish pop trio A Camp, and the band has consistently used it to its advantage. "You have in your genes an inherited melancholy," says guitarist and composer Niclas Frisk. "At least it's good for music."

Drive-in concerts

Shoppes at North Village offering musical entertainment this summer

A parking lot may seem like an unlikely place to find entertainment on a Saturday night, at least the family-friendly kind, but that's where it will be when the Shoppes at North Village begins its annual summer concert series starting from 6 to 8 p.m. May 30.

The Shuffle: There's just something about Andy

Before it was taken over by "reality" shows like "The Hills," MTV used to be the barometer of hipness. In the past, if you tuned in and the VJs were talking about a band, an artist, a movie, whatever, people at least took notice and at most jumped on the pop culture bandwagon.

That game we play: Cute or crazy?

If you watched the VH1 show "Tough Love," you might remember an episode where they participate in a game show called "Cute or Crazy."

What's in that?: The Fruit Bomb at Kelly's Pub

This is: Snowblind

That's Cool: Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard ($149.99)

Entertainment briefs for May 29, 2009

Entertainment calendars for May 29, 2009

Mustangs open season in emphatic fashion

The 1,673 fans at Phil Welch Stadium saw a flashy show on Thursday night. They saw plenty of substance, too, as the St. Joseph Mustangs began their era with a 9-1 thrashing of the Omaha Diamond Spirit. Even third baseman Johnny Coy was thrilled with the atmosphere in the team's season opener.

We recommend for May 29, 2009

Western women sign three

The Missouri Western women's basketball team announced three signings on Thursday.

2 Benton grads debut for Mustangs

Ryan Hook lives for scenarios of playing the University of Missouri in the NCAA baseball Regionals. But instead of travelling to Oxford this weekend with his Western Kentucky teammates to play the Tigers, Hook made his debut in right field Thursday night with the St. Joseph Mustangs. Playing in front of a hometown crowd for the 2006 Benton graduate helps ease the missed opportunity.

Cardinals duo ready for state tourney

Benton senior Tyler Deatherage needed a partner in his search for redemption. Fellow senior Brandon Richey just wanted an opportunity. One year after Deatherage and doubles partner Mike Weil missed out on a state trip, Deatherage and Richey make the journey to the Class 1 State Tennis Championships in Springfield, Mo., where they begin competition today in the doubles bracket.

Central coach Reynolds has developed state hurdling contenders for 30 years

Three decades ago, Barry Reynolds set up shop just off Turn 4 at Noyes Field with a handful of hurdles and a fierce passion for the sport. Much has changed in the years since he arrived, but not Reynolds and not his location. Widely recognized as one of the premier mentors around, the Central coach of 29 years has been the driving force behind one of the most consistently successful hurdling programs in the state. "I'm most comfortable and most in my element when I'm right here in this corner, coaching hurdlers," Reynolds said. "It's just what I love doing."

St. Joseph Mustangs baseball team makes debut at Phil Welch Stadium tonight

The sound of horsehide smacking glove leather had barely begun to echo inside the Hard Ball indoor baseball facility Tuesday morning when St. Joseph Mustangs pitching coach Caleb Balbuena made his first observation about the team.

Narnia comes to life

'Narnia: The Exhibition' opens at Union Station

The land of Narnia is a magical place, filled with talking animals, witches, kings and queens and epic battles. Now, Narnia is coming to life through "Narnia: The Exhibition" at Union Station in Kansas City. Sarah Biles, director of community relations for Union Station, says it's anticipated the exhibition, which opened last weekend, will draw 70,000 to 80,000 people during the summer. Ms. Biles says she expects many people will stay closer to home this summer and will make the exhibition part of their "stay-cations."

Plattsburg earns trip to Class 2 semifinals

PLATTSBURG, Mo. - Erik May couldn't help but watch. After watching his fifth-inning line drive settle into center field for a hit, the Plattsburg senior rounded first and watched the baserunner rounding third. May and the rest of the Tigers celebrated after Nick Norris safely slid into home.

Prep Notebook: Carrithers signs with KCKCC

In a breakthrough season, Josh Carrithers supplied one final highlight for Lafayette baseball.

Porcello pitches Detroit past K.C.

KANSAS CITY - Rick Porcello is comfortable now, all settled in after a shaky start to his big league career.

Wednesday's Prep Sports

A DIY kit of a different kind

Want to build your own coffin? Now you can.

You can buy almost anything on the internet, including your own coffin.

Royals' Greinke masters Tigers

KANSAS CITY - Probably the last thing Justin Verlander wanted to do was make Zack Greinke a better pitcher. But unwittingly, he did. Greinke paid close attention to the way Verlander shut out Kansas City through seven innings in an easy Detroit win on Monday. Then the Royals ace took the best stuff he's had all year to the mound on Tuesday night and tossed a six-hitter in a 6-1 victory over the Tigers.

Kansas golfers struggle at state championships

WICHITA, Kan. - The seasons of two Kansas golfing standouts ended with a whimper Tuesday. Maur Hill-Mount Academy's Alder Pruett and Atchison's Dylan Watts finished outside of medal contention at their respective state meets. Luckily for Watts, he still has next year to bounce back.

Savages can't finish off comeback in sectional playoff

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. - Savannah finally ran out of answers. During Tuesday's Class 3 sectional, Harrisonville built leads of three, five and three runs but gave away the first two. Savannah nearly erased the third one as well. But the Savages never led, and Caleb Riekhof's groundout to second in the bottom of the seventh inning finished off Harrisonville's 11-10 win at Wildcat Field, ended Savannah's season and closed the career of the Savages' nine seniors.

Tuesday's Prep Sports

DVD Review: "Valkyrie"

An rarely-told part of history is made into an all-too-common thriller

The historical thriller and Tom Cruise vehicle "Valkyrie" was originally supposed to be released in the summer 2008 as a possible blockbuster. It was later delayed to the winter as potential Oscar bait. But "Valkyrie" belongs in neither category. Instead, the Bryan Singer-directed film comes off as a run-of-the-mill thriller where the thrills come too late and too few.

See the Republic Tigers, help feed the animals

Kansas City Zoo hosts benefit "Jazzoo"

At Jazzoo, you can see the Republic Tigers and help feed the animals at the Kansas City Zoo.

Royals' free fall continues

KANSAS CITY - The way Justin Verlander has been pitching lately, he didn't need the Detroit Tigers' big offensive day. Verlander pitched seven shutout innings and the Tigers banged out a season-high 19 hits in a 13-1 victory over the slumping Kansas City Royals on Monday. Miguel Cabrera had three RBIs and four hits and Gerald Laird, Brandon Inge and Clete Thomas each had two RBIs as the Tigers won for the 23rd time in their last 31 outings at Kauffman Stadium.

Plattsburg baseball advances to quarterfinals

SALISBURY, Mo. - With a lineup full of mashing marauders, you couldn't blame Plattsburg's powerful lineup for getting a little antsy and swinging for the fences on occasion. But patience seems to be a virtue these Tigers possess in spades. Using a calculated hitting approach, Plattsburg dissected Salisbury's entire pitching staff Monday during a 9-0 blowout victory during a Class 2 sectional matchup at Philpott Field. The Tigers rapped out 12 hits, drew seven walks and put the Panthers on edge with unyielding pressure on the base paths.

monday's local sports

Bay basics

Herb Gardeners learn why Mediterranean plant is worth growing

Every seat was full as president JoAnn Sorrento stood up to begin the meeting. "Who's got dirty fingers?" she asks the men and women of all ages sitting in a big circle around the room. Laughing, they proudly hold their hands in the air.

Kansas City salvages series finale against cross-state rivals

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals' stingy pitching run is over and so is their five-game winning streak. Not that the Kansas City Royals exactly clobbered Joel Pineiro. Brian Bannister worked six strong innings and drove in a run and pinch-hitter Mike Jacobs' RBI single snapped a seventh-inning tie, helping the Royals avoid a three-game sweep in the I-70 interleague series with a 3-2 victory on Sunday.

Platte Co. boy runs through adversity

KEARNEY, Mo. - Dustin Menk took 39.62 seconds to forget about a tolling 36 hours. The Platte County senior blitzed to a season best and won the 300-meter hurdles at Saturday's Class 3 sectional meet, but Menk's thoughts immediately turned to his older sister, Cheri. Just 20 years old, Cheri Menk woke up with a headache on Friday morning and lost consciousness at the family home in Platte City, Mo., hours later.

LeBlond tennis misses out on state

MARSHALL, Mo. - Bishop LeBlond reached the Class 1 team tennis quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years, only to find a familiar and disappointing result. The Golden Eagles knocked off District 7 top seed Marshall in Saturday's sectional round but lost 5-1 to District 8's No. 1, Excelsior Springs in the quarterfinals. Excelsior Springs (15-0) advances to next week's state tournament.

Central's VanCleave makes state

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Lauren VanCleave found a way to sneak into the Class 4 Track and Field Championships. The Central junior tied with four other competitors during the high jump at Saturday's sectional at Blue Springs South High School. Although VanCleave was third in the tiebreaker criteria, she placed fourth and earned her first trip to state.

Hamilton keeps up track dominance

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Hamilton's victorious girls stoically strode across the track to receive their trophy, icy cool in their demeanor. Such is typical behavior for a team in the thick of a dynasty. Behind Ashley Flook and Lindsay Vollmer, the Hornets followed their simple game plan to a "T" and hauled in their third consecutive Class 2 championship Saturday at the Missouri Track and Field Championships in Jefferson City.

Cardinals shut down Royals -- again

ST. LOUIS - Tony La Russa is in his 32nd year as a manager. He can't remember any of his pitching staffs being virtually untouchable this long. Kyle Lohse threw eight innings of four-hit ball and the St. Louis Cardinals shut out the Kansas City Royals 5-0 for the second straight game Saturday, giving the rotation its fifth straight dominant outing. Lohse (4-3) struck out six and walked none, shaking off three straight losses. Cardinals starters have allowed one run in 36 2/3 innings during a five-game winning streak in which St. Louis has outscored its opponents 18-2. Joel Pineiro turned in a complete game and Adam Wainwright went 8 2-3 innings in another start during this dazzling stretch.

Savages' Lewis sets sights on state medal

Beth Lewis couldn't stop the tears or crack a smile after Saturday afternoon's discus throw. Give the Savannah junior some more time, and she'll come back around. After a stellar performance in the morning shot put competition qualified Lewis for state, she struggled in the second throwing event during the Class 3 sectional at Kearney High School. Now, Lewis has all week to prepare for the shot put and try to earn the first medal for a Savannah track athlete since 2006.

Craig's Haer sets pole vault record

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Will Haer wasn't interested in breaking the Class 1 pole vault record. He wanted to shatter it. The Craig senior confidently rewrote the Class 1 pole vault record book at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on Saturday when he cleared the 15-foot mark during his second attempt in front of a raucous grandstand. He broke the previous mark, set by Polo's Mike Housh in 1987, by a foot and won his second straight state title in the event. "I was feeling really confident on the pole and wasn't really worried about getting 15 as much as anything else above that," Haer said.

Taff leads big day for Christian track

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Alexa Taff lingered atop the medal stand, savoring the moment of her first state title. She must have enjoyed the view. St. Joseph Christian's unassuming freshman ran wild Saturday and climbed to the top of the podium at Dwight T. Reed Stadium three times in all - once as a member of the Lions' 4x200-meter relay. With solid victories in the 100 and 200, Taff became the school's first state champion and lifted Christian to a best-ever fifth-place finish in the team standings. "We were definitely taking our time up there," Osborn said.

Saturday's prep results

Friday's Prep Sports

Bearcats' McKim places 2nd in shot put at nationals

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Ben McKim placed second in the shot put at the Division II track and field championships on Friday. The Northwest Missouri State junior threw 58 feet, 9 3/4 inches in the finals, moving up to third all-time for the Bearcats and earning All-American honors.

Mustangs preparing for inaugural season

Batting helmets? Check. Bats? Check. Uniforms and a full contingent of players to fit into them? Well, not yet.

Wellemeyer silences Royals' offense

ST. LOUIS - Todd Wellemeyer carried a three-hitter into the seventh inning to bounce back from two poor starts and the St. Louis Cardinals leaned on rookies for offense in a 5-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Christian's Taff shakes off pain

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A constant grimace was the only indication that Alexa Taff wasn't at full strength. Taff, a St. Joseph Christian freshman, scorched the track Friday at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on three occasions despite battling a painful, nagging ligament injury in her left foot. You'd never know it by looking at her times, however.

Atchison's Harris blazes way to 1st in 100

HIAWATHA - Turns out that nasty cafeteria food from high school is actually good for you. In fact, it can make you run fast - really fast. "Today, we didn't have school. We didn't have lunch. I didn't have any food in me," said Atchison senior Andre Harris, who just a couple days removed from his final days in high school qualified for four Kansas Class 4A state track events at the regional meet Friday in Memorial Stadium at Hiawatha.

Hamilton's Vollmer turns frustration into motivation

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Dealing with some unmatched frustration, Lindsay Vollmer lined up for the perfect event to release it. The Hamilton sophomore coped with the loss of her Class 2 long jump record Friday by reeling off the fastest qualifying time in the 300-meter hurdles at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

Goodin golden in his Class 1 debut

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - In his first event at Dwight T. Reed Stadium, Princeton freshman Blake Goodin bellowed out a guttural roar as he crossed the finish line. Maybe he just wanted to vocally announce his much-anticipated arrival. Goodin burst onto the scene Friday during the Class 1 Track and Field Championships by destroying the rest of the field in the 1,600-meter run and putting the Tigers atop the team standings through the first day.

A few of my favorite things

What I'm digging this week

Here's a look at a few new things that I'm in love with this week.

Big buck found dead in Kansas was a whopper

The Show Me State has been the home of the "Missouri Monarch", the current non-typical world record whitetail mount since the early 1980s, but if a recent story released by Outdoor Life is correct, that record may soon be "shown up" in a big way.

Pony Express Crappie festival draws large crowd

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) hosted its Annual Crappie Festival at Pony Express Lake last Saturday, and despite some less-than-favorable weather conditions the event was a "big catch" for local youth. The MDC hosts the festival each spring as an opportunity to introduce new anglers to the time-honored tradition of catching a stringer full of Missouri crappie, filleting the catch and cooking it.

Tributes, outlaws and local love

What to look forward to in the St. Joe music scene this summer

Many St. Joe music fans think the only exciting thing about summer is traveling to KC or Lawrence, Kan., to check out some of the big music acts. News flash! These people are seriously mistaken. As it turns out, between the new albums being released from notable local and regional bands and a few of the possible acts that may be coming here this summer, music lovers have plenty of reasons to stay put and see what's happening.

Inventing an icon

Exhibit shows the beginning of Nelson-Atkins' shuttlecocks

When you visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, there are a few things that catch your eye immediately. They are bright, looming and perched directly in front of the museum. They are the shuttlecocks.

From the Mighty Mississipp'

John Henry & The Engine visit The 'Vous tonight

One of the great things about St. Louis is its location on the Mississippi River. It truly is the Gateway City in the sense that it has been musically molded by blues from the east, country from the south, and rock 'n' roll from the north.

It's not 2002 anymore

Taking Back Sunday finds a free, liberating sound

"Tell All Your Friends" was the 2002 album that put the spotlight on New York emo rockers Taking Back Sunday. Opening appearances for blink-182 and Linkin Park followed. So did a co-headlining gig on the Warped Tour.

Review: 'Terminator Salvation'

In the battle between man and machine, the audience wins

"Terminator Salvation" is the fourth "Terminator" film, and its name couldn't be more appropriate. That's because it not only delivers the big-bang blockbuster goods, it salvages a sci-fi franchise.

The Shuffle: Music with a capital 'EM'

Hip-hop's notorious button-pusher Eminem is one of the biggest names in music. He's also one of rap's biggest names that has practically gone missing for the last five years. Until now.

That Game We Play: Status symbol

Last week I received a late-night text message from my friend Dave. He had a relationship/break-up dilemma. "What is the protocol for changing your status on Facebook after a break-up?" he asked. Now, some might be tempted to say "Just do it. Once it's done, it's done." I disagree with this statement.

Eats: A tenderloin that's legendary

Legends is a sports bar with more than 30 TV screens, a full bar and plenty of room to spread out. But it's also a great place to eat - something that many people don't realize, says manager Bill Geske. "It's really not a 'bar' until after 10 p.m.," he explains. Unlike some establishments that focus more on drink than food, Legends makes almost everything fresh from the ranch salad dressing to breading the tenderloins.

This is: Marashino

Entertainment briefs for May 22, 2009

Walter sets Northwest record, placing 9th nationally in hammer

Sophomore Kate Walter, a walk-on last year as a freshman, broke the Northwest Missouri State record in the hammer throw Thursday to place ninth in the NCAA Division II national outdoor track and field championships.

Stymied Savannah erupts for district title

Jeff Leake feared it, Eric Bodenhausen anticipated it and Caleb Riekhof and company delivered it.

Craig, Cameron pole vaulters take different paths toward lofty goals

Amidst the remote, sprawling farmland of Northwest Missouri, Will Haer pauses, anxiously toeing the 85 feet of worn-out, grain-way belting that serves as his makeshift runway. After a beat, the Craig senior bursts down the straightaway and prepares to take flight.

Plattsburg prevails in district

DEARBORN, Mo. - Top-seeded Plattsburg ended Mid-Buchanan's string of upsets Thursday night, as the Tigers won their second straight Class 2 District 16 championship 7-3 at Dean Park.

Indians get to Royals' bullpen in 8-3 decision

KANSAS CITY - In a battle of bullpens, fate favored the guys with all the blown saves.

Entertainment calendars for May 22, 2009

We recommend for May 22, 2009

Thursday's Prep Sports

Doniphan County baseball breezes into state

WATHENA, Kan. - When his bat fell strangely silent, Colin Greaser found another way to make a statement. In a game dominated by offense, the Troy senior southpaw looked equally solid atop the hill for Doniphan County during Wednesday's Class 3A regional tournament championship at Wathena City Park.

Northwest is well represented at NCAA meet

With its largest contingent since 2003 and a legitimate national title contender at the core, Northwest Missouri State hopes to make some noise this week in the NCAA Division II national track and field championships. The Bearcats sent seven athletes - five women and two men - to Angelo, Texas, where action begins today for all five of the women.

Bearcat football scrambling to fill home dates

MARYVILLE, Mo. - A nationally televised game to open the season gives Northwest Missouri State football fans cause for excitement, but the thrills at Bearcat Stadium could be scarce in 2010 because of scheduling quirks. The Bearcats open 2009 at Abilene Christian in a game to be televised by CBS College Sports, but that game represents the second and final contest in a two-year contract between the two schools.

Wednesday's Prep Sports

Cleveland holds off Royals rally this time

KANSAS CITY - Mark DeRosa had three hits and drove in the tiebreaking run in the eighth, Kerry Wood atoned for his horrid outing the night before and Cleveland held on for a 6-5 comeback victory over Kansas City on Wednesday night. Wood, rocked for four runs in the ninth inning Tuesday in a disheartening 6-5 loss to the Royals, walked the bases full with one out in the ninth. But he struck out Mark Teahen and David DeJesus for his sixth save in eight opportunities - his first since May 1.

St. Pius penalty bests LeBlond

St. Pius X's Hilary Torres stepped up to the spot with Wednesday's Class 1 district championship on the line. And the junior embraced the moment, slotting the penalty into the left side of the net late in the first half to give the Warriors a 1-0 victory over Bishop LeBlond.

A spooky supper

Atchison Chamber of Commerce hosts a 'Ghostly Dining Experience'

Atchison is proud of its reputation as one of the most haunted cities in Kansas, but that usually gets the most attention around Halloween. Now, the Atchison Chamber of Commerce wants to celebrate the town's haunted history a little earlier. The Atchison Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Ghostly Dining Experience at 7:30 p.m. June 6 at the Hoof and Horn River House in Atchison.

LeBlond tennis starts strong, holds off Benton

With the match knotted at three after the singles competition, Bishop LeBlond coach Wes Sanger provided his team with a quick pep talk. Whatever he said, the Golden Eagles sure took it to heart. Thanks to a fast start in doubles, LeBlond claimed a hotly contested, 5-3 victory during the Class 1 team regional victory against familiar foe Benton on Tuesday at Noyes Tennis Complex. All three doubles team cruised to first set wins that set the tone and gave the Golden Eagles some hard-earned breathing room.

Tarkio junior places second in golf championships

With two solid rounds, Derek Hawkins left no doubt that he belonged in the state title discussion. But his championship aspirations will have to wait one more year. Tarkio's standout junior finished second at the Class 1 Golf Championships by just two strokes at Springfield's Twin Oaks Country Club behind Andy Godwin of Greenwood. It marked his second straight top 10-finish in his third trip to state after he finished seventh a year ago. "I'm satisfied, but I know I should have played a lot better," Hawkins said. "I didn't quite have my game today."

Savages make necessary plays to stop Pirates

Fighting Irish end Caridnals' season

When Graham Kearns decided not tag up, Savannah centerfielder Brett Smith made the wayward Platte County baserunner pay. Platte County appeared in the midst of a game-changing third inning when Jeff Cline hit a rocket toward the left-center field gap and one out. Instead, Smith made a full extension diving catch. Kearns tried to go back and tag up, but Smith hit shortstop Blake McFadden with the throw from the outfield. McFadden's relay was right on target to catcher Lee McFadden to nail Kearns at the plate.

Plattsburg rolls in its district opener

After receiving a first-round bye in the seven-team District 16, Plattsburg quickly made up for lost time against St. Mary's. The Tigers scored five runs in the first inning on only one hit. four walks and a hit batter on their way to an 18-4 win at Dean Park. The Tigers (15-5) showed patience at the plate, as they matched 10 hits with 10 walks. After scoring five in the first inning, they followed that up with three in the second and broke the game open with a 10-run third.

Wednesday's prep sports

Indians' Wood breaks against K.C. explosion

KANSAS CITY - Mike Jacobs and Mark Teahen hit back-to-back home runs off Indians closer Kerry Wood and Willie Bloomquist capped the four-run ninth inning with a game-winning sacrifice fly as the Kansas City Royals beat Cleveland 6-5 on Tuesday night. David DeJesus tripled to score pinch-runner Mitch Maier and tie it at 5 after the home runs. Bloomquist's flyball to right scored DeJesus.

Monday's Prep Sports

St. Pius proves too much for Maryville

CAMERON, Mo. - Maryville goalkeeper Erica Espey worked overtime only to see her team come up on the losing end of a 3-1 decision against St. Pius X in a Class 1 District 8 semifinal. The Spoofhounds offense made it difficult on Espey, as they were unable to advance the ball into the Warriors 18-yard box until the 13-minute mark and only recorded one shot on goal in the first half. Espey made the Warriors work extra hard to score as she recorded 28 saves. St. Pius' Hilary Torres ran away with the game, scoring three goals in the first half. It was evident early that Torres had speed on her side as she sprinted past defenders with ease and scored her first goal in the 10th minute.

Garton helps Benton overcome bad start to eliminate LeBlond

Colton Garton didn't have many positive thoughts in his head. Already down two runs, the Benton senior came on to replace beleaguered sophomore starter Matt Pritchett in the first inning of Monday's Class 3 District 16 opener. Bishop LeBlond still had the bases loaded and only one out, so a month removed from his last pitching appearance, Garton took the only acceptable frame of mind. "I just knew I had to come out and get the game going," he said. "I went out there with mentality I'm going to do the best I can." Garton induced a first-inning-ending double play on his third pitch and finished with 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He earned the win in Benton's 12-2 five-inning victory and helped the second-seeded Cardinals avoid an upset against No. 7 LeBlond.

Mid-Buchanan survives W. Platte in pitchers' duel

DEARBORN, Mo. - The opening game of the Class 2 District 16 tournament turned out to be a pitchers' duel. Going into the third match up of the season featuring the Dragons and Blue Jays, both coaches said they expected a battle - the two previous games were split by the two teams and each game was decided in the final inning. Monday's game at Dean Park in Dearborn was no different. Although the Mid-Buchanan and West Platte's hurlers had contrasting styles, their results were strikingly similar. But Blue Jays pitcher Ryan Humes flinched first and allowed the Dragons to score twice in the top of the seventh inning. The two runs were the difference in the 4-2 Mid-Buchanan victory.

Blue Jays sit nicely after 1st round of golf championships

Rock Port and Mid-Buchanan made big impressions at the first day of the Missouri Golf Championships. The Blue Jays as a team on Monday shot 342, which placed them second in Class 1 at the midway point of competition. Mid-Buchanan sat just one stroke back, tying Sacred Heart at 343.

Sunday's local sports

Buck squeezes Royals past Orioles

KANSAS CITY - Next time the Kansas City Royals lose a game they should have won, they'd better not complain to anybody in Baltimore. The Royals had every reason to lose to the Orioles on Sunday. They fell into an early 3-0 deficit against a pitcher who seemed to have complete command. They committed four errors. They even pulled a wild strategic gamble by calling for a suicide squeeze on back-to-back pitches. Yet, John Buck had a tiebreaking RBI triple in the eighth and the Royals gratefully deposited a 7-4 victory in the win column that squared the four-game series.

LeBlond brings experience to golf championships

Sometimes the only way to understand a lesson is to learn it the hard way. That's the way it was for Bishop LeBlond's golf team, which saw its chance for a trophy slip through its grasp a year ago at the state tournament. After last year's shortfall, the Golden Eagles hope to apply those hard-luck lessons today when they tee off at the Class 2 Golf Championships in Sedalia, Mo. "If you have a bad shot, forget about it and go on to the next hole," LeBlond senior Brian McCullough said. "You can't let one bad hole ruin your round, and I think that happened a lot last year that second day."

Twitter 101

More info on the world's newest Internet phenomenon

Just one year ago, few people had heard of Twitter. Then the Twittery headlines started popping up daily: Barack Obama opens Twitter account. Shaq tweets at halftime. Ashton Kutcher has more than one million Twitter followers. Still, many are wondering just what the heck Twitter is. This is a guide to help those folks, as the most common questions about Twitter are answered.

Saturday's prep boxes

Princeton freshman makes most of chances

RICHMOND, Mo. Given a chance to grab a victory in the 4x800-meter relay, Blake Goodin relented and eased his way into a second-place finish. He knew better than to wear himself out this early with the long day ahead. Princeton's freshman distance phenom relinquished the early victory in the two-mile relay to Canaan Fairley and Newtown-Harris but stole the show during his other events at Saturday's Class 1 sectional. Goodin stayed unbeaten outdoors in the 800 and 1,600 on a day when he circled the track an exhausting 16 times - four miles in all.

Worth Co.'s Hiatt heads to state in 4 events

ALBANY, Mo. - Worth County's Kyler Hiatt ran to four gold medals in Saturday's Class 1 sectional. The burly senior took first in the 100-meter, 200, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles. Hiatt is the defending state champion in both hurdle events.

Steins leads Maryville to title

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. - Maryville's girls captured just the second district title in school history, running away from Kearney in Saturday's Class 3 District 8 meet at Tiger Stadium. Behind Jordan Stiens' four first-place finishes, three other individual sectional qualifiers and three of four relays, the Spoofhounds finished with 116 1/2 points - 16 better than Kearney. Maryville was runner-up each of the previous two years. Stiens won the high jump (5-foot-4), long jump (18-2 1/2), 100-meter hurdles (14.68 seconds) and 300 hurdles (45.82). Megan Walker, the lone senior in the state-qualifying group, won the shot with a put of 38-9 and finished a distant second in the discus at 116-4 - well off her normal distance.

Central baseball nearly knocks off Oak Park

Indians' soccer team falls to Park Hill

KANSAS CITY - Central baseball carried a lead against second-seeded Oak Park all the way into the bottom of the sixth in Saturday's Class 4 District 16 opener, but the Indians couldn't close out the host school. Oak Park hit a home run and scored three more times in the inning - behind two Indians' errors - to eliminate Central 5-2.

Royals can't get over Orioles' Hill

KANSAS CITY - Rich Hill took a giant step toward forgetting his disappointing 2008 season. Hill came off the disabled list to pitch into the sixth inning, picking up his first victory in more than a year as the Baltimore Orioles beat the slumping Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Saturday night. Hill, who had been out with a strained left elbow, limited the Royals to two runs on seven hits - six singles - in 5 2-3 innings. He earned his first victory since April 18, 2008, when he was still with the Chicago Cubs.

LeBlond, Benton tennis continue rivarly in district tournament

Bishop LeBlond and Benton battled back and forth during Saturday's Class 1 District 8 tournament. In the end, neither could catch Excelsior Springs, and so the city rivals finished in the middle slots of the four teams to reach the state tournament. That means the teams will meet for a fourth time at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Noyes Tennis Complex in the Class 1 team regionals - just as they did last year. LeBlond (13-0) beat Benton in each of the three previous matchups. Last year, Benton ended LeBlond's three-year undefeated run in regular season duals then eliminated the Golden Eagles from the playoffs. An ongoing rivalry indeed.

Hamilton's Vollmer not looking back after scary car accident

RICHMOND, Mo. - Lindsay Vollmer knows better than to take this season - or her career, for that matter - for granted. The Hamilton sophomore went through, by her own admission, a life-changing experience last month when she was involved in a car accident that left her miraculously unscathed. On Saturday afternoon, Vollmer distanced herself a little more from her wreck and a lot more from her competition. The Hornets' full-fledged superstar coasted to four individual victories at the Class 2 sectional meet and set the table for next week's state meet.

Central's Love, Bates qualify for sectionals

KANSAS CITY - Biscuits and gravy are not exactly the breakfast of champions. But despite the stomach discomfort it caused Central's Justin Love, it wasn't exactly the recipe for disaster, either. The Indians' senior qualified for next weekend's sectional meet in both hurdle events Saturday during the Class 4 District 8 Track & Field Meet at Park Hill High School.

Weather delay does little to dampen Royals fans' excitement

KANSAS CITY - With the help of a spiffy, spruced-up stadium and Zack Greinke's array of nearly unhittable pitches, Rick Adams is one small-business man who's beating the recession blues. A year ago, Adams operated two frozen custard stands in Kauffman Stadium and business, reflecting the long-woeful Royals themselves, was south of .500. Now in the renovated New K he's expanded to four stands. He's hired additional workers. Business is booming and profits are up.

Outdoors column: Do-it-yourself crappie jigs

Spring is the one time of year when crappie move shallow and are within easy reach of nearly every angler. It's also a great time to tie on an artificial jig rather than a traditional minnow, as these fish are often very active. While I love bringing home a big mess of slabs, I particularly enjoy catching them on a jig of my own creation.

Firearms industry excited about high tax revenues

While the country deals with a period of economic uncertainty, large-scale corporate bailouts and the recent "Tea Party" tax protests, it seems unlikely that anyone would be excited about the federal government collecting an unusually high amount of taxes.

Friday's Prep Sports

Retro in a can

Pepsi Throwback brings back the soda of the '70s

Pepsi Throwback offers a sweeter, smooth taste, just like in the '70s.

Breathing life into Krug

May Fest expected to bring thousands to Northend this weekend

The Northend Community Association is doing all it can to make this year's May Fest the best yet. They're bringing in some of St. Joe's most popular bands and a new amateur boxing event. They've filled the maximum capacity of vendors and will host more rides and games. And the city completely renovated the Krug Park stage. Sure, the NCA wants to provide free entertainment to the community with lots of kids' activities. But its biggest goal is to bring people back out to Krug Park.

Change he can believe in

The ongoing metamorphosis of Dane Cook

You would think that a person who regularly performs in front of thousands of screaming fans with a blossoming movie career wouldn't need to make a comeback. But for stand-up comedian Dane Cook, that success coupled with personal loss makes a comeback something he desperately needs.

Review: 'Angels and Demons'

If you remember much about the blockbuster movie "The Da Vinci Code," you likely remember two things: 1) Tom Hanks' horrid mullet and 2) how incredibly slow the movie was, with entire scenes of nothing but dialogue. Director Ron Howard took heed of the criticism and does not make the same mistake in "Angels and Demons."

Fairy tale twist

Missoula Children's Theatre to perform 'Red Riding Hood'

Red Riding Hood has more to watch out for than one bad wolf in the Missoula Children's Theatre production of "Red Riding Hood" to be performed Saturday, May 16. There are also three pigs, some rascally raccoons and a host of other characters who will create distractions for the girl.

A man of many tastes

Dent May brings swinging ukulele to indie music

The man in the picture above is indie singer/songwriter Dent May and, yes, that is a ukulele in his hands. And it is through that novelty instrument, that small, four-stringed body of wood, that May found inspiration and a direction for his bubbling creative energy.

The Shuffle: Salvaging the machines

This summer we've already seen blockbusters centered around the origins of iconic characters in comics and sci-fi. Some have been absolutely awesome ("Star Trek"). Others have been mostly awful ("X-Men Origins: Wolverine).

That game we play: Meet the pals

When you're dating, there's only one thing that can be more nerve-wracking than introducing your new special someone to your parents - introducing them to your friends.

Gothic House offers more than tea

If you go to The Gothic House Tea and Eatery and think it's just going to be tea and crumpets, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Owner Pat McNaughton serves up a full menu for lunch that should leave the hungriest customer satisfied.

This is: Trip Hazard

What's in that?: X-rated Melon at Hammerjacks

Entertainment briefs for May 15, 2009

We recommend for May 15, 2009

Entertainment calendars for May 15, 2009

Track and Field Leaderboards - May 14

Thursdays Prep scores

Central tennis duo falls just short of state

KANSAS CITY - In perhaps the most crucial set of their respective seasons, Zack Lipira and Zack Hicks appeared to have everything rolling in their direction. The Central juniors had just claimed six straight games and owned a serious tide of momentum heading into Thursday's pivotal third set in the Class 2 District 8 tournament, where a trip to state was on the line.

Orioles continue success at Kauffman

KANSAS CITY - Cesar Izturis and Nick Markakis each drove in three runs, and the Baltimore Orioles won again in their favorite road ballpark, beating the Kansas City Royals 9-5 Thursday night.

Check out this local documentary

"Lifelong Road Trip" follows the lives of the Nace Brothers

Every person in the Nace family has had music pumping through their veins. From violinist Valandingham Nace to bluegrass fiddler Percy Nace and '60s rockabilly smash Johnny Nace, the family has been heavily influenced. And for the last three decades, David and Jimmy Nace have been carrying on that tradition.

A's power up to sweep Royals

OAKLAND, Calif. - Jack Cust's three-run double broke open a close game and helped Josh Outman win his first game of the season as the Oakland Athletics beat the Kansas City Royals 7-2 on Wednesday night.

Wine tasting in Riverside

The Riverside Red X draws hundreds each month wanting to sample its spirits

If you head over to the Riverside Red X in Riverside, Mo, on the third Thursday of the month, be prepared for a crowd. The store's monthly wine tastings draw wine lovers from all over to sample wines, spirits and a buffet table - for free. "It's a circus," says wine consultant Ron Paradise. "... You're offering free food, free wine, free liquor and free beer, you're going to get a lot of people in the store."

Erickson's complete game helps Lafayette past Central

Chris Erickson didn't feel like a pitcher working on a complete-game, one-hit victory during the seventh inning Wednesday against Central.

Time to party on the Parkway

Once-monthly events set to kick off Thursday

A walk in the park is about to get a lot more entertaining.

Stiens, McReynolds' rivalry highlights Cardinals Relays

Jordan Stiens lunged across the finish line, wondering if she'd finally put an end to her dubious streak. Maryville's all-state hurdler renewed one of the state's best rivalries Tuesday at Sparks Field when she went stride for stride with Tiffani McReynolds of Pembroke Hill. After a narrow defeat in the 100-meter hurdles, Stiens and McReynolds tore down the straightaway during the 300 hurdles at the Cardinals Relays on a drizzly afternoon - neither of them willing to relent. "We were both neck and neck pretty much the whole way," Stiens said. "Both of us were kind of like, 'Who got it?' Neither of us knew."

Tuesday's Prep Sports

Bearcats head to track championships

A pair of school record-setting conference champion hurdlers will lead a contingent of seven Northwest Missouri State athletes into the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, to be held May 21-23 at Angelo State University. Senior Audrey Bailey and freshman Tyler Shaw both qualified for the national meet by virtue of their performances at the MIAA Championships on May 3. Bailey became the first Bearcat woman to break the 1-minute barrier in the 400-meter hurdles when she won the event in 59.98 seconds. That's the second-fastest time in Division II this season, second only to the 58.86 clocked by Christine Merrill of the University of California at San Diego.

LeBlond soccer keeps up its stride

Kelly Walker surprised freshman teammate Sidney Olinger, Cameron goalkeeper Sarah Adamek, the Dragons' defenders and maybe even herself. As Bishop LeBlond's junior forward neared the end-line, she sent a neat little back-heel touch pass to Olinger, who paused trying to decide what to do. Olinger blasted a right-footed, point-blank shot over Adamek's shoulder, highlighting LeBlond's goal barrage in an 8-0 victory Tuesday at Eagles Stadium. "It kind of just happened," said Walker, who finished with two goals and one assist, "but our team is just built on assisting. We don't really focus on the goals because then it becomes like a shark-feeding frenzy is how coach puts it, so we always try and look for the person that has a better shot than we do.

Monday's Prep Sports

Culver, LeBlond shine in MEC golf tournament

Stephen Culver wasn't about to let a slow start ruin his regulation round at Fairview Golf Course. Sitting at 1-over after four holes, the Bishop LeBlond senior locked himself into an 11-hole groove that propelled him near the top of the leaderboard Monday at the Midland Empire Conference tournament. Between holes No. 5 and 15, he notched three birdies and went without a single bogey on the way to a 1-over 73. His stellar, second-place effort paced LeBlond to a closely contested conference championship during the school's first year back in the MEC.

Griffons' softball expects bright future

Missouri Western doesn't know where its home softball field will sit next year, but the Griffons intend to host the South Central regional regardless. The Griffons' season ended with a 5-1 loss to host Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sunday in the South Central regional. Western finishes up the year 47-12, buoyed by an MIAA-record, 32-game win streak. The Griffons placed second in the conference after a preseason coaches' projection of sixth and beat every team in the MIAA. But Western probably won't surprise anyone next year. The Griffons return six of their eight position starters and all three pitchers.

Downtown farmers market will not open

The St. Joseph Downtown Farmers Market will not be open this year.

This Poison Overdose is a good thing

Posion tribute band keeps the 1980s alive

Fans of 1980s hair metal bands, are you ready to rock? Because here comes a band that will take you on a time warp.

Synth-pop Swedes

The Sounds are making fans in America that AREN'T famous

With a fanbase that includes Foo Fighters front-man Dave Grohl and "Jackass" star Bam Margera, you'd think Swedish new wave punk band The Sounds would be playing shows up and down the coasts. But the band will be coming to the Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kan. on Tuesday, May 12, to give their followers in the Midwest a show they'll never forget.

New Chief hopes to prove himself relevant

KANSAS CITY - After being saddled all his life with a name that sounds like a vulgar insult, "Mr. Irrelevant" felt like an identity upgrade. So when he appeared before the Kansas City media during a rookie minicamp on Saturday, the last player taken in the 2009 NFL draft was ready for question No. 1. Your last name - uh, exactly how is it pronounced? "It's 'suck-up,', believe it or not," Ryan Succop said with a big, good-natured grin. When the room fell silent, he looked around and grinned again. "I've heard them all," he said. "If you come up with something new, I'll be impressed." Succop remembers no fights with kids who taunted him about his name and no scuffles with teammates who didn't know when to quit. "Maybe some arguments," he said. "But no fights." But he did notice that while serving as South Carolina's place kicker the past three years, people rarely called him Ryan.

Greinke can't carry Royals

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Joe Saunders threw his first career shutout and Los Angeles handed Zack Greinke his first loss in the Angels' 1-0 victory Saturday night. Greinke (6-1) allowed one run in eight innings. Saunders (5-1) earned his second career complete game, giving up five hits. Saunders had to work out of a second-and-third situation with one out in the eighth. Figgins got the second out when he tagged out Miguel Olivo running from second base on a ground ball from Coco Crisp.

Angels' outfielder robs Royals of homer, clinches sweep of K.C.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - According to Torii Hunter, it was the second-best catch he's ever made. The Angels' Gold Glove center fielder made a wall-climbing, homer-stealing catch in the ninth inning to help Los Angeles hold off the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Sunday. Hunter sprinted about 150 feet across left-center field, leaped in stride and went about a foot over the wall to snare Miguel Olivo's potential game-tying drive for the first out of the ninth. "It was a nice run after the ball and I felt like I had a chance," said Hunter, who pumped his fist twice after making the catch that brought the crowd of 43,646 to its feet. "I gave it all I got and came up with it. Man I was so pumped.

Griffon softball falls in regional

DURANT, Okla. - Missouri Western held a one-run lead going into the last couple of innings of the South Central regional softball tournament. Just a few more outs, and the Griffons would have kept their postseason ambitions alive. But Southeastern Oklahoma, the power-hitting host school, scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth and ultimately ended Western's season 5-1.

Seitzer helps Royals add discipline to plate appearances

KANSAS CITY - Add Tuesday to the growing list of highlights for the 2009 Royals. The clips of Mike Jacobs' mammoth home run and the Royals mobbing John Buck after his game-winning single in the 11th inning against the Chicago White Sox are welcome sights for a beleaguered fan base. The Royals also drew 11 walks in that game, and while those free passes didn't make for such great television, they were as important, if not more so, to Kansas City's stirring comeback. And they're just another sign that this is a changed ball club.

Hamilton boys, girls earn district track titles

Hamilton claimed a pair of district track titles Saturday in wildly different fashions. The Hornets' girls, the defending Class 2 state champions, rolled to a dominant victory in the Class 2 District 8 meet at Richmond thanks to their all-state duo of Lindsay Vollmer and Ashley Flook.

Griffons' softball grabs momentum, claws back into tourney contention

DURANT, Okla. - Brittany Douglas' home run won two games for Missouri Western on Saturday. The right fielder's two-run shot to center field ended a 10-inning, elimination game, giving Western a 3-1 victory against Central Missouri in the South Central regional tournament. Western's bats, riding a wave of momentum, pounded Abilene Christian in the night cap - an 11-2 victory that sent the Wildcats home and means the Griffons will face host Southeastern Oklahoma State today at 1 p.m. Western (47-11) needs two wins against Southeastern (52-11) today to advance in the NCAA tournament.

Craig's Haer, Worth County's Borey vault way into state sectionals

MOUND CITY, Mo. - Their spot in sectionals secured, Will Haer and Jessica Borey set their sights on rarefied air. The pair of picturesque pole vaulters launched themselves - feet first - into the clear blue skies at the Class 1 District 8 meet. When they came back to the mats, each senior had a first-place finish and district record to call their own. The odds-on favorites for the state title, Haer (Craig) and Borey (Worth County) both already are looking beyond a place atop the medal stand in Jefferson City, however. Especially Borey, who has three runner-up finishes to her credit.

Christian's Taff ignores injury, leads Lions to victory

Alexa Taff's facial expressions told the story of triumph and perseverance Saturday at the Class 1 District 7 track meet. A smile creased the St. Joseph Christian freshman's lips as coach John Chavez whispered her 100-meter dash time to her: 12.71, good enough for a school record. That same fresh face carried a furrowed brow about an hour later, at the end of her victory in the 400.

Friday's Prep Sports

String up

The St. Joseph International Guitar Festival and Competition returns next week

Any time a festival announces its cancellation, people tend to have a grim outlook on its future. But when the St. Joseph International Guitar Festival and Competition was cancelled last year, the first time in the its six-year history, director Anthony Glise said it was actually beneficial.

Living the dream

Group gets a second chance in 'Forever Plaid'

We all want the chance to make our dreams come true. In the musical revue "Forever Plaid," four friends get the ultimate chance: They get to come back from the dead for their dreams.

Elaborate ear-splitting emotion

Manchester Orchestra offers indie with an edge

The band may have named itself Manchester Orchestra because it was a rotating group of musicians who loved The Smiths' British hometown, but now the five men from Atlanta are living up to their grand denomination.

Time to mature

An interview with Miranda Lambert

After making a name for herself on USA Network's "Nashville Star" in 2003, Miranda Lambert became one of the most popular female singer/songwriters in country music with her 2004 album "Kerosene" and 2007's "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." Now, Lambert is finishing up a much-awaited third album while touring with Kenny Chesney.

Part of the mix

Lady Antebellum gives country another dimension

If there is one country music act that could qualify as rookie of the year, it's the Nashville songwriting trio Lady Antebellum. When the group released its self-titled album in April 2008, it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The group later took home a trophy from the Academy of Country Music for Top New Duo or Group, won a Country Music Association award for Best New Artist of the Year and was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Needless to say, it's not a bad start.

'Star Trek'

Finally, an origin movie that delivers

"Star Trek" is a movie that will satisfy not only the cravings of toy transporter-owning hardcore Trekkies, but also captivate soccer moms, tweens, Baby Boomers and just about every other demographic you can think of. Take note, George Lucas. This is how a sci-fi origin movie is made.

That game we play: What time is it?

They say timing is everything, and I don't think that's any truer than when it comes to dating. If the timing isn't right, it's not going to work. Period.

The Shuffle: Checking your source

I noticed something the other day. Even though this column is called "The Shuffle," a title that's supposed to be indicative of the wide variety of entertainment topics that I would praise, skewer or dissect meticulously, I haven't been doing much "shuffling" lately. For the past two months, it's been pretty much all music, all the time.

For pizza, Pagliai's is perfect

I was working in Maryville a few weeks ago, and one of my good customers told me about this great place for pizza. Since I used to work for a pizza company, I'm always up to trying pizza, so I loaded up the family and went north.

This is: The Harmed Brothers

Entertainment briefs for May 8, 2009

Jones has it, in the circle and in her purse

With another MIAA tournament game approaching last weekend, Keri Franks grabbed all of her catcher's gear and headed down to the bullpen for warm-ups.

We recommend for May 8, 2009

Rock Port golfers use depth to claim district crown

MARYVILLE, Mo. - DJ Shallenberger doesn't mind when his teammates show him up. He actually prefers it.

Royals manufacture enough runs to support Bannister's gem

KANSAS CITY - Trey Hillman knew after the Royals' first at-bat Thursday that it was going to take a finite approach to beat Seattle's Jarrod Washburn.

Mustangs Notebook: Moon dirt and a chicken will have St. Joseph in common this summer

Moon dirt and a famous chicken seemingly have nothing in common. They will this summer, however, according to the promotion schedule announced by the St. Joseph Mustangs.

Entertainment calendars for May 8, 2009

Royals react to Dodger slugger's 50-game drug suspension

Royals manager Trey Hillman received the biggest baseball news of the day moments before he walked into the interview room at Kauffman Stadium for his pregame press conference Thursday. News broke late in the morning that Major League Baseball had suspended Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez for 50 games for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Ramirez released a statement claiming that the substance was not a steroid and prescribed by a doctor. Ramirez opted to forgo an appeal of the suspension and will forfeit nearly $8 million of his $25 million this season as a result.

Thursday's Prep Sports

Thursday's College Sports

Goodbye, Sacred Heart

I know I usually discuss movies in this blog, but last night I watched something truly extraordinary. It was what may be the last episode of one of TV's modern comedy classics, "Scrubs." And while ABC discusses bringing back the show for a ninth season, I pray that they don't.

How long can you go without social media?

Web site challenges people to quit Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc., for one week

How long do you think you could go without social media? One blogger is challenging you to go cold turkey for one week.

PREP NOTES: Engelken finally realizes Division I hoops dream

After choosing the junior college route, Luke Engelken faced a long and winding road to the Division I level. Following two years of hard work away from the spotlight, however, the former Mid-Buchanan superstar turned into the opportunity he always dreamed of - a shot at playing at college basketball's highest level.

Christian to play 11 during contest against Tarkio

With five straight trips to the postseason, St. Joseph Christian has a strong record of success against its 8-man football brethren. Now the Lions will try their luck against some 11-man competition.

A league of your own

Summer leagues offer fun in the sun

As spring turns into summer and cold days become a distant memory, it's natural that more people want to spend time outdoors. For those looking to participate in some organized activities outside, there are a multitude of summer leagues available.

Ponson soaks up 1st win with K.C.

KANSAS CITY - Shortly after Mark Teahen's line drive cleared the wall in right, fire alarms went off all around Kauffman Stadium. Three hits and two runs later, the alarms went off again. Coincidence? Probably, but it sure felt like the Royals bats triggered all those beeps and flashing lights. Teahen had three hits and drove in three runs, and Sidney Ponson made a strong case to stay in the rotation with 7 1/3 solid innings to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 9-1 Wednesday night.

Siler tabbed as new West Platte coach

Not long ago, Chuck Siler didn't know if his chance to coach would come along. Siler won't have to fret anymore after West Platte's school board unanimously approved him, 7-0, as the school's next football coach Wednesday.

Defensive miscues cost Central against league foe

Central's defense trapped starter Jonathan McCann on the mound during the second inning Wednesday. During a third straight solid start, McCann made the appropriate pitches during a tumultuous early frame against Lee's Summit, but the Indians' defense faltered behind him. Three errors led to four unearned runs in the top of the second.

GAME BLOG: Lee's Summit baseball 5, Central 2

In an otherwise non-descript game, I witnessed my first ever crime-related delay during a high school event.

Wednesday' Prep Sports

Buck delivers for Royals

KANSAS CITY - John Buck lined a game-winning single with the bases loaded in the 11th inning to help the Kansas City Royals complete an 8-7 comeback victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Tuesday's Prep Sports

Western's Carbah named MIAA player of the week

The MIAA named Missouri Western reliever Ryan Carbah its pitcher of the week on Tuesday.

Former Northwest player involved in Dalton incident

A former Northwest Missouri State offensive lineman told a Blue Springs, Mo., newspaper that he was the owner of the prescription painkillers that led to Missouri quarterback Blaine Dalton's arrest last Thursday.

Pair of Indians qualify for state

One agonizing stroke prevented Barron Roberts from making a trip to state a year ago. On Tuesday, he made sure not to cut it that close. The Central junior finished third in the Class 4 District 8 tournament in Parkville, Mo., where he carded a 78 at The Deuce at the National Golf Club.

Golf a Dickensian experience for 2 locals

Garnett, Van Cleave compete on Adams tour

The beginning of the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series has been just like the start of a classic novel for a pair of local golfers. Matt Van Cleave and Brice Garnett have seen the best of times and the worst of times, just four tournaments into the season. Each has missed the cut twice, but each also has recorded a top-10 finish, most recently Van Cleave on Saturday in the Jamie Hilton's Hillcrest Children's Golf Classic in Waco, Texas.

Savannah ends MEC streak for Cardinals

After years of playing second fiddle to Benton, Savannah found the right tune Monday night to end a monumental streak against its rival. Travis Smither went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple, Mike Scanlan drove in three runs and Savannah wowed the home crowd with a 9-6 victory against Benton. But without a lot of hoopla, the victory snapped the Cardinals' string of 33 straight Midland Empire Conference victories.

Benton makes early lead stand up

Kretzer tosses complete game versus Lafayette

Grant Richardson struck out nine and baffled Benton for most of five innings. But an early bout of control problems for Lafayette's junior starting pitcher gifted the Cardinals two first-inning runs without the benefit of a hit. Benton made the early lead stand up in a 3-0 Midland Empire Conference victory on Tuesday at Hyde Park No. 6.

LeBlond taps Vertin as next coach

Longtime assistant finally gets to run football program

After 37 years of coaching football, Steve Vertin finally has a program to call his own. The veteran coach spent time as an assistant at Adams Central, Aurora and Northwest-Grand Island - all in Nebraska. He spent the past 10 seasons as head boys basketball and assistant football coach at LeBlond. On Tuesday, the parochial school named Vertin its third head football coach in the past six years.

LeBlond's Vertin still spry at 61

LeBlond's Vertin still spry at 61 Steve Vertin didn't want to talk timelines Tuesday afternoon, shortly after Bishop LeBlond named him its next head football coach. At 61, talk of retirement and how many years are left in the tank shouldn't seem out of the question.

Cameron golfer leads Dragons' state qualifiers

PLATTE CITY, Mo. - By his count, Elijah Hall missed his chance at a district title by roughly 25 feet - maybe less. A series of uncharacteristic misses inside 5 feet frustrated the Cameron sophomore throughout Monday's round during the Class 3 District 8 tournament. No matter. Hall shrugged off his struggles at Shiloh Springs Golf Course with unnatural poise and was one of three Dragons to qualify for the state meet in Nixa, Mo. Paired with eventual district champ Robert Neumann of Kearney, he settled for a three-way tie at fourth place by shooting a 3-over 74.

Making connections

Plain White T's are crafting simple melodies for the masses

For a group that's named after the most common of clothing items, Chicago pop rock quintet Plain White T's kind of stood out in the pop-punk/emo crowd they associated with in the band's early days. "I feel like the reason that we've always toured with those bands is because that is the scene we put ourselves into," says singer/guitarist Tom Higgenson. "When we're trying to do these melodic pop rock songs, we didn't fit in."

Tough late-season schedule hampers LeBlond soccer

Bishop LeBlond might not reappear in this week's Missouri State Soccer Coaches Association poll, released Friday. But most of that blame could fall on the Golden Eagles' schedule. LeBlond debuted at No. 10 in the April 24 Class 1 rankings, but since, the Eagles have suffered through three losses in four games. They went 1-2 at Sedalia-Sacred Heart Tournament before losing last week to Smithville, ranked No. 4 in Class 2.

Griffon softball ready for second chance

Allison Jones and the Missouri Western softball team spent Sunday night at the Olive Garden, enjoying a little family-style dining and bonding. The pasta provided nourishment and the camaraderie a distraction, but the Griffons' escape attempt failed to pacify their postseason worries. "We got our bellies full and tried to pass the time," Jones said. "That was a long 36 hours." After back-to-back losses on Saturday in the double-elimination MIAA tournament, the Griffons' bid for a national tournament berth stood on shaky ground. It didn't help that the NCAA selection committee didn't announce the berths and pairings until well after midnight on Monday.

Monday's Local Sports

The music of Middle Earth

Kansas City Symphony performs the Lord of the Rings Symphony

Thanks to the magic of the cinema, and Peter Jackson, J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle Earth, hobbits and magic rings was brought to life. Now, the Kansas City Symphony is bringing the music of that world to life.

Royals wake up just in time, take series from Twins

MINNEAPOLIS - Sitting in the Kansas City dugout watching Scott Baker go for a no-hitter, Willie Bloomquist and the Royals wondered aloud how to hex the Minnesota ace. "We were trying every way possible to jinx him every inning," Bloomquist said. Whatever they did right before the seventh inning sure worked. Bloomquist ended Baker's no-hit bid with a single, Jose Guillen connected for a three-run homer in the same inning and the Royals rallied past Minnesota 7-5 on Sunday.

Pop-up video

New video camcorders are affordable, portable and Web-ready

The days of dad lugging around the VHS camcorder on his shoulder to capture junior taking his first dive off the diving board are long gone. Actually, you can still do that. But now, with the emergence of much smaller camcorders that fit in your pocket, you can pull one out at a moment's notice, record something and throw it on the Web.

Sunday's local sports

A man with brains: Q&A with Larry the Cable Guy

I talked to Larry the Cable Guy about his show Sunday at the Civic Arena, among many other things. Here's the interview.

On the prowl

Worlds of Fun offers a new coaster

If you're hearing a roar coming from the forest at Worlds of Fun this summer, don't worry. That would be the Prowler, the park's new wooden rollercoaster. The coaster is 3,074 feet long and offers a ride of two-and-a-half minutes. It starts with an 85-foot spiral plummet into a ravine, followed by several hills and sharply banked turns. The Prowler reaches a top speed of 51 miles per hour.

Royals work overtime to top Twins

MINNEAPOLIS - Joakim Soria returned to his All-Star closing form for the Kansas City Royals, getting the last five outs in a 10-7 victory in 11 innings over the Minnesota Twins on a sloppy Saturday night for both sides. Soria (1-0) made his first appearance in 10 games after sitting out to rest a sore shoulder. He sandwiched the last two outs of the 10th around a wild pitch that let a runner advance to third and gave up a one-out single to Joe Mauer in the 11th, but beyond that Soria was flawless.

Saturday's College Sports

Saturday's Prep Sports

Missouri freshman QB Dalton arrested

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Highly touted Missouri freshman quarterback Blaine Dalton has been suspended indefinitely from team activities following his arrest on suspicion of drug and traffic violations. The 18-year-old Dalton, named the top high school player in the Kansas City area as a senior, enrolled at Missouri a semester ahead of schedule to participate in spring practice.

Western bows out of MIAA tourney

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - As the scoreless innings mounted, Missouri Western's base runners pressed, trying to will their way across the plate. But instead the Griffons ran themselves out of innings and out of the MIAA tournament on Saturday.

Maryville runs away with sweep of MEC Championships

Maryville's Seth Staashelm took the baton with every reason to finish second. The anchor on the 4x400-meter relay, he'd exhausted himself all Saturday, racking up points with gutsy performances at every turn. The potential excuses, numerous as they were, never entered his mind. Staashelm capped a tremendous team performance at the Midland Empire Conference meet with a come-from-behind victory in the final event at Alumni Stadium. Following a fourth-place finish a year ago, Maryville won the battle with defending champion Chillicothe by just five points, while the Spoofhounds' girls also staved off the Hornets in the standings to earn the sweep.

Conservation program aids food plot plans

Outdoorsmen, landowners, sportsmen and conservationists from throughout Northwest Missouri came to the Missouri Department of Conservation Headquarters on April 22 to help improve their property for wildlife.

Outdoors column: Fungus is among us again

In Japan, some consider Tempeh, a treat of fermented moldy soybeans, to be delicious. In Korea, you might see people purchasing live sea slugs from street vendors, fillet and eat them raw. In certain parts of Mexico, many consider cooked grasshoppers to be a tasty treat. Here in the heartland of the good old U.S.A., we opt for more conservative cuisine. Well, unless it's spring; then we become obsessed with thoughts of gorging ourselves on the spore-producing part of a fungus.

Friday's College Sports

Friday's Prep Sports

THE BELL LAP: End of the backstretch

If you compared the entire season to a lap around the track, we'd be on the final strides of the backstretch right now, getting ready to round the corner. The front runners already set the pace and established themselves as contenders in the early going, but there's still enough time for some late surprises along the way. I've seen a ton of track the past two weeks. Good track at that. As we enter the thick of conference season, I thought I'd take a couple moments to recap some of the best subplots and goings-on from around the area.

Mauer's return sparks Twins' win over Royals

MINNEAPOLIS - Joe Mauer sure gave the Minnesota Twins a spark, and Justin Morneau kept it going. Mauer homered in the first at-bat of his delayed season debut and scored three times, and Morneau's go-ahead two-run shot sent the Twins to a 7-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Mustangs take 3 steps forward, 2 steps back

The St. Joseph Mustangs have taken three steps forward and two steps back with the roster for their inaugural season. The team picked up outfielder/pitcher Ben Baker, a sophomore from Rockhurst, as well as outfielders Greg Noble of Northeast Texas Community College and Houston Slemp of Eastern Oklahoma Community College.

Two Bearcats leave football program

Three players on the Northwest Missouri State spring football roster likely will be missing once play resumes in August. Backup quarterback Tyler Herl is looking to transfer in an effort to gain more playing time, while the Bearcats cut backup running back Sheldon Cook, the News-Press has learned.

Western not waiting for camp resolution

Griffon softball opens MIAA tourney with pair of wins

While the Kansas City Chiefs and the state of Missouri wrangle over the details of bringing the NFL team's training camp to St. Joseph, Missouri Western continues to proceed as if it's a done deal. The Chiefs committed to bringing their camp to St. Joseph for at least five years with an option for five, one-year extensions after that. The state wants a straight 10-year commitment. But Western doesn't have the luxury of waiting for a final verdict.

LeBlond, West Platte close to selecting football coaches

Two high-profile coaching openings won't stay vacant for much longer. Bishop LeBlond and West Platte are set to announce their selections for their respective head football coaches early next week, according to officials from each school.

Larry the Cable Guy: Nervous, courteous and sleeveless

Blue Collar comedian returns to St. Joseph Sunday

Larry the Cable Guy is a household name, and anyone who watched his roast on Comedy Central recently knows that he made $30 million last year. So why would Larry grace St. Joseph with his presence? "Well, he was here a few years ago and he did two shows that sold out," says Kathy Brock, manager of the Civic Arena. "He's just the kind of act that this town really enjoys." The love is mutual. Just ask Larry.

Float on

The Apple Blossom Parade and Festival gets reading and rolling this weekend

If you haven't seen a parade in St. Joseph, it's not because they're lacking. Every couple of months, people find some occasion that requires float construction, closing off city streets and spectators jousting for a curbside seat. But the Apple Blossom Parade and Festival somehow manages to attract the most attention from parade-goers in St. Joseph.

Hold hands, relax and exhale

Jim Brickman brings Ultimate Love Songs tour to St. Joseph

One of the top questions women have about composer and pianist Jim Brickman is his marital status. "'He's so good looking. Is he single?' They always ask that," says Brickman's publicist, Claire Anter. And who can blame them? Brickman's good looks combined with his romantic music and love songs could melt anyone's heart. You can see for yourself when Brickman brings his Ultimate Love Songs national tour to the Missouri Theater in St. Joseph at 8 p.m. May 8.

The Shuffle: Festivals schmestivals

The weather's getting warmer. The temperature is getting hotter. And as if right on cue, the concerts are getting bigger in the way of huge summer music festivals.

Review: 'Ghosts of Girlfriends Past'

A playboy's love life comes back to haunt him

We've all been haunted by our romantic past at one point. In "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," Matthew McConaughey is haunted not only by his romantic past, but his present and future as well.

Mining for melody

Wild Light bets it all on songcraft and pop sensibility

Many people who go to see new wave rockers The Killers at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at Capital Park at Sandstone may be tempted to skip the opening act. They probably think they're not missing much. But if they don't see New Hampshire indie rockers Wild Light, they may be missing out on their new favorite band.

This is: Copperview

Review: 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'

An aspiring blockbuster that declaws a comic franchise

There's a lot of pressure for the first film of the summer blockbuster season. It tends to be the pacesetter. This is the time "Iron Man" came out last year and when the first "Spider-man" busted out of the gate to shatter the box-office records of the day in 2002.

Entertainment briefs for May 1, 2009

Benton tennis finds its footing

Benton tennis coach Bob Nash never thought a second-place finish would feel so good. His third-seeded Cardinals shrugged off a dismal stretch of recent losses by finishing as runners-up at Thursday's Benton-Savannah Invitational at Noyes Tennis Complex. Brandon Richey returned to the hardtop for the first time since being temporarily disqualified and gave the team a swagger that had been lacking during three consecutive losses last week. "It brings an emotional lift to our team, really," Nash said. "After last week, our guys were kind of down on themselves. It kind of brings back the chemistry that we had earlier in the year."

Northwest tennis schedules a little extra action ahead of playoffs

The have four first-team all-conference players and the MIAA's women's coach of the year, but Northwest Missouri State's tennis teams are not going to rest on those laurels on the days leading up to the NCAA Division II Championships. Instead, the Bearcats have scheduled a pair of matches as tune-ups for their national tournament appearances.

Royals take series from Blue Jays

KANSAS CITY - John Buck has a term for the type of triples he was knocking around Kauffman Stadium on Thursday. "Well placed," the 230-pound catcher said with a big grin. Buck tripled twice and drove in five runs, and the Kansas City Royals turned six double plays in an 8-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Royals' Greinke breathes easy under the spotlight

KANSAS CITY - Zack Greinke doesn't like attention. Never has. And not just a mild aversion to it, either. Enough to chase him from baseball, make his bosses wonder if he'd ever come back. So as the spotlight grew with all those zeros he kept putting up on the scoreboard, how did the Royals right-hander handle it? He went deeper within himself, shut off the outside world even more. "I'm not paying any attention to any of that nonsense," he said. "I don't hear much about it. I haven't even paid any attention to it."

Atchison sprinter dominates at Hiawatha Invitational

HIAWATHA, Kan. - Andre Harris clapped and greeted spectators as they exited the bleachers at Hiawatha High School. After the Atchison senior anchored the Redmen's 4x400-meter relay to a gold medal, Harris wanted to leave another final thought with the fans. Harris blazed around the track on the anchor leg, helping set a new personal record of 3 minutes, 32.68 seconds. "Thanks for coming out. Thanks for coming to watch us," Harris rhetorically bantered to exiting throng.

Stories for May 2009

Sunday, May 31

Saturday, May 30

Friday, May 29

Prog rock opus, fan favorites and confessions of a camel

Rockfest invades downtown Kansas City on Saturday

Sounds of Summer concert series kicks off tonight

Third Eye Blind on tour with a St. Joe resident in tow

A Camp brings worlds of sound and pain to pop

Shoppes at North Village offering musical entertainment this summer

Thursday, May 28

'Narnia: The Exhibition' opens at Union Station

Wednesday, May 27

Want to build your own coffin? Now you can.

Tuesday, May 26

An rarely-told part of history is made into an all-too-common thriller

Kansas City Zoo hosts benefit "Jazzoo"

Monday, May 25

Herb Gardeners learn why Mediterranean plant is worth growing

Sunday, May 24

Saturday, May 23

Friday, May 22

What I'm digging this week

What to look forward to in the St. Joe music scene this summer

Exhibit shows the beginning of Nelson-Atkins' shuttlecocks

John Henry & The Engine visit The 'Vous tonight

Taking Back Sunday finds a free, liberating sound

In the battle between man and machine, the audience wins

Thursday, May 21

Atchison Chamber of Commerce hosts a 'Ghostly Dining Experience'

Tuesday, May 19

Fighting Irish end Caridnals' season

Monday, May 18