The 29th annual Kids Golf Classic, which benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg, was held Monday at Parkersburg Country Club. The event generated a record-breaking $343,000 in proceeds which directly impact kids throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley that the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg serves each year. Pictured in the check presentation are, front row, front left: Lynn Reins (Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg); Rhoni Burt (CAS Cable); Richard Adams (United Bank); Tres Ross (The Ross Foundation); and Chad Mildren (United Bank). Middle row: Chase Minnite (The PM Company); Fred Earley (Highmark West Virginia); Jason Minnite, (The PM Company); Matt Cooke (Astorg Motor Company); Ben Thomas (Bowles Rice); Randy Rogers, (Murray Sheet Metal); John Padden (Reagle & Padden); Preston Herrin (Benchmark Technology Group); and Patrick Bryan (United Bank). Back row: John Fanta (Henry Logan Children’s Home); Tom Lally (Cintas); Charlie Taylor (UCCI); Chris Davis (Matheny Motor Truck Company); and Nick Squires (Tri-State Roofing). (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

VIENNA – Everything’s coming up roses for the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg.

From the celebration of 60 years as a facility earlier this year to the addition of two club sites in Mineral Wells and Athens County to the record-breaking check received from Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic.

Contributions from the event, which hit a grand total of $343,000, are on the brink of reaching $5 million since the event began in 1997.

“The golf classic – every year I am amazed and overwhelmed with the support of (Chief Consumer Banking Office at United Bank Chad Mildren) and the entire team and everything they do,” said Lynn Reins, who is the Chief Executive Officer for the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg. “(Executive Chairman of United Bankshares, Inc. Richard Adams) is right there making sure that it is a little bit better than it was the year before.

“What we receive today is about 20% of what we need to run the club for the entire year. In one fell swoop and one event, the community always shows up and shows out for the kids. I could not be more grateful.”

Lynn Reins, who is the Chief Executive Officer for the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg, monitors the putting contest during Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Monday’s golfers played under more-than-ideal conditions with temperatures remaining in low 70s with little humidity. Reins chuckled when she ordered these exact conditions for the first week of June.

“Last year was our 60 years of serving kiddos and we opened two new clubhouses – opened a site at Mineral Wells at Elementary,” Reins said. “We have a set classroom that is the clubhouse. They have complete access to the gym and the playground. Also opened a site in Athens County in the village of Glouster, so we are serving about 25 kids a day out there as well.

“We saw this huge increase in the number of kids we serve. We service 169 kids per day in 2024 with all three sites. So far in 2025 we are seeing 190 kids a day at those three sites. It’s been crazy. We’ve increased staff. We now have nine full-time staff members, and increasing part-time staff with those who are working directly with our kiddos.”

Reins stated the main facility at the Mary Street location, and renovations are in the works for the campus outside the building. A new playground and basketball courts are part of the project.

“Our kids deserve it – they deserve a clubhouse to be proud of,” Reins said. “We want them to know we value them and their entire community values them, and what they are going to be to this community in the future – because they are the future to the community of Parkersburg.”

Katrina Stephens from United Bank, right, takes a group photo of golfers competing at Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

On that note, Reins also wants the community to realize their facility is open to all social levels. There’s a stigma she wants to erase.

“There’s sometimes a stigma associated with Boys and Girls Club and what type of kids are club kids,” Reins said. “We have really worked hard the last few years to let our community know it doesn’t matter how many money your family makes, it doesn’t matter what your parent’s job titles are or what you look like.

“The club is for you and for every kid and I think we have really broke that barrier and people see the value in the club. It’s not just for kids who are struggling in the community. It’s for every kid.”

Monday marked Reins’ fifth Kids Golf Classic as representing the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg. In 4 ½ years on the job, her energy has created numerous opportunities. Whether it’s increasing the number of schools they transport youth from, which started at two when she arrived and now involves 20.

The club served 42 kids on average when she took the job. Currently the numbers are climbing toward 200.

Jacob Wade from Mineral Wells lines up a putt as part of the putting contest at Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“It’s been this growth opportunity to serve more kids more often and that’s always our goal,” Reins said. “I’m a dreamer. Don’t know if it would happen this quick but I always knew I wanted to bring club to more kids.

Adams stated something special is in the works for next year’s event which will celebrate 30 years in their partnership and supporting local youth at the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg. The goal is to push career proceeds over the $5 million mark.

“When you talk about raising the bar year after year, it comes down to our people and the efforts they make,” Adams said. “All these people you see out there on the golf carts and the contacts they make raising money. And it’s the cause. The Boys and Girls Club does a great job and every year they continue to grow. We are just happy to be a part of that.

“We will have a special celebration for 30 years, that’s for sure.”

The support staff for Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic take a moment to pose for a group photo at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo Provided)

Marietta’s Jason Shuler, left, watches as Parkersburg’s Steve Matthews participates in the putting contest during Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Dave Fleming, far right, attempts a putt from the edge of the green during Monday’s 29th annual Kids Golf Classic at Parkersburg Country Club. Watching in the background are Wyn Bowden, far left, and Kyle Bowles. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

(Photo by Amber Phipps)
Marietta Masonic Temple Board President John Goins showcases the history within the Masonic Temple Monday, pointing to a sword that belonged to C.R. Stevens, the first Masonic commander of Marietta.

The Marietta Masonic Temple donated $1,000 to The Right Path for Washington County on Monday night during a dinner and ceremony at the facility.

The temple at 308 Front St. is made up of nine bodies including Harmar Lodge No. 390 which constructed the building in 1907.

“We’re part of Marietta Front Street,” said Temple Board President John Goins. “Helping the community and being part of the community is our main purpose.”

Goins said that the temple presents scholarships and donations every year as a way of giving back to the community.

The $1,000 donation can be used by The Right Path, an organization dedicated to promoting healthy youth development by reducing and preventing substance abuse, however the organization sees necessary for efforts like educational programs or engaging activities.

(Photo by Amber Phipps)
The Marietta Masonic Temple at 308 Front St. is home to nine temple bodies, or lodges, and was constructed in 1907.

“We’ve been working closely with the youth for years and we want to find ways to support them so they can lead healthy lives,” said Goins. “(Right Path Director) Cathy Harper has been such a big part of this process. It’s been really great getting to work with her.”

Goins said many of the 1,000 members at the temple spend their time volunteering in the community. Masons have been helping the community for many years and most people don’t even realize it or know who has been a member, he said.

“Six of Marietta’s founders were masons,” said Goins. “Most people don’t know this but we have items from (Marietta founder) Rufus Putnam and George Washington.”

Washington and Putnam were both members of the American Union Lodge No. 1 which was founded in 1776.

Putnam was the first elected Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of Ohio and the temple was given his aprons and a sword presented to him by Washington. The aprons are currently held in the library at the Temple.

(Photo by Amber Phipps)
The Marietta Masonic Temple held a dinner banquet Monday evening for the donation of $1,000 to The Right Path for Washington County.

The history of the Masons in Marietta runs deep and Goins said there are members involved in many aspects of the community.

At some point in our lives, we each are given an opportunity to step into the role of a leader. Whether through a family function, a school activity, a work project, or organizing a community event, we quickly learn what leadership entails and the important role real leaders can play in getting things accomplished.

The 11 graduates of the 2025 class of Leadership Ohio Valley have picked up similar experience over the last few months as they planned and attended their various sessions, volunteered their time toward a variety of causes, and organized a project in service to the community. Through it all, they learned more about the Ohio Valley, and themselves, while building relationships that will last a lifetime.

We take this time to congratulate the graduating members of the Class of 2025: Jennifer O’Neill, Dawn Smith, Heather Southern, Elizabeth Smith, Lettie Muynila, Lavonnia Montgomery, Danielle Stroud, Ira Aracich, Nathaniel Kurty, Kevan Brown, and Clark Miller.

We hope your experiences showed you some of the opportunities available to take on leadership roles within your community, whether it be membership in a civic organization, the potential to seek elected office, volunteering with your local non-profit or a youth sports organization, or the inspiration to contribute toward the beautification of your neighborhood.

We also hope your employers take note and realize these experiences have prepared you to take on greater roles in the future.

The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce has organized this program for more three decades, offering these opportunities to hundreds of men and women in the area business community. The Class of 2025 is the latest group, and we can’t wait to see where the journey of leadership and community involvement takes each of you as you take your next step forward.

JC Sports Atascocita

JC Sports Houston Owners

JC Sports, a leading youth sports development organization, proudly celebrates its 11th anniversary today, marking more than a decade

HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES, June 3, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — JC Sports, a leading youth sports development organization, proudly celebrates its 11th anniversary today, marking more than a decade of nurturing young athletes in the local community. Coinciding with the kickoff of its highly anticipated Summer Camps, the milestone is a moment of reflection and celebration for players, families, coaches, and partners who have been part of the journey.

Founded in 2014, JC Sports has grown from a small local program into a respected hub for youth sports development, known for its innovative training, inclusive approach, and commitment to long-term player growth—both on and off the field.

“We are more than a league, more than a competitive team, and more than labels,” said Jennifer Coronel, Founder of JC Sports. “Our mission is to empower local youth with the tools they need to become not only great athletes but amazing human beings.”

To commemorate the occasion, JC Sports has released a series of photos capturing the evolution of its athletes—from their first kicks as toddlers to their teenage years—highlighting the power of consistent, values-driven development. You can check those pictures in our social media accounts ( FB,IG and TikTok)

Over the past 11 years, JC Sports has partnered with families, educators, and coaches to create a supportive environment that encourages hard work, discipline, and character. Many of the players featured in today’s tribute have grown up entirely within the JC Sports system, a testament to the program’s consistency and impact.

JC Sports extends its heartfelt thanks to the families, coaches, and community partners who have supported its vision for youth development and continue to believe in the potential of every child.

About JC Sports

JC Sports is a youth sports organization based in Houston, TX, offering skill-based developmental programs for children of all ages. With a focus on physical literacy, technical excellence, and personal growth, JC Sports has become a trusted name in youth sports training, impacting thousands of families across the region.

Media Contact:

Jennifer and Cesar Coronel

Owners

Manager@jcsportshouston.com

281-624-6867

www.jcsportshouston.com

Cesar Coronel
JC Sports
+1 281-624-6867
email us here
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The U.S. Justice Department ratcheted up its efforts to block transgender athletes from competing in school sports in California by warning school districts Monday that they will face legal trouble if they don’t break from the state and bar such athletes from competition within days.

The new warning followed similar threats by the Trump administration to the state and the California Interscholastic Federation, which governs youth sports and requires transgender athletes be allowed to compete. It also comes after AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender junior from Jurupa Valley High School, won multiple medals at the state high school track and field championships on Saturday, despite a directive from President Trump that she not be allowed to compete.

Assistant Atty. Gen. Harmeet Dhillon — a conservative California lawyer who focused on challenging LGBTQ+-friendly state laws before being appointed by Trump to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division — wrote in a Monday letter to school districts that continuing to comply with CIF rules allowing transgender athletes to compete “would deprive girls of athletic opportunities and benefits based solely on their biological sex,” in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

To “avoid legal liability” for such violations, Dhillon wrote, each district must “certify in writing” by June 9 that it is no longer complying with the federation’s rules and barring transgender athletes from competition.

Dhillon said on the social media platform X that her office put “1600+ California schools on blast for violating equal protection in girls’ sports.”

Dhillon’s letter made no mention of the CIF’s rule change last week — after Trump threatened to revoke federal funding from California if Hernandez competed in the state championships. The change allowed any cisgender girl bumped from qualifying for event finals by a transgender athlete to compete anyway. It also ensured cisgender girls were awarded medals in every race, regardless of how Hernandez placed.

The policy was intended as a compromise, but it drew little support from those on the conservative right demanding a full ban on transgender athletes.

In addition to Trump’s funding threat, Dhillon’s office last week announced it was launching an investigation into the state, the interscholastic federation and the Jurupa Unified School District, where Hernandez competes.

A spokesperson for California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office said officials there were “very concerned with the Trump Administration’s ongoing threats to California schools and remain committed to defending and upholding California laws and all additional laws which ensure the rights of students — including transgender students — to be free from discrimination and harassment.”

The office was “reviewing the letter and closely monitoring the Trump Administration’s actions in this space,” the spokesperson said.

Elizabeth Sanders, a spokesperson for the California Department of Education, said the agency had no comment on Dhillon’s letter Monday but was “preparing to send guidance” out to districts Tuesday. She said California Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond also had no response Monday.

The Los Angeles Unified School District declined to comment. Other local districts around L.A. did not respond to requests for comment.

LGBTQ+ advocates criticized Dhillon’s letter, calling it the latest proof that the Trump administration is not actually concerned with protecting cisgender athletes but with targeting transgender kids to score political points.

Shannon Minter, vice president of legal at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, helped draft the interscholastic federation’s original rules allowing transgender athletes to compete, and also supports the new rule — which he said ensures that both transgender and cisgender athletes get to compete.

At last weekend’s meet, for example, Hernandez’s competing did not push any cisgender girls out of competition.

Hernandez took gold in both the girls’ triple jump and girls’ high jump, and placed second in the girls’ long jump — but wasn’t alone in any of those spots.

For the triple jump, she stood on the podium alongside a cisgender girl who was also given gold. For the high jump, she shared the podium with two cisgender girls with whom she tied. For the long jump, she shared the second-place podium spot with a cisgender girl who also was awarded silver.

The new rule addressed “the concerns people had about taking opportunities away from non-transgender girls, and it makes sure that cannot happen — it literally eliminates that concern altogether,” Minter said.

By ignoring the new rules, he said, Dhillon’s letter “shows what we already knew, which is that this administration isn’t concerned at all about protecting athletic opportunities for girls, this is just about bias against transgender people — pure and simple.”

Critics of transgender youth participating in sports, meanwhile, cheered Dhillon’s letter as a major victory.

Sophia Lorey, outreach director for the conservative California Family Council, said it was “huge.” Lorey was kicked out of the state championships Saturday after handing out fliers urging people to sign a petition calling on the interscholastic federation to change its policies.

“Here we gooooo!” Lorey wrote on X. “As a born & raised Californian who played soccer through college — I am beyond grateful.”

At least a handful of California school districts with conservative elected leaders would be eager to comply with the new directive.

On April 17, the Chino Valley Unified school board unanimously approved a resolution titled “Supporting Title IX and Fairness in Girls’ Interscholastic Sports.” The resolution stated that “biological differences between male and female athletes can create inherent advantage in competitive sports, particularly in categories designated specifically for girls.”

The school system called on state governing bodies to uphold protections for girls in sports under Title IX, a 1972 federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs and activities that receive federal funding.

In April, the school system also filed a Title IX complaint with the federal Justice Department against Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Education, Thurmond and the California Interscholastic Federation.

The complaint said Chino Valley was “now caught between conflicting state and federal directives” and was requesting “urgent federal intervention.”

Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified school board, wrote on X that Dhillon’s letter was “a historic win” for parents, their daughters, the nation and “truth.”

“We will not bend. We will not compromise. We will protect our daughters at all costs,” wrote Shaw, who is running for state superintendent of public instruction. “The tide is turning. The silence is broken. And we are just getting started.”

Shaw also suggested that the support from the Trump administration could encourage her school system to take more aggressive action.

“I’m bringing this matter forward at our next board meeting,” Shaw said. “We will not comply with insanity. We will not be bullied into silence. We will not betray our girls to please radicals.”

Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, could not be reached Monday, but has previously said that it was heartbreaking to see her child being attacked “simply for being who they are,” and despite following all California laws and policies for competing.

She begged Trump to reconsider his efforts to oust transgender girls from sports.

“My child is a transgender student-athlete, a hardworking, disciplined, and passionate young person who just wants to play sports, continue to build friendships, and grow into their fullest potential like any other child,” she said.