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PBS documentary highlights value of Prison

Dogs are more than just cute, cuddly and curious. Man’s best friend can also help inmates realize they are capable of change. The powerful bond between dogs and inmates, and the positive impact they have on each other, was recently portrayed in “Nothing Safer,” a documentary now streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app. The […]

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PBS documentary highlights value of Prison

Dogs are more than just cute, cuddly and curious.

Man’s best friend can also help inmates realize they are capable of change.

The powerful bond between dogs and inmates, and the positive impact they have on each other, was recently portrayed in “Nothing Safer,” a documentary now streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app.

The film highlights the Prison-Trained K-9 Companion Program, which began in 2002 at the Colorado Women’s Correctional Facility in Cañon City and has since expanded to six facilities. The Colorado Correctional Industries program offers two key services: the Boarding-In Training initiative for privately owned dogs and the adoption of trained rescue dogs.

Michele Wayland, the Program Supervisor of the Prison-Trained K9 Companion Program since February 2019, said there was a particular documentary scene that stood out to her.

“I found the interview with Denise Presson especially powerful because it demonstrated how someone who had essentially given up on herself and lost hope has experienced such a dramatic and positive turnaround through her participation in the K9 program,” Wayland, who participated in the documentary herself, said. “She expressed the value and purpose it gave her, inspiring her to be a better mother to her child. In a much broader sense, it has instilled in her a sense of self-worth and a desire to help others through sharing her experience.”

In the documentary, which was filmed in January 2024, Wayland described how the initiative came to be. She also shared more details about the program with the Daily Record.

“Many years ago, Debi Stevens, the founder of the program, visited the animal shelter I was running to select a dog for the program,” she said. “She invited me to visit a nearby correctional facility, where inmates were training dogs to give me an overview of the program. When the position became available after she retired, I applied because it was a rare opportunity to utilize my animal shelter management experience in a more meaningful way.”

She said the documentary experience was deeply moving and is grateful that more people now know how beneficial the program is.

“The filmmakers were terrific to work with and made the process very natural and fluid,” she said. “They did a fantastic job of capturing the various aspects of our program and illustrating how they all interconnected and positively impacted many lives.”

The documentary received praise at the second annual Pueblo Film Festival, which screened 55 films this year. During the weekend of April 26, the film received the Best Heritage Short award, according to a press release from Colorado Lt. Governor Primavera’s office.

The film has also been selected for screening at the 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival in Elk Grove Village, Ill., the festival’s website states.

To view the documentary, which was first aired on Rocky Mountain PBS in March, visit https://www.pbs.org/video/nothing-safer-rmcmcq/

To learn more about the Prison-Trained K-9 Companion Program, visit cci.colorado.gov/k9

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AP PHOTOS

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — This photo gallery, curated by AP photo editors, features highlights from Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. 1

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AP PHOTOS

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — This photo gallery, curated by AP photo editors, features highlights from Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.

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NBC 5 Sports Desk Year in Review

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NBC 5 Sports Desk Year in Review


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Franklin runners lead the way for local athletes at Nike Outdoor Nationals & USATF U20 …

For the second year in a row, the Nike Outdoor Nationals and USATF U20 Championships were held simultaneously at Hayward Field in Eugene. There were a few champions from Oregon’s high school ranks, coming in the distance races. Here are the top finishes for Oregon high school athletes this weekend at Hayward Field: Nike Outdoor […]

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Franklin runners lead the way for local athletes at Nike Outdoor Nationals & USATF U20 ...

For the second year in a row, the Nike Outdoor Nationals and USATF U20 Championships were held simultaneously at Hayward Field in Eugene.

There were a few champions from Oregon’s high school ranks, coming in the distance races.

Here are the top finishes for Oregon high school athletes this weekend at Hayward Field:

Nike Outdoor Nationals

The Franklin team of Zafer Courcelle, Rory Pedrick, Leaf McQuillen and Brennan McEwen (running as Mount Tabor Track Club) won the boys 4,000-meter distance medley relay in 10 minutes, 8.01 seconds. The team was seconds ahead of Adelphia Track Club of Washington, coming in second in 10:12.28.

Churchill rising senior Addison Kleinke was the runner-up in the girls pole vault with a 13 feet, 4.5 inches.

Marshfield’s Bodey Lutes finished second in the boys 800 meters, with a 1:47.74.

Jesuit’s Iman Foster was the runner-up in the triple jump, with a 40-11 on her fifth attempt. It’s a jump that moves her up to No. 2 all-time in Oregon behind McDaniel’s Maleigha Canaday-Elliott in 2024.

The Eagle Point Track Club team of Benjamin Levesque, Kaden Webb, Easton Raber and Logan Moreno finished second in the boys 4×100-meter relay with a time of 42.03.

The Corvallis Speed team of Jack Weisel, Cooper Gordon, Dylan Fiegener and Cole Fiegener finished third in the boys 4xmile relay in 7:32.45.

Central Catholic’s Joseph Donnelly, competing as a member of the Inner Circle Track Club, was third in the boys long jump with a 23-5.5 on his third attempt.

Sheldon alumnus Malachi Schoenherr, competing as a member of Nike Elite, finished fourth in the boys 3,000 meters with a time of 8:07.82.

Amity Track Club’s Jaxson Howard was fifth in the boys hammer throw with a 183-10 on his second throw.

Tigard’s Marissa Johnson, a member of Nike Elite, finished sixth in the girls hammer throw with a 166-6 on her fifth throw.

Crescent Valley alumna Emily Wisniewski finished sixth in the girls 5,000 meters, in 16:52.64.

The Forest Park Track Club team of Nicholas Ranalli, Rosie Gross, Ryan Hendrickson and Sophia Malinoski finished sixth in the mixed 4×400-meter relay in 3:40.34.

West Linn alumna Hayden Williams-Downing finished seventh in the girls javelin with a 144-7 on her third attempt.

USATF U20 Championships

Franklin alumnus McEwen won the men’s 3,000 meters in 8:22.98.

Williams-Downing finished third with a throw of 148-02. She was only a few feet behind champion Jenessa Ruder’s 151-11.

Oregon’s Maleigha Canaday-Elliott, a McDaniel alumna, finished third in the women’s triple jump with a 41-5.75.

Newberg rising senior Sophia Castaneda finished third in the women’s 400 meters in 53.16.

Kleinke finished third in the women’s pole vault with a 13-11.25.

— Nik Streng covers high school sports in Oregon. Reach him at nstreng@oregonian.com or @NikStreng

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Vicksburg 9th Grade Cheer Team Shines at Summer Camp Showcase

VICKSBURG, Miss.(VDN) — The Vicksburg 9th Grade cheerleading team wrapped up a five-day summer camp Friday with a high-energy showcase in front of family, friends, and supporters. The event marked the culmination of a week of intense training, team bonding, and spirited preparation. The camp was led by Hype Athletics coaches Rogers Wesley and Kadajai […]

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Vicksburg 9th Grade Cheer Team Shines at Summer Camp Showcase

VICKSBURG, Miss.(VDN) — The Vicksburg 9th Grade cheerleading team wrapped up a five-day summer camp Friday with a high-energy showcase in front of family, friends, and supporters. The event marked the culmination of a week of intense training, team bonding, and spirited preparation.

The camp was led by Hype Athletics coaches Rogers Wesley and Kadajai Allen, who brought energy and expertise to each session. Tammy Hogan, Vicksburg’s cheer coach, continues to serve as a steady presence and guiding force for the young athletes.

Throughout the week, the team focused on sharpening their cheer fundamentals, building trust as a unit, and developing the school spirit they’ll bring into the upcoming season. Friday’s showcase, held at 1 p.m., gave the cheerleaders a platform to demonstrate their progress and celebrate their hard work.

The cheerleaders who participated in the camp included Skylar Spencer, Jamirrial Harris, Brooklyn Palmer, Dynastee Wilson, Kvianna Armstrong, Tonya Ates, and Camden McGloster. Each athlete showed strong dedication and represented Vicksburg with pride and enthusiasm.

The camp not only strengthened their skills but also laid the foundation for a strong team dynamic heading into the school year. The Vicksburg community applauds their efforts and looks forward to seeing them in action this fall.

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Ronald Porter's WPIAL gold highlights school year in Penn Hills sports

By: Josh Rizzo Sunday, June 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM Chaz Palla | TribLive Penn Hills’ Ronald Porter takes third in the Class 3A long jump during the PIAA track championships May 24 at Shippensburg University. Ronald Porter III’s willingness to try something new as a junior and his quick progress from there allowed him […]

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Ronald Porter's WPIAL gold highlights school year in Penn Hills sports

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Sunday, June 22, 2025 | 11:01 AM


Ronald Porter III’s willingness to try something new as a junior and his quick progress from there allowed him to do something during his senior season that was the highlight of the athletics programs at Penn Hills during the 2024-25 school year.

Porter initially came out for track wanting to run the 100 and 200 with his football teammates. When Penn Hills track coach Lee Zelkowitz saw the then-junior up close, he encouraged Porter to try the jumps.

Porter won the WPIAL Class 3A championship in May and went on to place third at the PIAA championships with a leap of 23 feet, 6½ inches.

“It wasn’t on my mind. I knew I was going to do the 100 and 200,” said Porter during his junior season. “They were talking to me about (jumping). I’m glad I did.”

During the WPIAL championships at Slippery Rock University, Porter won the title with a leap of 22-8½.

“I didn’t see it coming, to be honest,” said Porter, who will play football at Cal (Pa.) this fall. “I was jumping 21 feet last year. I never saw myself jumping 23. Whenever it’s a competition, I lock in more.”

Zelkowitz said he was proud of Porter’s progression.

“I knew he had the potential last year,” he said. “He took it to another level this season. He has good pop and good speed going down the runway. He has a consistent approach and has been hitting the board well.”

Mackenzie McIntyre also qualified for states in two events for Penn Hills but chose not to go to the state meet.

Stop the streak

The Indians’ boys volleyball team saw a 64-match losing streak in section matches halted this season. Penn Hills beat Plum in four sets to bring back a losing stretch that dated back to 2018.

Football shakes slow start

Naytel Mitchell met coach Charles Morris’ high expectations all season by piling up more than 1,000 yards on the ground. The most important 80 yards came during the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs against Moon.

Mitchell carried the ball twice on a two-play, 80-yard drive that ended with his 69-yard touchdown run to carry Penn Hills to a 30-27 victory. The Indians started the season 0-3 but rallied to win seven of their next eight games.

The Indians were eliminated by Upper St. Clair in the quarterfinals.

Boys basketball ends up 2nd

Penn Hills didn’t have much experience returning from last season. The Indians played well enough to finish second, losing 68-61 to Kiski Area in their final Section 2-5A game with the title on the.

Penn Hills (12-10) lost in the first round to Peters Township.

Phipps, Repovich make WPIALs

Indians junior wrestler Daemon Phipps finished tied for a career-high with 25 wins by reaching the WPIAL Class 3A championships at 114 pounds. Bradley Repovich also earned his first spot at WPIALs at 145 pounds and made a six-win improvement over the previous season.

Relay team, Sipple qualify

The 200 free relay team of Clarke Leonard, Anthony Collins, Hunter Boyd and Anthony Sipple competed in the WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships. Sipple also qualified in the 100 back and 50 free.

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