Henry County and Eminence will host a variety of youth sports camps this summer.

HCHS has five options in June with boys basketball, football, girls soccer, boys soccer and volleyball, while Eminence will offer a football youth camp.

The HCHS boys basketball camp will take place June 16-18 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at HCHS. The camp is open to kids entering first through eighth grade, and the registration fee is $50.

The HCHS football camp is set for June 16-18 from noon to 3 p.m. at HCHS. Kids entering first through eighth grade are welcome to attend, and registration is $50.

The girls and boys soccer camps will take place on June 18-20 at the park from 9 a.m. to noon. Both camps are open to kids entering first through eighth grade, and registration is $50 for each camp.

Lastly, the HCHS volleyball camp is scheduled for June 23-24 at HCHS, and registration is $60. The camp will be split into two sessions, with kids entering second to fifth grade from 9 a.m. to noon, and kids entering sixth through eighth grade from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To sign up for any of the HCHS camps, visit https://henrycoathletics.com/Registrations.

The Eminence football program will also host a youth camp on June 20-21 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Warrior field.

Noel Best, Liberty County High School student, earned recognition for his outstanding artistic talent in the digital arts category of the National Boys and Girls Club Arts Contest.

Best’s diverse life experiences have shaped his path to success. Originally from Nigeria, he spent time in South Carolina before settling in Liberty County, Georgia, as part of a military family. His father’s service led them to different places, but his resilience and adaptability never wavered. Despite living here for only three years, he quickly established himself as a standout athlete, leader and artist in the community.

As a three-sport athlete, he plays football, runs track and competes in basketball. His journey in sports began with inspiration from his older brother, Tai’Jon Best.

“I watched him play AAU football growing up, and after scoring multiple touchdowns, I was like, ‘I want to play,’” he said.

This athletic upbringing served as the catalyst for him entering the contest. After brainstorming ideas at the Fort Stewart Youth Center, he leaned into one of his favorite activities to do there, play basketball.

“This piece reflects how I feel when I’m at the Youth Center, shooting hoops,” Best said.

Luis Camacho, Fort Stewart’s Youth Center computer technician, aided Best in bringing his ideas to life. Seeing that he could use his ability to dunk the basketball, they got to work on taking the perfect shot. After numerous attempts and angles, they landed on one that would then be used to create the digital art. Mixing numerous graphic design elements for the photo, the artwork portrays Best as a superhero basketball player.

The National Arts Contest recognizes members for their accomplishments in visual, digital and performing arts through the following BGCA legacy arts programs. Best received recognition for his piece at the local level and it has moved all the way to nationals.

The Fort Stewart Youth Center is a space for youth and teens to participate in sports and recreation programs, educational programs and programs that support leadership and career development.

Camacho takes pride in pulling the best qualities out of all the youth and teens that come in.

“Even on days when they want to give up, we as a staff express that we are not giving up on them,” he said. “People have bad days, but it’s our job to bring them back, reset, and try again. We want to push them to be the best versions of themselves.”

Outside of his artistic accomplishments, Best has been described as a motivated and well-rounded individual. His leadership qualities shine through in his interactions at the Youth Center, where he sets a strong example for his peers.

“He’s a leader in here,” Camacho said. “He leads by example, and many other kids here are receptive to that and follow by doing the right thing.”

Best’s heart remains with football, and he envisions himself pursuing a future in both athletics and mechanical engineering. His dedication to academics is as strong as his commitment to sports, maintaining a 3.9 GPA.

His journey is a testament to the power of resiliency, creativity, and determination. From excelling in athletics to making a mark in the digital arts, he continues to inspire those around him.

WASHINGTON — Months after California Gov. Gavin Newsom told a conservative podcast it’s “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to compete in women and girls sports, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz took the stage at the Democratic Party’s annual state convention in Newsom’s home state to let his party know he disagrees.

“I’m just going to say it, shame on any of us who throws a trans child under the bus for thinking they’re going to get elected,” the 2024 vice presidential nominee said last Saturday. “That child deserves our support. Don’t worry about the pollsters calling it distractions, because we need to be the party of human dignity.”

Walz is doubling down on trans rights — and criticizing members of his party who are retreating — at a time when the issue has become a lightning rod nationally and at home.

Attorney General Keith Ellison, a fellow Democrat, and other state officials are being sued by three Maple Grove and Farmington high school softball players in an effort to remove trans athletes from competing in their sport.

In Washington, the Republican-controlled U.S. House passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act at the start of the year, which Minnesota’s four Republicans supported and the state’s four Democrats opposed. Democrats stuck together to prevent a similar bill from advancing in the U.S. Senate, with Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar opposed.

Walz did not specifically comment on the issues of transgender student athletes in his speech Saturday and his spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.

Minnesota Democrats are largely aligned with Walz on the issue, though not all have been so forceful.

“I understand that this is viewed by many in our community as a fairness issue,” said Rep. Angie Craig, a moderate Democrat and the first LGBTQ member of Congress to represent Minnesota. She’s running in a competitive race for the DFL nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2026.

“I believe that local sports associations and our local schools are best equipped to make these decisions.”

Klobuchar, a fellow moderate Democrat, cited her opposition to the bill in the Senate and said she, too, trusts “school districts, parents, and sports leagues to make decisions about their athletes.”

“I voted against a bill that would take that decision away from local school districts and jeopardize education funding for all students,” Klobuchar continued.

A New York Times-Ipsos survey from early January found that 79% of Americans, including 67% of Democrats and 64% of independents, do not think transgender female athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s sports. A Pew Research Center survey from February found 66% of Americans favor, or strongly favor, laws and policies that “require trans athletes to compete on teams that match their sex assigned at birth.”

Newsom, a possible 2028 presidential candidate, has been one of the few Democrats to veer from his party on the issue, while Walz could be trying to appeal to the more progressive wing as he continues to mull his future, said University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs.

Walz is expected to run for a third term as governor and hasn’t ruled out a 2028 presidential bid.

“Transgender participation in sports presents an issue for Democrats. You can see that with Gavin Newsom trying to move Democrats from a position that’s not popular with the general public,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs thinks it wasn’t a coincidence that Walz made his position known on a possible 2028 rival’s home turf, adding that Walz wants to challenge President Trump’s rhetoric and push back on Democrats he thinks are “abandoning issues that enjoy support among Democratic primary voters and donors.”

Trump earlier this year signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”

“Democrats like to claim to be a champion of women while simultaneously robbing female athletes of the fairness, safety, and equal opportunities they deserve,” Rep. Tom Emmer said in a statement in February to mark National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Emmer recently weighed in on the debate in Minnesota, using his official House Majority Whip social media account on X to retweet a post that named a transgender metro-area high school softball player. Walz’s office declined to comment on Emmer’s post.

In 2015, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) board of directors voted to open girls sports to transgender student-athletes. The decision took effect for the 2015-16 school year and made Minnesota the 33rd state to adopt a formal transgender student policy.

The MSHSL has been under investigation by the federal government as a result of Trump’s executive order and could be at risk of losing federal funding.

Ellison has sued the Trump administration over the executive order. State Republicans earlier this year failed to pass a bill banning trans athletes from girls elementary and secondary sports. No Democrats in the Legislature voted for the bill.

The MSHSL’s bylaws allow student participation “consistent with their gender identity or expression in an environment free from discrimination with an equal opportunity for participation in athletics and fine arts.”

Citing the Data Privacy Act, the MSHSL does not keep records of transgender athletes in the state.

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—Jim Paulsen of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this story.

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©2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Henry County and Eminence will host a variety of youth sports camps this summer.

HCHS has five options in June with boys basketball, football, girls soccer, boys soccer and volleyball, while Eminence will offer a football youth camp.

The HCHS boys basketball camp will take place June 16-18 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at HCHS. The camp is open to kids entering first through eighth grade, and the registration fee is $50.

The HCHS football camp is set for June 16-18 from noon to 3 p.m. at HCHS. Kids entering first through eighth grade are welcome to attend, and registration is $50.

The girls and boys soccer camps will take place on June 18-20 at the park from 9 a.m. to noon. Both camps are open to kids entering first through eighth grade, and registration is $50 for each camp.

Lastly, the HCHS volleyball camp is scheduled for June 23-24 at HCHS, and registration is $60. The camp will be split into two sessions, with kids entering second to fifth grade from 9 a.m. to noon, and kids entering sixth through eighth grade from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To sign up for any of the HCHS camps, visit https://henrycoathletics.com/Registrations.

The Eminence football program will also host a youth camp on June 20-21 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Warrior field.

Goat moms gave birth to many adorable babies in May.

Photos by Meredith Winter

Members of the Kinder Farm Park 4H Livestock Club, including Lily Lawrence, were on hand at Meet the Kids to introduce the newborn animals to visitors.

Photos by Meredith Winter

Several lambs were among the animals born at the farm this spring.

Photos by Meredith Winter

Goat moms gave birth to many adorable babies in May.

Photos by Meredith Winter

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June 4, 2025
11:27 am

The numbers are in: $500,000 raised, 10,000 kids reached, and one major win for youth sport.

Over the past year, the Pacific Institute for Sport Education (PISE) raised half a million dollars to help more local kids and teens get involved in sports and stay active, no matter their circumstances.

What started last spring as an ambitious target is now a community-driven win.

“It just proves to us that we are doing the right thing for our community,” said Stacey Lund, PISE’s business development manager. “All of our dollars stay local and support kids and youth to be involved in sport and physical activity.”

The campaign was designed to address a clear issue: not enough young people are getting the daily movement they need.

National stats show only 39 per cent of Canadian youth meet the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day.

PISE aims to change that, one school gym and training dome at a time.

Their programs now reach more than 10,000 children each year – some through school-based physical literacy sessions, others via specialized training like the Canadian Sport School or inclusive programming for youth with disabilities.

Those programs are often the only option for many families.

“We work with approximately 70 children a week who experience a disability,” Lund said. “These programs are expensive to run due to specialized staffing and training, and many families just can’t afford them.”

The money raised has already had tangible effects within their facilities. 

PISE recently enhanced its youth performance centre and added hot and cold tubs to its recovery room.

A gaming grant, bolstered by fundraising dollars, funded new heat pumps in the facility’s dome – making it a year-round training space, especially important for children with disabilities who use mobility devices.

On the programming side, initiatives like Power Physical Literacy give kids with mobility restrictions a chance to wheel through obstacle courses and play games with peers in similar situations. 

Other programs target Indigenous youth, students from lower-income schools, and teens at risk of falling out of sport altogether.

“Teenagers are one of our biggest focuses right now,” Lund said. “That’s where we lose a lot of kids from sport, so these funds help us grow programs that keep them engaged, supported and confident.”

One of the campaign’s marquee events, the Family Sport & Recreation Festival, held on May 3, drew more than 2,000 people to PISE’s Interurban campus to try out a wide range of physical activities and connect with local sport organizations.

Lund said it helped drive interest not just in PISE’s programs, but in community sport as a whole.

As for what’s next, the fundraising isn’t slowing down.

“We’re continuing to grow,” Lund said. “The demand is there. The need is there. And we’ll keep doing everything we can to make sure every child has the opportunity to play.”