R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press
U.S. Navy veteran Raymond Carlson shakes the hand of Representative Jack Bergman during a ceremony honoring Carlson as Upper Peninsula Veteran of the Year for his many community contributions.
ESCANABA — Michigan Lt. Gov. Gilchrist honored Raymond E. Carlson for being named 2025 Upper Peninsula Veteran of the Year. Carlson, of Negaunee was honored during a ceremony at the U.P. State Fair Thursday morning attended by Gilchrist and other state and local dignitaries.
The Upper Peninsula Veteran of the Year Committee announced Carlson’s award earlier this summer, recognizing his contributions to the veteran community and his unwavering commitment to service.
Carlson’s leadership of Michigan’s American Legion over the past two decades serves as a focal point for his accomplishments. He’s held positions including post commander, district commander, zone commander and served on the State Department Finance Committee, with extensive experience and dedication to his work securing his influence within the American Legion across Michigan.
Carlson has also successfully bid on and coordinated American Legion conventions for 14 years, leading to the success of the event in the U.P. during his time as president of the U.P. Convention Corporation. He’s also secured future convention dates in Sault Ste. Marie through his work.
During his time as the commander for Post 44, Carlson was in charge of a $240,000 renovation project to enhance and revitalize the post. He also commits himself to social events sponsored by the post for community veterans such as bingo at the Marquette County Fair, bingo at the Jacobetti Veterans Home in Marquette and Boys State initiatives that promote youth development and civic engagement.
Carlson’s youth engagement extends to the hours that he coaches and fundraisers for youth sports. He served as coach of the Marquette Legion Blues baseball team for six years, leading the team to multiple district championships and the 5th Zone championship in 1986 to earn their place in the state tournament. 12 years of service as Chairman of the District Baseball Committee included Carlson organizing and overseeing numerous tournaments, adding to his long list of services to the youth of the area.
“Carlson’s unwavering commitment to supporting veteran activities and youth initiatives has made a lasting impact on the community. His dedication and service are truly commendable,” said the UPVYC in a press release.
ESCANABA — The City of Escanaba has received reports of a scam targeting individuals who have applied for zoning …
PLAINVIEW, Minn. (KTTC) – Wrestlers filled the gym at Plainview-Elgin-Millville high school for the 2026 PEM Wrestling Invitational.
Eight schools took the mat: LARP (Lewiston-Altura/Rushford-Peterson), Pine Island, FCLMC (Fillmore Central/Lanesboro/Mabel-Canton), Lake City, WWC (Winona/Winona Cotter), La Crosse Logan/Cent., Cochrane-Fountain City, and the host school PEM.
The Bulldogs came out on top at home, leading the way with 206.5 points. LARP finished in second with 201.0 points. The team results are as follows:
PEM – 206.5
LARP – 201.0
Pine Island – 192.0
Eau Claire North – 111.0
FCLMC – 96.0
Cochrane-Fountain City – 70.5
Lake City – 47.5
WWC – 47.5
La Crosse Logan/Cent. – 39.0
An individual champion was crowned in each weight class. Those champions are as follows:
Ketchikan athletes had the gym to themselves on Friday as they warmed up for the Native Youth Olympics kick-off scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium at Kayhi.
Henry Agony practices the One Foot High Kick during the Native Youth Olympics open gym at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 8, 2026. Staff photo by Christopher Mullen
Teams from outside of Ketchikan were unable to make it for the open gym on Friday with ferries not sailing and flights not landing in town. Ketchikan coach Starla Agoney said she is hopeful that teams from Juneau, Metlakatla and Prince of Wales Island will be able to arrive for Saturday’s competition, but if not, the Ketchikan athletes will still compete in the games, “they just might go a little faster.”
Nina Varnell practices the Alaskan High Kick during the Native Youth Olympics open gym at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 8, 2026. Staff photo by Christopher Mullen
The public is welcome to attend throughout the day on Saturday and any interested athlete can still register at 10:30 a.m. No experience is necessary to participate in the kick-off.
Shawn Crabtree practices the One Foot High Kick during the Native Youth Olympics open gym at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 8, 2026. Staff photo by Christopher Mullen
The Omaha women’s basketball team remains winless in conference play and suffered its third-largest loss of the season at the hands of North Dakota State.
The Mavericks (2-17, 0-4 Summit League) were blown out by the Bison (15-2, 4-0 Summit League) by a score of 94-39. The game marks the fifth time this season that Omaha has lost by 50 or more points.
NDSU controlled the game from the start. They opened the contest by scoring 15 straight points before Omaha’s Leekaya Burke Perryman ended the run with a layup.
The Bison put together another 9-0 run as the quarter wound down. Regan Juenemann beat the buzzer with a layup, but NDSU led by a whopping 20 points after the first.
The second quarter was followed similarly. The Bison matched their first-quarter total of 24 points and led 48-11 entering the locker room.
The third quarter proved to be the dagger in the backs of the Mavericks. Omaha almost doubled its first half score with ten points in the quarter, but 27 Bison points put the game out of reach. NDSU led 75-21 entering the fourth.
With North Dakota State’s subs in the game for majority of the final ten minutes, the Mavericks were resilient, only being outscored by one point in the final quarter.
Juenemann led the team with 15 points, being the only Maverick to finish in double figures. The freshman shot 6-for-10 from the field in 30 minutes off the bench.
Avril Smith continued crashing the boards, grabbing 15 rebounds in the contest and eclipsing 200 total boards on the season.
Recent addition Reilly Palmer logged her first statistics of the season, recording one rebound and one assist. Lainey Maehl also made her collegiate debut for her first appearance as a Maverick.
Molly Lenz topped the Bison with 24 points on the day, a career high for the junior. In total, four NDSU players scored in double figures.
The Bison shot 42.9 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3-point range compared to the Mavericks’ 27.1 percent and 18.8 percent marks in both categories.
Omaha returns home to host St. Thomas (8-9, 1-2 Summit League) at Baxter Arena on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Players from two Staten Island youth basketball teams got the experience of a lifetime Friday night when they played at Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets.
The highly contested 7th-grade B matchup between the Islamic Center of Staten Island (ICIS) and St. Teresa took place following the Nets’ 121-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Unlike the pro game in which the Nets trailed 63-47 at the half, the youth tilt was intense with the game being tied at 15 after regulation.
The ICIS squad then won it in overtime, 20-18.
“It was an amazing experience for all the kids and their families!” said St. Teresa parent Josephine Viglione, of the two teams who are both members of the Catholic Youth Organization basketball program.
STEUBENVILLE — It is often said that big things come in small packages.
And in the case of the Sycamore Youth Center, big changes for the children of the Ohio Valley are arriving in the form of six colorful bricks.
The center has reached a historic milestone, officially becoming the first certified educator training site in the United States for Six Bricks.
Six Bricks is an innovative, research-based program that uses six brightly-colored LEGO DUPLO bricks as a simple, hands-on tool to help children develop essential life and learning skills.
While the program has long been a staple for educators overseas, Steubenville is now the home base for its growth in America, reflecting a deep commitment to the community. Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center, explained how the center has always been focused on bringing meaningful, practical tools to those who work with children and families.
Bauman shared that becoming the first certified educator training site in the nation reflects a commitment to evidence-based practices that help children thrive socially, emotionally and academically.
The upcoming training sessions, scheduled for the afternoons of 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Sycamore center, are being coordinated by Michelle Clum through a collaborative effort among the nonprofit organizations the Ohio Valley Youth Network and Six Bricks USA.
Workshop certificates will be issued to those who complete the five-hour training program.
This training is organized for faculty, staff, parents and community members.
Until recently, anyone in the United States wanting to be certified in this method had to seek training from facilitators outside the country.
However, following a successful pilot program and a full year of research conducted in the United States, the results spoke for themselves, showing that 95 percent of students improved in what experts call “SNaPCLaP” skills.
These skills represent a child’s total development, including social-emotional growth, numeracy or math skills, perceptual development, creativity, literacy and physical movement. In addition to the gains seen in students, teachers involved in the research reported the lessons were remarkably easy to store, prepare and adapt to the individual abilities of each child.
The lessons fit comfortably within a standard class period, while keeping children excited and engaged in their work.
Theresa Paterra, one of the first six certified facilitators in the country, will serve as the facilitator for the Steubenville training.
Paterra emphasized the program is not just for the classroom, noting Six Bricks opens the door to hands-on learning for people of all ages and abilities.
SYCAMORE BEGINS PILOT PROGRAM IN U.S. — The pilot program for Six Bricks involved members of the Sycamore Stars program and at the Sycamore Youth Center, including adult training. Sycamore has become the first certified educator training site in the country. Students taking part in the pilot program learned through the bricks matters such as fractions and decimals.
— Contributed
Educators, therapists, healthcare workers and youth leaders can all use these strategies with learners, who can range in age from 1 to 101.
Through the partnership with the Ohio Valley Youth Network, 12 participants are expected to complete their certified training during these January sessions, with plans for more advanced Level 4 training already in the works for a future date.
For those who are curious about how six simple bricks can change a learner’s perspective, free “taster” sessions are available.
Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or a community leader, the Sycamore Youth Center invites you to see what all the excitement is about.
For information or to register, contact Clum at (626) 905-0712 or send an e-mail to hello@sixbricksusa.org.
SYCAMORE BEGINS PILOT PROGRAM IN U.S. — The pilot program for Six Bricks involved members of the Sycamore Stars program and at the Sycamore Youth Center, including adult training. Sycamore has become the first certified educator training site in the country. Students taking part in the pilot program learned through the bricks matters such as fractions and decimals.
— Contributed
