The Youth Rescue Project and LB3 Foundation host basketball youth clinic

Updated: 7:14 PM EDT Apr 26, 2025

Savannah youth came out on Saturday to learn the fundamentals of basketball. It’s all part of the LB3 Foundation and the Youth Rescue Project to keep kids active and out of trouble, all while honoring Savannah basketball legend Larry “Gator” Rivers. “We just want to do our best to help our young people find their way, find things that they’re interested in, find things that they’re passionate about. Dive into those passions and leave all this other stuff alone,” said former Harlem Globetrotter and Gordon State College associate professor Bruce Capers.This event included a basketball youth clinic and a 3-on-3 tournament. Lawrence “Bunny” Bryan III and Bruce Capers also taught kids new basketball tricks.“So we reach out to kids, we try to uplift their lives, find out what they’re doing in school,” Bryan said.

WELLSBURG — For Nathan Marshall, the chant “Let’s Go Bucs” will forever have a new meaning.

Marshall, one of the coaches for the Wellsburg Baseball and Softball Association, on Saturday talked with several hundred people in attendance at opening day for the youth league about how a season just weeks ago on the verge of not happening quickly took a turn after a phone call from Robert Nutting.

Nutting, owner and chairman of the Pittsburgh Pirates and also CEO of the Ogden Newspapers, had read of the league’s financial plight in the newspaper. He reached out to league officers with one question: “how can we help?”

Through the efforts of the Pirates charitable arm, Pirates Charities, and other community support a season once waiting for strike three to be called instead began Saturday with a grand slam.

“Everyone in this community — coaches, parents — they chose not to get negative but instead they came together and said, ‘Let’s do this for the kids,” Marshall said, thanking the new board members of Wellsburg Baseball and Softball for their efforts. “And of course I’d like to thank Pirates Charities especially John Leonard (Pirates Charities manager of Youth Baseball and Softball.) … This guy has been a miracle. They have stepped up in so many ways. And then, of course, I’d like to thank Bob Nutting. He’s one of our own from West Virginia, right down the road in Wheeling. Once he learned of our plight he immediately gave us a call and said, ‘what can I do to help? You are our neighbors, and I want to help.’ How great of a man is that? He didn’t have to do that.”

The combined team effort from the Pirates, the community and local businesses on Saturday turned into a celebration.

“Three weeks ago, we had nothing — no money, no hopes of anything,” Marshall said. “I was amazed by how much this community has come together.”

Along with a $15,000 grant from Pirates Charities, the Pirates organization itself played a big part in the opening ceremonies. The Pirates Parrot joined members of the Brooke High School baseball team in leading a parade of Wellsburg baseball and softball players and their coaches and parents along city streets to the Betty Carr Recreation Site, where they play.

Pirate alumnus and current analyst Michael McKenry greeted the players as they approached the ball field, offering a “high five” to each and encouraging them to run onto the field as they were introduced by Pirates in-game host Joe Klimchak.

And Pirate Charities staff held a free drawing for prizes ranging from pitching machines to wiffle ball sets while handing out Pirates items to all players.

Earlier in the week, Pirates staff also conducted a batting camp for the league’s players.

Chad Rogers, vice president of the Wellsburg Baseball and Softball Association, shared the sentiments of Marshall and Joe Pettini, its president, regarding the community’s support.

“All of the sponsors, the small businesses, kept this going. Without them, this wouldn’t happen. And the Pirates stepping up, that was huge,” he said.

Rogers pointed to a sign on which the support of about 30 local businesses and groups was acknowledged, noting many have sponsored teams in the league through the years.

He said the league currently includes about 55 players, from beginners in T-ball to 9- and 10-year-olds in the mustang division.

Rogers confirmed the number has declined in recent years, but he and the league’s recently elected officers and board hope to reverse that.

In addition to Pettini and Rogers, the organization’s board includes Michelle Mazzella, secretary; and Taylor Wilson, treasurer.

A dark cloud fell over the league in March when former president Eric M. Smith was charged with embezzlement following accusations he had taken thousands of dollars from its funds.

The case against Smith is pending in Brooke County Magistrate Court.

But while real dark clouds hovered above the ball field on Saturday morning, a bright and hopeful attitude for the future prevailed among many in attendance.

“I’m glad they’re able to keep it going,” said Kevin Lyons of Windsor Heights, whose son plays in the pinto division.

Tracy Johnson, another parent of a player, said of the opening day and the Pirate Charities announcement, “This was amazing. It’s really great. The Pirates are really great.”

Johnson was among volunteers overseeing a drawing for an assortment of gift baskets containing items collected by players from each of the league’s teams.

Rogers said the league’s leaders are considering other fundraisers, including possibly a concert by a local band that has offered its services.

“We’re still throwing around a few ideas, but we’re definitely going to have fundraisers,” he said.

Johnny W. “Jack” Miller, 89, of Shelbyville, passed away on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Ashford Place Health Campus in Shelbyville.
He was born January 11, 1936, in Shelbyville, the son of John and Doretha (Roberts) Miller.  On November 8, 1957, he married Joyce Ann Amos, and she preceded him in death on November 1, 2021.
Jack is survived by his sons, Kim Miller and wife, Tracy, of Shelbyville, and Kyle Miller and wife, Amy, of Martinsville; daughter, Kelly Hurley and husband, Brian, of Liberty, South Carolina; brother, Max Miller and wife, Joy, of Bloomfield; grandchildren, Rachel, Jake, Sam, Kyra, Trae, Dustin, Erin and Danielle; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to Joyce, Jack was preceded in death by his parents.
Jack graduated from Waldron High School in 1954.
He served in the National Guard.
Jack retired from the Indianapolis Star, with over 30 years of service.
He was an active member of Lewis Creek Baptist Church, where he taught adult Sunday school, served as a deacon and enjoyed participating in church events.  Jack also volunteered on mission trips, helping rebuild areas struck by hurricanes.
Jack enjoyed going fishing, coaching youth sports and watching sports,  He especially liked the Indianapolis 500, New York Yankees, and the Indianapolis Colts.  He was also a member of the Optimist Club.
He was a family man and loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Jack had a servant’s heart and enjoyed spending time visiting with and ministering to his friends in nursing facilities.
Visitation will be from 10 am to Noon, Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville.
Funeral services will follow at Noon, with Rev. Bill Horner officiating.
Interment will be at Lewis Creek Baptist Cemetery in Shelby County.
Memorial contributions may be made to Scuffy, 126 N. Harrison St., Shelbyville, Indiana.
Online condolences may be shared with Jack’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.

Vancouver B.C. – The Vancouver Canucks, in partnership with LiUNA Local 1611, are excited to announce that the Trail Memorial Centre, located in Trail, B.C., has been named winner of the “Game Changer Reno” contest.

“We are proud to award the Trail Memorial Centre $100,000 for critical upgrades and renovations that will ensure the rink remains a pillar of the community,” said Michael Doyle, President, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Business Operations. “This collaboration with LiUNA Local 1611 reflects our shared commitment to investing in local sports infrastructure and providing opportunities for youth hockey development throughout B.C.”

“The history of this arena is remarkable — it’s been a place where generations of families have gathered, grown, and celebrated through sport and recreation and many community gatherings,” said Colleen Jones, City of Trail Mayor. “We’re so grateful to whoever nominated us and to the Canucks and LiUNA for supporting upgrades that will ensure future generations can experience the same pride, connection, and opportunity.”

“Home of the Trail Smoke Eaters for more than 100 years and the industrial hub of the Kootenay region, Trail is where hockey and hard work align,” said Nav Malhotra, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of LiUNA Local 1611. “We are proud to contribute to the advancement of youth sport in arguably the biggest little hard-working Hockey Town in British Columbia.”

On April 26, the Canucks and LiUNA Local 1611 were proud to be in Trail to present the $100,000 cheque as a part of a special ceremony. The event brought the community of Trail together to celebrate and acknowledge the positive impact these funds will have on the community. The Canucks were represented by alumnus and Ring of Honour inductee, Kirk McLean along with team mascot FIN.

TULSA, Okla. — The YMCA of Greater Tulsa encouraged kids to get moving ahead of summer with their Healthy Kids Day event.

“Welcome to Healthy Kids Day 2025,” said Kyle Wilkes, the Chief Development Officer for the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. “This is our day that we try to prepare our families and kids for the upcoming summer to be focused on healthy activities, healthy habits and a number of different activities.”

Wilkes explained some of the activities the YMCA put together for Saturday’s event. 

“We really just want to keep people moving today, so we have FC Tulsa here working with kids on the soccer field. We have the Thunder here working with kids for basketball. We have different types of activities like the jump rope contest that just happened behind us, Moon Jump behind us, in addition to just some informational tables about ways that families can be supported. Even some body painting and face painting going on as well. We have a mad scientist that’s creating fun different science projects for the kids to be able to make toothpaste and different colored explosions and really just want to bring people together in a safe place to really focus on an amazing day on this Saturday.”

Beyond helping kids be active, Wilkes said the YMCA aims to use events like these to bring families together.

“We take family strengthening very seriously and we focus on who we’re going to bring into our facility. We focus on the entire family unit…There’s been some studies that have shown that families have less than 30 minutes of family strengthening time per week in a safe environment and the YMCA loves to be able to provide that for people.”

Wilkes said the event allowed them to inform parents about the YMCA’s upcoming summer activities. 

“It’s a great opportunity for us to give exposure to what’s going to happen during those critical months of out of school time, like swim lessons, like summer camp, like youth sports and things that people can [do] to stay healthy and active.”

Wilkes stated the YMCA of Greater Tulsa is currently hiring people to fill seasonal positions for the summer months.

“If someone’s interested in coming in for a seasonal position, whether it be for swim lessons, a lifeguard, a camp counselor, even a counselor in training with a teenager, we have multiple opportunities to give people in this community a chance at their first job and to be able to get an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives as they do so.”

To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Tulsa, their programs, hiring opportunities and more, you can visit their website at ymcatulsa.org.