BILLINGS — First responders across Billings received an unexpected show of gratitude Friday as members of the MSU Billings baseball team joined a local business to hand-deliver free meals to police, fire and EMS crews.

Watch how a small gesture can make a big difference for first responders:

Local business and MSU Billings baseball players give free meals to first responders

What began four years ago as “Topz for Copz,” a small appreciation effort for police officers, has now expanded into the “Red Bite and Blue Give Back,” offering free meals to any on- or off-duty police, fire, sheriff, EMS, or other first responders in Yellowstone County from Topz Sandwich Company.

The event is organized each year by the sandwich shop and Performance Engineering, owned by Billings City Council member Scott Aspenlieder. He said the gesture is meant to recognize the people who often go unthanked but play a vital role in the community.

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“Our EMS, our fire, sheriff’s office, police officers, those are the people that really make this community what it is today. They keep us all safe,” said Aspenlieder. “When they do get recognized, sometimes it’s not always in the best light, and we just wanted to show our appreciation for those folks as they work in our community and dedicate their time and their lives.”

Related: Billings businesses show appreciation for law enforcement after taxing year 

By early afternoon, the Topz location on King Avenue had already served more than $1,500 worth of free meals. Aspenlieder hoped to top $2,000 by day’s end.

Traditionally, the event has served around 120 first responders. This year, organizers doubled the program’s reach with the help of more than a dozen MSU Billings baseball players who delivered meals directly to stations and worksites.

Isabel Spartz/MTN News

“Coach Waddoups and I coached little guy football together, and we got to talking about how we serve our community,” said Aspenlieder. “I think he’s got a heart to serve our community just like we do, and it was a real natural match for us to really lean in and help our community out.”

The added help came at a busy time for the athletes, who are preparing for finals, but head baseball coach Derek Waddoups said serving the community is core to his program.

“I believe that youth sports should be life lessons, and it should help us build ourselves off the field and in the community, which is what I try to teach my college athletes as well,” said Waddoups. “What I try to get our student athletes to understand is there’s more to a community than baseball or college or anything, and so the way we talk about it is servant leadership, and then be a force for good.”

Isabel Spartz/MTN News

Players packed their cars with meals from Topz Sandwiches and fanned out across the city, making stops at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility, Fire Station 1, City Hall, and the 911 dispatch center.

Seniors Brennen Chappell and Andrew White took their portion to the fire station and were more than willing to assist.

“I enjoy that our coaching staff tries to develop us as people, to be contributing members of society, to just be good people rather than just as baseball players,” said Chappell. “Bringing some food to (first responders) will create some ease and convenience in their life and hopefully bring a little bit of joy to them as well.”

“It’s the least that we can do to be able to go and provide a meal for them,” added White.

Isabel Spartz/MTN News

Chappell, who is a summer wildland firefighter, said he understands the value of a ready-to-eat meal.

“I’ve been on the other end of what we’re doing today,” said Chappell. “How quickly you have to respond to things, having a hot and ready meal that is quality is definitely a game changer.”

At Fire Station 1, Captain Levi Bogunovich said the visit was a welcome surprise.

Isabel Spartz/MTN News

“I was not expecting it. It’s a good gesture from the community and Topz Sandwich to come support us and bring us some lunch,” said Bogunovich. “It’s a quick little thought from the community that we’re still here, and we appreciate them.”

True to form, firefighters gave back in their own way, sharing their meal with the players and offering them a ride up the fire truck’s aerial ladder and platform.

Isabel Spartz/MTN News

Players said the day left a deeper impression than the thrill of the fire-truck ride.

“Service is something that’s always been a key value in my life, and I enjoy just going and helping others,” said White. “I know how much it means to these firefighters to be able to have a meal delivered to them.”

Isabel Spartz/MTN News

For Waddoups, that lesson is the point.

“If we create the right habits, and I think giving back is one of those, and I call it being a force for good, attitude of gratitude,” said Waddoups. “To be able to give back and say, ‘Hey, we see you,’ even when they don’t think that we do, just that gratitude and that support is awesome from the entire Billings community.”

Voices From the Field –  David McMenomey shares a story of calling, clarity, and obedience — a journey that proves purpose can arrive in an instant, yet reshape the course of an entire community. As the Founder of True Gritt Youth Sports, McMenomey is leading one of the most ambitious faith-driven sports projects the Treasure Valley has ever seen. His mission is simple yet powerful: to glorify God by creating an excellent family sports and recreation environment — one where character, integrity, and a love for sports can grow without pressure or limitation.

But what makes his story extraordinary isn’t just the scale of what he’s building. It’s the moment that set it all in motion — a moment that came down to two unexpected words.

Read on to discover how David’s vision began, where it’s going, and how the future of youth sports in Idaho may be changed forever — only on Extra Inning Softball.

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HEERENVEEN, Netherlands – Japan’s Olympic 1000-meter champion Miho Takagi narrowly lost to Dutch rival Jutta Leerdam over the distance Friday at this season’s third World Cup speed skating round in the Netherlands.

Skating in the first pairing, Takagi clocked 1 minute, 14.29 seconds and remained in position for the gold medal until Leerdam shaved 0.12 second off her time while racing in the final pairing.

Dutch sprinter Femke Kok took bronze in 1:14.46, while Japan’s Rio Yamada and Yukino Yoshida were seventh and ninth, respectively, at the Thialf arena in Heerenveen.

The 31-year-old Takagi said she struggled on her final lap and was surprised to remain in the lead for so long, as several opponents also finished well outside their best times.

“I lost two seconds (on the final lap) and felt like I wasn’t doing too well, but the others also had slower times than I expected,” she said.

“It was a strange feeling. I thought it would be tough to get on the podium, so I’m glad I was able to make it. I’m deeply regretting my lack of finishing ability at the end.”

In the men’s 1,500, U.S. star Jordan Stolz smashed the track record with a time of 1:42.55 to remain unbeaten this season.

This season’s four World Cup rounds serve as qualification events for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Just a few months after hiring an athletics and activities director, Oxbow High is once again on the hunt for a new individual to oversee its sports. 

Bill Hopkins, whose hiring as the school’s new athletics and activities director was announced in August, has resigned, effective Jan. 4, Heather Lawler, the Orange East Supervisory Union superintendent of schools, confirmed during a phone interview earlier this week. 

“He’s giving us some time to hire and do an overlap between his departure and bringing in the new person,” Lawler said. 

Hopkins, 78, who came to Bradford, Vt., from Springfield, Mo., cited health reasons for his resignation in a phone interview. 

“I liked the job, I liked the people, especially the principal, who is my immediate supervisor, is excellent,” Hopkins said. “In fact, all of the teaching staff, the coaches — I really enjoyed the coaches — good group.” 

Hopkins, who previously coached gymnastics at Southeast Missouri State University and served as the Lindbergh School District’s director of activities and sports in St. Louis, replaced Heidi Wright at Oxbow, who departed this past summer. 

“We thank Bill for his service to our students, coaches, advisors, and community while in this position,” Lawler said in a news release announcing Hopkins’ upcoming departure. 

Lawler said that there has been “quite a bit of interest” from the community in the new opening and was hopeful they would find a qualified interim athletics and activities director. 

While the job posting notes that the position is an interim one, it states, “A strong performance will result in a strong internal candidacy for the AD Position for the 26-27 school year.” 

“We’re really looking for stability and longevity in the role,” Lawler said. The district is also looking for someone who can be a good role model, is organized, and community-minded, among other attributes. 

Lawler also noted that the requirements for a candidate have been amended in that individuals without a bachelor’s degree will be considered. Previously, the position required a bachelor’s degree, with a master’s degree preferred. 

“We’re really opening it up, because what we want is that person, the community connector, the person who can build the program and connect to families and students,” Lawler said. 

An interim is anticipated to be named “as soon as possible,” according to the news release. It adds that information on the process for picking a permanent fixture for the role will be announced at a later date. 

Communication is the focus for the Franklin Tech boys basketball team heading into the new season.

After a down season last year, the Eagles are hyper-focused on improving that aspect of their game early on in the preseason. With players coming from different schools, the chemistry isn’t always there for the Eagles.

“We don’t communicate enough,” Franklin Tech coach George Gutierrez said. “They haven’t played enough with each other. It’s like they come in and they don’t have trust and don’t communicate with each other. We just don’t talk enough. If we can start talking on defense we will be fine.”

The ultra quick Nolyn Stafford plays the point for Franklin Tech.

“I like to set an example for the young kids,” Stafford said. “Helping my team with the plays and all that.”

Stafford pointed at something that the Eagles will not be lacking this season.

“The most hustling team,” Stafford said. “More energy than most teams. We are going to give it our all. We can improve talking and communication. More leadership from the older kids. Just putting more work into practice.”

Gutierrez lauded the skills of Stafford, who is quick with the ball and can score around the rim.

“He’s gonna be the leader,” Gutierrez said. “He’s an all-around player.”

Hunter Donahue and Brody Hicks do the dirty work for the team.

“They are my defenders,” Gutierrez said. “They will tip every pass and get every rebound.”

Both players get after loose balls and will do anything to secure a possession. The team can create offense on the defensive end.

“I can expect a lot of defense,” Donahue said. “Talking on defense. Playing really aggressive and using our defense to our advantage.”

Hicks and Donahue can do some scoring for the Eagles as well. Franklin Tech is working on chemistry.

“We know each other,” Donahue said. “We just try our best and do all we can to build chemistry.”

Cole and Mason Bassett provide much needed size on both ends of the floor for the Eagles.

“They are going to have to step up as sophomores,” Gutierrez said.

The Eagles went 5-15 last season and missed the playoffs. Franklin Tech plays in the Tri-County North league with Mohawk and Turners Falls.

Franklin Tech opens its season against St. Mary’s at home in the Holiday Classic on Thursday, Dec. 11.