KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County board is expected to accept the recommendation of the WestGate site for the new $40 million youth sports facility Tuesday.

County Administrator Kevin Catlin says an ad hoc task force picked that site because there is plenty of space for construction, parking and expansion and of course its location. It’s right off U.S. 131, close to dense populations, near Kalamazoo Central High School, mass transit, hotels, restaurants and future development.

Discover Kalamazoo’s Jane Ghosh says there is a big need for tournament venues in this region for basketball and volleyball, the two most popular youth sports.

She says construction will be funded through a fee on local hotel rooms, and ongoing operations will be funded by weekend tournaments.

A closed session of the Kalamazoo County board is set for Tuesday afternoon to talk about the land purchase.

Once they accept the recommendation, it will be up to the county to establish an authority to operate the facility and sell bonds to fund its construction.

The current goal is to tip off their first game in 2027.

By Cory Henderson/Seeds of Learning

This year’s Pagosa stars are getting ready to put on their dancing shoes and prepare for their night on the dance floor. Each star will be matched with a talented coach, who will lead them through this performance of a lifetime to support Seeds of Learning.

This year’s fabulous male stars include Ben Lawrence, Ernesto Renteria and Matt Kossler.

Lawrence

“Ben is thrilled to be making his debut in Pagosa Dancing with the Stars. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Ben moved to Pagosa in 2021 and instantly fell in love with the community. Recent performances include the … burlesque show, where he has been able to harness his love for theater and grow his confidence on and off stage. Although he credits his teachers from his younger years in Texas, Ben would also like to thank the Pagosa community for not only accepting him, but celebrating him. Ben is very excited and honored to be chosen to perform and work with Seeds and hopes to give the young generation the same passion for performing that he has.”

Renteria

“My name is Ernesto Rafael, and I’ve had the honor of calling Pagosa Springs home for nearly 20 years. Throughout that time, I’ve worked in the service industry, always grateful for the kindness, support, and respect this wonderful community has shown to me and my family.

“It fills me with pride to join this meaningful cause, supporting the youngest and most vulnerable members of our town. I’m excited to take on this new challenge and, through it, give back to the community that has given me so much.”

Kossler

“Matt and Tasha have been married for 19 years and are the proud parents of five amazing kids, all between the ages of 6 and 11. Their family has called Pagosa Springs home for the past six years, and they’ve loved being part of the vibrant local community.

“In that time, you’ve probably seen them around town — managing in local hospitality spots, showing up at school events and parent-teacher conferences, cheering from the sidelines at youth sports games, or simply enjoying a quiet moment with a journal and a cup of coffee at one of Pagosa’s cozy coffee shops.

“These days, life is full with the exciting adventure of opening their own restaurant, but Matt and Tasha never shy away from making time for what matters. Dancing for Seeds of Learning is one of those things. It’s not just fun — it’s meaningful.

“Four of their daughters have attended Seeds of Learning, and their family has seen firsthand the difference this incredible early childhood program makes in the lives of young children and their families. That’s why this fundraiser is so close to their hearts.

“Vote for Matt — not just because he’s bringing the dad moves, but because he’s dancing with purpose, passion and a whole lot of heart for the kids and families of Pagosa Springs.”

Tickets and voting

information

These three male stars will be joined with three more female stars to compete for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.

You can now go to the Seed’s website,https://growingseeds.org/dwtps/, to learn more about all the stars and their coaches and vote for your favorites.

Voting is now open. Start voting online today. Each $1 vote moves a star closer to winning the fabulous trophy and bragging rights. You can vote for as many stars as you would like as many times as you want. But, more importantly, all the proceeds go to sustaining Seeds of Learning’s tuition mission to provide affordable, high-quality early childhood education in Pagosa Springs.

All tickets include voting for your favorite star, a dinner served by our fine-dining restaurant, a fabulous show that is sure to entertain and open dancing during voting.

Ticket sales will open to the public at 9 a.m. on June 16 with limited tickets. Watch our website and the Dancing with the Pagosa Stars Facebook page,facebook.com/Dancingstarspagosa/, for specific instructions on ticket purchase.

Seeds of Learning is a nonprofit, standalone preschool serving approximately 58 preschoolers year-round, ages 2.5 to 5 years old. The critical proceeds from this event help offset the actual cost for providing quality early learning, making it possible for many of the children at Seeds to attend. Please help support the most vulnerable population in Pagosa Springs — our children.

Amarillo’s Youth Sports Scene Is Thriving

Amarillo is full of a bunch of little ballers—football, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, etc. We have so many kids that are out there competing every day, every weekend.

They put in countless hours of practice, working on their craft anywhere they can find. Whether it be at a facility or in their yard, the work is happening.

When Practice Goes Beyond the Fence

Sometimes, the kick isn’t perfect, or the pitch isn’t a strike. Other times, a ball will fly into someone else’s yard. There are a couple of different ways to handle this, assuming it didn’t break anything.

One of those ways is to be angry about a kiddo chasing their dreams and berate them or their parents for the ball ending up in their yard. I’ve seen it time and time again. Nothing like knocking down a kid’s confidence, right?

Then, there is the way this gentleman in Amarillo handled it, and it has to be the most heartwarming thing I’ve seen in at least the last few months.

A Pitching Prospect in the Making

Sonia Medina’s daughter is an aspiring young softball player who pitches for her team, West Texas Lightning. Anyone who has tried to pitch in baseball or softball knows it can be one of the hardest things to learn.

She was out in her yard one day working on it when one got away from her and disappeared into a neighboring yard. I’m not sure if she couldn’t find it at the time, but the neighbor ended up coming by and dropping the softball off.

Read More: Fight Between Parents Highlights Youth Sports Stupidity In Texas

Searching for a Stranger’s Kindness

Sonia ended up making a post on Facebook to see if she could find out who the person was, as she wanted to thank them for returning the softball, but also apologize for the wild pitch that ended up with the neighbor.

However, it became apparent days later that an apology wasn’t needed, and in fact, turned out to be the setting for one of the best things I’ve seen.

A Gift That Left Everyone Speechless

Softball returned, the person showed back up a few days later, and dropped a package on their doorstep. What was inside stunned everyone.

A t-shirt was inside the bag, and emblazoned with the message, “The Off Season. That’s Where Champions Are Made”. That wasn’t all, though. The person who bought the shirt included a personal note that said,

“Just a gift from a former athlete that achieved his success by working his butt off. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Keep putting in that work.”

 

A Coach’s Perspective on a Powerful Moment

As a dad of athletes and a coach of teams, I can’t tell you how this made me feel. I don’t tear up often, but this did it for me.