(Shenandoah) — Three Shenandoah middle schoolers have been excelling in the Junior Rodeo circuit, and have taken their talents far enough to qualify for the National Junior Rodeo June 22nd-28th.

Jerney Millikan is the daughter of Carey and Todd Millikan and a 7th grader at Shenandoah Community School District.  She competes in rodeo, volleyball, basketball, and track. 

While competing at the state finals rodeo in Bloomfield, Iowa she qualified for Nationals in the barrels and poles competitions. 

She won 2nd in the average in barrels and also placed 2nd in the average in breakaway roping. 

“This is my first time, I just kind of try to set myself a goal, like try to get some points in the all around and stuff like that,” said Millikan.

Millikan’s partners in her events are beloved horses Queso, a palomino mare, and Seven, a bay mare. She gives alot of credit to them for helping her reach her goals.  

“I ride a really good horse named Seven.  She took me a long way,” Millikan said.  “We just started last year working together, and we just worked a lot and a lot in the practice pin, we really have gained a lot together.”

Bristal Johnson, daughter of Steve and Trisha Johnson, and an 8th grader at Iowa Connections Academy, also qualified for National Junior High School Rodeo along with Millikan. 

Johnson qualified for Nationals as the champion light rifle shooter and qualified in pole bending at tying for 4th place with Jerney Millikan, where you have to be in the top four places to qualify in an event.

“I won shooting this year and then my horse Bing is pretty easy to ride if I ride her correctly.” Johnson said. “The competition was pretty hard.  Jerney gave me a run for my money.”

Coy Wilson, son of Scott Wilson and Kerry Pryor, is 14 and an 8th grader with the Ignite school in Shenandoah. 

Wilson is a two-time Iowa Junior High School Qualifier for Nationals Finals Rodeo, Iowa Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, Iowa Champion Bareback Rider, Qualifier in Bull Riding.  

“I’ve made a lot of accomplishments in the last three years.  I ride saddle bronc, bulls, and bareback, and I won the world in 2023, and I made nationals in 2022.  The world finals were in Las Vegas, and nationals last year was in Des Moines,” said Wilson.

Wilson is also now a 3x JRNFR qualifier Saddle Bronc, 2023 JRNFR world champion Saddle Bronc.

For more information, visit https://nhsra.com/juniorhighfinals/

For full interview with the three qualifiers, click and listen below.

Princeton Athletics is thrilled to partner with our corporate partner Ford to present the Ford Tiger Game Changers Award, which recognizes a Princeton varsity team that best represents the spirit of serving the broader Princeton community. As part of the award, Ford will make a contribution to the charity of the team’s choice.
 
This 2024-25 recipient is Princeton’s softball team.

The softball program, in addition to securing their fourth consecutive Ivy League championship, continues to build strong and meaningful relationships in their community in a multitude of wys.

They have fostered a life-changing relationship with their new teammate Brooke through Team Impact, a national organization that pairs children facing serious illnesses and disabilities with college sports teams. The relationship with Brooke is one of many between Princeton teams and members of Team Impact that led to Princeton being named 2024 Team IMPACT Division I Fellowship Campus of the Year.

Additionally, Princeton softball has collaborated with the nonprofit Let Her Play to increase young girls participation in youth sports, while also having a number of their student-athletes actively volunteering as Tiger Pal mentors and readers in the Princeton area elementary schools.

The Tigers also continue to build upon their Tiger Sisters program, engaging with young girls in the community as pen pals and around select games and special events.

The Tigers have regularly leveraged home competitions to spotlight and promote causes such as Mental Health Awareness, Epilepsy Awareness and Pride.

This is the second year of this award being presented at the annual Gary Walters ’67 PVC Awards Banquet. Last year’s recipients were the Princeton Rowing teams as well as the Princeton Women’s Track and Field team.

All proceeds from this event, will go towards helping kids afford AAU youth basketball.

DULUTH, Minn.- Thursday, June 19th, marks the national celebration of the federal holiday, Juneteenth.

Right here in Duluth two local leaders are putting together a charity basketball game to commemorate the occasion with a notable Duluth Denfeld Alum playing in the game.

Duluth Denfeld boys basketball head coach Phill Homere and Liza Williamson are constructing the first Juneteenth charity basketball game.

The captains of the teams will be Homere and Minnesota Vikings fullback CJ Ham.

The two teams competing in the game will be built from players that have made an impact in the community.

“I reached out to CJ Ham, and he said that he would love to be a part of it. As well as, he’s bringing another Vikings running back to play with him. So, we’re looking at it as, a basketball game where we’re just gonna get community members, I believe we have three police officers, three of them are from Fond du Lac that is going to be playing in this event and we are really looking forward to it and we want it to be almost like, something as far as, guys just out there enjoying themselves, having fun,” Said Homere. “We feel like it will be a good chance for us to raise awareness and play the great game of basketball.”

All proceeds from this event, will go towards helping kids afford AAU youth basketball.

“The goal is, we would like to raise funds as far as individuals that can’t afford tennis shoes, especially like being around in the west side we run into that a lot. As far as playing basketball tournaments, going down to the cities to compete, we run into a lot of kids that’s not able to afford it because of that it makes them not want to play AAU basketball,” said Homere. “Our goal is, if we can raise some money to help with that, that would be great.”

The Juneteenth charity basketball game is next Friday, at Duluth Denfeld high school.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

 

Sparks Orthopedics and Northeast Orthopedics recently announced their official merger, effective August 18, 2025, forming one of the region’s most comprehensive and community-connected orthopedic practices.

The new unified organization, operating under the name Northeast Orthopedics, will combine decades of orthopedic excellence, increase access to patient resources, deepen partnerships with local schools and sports teams, and deliver a more seamless experience for patients across the region.

The merger comes after more than two years of strategic planning, clinical collaboration and feedback from patients, staff and the community.

The decision reflects the shared values and vision of both practices, which have long prioritized expert care, innovation, and community engagement.

A Shared Mission for Advanced Care

By joining forces, Sparks Orthopedics and Northeast Orthopedics will now offer expanded services across a wider geographic footprint. Patients will benefit from:

• Enhanced access to specialists and services in sports medicine, joint replacement, spine care, and more.

• Consolidated scheduling and records systems, allowing for smoother transitions between providers and more coordinated care.

• Shared physical therapy and rehabilitation programs, bringing evidence-based recovery strategies closer to home.

• Increased resources and staffing, improving wait times and appointment availability across all locations.

“This merger isn’t just about growing in size—it’s about growing in service,” said Dr. Butch Douthit, Senior Physician of the newly formed Northeast Orthopedics. “We are unifying our strengths to elevate the standard of orthopedic care in the region. Patients can expect more personalized options, better follow-through, and the same commitment to compassionate, expert care they’ve always known.”

Stronger Ties to Local Schools and Student Athletes

One of the key advantages of the merger is an expanded ability to work directly with local school districts, athletic programs, and community sports leagues. Both Sparks and Northeast Orthopedics have a long history of supporting youth sports through injury prevention, in school physicals, and sideline medical support. The merger will allow this work to scale.

“With more physicians, athletic trainers, and clinical staff available, we can strengthen our presence in local schools and better support student-athletes year-round,” said Cory Fuller, PT, DPT, Director of Physical Therapy Services. “From pre-season evaluations to on-site injury response and post-injury rehabilitation, we’ll now be able to serve more athletes in more schools, faster and more efficiently.”

Already, the combined group has signed partnership agreements with several local school districts, covering over 10,000 students and student-athletes.

One Brand, One Experience

Patients of both legacy organizations will soon begin to see a unified brand presence, including a new website, updated signage, and a centralized patient portal that simplifies scheduling, billing, and communication. The Northeast Orthopedics brand will be rolled out gradually over the next several months, with the full transition expected by December 2025.

“Our goal is to eliminate confusion and give patients one consistent experience—whether they’re seeing a doctor in our Gadsden office, getting physical therapy in Rainbow City, or checking their medical record from their phone,” said Rick Janss, Administrator. “This merger allows us to streamline systems, improve service, and ensure that every interaction reflects the quality and trust we’re known for.”

What Patients Need to Know

• No immediate changes are required from current patients. All appointments, insurance plans, and provider relationships will continue uninterrupted during the transition.

• Phone numbers, patient portals, and locations will remain the same for now, with updates communicated well in advance.

• A new, centralized website will launch in August at www.northeastorthopedics.com , with full integration of patient tools by fall.

Patients will receive communications about the transition, and our phone desk will be available to answer any questions.

Looking Ahead

The merger is not only a reflection of the organizations’ shared history but also their commitment to future innovation. Northeast Orthopedics plans to invest in expanded healthcare options, additional outpatient surgery capabilities, and new methods to advance orthopedic care in the region.

“This is just the beginning,” said Dr. Daniel Sparks, Orthopedic Surgeon at the new Northeast Orthopedics. “Together, we’re building something stronger—something that will serve our communities for generations to come. We’re proud of where we’ve been, and we’re even more excited about where we’re going.”

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the newly combined practice stands ready to lead with compassion, expertise, and community-first thinking. Patients, families, and partners can expect the same trusted care—only better, broader, and more connected than ever.

About Sparks Orthopedics

Founded in 2001, Sparks Orthopedics has served thousands of patients with expert care in joint replacement, sports medicine, and trauma recovery. Known for its commitment to clinical excellence and personalized treatment, Sparks has grown into one of the area’s most trusted orthopedic providers.

About Northeast Orthopedics

Since 1986, Northeast Orthopedics has provided comprehensive orthopedic care to patients across northeastern Alabama. A regional company with six locations, Northeast Orthopedics has a focus on innovation and community involvement, the group has earned a reputation for quality care and responsive service.

Submitted by NEO.