Overall. The Bulldogs led all county schools with 9 OBC team championships (boys and girls golf, boys and girls track, softball, boys’ and girls’ cross country, boys and girls weightlifting); while placing second in seven others.  Harmony posted three team champions (flag football, girls’ soccer and baseball); with 10 second place finishes.  Celebration, with five team champions in boys and girls’ tennis, boys’ volleyball and boys and girls swimming, finished third in the All-Sports race with 127 points.

Points are awarded on an 8 (first place) to 1 basis (last place) in 24 boys’ and girls’ sports. Champions were determined by week-long tournaments for team sports or single day championships for individual sports.  To count, a sport must be sponsored by at least five of the eight public schools.  Due its’ nature, football was not included.

Individually, Harmony multi-sport star Kenzie James and St. Cloud weightlifter Mikey Ziss were named OBC Athletes of the year.  James excelled in flag football, volleyball and beach volleyball.  In flag, she was a top receiver and defender for the Longhorns – catching 121 passes for 1366 yard and 15 touchdowns with 12 pass breakups and five interceptions.  She played a key role as Harmony repeated as OBC and District champions in the sport.  She recorded 658 assists and had 41 service aces in helping Harmony to a 12-9 record in volleyball.

Ziss earns the OBC Athlete of the Year nod for the second straight time.  This spring he won state championships in both the Traditional and Olympic disciplines to tie him with former Osceola track and field star Brett Williams for the most individual state championships in county history (6).  Ziss has represented the United State of America by competing on the international stage.

St. Cloud athletes also impressed in the classroom, winning the OBC School Academic Award with a cumulative 3.385 GPA, edging out 2024 champion Harmony (3.376).  Overall, seven of the eight Osceola County public schools posted GPA’s of 3.093 or higher.  Liberty, which just missed hitting the 3.00 mark, saw its athletes improve to 2.935.  Overall, Osceola County athletes posted a combined average GPA of 3.226.

Harmony softball player Lindsay Green and Osceola cross country runner Ethan Ortiz were named the OBC Scholar Athletes of the Year.  Green, who is dual enrolled at Valencia has a perfect 4.00 GPA (4.571 weighted) and has completed 12 AP courses and seven college courses.  Her class rank in fourth of 689 Harmony students.

Ortiz has already earned an AA degree from Valencia and is dual enrolled at the University of Florida.  He has a 3.97 GPA (4.6343 weighted) and is ranked number overall in his class at Osceola.  He has amassed over 400 community service hours in his high school career.

The top individual teams in the county were also recognized with the Boys Academic Award going to the Osceola cross country team with a 3.866 cumulative GPA and the Tohopekaliga cross country team taking the girls award with a 3.860 GPA.

St. Cloud athletes posted more than 4,700 community service hours during the past year to edge Celebration (4,300) hours for the Advent Award.  St. Cloud athletes donated their time to a variety of causes – including serving as coaches at youth sports camps.

Coaches and administrators were recognized with the Mike Fields Distinguished Leadership Award, the M. Dean Cherry Coach of the Year Award and the OBC Athletic Director of the Year Award.

Being cited for creating the Kowboys Community Service Scholarship; Osceola baseball coach Nikko Martel was named recipient of the Fields Award.  In addition to the scholarship, Martel and his team also partnered with Extend an Olive Branch, an organization that provides aid to disabled military veterans, homeless families and victims of domestic violence.  The Kowboys also adopted a Puerto Rican Little League team, providing them with equipment and uniforms.   

Each school’s Coach of the Year and were recognized. Honored were Celebration lacrosse coach David Shearer, Harmony girls’ soccer coach Scott Marlega, Osceola football coach Eric Pinellas, Poinciana weightlifting coach Bree Lopez, Liberty weightlifting coach Janko Beras, St. Cloud track and cross country coach Kevin Harkema, Gateway boys soccer coach Sagar Patel and Tohopekaliga weightlifting coach Alaine Cora.

From that list, Pinellas was selected the recipient of the M. Dean Cherry Coach of the Year award.  Playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, Pinellas guided Osceola to 8-2 regular season record and then four straight playoff wins – two on the road – as the Kowboys reached the Class 6A FHSAA State Championship game.  Along the way, four of his players earned first team all-state honors, 10 signed college athletic scholarships and Taevion Swint was named 6A Player of the Year,

“I’m such a small part of this award,” Pinellas said.  “It really belongs to my assistant coaches, athletic staff and especially the student athletes whose hard work, dedication and skills make something like this possible.”

St. Cloud’s Craig Carnell was named Athletic Trainer of the Year; while Bryan Smart (St. Cloud) and Travis James (Gateway) were named OBC Co-Athletics Director of the Year.  Smart oversaw the Bulldogs winning both the All-Sports and Academic championship; while James helped guide the Panthers to one of their best finishes in recent memory – including championships in boys soccer and girls basketball and top four finishes in 17 different sports.

2025 Students of Distinction

Gig Harbor Now is posting profiles featuring the Students of Distinction being honored by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Peers, teachers or parents nominate students, who must be a graduating senior at a Peninsula School District school. A panel of community leaders selects students to be honored in one of seven categories: academics; athletics; career and technical excellence; community service; music, arts and drama; overcoming adversity; and science and technology.

These students will be celebrated during a banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2024, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.

School: Peninsula High School

Category: Community Service

Prince Charles has spent his high school years at Peninsula High building a legacy grounded in service, leadership, and inclusion. With over 435 hours of volunteer service, he has been a powerful presence in his school and broader community – coaching youth sports, participating in ROTC service projects, and leading with purpose through Unified athletics and Special Olympics programming.

Whether coaching in the Peninsula Youth Football league or volunteering with PenMet basketball, Prince brings energy, empathy, and encouragement to every role he takes on. His commitment to inclusive service shines especially through his work with Unified programs, where he has participated in basketball, soccer, and track and field. These experiences have not only made an impact on those around him but have also shaped his vision for the future: To become a special education teacher.

Prince Charles

Leadership is second nature to Prince. As a captain on both the football team and Unified teams, he has earned the respect of teammates and coaches alike. But perhaps most telling of his character is his initiative in founding the People of Color (POC) Club at Peninsula High. As president, he has worked to create space for representation and dialogue, providing support and advocacy for students of color and fostering a stronger, more connected school community.

With plans to pursue his teaching certification in special education while participating in ROTC, Prince Charles is preparing for a future where his values of service and leadership continue to guide him. His high school journey reflects a heart for others, a commitment to inclusion, and the drive to make a lasting impact – wherever he goes next.

By Shay Lelonek / News Director

WRIGHT CTY., Minn. — Children from kindergarten through third grade are invited to partake in an overnight camping experience in June.

Wright County 4-H is inviting Cloverbuds plus a parent or guardian to an overnight camping trip for the kids at Collinwood Park in Cokato starting Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 3 p.m. and running through 11 a.m. on Monday, June 16.

Each child is required to have at least one adult over the age of 18 with them who is not a 4-H member.

During the event, youth and their parents can partake in family games, outdoor adventures, campfire cooking, and more.

Camping gear, meals, and snacks are included.

The cost is $75 per child, with the adult included in that price.

Registration is required to attend the event. Children must be registered by Wednesday, June 4.

To register, visit http://www.4honline.com.

Idaho is home to more than 200,000 small businesses, which make up 99.2 percent of Idaho businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  More than 56 percent of Idaho employees are employed by these economic engines.  I again co-sponsored a resolution the Senate unanimously passed recognizing National Small Business Week and commending the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners and the great contributions they make to our communities.

Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced S.Res. 201, which fellow U.S. Senator for Idaho Jim Risch also co-sponsored with more than 80 senators, that would designate May 4-May 10, 2025, as National Small Business Week.  The resolution would:

• Recognize the more than 34.5 million small businesses in the U.S. that support more than 59 million jobs;

• Celebrate the integral role small businesses play in building the economy of the U.S.; and

• Applaud the efforts and achievements of the owners of small businesses and their employees in every community in the U.S.

Senator Risch also introduced a resolution I co-sponsored specifically celebrating the accomplishments and vital role of women business owners in the U.S.  In Idaho, SBA data indicates 72,823 small businesses are owned by women.  Nationally, as noted in the resolution, more than 14.5 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. employ more than 12.9 million people and generate $3.3 trillion in annual revenue.

Small businesses not only provide jobs in communities across our state and country, but also back countless important local efforts.  Youth sports teams, local food banks, service organizations and many others turn to small businesses to support efforts that make a difference in the lives of Idaho communities.  

Beyond celebrating small businesses, Senate Republicans are working to back these drivers of our communities with certainty by promoting strong pro-growth tax and regulatory policy.  As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, I am working to prevent a massive federal tax increase by permanently extending and building on the Trump tax cuts of 2017.  

These tax cuts strengthened investment, boosted economic growth and increased take-home pay, including by offering a small business tax deduction to company owners.  Unless Congress acts before the end of the year, many of these reforms will expire, and Americans will be hit with a more-than $4 trillion tax hike, which will disproportionally hit Idaho’s small business owners and residents making less than $400,000 per year. 

The SBA notes, “Idaho small businesses employment grew by 46.8 percent between 1997 and 2021, which exceeded the national small businesses employment growth rate.”  We cannot allow a massive, automatic tax increase to threaten our small businesses and workers.  I will continue to work to deliver the permanent tax relief necessary to provide Idaho’s businesses with the certainty they need to make long-term investments and drive growth.  

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ASTORIA, Ore. — Adults behaving badly in youth sports left an 11-year-old player in tears in Oregon.

Coaches accused a child of being too old to compete. The shocking moment was caught on video.

Brinley Stephens is an 11-year-old softball player from Astoria, Oregon.

She had just hit a line drive, when coaches from the opposing team stormed the field and began questioning her age in front of everyone in the stands

“I want to see birth certificates or this game’s done,” someone was heard yelling.

“I was holding back my tears because I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s out there by herself. There’s these two adults are confronting her.’ Thank God that our coach was there to step in between,” mother Tracy Stephens said.

Stephens is a fifth-grader, who stands nearly 5-feet, 10-inches tall. She and all the kids in her league have to prove their age before they join a team. Her family says she is used to comments, but not like this.

“It was like, scary, like him coming at me. And I was just looking at him, like, what the heck was going on?” the girl said.

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Following the verbal exchange, Tracy Stephens says the opposing team coaches continued the behavior, making obscene gestures toward the parents when the game ended.

“We were upset, but we took it to the association, and hoping that they do better and reprimand and hold him accountable for his actions,” Tracy Stephens said.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 70% of kids quit playing organized sports by age 13, often because of pressure from adults who they say make the games stop being fun.

“We’re not making room for our kids to be successful. We’re not making room for our kids to understand that it’s OK sometimes to lose. And, in fact, sometimes when you lose, there’s a victory in the loss,” said Brian Barlow, the creator of Offside.

One assistant coach has been suspended for the year, and another was suspended for 10 days, with probation for the year.

The tournament organizers said in a statement, “We are still investigating the incident – the player did nothing wrong as she is just tall … And skilled for her age. “

“It doesn’t take much to hurt a kid that much and make them just stop believing in themselves. These kids deserve better. We as adults need to do better,” Tracy Stephens said.