The Hudson Boosters hosted its annual Fourth of July event, featuring a hot dog eating competition, live music and a fireworks finale. And with this year’s Booster Days, a large portion of the funds collected went toward a new athletic complex for youth sports in the city. 

“We want to get the information out there about our new facility and we want to get the community involved. There’s definitely a need for it,” said Booster Days Commissioner Helen McCombie.

This facility would be located north of the truck stop on Highway 12 near Trinity Lutheran Church, where Hudson Boosters owns 20 acres of land as it aims to supply local baseball, softball and football teams with more field space. 

At a Hudson Town Hall meeting in April, the board voted to pass an amendment that would create a “Youth-Oriented Recreation District,” which allows for a change in zoning rules to create the new facility. Before the amendment, the town’s zoning restrictions prohibited playing past dark, having lights and projecting amplified sound. 

Now, the boosters are working on fundraising and seeking approval at the county level to move forward with the project. Booster Days is the organization’s largest fundraising event; McCombie and other Hudson Boosters supporters are hoping that the event provides a good amount of money — and community support.

Hudson Booster Days was off to a hot start with the sun beaming down and temperatures nearing the 90s. Nevertheless, people came out to celebrate Independence Day at Lakefront Park with carnival rides, food trucks, live music, bingo games and other activities.

A band called “30 Minute Difference” — bassist Jerney Joles, drummer Jaydin Joles, lead vocalist Lizzy Dallas and guitarist Caleb Dallas — from Chippewa Falls, Wis., kicked off the live entertainment. 

The group met in their middle school jazz band. Wanting to take their music to the next level outside of school, they formed the band and have been playing gigs in the western Wisconsin area ever since. Despite jazz providing the origin story, 30 Minute Difference performs covers of classic rock songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

“We’re hyped. We’re ready to take the stage and ready to party,” said Jaydin, the band’s drummer, right before going up on stage as the first band of the weekend.

Following 30 Minute Difference was The Chubs, a rock band out of Rochester, Minn., consisting of guitarist Mike Little, bassist Rocky Schultz, guitarist/vocalist Darrel Carpenter and drummer Devin Farlow. The band rocked on late into the night playing an impressive array of songs across multiple eras: The Beatles, Chris Stapleton and a lot more in between. 

In close proximity to the music, attendees enjoyed a little low-stakes gambling at the bingo tent. The bingo tent, a Booster Days staple, offers a place for shade where some spend hours playing the game with drinks by their side, trying to make some money amidst the fun. Located behind the band shell, it is a great spot for listening to the live music or looking out on the St. Croix River.

“It’s a fun game where you’re not gonna win a lot of money and you’re not gonna lose a lot of money, but it’s good entertainment,” said Dave Huehn regarding the game’s popularity. 

Huehn has been part of Boosters for 40 years, taking on various roles from food management to event decision-making. He has been running the bingo tent for the past 10 years, saying that it’s one of his favorite parts about Booster Days.

The sweltering heat on Friday did not deter people from heading downtown to Hudson’s Booster Days festivities to celebrate the official holiday.

Adults sought the cool in the beer garden or the shade during bingo (see Thursday) as children circled the grounds competing for prizes and enjoying the many different rides. Others danced under the sun to the live entertainment by the bands “North of Dixie” and “Bigly.”

One of the biggest attractions, likely due to the heat, was the “Fresh Squeezed Lemonade” truck, which served 16 to 32 ounce lemonade drinks. At many points attendees had to wait in a long line for a taste of the refreshing beverage. Desmond Gregorson, 17, was one of the employees working the truck in the afternoon and said the demand was exceptionally high that day.

Gregorson said business was good, but the truck had a tough competitor just outside the festival perimeters, where a group of middle and elementary school aged children set up their own homemade lemonade stand just outside of the venue entrance.

Other than being a familiar weekend for Hudson residents to gather and celebrate their town and the United States, the Booster Days attracted outsiders as well.

Angie Kelly, who happened to be in Hudson for a Volleyball tournament from Appleton, Wis., brought her children and nephews to the event for a fun break that consisted of “eating fried foods and going on fun rides.”

An unexpected highlight for them: the many prizes the kids won at the different game booths, including toy guns that Kelly said her “sister and brother-in-law won’t be very happy about.”

“I was lobbying for the goldfish,” she added, laughing, referring to the live goldfish prizes at one of the game booths.

Kelly added that the Fourth of July represents a great opportunity.

“It means it’s time to get together with your family,” she said. “And to take a break from your normal stuff and have a good time.”

Cindy Hadlich wrapped up her fourth year of announcing the many floats and vehicles that passed by on 2nd St. during the annual Booster Days parade. Lynell Nemitz, who provides support when necessary, concluded her third year.

“Keep coming to the parade,” Hadlich said Saturday. “Come to Booster Days, support the youth of Hudson and we appreciate everybody.”

Hadlich added that Saturday was tough because she had laryngitis during the event. Additionally, heavy rain made for a lighter lineup.

But the crew read the names regardless of attendance, as rain seeped through the tarp protecting the announcers’ stand.

“As my mother used to tell me, I’m not made of sugar, I won’t melt,” Nemitz said. 

Hot dog eating contest

A Brookfield, Ill. native, Paul Byrne was visiting family in Hudson for Booster Days when he decided to sign up for the hot dog eating contest at RJ’s Meats. Paul finished first in the contest, while his cousin, Jimmy, finished third. 

“I’ve never been in one,” Paul said of his competitive eating experience. “I’m just a fast eater.”

RJ’s changed up the rules for this year’s competition: Adults ate 5 hot dogs and buns with water, and kids did the same but with just three hot dogs. J.R. Baker earned first place in the kids bracket. 

Car show

Rain led to a smaller turnout at this year’s car show, but when the sun came out, Jim Spaight, the car show’s organizer, drove his 1962 Austin Healey to Lakefront Park Saturday. 

“It doesn’t matter what kind of car is here,” Spaight said. 

Shortly after that, he was interrupted by a driver in a Ferrari California, the first hardtop convertible from the Italian sports car maker. 

Then, he said, “When you see a car show, people can walk through and say, ‘Oh, I love that one. But, oh, I love that one.’ People are talking and hanging out. And with the owners, we’re usually kind of around our cars. So then it just turns into this community-building thing where we’re talking about what we like and what we don’t.”

Spaight said he loves all-original cars — customization isn’t his style. His Austin Healey is an original. It also used to be his dad’s car. 

“Everybody has different tastes,” he said. 

Children gathered in Lakefront Park for the annual Hudson Booster Days kids fishing contest — eager to cast lines and catch some fish for prizes. 

Children ages 15 and younger caught fish for an hour and 15 minutes. The fisher with the biggest catch earned $100 to Cabela’s. This year 10-year-old Louie Delmonico earned that honor, by hooking a 28-inch fish.

“[I] just wanted to have fun,” he said. “I needed to get better with my bass rock, so I just threw it out there.”

The fisher with the most fish caught earned $50 to Fleet Farm. The kid with the smallest catch of the day won a $25 gift card to Dairy Queen.

Three fish were caught that morning, the highest number for the contest. And the smallest fish totaled 3 inches.

“It’s just fun,” said a Hudson Booster volunteer on Sunday morning. “[The kids] just love it and the parents get involved too.”

Fireworks

The annual Hudson Booster Days came to an explosive end, thanks to the City of Hudson and Festival Foods, both of which sponsored the fireworks show at Lakefront Park. 

Attendees, still sporting Fourth of July apparel, scattered throughout the First Street park to enjoy the night’s light show. 

With cameras at the ready, snacks in hand and a comfortable watching spot secured, firework fanatics were ready to bask in the thundering, technicolor spectacle. 

Necks craned upwards to catch the first bang, but slowly descended to note the fireworks glistening over the St. Croix River. 

Listening to live tunes, screaming on carnival rides, collecting candy and raindrops at Saturday’s Second Street parade and eating fried foods throughout, Booster Days offers a wide range of entertainment to help fund youth sports. The fireworks make for an explosive ending. 

MICHAEL KOVALSKI

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – Michael Kovalski has only been bowling for four years. However, he has proven to be a quick learner.

The sophomore-to-be at Buckeye Local in the fall, Kovalski has qualified for the Jr. Gold National Tournament to be held in Green Bay, Wis., on July 11-19. The event will utilize The Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley in Green Bay and Dale’s Weston Lanes in nearby Weston.

Kovalski, who qualified the the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Division II Tournament this past season, qualified for the nationals earlier this summer in Akron.

He will compete in the 15U age bracket, which will feature 750 participants.

“I’ll try to do my best and make a few cuts,” Kovalski said.

Kovalski said he got his start in bowling when a league started doing a Thursday bowling club.

“I thought I would try it and it took off. I really enjoy bowling and it’s a big part of my life,” he said.

That was four years ago. Two years ago he switched styles and hasn’t missed a beat.

“I switched styles two years ago. I used to bowl with the standard one hand, but switched to using both. I did a lot better with two hands and that is the way I’m bowling now,” he explained. “A lot more bowlers use the two-hand approach now than used to. It’s hard to learn, but once you figure it out, it’s easier to get better scores.”

He said the experience at the state tournament should help him relax at the nationals.

“I think competing at the state level will help a lot in this tournament. It won’t be new to me because I’ve experienced it before,” he noted. “It won’t be as nerve-wracking. It should be a lot smoother.”

Kovalski averaged 193 this past season for the Panthers, something that his coach Jerad Call said is “exceptional” for a freshman.

“He is probably the best freshman bowler in the Ohio Valley,” Buckeye Local head bowling coach Jerad Call said. “He had a fantastic season for us just being a freshman.”

Kovalski earned all-OVAC, all-Buckeye 8 and was a District Tournament qualifier.

“It surprised me when I qualified for states. I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” he admitted. “I thought I’d be lucky to make districts.”

His goals?

“I hope to qualify for states in my next three years of high school, and place better than I did this year.”

Kovalski gave praise to his coaches for all their work with him.

“I’d like to thank my coaches, Call and Fabry. They’ve been with me from the start and I have learned a lot from them,” he said. “They are good people and I think that helped me stick with it. Having good people around you makes things go a lot easier.

Kovalski said he rolled a 299 game about two months ago while practicing for the nationals.

At the nationals, he will receive three days of 40-minute practice sessions before competing. The first four days he will bowl four games a day for a total of 16. Cuts will then be made.

“I’m hoping for the best. I’m going to keep practicing until we leave.”

Kovalski also wanted to give a shoutout to St. Clair Lanes.

“I want to thank Gary Holubeck and St. Clair Lanes for all the practice time and support they’ve given me. It’s been wonderful.”

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – A $65 million city project took its next steps toward completion during Rochester’s City Council meeting on Monday.

After annexing a total of roughly 160 acres of land in June, council members approved the design plans for the future sports complex during Monday’s meeting with a 5 to 2 vote.

The land in southeast Rochester for the complex will encase 10 turf sports fields, 12 pickleball courts, a playground, an outdoor basketball court, a playground, a gathering area, concessions, and walking trails. Phase one was designed with feedback from a portion of the community.

“We had the opportunity to pull together a group of around 14 community members that made-up the working group. There were three different meetings” Strategic Communications & Engagement Director Jenna Bowman said.

The complex will use $65 million approved by taxpayers in 2023. Chris Armstrong reminded the council of the original plan marketed to taxpayers, which was an indoor and outdoor facility.

“The current proposal is very different from how it was marketed to the voters and the community working group appears to be made-up of people who are already thinking well within the proposal,” Armstrong said.

Parks and Rec Division Head Ben Boldt said the approved design is aimed at benefiting the city economically by renting the complex’s sports fields and courts.

“We can make that work financially to be operating at a neutral or positive way year over year as the complex opens,” Boldt said.

However, Ward 2 Council Member Nick Miller was one of two votes against phase one’s design on Monday. Miller was not confident in the operational benefit of the complex.

“I would really like to see an operating model before I feel comfortable supporting this,” Miller said. “I feel like there are a lot of assumptions that are built into how many tournaments we need, the cost of the project, and what the benefit is to the Community.”

Ward 1 Council Member Patrick Keane voted for the proposed design, but mentioned the city did itself a disservice without enough money for the indoor facilities.

“I don’t know where the funds come from because we’re not going to do another sales tax,” Keane stated. “So, I don’t think of this as phase one, and we have to get done with that so we can start phase two. [For] phase two, the first part of that is fundraising.”

Phase two of the project is planned to be a 128,000 square foot indoor facility. However, Phase two still needs roughly $60 million more of the city’s money to construct.

The city staff hoped commercial lots, included in the land purchase in February, would be sold and developed to help fund phase two.

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CASTANEA — Castanea Township Supervisors and Recreation Committee have announced expanded plans for Castanea Days on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19 to commemorate the 5th Anniversary Recognition for the annual event.

“We are excited to provide both Castanea residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy our amenities and events. The recreation committee and supervisors teamed with many partners to offer activities for all members of the family including children and adults,” Brandon Coleman, chair of the board of supervisors noted.

Castanea Days opens on Friday, July 18 at 7 p.m. with a new community bonfire at the Moose Lodge, 150 S. Hanna St. It will feature an outdoor bar operated by the Moose Lodge and free s’mores. Residents are urged to bring lawn chairs, and marshmallow roasting forks.

“We wanted an old-fashioned opportunity for everyone to gather with friends, family, and neighbors and a bonfire immediately came to mind. And, the Moose emphasizes community and family so we naturally partnered with them,” Rick Schulze, chairperson of the recreation committee, said.

Events on Saturday open with the Friends of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail 5/10K Run/Walk with registration at 7:30 a.m. at the Historic Train Station Complex, 15 Logan Ave.

A large craft/vendor fair opens at 9 a.m. at the same location featuring Tiny’s BBQ and breakfast sandwiches.

The recreation committee will host a fundraiser basket raffle. The Clinton County Historical Society will offer open houses for their cabooses and the Clinton Model Railroad Display will be open for the public.

The Castanea Fire Company on McElhattan Avenue will host Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland Show at 10 a.m. followed by a lunch sale at 11 a.m. Children will enjoy the fire trucks on display.

In the evening, The Clark McClane Band will entertain the public at a free concert from 8 to 10 p.m. under the Moose Pavilion and an inflatable obstacle course will be available for children and families on the lawn. The Moose will operate an outdoor bar and food sale during the concert.

New this year to celebrate the anniversary is a fireworks show beginning at 10:15 p.m. on the Robbie Gould Youth Sports Complex Field.

Recreation Committee planners include Maripat Dion, Diana Andrus, Brady Carnahan, Debra Reeder, and Rick Schulze. Ex-officio member is John Gradel, township supervisor.

Additional details are available at castaneatownshippa.gov.

Editor’s Note: This story was reported by Plamedie Ekumbaki, and the accompanying artwork was created by Oliviera Ekumbaki as part of the Spring 2025 Kalamazoo Voices of Youth Program. The program is a collaboration between Southwest Michigan Second Wave and KYD Network in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, funded by the Stryker Johnston Foundation. The Voices of Youth Program is led by Earlene McMichael. VOY mentors were Jane Parikh (writing) and Taylor Scamehorn (art). 

KALAMAZOO, MI — Thinking of playing high school sports? Or already do? Here’s what current and former athletes want you to know.

“Engaging in sports provides students with a unique opportunity to build confidence and develop a strong sense of identity,” says junior Lakeisha Turner, a softball player at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo. 

Ciarra Freeman, a senior at Loy Norrix who is on the track and field team, agrees. 

“Playing sports can build your self-esteem,” she says.

It did for her. “Sports, in the beginning, saved me from a lot of depression. When you’re in a good environment around teammates and coaches, it makes it better day by day. It helps motivate you and tells you to keep going and keep trying, and that pushes you and if you don’t, it feels like guilt.”

Loy Norrix Principal Christopher Aguinaga sees the benefits in sports. 

“I think sports for many kids is a motivator,” he says. “In order to be able to play, a student-athlete has that student name in front of it, so the pressure to be academically eligible, I think, is a motivator that pushes students to excel.”

But, like anything else, sports have pros and cons for students. 

“It can affect them positively and negatively, but most of the time it affects them positively,” says Loy Norrix counselor Becky Parsons. “It makes students feel more connected to school. They can build friendships and relationships with coaches and students, and have to stay eligible, so there’s often more motivation to pass classes. But, sometimes, it can be too much, especially for multi-sport athletes, and can cause issues with time management.” 

Artist: Oliviera EkumbakiAguinaga concurs that sports can pose time management issues for some athletes. “It can be a stressor when it comes to time management.”

Parsons recommends students get a planner and take advantage of help provided by the school, whether tutoring or anything to help them succeed, to avoid this pitfall.

From the athlete’s point of view, time management isn’t the only challenge.

Freeman, the runner, points to the danger of comparison. “Once you see your progression starting to go down, you may feel bad about yourself,” she says. “And, sometimes, when you see someone better than you, it might make you feel bad.” 

On the other hand, athletics can leave students with lifelong skills and lessons.

That’s according to Parsons, who herself played tennis and volleyball in high school. She says sports helped develop in her two characteristics that have lasted into adulthood: “Realizing that the team success is more important than individual success, and time management.”

For Aguinaga, sports offered life lessons, too. He played them as a youth.

“Sports taught me the routine of practicing,” he says. “If you missed a couple of days of practice, you could feel it. It also taught me it was okay to not excel in everything.”

Plamedie Ekumbaki plays sports at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she will be a senior in the fall. She has been in Voices of Youth Kalamazoo before, so she was excited to return for the Spring 2025 cohort. “I feel like it’s such a cool and safe environment to bring up issues in the community as well as solutions,” she says. “Everyone is so nice and helpful.”

Oliveira Ekimbaki’s Artist Statement: “My topic is about the impact of playing sports on teen mental health. Sports can take great dedication and build self-esteem. I chose colors that are different from each other because teen athletes are given different advice. I drew a basketball because of how certain teen athletes try to compete with other teen athletes. I had to think about my sister Plamedie. She is a track star who is about to go to college, and sometimes she has rough days because she didn’t do a certain thing correctly. A thing viewers should know about my piece is that it took me seven days to finish. It took opinion, dedication, talent, and a great mentor to finish this piece”