Craig Richard Lawrence died recently in a tragic accident in his home. He was 66 years old. The family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death and the loss of his light in our lives. Craig was born on April 19, 1959, in Nashua, NH. He graduated from Hollis Area High School, received his Bachelor of Science from the Thompson School at the University of New Hampshire and received his Master’s of Fine Arts in English and Writing at Salem State College in Massachusetts.

Craig was an avid reader, writer and musical creator. He loved growing things, gardening, landscaping and walking in nature. He was passionate about being a good father to his son Gavin and his animal family; Shy, Miles, Gary and Nelson. Often combining those passions by taking his son and dog to the beach or for walks on the reservation trails throughout the North Shore of Massachusetts. Craig was excited that his love of music was being taken up by his son. He and Gavin spent the past few years with guitars and learning songs together. Craig was also an avid sports fan. He loved going to watch his son play High School Hockey and Lacrosse, College Lacrosse and even just shooting hoops in the back yard. Craig’s passion for listening to and creating music became something he integrated into his career.

Craig spent a lifetime working in criminal justice in Massachusetts in the Department of Youth Services and MA Probation Services trying to help youths to navigate life and the court system in Massachusetts. He was a leading force in the music program in the Department of Youth Services. Craig most recently used his love of music to be part of a program that brought a voice and an outlet of expression to incarcerated young men who have fallen through the cracks of society. He firmly believed that music could be an integral part of healing to those who needed it.

Craig felt that giving to others from his own experience was vital. He did this in his work, in his mentoring of budding young musicians and athletes and in helping those who struggle in life. He served as a mentor to many with integrity and kindness and was a friend of Bill W.

Craig is survived by his son, Gavin Lawrence of Westford, MA. His sisters, Gail Lawrence of Wilmington, NC and Elizabeth James (and her husband Jack James) of Wilmington, NC. His brother, Daniel Lawrence (and his wife Kate Lawrence and two children; Charlotte and Tucker Lawrence) of Manchester, MA. His niece and nephew, Emma Rosen and Lucas Rosen. His former wife, Kim (Howe) Lawrence of Westford MA and his girlfriend, Ellen Link of Boston MA. Along with a multitude of friends.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Janet (Primeau) Lawrence of Hollis NH and father, William Lawrence also of Hollis NH.

Craig was a very special father, husband, brother, and friend. He will be sorely missed but at least we can take comfort that he is now free, in body, mind and spirit.

Join us to celebrate his life and the many ways he shared his time, talents and love at Lawrence Barn Community Center 28 Depot Road Hollis, NH on June 4th at 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to https://thetrustees.org/.

For those who cannot attend but wish to share memories or express gratitude, thoughts, prayers or photographs can be sent to www.davisfuneralhomenh.com and we will post these on a wall to share at the celebration.

MARQUETTE — Thousands of Upper Peninsula children ages 6-18 years and, indeed, many more below the Mackinac Bridge, will benefit from a state program this summer that provides direct benefits to families that can be used for food.

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, also known as SUN Bucks, is in force June, July and August, helping to ensure children have access to nutritious food while school is out, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services officials interviewed by The Mining Journal noted.

Funding for the program, which costs about $97 million per summer statewide, originates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. USDA must approve the expenditure annually. This will be the second year the program will be in effect.

“It’s mostly automatic,” said Dwayne Haywood, MDHHS senior deputy director for the Economic Stability Administration, said of the qualification process. “In 2024 … about 800,000 kids were enrolled.”

Of that number, 19,696 were from the U.P., costing $2.36 million.

Families that were, are or will be receiving SNAP (food benefits), TANF (cash assistance), or Medicaid anytime between (July 1, 2024-Aug. 31, 2025) are eligible. Additionally, persons who are categorically entitled (such as foster children, homeless, migrant or runaways) are also eligible. So are children who have been approved for free/reduced price meals with their school due to direct certification or an approved school meal application.

Recipients aren’t going to get rich on the program as just $40 per child per month is provided. Funding is being dispersed starting this month.

“The money is automatically (posted)” to Bridge cards, said MDHHS spokeswoman Erin Stover.

Benefits must be used within 122 days of issuance. Unused benefits will expire after this period and cannot be reinstated, officials said. SUN Bucks can be used at any store or farmer’s market that accepts EBT, including select online retailers.

Medicaid recipients’ income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. For more information on the SUN Bucks program, including detailed eligibility criteria and application instructions, please visit the MDHHS Summer EBT page at Summer EBT.

Bud Sargent can be reached at 906-228-2500. His email address is bsargent@miningjournal.net

• SPIRIT LAKE PARKS AND RECREATION

Soccer 

May 21

7&8s

NextHome 365 Realty vs. Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant; Scoring for Mi Pueblo was Chet Small 2. There were no scores for NextHome.

Encompass Electric vs. Bazzar Tech Repair; Scoring for Encompass Electric were Thorin Hill 3, Adrian Persyn 1, and Everett Warner 1.

• HAYDEN RECREATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

Soccer

May 20

U8 Coed

Cannon Hill Industries: No Stats Available

New Leaf Nursery: No Stats Available

North Idaho Eye: Dance Shepherd 1-goal; Elio Estes 3-goals; Cameron Nelson 2-goals

SCJ Alliance: No Stats Available

U10 Coed

Barton Flooring & Trim LLC: Aiden Barton 1-goal

Bighouse Automotive: Jadon Peterson 1-goal

Ginno Construction: Peyton Kaplan 3-goals; Gaizka Ugarte 2-goals

Merlin’s Comedy Club: Adalynn Hamilton 1-goal; Billy Kearns 4-goals

U15 Coed

Chomper Cafe: No Stats Available

MGT Professional Tree Care: Brooke Grey-Trask 1-goal; Oliver Salie 1-goal; Lillee Ward 2-goals

Urban Edge Salon: Preston Dunn 1-goal; Beckham Hayes 6-goals; Ryder Morrison 1-goal

Ziply Fiber: Anthony Mills 2-goals; Banyan Sisson 1-goal

May 21

U8 Coed

Alpine Village School & Farms: Bodhi Christopherson 1-goal; Luca Clark 1-goal

Back 40 Real Estate Investments: Tatum Turnbull 1-goal

Hubof’s Landscaping: Vaughn Barnes 2-goals

Powerhouse Electric: Piper Jett 1-goal; Lewis Truman 1-goal

U10 Coed

Cannon Hill Industries: Aiden Jefferys 1-goal

CDA Heating & Cooling: No Stats Available

North Idaho Aircraft Refinishing: Ethan Anderson 1-goal; Carson Molyneaux 1-goal

Viking Construction: No Stats Available

U12 Coed

Manna Sourdough: Izzik Babak 1-goal; Josiah Babak 1-goal; Valor Cale 1-goal; Charlie Clyde 1-goal

Zip’s Drive In: Jackson Adams 1-goal; Eli Tolson 1-goal

• REAL LIFE SPORTS

Championship Week

Soccer

May 20

At The Fields at Real Life

Youth 1/2 Grade Division Soccer

1/2 Grade Division

Game 1

Green Snakes – 

Thunder Lions  – 

Game 2

Firehawks – 2

Raging Bulls – 3

Game 3

Fire Eagles – 1

Lightning Bolts – 3

Game 4

Lightning Gladiators – 2

The Americans – 6

Game 5

Americans Eagles – 4

Cannonballs – 2

Game 6

Goal Smashers – 4

Wolves – 4

Youth 3/4 Grade Division Soccer

3/4 Grade Division

Game 1

The Black Dragons – 1

Bombers – 2

Game 2

Team USA – 6

Jaguars – 0

Game 3

Strikers – 2

Tigers – 4

Game 4

Torpedoes – 6

Firehawks – 2

Youth 5/6 Grade Division Soccer

5/6 Grade Division

Game 1

Fire and Ice – 2

Chicken Jockeys -3

Game 2

The Dragons – 4

Bulldogs – 6

Game 3

Falcons – 5

Americans – 4

Volleyball

May 19

At The Courts at Real Life

Youth 3-5 Grade Division Volleyball

3-5 Grade Division

Game 1

Lightning Ladies – 1

Super Spikers – 2

Game 2

US Spikers – 1

Court Queens -2

Game 3

The Americans  – 2

Diving Dolphins – 1

Game 4

Sunsetters – 0

Fire Sisters – 3 

Game 5

Starblasters – 2

Fire Chickens -1 

Youth 6-8 Grade Division Volleyball

6-8 Grade Division

Game 1

Hot Porcupines – 2

North Idaho Glory – 1

Game 2

Tiger Titans – 0

The Smashers – 3

Submit items for youth and non-varsity high school sports by noon Tuesday for publication Wednesday. Email stories and photos (in .jpg format) to sports@cdapress.com. 

Information: 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205 

   Courtesy photo The AA Red Sox baseball from Coeur d’Alene Little Lleague recently completed an undefeated season. In the front row from left are Theo Briner, Cam Bennett, Jackson Trail, Brendan Everson, Austin Schindelbeck, Tanner McLeod and Ben Taylor; middle row from left, Blake Niles, Rebel Larson, Connor Gregg, Ryatt Maestas and Henry Mandel; and back row from left, coaches Erich Schindelbeck, Mike Gregg and Chase Bennett. Not pictured is Grant Anderson.
 

    Courtesy photo The Lake City Thunder 14U softball team went undefeated (6-0) last weekend to win the 11-team Lake City Early Bird Tournament in Post Falls, putting up over 80 runs, posting a team batting average of .497, and limiting the other team to a .183 batting average in their first tournament of the season. In the front row from left are Ollie Dudley, Shasta Ackerman, Ella Ferguson, Tessa Lovell and Avah Gonzales; back row from left, assistant coach Adam Gonzales, Savanah Stevens, Katie Nave, Sophie Wasley, Raegan Masters, Reese Vanek, Addie Lisenbe and assistant coach Rich Dudley; and rear, head coach Dwayne Curry.

    Courtesy photo The 14U Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen baseball team finished in second place in the gold bracket last weekend at the Memorial Day Super Bash tournament in Spokane. In the front (kneeling) is Kyle Everson; second row from left, Blake Anderson, Clay Larwin, JJ Larson, Josh Gomez, Jack Kreis, Kovack Dolan, Nash Russell and Levi Miller; and back row from left, manager Dave Everson, Cooper Fordham, Trent Lilyquist, coach Jon Larson, Ricky Bateman, Caleb Brumbach and coach Jeff Kreis.
  

    Courtesy photo This past Saturday, the BVB IA CDA U9 girls soccer team earned a 6–3 win over WE Surf SC G7 White Bond at the Plante’s Ferry Sports Complex in Spokane Valley. In the front is Jane Buffum; standing from left, Esther Green, Kaia Lindenstein, Eva Bozinov, Sadie Lehosit, Elise Bozinov, Grace Looney, Reagan Zimmerman, Sadi Lewis and Nora Burt; and rear, coach Chelsie Dance.

    Courtesy photo Eighteen riders from the Kootenai Composite Youth Mountain Bike Team qualified for the Washington State Championship, and will compete in Gig Harbor, Wash., on Sunday. From left are Jen Fletcher, Jason McDevitt, Mark Burns, Emily Brown, Cal McDevitt, Stephen Carter, Jeff Fletcher, Aimee Cole, Miles Burns, Jack Mobbs, Al Castile, Linden Wilkinson, Cody Mobbs, Max Cole, Bob Lauer and Oliver Castile.

    Courtesy photo Eighteen riders from the Kootenai Composite Youth Mountain Bike Team qualified for the Washington State Championship, and will compete in Gig Harbor, Wash., on Sunday. From left are Greta McDevitt and Kennedy Cole.

    Courtesy photo Members of the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen American Legion baseball program spent Memorial Day placing 221 flags at residences in the community in the morning, then collecting them at night. The flag project is a partnership with the Lumbermen and the Kiwanis club. It honors the nation by displaying flags in neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene, and helps develop a service attitude in the players. Pictured are brothers Camden, Mason and Blake Anderson; Blake plays for the Lums 14U team.
  

    Courtesy photo Members of the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen American Legion baseball program spent Memorial Day placing 221 flags at residences in the community in the morning, then collecting them at night. The flag project is a partnership with the Lumbermen and the Kiwanis club. It honors the nation by displaying flags in neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene, and helps develop a service attitude in the players. From left are Kole Rodda, Brennan Jensen, Corbin Rodda and Maddix Witten.

    Photo by KATHY STERLING The last weekend of Spring League games started with the Sting U9 Boys Yellow soccer team playing an inter club game against the Sting U9 Boys Black Team at Hayden Meadows Elementary on Friday. The game ended with a Yellow team win of 8-4. Yellow Team goals were scored by Atlas Lepley (3), Jaxson Matheney (3), and Gideon Lee (2). Black Team Goals were scored by Jackson Martin (2), Kellen McLemore (1), and Leo Leferink (1). In the front row from left are Xavier Sousley, Leo Leferink, Jackson Martin, and Lincoln Sargent; second row from left, Emmett Cowan, Michah D’Alessandro, Isaak Sterling, Kellen McLemore, Hudson Helbling, Gideon Lee and Drew Fulton; third row from left, Elijah Cline, Oliver Lundy, Kevin Sahm, Atlas Lepley and Jaxson Matheney; and rear, coach Ian McKenna. The last game of the Spring League season ended with the Sting U9 Boys Yellow team beating the 90+ Project B2016 Jaramillo Team 8-5 on Sunday at Hayden Meadows Elementary. Yellow team goals were savored by Elijah Cline (1), Jaxson Matheney (3), Isaak Sterling (2) and, scoring for the first time this season, Lincoln Sargent (2).

    Photo by LONDON MALMSTADT Over the Mother’s Day weekend for the annual Bill Eisenwinter Hot Shot Tournament at the Plante’s Ferry Sports Complex in Spokane Valley, the Sting U9 Boys Black team made it into the Sunday finals. Friday’s game ended with a 5-3 win against the Spokane Shadow Juniors B2016 North Belles. Sting goals were scored by Jackson Martin (3), Lincoln Triebwasser (1) and Oliver Lundy (1). Saturday’s game against the Spokane Sounders Shadow Junior B2016 Van Der Lawson Valley Team ended with a 6-1 loss, with the Sting goal scored by Jackson Martin. Sunday’s semifinals game ended with a 4-1 win against the Sandpoint Strikers FC U08 Red Team, with all four Sting goals scored by Lincoln Triebwasser. Sunday afternoon’s championship game against the Spokane Shadow Juniors B2016 Van Der Lawson Valley Team ended with a 5-2 loss. Both Sting goals were scored by Jackson Martin. From left are coach Ian McKenna, Peter Ward, Jaiden Abdurahmanov, Wesson Malmstadt, Oliver Lundy, Jackson Martin, Kevin Sahm, Emmett Cowan, Leo Leferink, Lincoln Triebwasser, Kellen McLemore and Drew Fulton.

    Courtesy photo The Coeur d’Alene Crush 10U softball team went 5-0 to win the Lake City Early Bird tournament this past weekend in Coeur d’Alene. This is their second tournament win in a row. In the front row from left are Vinni Gongora, Lyla Atteberry, Kamryn Corbey, Harper Andersen, Isla Wearne and Quinn Burrill; and back row from left, coach Kara Hicks, Lily Ratcliffe, Addy Johnson, Madi West, Davy Hicks, Aliya Pennock, Brianna Wilson and head coach Joe Corbey.
 

    Courtesy photo Jossetta Williams, 15, right, a freshman at Coeur d’Alene High, won the US Kids 2025 Spring Championship and Points leader of the season in the Girls 15-18 division with an 83 at Latah Creek Golf Course in Spokane. Faith Sampson, 17, left, of Pullman, finished second with an 84. Kinsley Meier of Hayden was fourth with a 93, and Alivia Garcia of Hayden was fifth with a 101.
  

 

  

  

  

Lehigh’s decision to officially make women’s wrestling its 26th varsity sport – officially announced today, though it was common knowledge it would happen – marks the Mountain Hawks as one of the most progressive athletic departments in Division I sport.

And perhaps one of the most daring.

College athletics is teetering on an edge right now, with everybody having fingers and toes crossed about the final look of the House v. NCAA settlement. No one quite knows what the scene will look post-House, especially the financial scene. Olympic sports coaches at major institutions are nervous as can be.

In such an environment, universities may be understandably hesitant to add a whole new program, In Lehigh’s case it would have been easy to wait, especially since only five Division I teams – Iowa, Presbyterian, fellow EIWA member Sacred Heart, Lindenwood, and Delaware State — currently sponsor the sport,

Maybe not the best time, then, to add the first new varsity program at Lehigh in 22 years?

Just the right time, as it turned out.

“Lehigh has a proud and storied tradition in wrestling, with our men’s program nationally recognized for both its competitive success and its commitment to developing scholar-athletes,” said Lehigh Dean of Athletics Jeremy Gibson. “Elevating women’s wrestling to varsity status is a natural and exciting next step for Lehigh University and our athletics department. This decision reflects our deep commitment to equitable opportunities for all student-athletes and to sustaining excellence – both on the mat and in the classroom. We are thrilled to welcome women’s wrestling to our varsity family and look forward to building a program that upholds the high standards that have long defined Lehigh wrestling.”

That statement leaves little room for doubt – Lehigh is all-in.

The NCAA, which has missed more boats than a blind sea gull looking to land, isn’t missing this one., Women’s wrestling will get is own championship in 2025-26, though just what that will look like isn’t known yet and could be very interesting.

The growth of women’s collegiate wrestling has truly been from the bottom up. Over 100 NCAA members offer the sport, almost all the Division II and III levels, The NAIA, the organizing unit of some of the smallest colleges, mostly in the South and West, also has a healthy women’s presence.

In Pennsylvania, 25 colleges have women’s programs – 22 in Divisions II and IIO and three junior college teams, including Northampton Community College.

And to be sure, the exponential growth of girls wrestling at the community and high school level has just been astonishing – the sport has come so far so quickly.

So, this has not been an imposition of lower levels by big schools, or the powers that be hot to trot for a specific sport, as has happened over the years.

Of course, it’s very disappointing to not see Penn State, or Ohio State, or Bucknell, or Rutgers, or Penn, or Maryland or Northwestern or North Carolina, all colleges committed to women’s sports in general, on the list of D-1 schools with women’s wrestling. Girls wrestling is exploding in New Jersey – Princeton and Rutgers have clubs, but time for an upgrade, or for Rider to snatch the honor of being first in the state.

The fact that there are only six D-1 programs now shows the risk Lehigh is taking. Sure, the NCAA sanctioning a championship in women’s wrestling ought to see more teams spring up. And you don ‘t have to have men’s wrestling to have women’s. Hello, Lafayette? Get The Rivalry going on the mats too!

But for now, Lehigh will be pioneering it out there.

There’s no question the Mountain Hawk women will have top-quality athletes. Already, they have Easton’s state and national champion Aubre Krazer, and it does not get any better than that. It’s like starting a basketball program with Michael Jordan already in hand.

And there’s also no question Lehigh will draw fans. I attended a Lehigh club match with Columbia in February and the highly entertaining competition was accompanied by a righteous racket in the stands that filled Grace Hall. An Iowa-Lehigh match in Grace? Ooooh. Bring it on!

Lehigh’s taking a bit of a chance in moving forward with women’s wrestling. It’s a chance that we think will pay off big-time.

But even better, it’s the right thing to do, a concept that rarely moves anybody in collegiate sports.

Well done, Lehigh.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription.

Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com.

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit lehighvalleylive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

State Rep. Greg Markkanen

LANSING — Last Thursday, the Michigan State House of Representatives passed two bills, which would effectively ban transgender women and girls from participating in girls’ sports.

House Bill 4066 dictates that “A school district, intermediate school district, or public school academy … shall not knowingly allow individuals of the male sex to participate in any interscholastic athletic team or sport designated for participants of only the female sex.”

The bill clarifies that “sex” refers to “the biological indication of male or female, as listed on an individual’s original birth certificate that was issued at or near the time of the individual’s birth.”

The vote for 4066 was 58-46, with all Republicans voting in favor of the bill, and all Democrats voting against.

A second House Bill, 4469, alters the Elliott-Larsen civil rights act. This 1976 legislation prohibits discrimination based on factors such as race, sex, and religion. 4469 adds a new section to the Elliott-Larsen act, which states that K-12 educational institutions, which are subject to the anti-discriminatory laws of Title IX, are allowed to prevent transgender students from joining sports teams that don’t align with their sex at birth.

This means schools can keep a transgender boy from playing on a boy’s sports team, for example.

The vote for 4469 was 59-45, with all Republicans and one Democrat, Rep. Amos O’Neal, voting in favor of the alteration.

In a Facebook post announcing his support of the bill, State Representative Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, who represents the Keweenaw area, wrote, “Men cannot magically become women. The opposite is also true. I stand with my colleagues in support of science.”

He also posted a graphic, with the captions, “I voted to protect girls’ sports” and “Preserving safety and opportunities for true female athletes”.

Following the passage of the bills in the State House, Equality Michigan (EQMI), an LGBTQIA+ advocacy group for youth in Michigan, released a statement condemning the actions of state Republicans.

“The bills, beyond openly encouraging discrimination against transgender young people, could also subject all Michigan kids to dangerous and invasive gender inspections and ridicule!” EQMI wrote. “Independent expert-bodies like the MHSAA are best equipped to create processes for fairness and access to opportunity in youth sports,” EQMI continued. “The MHSAA has already said there are zero trans girls with waivers to compete in winter and spring sports right now.”

The bills will now go to the Democrat-controlled State Senate, where they’re likely to fail. If they make it through the Senate, they will have to be signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a long-time supporter of the LGBTQ community, and, thus is unlikely to support such legislation.

HELPING YOUTH — Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center, and Jenn Cesta, public relations coordinator for the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, have joined forces and will offer Steubenville and Wintersville youth between the ages of 1 and 18 food and books during the summer months. A mobile food pantry and the library’s Bookmobile will visit six designated sites beginning in June.
— Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — A new summer initiative offering food and books to children who are in need throughout the Steubenville and Wintersville areas, will be led by Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center.

Beginning June 6, the Sycamore Youth Center Mobile Food Pantry will provide free meals to children ages 1 through 18. The mobile unit will make designated neighborhood stops every Friday through Aug. 8, Bauman noted.

But that is not all. Through a unique and enriching partnership, the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County will join the center’s effort.

The library’s Bookmobile will offer free books to children along the pantry route on select dates, including June 6, June 27, July 18 and Aug. 8, according to Jenn Cesta, public relations coordinator. The library’s outreach will be led by Cesta, with a focus on promoting literacy and a love for reading during the summer months.

“This initiative is about more than just feeding children — it’s about nourishing the whole child,” Bauman stated. “We want to make sure that youth in our community are supported physically and educationally during the summer break.”

The weekly food pantry and Bookmobile are scheduled to stop in Wintersville each Friday at the Ridgewood Place Apartments at 11:25 a.m. and at the Briarwood Apartments at 11:55 a.m.

The stops through Steubenville will take place at the Elmer White Family Units at the North End around 12:20 p.m.; the Earl Rogers Plaza at the South End at 12:40 p.m.; Rosswell Avenue on the corner of Rosswell and Maple at 12:55 p.m.; and on Maryland Avenue at the corner of Maryland and Carnegie Street at 1:10 p.m.

According to Bauman, the program aims to bridge gaps in nutrition and literacy throughout the summer months, mainly for those children who come from under-resourced neighborhoods.

For information or to get involved, visit sycamorecenter.com or call (740) 409-2986.