Congratulations to Terry Elkins of Mishawaka High School! He was voted by Tribune readers as the South Bend Tribune Student of the Week for Dec. 8. The school could not arrange a photo to be taken of Terry.

Winner: Terry Elkins, Mishawaka High School

Terry Elkins, Mishawaka High School: Terry is amazing and has grown up so much this past year. He is always looking for ways to help and to be kind! He moves desks when his friends in wheelchairs need room to sit and navigate the classroom. He reads and explains what he is seeing and experiencing to his one friend who is unable to see but is very interested in what is happening. I can always count on Terry to participate and to help others. He quietly avoids any negativity that may take place and even tries to solve situations in order to encourage others to feel better about themselves or the given situations. I am so proud of his progress and who he is becoming. Love that kid!

DANCERS PERFORM — The ballet class at the Sycamore Youth Center, above, performed for audiences to showcase what they learned during the fall semester. Dancers included, from left, front, Gretl Nelson, Faye Lash, Piper Manuel and Ellie Janik; and back, instructor Diana Tygett, Luna Dickey, Zoe Nelson, Teibe Banga and Laura Schlich. Students also included Eden Graham, Emmie Graham, Elise Graham, Miriam Zaleski and Geneva Terry. Below, students who took part in the jazz dance class and performed included, from left, Manuel, Lash, Tygett, Zaleski, Schlich, Cana Frank, and Dickey. Emma and Elise Graham took the class as well.
— Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center held its end-of-semester ballet and jazz dance recitals Dec. 1, giving students the opportunity to showcase what they learned this fall in the center’s free programs. Classes are taught each week by longtime instructor Diana Tygett, whose dedication and encouragement have helped the young dancers grow in skill and confidence.

The ballet class performed a graceful routine demonstrating their progress in technique and foundational movement. Dancers included: Luna Dickey, Zoe Nelson, Teibe Banga, Laura Schlich, Gretl Nelson, Faye Lash, Piper Manuel, Ellie Janik, Miriam Zaleski, Geneva Terry and Eden, Emmie and Elise Graham.

Tygett shared how the ballet class focuses on technique and personal development.

“The girls learned basic ballet positions, technique and strengthening, while increasing their confidence and abilities,” she explained. “Watching them grow in grace, poise and courage each week has been a joy.”

The jazz dance class presented an upbeat routine featuring a variety of jazz styles and steps during the performance. Students taking the class included Piper Manuel, Faye Lash, Diana Tygett, Miriam Zaleski, Laura Schlich, Cana Frank, and Luna Dickey, Emmie Graham and Elise Graham.

Tygett emphasized the jazz class blends structure with creativity.

“The girls learned jazz techniques and steps to a variety of styles in a fun and engaging way,” she said.

Sycamore Youth Center Executive Director Bobbyjon Bauman praised the students and their instructor, saying, “We are incredibly proud of these young dancers and thankful for Diana’s outstanding leadership. Providing free arts opportunities allows children to develop their gifts in a supportive environment, and today’s recitals showed how much they have grown.”

The Sycamore Youth Center serves more than 500 kindergarten through 12th-grade students weekly through more than 40 free classes and programs, including dance, art, music, tutoring, leadership training and life skills.

The Crookston Youth Basketball Association’s (CYBA) 5th-grade girls basketball team went 3-0 and won the Sacred Heart Tournament on Saturday. 

They defeated Sacred Heart in the first round, won a close game against Riverside Christian in the second round, and beat East Grand Forks in the finals to claim the title.
Members of the team are Ashlyn Goering, Mireyah Magdaleno, Annie Kollin, Freya Brekken, Lily Griffin, Valor Klinnert, Penny Smith, and Evelyn Applequist.

Tags: and beat East Grand Forks in the finals to claim the title. 
Members of the team are Ashlyn Goering, Annie Kollin, Crookston 5th grade girls basketball team, Evelyn Applequist, Freya Brekken, Lily Griffin, Mireyah Magdaleno, Penny Smith, sports, The Crookston Youth Basketball Association’s (CYBA) 5th-grade girls basketball team went 3-0 and won the Sacred Heart Tournament on Saturday.  They defeated Sacred Heart in the first round, Valor Klinnert, won a close game against Riverside Christian in the second round

Donald E. Olsommer, Sr., 86, of Sterling, passed away peacefully on December 11, at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit in Dunmore, surrounded by his loving family.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Janet (Hinds) Olsommer.

Born in Scranton, he was the son of the late Felix C. Olsommer and Emily (Jones) Olsommer. He was a graduate of Greene-Dreher-Sterling High School, Class of 1958.

Prior to retirement, Don was the founder and owner of Olsommer-Clarke Insurance Group, established in 1972, with offices in Hamlin, Honesdale, and Moscow. He also owned and operated the Olsommer Tree Farm in Sterling. A man of deep faith, he served for 17 years as Pastor of Smith Hill United Methodist Church and was a lifelong member of Sterling United Methodist Church.

A United States Army Veteran, Don served with distinction for more than 30 years in the Pennsylvania National Guard, retiring with the rank of Major. He enlisted at age 18 in 1958 with the Honesdale National Guard and completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He initially served with the 109th Infantry in Honesdale, later transferring to the New Jersey National Guard, where he served with the 53rd Tank Battalion and became a full-time supply sergeant.

After completing officer training at the New Jersey Military Academy in Sea Girt, New Jersey, and Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he advanced through the officer ranks. In 1971, he returned to Pennsylvania and served as company commander for National Guard units in Carbondale, Honesdale, Scranton, and Tobyhanna Reserve Unit.

Don dedicated much of his life to public service. He served the citizens of Wayne County as County Commissioner from 1980-1991 and again from 2004-2007. He also served as a Township Supervisor, Former Wayne County Republican Chairman, and was deeply involved in civic and charitable efforts throughout the community.

He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, golf, and tending his tree farm. He was a gifted athlete in high school and remained a lifelong supporter of Delaware Valley and Penn State football. Don was passionate about youth sports, serving as a coach, and was a co-founder of Sterling Little League. He was inducted into the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame, was a member of American Legion Post 807 and a 50 year member of the Salem Masonic Lodge #330.

Most of all, Don cherished time spent with his family.

Surviving in addition to his wife are his three sons: Donald E. Olsommer, Jr. and his wife Alene of Sterling; Pennsylvania State Representative, the Honorable Jeff Olsommer, and his wife Kelli of Sterling; and Keith Olsommer and his wife Mary Ann of Sterling; a sister, Helen Leahey of Georgia; grandchildren Phoebe, Betsy, Garrett, Mackenzie, Logan, and Liam; great-grandchildren Charli, Daisy, and Genevieve; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Ronald F. Olsommer.

A Funeral Service will be held Friday, December 19th at 11:00 a.m. at Sterling United Methodist Church, 567 Sterling Road, Sterling, PA. The service will be live-streamed on the James Wilson Funeral Home Facebook page.

Friends may call Thursday, December 18th from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel, and Friday from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the church.

Private interment will be held at Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.

Memorial contributions in Don’s memory may be made to Sterling United Methodist Church, PO Box 25, Sterling, Pa 18463 or the Smith Hill United Methodist Church, 305 Sunrise Ave. Honesdale, Pa 18431.

For directions, to share a memory, or to leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.jamesfamilyfunerals.com

England’s senior women’s team have been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year’s ‘Team of the Year’ award for 2025.

The Lionesses, who won a second successive UEFA Women’s EURO championship in July, will be up against the European Ryder Cup team who were triumphant against the USA this summer, and the England women’s rugby team who won the Rugby World Cup on home soil to complete a historic summer of women’s sport.

Voting is now open and will close during the live show, which takes place from 7pm on Thursday 18 December live on BBC One, the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

The news follows on from Lionesses’ Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton being nominated for the main award last week, along with Michelle Agyemang being a contender for ‘Young Sports Personality of the Year’.

Make sure you register your vote for the Lionesses now!

15 December 2025 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced the event programme and athlete quota for the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The programme introduces a shorter competition period of eight days with around 1,600 athletes – about 20 per cent fewer than at Gangwon 2024. This decision was approved by the IOC Executive Board (EB) last week.

KEY FACTS

• The International Olympic Committee today announced the event programme and athlete quota for the Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games.
• The programme introduces a shorter competition period of eight days with about 1,600 athletes in fewer competition venues (mainly those from the 2026 Winter Olympics), reducing operational and rental costs.
• The programme will include the seven core Winter Olympic sports (biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing) and eight new events, including synchronised skating, mixed singles luge, moguls, and rail events for freestyle skiing and snowboarding, while 15 events from Gangwon will no longer be on the programme.

The Games will be held across fewer competition venues, mainly using existing infrastructure from the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, thereby reducing operational and rental costs. The programme will cover the seven core Winter Olympic sports (biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing). No decision was taken on additional sports proposed by the Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (YOGOC) since the YOGOC has not yet been established. This decision will be taken in 2026, subject to alignment with the programme principles, particularly the use of existing venues and infrastructure.

Eight events are making their debut on the Winter YOG programme to further boost appeal and youth engagement, including synchronised skating, mixed singles luge, moguls, and rail events for freestyle skiing and snowboarding, while 15 events from Gangwon will no longer be on the programme.

The rail events, which were recently added to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) calendar, are geographically accessible and conducive to indoor training with minimal snow, and can be delivered cost effectively using existing slopestyle infrastructure.

“This programme represents an important step forward for the Winter YOG,” said Karl Stoss, IOC Member and Chair of the Olympic Programme Commission. “It reflects a clear commitment to sustainability, innovation and youth-focused sports formats. Most importantly, it ensures that Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 will offer young athletes a world-class experience aligned with their development needs and the facilities of the host region.”

The EB’s decision finalises the event programme and athlete quota, following a comprehensive review conducted in close collaboration with the relevant International Federations (IFs). The programme aims to deliver a high-quality, elite-level youth competition that reflects athlete development pathways and youth-specific formats. It also seeks to reduce the scale and operational complexity of the event to better suit its youth-focused nature and the local context, all with a continued commitment to full gender equality.

The approval of the event programme represents a significant step forward in the preparations for Dolomiti Valtellina 2028 and underlines the IOC’s ongoing commitment to finding cost efficiencies for the hosts.

DAKAR 2026

At its meeting last week, the IOC Executive Board also received an update on the Dakar 2026 YOG, which are now less than a year away. The Organising Committee recently marked the one-year-to-go milestone with the unveiling of its mascot Ayo, the launch of the OMEGA countdown clock and the Dakar en Jeux festival, which included a testing opportunity through an international futsal competition and a recent equestrian event.

With under a year remaining, the YOGOC has now entered the readiness phase, focusing on finalising venue refurbishments, operational planning and capacity building. It has also launched its volunteer recruitment campaign, Jambaar26, with applications open until 31 January.