Photos by Kim North
A bench that was inside the third base dugout at the main field at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Youth Sports Complex in Elm Grove sits behind the backstop after flooding last Thursday heavily damaged the facility. Rocks and dirt also can be seen.

WHEELING — The infrastructure surrounding the main baseball field at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Youth Sports Complex in the Elm Grove neighborhood sustained heavy damage following a severe thunderstorm that rolled through the Ohio Valley last Thursday.

The field, listed as Field 5 on the City of Wheeling Parks and Recreation directory, is used by the Wheeling University baseball team; the Wheeling Central baseball team; and the Wheeling Pioneers of the Ohio Valley Baseball League.

According to Wheeling University head baseball coach Ryan Lewicki and Tom Bechtel, director of the seven-field facility, they are awaiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency to visit the site to see if it qualifies for funding.

“Nobody can play on that field until FEMA officials come in and take a look at the damage,” Bechtel said Tuesday afternoon. “Until then, everything is on hold.”

Lewicki said he was told to start looking for a place to play his fall ball schedule.

“Everything is now in the hands of the city of Wheeling,” Lewicki, the field’s primary caretaker, said. “After they go to FEMA and we receive some funding, then we can start getting some stuff done up there. We don’t have the funding to do it ourselves.”

Lewicki said the process could take some time. “I’m already looking for a different site to play at in the fall.”

Damage was limited to the dugouts and press box area. The field itself suffered no damage.

“The drain in the parking lot behind the press box became clogged,” Lewicki said. “All the water, rocks and dirt ran through the dugouts, especially on the third base side. The rocks weren’t there. I don’t know where they came from. The press box had a foot of water inside the first floor.

“The playing surface isn’t terrible, but the infield grass has been there now for 20 years,” he added. “If we are going to start tearing up some of the ground, we might as well replace it, as well.”

The City of Guthrie announced on Wednesday that the National Park Service, in partnership with the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, has approved the City’s request for supplemental funding to support the construction of Phase 1A of the Owen Field Youth Sports Complex.

Following formal acceptance of the funding amendment by the city council, the City will now move forward with the selection and hiring of a construction management team and project architect. This milestone represents a major step forward in Guthrie’s long-term goal of expanding youth sports facilities in the community.

The project is made possible by a 50/50 matching grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the City of Guthrie Capital Improvement Project funds. This combined investment reflects the City’s commitment to creating high-quality recreational opportunities for local youth.

Pending the competitive bidding process, planned improvements under Phase 1A include:

• Construction of new baseball and softball fields
• Installation of field lighting systems
• Development of an ADA-compliant concession and restroom facility
• Installation of quick-connect irrigation systems at each field
• Construction of a new entryway from State Highway 33
• Creation of an ADA-compliant parking area to serve all fields

“This project has been years in the making, and we are incredibly excited to take this next step,” said City Manager Eddie Faulkner. “We are deeply grateful to our Mayor and City Council for their steadfast support and investment in this vital community resource.”

DILLON — Back in June of 2023, Troy Andersen returned to his hometown of Dillon and hosted a free youth football camp that drew in a large crowd of kids.

Flash forward to now and the former Dillon Beaver, Montana State Bobcat and current Atlanta Falcons linebacker has turned it into a Beaverhead County summer tradition.

He hosted his third straight camp Tuesday afternoon and spent the afternoon running drills and hanging out with hundreds of third through eighth graders. He was joined by several current and former Beavers and Bobcats.

HEAR FROM TROY ANDERSEN:

Troy Andersen hosts youth football camp, looks toward 4th NFL season

“It’s crazy, it has flown by, so Year 3 and it’s been great,” said Andersen. “It’s just been fun to give back and hang out with familiar faces, family and friends. Get some kids running outside in the summer.”

He said this camp was something he would have participated in when he was a kid.

“When I look back when I was growing up I would have loved to have an opportunity to hang out with the high school kids and some Montana State players,” he said. “And just play sports and be outside and be a kid. So that’s the goal.”

And his goal for himself as he gears up for the final season of his rookie contract with the Falcons is obvious — play at a high level and remain healthy after seeing his past two seasons end early because of injury.

Last season’s conclusion was particularly frustrating as Andersen delivered 17 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4 — earning NFC defensive player of the week honors — but then injured his knee in the fourth quarter and was eventually placed on injured reserve.

Still, he said his upbringing as a ranch kid in Montana gave him a certain level of determination and grit that’s bolstered him through the recovery process.

“I’ve kind of hit a rough patch these last couple of years with injuries,” said Andersen. “And it is tough. But growing up in Montana I think it gives you a leg up. You kind of always have that chip on your shoulder. You’re from a small state and nobody really gets recruited out of here.

“I grew up on a cattle ranch and my parents were out there bailing hay this morning. There’s no days off and I think that helps you push through tough things and instills that work ethic. I think there’s so many benefits to growing up in this state.”

And as he reflected on his journey from Dillon to the NFL, he said it’s sometimes still difficult to wrap his mind around.

“It’s kind of surreal and a little strange, honestly,” said Andersen. “Just a small-town kid from Dillon playing a kids’ game for a living. But it’s really cool seeing the next generation and the kids running around.”

DETROIT – More than 200 young people gathered near Skinner Park and Denby High School in Detroit, demonstrating their community’s resilience just days after a drive-by shooting claimed the lives of two victims.

The event, organized by Sound Body, Sound Mind Foundation on Tuesday (July 2), brought together neighborhood youth for athletic activities and community engagement, refusing to let violence define their community.

“We don’t want that one incident to define us,” said Curtis Blackwell, founder of Sound Body, Sound Mind Foundation. “We want this to be a testament that there’s still a lot of vibrancy in this neighborhood and that this community is a safe place.”

The foundation, established by Blackwell in 2004, focuses on youth development through sports and mentorship.

Tuesday’s event showcased this mission, with participants engaging in workout sessions and sports activities near Denby High School.

“Sports allow us to have the influence that parents sometimes don’t have,” Blackwell said. “Sports keep the kids off the streets.”

Christopher Harris, 13, was among the participants at Tuesday’s event.

“It’s very sad seeing people in our community, young kids in our community, lose their lives,” Harris said. “He brought us out here to be an example to people.”

While the youth participated in athletic drills, the Community Violence Intervention Program conducted outreach in surrounding neighborhoods.

Detroit police and fire officials also attended the event, emphasizing the importance of positive community engagement.

Blackwell, who grew up in the neighborhood, questioned whether providing alternative outlets could prevent future violence.

The foundation’s approach combines physical activity with character development, as participants noted that “they teach you how to build your character.”

Detroit Police Department officials confirmed that two suspects believed to be responsible for Friday’s shooting are in custody.

The department has not released additional details about the investigation.

After four years as Iuka Grade School Superintendent, Sam Alli has resigned effective this week to become Principal at Brownstown High School. Alli says his time at Iuka has been extremely rewarding and is proud of the efforts of the staff.

“You look at your state test score and I think we are doing extremely well, in light of coming out of COVID, and a few years after the fact. That’s a testament to our hard working staff and the kids we have here. They just go get it, take the initiative, and work hard, so I am very proud of that.”

Alli is also proud of building improvements that were made to make the school building more safe and secure. He notes the community is very close knit and supportive of the school.

Alli has been replaced by Derrick Vincent who was named Superintendent effective July 1st. Vincent was already on the school staff and has been working on the transition since his appointment in January.

Alli says moving back to the principal role at the high school level is where he is most comfortable. Alli was Principal at Odin School and a teacher at Salem Community High School before becoming Superintendent at Iuka Grade.

ZT Corporate and EM Speed and Power Announce Strategic Partnership to Empower the Next Generation of Athletes

ZT Corporate, a leading private equity firm with a strong presence in youth sports, announced today a strategic partnership with EM Speed and Power, a premier athletic performance training organization dedicated to developing high-performance athletes.

This collaboration will enable EM Speed and Power to scale operations, enhance its athlete development and academy programs, and invest in advanced sports performance technologies. It will also support EM’s continued efforts to provide a neutral, inclusive training environment for athletes of all backgrounds.

Taseer Badar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZT Corporate, said, “This partnership is about creating real opportunities for young athletes to grow, thrive and chase their dreams. At ZT, we’re proud to team up with like-minded organizations like EM Speed and Power to deliver world-class training, mentorship and education. Ryan and his team have built a stellar reputation in youth sports development, and we’re honored to support their mission.”

EM will maintain its flexible schooling program by working closely with local school districts, offering alternatives to traditional education to help student-athletes excel both academically and athletically.

The partnership will also launch new scholarship initiatives, community outreach programs and enhancements to EM’s coaching staff. Each is designed to remove barriers and create opportunities for youth in underserved communities.

Ryan Halstead, Chief Operating Officer of EM Speed and Power, said, “This partnership with ZT Corporate marks a major milestone in our mission to make elite sports training more accessible. Together, we’re creating a movement that empowers youth through sports, mentorship and education.”

Eric Chung, Partner at ZT Premier Athletes Academy, said, “I am beyond excited to enter into this strategic partnership with two established and respected names in youth sports. Together, we’ll redefine what’s possible for young athletes, building not just stronger and smarter players, but stronger communities. We believe in EM’s mission and are committed to supporting their growth. Together, we can build a place that nurtures talent, discipline and confidence—both on and off the field.”

Founded in 2006, EM Speed and Power provides comprehensive athletic and academic development programs tailored to student-athletes. Services include personalized training in speed, strength, agility and endurance, delivered by certified trainers using cutting-edge equipment and proven methodologies. In addition to physical training, EM offers an integrated academic program through “Learn at EM,” which supports students in achieving their educational goals alongside athletic excellence. This dual-focus approach ensures that athletes are prepared not only for peak performance in sports but also for success in the classroom and beyond.

About ZT Corporate

Established in 1997, ZT Corporate is a Houston-based private equity firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles (Century City and Newport). The firm focuses on healthcare and auto dealerships as core investment verticals. ZT Corporate’s investment team collaborates with its operators to support the day-to-day operations of the firm’s portfolio investments. This close collaboration drives value creation by developing stronger operator-investor relationships, cross-functional expertise, and a deeper understanding of the target industries. Since its founding, ZT Corporate has successfully completed more than 60+ investments, including platform companies and follow-on opportunities with multiple liquidity events for its investors. For more information: www.ztcorporate.com.

Media Contact:

Victoria Cook

Pierpont Communications for ZT Corporate

vcook@piercom.com, 713-627-2223

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