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St. John Central project on track

    You don’t get something like this done overnight.     But Jeff Paolina of Irish Junior Sports is one determined guy. He envisions St. John Central kicking off its 2010 football season in an attractive new facility.     Driving north on Route 7, passers-by will notice the groundwork has been laid and dirt is being moved. “Until this spring, you couldn’t see much progress,” Paolina explained. “But now, things are beginning to take shape. We’re very encouraged.”     Paolina, Junior ...

Lady Devils excel

PICKERINGTON — Beallsville has a rich athletic history for both girls and boys. Whether it’s volleyball, basketball, softball for the girls or football, basketball, wrestling for the boys, the Blue Devils have tasted their fair share of success. Well, it’s time that track and field is added to the list of accomplishments. The Lady Blue Devils are enjoying their finest girls’ track and field season of all time and many folks in Monroe County don’t even know about it let alone the rest of the Ohio Valley. If you go to Beallsville and look for a track, good luck finding one. ...

Quick Strike captures Mountaineer Classic

Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley calls TK Quick Strike a “freak of nature.” He’s fast. He’s powerful. He’s explosive. He’s determined. He’s exciting. Cooley said Quick Strike reminds him of Talentedmrripley, the All-American who shined on the Florida circuit in 2001-2002. Quick Strike, a July 2005 greyhound out of Flying Penske-Joanne’s Peach, was at his finest in the $10,000 Mountaineer Classic at Wheeling Island, capturing the championship final over the Memorial Day weekend after roaring through his three qualifying rounds undefeated. The distance dandy’s ...

Doc Christy was there in spirit

I only met Dr. Glenn Christy one time, and then I didn’t know who he was. I still really don’t know the man, but from what I’ve been told he was a true Buckeye fan. “Doc Christy was one of the originals when we started this event back when Earle Bruce was the head coach,” said E.G. “Manny” Mehallis, organizer of the Buckeyes’ Boosters Golf Scramble which was held Tuesday at a rain-soaked Belmont Hills County Club in St. Clairsville. “There are three or four of that are still around from that first event.” For the past several tournaments, Dr. Christy ...

Arivada-Plum Creek rockin’ in Wheeling

They rocked the music world in the 70s and 80s. David Bowie, Creedence, Aerosmith and Van Halen. Now their namesakes are making music at Wheeling Island for the Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel. “They all have the speed to compete and win in Grade AA at Wheeling,” said Arivada-Plum Creek trainer Joe Otto, who along with Jerry Cole have handled the kennel since late March. “All have stepped up their games recently, with Creedence and Aerosmith making the final of the Mountaineer Classic.” The foursome also have played a significant role in the Arivada-Plum Creek’s climb into ...

Experience to be a key for Bucks

OHIO STATE head football coach Jim Tressel considers the Buckeyes’ experience to be one of their principal strengths this fall. He apparently goes along with the idea expressed by author/historian Henry Adams, who wrote, “All experience is an arch, to build on.” Tressel talked about the team when he appeared earlier this week at an outing arranged by the Buckeyes’ Boosters of Belmont County and held at the Belmont Hills Country Club. “I’d like to think that our real strength will be our experience,” he said. “We have good leadership, because we have real good kids — ...