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Smith takes 2nd at Jackman

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:29:34 +0000

Montrose Area’s Jordan Smith took second place overall at the 47th annual Jackman Memorial Tournament at Scranton Municipal Golf Course on Tuesday.

Smith, shot 36 and a 38 for a 74 stroke total on the par 72 course, falling two strokes behind Mark Paradise of North Pocono.

He finished one stroke ahead of Abington Heights’ Dave Mecca.

Smith said he surprised himself with a second-place showing, which was also good for the low junior in the field.

“I just said 70s was my goal,” Smith said. “I surprised myself when I did it. I played here earlier and shot 74 so I was confident.”

“It’s exciting for me, very exciting. I’m astonished right now, he said.

Also finishing in the top 20 for the Meteors was Cole Wheaton, who took 18^th with a 79 score.

Montrose’s Billy Stranburg shot a 40 and a 44 for an 84, while Lance Neely shot a 41 and 43 to card an 84.

The Meteors finished in fourth place overall as a team with a 321, six points behind North Pocono with a 315m, while Scranton Prep took first with a 304.

Forest City also had four golfers at the tournament as Vince DeLucy carded a 92, Dom Sparks shot a 97, Seth Thomas had a 101 and Steven Rebernick had a 113.

The Foresters finished 19th in the team standings with a 403.

For Mountain View, Mark Snyder shot a 95, Tyler Salak had 96, Chad Wescott carded a 105 and Seth Decker shot a 112.

The Eagles took 20th place with a 408, just ahead of last-place Carbondale with a 418.

Football opens this weekend

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:25:48 +0000

The Montrose and Susquehanna varsity football teams will suit up and hit the gridiron starting on Friday night after weeks of intense training.

Montrose will face off against Nanticoke at home at 7 p.m. on Friday night under the direction of head coach Jack Keihl.

Last season, Montrose faced Susquehanna on opening night on the road where the Sabers handed the Meteors a 42-22 loss.

Susquehanna will meet Hanover at home on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

The Sabers and Meteors both open with out-of-conference matchups as both Nanticoke and Hanover belong to Class AA/A of the Wyoming Valley Conference.

Last year’s Montrose effort saw the Meteors go 1-9 on the year, with the team’s only win coming over Lackawanna Trail.

Susquehanna finished out the year at 6-4, beating Montrose, Holy Cross (twice), GAR, Lackawanna Trail and Lake-Lehman.

Forester spikers stepping up

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:21:35 +0000

After finishing off the 2009 campaign with a 10-6 record, Forest City girls’ varsity volleyball coach Dora Andrew is looking to step it up.

Although the team had a great finish last year, Andrews is eying the District II Class A playoffs.

In the Foresters’ playoff run last year, the team took on Lackawanna Trail in the semifinals, taking a 3-0 loss from the Lions.

“We’re looking to do one step better this season,” Andrews said on Wednesday.

In order to get ready for a new season, the Foresters have been holding daily practices where they have been focusing mainly only defense and court coverage.

Forest City returns five starters to the court this season in seniors Kiersten Collins, Sarah Forsette, Jessica Strickland and Cree Townsend and junior Courtney Andrews.

“The team works together well,” Andrews said. “They talk a lot and work together.”

In looking at the upcoming season schedule, Andrew said that Mountain View, Montrose, Dunmore and Trail should be top contenders, but also isn’t ruling anyone else out.

“You can’t knock anyone out,” Andrews said. “Because you just never know who’s going to surprise you.”

In order to contend with the league’s powerhouse teams, Andrews will count on Strickland, Collins and Andrews to step up and dominate the court.

“I think we’ll be strong this year,” Andrews said. “And be one of those teams that grow as we go.”

Forest City’s varsity girls’ volleyball team is comprised of seniors Collins, Forsette, Strickland and Townsend, juniors Andrews, Rose Campbell, Bridget Davies, Sarah Kubus, Kristine Kuriger and Cassie Saul, sophomores Kiana Marcho, Stephanie Ramos and Morgan Saul and freshmen Jenna Baron, Rachel DeLucy and Samantha Kuriger.

Forest City begins the regular season at home on Tuesday, Sept. 7, against Blue Ridge at 6 p.m.

Full schedule:

Sept. 7, Blue Ridge, H, 6 p..m.

Sept. 9, Mt. View, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 13, Elk Lake, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 14, Dunmore, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 16, Susquehanna, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 23, Western Wayne, A, 6 .m.

Sept. 27, Lackawanna Trail, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 28, Montrose, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 30, Blue Ridge, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4, Mt. View, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 5, Elk Lake, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 7, Dunmore. H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 12, Susquehanna, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 19, Western Wayne, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 21, Lackawanna Trail, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 26, Montrose, A, 6 p.m.

Blue Ridge

Sept. 7, Forest City, A, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9, Elk Lake, H, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13, Lackawanna Trail, A, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14, Susquehanna, H, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16, Montrose, A, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21, Western Wayne, H, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25, Tunkhannock Tourney, A, 9 a.m.

Sept. 27, Mt. View, H, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28, Dunmore, A, 7 p.m.

Sept. 30, Forest City, H, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2, Troy Trojan Invitational, A, TBA

Oct. 4, Elk Lake, A, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5, Lackawanna Trail, H, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7, Susquehanna, A, 7 p.m.

Oct. 12, Montrose, H, 7p.m.

Oct. 14, Western Wayne, A, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21, Mt. View, A, 7 p.m.

Oct. 26, Dunmore, H, 7 p.m.

ElkLake

Sept. 7, Dunmore, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 9, Blue Ridge, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 13, Forest City, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 16, Lackawanna Trail, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 21, Susquehanna, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 24, Montrose, A, 3 p.m.

Sept. 27, Western Wayne, H, 6p.m.

Sept. 28, Mt. View, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 30, Dunmore, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4, Blue Ridge, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 5, Forest City, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 12, Lackawanna Trail, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 14, Susquehanna, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 19, Montrose, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 21, Western Wayne, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 26, Mt. View, A, 6 p.m.

Montrose

Sept. 1, Abington Heights, A, 4 p.m.

Sept. 7, Lackawanna Trail, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 9, Susquehanna, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 14, Western Wayne, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 16, Blue Ridge, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 18, Wyalusing, H, 10 a.m.

Sept. 21, Mt. View, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 24, Elk Lake, A, 3 p.m.

Sept. 25, Tunkhannock Tourney, A, 9 a.m.

Sept. 27, Dunmore, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 28, Forest City, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 30, Lackawanna Trail, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4, Susquehanna, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 7, Western Wayne, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 12, Blue Ridge, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 14, Mt. View, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 19, Elk Lake, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 21, Dunmore, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 26, Forest City, H, 6 p.m.

Mountain View

Sept. 7, Susquehanna, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 9, Forest City, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 11, Pleasant Valley, A, 8:15 a.m.

Sept. 13, Western Wayne, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 14, Lackawanna Trail, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 21, Montrose, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 23, Dunmore, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 25, Tunkhannock Tourney, A, 9 a.m.

Sept. 27, Blue Ridge, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 28, Elk Lake, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 30, Susquehanna, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4, Forest City, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 5, Western Wayne, H, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 7, Lackawanna Trail, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 14, Montrose, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 19, Dunmore, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 21, Blue Ridge, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 26, Elk Lake, H, 6 p.m.

Susquehanna

Sept. 3, Deposit (N.Y.), H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 7, Mt. View, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 9, Montrose, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 13, Dunmore, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 14, Blue Ridge, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 16, Forest City, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 18, Wyoming Valley West Tourney, A, 9 a.m.

Sept. 21, Elk Lake, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 23, Lackawanna Trail, A, 6 p.m.

Sept. 28, Western Wayne, H, 6 p.m.

Sept. 30, Mt. View, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4, Montrose, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 5, Dunmore, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 7, Blue Ridge, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 12, Forest City, A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 14, Elk Lake, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 19, Lackawanna Trial, H, 6 p.m.

Oct. 21, Deposit (N.Y.), A, 6 p.m.

Oct. 26, Western Wayne, A, 6 p.m.

Meteors staying positive

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:17:43 +0000

The Montrose Area varsity field hockey team is looking to have a successful season under the direction of first-year head coach Brianna Strope.

After 2009 head coach Jason Young moved on from the team, Strope, who was the assistant, has moved into the head coaching role.

Montrose’s Meteors are taking the field after finishing 1-13 in the 2009 campaign, and are eying a successful season.

“We’re hoping the season is positive,” Strope said. “We have a strong returning team, and a solid freshman and sophomore class coming up.”

Returning starters to the Meteor lineup include Leah Cronk, Lila Weiss, Dru Potts, Mary Kate Fruehan, Amanda Rucker, Katie Stranburg and Emily Kinney.

In looking at the season schedule the Meteors are looking forward to facing rival Elk Lake, Abington Heights and Berwick.

Strope said that on the offensive side, Potts and Weiss are players to watch, while on the defensive side Cronk, Mikayla Dearborn and Ashley Lewis are strong defenders.

Currently the Meteors are focusing on positioning work, hashing out the starting lineup and getting the team’s defense in check after graduating six seniors last year.

The Montrose Area varsity field hockey team is comprised of seniors Cronk, Fruehan, Weiss, Potts and Brooke Bishop, juniors Stranburg, KinneyAnna Hamernick, Allison Jones and Rina Nikolaidis, sophomores Rucker, Kelsey Brink, Makayla Dearborn, Courtney Kimmell, Ashley Lewis, Samantha Turner and Maria Phillips, and freshmen Laura Brink, Olivia Everitt, Callista Newhart, Rebecca Timm and Kayleah Trecoske.

Montrose kicks off its regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at Pittston Area at 4:15 p.m.

Full schedule:

Sept. 8, Pittston Area, A, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 10, Tunkhannock, A, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 14, Berwick, H, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 16, Hanover, H, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 21, GAR, A, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 23, Elk Lake, A, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 28, Northwest, A, 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 30, Pittston, H, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 4, Tunkhannock, H, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 6, Berwick, A, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 8, Hanover, A, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 11, GAR, H, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 13, Elk Lake, H, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 15, Abington, A, 4:15 p.m.

Oct. 19, Northwest, H, 4:15 p.m.

Golf roundup

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:13:50 +0000

Montrose

The Montrose Area varsity golf team took a pair of wins last week with an 8-1 victory at Rock Creek over Mountain View on Friday and a 9-0 victory over Lakeland at Montrose Country Club on Thursday.

Against Mountain View, Cole Wheaton defeated Chad Wescott, 4 and 3; Casey O’Reilly beat Nick Sabucaka, 1-up; Billy Stranburg downed Mark Snyder, 5 and 3; Tyler Salek (MV) beat Matt Sobiech, 2 and 1; Jordan Smith downed Adam Klees, 4 and 3; and Lance Nealy defeated Seth Decker, 4 and 2.

In bett-erball, Wheaton-O’Reilly over Wescott-Sabucaka, 5 and 3; Stranburg-Sobiech over Snyder-Salek, 2 and 1; and Smith-Nealy over Klees-Decker, 4 and 2.

On Thursday in individual play O’Reilly over Mike Thomas, 3 and 2; Wheaton over Taylor Reeves, 5 and 4; Dan English over Greg Reeves, 1-up; Stranburg over Fred Tolerico, 5 and 3; Smith over Sean Price, 5 and 3; and Nealy over Mike Brennan, 1-up.

In better-ball action, O’Reilly-Wheaton over Thomas-T. Reeves, 4 and 3; English-Stranburg over G. Reeves-Tolerico, 5 and 3; Smith-Nealy over Price-Brennan, 4 and 3.

Susquehanna

Susquehanna’s Saber golf team took a pair 9-0 losses last week. One to Honesdale on Friday at Honesdale Golf Club and the other at Golden Oaks against Wallenpaupack on Wednesday.

ON Friday, individual play saw Cody Dirlam beat Andrew Burdick, 4 and 3; Bridget Simons beat Vince Matta, 3 and 2; Eric Fritz defeat Casey Squires, 5 and 4; Mike Kussoff down Mike Frye, 5 and 4; Mitch Daniels beat Dylan Hanes, 5 and 4; and Dylan Gavin defeat Steve Frye, 4 and 3.

In better-ball, Dirlam-Simons over Burdick-Matta, 4 and 2; Fritz-Kussoff over Squires-M. Frye, 5 and 4; Daniels-Gavin over Hanes-S. Frye, 5 and 4.

Against Wallenpaupack, individual play saw Brad Harsche down Burdick, 5 and 4; Alex Jackson defeat Frye, 4and 3; Kane Kellog defeat Squire, 4 and 3; Rocco Scartelli down Hanes, 3 and 2; Kyle Jackson beat Frye, 4 and 3; and Eric Miller by forfeit.

In better-ball, Harsche-A. Jackson over Burdick-S. Frye, 4 and 3; Kellogg-Scartelli over Squires-Haynes, 4 and 3; and K. Jackson-Miller over M. Frye, 4 and 3.

ElkLake

The Elk Lake varsity golf team took a 9-0 loss from Lakeland at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course on Wednesday afternoon.

In individual play Mike Thomas defeated Elk Lake’s Ricky Guiton, 5 and 3; Gaetano Zarra over Warrior Dylan Carrol, 5 and 3; Greg Reeves over EL’s Marshall McCarty, 5 and 4; Fred Tolerico over Warrior Pete McGee, 5 and 3; Mike Brennan downed EL’s Nick Marbaker, 4 and 3; and Sean Price over Adam Phillips, 3 and 2.

Better-ball action saw Thomas-Zarra beat Guiton-Carroll, 5 and 3; Reeves-Tolerico beat McCarty-McGee, 5 and 4; and Brennan-Price top Marbaker-Phillips, 3 and 2.

Forest City

The Forest City varsity golf team faced a 7-2 loss from Lackawanna Trail on the front nine of Rock Creek Golf Course on Wednesday afternoon but sprung back to defeat Blue Ridge 9-0 at Memorial Links on Thursday.

Against Trail, Forest City was led by Katie Zefran, who defeated Trail’s Matt Lochen, 3 and 1.

In individual play, Don Demarest (LT) beat Nick Luchonok, 3 and 2; Andy Dietrick (LT) downed Dom Sparks, 3 and 1; Brandon Foster (LT) topped Vince DeLucy, 4 and 3; Boslough (LT) beat Seth Thomas, 5 and 3; Katie Zefran (FC) defeated Matt Lochen, 3 and 1; and Dalton Mecke (LT) defeated Brian Nebzydoski, 3 and 1.

In better-ball, Demarest-Dietrick (LT) and Luchonok-Sparks (FC) split; Foster-Boslough (LT) over DeLucy-Thomas, 5 and 3; and Lochen-Mecke (LT) and Zefran-Nebzydoski (FC) split.

On Thursday in individual play Zefran beat Mike Gaffney, 4 and 2; Luchonok by forfeit; Sparks downed Austin French, 5 and 3; Nebzydoski by forfeit; Thomas over Ben Heppler, 5 and 3; and DeLucy by forfeit.

In better-ball, Zefran-Luchonok over Gaffney, 4 and 3; Sparks-Nebzydoski over French, 5 and 3; and Thomas-DeLucy over Heppler, 5 and 3.

Mountain View

The Mountain View Eagle varsity golf team faced an 8-1 loss to the Wallenpaupack team on Thursday afternoon.

In individual play Brad Harsche over Mark Snyder (MV), 1-up; Tyler Salak (MV) over Alex Jackson, 1-up; Kane Kellog over Adam Klees (MV), 2 and 1; Chris Cassel over Tyler Albert (MV), 5 and 4; Kyle Jackson over Chad Wescott, 4 and 3; and Eric Miller over Seth Decker (MV) 4 and 2.

In better-ball, Harcshe-A. Jackson over Snyder-Salak, 2 and 1; Kellogg-Cassel over Klees-Albert, 4 and 3; and K. Jackson-Miller over Wescott-Decker, 4 and 3.

Meteor girls win two

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:10:23 +0000

The Montrose Area girls’ tennis team took a pair of 5-0 shutout victories at Western Wayne on Thursday and at home against Mid Valley on Tuesday afternoon.

Singles action against Western Wayne saw Courtney Hinds beat Christina Piccolo, 6-0, 6-0; Kayla Triebel beat Victoria Lanza, 6-0, 6-1; and Gracie Bulger defeat Lizzie Caruth, 6-0, 6-1.

In doubles, Kristy Stankiewicz-Megan Hinds downed Brianna Vinton-Sarah Lutet, 6-2, 6-2; and Andrea Hinds-Ceara Hartman won by forfeit.

Against Mid Valley, in singles action, C. Hinds defeated Marissa Troiani, 6-0, 6-0; Triebel beat Heidi Yanoski, 6-2, 6-2; and Bulger beat Julie May, 6-3, 6-4.

Double action saw Stankiewicz-M. Hinds defeat Kari Urhanowski-Delaney Reynolds, 6-3, 6-0; and A. Hinds-Hartman bounce Jessie Brudnicki-Melissa Rocko, 6-4, 6-4.

For Trowbridges, it’s all in the family

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:58:30 +0000

Two sisters are hoping the livestock they will be showing at the Kiwanis Wyoming County Fair will be standouts in the 4H market hog and market steer shows.

Maria and Elizabeth Trowbridge, daughters of Gene and Valerie Trowbridge, have been raising animals as part of the “Grow’em and Show’em Wyoming County 4H Club, which exhibits at the Wyoming County Fair.

Maria, 16, and Elizabeth, 14, are students at Elk Lake High School, and their farm is located in Auburn Center.

They had animals in the open shows at the Harford Fair, but have chosen to be members in the Wyoming County 4-H program because their interests most keenly follow the themes of the “Grow’em and Show’em” Club.

This club, whose members specialize in rearing animals for market, was known as the Wyoming County Beef Club for 10 years, but changed its name last year as the Fair opened a barn just for hogs and the name more adequately represented the range of animals shown.

Maria is president of the 4-H club, and Elizabeth is treasurer.

“We are looking forward to a good fair,” Maria said. “I like the Wyoming County Fair because it is spacious and relaxed, and I enjoy hanging out with my 4-H club members.”

This is the first year the Trowbridges have shown pigs.

They have been raising registered Angus cattle their entire lives, and both joined 4-H the first year they were able to become official members, which is the year they were eight as of January 1.

The Trowbridge farm raises beef and pork for custom orders, and also sells brown eggs.

They are looking forward to the auction of their animals, as they usually fetch a good price at the 4-H auction. Animals are sold to the highest bidder by pound, based on their live weight.

The profits go to the girls’ college funds. Both are good students, as well as athletes. Maria is well known for her distance running abilities, and both are on the Elk Lake Cross Country and Track Teams.

Maria, now a junior, has medaled at state championships since she was a freshman.

Their natural bent for competitiveness has served them well in 4-H. They both enter baked goods in the Wyoming fair: Maria usually enters the apple pie contest, and Elizabeth bakes angel food cakes.

Both of them had prize winning baked goods that were eligible to go on to the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and Maria’s pie made it to the top 25.

At the fair, the family’s steers bannered every year, which means that they were among the top four steers of their breed. All of their animals are born and bred on the farm, and are raised there. They use an artificial insemination breeding program, which Gene manages.

Their steers have been either grand or reserve champions for four or five years running.

Linde Corp. featured at economic development breakfast

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:53:06 +0000

Since gas companies began actively drilling in the Marcellus Shale local business owners have been trying to figure out how their companies can capitalize on the opportunity work with the industry.

Scott Linde, president of Linde Corporation, spoke on the subject at the annual economic development breakfast sponsored by the Progress Authority on Thursday.

Linde said his Honesdale-based company is working with four natural gas companies working in the Marcellus – installing pipelines, water draw stations, mixing drill muds and even working construction on a compressor station in Lackawanna County.

“Focus on service,” advised Linde.

Linde said, “It was simple for us. We waited until they asked us for something and then gave them what they needed.”

Two years ago, Linde said his company was not working at all with gas companies. Now 50 percent of the company’s business volume is tied to the Marcellus Shale activity.

He said natural gas companies are constantly in the middle of a permit process. “You need to be ready to react as soon as the permit comes in,” Linde said.

He said the opportunity to gain the gas companies business sometimes comes when it is inconvenient but it’s a matter of “who can get there first.”

“I only see opportunity everywhere for everyone in this room,” Linde told the attendees.

The businessman said that to date he has hired 35 local people to work for him; six of his employees are from out of the state and the rest of his team is comprised of a core group of employees out of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.

“I’m looking for the farm boy I was,” said Linde, “someone who gets up early and is not afraid to work hard.”

The county commissioners named Diaz Corporation as Business of the Year. Owner Adam Diaz accepted the plaque.

In the past year, Diaz has expanded from his bluestone business, acquiring a lumber mill and adding a disposal service. He is also involved in property management and played a key role in bringing Tractor Supply to the Montrose area.

Diaz said, “I shouldn’t be here; it should be my employees up here. They’re the ones who make it happen. I’m just the name.”

Progress Authority executive director Tony Ventello reported the group focuses up to 70 percent of its time on natural gas issues.

He said that in addition to gas opportunities, he was seeing a trickle down effect from the industry to local restaurants and even a jewelry business.

Ventello said, “I believe we’re on the edge of great new development in the region.”

He also said the construction of the new Endless Mountains Health Systems facility would have a “great effect on the area.”

Walter, Murder Room author signs books

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:47:40 +0000

The impetus for the New York Times bestselling book “The Murder Room” started in Montrose, said author Michael Capuzzo.

Capuzzo, along with one of the one of the book’s main subjects, Richard Walter signed copies of the book for fans and the criminally curious at the Inn at Montrose Thursday evening. Criminal profiler Walter resides in the Montrose area.

Walter is one of the three founders of the Vidocq Society, a group of the world’s finest minds in law enforcement. Walter, FBI and Customs agent Bill Fleischer and forensic sculptor Frank Bender founded the group dedicated to aid cold case homicide investigators in the early 1990s.

Capuzzo declared Walter the “ultimate B.S. detector” to the dining room packed with people eager to meet both the author and the profiler.

He also announced an ABC special about Walter and the Vidocq Society is set to air Sept. 21.

On a more somber note, Walter told the group assembled that there have been more than 185,000 cold case homicides since 1980.

“It’s not fair. There’s going to be a lot of cases that go unsolved,” Walter said.

He also said he wouldn’t recommend children read the book “for its content, as well as language – mostly my own,” he quipped.

Country church cultivates name

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:43:11 +0000

Rather than holding their traditional Sunday School picnic this year, the Forest Lake Baptist Church decided to hold a new event: “Drive your tractor to church Sunday.”

Members spent about two months planning the tractor themed service and following parade, contests and picnic.

At about 10 a.m., tractors started pulling in to a field across the road. About 35 regular farm tractors of various make and vintage rumbled their way into a field across the road, as well as numerous lawn tractors, several pedal tractors, a tractor trailer, and a golf cart.

The pastor used power point slides of tractors in various states of repair to illustrate his message, “This Old Tractor.”

The slides showed a Farmall F30 in a state of near disintegration, then reassembled, then beautifully restored by skillful hands.

“God specializes in restoration,” Pastor Ken Young concluded. “He might use some sandpaper and a big ole hammer, to do it. But the end result is, there is hope.”

Even the foyer and sanctuary were decorated according to theme.

After the service, folks repaired to a nearby ball field, and the tractor parade meandered its way there, accompanied by one tractor hoisting an American flag and a booming sound system.

The attendees were welcomed with a cookout and picnic food, with a plethora of cold salads. It seemed an unofficial potato salad contest must have been in the works.

A pie contest was held, and the entries were promptly eaten. Games and tractor contests ensued. Attendees tried to guess the tractor part on a table of items, and there was an agility contest for the tractor drivers, as well as judging of the farm equipment.

Tractor Parts – guess the tractor part. There were two categories: Tractor Folks, who have been around tractors for some time, and City Folk, who haven’t. Most of those who participated got about six or seven correct.

Games and contest winners: Tractor parts: Tractor Folks – Glen Mead and Mark Mead, who tied for first place, with all 14 parts guessed correctly. City Folk: Bill Nash, who correctly guessed 12 of 14 parts correctly.

Tractor games: Back up a two axle wagon – Justin Smith; How well can you drive a tractor blindfolded – Josh Lodge/Clayton Morrow; Yes I can back up a tractor on a dot: Lawn Mower – Ed Lucas; Tractor – Clayton Morrow; Belt Driven between two tractors – Mark Mead, Glen Mead, Leonard Everitt and Tod Everitt

Best Tractors: Shiniest Tractor – Reuben Everitt; Most Unique Tractor – Everitt Lowry; Oldest Tractor – Bower Aukema; Traveled the furthest with a Lawn mower – Bill Nash; Traveled the furthest with a tractor – Justin Smith, 38 miles; Ugliest tractor – Steve Hinds.

Pie Contest: Matt Fearnley, Sandy Griffis and Bonnie Lowry.