Breaking News

Sports Columns

Penn State poised to begin ‘march’

March Madness is upon us, one of the special stretches of the sports calendar. And this year, Penn State has a chance to join the party. Since the NCAA Tournament displaced the NIT as the nation’s premier basketball event by the mid-1960s, the Nittany Lions have advanced to the Big Dance just four times (1991, 1996, 2001 and 2011). They would have gone in 2020, but Covid got in the way. Winning five of its last six games has put Penn State in position to gain an at large-bid to the field of 68, presuming the Nits don’t win the Big Ten and capture the automatic berth. But to ...

State hunters bag 3,170 black bears

The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently released the bear harvest figures for the 2022 bear hunting seasons, indicating that hunters harvested 3, 170 Pennsylvania black bears. That total is 451 bears fewer than the 3,621 taken in 2021 and ranks as the 14th highest season total of all time. The all-time record bear harvest for Pennsylvania occurred in 2019 when hunters bagged 4,653 bears. Bear hunting continues to enjoy a wave of popularity in Pennsylvania with sales of bear licenses for 2022 totaling 213,639, the third most ever. Pennsylvania residents bought 203,922 bear licenses ...

Fee’s soccer involvement a big plus for this area

Most people’s tenure in youth soccer lasts for the duration of their children’s involvement with the sport, but for some, youth soccer is a lifetime commitment. Jim Fee is one of those who has made a lifetime commitment to the sport. Earlier this year, Fee refereed the 6,000th game of his ...

Wild Game Feast returns to Altoona

It’s a real pleasure to announce once again the popular Wild Game Feast hosted each year by the Altoona Alliance Church located at 3220 Pleasant Valley Blvd. next to Planet Fitness. After a hiatus because of COVID, the 16th annual installment of this worthwhile event will be held on Saturday, March 18. The buffet style meal will include a variety of delicious wild-game dishes, including elk, moose, bear, deer, rabbit, pheasant and fish, along with sides, desserts and drinks. And there are always some “regular” foods like store-bought turkey and hot dogs. The featured speaker ...

Nature can be enjoyed, even in cold weather

The groundhog told us to expect six more weeks of winter the other day. I imagine that put our moods in a state of euphoria — I am sure! Actually, I try to use the time during the winter period to do some scouting for upcoming seasons. A light snow on the ground is perfect. Ice is not. There is much to see and hear at this time of year. Shed deer antlers lying wherever they fall off a buck’s head is one treasure to find. I was deer hunting about 15 years ago in Alabama and found a great looking shed, and I brought it home and still have it. It’s a time to pay attention to ...

B-A banner a nice touch for program

During a recent visit to Bellwood-Antis High School to cover a basketball game, I noticed a banner honoring the 2019-2020 girls basketball team for making the Elite 8 in a season that was never completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hanging next to the Lady Blue Devils’ two state championship banners from the two previous seasons and the same size and just as prominent. Obviously not all the teams that were still playing when the PIAA shut down the season in 2020 would have won a PIAA championship, but I would like to see all of them honored the way B-A and some other ...