Category Archives: Ron Paul

Living most of my life in the Kings Creek area, I cant even guess how many times Ive driven by the baseball fields on Kings Creek Road in Weirton. During the warmer weather, its common to see someone on a tractor cutting the grass on the ballfields or dragging the infields. For so many years, that person was either Joe Tunno or Tim Welch, both of whom have spent countless hours of their lives quietly and unassumingly serving the youth of Weirton through the Weirton Baseball Association.

After hearing a few weeks ago about Welchs death, one of my first thoughts was that I never stopped just to tell Tim thank you for taking care of the fields. I took it for granted that Tim would do what so many of the rest of us cant or choose not to do. Tim never wanted anything in return for the thousands of hours he volunteered at the ballfields. Im not even sure if being thanked was important to him. I think not otherwise, he wouldnt have done so much for the kids in exchange for the little thanks he likely got. Tim began coaching my brother Toms Babe Ruth team in 1980 and during the next 30 years continued his unwavering service to the Weirton Baseball Association.

Tims gift of his time and talents didnt just benefit the WBA he also was involved for even more years with the Weirton Termite Basketball Association at the Millsop Community Center (along with Ron Greer, another gentleman whose volunteerism knew no bounds.)

For years, these two men kept the league together, coaching, getting sponsors, handling the draft, scheduling games, training young referees and dealing with emotional parents, among other things. It would not be uncommon for Tim to grab a whistle and officiate games when young referees failed to show up or were busy with another game.

Greer still is running the league after 50 years of service I cant imagine how many pounds of fish Ron has cooked while also volunteering at the local Lenten fish fries during the years or how many hours he has served the Weirton Jaycees. Among other causes, Ron also has been serving our special needs citizens as a board member and officer at the Hancock County Sheltered Workshop for many years.

I will make it a priority to reach out to Greer and Tunno and thank them for the good they do for the community. I could kick myself in the butt for not taking the time to thank Welch he was a quiet, kind, humble and unassuming man who, nevertheless, deserved my thanks.

We have been blessed in Weirton with individuals who have given their time and talents for the benefit of the youth in our community. As a youngster, I had the honor of playing basketball at St. Joseph for Jim Klash, who coached at the school for more than 30 years. I didnt know until after he passed away that Klash was a parishioner of St. Pauls, St. Joes rival in youth basketball back in the day. Klash also was one of the founding members of the Weirton Baseball Association Complex. He gave me one of my first jobs as an umpire. I hope the Weirton community and St. Joes never forget them.

I know Im forgetting or have failed to mention many men and women who have volunteered countless hours in our community during the years. I intend no disrespect. You know who they are. They were our coaches, league presidents and concession stand workers they opened, cleaned and closed the gyms where your kids and mine played ball, or they worked on the ballfields after a heavy Saturday morning rain so your kids could play their baseball game.

The next time you see them, go and tell them thanks for all they do or what they have done during the years before that opportunity passes you by. I certainly will. I missed that opportunity with Tim Welch and I regret my omission.

Weirton and its children are so very lucky to have such committed and generous volunteers, like Tim Welch, and we will miss them dearly and their selfless contributions to our community.

Thank you, Tim.

(McCune is a resident of Weirton. Tim Welch died April 18 at the age of 61.)

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Remember to say thank you before it is too late - The Daily Times

Tyler Thompson dominated Saturday nights 50-lap supermodified feature at the Oswego Speedway. But coming off the fourth turn on the final lap, his car ran out of fuel, allowing teammate Max McLaughlin to nip him at the checkered flag by a car length for his first-ever supermodified feature win.

On the cool down lap after his $2,000 triumph, McLaughlins super also ran out of fuel as he coasted into victory lane. The Jason Simmons Racing team cars made up the front row for the main event. McLaughlin led the first 10 laps before Thompson motored around him and went out to a comfortable lead.

Team owner Jason Simmons was especially pleased after the show.

This was a great night for the entire team, said the owner. We had the two fastest cars at the track and much of the credit goes to crew my chief David OConnor and his guys. Last week Tyler blew a motor and Max didnt get much track time and it was great seeing those two cars out front.

McLaughlin is currently one of the most versatile drivers in short-track racing. So far this season, this 21-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, racer has piloted dirt modifieds, asphalt mods, ARCA late models, USAC midgets and NASCAR trucks.

But after his second night in a super and his first feature win, McLaughlin is impressed with his newest open-wheel machine.

These are the fastest cars Ive ever driven, said McLaughlin.

Dave Shullick Jr. battled up through the pack and closed in on the leaders in the final laps, but the Ohio speedster had to settle for third. Third-generation racer Brandon Bellinger was fourth, with Jeff Abold, Dave Danzer, Otto Sitterly, Dan Connors, Joe Gosek and Lou Levea Jr. making up the top 10 finishers.

Nick Kinney was making just his second start in a 350 super Saturday, but he led from start to finish to pick up a $900 check. John Tesoriero, Barry Kingsley, Kyle Perry and Vern LaFave followed.

Brad and Bryan Haynes became the first brothers to finish first and second in an Oswego feature in the 30-lap small-block super finale. Cameron Rowe and Brian Sobus were third and fourth.

Several serious spills marred Oswegos second show of the year. Ryan Locke and Mike Bruce came out uninjured, but their cars were heavily damaged.

TIM SEARS SCORES SECOND FULTON 358 MODIFIED VICTORY

In Saturday nights 358 modified feature at the Fulton Speedway, Tim Sears rolled into victory lane for the second time this season. Larry Wight chased Sears to the checkers, with Todd Root, Pat Ward and Ron Davis III filling out the top five.

The large field of crate sportsmen needed two feature races, with Josh Livingston and Richard Murtaugh each picking up a victory. Brian Knowles took late model honors, with Paul DeRuyter winning the novice sportsman finale.

MATT SHEPPARD WINS 58TH SEASON OPENER AT LAND OF LEGENDS

Matt Sheppard broke out of a mini-slump by winning the 58th season opener Saturday night at the Land of Legends Speedway. It was his fourth win of the 2021 season and his 82nd career triumph at this half-mile Canandaigua oval.

Erick Rudolph was second, followed by Justin Haers and Peter Britten.

STEWART FRIESEN WINS 71ST CAREER FONDA FEATURE

Stewart Friesen continues to rack up feature wins on the Upstate New York dirt modified circuit. On Saturday night, the Sprakers driver won at Fonda Speedway for his 12th feature win in 20 outings for his Halmar Racing team.

It was his 71st career win on this half-mile, fairgrounds oval.

OTHER WINNERS

Lebanon Valley: L.J. Lombardo, Marc Johnson and Alden Dwyer were the three top big-block modifieds over the line Saturday night at the Lebanon Valley Speedway.

Whelen Modified Tour: Doug Coby took the lead on lap 176 and went on to win the 200-lap Whelen Modified Tour race at the quarter-mile Riverhead (Long Island) Speedway.

Thunder Mountain: Eric Leet won Saturdays modified main event at the Thunder Mountain Speedway, and Rusty Smith was the 358 modified victor.

MSA Supers: The Midwest Supermodified Association opened its 2021 season Saturday night at the Lorain County (Ohio) Speedway. Trent Stephens came away with the feature win, with Bobby Santos III, Talon Stephens, Rich Reid and Moe Lilje following.

Outlaws at the Grove: Aaron Reutzel picked up a nice $15,000 check for winning Saturday nights 30-lap World of Outlaws Sprint Tour feature at the Williams Grove (Pennsylvania) Speedway. Giovanni Scalzi and Lance Dewease were second and third.

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Max McLaughlin wins first super feature as Tyler Thompson runs out of fuel in Oswego - syracuse.com

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SOUTHERN ARIZONA HOME RUNS SINCE 2010Emily Darwin, Benson: 55 HRs; 208 RBI; .579Tylor Gil, Santa Cruz: 51 HRs; 212 RBI; .569Carli Scupin, Tucson: 46 HRs; 128 RBI; .610Katie Faulk, Marana: 41 HRs; 140 RBI; .405Alyssa Cuellar, San Manuel: 33 HRs; 194 RBI; .501Alexis Kaiser, Canyon del Oro: 31 HRs; 132 RBI; .508Kristiana Watson, Amphitheater: 31 HRs; 105 RBI; .736Breezy Hayward, Cienega: 31 HRs; 130 RBI; .545Kelsey Smith, Empire: 30 HRs; 159 RBI; .538Isabel Pacho, Ironwood Ridge: 30 HRs; 149 RBI; .552Ellessa Bonstrom, Canyon del Oro: 30 HRs; 130 RBI; 469

SATURDAY, MAY 15

5A BOYS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPNo. 1 Casteel over No. 2 Cienega 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-14)

BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS1A: No. 1 St. David 9, No. 3 Ray 8

2A: No. 2 Benson 6, No. 1 Scottsdale Christian 3

SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS1A: No. 1 Williams 6, No. 3 San Manuel 4

2A: No. 3 River Valley 3, No. 1 Benson 2

MONDAY, MAY 17

BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT DIABLO3A: No. 4 Sabino vs. No. 2 Odyssey Institute, 4 p.m.4A: No. 4 Salpointe vs. No. 2 Mesquite, 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP AT ARIZONA3A: No. 1 Sabino vs. No. 3 Payson, 11:30 a.m.4A: No.1 Salpointe vs. No. 2 Vista Grande, 2 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 18

D-II BEACH VOLLEYBALL PAIRS AT CASTEELNo. 1 B. Kishbaugh/A. Owens (Salpointe) vs. G. Abrams/M. Kohoutek (Fountain Hills), 5 p.m.K. Call/M. Hains (CDO) vs. A. Mancilla/A. Acosta (Desert Edge), 5 p.m.

SOUTHERN ARIZONA BASEBALL CHAMPIONS

Tucson High (29)1912: 5A (James F. McKale)1913: 5A (James F. McKale)1918: 5A (Arthur Smith)1920: 5A (M.N. Porter)1922: 5A (Aaron McCreary)1924: 5A (Richard Meyer)1930: 5A (Andy Tolson)1932: 5A (Andy Tolson)1935: 5A (Andy Tolson)1937: 5A (Andy Tolson)1939: 5A (Andy Tolson)1940: 5A (Andy Tolson)1941: 5A (Andy Tolson)1942: 5A (Hank Slagle)1943: 5A (Hank Slagle)1944: 5A (Hank Slagle)1945: 5A (Hank Slagle)1946: 5A (Hank Slagle)1948: 5A (Hank Slagle)1950: 5A (Hank Slagle)1951: 5A (Hank Slagle)1952: 5A (Hank Slagle)1954: 5A (Hank Slagle)1955: 5A (Lee Carey)1956: 5A (Lee Carey)1959: 5A (Ray Adkins)1972: 5A (Ray Adkins)1987: 5A (Tom Lundy)1988: 5A (Tom Lundy)

St. David (18)1965: 1A (Jim Crawford)1966: 1A (Jim Crawford)1967: 1A (Jim Crawford)1980: 1A (Jim Crawford)1984: 1A (Jim Crawford)1986: 1A (Jim Crawford)1987: 1A (Jim Crawford)1988: 1A (Jim Crawford)1989: 1A (Jim Crawford)1990: 1A (Jim Crawford)1991: 1A (Jim Crawford)1993: 1A (Jim Crawford)1997: 1A (John Sands)2000: 1A (Jim Crawford)2001: 1A (Jim Crawford)2002: 1A (Jim Crawford)2012: D-IV (Ron Goodman)2021: D-IV (Ron Goodman)

Nogales (11)1951: 4A (James Concannon)1952: 4A (James Concannon)1954: 4A (James Concannon)1955: 4A (James Concannon)1956: 4A (James Concannon)1965: 4A (James Concannon)1971: 4A (James Concannon)1976: 4A (Bob Young)1981: 4A (Bob Young)2017: 4A (OJ Favela)2018: 4A (OJ Favela)

Canyon del Oro (8)1979: 5A (Roger Werbylo)1984: 5A (Roger Werbylo)1994: 5A (Phil Wright)1997: 5A (Phil Wright)2000: 5A (Kent Winslow)2002: 5A (Keith Francis)2009: 4A (Len Anderson)2015: D-II (Keith Francis)

Douglas (8)1953: 3A (Barney Leigh)1958: 3A (Tom Lay)1960: 3A (Ike Sharp)1961: 3A (Ike Sharp)1962: 3A (Ike Sharp)1975: 4A (Manny Valenzuela)1978: 4A (Manny Valenzuela)2001: 4A (Jaime Tadeo)

Bisbee (5)1947: 3A (Waldo Dicus)1966: 3A (Dick Atkinson)1993: 2A (Mike Frosco)2002: 2A (Mike Frosco)2008: 2A (Mike Frosco)

San Manuel (5)1963: 3A (Hal Eustice)1971: 3A (John Bunch)1973: 3A (John Bunch)1985: 3A (Don Payne)1992: 3A (Don Payne)

Santa Cruz (5)1975: 3A (Brad Moon)1976: 3A (Brad Moon)1982: 3A (Kent Winslow)1990: 2A (Scott Cook)1991: 2A (Scott Cook)

Valley Union (5)1970: 1A (John Grimes)1971: 1A (Tim Hart)1973: 1A (Tim Hart)1974: 1A (Tim Hart)2008: 1A (Tony Luzania)

Patagonia (4)1963: 1A (Reg LeFevre)1964: 1A (Reg LeFevre)1972: 1A (David Thompson)1996: 1A (Mike Slenk)

Willcox (4)1956: 1A (Joe Anaya)1999: 2A (Russ Bethel)2000: 2A (Russ Bethel)2001: 2A (Russ Bethel)

Benson (3)1963: 2A (James Cummings)1987: 2A (Ken Smith)2021: 2A (Fred Trujillo)

Desert Christian (3)2013: D-IV (Grant Hopkins)2014: D-IV (Grant Hopkins)2015: D-IV (Grant Hopkins)

Sahuarita (3)1974: 2A (Wes Gentner)1984: 3A (Wes Gentner)2005: 3A (Bryan Huie)

Sahuaro (3)1973: 5A (Hal Eustice)1974: 5A (Hal Eustice)1982: 5A (Hal Eustice)

Catalina (2)1967: 5A (Cliff Myrick)2011: 4A-II (Tony Gabusi)

Duncan (2)2004: 1A (Andrew Larson)2005: 1A (Chano Talavera)

Rincon (2)1962: 5A (Lee Carey)1971: 5A (Gary Grabosch)

Sabino (2)1997: 4A (Mike Bejarano)2019: 3A (Shane Folsom)

Tanque Verde (2)2009: 1A (James Lawwill)2011: 1A (James Lawwill)

Tombstone (2)1977: 2A (John Escarcega)1994: 2A (Ron Ingrum)

Amphitheater1980: 5A (Paul Gabaldon)

Desert View1991: 4A (Rene Rodriguez)

Flowing Wells1983: 4A (John Gleeson)

Green Fields1998: 1A (Frank Trujillo)

Marana1969: 2A (Joe Acker)

Palo Verde2014: D-III (Jim Mentz)

Pueblo1990: 4A (Jon Holstrom)

Pusch Ridge2009: 2A (Doug Jones)

Salpointe2019: 4A (Danny Preble)

Santa Rita1986: 5A (Dan Moore)

St. Gregory1999: 1A (Shane Sherwood)

Suffolk Hills/Immaculate Heart1985: 1A (Jeff Dean)

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St. David and Benson win Baseball Championships - All Sports Tucson

Anthony FauciAnthony FauciFauci says school should be open 'full blast' five days a week in the fall Watch live: White House holds briefing with COVID-19 response team The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Colonial pays hackers as service is restored MORE on Tuesday clashed with Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulFauci on Rand Paul: 'I just don't understand what the problem is with him' Buckingham Palace requests 'Trump Train' remove image of queen from bus The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Cheney poised to be ousted; Biden to host big meeting MORE (R-Ky.) over the role of the Wuhan, China, virology lab in the origins of COVID-19.

During a Senate hearing on the pandemic response, Paul alleged that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had been sending funding to the Wuhan lab, which then "juiced up" a virus that was originally found in bats to create a supervirus that can infect human cells.

Paulpressed Fauci on the theory that the novel coronavirus was created in the Wuhan lab, and then somehow escaped, either because of an accident or because it was deliberately released.

"Sen. Paul, with all due respect, you are entirely, entirely and completely incorrect," Fauci said. "The NIH has not ever, and does not now, fund 'gain of function research' in the Wuhan Institute."

Paul continued to argue with Fauci, who is the director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), accusing him of cooperating with the Chinese government, and supporting the laboratory that bioengineered a deadly virus.

Fauci noted that although the NIH did fund a project at the Wuhan lab, it was not meant for "gain of function" research into human-made superviruses.

The NIH gave a grant to a group called EcoHealth Alliance, which hired the virology lab in Wuhan to conduct genetic analyses of bat coronaviruses and examine how they spread to humans. The Trump administration last year forced the NIH to terminatethe grant.

The false link between Fauci, the NIH and the Wuhan lab has been circulating amongright-wing media and politicians likePaul and Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonImmigration experts say GOP senators questioned DHS secretary with misleading chart GOP split on counteroffer to Biden's spending Rand Paul clashes with Fauci over coronavirus origins MORE (R-Wis.) for months.

"Let me explain to you why that was done, the SARS COV-1 originated in bats in China. It would have been irresponsible of us if we did not investigate the bat viruses and the serology to see who might have been infected," Fauci said.

Gain of function research is a controversial form of study that involves boosting the infectivity and lethality of a pathogen. Fauci has advocated for the research in the past, but he denied that the NIH was funding it in China.

But Paul interrupted him, and hinted that not only was the virus introduced to the world because of a lab accident, it was also biologically engineered.

"Government scientists like yourself who favor gain function Paulsaid.

I dont favor gain of function research in China and you are saying things that are not correct, Fauciinterrupted.

The White House said it believes that China has "not been transparent" in releasing its findings on the origins of COVID-19, and the World Health Organization was severely limited in its investigation.

Fauci said he supports further investigation into the origin of the virus, but denied the NIH had any role in funding controversial research.

"I do not have any accounting of what the Chinese may have done, and I'm fully in favor of any further investigation of what went on in China," Fauci said."However, I will repeat again, the NIH andNIAID categoricallyhasnot funded gain of function research to be conducted in the Wuhan Institute."

Paul, a libertarian ophthalmologist, has clashed repeatedly with Fauci throughout the pandemic on a wide range of topics including the idea of herd immunity and the effectiveness of restrictions.

More:
Rand Paul clashes with Fauci over coronavirus origins | TheHill - The Hill

A passionate voice in Twin Cities performing arts has been silenced by the coronavirus pandemic.

William Randall Beard, a playwright and freelance critic who wrote about classical music, theater and opera for the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press and Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, among others, died April 17 at HCMC. He was 64.

A librarian and devout Lutheran, Beard had a battery of longstanding health issues, including lupus and congestive heart failure.

Just over a decade ago, "he had a terrible fall at Orchestra Hall literally down several flights of stairs and tore tons of ligaments and required 19 leg operations," said playwright Daniel Pinkerton, Beard's 40-year friend and onetime roommate. "He could never quite walk right again. So he couldn't get the kind of exercise he needed."

After contracting COVID-19 the first week of April, he was taken to the hospital where he suffered a rapid decline, Pinkerton said.

Beard is best known for "Beyond the Rainbow: Garland at Carnegie Hall," his bio play-with-music that orbits Judy Garland's 1961 comeback. History Theatre artistic director Ron Peluso commissioned it in 2003 and it premiered in 2005.

"Rainbow" has had over a dozen professional productions across the country and has been revived several times at the History Theatre with Jody Briskey playing the title role.

"Randy's concept of Judy performing her Carnegie Hall concert while weaving memories of her life in and around the songs was an exhilaratingly exhausting roller coaster ride," said Briskey, who played Garland in 13 productions from 2005 to 2019. "He had my character hit the stage at the top of the show and never leave until the end, singing the songs Judy loved to perform while reliving moments from her life."

Beard once told Briskey that he didn't know all that much about Garland when he started but "as he learned more he grew to admire her ability to overcome the many hurdles life threw at her."

The show remained a work-in-progress.

"Last year we tore it apart and expanded it, adding new songs and replacing old ones," Peluso said. "It was mostly just the two of us. I would go over to Randy's house and he would say, 'Sit down, Ron,' and I said, 'Where?' There's stuff all over the place papers, books, records. But he was a delight, a sweet man with a big heart and laugh who was always fun to work with."

An only child, Beard was born Oct. 9, 1956, in Hackensack, N.J., to Hope Margaret Waine Beard and William Dods Beard, whose Army career included working in supply lines in Europe. Beard spent part of his childhood in Germany before his father was transferred to the Midwest to run the ROTC program at the University of Minnesota.

That assignment coincided with the Vietnam War when "people were throwing rocks through the living room window," Pinkerton said.

After graduating from Bloomington Kennedy High School in 1974, Beard attended Gustavus Adolphus College, where he studied with noted theater professor Robert Gardner.

Post college, he found work at the Hennepin County Library while continuing to work in performing arts. From 2000-2003, he served as literary manager for Park Square Theatre where, in 2011, artistic director Richard Cook directed his adaptation of "The Odyssey."

Peluso said that Beard was a good listener who appreciated the collaborative nature of theater.

"He was open to ideas from anybody, whether a cast member, a lighting designer or me," Peluso said.

Their last big rewrite was around a song that Beard had included in "Rainbow."

"'Swanee River' always brought the house down," Peluso said.

Beard married computer consultant Bruce Lively in 2011, a year before same-sex marriage was legalized in Minnesota. Lively died of a heart attack in January 2012 at 47. Beard's parents also preceded him in death.

He is survived by five cousins, according to Pinkerton.

Beard was active in the St. Paul Reformation Lutheran Church, which is planning a memorial eucharist after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Correction: Previous versions of this story misidentified the high school Beard attended.

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Twin Cities playwright and critic William Randall Beard dies at 64 - Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Daily Beast

Danish Siddiqui via ReutersIn a macabre twist to a situation that is already too dire to comprehend, authorities in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have had to call in excavators to dig a mass grave after nearly 100 bloated and decomposing bodies were found floating in the Ganges River. Scammers Sell Fire Extinguishers as Oxygen Cylinders to Dying COVID Patients in IndiaAround 40 bodies were found in one riverbank area, and groups of 10 or more were found downstream near cremation ghats that had run out of firewood. Some were partially burned, an official told local media. We retrieved 71 bodies, Buxar Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar Singh told The Hindu. Some of them have been disposed of while the process for others are underway. Samples of some bodies too have been preserved for further tests.It is not yet known if those found floating in the river were victims of COVID-19nor is it known exactly who they were. None had identification on them, and given the extreme situation that has taxed all public offices across the country, it does not seem likely anyone will be able to identify them with certainty any time soon. If they were dumped from cremation platforms, authorities suggest families may assume they had been properly cremated. Videos of the floating bodies have gone viral across the country, with many blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modis apparent negligence for his handling of the pandemic. Over the weekend, the prestigious medical journal Lancet published a scathing editorial placing the blame squarely on his shoulders, saying the deadly mayhem could have been prevented. Meanwhile, the Times of India has reported that funeral homes are profiteering by selling expensive funerals and cremations to desperate family members who want their loved ones properly laid to rest. With firewood shortages, many families have had to opt for burials, which are now being sold in some states for up to three times the normal price. India has logged more than 22.6 million coronavirus cases and 246,116 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, most in the last month.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

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Joy calls Tucker Carlson and Ron Johnson are the absolute worst for spreading COVID disinformation - Yahoo News

With Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks regularly creating instant classics, many people recognise we are witnessing a golden age of animated movies.

However, for every Toy Story there is an Emoji Movie and dozens of duds (according to critics) have been released over the years.

Newsweek rounds up the very worst animations ever released, according to movie review aggregator MetaCritic.

An emoji face is being deleted after he accidentally confuses a message his user texts a love interest.

The Emoji Movie was universally panned by both critics and audiences, and The New York Times' Glen Kenny dubbed the film "nakedly idiotic", adding the animation plays off an industry idea the "panderingly, trendily idiotic can be made to seem less so."

This animation tells the story of Yugi, a boy captivated by the Duel Monsters! card game sweeping the world.

Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Movie was also the lowest-rated animated film on Metacritic, until the film was surpassed by The Emoji Movieand Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "Don't watch the TV show or play the card game? Then this movie is not for you."

Retired vet Sir Billi (voiced by Sean Connery) encounters a fugitive and decides to save his life.The negative reaction to the film was widely reported in the British press and Variety's Peter Debruge dubbed the animation "woefully anaemic," and unimpressed by the movie's "simplistic story and non-sequitur style."

The Internet becomes a theater of war for the DigiDestined and their Digimon companions, as the pocket-sized pets begin another epic adventure.

Digimon: Digital Monsters was savaged by movie critics and Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "Digimon is better than Pokemon, but it's still a predictable movie with mediocre animation."

Red Riding Hood is called upon to investigate the strange disappearance of duo Hansel and Gretel.

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil received very negative reviews and Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "It may add 3D to the original, but Hoodwinked Too! is missing the first installment's wit and refreshingly low-budget charm."

This futuristic thriller sees a group of rebels attempt to save America's economy from a corrupt government agency.

Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "This eccentric diatribe set in a dystopic near-future has a lot on its Ron Paul-esque mind but lacks the means or finesse to present an even remotely persuasive case."

Avuncular polar bear Norm and his three lemming friends head to New York after a real estate development invades their Arctic home.

The movie was not popular with critics and Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "A pioneering feat in the field of twerking polar bear animation but blearily retrograde in every other respect, Norm of the North should only be screened in case of parental emergency."

Trainer Ash and his friends travel to a stunning mountain town, where they will battle the most mysterious of all Pokmonthe Unown.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus sums up the poor reviews, stating: "Critics say that the third Pokemon movie has a better plot than its two predecessors. This is not enough, however, to recommend it to those not already fans of the franchise."

Teenage monkey Spark, who lives on an abandoned planet is tasked with saving the galaxy when power-hungry aliens attack.

Despite boasting an all-star cast of voice actors, critics were left unimpressed, with Peter Sobczynski writing in RogerEbert.com: "Spark: A Space Tail [is] an utterly lifeless and profoundly unoriginal animated effort that is desperately lacking the very thing in its title.

A middle-aged alcoholic is sentenced to community service to reform his bad habits, after running into trouble with the law.

The animations received generally unfavourable reviews from critics and Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "[Adam] Sandler returns to his roots in this nauseating concoction filled with potty humor and product placements."

This Magic Roundabout spinoff finds Florence and her animal friends threatened when an evil wizard attempts to trigger an ice age.

The movie was unpopular with critics and Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "Overloaded with pop culture references, but lacking in compelling characters and plot, Doogal is too simple-minded even for the kiddies".

The Chipmunks and Chipettes land on a deserted, tropical island and swiftly learn they are not really alone.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "Lazy, rote, and grating, Chipwrecked is lowest-common-denominator family entertainment that's strictly for the very, very, very young at heart."

A jaded fairy princess' ex-boyfriend attempts to win her back in this musical inspired by Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "Like most modern animated movies, Strange Magic is lovely to look at; unfortunately, there isn't much going on beneath the surface."

This famous Biblical tale revolves around reluctant prophet Moses who was the only man in Biblical history to look upon the face of God.

The Ten Commandments received mainly negative reviews from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus stating: "The Ten Commandments proves that not even one of humanity's most enduring tales is strong enough to overcome a biblical plague of cheap-looking animation."

Pokmon trainers must save Celebi before it destroys the forest after an evil hunter arrives on the scene.

The animation received overwhelmingly negative reviews and Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus states: "Only for diehard Pokemon fans."

Dorothy returns to Oz to save her friends Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man from the Wicked Witch of the West's younger brother.

The movie's all-star cast could not save it from a critical mauling, with Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus stating: "Faced with the choice between staying in or seeing Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return, most filmgoers will be forced to conclude that there's no place like home."

Two siblings are transported to the fantastical world of Playmobil, where one winds up in the clutches of an evil emperor and his sister battles to rescue him.

Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus states: "Much like the toys it advertises, Playmobil: The Movie seems sadly destined to be regarded as a superficially similar yet less desirable alternative to the competition."

The father of a swan born without a voice helps him overcome his disability and teaches him to play the trumpet.

Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus states: "An uninspired E.B. White adaptation that's targeted at the very young."

Arcade gamers battle an alien race that presumes classic games of the 1980s are a declaration of war.

Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus states: "Much like the worst arcade games from the era that inspired it, Pixels has little replay value and is hardly worth a quarter."

Thieves visit an island city to steal a giant jewel once designed to defend the Pokmon city of Altomare.

Movie critic Lou Lumenick was so disappointed with the animation, he gave the film zero stars, described it as an animated form of child abuse and recommended parents to rent Spirited Away for their children.

Teenage Delgo must persuade his friends to protect their world from two warring tribes.

Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus states: "Delgo features a blend of plot elements from earlier (and superior) fantasy films, with weaker animation and dull characters."

A fox and his friends race to thwart a developer attempting to drill beneath their Arctic home and destroy it in the process.

Sandie Angulo Chen of Common Sense Media wrote: "Despite an impressive voice cast, this snowy animal adventure is disappointing; it feels more suited to a shorter TV or streaming special than a feature release."

An alliance of evil-doers, led by Cinderella's wicked stepmother, attempts to conquer Fairy Tale Land.

Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus states: "Happily N'Ever After has none of the moxy, edge or postmodern wit of the other fairy-tales-gone-haywire CG movie it so blatantly rips off."

Ash and his trainer friends discover evil genius' plan to conquer the world and race to stop him.

Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus states: "Despite being somewhat more exciting than the previous film, this kiddy flick still lacks any real adventure or excitement.

"What it does contain is choppy animation and poor voice acting. Doesn't match up to virtually anything out there."

This mixture of live-action and animation sees a comic strip temptress attempt to seduce her cartoonist creator.

Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus states: "Cool World throws a small handful of visual sparks, but they aren't enough to distract from the screenplay's thin characters and scattered plot."

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The 25 Worst Animated Movies, According to Critics - Newsweek

Hennepin County Sheriffs Office

Branden M. Wolfe

Studying for 2024. The Hills Tal Axelrod reports: The DNC is digging up dirt on several prominent and unconventional possible GOP contenders, ranging from former President Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley to Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow and a staunch Trump ally.

The grocery getter dreams are made of. Jalopniks David Tracy reports: In Minneapolis, Minnesota sits a minivan so rare, I have no choice but to refer to it as The Holy Grail. Yes, it looks like a normal Ford Aerostar, but trust me: It is more akin to a chalice filled with the elixir of life. I recently had a chance to see the glorious machine up close, and now I am a changed man.

Another Minnesota links champion.KMSPs Pierre Noujaim and Jeff Wald report: Isabella McCauley is only 17 years old, but shes already playing golf at some of the highest levels a high school athlete can. As a freshman, Isabella won the Class AAA individual state championship with Simley High School in 2019. Then, due to COVID-19, she didnt get the chance to repeat in 2020, but did win the Minnesota State Junior Girls Championship last summer. Now, Isabella is getting ready for perhaps the toughest challenge yet in her young golfing career: The U.S. Womens Open.

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Ski lift.The Duluth News Tribune reports: Duluth Mayor Emily Larson will hold a news conference Thursday afternoon to share her recommendations regarding the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, in advance of a resolution thats heading to the City Council on Monday. The resolution would authorize the city to forgive up to $900,000 of the $1.2 million it has lent the troubled ski hill in recent years to help make ends meet. If approved, the resolution would come with a stipulation that Spirit Mountain make at least equal investments in capital improvements to its physical operations over the next three years. To qualify, those capital improvements would need to each be in excess of $500 and must have a useful life of five or more years. Spirit Mountain also would be required to pay back at least $300,000 in debt to the city by 2023.

Making the Capitol grounds great again:Group Delivers Petition To Return Columbus Statue To State Capitol Grounds [WCCO]

To the victor goes the spoils:Minnetonka Public Schools agrees to return missing bell and wheel to Minneapolis Park Board war memorial [Star Tribune]

Disturbing the peace:Minnesota woman accused of racing SUV through Fargo cemetery during ex-boyfriends burial [Pioneer Press]

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St. Paul man who helped burn down Third Precinct sentenced to prison and $12 million restitution - MinnPost

Dang woodpeckers, Gardenhire said. This is what you do when youre retired.

And, you make appearances. And then you donate the appearance fee to charity.

Thats what will bring the former Minnesota Twins manager to Willmar.

Gardenhire, 63, is scheduled to throw out the first pitch on Wednesday, June 2, when the Willmar Stingers have their Northwoods League home opener against the Eau Claire Express.

It should be a good time, Gardenhire said by phone from his Florida home. Im looking forward to it. Ill get to see some baseball, some young players.

Coming to Willmar reminds Gardenhire, the former Twins manager, of his days with the annual Twins Caravan. Each winter, the Twins send groups of players and team personnel across the midwest to meet with fans as part of a goodwill tour, getting everyone fired up about the coming season.

It reminds me a lot of the Twins Caravan, he said of his schedule of Northwoods League appearances, which include St. Cloud and Mankato. Wed go to North Dakota, South Dakota, all over Minnesota, Iowa and some of Wisconsin.

You know what? It was fun. You sign some autographs and you talk baseball.

It also keeps Gardenhire connected to a game he has been involved with since 1979, when he was a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Mets.

Id like to give back to baseball, he said. Seeing fans, meeting people, its all good.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Niko Goodrum is greeted by manager Ron Gardenhire after being introduced before their 2020 season home opening game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park in Detroit, on Monday, July 27, 2020. Tribune News Service

Gardenhire has some experience with the Northwoods League as a proud parent. His son Toby Gardenhire played three seasons with the Rochester Honkers.

I loved the Northwoods League, said Toby Gardenhire, now the manager of the St. Paul Saints, the Twins triple-A affiliate after nearly 30 years as an independent team. I had a blast.

It gets you ready for pro ball. Everything is just like pro ball, from the hotels and the bus travel to playing ball everyday.

Dad said he can remember going to Brainerd to watch Toby play. Like his father, Toby was a middle infielder who played junior college ball before transferring to a major program. For Toby, that was University of Illinois. For Ron, it was the University of Texas.

Toby got drafted by the Twins and made it as far as Triple-A. Ron played five seasons with the Mets before getting traded to Minnesota and spending a season in the minors.

Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, right, talks with his son, Toby, before a college baseball game at Siebert Field in Minneapolis on Saturday, May 14, 2005. Scott Takushi / St. Paul Pioneer Press

Both have made more impressive impressions as managers/coaches. For Ron, it was his 13-year stretch as Twins manager, specifically his nine years from 2002-2010, that are as good as any since the franchise moved to Minnesota in 1961.

The Twins won division championships in 02, 03, 04, 06, 09 and 10. They even won a playoff series in 02, advancing to the American League Championship Series after beating the Oakland Athletics in the ALDS.

That was the Moneyball outfit, Gardenhire said. Its pretty cool.

Gardenhire remembers sending pitching coach Rick Anderson to the mound in the bottom of the ninth to talk to stopper Eddie Guardado, who was fully aware of the importance of the moment.

He told (Anderson), I cant spit, Gardenhire said.

The Twins then lost to the eventual World Champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALCS.

It was a great run, arguably better than the ones made by the Twins World Series teams of 1987 and 91 and the 65 Twins World Series squad or the playoff teams in 1969 and 70.

Gardenhires regret? We didnt win a World Series, he said.

There were plenty of other highlights, including being a coach for several Major League All-Star teams.

The biggest? Getting to manage the Minnesota Twins, he said. Im thankful for the opportunity (general manager) Terry Ryan gave me to what the Pohlads (the owners) have done for me, you just dont get any better.

Gardenhire left the Twins after four straight losing seasons in 2013. He took some time off, then became the bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks under manager Torey Lovullo. There was a health scare. Gardenhire was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He recovered and went back to coaching.

The Tigers, in the midst of a huge rebuilding effort, hired Gardenhire to manage in 2018. He left with 10 games remaining in the shortened 2020 season, suffering from anxiety amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Hes doing fine, 100%, Toby Gardenhire said by phone from St. Paul. Hes doing well.It was more of an anxiety about COVID and how it affected his team than anything.Its changed everything. It made it hard to work just like everywhere else. There were so many protocols. Me as a baseball manager, you never stop thinking about it. Your anxiety level is through the roof.

These days, the anxiety is less, like what is happening to his roof because of woodpeckers or how he cant get his golf score down to where hed like it.

He doesnt completely dismiss getting back into managing. Two of his older contemporaries, including 76-year-old Chicago White Sox manager Tony LaRussa and 71-year-old Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, are still winning games.

I dont know what Id say if an opening came up and they asked me to close out a season or something, Gardenhire said.

Born: Oct. 24, 1957 in Butzbach, Hassen, West Germany

High school: Okmulgee High School, Okmulgee, Oklahoma

College: Paris Junior College, Paris, Texas; University of Texas, Austin, Texas.

MLB draft: Taken by the New York Mets in the sixth round of the 1979 MLB June Amateur Draft.

MLB playing career: Played shortstop, second and third base from 1981-85 with the Mets, playing in 285 games with 777 plate appearances. He had 27 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 49 RBI and 13 stolen bases, with a .232/.277/296 average/on-base/slugging percentage line (a .573 OPS). He was traded to the Minnesota Twins and spent the 1986 season with the Portland Beavers, the Twins Triple-A team in the Pacific Coast League.

MLB coaching/managing career:

* 2002-2014 In 13 years with the Twins, his record was 1,068-1,039 with six division championships, earning American League Manager of the Year in 2010, and finishing second in voting for that award five times and third once.

* 2017 Bench coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

* 2018-20 Managed the Detroit Tigers, finishing with a 132-241 record.

What: The ALS Black Wood Blizzard Tour is former Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhires preferred charity. Its a snowmobile tour with proceeds benefiting individuals living with ALS and their families. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.When: Feb. 3-5, 2022Where: Theres a reception Feb. 2 at the Black Woods Grill and Bar in Proctor. The ride departs the morning of Feb. 3 headed for Lake Vermilion and the Fortune Bay Resort Casino. On Feb. 4, the ride goes along the North Shore to Two Harbors. Riders return to Proctor on Feb. 5.

Registration: Required to participate. Riders must be able to raise, or donate, a minimum of $1,800. First-time riders have a one-time incentive of a minimum of $1,500.

To donate or register: Check out the website http://www.neversurrenderinc.org

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Willmar Stingers: Gardy set to appear in Willmar - West Central Tribune

Although he played guitar in one of the biggest rock groups of all time for the best part of a decade, Ron Bumblefoot Thal is probably best known for being a virtuoso musician in his own right.

More recently, as well as working in progressive metal supergroup Sons Of Apollo, hes been adding to his Barefoot series of acoustic solo EPs. The two latest installments 2020s Barefoot 2 and Barefoot 3 see him tackling tunes by Paul McCartney, The Police, Asia, Soundgarden, Iron Maiden and more.

How different is your approach with acoustic playing compared to electric?

Much of the same things matter for acoustic and electric dynamics, pocket, groove, playing for the song, the mood and whatever the guitars and gear allow for. On acoustic, I usually go farther with song dynamics, rhythmic/percussive strumming, fingerpicking and adding layers, chord complexity... but there are no rigid rules.

Just play how you play, be happy and make others happy. Ive switched to using thinner 0.60 mm picks; they have a brighter and more-defined sound, which I use for both electric and acoustic.

A great song can always work in a stripped-down way. When stripped down, I look for ways to include the identifiable elements from the groove, bass lines, harmonies and melodies into the guitar arrangement

The Polices Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic is an incredibly well-written song. What are your favorite things about its structure and movement?

Its one Id play at my solo shows with a looper, starting with muted 16th-note low notes, then the arpeggiated Dsus4/sus2, again an octave higher, then ringing out the thirds of the low notes and then the fifths. Its a fantastic song to sing live, and then theres the extendable jam for the outro.

Youve been playing Cort acoustics for a long time. What is it about the Gold-A6 that works so well for you?

Theyre made well, feel comfortable to play and sound great in the studio or on stage. When I pick one up, I dont want to put it down a good guitar makes you want to keep playing it. Ive been using the A6 and the A8; both have Fishman Flex Blend systems, which give the guitars a bright, articulate top end and full, warm mids and lows without any woofy or muddy spots.

Barefoot 2 was recorded DI and kept very minimal to capture the personal feel of a one-man acoustic show. Barefoot 3 involved more multi-tracking and percussion, with an AT3060 microphone just a few inches from the soundhole. There was a little multiband compression, but the guitar really sounded great just with one mic.

Perhaps not all, but certainly a lot of the greatest songs in the world can be stripped down to one acoustic idea

A great song can always work in a stripped-down way. When stripped down, I look for ways to include the identifiable elements from the groove, bass lines, harmonies and melodies into the guitar arrangement. But most songs translate well without all of that, in their simplest form. Every time I do an acoustic version of something, I realize how beautiful the song is at its core.

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Ron Bumblefoot Thal: Every time I do an acoustic version of something, I realize how beautiful the song is at its core - Guitar World