Process of hiring coach routine, but requires flexibility

March 24, 2015

There's been a lot of talk in the community lately about coaches and other people involved in Mifflin County High School's athletic administration being fired.There's only one problem: Some of it is a shade shy of the truth.Every coaching position in the school district opens every year. It's not a matter of the old coach being fired, it's a matter of the old coach having to reapply for his or her position.As of Monday afternoon, nine coaching positions are listed on the school district website. Among them are all of the winter coaching positions and three for the fall: football, girls ...

Racing loses legend Eddie McCardle

March 20, 2015

Area racing lost a founding member Thursday morning. Eddie McCardle passed away at his Beaver Springs home. McCardle was 94.Who was fast Eddie McCardle? An American Automobile Association open wheel midget racer who survived the non-roll cage era in one piece. He was a local stock car racer who helped start Penn Central Racing Association and became the clubs first President. A three-time Port Royal Speedway track champion in 1950, 51 and 54. A garage owner, used car dealer and master auto electric technician that, along with Bill Raup, rebuilt more starters and alternators than anyone I ...

Racing season scheduled to begin today

March 14, 2015

Will live racing start in our area today?Lincoln Speedway is scheduled to open this afternoon at 2 p.m. 410 sprint cars and an open practice session are planned. Gates open at noon with warm-ups set for 1:30. Sunday is available as a rain date if needed.Lincoln's Icebreaker 30 originally was scheduled for Feb. 28. The $4,000 to win program attracts the area's best cars. One driver that may be missing is Greg Hodnett, who I'm told is visiting family in Spain. Hodnett's stepson serves in the military.Hagerstown (Md.) Speedway plans to operate Sunday with super later models as the headline ...

Lincoln cancels again; Port Royal sets practice session

February 27, 2015

Winter can't end soon enough for area racers.Lincoln Speedway postponed its season opener for the second time. The Adams County oval will try again March 7 at 2 p.m.The season is set to begin in earnest next week. Port Royal Speedway scheduled a practice session for next Saturday. Hagerstown Speedway opens Sunday with a $3,000 to win late model program. Selinsgrove Speedway opens March 14 with big and small block modifieds. Williams Grove Speedway's opening night is March 27.Beaver Springs Dragway will host a racer's meeting March 8 at the Middlecreek Area Community Center in Beaver ...

High School hoops playoffs more like soap opera that sport

February 24, 2015

And now it's time for another riveting episode of, "As the Basketball Turns."When we left our hero, Spalding, he was recuperating from an inflation needle injury when his physician, Dr. Jay, came into the room, and said simply, "I'm concerned.""Is it Baden?," Spalding asked."No," said the doctor, "even I wouldn't stoop to use a pun like that."It's been just too easy to knock all three of the PIAA districts in which we have teams - 3, 4 and 6 - for the way their tournaments have played out this year.In District 6, we almost didn't have a Class AAA girls entrant, and one fewer Class AA ...

District playoff formats, seedings bring up several questions

February 17, 2015

Last week, before Midd-West closed out the regular season at East Juniata, Mustangs coach Aaron Ettinger had a simple answer as to whether his team could still qualify for District 4's Class AAA boys tournament.Midd-West had to win that night, he said - and Montoursville had to lose. The Warriors won, and based on the coach's statement, our story and headline the next morning reflected what we believed to be the fact that the Mustangs were sidelined.Not so fast, said the District 4 chairman. Montoursville and Mifflinburg still had more games to play, which could create a three-way tie ...